Despite having easy readability, the book was hard to go through because of the lack of plot buildup in the beginning. I already knew once I started reading that Juliet would end up going to see her father wherever he was, and the romance (love triangle) felt so forced. I also would have liked a better buildup in regards to the chimeras instead of knowing about them instantly (whether through heavy handed foreshadowing or through blatantly being told so, I don't remember).

The setting was an interesting one, but at the same time I was bored by it because there wasn't much interaction with it; the plot was mostly about Juliet, her boring love problems, and how she was just as mad as her father. So much of the story was telling instead of showing, so there wasn't much that I could speculate about and that made me bored. When I did think that I got a hint of something, it was only explained away in the next chapter - like with the medication Juliet taking being similar to the chimeras - and there was not much suspense. I was just tired of hearing Juliet talk about how she really was her mad father's crazy daughter, and how she was trying to decide between two lovers - I wondered if this was what it was like reading Twilight.

The end got really interesting, though. Once a certain character died, the plot finally started intriguing me and things that I didn't expect started happening. Edward's true past and trouble with his 'father' was a great reveal - I didn't like how he turned out in the end, though. While it was also obvious that Dr. Moreau experimented on Juliet when she was born, what exactly it was that was done was a good discovery - I know wonder what consequences that may have in the future.

Even though things finally started heating up, I did read through rather quickly just to get it over with, so I skipped over any answers I might get to the few questions I had - and I don't really have any desire to go back again and have them answered. These things probably were answered, but I skimmed through to more important part just because I was tired of reading the book.

Things went by too quickly, too. I didn't really get much of a hint at a plot - what was the overarching purpose? Of course, I could still come up with one, but it felt rushed with Juliet meeting Montgomery, going to the island, meeting Edward, etc. I would've preferred more suspense and a goal for Juliet besides who should I chose to love and how do I get off of this island. Dr. Moreau also didn't feel important enough even though everything was because of him, and the interactions between him and the others didn't give off a significant feel - he came off too flat.

This book is a debut novel, and it felt like it; I usually don't notice something like that, but the writing felt too sloppy or awkward in some places. It also seemed to try too hard at being Gothic in the beginning with Juliet's ease at doing 'madman' things (this was a problem throughout the story, too) and how she described Balthazar's disfigurement being not quite that (like with Mr Hyde's 'unknown disfigurement' despite having a decent face).

The end was good, though - without it, I would've given the book 2 stars (2.5 if it were an option). I felt upset with Juliet about deceiving Balthazar, but the outcome wrapped up the story much nicer than I thought it would've. I discovered that this was a trilogy in the middle of reading this and I was disappointed because I thought it was a standalone; I didn't want to read three books of love angst, but this ending gives me a reason to read the next book (otherwise, I think I would've stopped with this one). I still suspect that Edward is still alive, so there still may still be more love triangle bulls*** in the future, but I feel better prepared to put up with what may come in the subsequent books.

While it had a rough beginning, the book was still easy to go through and the content was interesting enough to hold the book together. The love triangle and constant reference to Juliet being a madman's daughter were annoying, but with the way things turned out the book was still a worthwhile read.