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alexandrabree's review
3.0
This series is one of the few with a great second book, even better than the first one.In the first novel I loved the story and the world but hated the characters, this totally redeemed that. I was thinking/hoping that the books might change perspective and I would love to hear the story from each brides point of view (Rose, Celie, Jenna too).
Rhine seems to have grown so much since the first book where I found her to be very immature and whiney. She finally got the perspective of the world around her, I know in the first book she was lost in memory mostly and sugar coated everything even for herself, the stark reality is harrowing but makes for a much better story.
Rhine seems to have grown so much since the first book where I found her to be very immature and whiney. She finally got the perspective of the world around her, I know in the first book she was lost in memory mostly and sugar coated everything even for herself, the stark reality is harrowing but makes for a much better story.
christina_likes_to_read's review
4.0
I had fever sitting around my house for a month or two before I picked it up. I don’t know why I wasn’t excited about it, I liked the first one and gave it four stars, but, I just didn’t feel like reading this one. When I finally picked it up, it was what I had expected: a second book. It was dark and depressing with a meandering plot line. Things didn’t pick up until the end. However, once they did pick up, I really got into the book. I am amazed by DeStefano’s ability to draw a person in. There were several times in the beginning that I was a little board and frustrated with where the characters were at, but the promise of where the story could go, kept me turning the pages. That seemed to enrich the story for me. I would rate this book a 3.5 but I am rounding up to a 4 because I liked the book more than I had anticipated.
cburgbennett's review
4.0
This book was CRAZY! The twists and turns were magnificent. I never would have guessed any of it (well the big things). The ending was just so unguessable (the last 1/3). It was just...wow. So sad. So good.
tippyloohoo's review
4.0
I read a reviewed the first book in The Chemical Garden Trilogy, Wither, and absolutely loved LOVED it. So I had been sitting on the edge of my seat for months waiting for Fever by Lauren DeStefano to come out. I really couldn't stop thinking about Rhine and what would happen to her. Literally every book I read after Wither got compared to it and made me wish I was reading Fever. My wait is over now. But I'm not satisfied.
Fever takes over right where Wither left off. Rhine and Gabriel have made their escape and are safely away from Housemaster Vaughn. Or so they think. After literally abandoning ship and coming ashore they head toward bright lights they see in the distance. What waits for them there is not pretty. A scarlet district run by a paranoid opium addict was not what Rhine had in mind when she ran away. Now, after months of planning her escape from Vaughn, Rhine must plan an escape from Madame's carnival of love. However, before she can even begin to think Vaughn shows up looking for her. How could he have possible found her and how will she get away now? Aided by one of Madame's girls, Lilac, and a security guard Rhine and Gabriel manage to make it out, with an added weight. With only a small bag of possessions, including a children's book with a mysterious name and address they set out to find Rhine's home.
The homecoming is not what Rhine expected. Her brother is gone and he has burned the house behind him. Feeling lost and alone she must once again make a plan to keep herself and Gabriel safe. She does the only thing she can think of, she heads to the address in the book. But more trials await Rhine. Once safely at the house she becomes increasing ill. She's too young for it to be her end but it sure feels like she's dying. And Gabriel thinks he has it figured out. The only thing that makes sense is that Vaughn has poisoned her and she needs to go back. Obviously this does not go over well with Rhine, who only wants to be free of Vaughn and his basement of horrors. But soon she won't be given a choice.
The second book in a trilogy is never as good as the first. But a good second book will leave you chomping at the bit to read the third. That is exactly how I feel about Fever. I didn't love it as much as Wither but after the events in it I HAVE to read the final book. I. Can. Not. Wait.
Fever takes over right where Wither left off. Rhine and Gabriel have made their escape and are safely away from Housemaster Vaughn. Or so they think. After literally abandoning ship and coming ashore they head toward bright lights they see in the distance. What waits for them there is not pretty. A scarlet district run by a paranoid opium addict was not what Rhine had in mind when she ran away. Now, after months of planning her escape from Vaughn, Rhine must plan an escape from Madame's carnival of love. However, before she can even begin to think Vaughn shows up looking for her. How could he have possible found her and how will she get away now? Aided by one of Madame's girls, Lilac, and a security guard Rhine and Gabriel manage to make it out, with an added weight. With only a small bag of possessions, including a children's book with a mysterious name and address they set out to find Rhine's home.
