A review by xlizabeth
The Fervor by Alma Katsu

challenging dark sad medium-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? It's complicated

4.5

“The Fervor” was a solid 4.5 for me, and I’ll be adding the rest of Alma Katsu’s historical horror to my TBR. 

I’d recommend this to historical fiction fans wanting to dip their toes into horror, or horror fans not wanting blood & guts horror. 

It takes the approach that King’s “The Stand” does (multiple POVs that come together at the end — not a huge spoiler, its obvious that they will).

We follow a preacher (in Oregon dealing with loss), a reporter (crossing the country dealing with misogyny), and a mother and child (who are in a Japanese internment camp located in Idaho dealing with abuse). I was thrown off by these multiple storylines for a bit since I had surgery in the middle but I think this would be a 4.75 star read if I wasn’t rudely interrupted by my emergency appendectomy. 

This is a social commentary horror story which is my favorite type of horror to read. Anti-Asian rhetoric is the true horror but Alma Katsu has added Japanese Yōkai (supernatural spirits) to elevate the storytelling. Be warned, if you’re scared of spiders I’d stay away from this one. 

Written during a time when both white nationalism and a deadly virus are spreading, this is a truly terrifying read. 
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