Review: The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd
January 29, 2013
Blazer + Bray
Goodreads

Summary

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.

“Paranoia had crept into that part of my brain usually reserved for reason.” 

When it comes to books, I really don’t get creeped out easily. THE COLDEST GIRL IN COLDTOWN? Nope. ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD? Nope. THE MADMAN’S DAUGHTER? Oh yeah. In the other two, the gross factor was human. In this one, it was animals. And Dr. Crazy Psychopath Scientist Brilliant Dude, I will hunt you down. THE MADMAN’S DAUGHTER was an equal dose of nasty, curiosity, paranoia, romance and just plain no. And when I say ‘no’ I mean what he did to animals while they were awake was truly disgusting and wrong and he needs serious help. I mean I wanted to strap him to the electric chair pages after first meeting him. To him everything, everyone, was an experiment. Also, that man is sexist.

Okay, onto the love triangle. In the beginning I was all over the boy- turned- really- hot-scientist, Montgomery. I mean he was sweet, wanted the best for our mad main girl, and tried to protect her from her rather insane father dearest. When we got to the island he changed, not much, but just enough for me to be weary of him. The creations didn’t seem to be all Dr. Crazy Pants. When he talked about it, he seemed to know what he was talking about. Then we have Edward. Despite the unfortunate naming, I really liked him. Right off the bat, he genuinely liked Juliet. He wanted to protect her and save her from the disaster that takes the form of her sick and twisted and more than a little mad father. Both of these two rather amazing guys have a secret as dark as the night sky; one is a creator and the other has been created. One had the choice and the other had the choice taken.

The plot was twisted and enchanting and so very beautiful as much as it was wrong. With the changing and the humans in place of God, I found myself strangely fascinated with the unusual and haunting. Of course the whole animal aspect made me want to give a few lethal injections and much as I wanted to strap him into the electric chair.

Despite all the praise for the vivid descriptions, I found myself not as into the book as I would have thought. I can’t exactly say why, I just found myself needing to finish the book as much as I wanted to just get a new book and never pick this open this one again. I know, mixed feelings much?

In the end, I can’t give this book a rave review but I will recommend it if not just to try something unusual and new. Megan Shepherd is an author to look out for with her lush descriptions and excellent, descriptive and enchanting writing style. THE MADMAN’S DAUGHTER is a wonderful debut and I’ll be pondering it for a while after finishing it. 

I'm pretty much the last one to read this one. Have y'all read it? What did y'all think? Leave a link in the comments so I can visit your blog!