Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
Fever is very much a middle book. It doesn't accomplish much on its own and more or less is the bridge between the starting point of book one and the finale of book three. I read it in two sittings, partially because I got a bad headache whilst reading and partially because the story was losing me a little. Still got through it without any real suffering though.
It's like a 3.5 stars overall because while I got through it and liked it generally, it doesn't leave me with strong feelings.
The story mostly involves Gabriel and Rhine on the run and the things that happen to them along the way. Several of the story points are a little too similar to the previous book; like how them being trapped at and needing to escape a carnival where a madame pimps out girls is akin to Rhine being trapped at the mansion and figuring out how to free herself and how Rhine once again finds herself very ill and at Vaughn's mercy.
In this regard, there's not particularly a singular goal or arc; Rhine and Gabriel made it to Manhattan and find that Rowan is gone about halfway through and the remaining half focuses on their time staying at an orphanage run by a kindly lady, Rhine's illness, and subsequently Vaughn showing up and taking Rhine back to the mansion to hide her in the basement to use her in his experiments. Mostly, the story seems to be "it was all in vain, it seems, because she ends up where she began, but in even worse circumstances than before."
The plot advancement is also only slight; more mentions of the pro-naturalism vs. pro-science tensions in the world and Vaughn's reappearance in the story to drag Rhine back into a world of experiments in an effort to find a cure for the virus that kills its younger generations in their 20s.
Like with Wither, there's a heavy focus on Rhine's thoughts and emotions, the conflicts and hardships she endures.
I like how the author nicely maintained a sort of grayness when it came to Rhine; how she's both glad to be free but some part of her still misses the comfort of her life in the mansion, how her ties to Linden an Cecily and Jenna didn't just vanish because she left, her struggling with all the feelings of regret and shame about how escaping has affected and hurt Gabriel because she didn't think everything through, and how despite it all, she's still sure that having a choice about her life and the freedom to die or be unhappy if that's what she chooses is more important than the comforts of a a life in a cage.
The writing is very nice; I like the author's style a lot and think she's pretty good at characterization of Rhine and really nails down the complexity of her emotions and thoughts.
Again, however, the romance isn't especially appealing because while Gabriel is sweet and loyal, he isn't a well fleshed out character, and because we spend so much time dealing with Rhine's thoughts about everything else, her relationship development with Gabriel isn't really focused upon. They kiss, they sleep beside one another, they take care of each other, they work alongside one another. Even in this installment where Linden only appears in person within the last like 30 or so pages, he's still the more developed character.
Now that I've read the first two books again, I'm starting to recall the third book a little better and I'm not especially thrilled for it, but we'll see when I've finished it up.
As a trigger warning, there's attempted sexual assault, drug use/addiction/withdrawal, a certain level of vague gore/horror with experiments and medical treatments, sexual slavery, death/murder, pregnancy in children, etc. I wouldn't say anything is super explicit or graphically depicted, it's still in the realm of teen literature, but just a general warning about the atmosphere of the story and what not.
It's like a 3.5 stars overall because while I got through it and liked it generally, it doesn't leave me with strong feelings.
The story mostly involves Gabriel and Rhine on the run and the things that happen to them along the way. Several of the story points are a little too similar to the previous book; like how them being trapped at and needing to escape a carnival where a madame pimps out girls is akin to Rhine being trapped at the mansion and figuring out how to free herself and how Rhine once again finds herself very ill and at Vaughn's mercy.
In this regard, there's not particularly a singular goal or arc; Rhine and Gabriel made it to Manhattan and find that Rowan is gone about halfway through and the remaining half focuses on their time staying at an orphanage run by a kindly lady, Rhine's illness, and subsequently Vaughn showing up and taking Rhine back to the mansion to hide her in the basement to use her in his experiments. Mostly, the story seems to be "it was all in vain, it seems, because she ends up where she began, but in even worse circumstances than before."
The plot advancement is also only slight; more mentions of the pro-naturalism vs. pro-science tensions in the world and Vaughn's reappearance in the story to drag Rhine back into a world of experiments in an effort to find a cure for the virus that kills its younger generations in their 20s.
Like with Wither, there's a heavy focus on Rhine's thoughts and emotions, the conflicts and hardships she endures.
