About the Author

Megan Shepherd was "born" into the book world, growing up in her parents' independent bookstore in Western North Carolina. She is the author of THE MADMAN'S DAUGHTER trilogy. When Megan is not writing, she can usually be found horseback riding, day dreaming at coffee shops, or hiking in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains.

Reviews

“A deft twist on a familiar classic, THE MADMAN’S DAUGHTER has the best of everything: beautiful writing, breakneck pacing, a pulse-pounding mystery, and an irresistible romance” Carrie Ryan, New York Times bestselling author of The Forest of Hands and Teeth series “Romantic, haunting, and full of spine-tingling thrills, THE MADMAN’S DAUGHTER kept me reading late into the night” Veronica Rossi, bestselling author of UNDER THE NEVER SKY "This story is definitely unlike any others we've read in a long time – and in a good way. We're eager for the series to continue!" Seventeen magazine “Unexpected twists and a cliffhanger ending that should leave [readers] craving more” Publishers Weekly “Fun to read… creepy, with twists and turns” USA TODAY “Nicely blended horror and homage” SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Drawing liberally from The Island of Dr. Moreau, Shepherd debuts with a dark novel, the first in a planned trilogy, which explores many of the themes of the Wells book, including the ethics of scientific experimentation, progress, and civilization. Several characters have parallels in the original-Moreau, the disgraced physiologist; his assistant, Montgomery; and a rescued castaway named Edward. Assuming the role of narrator is 16-year-old Juliet Moreau, who has eked out a living in London following her father's downfall and mother's death. When Juliet learns her father is possibly alive, she sets off for the island he escaped to, along with Montgomery, who is recast as a dashing former childhood friend of Juliet's. At times, the horrors of Moreau's experimentations take a backseat to the romantic passions that engulf Juliet ("Being so close to a half-naked man-to Montgomery-made me breathless"), as her affections vacillate between Montgomery and the mysterious Edward. Nonetheless, Shepard's atmospheric interpretation ought to pull readers in, with unexpected twists and a cliffhanger ending that should leave them craving more. Ages 13-up. Agent: Josh Adams and Quinlan Lee, Adams Literary. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Gr 9 Up-Based on H.G. Wells's The Island of Dr. Moreau and told from the point of view of the mad doctor's 16-year-old daughter, this dark novel blends the basic premise of the original with new insights, characters, and terror. Dr. Moreau fled London to escape scandal and possible arrest, leaving his wife and daughter destitute. When her mother dies, Juliet has just enough money to survive until she is fired from her hospital cleaning job for rebuffing the advances of one of the doctors. She runs into her old friend and her father's assistant, Montgomery, and convinces him to take her to her father's island. The perilous trip on a pirate ship and the rescue of Edward, a castaway, ends with a very cold welcome from her father, who grudgingly allows her to stay. Over time, Juliet realizes that everything she has heard about him creating strange semi-human creatures is true. The teen must face dangers, uncover the secrets behind her origin, and unravel her feelings about Moreau's experiments. The fast-paced book is rife with excitement, romance, and intrigue. Juliet is both a strong heroine who can take charge and a young woman who is beset by doubts and rash acts. Dr. Moreau is thoroughly detestable and Montgomery and Edward are handsome, flawed, and mysterious. The surprising ending is satisfying. While knowledge of Wells's novel would perhaps lead to a more satisfying reading experience, this title stands alone.-Janet Hilbun, Texas Women's University, Denton, TX (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.