Carlota leads a sheltered life as the only daughter of Dr. Moreau, who creates human-animal hybrids on a remote estate in Mexico. But when the son of her father’s sponsor comes to visit, it sets into motion a chain of events which upends everything she knows about her father’s work, and about herself.
I haven’t read The Island of Doctor Moreau, but luckily you don’t need to have to done so to enjoy this book – though I’m sure I probably missed an Easter egg or two.
The world that Moreno-Garcia creates in Yaxaktun is a vivid and beautiful one, but also existing in a delicate balance that is utterly shattered when Eduardo Lizalde arrives and tries to start make changes in this stagnant place. That the story uses the Caste War of Yucatán (which, by the way, is a war I never have never heard of and am interested in learning more about) as the historical backdrop of the story transforms the hybrids’ story into one of colonialism and workers’ rights, which I thought added some really interesting dimensions to the book.
However, I did think the story had a little trouble figuring out what it was about – a love triangle, the relationship between Carlota and her father, the treatment of the hybrids and their personhood? I also thought Carlota was a little bland, though I enjoyed Montgomery’s narration enough to offset it. I was very much unconvinced by the swift courtship between Eduardo and Carlota too, which is a shame because it’s a major catalyst for the story.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
