A review by bookaquarius
Fevered Star by Rebecca Roanhorse

adventurous emotional slow-paced

I finished Fevered Star and I have some mixed feelings! It was okay, nothing mind blowing. This book feels like it doesn’t have an established identity compared to book one or how I imagine book three will go. I think it felt too surface level to me and I wish there had been more depth to the relationships, the motivations, and the revelations about characters. Overall, I found the pacing to be a major issue. It took forever to get going and we spent most of the book flitting between perspectives where nothing much was happening beyond people staring at each other and questioning loyalties. Perhaps it was supposed to be part of the experience for readers to feel as if they’re in the dark but I found it a bit too obscure at times because all the plotting seemed to be happening off-page. I’d find myself in the middle of a scene wondering how we even got there. This also made it hard to understand motivations and sometimes things would come to a head without sufficient reveals. There was not enough of Serapio having actual feelings or plans in this book, he was so distant and aloof but maybe that is a reaction to the events of book 1. I wish there had been more development of the relationships between characters generally. The development between Iktan and Xiala was interesting but it still felt based on nothing. I think we were left to assume the existence of meaningful relationships without much to go on. The history between Xiala and her mom fell flat for me too, it just seemed so odd. 

I do think there were good moments. The last 1/3 was more interesting even though it was rushed (given all the time dedicated to the characters not talking to each other). It sets up book 3 to be more interesting! Narampa finally stopped pretending to be a politician which will hopefully help her storyline evolve. I also like that Xiala will be heading off on another mission in book 3. 

REREAD: The summary of my thoughts is there were not enough development done to make the little explanation of character motivations we had make sense, the reveals were not satisfying enough because so much plotting happened off page, the interactions between characters left a lot to be desired (we get it—you don’t trust anyone), and Xiala was really frustrating in this book because wdym you’re this deeply in love and don’t care to think about the massacre at all? “He doesn’t deserve to die!” Because you love him? Okay. The entire “hold on Sarapio, I’m coming” thing was very irritating to me bc what are you even going to do when you get to him? No money, no connections, no plan, can’t fight, just want to cling to him. After being a badass ship captain and sailor? No thoughts, head empty???

The last third—once again—was the best part. Things finally picked up and started happening on the page. It was a great set up for the next book, but it left me wishing it had been more evenly paced throughout the book because the first half felt so wasted in comparison. 

So overall I did not like it as much as the first book, I think the characters went in directions that just did not make sense to me. But now I feel prepared going into book three and I hope things pick up again!