Tolog Review: The Madman's Daughter

The Madman's Daughter
by Megan Shepherd
reviewed by Megan Shepherd

The Madman’s Daughter by Megan Shepherd focuses on sixteen-year old Juliet Moreau. Juliet is trying to forget the scandal that turned her whole life around. She went from being at the top of the social ladder with a complete family to being a maid living alone in London. The only thing she has left from her father are her injections that she must take daily or face becoming terribly ill. Throughout her childhood Juliet had always heard strange noises coming from her father’s office. Her mother had always told that what her father was doing was unnatural but she never understood what she meant. When nasty rumors about her father’s experiments where told Juliet and her father were cast out from London. Then her father was gone and presumed dead. For a while Juliet and her mother were able to skim by but Juliet’s mother had to forget her morals in order for them to make due. Then Juliet’s mother died and she was all alone. One day she finds a clue that indicates that her father might still be alive. She follows the clues and she ends up in at inn where she meets her father’s assistance, Montgomery. Montgomery is not alone; with him is a terribly disfigured assistant. Juliet finds outs that her father is still alive and is living on an island. Juliet is able to convince Montgomery to take her to see her father and he does so against his better judgment. On the ship ride to her father’s island exotic animals accompany her. While on the ship Montgomery and Juliet rescue a man named Edward Prince against the captain’s orders. Juliet is able to persuade Montgomery to allow Edward to go to the island with them.

When they finally reach the island, Juliet immediately notices a change in her father. Juliet is in awe at his castle-like home but her father is not much different because once she is inside her father returns to his office. While on the island, Juliet notices that everyone is disfigured. She also notices that her father is seen as a god among the villagers and that there are strange commandments set in place for the villagers to follow. Not all is calm on the island. There have been a string of gruesome murders. With Juliet’s father acting strangely, Montgomery keeping secrets and with Edward not revealing anything about his life Juliet is unsure of whom to trust. As the story unfolds a fatal love triangle is formed.But there is more to the island than what meets the eye. Juliet learns that the rumors about her father are true and she fears that she is just as monstrous as he is. The Madman’s Daughter is a page-turner that will keep you guessing who the real monster is.