Review: The Madman's Daughter

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



Book Info: Genre: Fantasy
Reading Level: Young Adult
Recommended for: People who enjoy YA paranormal esp. with romantic triangles
Trigger Warnings: murder
Animal Abuse: Vivisection

My Thoughts: It's so crazy how much things have changed since the time period in which this is set. Take this section:

He rolled up my sleeve, then brushed a finger against the sensitive skin of my inner elbow. My breath caught. I was alone in a young man's room, letting him touch me in places he shouldn't even see. Oh my, what a hussy, showing off her inner arm! Meanwhile, I'm reading this in a T-back tank top and shorts while sitting outside in the sun...

What really bothered me about this is that despite her stated modesty and propriety in the story, she's shown on the front cover with her hair loose, and a loose gown hanging off her shoulder, and barefoot.

Here's the thing. This was a tossed-across-the-room book. I finished it, which is the only reason it received 2 stars. Why did I end up throwing it across the room in a fit of pique? Because of Juliet. GAH! Juliet... Here's the thing. Remember last week with my “too stupid to live” heroine (see review linked here where formatting allowed)? Juliet is the same way. She would put herself into really idiotically dangerous situations and then she'd end up panicking and becoming absolutely useless. Or throwing a conniption fit and becoming absolutely useless. The only reason I finished the book was because I enjoyed The Island of Dr. Moreau and I enjoyed the other characters: Montgomery, Edward, Balthasar, Alice. Henri Moreau himself was a jerk, but the rest I just felt sorry for.

It's really a pity, this book had a lot of promise. But I just ended up so annoyed by the end that I had to throw it to rid myself of some of that aggravation. If you like this sort of book, please don't let me stop you, but I will not be bothering with the rest of this trilogy, nor will I be bothering with the movie when/if it is made. PASS!

Disclosure: I received a paperback ARC from Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: In the darkest places, even love is deadly.

Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.

Inspired by H. G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman's Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we'll do anything to know and the truths we'll go to any lengths to protect.



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