The homecoming is not what Rhine expected. Her brother is gone and he has burned the house behind him. Feeling lost and alone she must once again make a plan to keep herself and Gabriel safe. She does the only thing she can think of, she heads to the address in the book. But more trials await Rhine. Once safely at the house she becomes increasing ill. She's too young for it to be her end but it sure feels like she's dying. And Gabriel thinks he has it figured out. The only thing that makes sense is that Vaughn has poisoned her and she needs to go back. Obviously this does not go over well with Rhine, who only wants to be free of Vaughn and his basement of horrors. But soon she won't be given a choice.
The second book in a trilogy is never as good as the first. But a good second book will leave you chomping at the bit to read the third. That is exactly how I feel about Fever. I didn't love it as much as Wither but after the events in it I HAVE to read the final book. I. Can. Not. Wait.
readingjag's review
2.0
Not as compelling as the first in the series. Decently moved the story along with some good character development.
missbookiverse's review
2.0
Liebes Fever,
was war denn das? Deine große Schwester Wither und ich hatten so eine gute Zeit zusammen und jetzt kommst du daher und machst alles kaputt.
Ich bin wirklich enttäuscht. Ich habe so viel mehr von dir erwartet, stattdessen fühlst du dich an wie ein Lückenfüller.
Es ging ja ganz gut los. Karnevalszenerien gewinnen mich immer schnell für sich, sogar diese sehr rotlichtstichige. Ein Riesenrad, ein Karussell, farbenprächtige Zelte, eine verschrobene Karnevalskönigin und süßlich-betörender Rausch in der Luft. Perfekt. Die Atmosphäre hat mich genauso umgehauen wie Rhine und Gabriel. Ich fand fast gar nichts Schockierendes an dem voyeuristischen Liebesspiel, zu dem sie gezwungen werden. Das könnte aber auch daran liegen, dass du dich darüber so ausschweigst. Rhine hat doch vorher noch mit niemandem Sex gehabt oder? Und jetzt, wo es unter so extremen Umständen sogar mehrmals dazu kommt, behältst du wirklich alle Details für dich? Das finde ich echt nicht fair.
Und wo ich schon bei Rhine und Gabriel bin – die beiden sind so anziehend wie Feuer und Eis. Da gibt es nicht das kleinste Fünkchen Chemie! Könnte daran liegen, dass Gabriel einfach null Charakter hat.
Versteh mich nicht falsch, du liest dich wirklich ganz gut. Lauren DeStefano hat sich wieder alle Mühe mit ihren schönen Formulierungen gegeben, aber das tröstet einfach nicht über deine zähe, schleppende Atmosphäre hinweg. Rhine und Gabriel kommen die ganze Zeit einfach so furchtbar passiv und eingeschlafen herüber. Als würden sie nichts verstehen und auf keine Handlung selbst kommen. Da waren ja die neu vorgestellten Figuren Maddie, Lilac und Grace schwungvoller. Obwohl ich ihr Auftauchen nicht richtig verstehe. Bis auf die Möglichkeit auf einen neuen Unterschlupf scheinen sie keine tragenden Rollen zu spielen.
Ich hoffe wirklich dein Nachfolger macht das alles wieder wett und bringt ein paar wachgerüttelte Figuren mit sich.
In tiefer Enttäuschung,
Infinite Playlist
was war denn das? Deine große Schwester Wither und ich hatten so eine gute Zeit zusammen und jetzt kommst du daher und machst alles kaputt.
Ich bin wirklich enttäuscht. Ich habe so viel mehr von dir erwartet, stattdessen fühlst du dich an wie ein Lückenfüller.
Es ging ja ganz gut los. Karnevalszenerien gewinnen mich immer schnell für sich, sogar diese sehr rotlichtstichige. Ein Riesenrad, ein Karussell, farbenprächtige Zelte, eine verschrobene Karnevalskönigin und süßlich-betörender Rausch in der Luft. Perfekt. Die Atmosphäre hat mich genauso umgehauen wie Rhine und Gabriel. Ich fand fast gar nichts Schockierendes an dem voyeuristischen Liebesspiel, zu dem sie gezwungen werden. Das könnte aber auch daran liegen, dass du dich darüber so ausschweigst. Rhine hat doch vorher noch mit niemandem Sex gehabt oder? Und jetzt, wo es unter so extremen Umständen sogar mehrmals dazu kommt, behältst du wirklich alle Details für dich? Das finde ich echt nicht fair.
Und wo ich schon bei Rhine und Gabriel bin – die beiden sind so anziehend wie Feuer und Eis. Da gibt es nicht das kleinste Fünkchen Chemie! Könnte daran liegen, dass Gabriel einfach null Charakter hat.
