The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

by:  Megan Shepherd
published by:  Balzer + Bray
publish date:  January 29, 2013

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.

Juliet came from a respectable family.  That is, until her news of her father's experiments got out and ruined all their lives.  Juliet went from being a proper young lady to scrubbing floors for a living.  When a scandal of her own forces her to run for her life she decides to journey to the island her father is living on.

The Madman's Daughter is a retelling of The Island of Dr. Moreau by HG Wells.  I've never actually read that book, but I did watch the movie, that one with Val Kilmer, so I had a basic idea of what it was about.  Overall, I thought it was a very entertaining book.  It was an interesting perspective from which to tell the story.  Telling it from a younger person's point of view made the story fresh and relatable to more of today's readers.

The book did have some flaws.  Namely, the big hulking love triangle.  Juliet, throughout the book, professes her love for Montgomery, which is understandable.  This is the boy that she's known her whole life.  But whenever Edward, a castaway they picked up on the journey to the island, is around she's falling all over him.  She can't really be in love with Montgomery if she has those feelings for Edward and vice versa.  It was really frustrating to read.  Secondly, this book is obviously a trilogy.  I've made my feelings on YA trilogies known.

So, will I read the next book?  Probably.  I liked this book well enough, plus, judging by the ending of this book the second book will probably be a retelling of another classic horror novel.   Would I recommend this book?  Yes, to fans of YA.  It's appropriate for most YA readers.  There wasn't anything highly inappropriate going on, but it might be a little scary for sensitive readers.