I think what I love about these books the most is that they each connect to a classic that is reminiscent of my childhood, whether I read the original or saw a film based upon it. The first book, The Madman's Daughter, was loosely based on the story of The Island of Dr. Moreau. The second installment, Her Dark Curiosity, brings what can compare to Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. Finally, the conclusion of the series, A Cold Legacy, will connect to the story of Frankenstein. I'm so looking forward to starting it this afternoon. If you haven't read the first book, you may not want to read ahead, although I have done my best not to spoil.

Her Dark Curiosity continues to focus on the life of Juliet Moreau, daughter of the infamous mad scientist Dr. Moreau. She has returned from the island and discovered that she has been followed by Edward, a man she cared very much but who also has a much darker and more dangerous side. The story revolves around Juliet trying to cure him and keep him from the chaos that ensues when he loses control. As the story progresses, a conspiracy is uncovered, other island members return, and Juliet continues to be torn about her own inner self and between the two men in her life. We are introduced to a few new and very well written characters, including Elizabeth, who seems will have a larger roll in the third book, and we also see a just end to a few characters who are quite deserving of their finale (in my opinion anyway). Murder and mayhem are in no short supply and a few disturbingly gory sections had me both amazed and horrified at the same time. I was enthralled each time I listened to the story and I can honestly say that there wasn't one moment where I was bored or distracted. I was so excited as the end approached and I started to figure out which classic story the next book would originate from. Don't read the synopsis on Amazon if you want to figure it out for yourself. It's much more fun that way.

I highly recommend this entire trilogy. Rarely do I come across a series where I can truly say that the second book was as good as the first, if not better. I have high hopes for the third and I am sure I won't be disappointed.

I do not get the romance in this book at all. Yeah in reality you can sleep/kiss whoever you want but I feel like in terms of it in this book, there isn't enough written for these two characters to be in love or at least her to be in "love" with one character but also have a a connection to the other dude and to sleep with him. They both love her but there was nothing written as the build up in my opinion. 

 

Her Dark Curiosity is book two in The Madman's Daughter series about Dr. Moreau's daughter, Juliet. Where the first book was based loosely on H.G. Wells book, The Island of Dr. Moreau, this one is inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. I enjoyed this retelling just as much, if not more, then the first. Shepherd does a great job of creating her own unique twists on the old stories and then she very creatively ties them all together. She weaved Frankenstein's heirs into the end of this one so I have a feeling he will be the star of the next book. I can't wait to see how it plays out. I think anyone who enjoys retellings would like this series because they are nicely done.

Watch out because Megan Shepherd is back. Last we left Juliet Moreau, she was floating away from an island in the middle of the ocean. Now she's arrived back in London and everything should be fine, however, she still isn't able to outrun her father's crimes or his influence. I entered Shepherd's second novel with a full understanding that she would blow my socks off. I wasn't disappointed. Much like before, we see that no one can be trusted, even those closest to Juliet - not even the characters we find ourselves routing for.

Her Dark Curiosity is richly atmospheric. The novel's entire tone is carefully tempered between Juliet's encroaching madness and her slipping sanity amongst the terrible murders plaguing Scotland Yard. Much like we saw in The Madman's Daughter, no place is truly safe. Juliet is positive she's identified the killer, but the truth is too horrible to even contemplate until it is staring her in the face.

Of course, the killer isn't Juliet's only problem. A victim of her father's experimentation, her health is declining and she is desperate to find a cure. Unfortunately, the cure's costs may be beyond those she's willing pay; that is, as long as her sanity is intact. Throughout the novel, Juliet fights to keep believing that everything her father's science created and brought to light is evil. Here we see that those she trusts most, are causing her to doubt this belief.

Juliet is petrified of becoming her father and the Beast doesn't help her out too much. No single character is truly helpful when it comes to aiding Juliet in dealing with her own madness and that of her deceased father's. We do see multiple characters commenting that science itself is not evil. Instead, they insist that it's what people do with that knowledge that makes it good or evil.

The love story was... I'm not even sure how to explain it. Considering what she did, I do feel like Juliet moved on a tad too swiftly; yet, at the same time, she hasn't really moved on at all. However, part of me wonders if perhaps this is a reflection of Juliet's madness because I'm not sure I understand the reasoning behind her latest decision.

There were a few things I saw coming, but I think knowing they were going to happen caused me more anxiety. Things kept happening and the people and the other future events that had seemed liked they were just around the corner weren't showing up when I desired.

Her Dark Curiosity is a masterful continuation of The Madman's Daughter trilogy and I'm eagerly awaiting the conclusion to this epic story.

I read this entire book in one sitting and loved it! I need the third book stat.

 

I didn't give this book a full 5 stars just because I didn't care for the whole "love triangle turning into a love rhombus" aspect of the story. The central love triangle actually annoyed me much more than it did in the first book, also. Ergo, no 5 stars.

 

Other than that, this book was great. Juliet's ongoing struggle between the two sides of herself was sometimes hard to read. Even though her father is dead, the way he continues to influence her conscience and personality in general was equal parts realistic and disturbing. At the end of the first novel she has escaped from him and his creations. But it became clear throughout the course of this book that she will never be free of him because there is a part of him that lives within her, even though she generally chooses not to act on those urges.

 

This book had me on a total emotional roller coaster that really never happens while reading YA. Sometimes it happens with NA, but rarely with YA. I just care about these characters more and more as this series goes on. Even Lucy really grew on me throughout the course of this installment. I felt completely indifferent towards her going into this book, I honesty barely remembered her character from the first one. In The Madman's Daughter I did admire Lucy for standing by her friend after her fall from high society, but at the same time I couldn't imagine why Juliet would be friends with somebody so shallow in the first place. It became clear in Her Dark Curiosity that Lucy is actually a good friend to Juliet, and is a genuinely good (and surprisingly strong) person.

 

Juliet's relationships with each and every character developed so much throughout the course of this book. The interactions between her and the Professor and her and Elizabeth in particular were great warming to see. We obviously never had scenes between her and her mother, and so it was nice to see her have some normal and nurturing parental-type moments since her father was a total psycho.

 

I am so excited for book three, especially since the inspiration for that story was revealed at the end of this one. I'm not sure if it's mentioned in the synopsis for that one and don't want to spoil anything. It was a very unexpected and intriguing reveal.