Reviews

Fevre Dream by George R.R. Martin

saffic's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

 Disclaimer, I read this book after being recommended it as a branching off point from GRRM's non-ASOIAF books.

The first half of this book... was tough to get through for many reasons, but I'm only going to go into one. I have never hated a character more than I hated Sour Billy Tipton. Nor Joffrey, nor Ramsay (maybe Ramsay), nor Craster could rise such vitriolic anger I felt towards Sour Billy.

His death was the most cathartic thing to have ever happened to me.

It is purely because we are never in any of those characters' heads the way we are with Sour Billy.

The second half pleasantly surprised me. I think one of my biggest complaints is how a lot of the female characters are just non-characters. Like if you remove Valerie from the story, I don't think much would change.

Book good.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Racism, Slavery, Misogyny, Death, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Rape and Gore

Minor: Cannibalism and Infertility

The majority of this book takes place pre-Civil War America, so expect everything that comes with that. The main character starts the book thinking abolitionists are weirdos, but

later on he realizes slavery is awful and becomes a huge abolitionist.

I tagged misogyny for a few instances in the book itself, but also for meta reasons. As stated in my review, the female characters are barely characters with no ambitions outside of the male characters.

stepriot's review against another edition

4.0

The first 1/3 of this may be some of the most terrifying vampire story I've read. After a while the danger just sort of tapers out.

desolation73's review against another edition

4.0

This book was written way before games of thrones so its an interesting read and proves that there's more to george than games of thrones. This book is a vampire tale and is like Salem's lot on water. Its set on a steamboat which sounds like a ridiculous place to set a vampire tale and yet George makes it believable.

calatheacat's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I really enjoyed the setting, and the nitty gritty details of the river trade. I also really liked Abner, and as a character, Sour Billy is wonderfully disgusting. 
I feel like GRRM might struggle with writing endings. The large time jump at the end really upset the book's momentum, and I felt like the climax could have used more description. It was almost anticlimactic. 

psoglav's review against another edition

3.0

My rating: 3.5 stars

rhoadesd20's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

beverleyhomily's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

lurker_stalker's review against another edition

4.0

Oh, I really, really liked this book. A great tale of loyalty and partnership.

**8/18/17** Just as enjoyable this time around.

mrcornelius's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

badseedgirl's review against another edition

4.0

Entertaining. That is the best word to describe this work. Less bloated then the "Song of Fire and Ice" series. This is Martin at his best. This book proved that he can write a well written, well developed book that is less then 700 pages.