I like how the author nicely maintained a sort of grayness when it came to Rhine; how she's both glad to be free but some part of her still misses the comfort of her life in the mansion, how her ties to Linden an Cecily and Jenna didn't just vanish because she left, her struggling with all the feelings of regret and shame about how escaping has affected and hurt Gabriel because she didn't think everything through, and how despite it all, she's still sure that having a choice about her life and the freedom to die or be unhappy if that's what she chooses is more important than the comforts of a a life in a cage.
The writing is very nice; I like the author's style a lot and think she's pretty good at characterization of Rhine and really nails down the complexity of her emotions and thoughts.
Again, however, the romance isn't especially appealing because while Gabriel is sweet and loyal, he isn't a well fleshed out character, and because we spend so much time dealing with Rhine's thoughts about everything else, her relationship development with Gabriel isn't really focused upon. They kiss, they sleep beside one another, they take care of each other, they work alongside one another. Even in this installment where Linden only appears in person within the last like 30 or so pages, he's still the more developed character.
Now that I've read the first two books again, I'm starting to recall the third book a little better and I'm not especially thrilled for it, but we'll see when I've finished it up.
As a trigger warning, there's attempted sexual assault, drug use/addiction/withdrawal, a certain level of vague gore/horror with experiments and medical treatments, sexual slavery, death/murder, pregnancy in children, etc. I wouldn't say anything is super explicit or graphically depicted, it's still in the realm of teen literature, but just a general warning about the atmosphere of the story and what not.
It literally took me half a year to read this book. Basically nothing happened, the MCs were mostly drugged, feverish and hallucinating all the time. This book was practically composed of Rhine's remembering insignificant stories from her past. I was bored the whole time and can't believe I've actually finished it. The last five chapters were slightly better but not enough to salvage this book to me.
This book was a non-stop anxiety attack for me. The entire story had my heart racing and breath catching. I think I must have burned 2000 calories just reading it. Cannot wait for the next one!
------
Total surprise when I opened the poofy envelope from S&S Canada! It made me exclaim out loud, which excited both my dogs, resulting in me having to give them a treat (since they didn't think the book was all that exciting, which made me a silly human).
True story.
------
Total surprise when I opened the poofy envelope from S&S Canada! It made me exclaim out loud, which excited both my dogs, resulting in me having to give them a treat (since they didn't think the book was all that exciting, which made me a silly human).
True story.
I rally enjoyed Wither, but Fever was simply okay. There wasn't enough of Linden in this book and I did not care for some of the content. It is well written, but I felt like a few scenes drug on WAY longer than they needed to. My full review is on my blog. http://jacquesbooknook.blogspot.com/2013/04/fever-by-lauren-destefano.html
Ok I'm really enjoying this trilogy so far. I have a feeling I know how it ends but it's so interesting. Once I started I didn't want to put it down. Lilac's story was so tragic I almost cried when they talked to her mom. Looking forward to the final one.
Things got really exciting at the start - Rhine finally started to do something.
But then the rest of the book (is this a spoiler???) reads like one drug-induced haze.
I could have done with less of the endless hallucinations and more with some action. Again, Rhine is really more of a pawn than a protagonist. I kind of wonder if the story told about Rhine through anyone else's viewpoint, or a mixed viewpoint, might have helped this thing along. Rhine is just waiting around most of the time.
But I'll probably still read the third book when I can get it from the library, just to see how it ends so there you go. It's that engaging.
But then the rest of the book (is this a spoiler???) reads like one drug-induced haze.
I could have done with less of the endless hallucinations and more with some action. Again, Rhine is really more of a pawn than a protagonist. I kind of wonder if the story told about Rhine through anyone else's viewpoint, or a mixed viewpoint, might have helped this thing along. Rhine is just waiting around most of the time.
But I'll probably still read the third book when I can get it from the library, just to see how it ends so there you go. It's that engaging.
Picks up towards the end, but boy was the beginning a slog to get through. I really enjoyed Wither, so this was a disappointment for me. I'll stick around for the finale, but I'm not exactly on pins and needles.
Yes, I did read the first one and think it was largely bad, but yes, I did read the sequel. That's kind of what this series seems to be like. I can't look away? It's bad but entertaining? I don't know, I can't even defend my decision to read this book but I did it and I kind of enjoyed it. It is not high quality, there is a lot of weird stuff having to do with a lack of agency and the main character looking down on sexually exploited girls and she's so weirded out by the very thought of sex and and and and - yeah, it's problematic and annoying. Somehow I want to know how it ends anyway? I don't know. I obviously don't recommend it, but somehow I just can't look away.