The Madman’s Daughter
Author: Megan Shepherd
Series: The Madman’s Daughter #1
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Publisher: Bandits Ranch
My Rating:
Summary:
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, Edwar – 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.
First Sentence: The basement hallways in King’s College of Medical Research were dark, even in the daytime.
My Review:
When I first heard that there was a book coming out called The Madman’s Daughter, I just knew I had to get my hands on it. I have a strange obsession with Criminal Minds having watched every single episode of it, and the title alone of The Madman’s Daughter made me know that it would be similar to Criminal Minds. The brilliant cover of The Madman’s Daughter is a bonus – it fits the book atmosphere exactly. However, upon reading and finishing The Madman’s Daughter, the only thought left on my mind is the book could have been so much better.
I think it’s fairly safe to say that I liked absolutely no one in The Madman’s Daughter except for Juliet’s father’s creations. I liked Juliet well enough in the beginning, but as I read on, I disliked her more and more. Juliet is so judgemental and selfish. It isn’t like the island’s natives want their deformities the first place. It’s not their fault they are like that. I’ll understand if Juliet complains about their deformities once or twice or even three times, but to do it repetitively just drives me nuts. Give them a break girl. Juliet also expects one guy to gamble his life for the other guy in the love triangle, not feeling guilty at all when he calls her on it.
Montgomery is a coward, and quite possible, a liar. No, scratch that, he is a liar. For a guy who claims that he isn’t Juliet’s father’s servant anymore, he sure doesn’t act like it. And for him to do something else that contradicts the claim that he loved Juliet all along? Just, no.
And Edward. Oh my god. His behavior just makes me so mad. “If you help me.” (page 400) [Edward says this.] I can’t give you the rest of the quote because then it’ll be a huge spoiler, but Edward is basically saying that he wants Juliet to stay with him his whole life and help him. Excuse me Edward, but the last time I checked, Juliet wasn’t your slave. Care to explain?
One thing that frustrated me to no end in The Madman’s Daughter that I wrote tons of notes complaining about is Juliet’s father’s behavior. No, I’m not talking about the times he’s a madman, I’m talking about how he treated his family. He expects Juliet to forget that he left her and her mother for ten years and dares to say he wants to complete his “fatherly duties.” Excuse me sir, but your “fatherly duties” was to take care of your wife and daughter, not leave them for the dead until one of them comes seeking you.
I do not like the love triangle in The Madman’s Daughter at all. It just wasn’t needed. There were pages and pages of pointless oh who do I like more, Montgomery or Edward? I just wished the love triangle situation would end quickly. What do you mean? you ask. The back cover of The Madman’s Daughter says ‘in love with a boy from the life she lost.’ Shouldn’t that be Montgomery? I’m sad to say that no, it isn’t until the last four-fifths or so in The Madman’s Daughter that Juliet realizes who she finally loves.
The ending of The Madman’s Daughter had a “shocking” plot twist, aka the big reveal, but the thing is, it failed to shock me. In fact, it failed to get any reaction from me. By that point, I was half bored and was just reading The Madman’s Daughter because I didn’t want to DNF it. I mean, sure, I would have never have guessed that plot twist, but it just failed to get a huge reaction from me.
Overall, I was expecting (yes, I know it’s never good to have expectations of any kind) to read a suspenseful, terrifying, horror story. I mean, with a title like The Madman’s Daughter, how can it be anything but not that? I’m sad to say that if I knew what The Madman’s Daughter would really be like before I started reading it, I would have skipped it altogether.
I won a copy of this recently. I have been really looking forward to reading this book. I also hate love triangles, but I am so hoping that this book is too disappointing. I love the cover. It is what caught my eye in the first place. Thank you for sharing your review with us. I will make sure to send you my opinion when I get the chance to read this.
Grats on winning this book you lucky person! ;D
I hope the love triangle won’t annoy you TOO much. I adore the cover of this one too, it’s so creepy beautiful! :D<3
Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [53]
I love the cover, and I had high hopes for this book, but after this review, I guess I won’t get my hopes up. Thanks for the review! =D
Well, I hope you’ll love this one more than I did anyways!
No problem! (:
Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [53]
Sorry you didn’t like this one and I just bought this one so I hope I like it better then you, but I don’t think tha’s going to happen.
I agree with you, nothing annyoes me more when there a love triangle and the girl spends chapters complaining and asking herself which one she loves. Urg, I just hate that.
So, this next question may sound silly, but what does a DNF mean?
Don’t worry, that isn’t a silly question! DNF is do not finish or did not finish.
And yeah, I didn’t get a feel for the silly love triangle. I felt that it’s in The Madman’s Daughter just to be in The Madman’s Daughter, if that makes any sense.
I loved this book! Oh, and that ending? Ugh! I actually enjoyed the love triangle in this book. Normally, I don’t really enjoy any type of love triangle but this one kept me guessing. I really like both of the guys for most of the book. I’m sorry you didn’t like it more.
Great review!
I’m glad you loved this one Janna! (:
Ha ha, yeah, the love triangle ruined most of the book for me. Hopefully there will be no love triangle in the next book, especially after that ending… -crosses fingers-
Thanks! :D
Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [53]
I started this book but stopped it because I lost interest. It started out decently so I want to go back and try it sometime. I am definitely curious what the shocker was!
Michelle @ Unraveling Books recently posted…The Road to You – Book Blitz!
Oh, you’ll have to read a VERY long time to see what the big shocker is. It’s revealed near the very end.
Good luck with finishing this one Michelle! (:
Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [53]
I’m so glad that The Madman’s Daughter. was the first book I ever won from Epic Reads. Not just because I won it but because if I hadn’t I’m sure I would have never read the book until who knows when. Sometimes covers are pretty and everything but even then they don’t catch my attention like other books. Now that I have read it though, I am totally read for Her Dark Curiosity. I’m also waiting for Megan’s other series to come out. Sounds creepy and interesting at the same time :)