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alexan13's review against another edition
4.0
This book far exceeded my expectations. The set-up feels like a typical and predictable YA dystopia, and in some ways it is indeed that, but it is undoubtedly YA dystopian well done, and one with some more nuanced things to say. However, it was the characters and the web of interpersonal relationships between all of the different characters that truly drew me in and blew my expectations out of the water. I felt like this book did a great job in examining multifaceted relationships and people, and exploring how a person can be many different people to us at the same time and the struggles that come with reconciling that. Overall, I definitely recommend this -- especially if you haven't read YA dystopia in a long time and want a somewhat nostalgic feeling, but very well done, return to the genre.
alexreadsome's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
c_ab_bage's review against another edition
5.0
WEOEOOEOEOE
rereading this duology to feel something and boy oh boy did it work. no book simultaneously infuriates me and brings me immenser joy quite like this one. i get so attached to the characters, so so attached, and every time i have the audacity to act surprised when i learn of the absolutely vile and heinous things they’ve gone through.
BUT HEY!!! the magic system is super fucking cool, so there’s that!!! i will sing it’s praises to the ends of the earth.
idk man, as i frequently say, i cant even articulate how much i love this book. it’s so special to me, it’s unfathomable.
“i believe you, dara. i just don’t care.” LITERALLY CHANGED LIVES!!! NOBODY WAS THE SAME!! A PIECE OF MY SOUL IS GONE AND IT’S ALL THIS BOOK’ FAULT!!
rereading this duology to feel something and boy oh boy did it work. no book simultaneously infuriates me and brings me immenser joy quite like this one. i get so attached to the characters, so so attached, and every time i have the audacity to act surprised when i learn of the absolutely vile and heinous things they’ve gone through.
BUT HEY!!! the magic system is super fucking cool, so there’s that!!! i will sing it’s praises to the ends of the earth.
idk man, as i frequently say, i cant even articulate how much i love this book. it’s so special to me, it’s unfathomable.
“i believe you, dara. i just don’t care.” LITERALLY CHANGED LIVES!!! NOBODY WAS THE SAME!! A PIECE OF MY SOUL IS GONE AND IT’S ALL THIS BOOK’ FAULT!!
persipha_books's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
aaabeegui's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
chantelspeaks's review against another edition
5.0
Victoria Lee's The Fever King takes you on an unexpected journey of twists and turns. At the beginning, I thought I knew what kind of shape the plot was taking - I didn't, and that was somewhat refreshing.
The pursuit of justice is difficult. Justice can also be bloody. It's hard to know sometimes if the end justifies the means, or if we've lost ourselves in the process or merely just changed as people. I thought about this a lot for Noam. I didn't want him to lose himself on the path that was set before him, and as the plot progressed kept coming back to a question: does the end justify the means to get there?
The Fever King explores trauma and how people react to it, in their current lives and in an intergenerational sense. I loved this aspect of the book, though it was also emotionally confronting at times. Trauma lingers, it can weave its way through our lives and into the lives of our children and our communities after we are gone. The way that Lee explores different types of trauma was admirable, with such delicacy and understanding of how trauma plays out in the lives of people, and while managing to make that part of a YA novel - was what pushed this book into a 5-star rating for me. You have to understand trauma in order to write trauma, and Lee showed a delicate and important insight to readers that can be lacking in some contemporary YA.
Being a fantasy-lover myself, I was quite interested in analysing the magical system used in this book. In some fantasy, the magical system just is , but as personal preference I like knowing the uses, limitations and development of that system so it can be well-grounded within its world. I found the design of the system in The Fever King to be well-rounded and used well within the progression of the plot.
Overall, I enjoyed The Fever King a lot more than I anticipated I would. I did um and err for a while as to whether or not to give this a 4 or 5 star read, but finally settled on 5 stars, due to the delicate nuance, understanding and exploration of multiple themes in this novel.
This book was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
To read more reviews, head to my blog
The pursuit of justice is difficult. Justice can also be bloody. It's hard to know sometimes if the end justifies the means, or if we've lost ourselves in the process or merely just changed as people. I thought about this a lot for Noam. I didn't want him to lose himself on the path that was set before him, and as the plot progressed kept coming back to a question: does the end justify the means to get there?
The Fever King explores trauma and how people react to it, in their current lives and in an intergenerational sense. I loved this aspect of the book, though it was also emotionally confronting at times. Trauma lingers, it can weave its way through our lives and into the lives of our children and our communities after we are gone. The way that Lee explores different types of trauma was admirable, with such delicacy and understanding of how trauma plays out in the lives of people, and while managing to make that part of a YA novel - was what pushed this book into a 5-star rating for me. You have to understand trauma in order to write trauma, and Lee showed a delicate and important insight to readers that can be lacking in some contemporary YA.
Being a fantasy-lover myself, I was quite interested in analysing the magical system used in this book. In some fantasy, the magical system just is , but as personal preference I like knowing the uses, limitations and development of that system so it can be well-grounded within its world. I found the design of the system in The Fever King to be well-rounded and used well within the progression of the plot.
Overall, I enjoyed The Fever King a lot more than I anticipated I would. I did um and err for a while as to whether or not to give this a 4 or 5 star read, but finally settled on 5 stars, due to the delicate nuance, understanding and exploration of multiple themes in this novel.
This book was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
To read more reviews, head to my blog
kcrouth's review against another edition
5.0
What did they say in Victor, Victoria? BRAVA! Well done! The Fever King is an engaging tale of political and magical intrigue set in our very own hometown of Durham, about a century hence. Starting from my initial elation at finding out that one of the main characters in the story lived in the very bookshop in which i purchased my copy (The Regulator Bookshop on Ninth St!), this book builds and builds to a somewhat unexpected but thoroughly exciting conclusion! It is not really a conclusion, but rather a segue into the next installment of this exciting tale. Not only did the plot and action build as the story progressed, but i also enjoyed seeing Noam grow from a moody impulsive young person into the beginnings of a maturity that will serve him well as this series unfolds (how long until Book 2, Victoria?). I really enjoyed this tale and am looking forward to its journey continuing! Hope to see you and get you to sign my copy at The Regulator in Durham!!! :) :) :)
supersol375's review against another edition
Don’t sympathise with any characters, predictable plot, lack of female characters
anyajulchen's review against another edition
I tried it, but is just not my kind of book. The narrative is too simplistic and Noam is one of the most annoying protagonists I had ever read.
Now, I will definitely give a chance to a Calix center story.
Now, I will definitely give a chance to a Calix center story.
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
3/5
Ok I really loved the world in this one but I wish there was more of an explanation for it being the way it was. As for the characters, I found it almost hard to enjoy the main character but I was interested in his story and the plot.
Ok I really loved the world in this one but I wish there was more of an explanation for it being the way it was. As for the characters, I found it almost hard to enjoy the main character but I was interested in his story and the plot.