I got a copy of this book to review through Netgalley(dot)com. Thanks to Balzer and Bray and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book. This was an engaging and disturbing young adult retelling of the Island of Dr. Moreau.

Juliet Moreau is struggling to make a living as a maid; years ago her father disappeared and not long after that her mother died of cancer. Then Juliet hears rumors about a strange doctor staying in a nearby inn and sees copies of her fathers drawings. When she goes to investigate she finds the her father is not dead as thought, but merely on a deserted island continuing his questionable medical studies. She travels there with her childhood friend and Dr. Moreaus assistant, Montgomery, and finds things more horrific than she could ever have imagined.

Excellent young adult retelling of The Island of Dr. Moreau. This story has a bit of a gothic/thriller type feel to it. The mystery unravels slowly. Those who are familiar with the Island of Dr. Moraeu wont be surprised by what Juliet finds when she goes to her fathers island but you will be surprised as the mysteries surrounding Juliet herself are revealed.

The book is beautifully written and very well done. There is a bit of a love triangle here, which I am not a huge fan of. Still it was decently done.

Juliet is a strong character that is easy to admire and engage with. The other characters on the island are similarly interesting. You are constantly wondering why Montgomery continues to work for Dr. Moreau and what Edwards mysterious background is. There is just a lot of mystery hidden within all of these characters.

The plot is very engaging and there are some huge twists in the story which caught me by surprise. There is also quite a bit of medical talk in the book since Juliet has been learning from all of the medical books her father left behind, I enjoyed this as well.

The book is definitely best for young adult and older. There is an attempted rape scene, torture, and rather gory maiming of animals...just a heads up to be ready for some disturbing gore.

Overall I found the book very hard to put down and very engaging. It was a fantastic read. The enjoyed the mystery and the twists and turns the story took. I also enjoyed Juliet, she is a strong female lead with some interesting aspects to her personality. I strongly recommend to fans gothic horror, who dont mind a somewhat disturbing read.

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** spoiler alert ** Juliet Moreau is young, penniless and close to being homeless. It didn't used to be that way. Her father, Doctor Henry Moreau, was a very successful surgeon and they lived very well. Then the accusations came and Juliet's life as she knew it changed. Her father disappeared, rumored dead, and as years pass, her mother dies from consumption. So it's a fluke that Juliet runs into medical students performing an experiment with one of her father's papers.

With some investigation, she finds Montgomery James. He was a servant in their household and disappeared when her father did. He explains that he left with her father; they reside on an island. Juliet insists she go back with him. She wants to see her father alive for herself and ask him directly if the accusations were true.

On the long journey, a boy is found near death in a small boat. They bring him aboard and Montgomery brings him back to health. His name is Edward. It's here that the love triangle begins to make itself known. Juliet finds herself drawn to both young men, and they her. When they arrive on the island, Juliet is delighted to reacquaint herself with her father, and he insists on pairing her up with Edward and marrying her off.

Things aren't right on the island though. The good doctor experiments and creates islanders that are at times horrific and others docile and humane. When a monster makes itself known on the island, bodies piling up left and right, it has many in the compound questioning who it could be. Juliet not only questions that, her father's choices and her own matters of the heart, but she also questions her own morality. Although she believes what her father is doing is wrong, she is also intrigued by it all.

I had a very hard time putting this book down. Juliet is a believable character who is not only strong, intelligent and curious, but also gullible, witty and sassy. I really like her. The love triangle I expected, and I didn't like or dislike Edward or Montgomery more than the other. It was an evenly balanced shrug - not one of them outshone the other. Now, the good doctor I had a love/hate relationship with. At times I was horrified with what he was doing and at other times, I was intrigued. He's definitely a mad genius. There are twists and turns, budding romance, suspense and great world-building and a big cliffhanger at the end. I can't wait for the next installment - Fantastic Book!

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