Versteh mich nicht falsch, du liest dich wirklich ganz gut. Lauren DeStefano hat sich wieder alle Mühe mit ihren schönen Formulierungen gegeben, aber das tröstet einfach nicht über deine zähe, schleppende Atmosphäre hinweg. Rhine und Gabriel kommen die ganze Zeit einfach so furchtbar passiv und eingeschlafen herüber. Als würden sie nichts verstehen und auf keine Handlung selbst kommen. Da waren ja die neu vorgestellten Figuren Maddie, Lilac und Grace schwungvoller. Obwohl ich ihr Auftauchen nicht richtig verstehe. Bis auf die Möglichkeit auf einen neuen Unterschlupf scheinen sie keine tragenden Rollen zu spielen.
Ich hoffe wirklich dein Nachfolger macht das alles wieder wett und bringt ein paar wachgerüttelte Figuren mit sich.
In tiefer Enttäuschung,
Infinite Playlist
cstaude's review
2.0
Didn't capture me the way the first book did. Pacing felt off and the relationships did not grab me.
michalice's review
4.0
I started Fever immediately after finishing Wither and my first thoughts were, 'WOW' and 'I have to keep reading'. Fever continues straight from were Wither ended and we get to follow Rhine and Gabriel as they make a perilous journey fraught with danger at every turn, to try to find her way home to her brother. Their happiness is short lived and the duo soon find themselves captured and made to 'perform' in Madame Soleski's carnival of amour. Rhine, now with a new name of Goldenrod, agrees to perform to keep Gabriel safe, but all the while is planning a way to escape.
Finally freedom is in sight, and with an extra body to look after they travel across the country to Rhine's home town, either to her brother, or to see all her hopes and dreams shattered.
I will admit that it has taken me a while to actually read Wither, at first it didn't appeal to me, but the arrival of Fever made me pick up Wither and read like there was no tomorrow. The series so far was not what I expected and found myself thoroughly enjoying these books. Although I did like Wither, Fever has to be my favourite. We get to see Rhine in the outside world and also Gabriel's reactions to it. He has his eyes opened and can now truly see what is going on outside the walls of the Manor. In Wither we get to see their budding friendship, but in Fever although it is still there, it is more in the background as it takes a secondary role in their survival.
I never knew what was going to happen next, and even the occasional arrival of Vaughn had me thinking how he knew where they where. There are not many rays of light in Fever, but when they appear you appreciate them even more, just as Rhine and Gabriel do, and part of me wants them to stay safe and sound while the other part is telling them to keep moving, keep going. The introduction of a few odd characters had be doubting their kindness and I never truly trusted them, thinking they had ulterior motives for their kindness.
I really don't want to say too much as I don't want to spoil Fever for anyone waiting to read it, all I can say is Fever is just as good as Wither and I can't believe I have to wait forever for book 3 to be published, its torture.
Finally freedom is in sight, and with an extra body to look after they travel across the country to Rhine's home town, either to her brother, or to see all her hopes and dreams shattered.
I will admit that it has taken me a while to actually read Wither, at first it didn't appeal to me, but the arrival of Fever made me pick up Wither and read like there was no tomorrow. The series so far was not what I expected and found myself thoroughly enjoying these books. Although I did like Wither, Fever has to be my favourite. We get to see Rhine in the outside world and also Gabriel's reactions to it. He has his eyes opened and can now truly see what is going on outside the walls of the Manor. In Wither we get to see their budding friendship, but in Fever although it is still there, it is more in the background as it takes a secondary role in their survival.
I never knew what was going to happen next, and even the occasional arrival of Vaughn had me thinking how he knew where they where. There are not many rays of light in Fever, but when they appear you appreciate them even more, just as Rhine and Gabriel do, and part of me wants them to stay safe and sound while the other part is telling them to keep moving, keep going. The introduction of a few odd characters had be doubting their kindness and I never truly trusted them, thinking they had ulterior motives for their kindness.
I really don't want to say too much as I don't want to spoil Fever for anyone waiting to read it, all I can say is Fever is just as good as Wither and I can't believe I have to wait forever for book 3 to be published, its torture.
kaylawhite17's review
3.0
I loved the first book and was eager to read this one. Unfortunately it was only so-so. The plot seemed random and the book was extremely dark. It did pick up at the end and it gives me a glimmer of hope for the next book. I am still rooting for Linden. I know I'm awful.