There are no spoilers in this review.
The Fever King has had its share of hype around the blogosphere, on bookish social media and more and I have to say, I was both very intrigued and very nervous to read this book. I tried my best to get in with close to no expectations at all and thenā¦ well, then I started reading this book and I was swallowed whole. By these words, this world, these characters, everything.
A CAPTIVATING WORLD
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Victoria Lee takes us in an apocalyptic United States where magical viruses spread, either killing people or giving them magical powers. It is a delicious mixture of fantasy and dystopia, artfully done and mixing science, politics and magic in such a way thatās absolutely captivating from page one. Everything is so well detailed and thought of, the picture painted feels vivid and so terrifyingly real, I loved it. If it took me a little while to grasp the world and the way it worked, once I did, I was amazed and completely immersed into it, Victoria Lee’s beautiful writing helping in the way. I loved how different, yet how familiar this world felt, too. So, so well done.
A GREAT CAST OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL, AMAZING CHARACTERS
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You know me: I live for good characters in my books and boy, did that deliver in The Fever King. I rooted and could feel for Noam, the main character, right away and I just adored how complex and how human he was, somehow that really jumped off the page. His growth, from struggling to fighting back, is stunning for sure, but what I appreciated the most is how he keeps on questioning himself about right, wrong, who is he and what he will do for justice. Also I just wanted to protect him from everything and everyone and when that happens, you know this is a character I LOVE.
The side characters made me just as happy (or…well angry, depending on the situation), everyone well thought-of and the most important ones rightly developed on page. Dara was this sweet tortured complex soul that I quite couldnāt understand, at first, but as we peeled the layers and got to know his own trauma, I could feel for him and love him, too.
I also loved that The Fever King manages to give depth to its villains, too, making their motives compelling and not without a harsh background either.
There is romance in The Fever King, yet somehow it does not take all that space, like it happens sometimes in these kind of books. It’s a slow, rightly paced, complex romance that makes you root for them right from the start and until the very end, your heart warming and breaking along with them, too.
OVERALL
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You know when a book stays with you for a while that it made quite an impression and as I write this a little time after actually reading the book, I realized thatās it. The Fever King did make an impression on me and I canāt wait for the world to read it. Definitely recommending it for fantasy/dystopia fans, with amazing diverse, complex characters, twists and turns and heartbreaks and well, if you love a good book, you should read this one.
Final rating:Ā 4 drops!
The biggest thanks to Skyscape / Amazon Publishing for sending me a free digital advance reader’s copyĀ of this book. This did not, in any way, influence my thoughts and rating.
Trigger warnings:Ā violence, intergenerational trauma/genocide, immigration, abuse, parental death, mental health and suicide, slut-shaming, ableist language, drug and alcohol abuse, emetophobia. Details on these trigger warnings can be found on the author’s website.
Diversity: Characters in this story are POC, gay and bisexual, Jewish, and have mental illness.
Victoria Lee, The Fever King, Published by Skyscape, March 1st, 2019.
In the former United States, sixteen-year-old Noam Ćlvaro wakes up in a hospital bed, the sole survivor of the viral magic that killed his family and made him a technopath. His ability to control technology attracts the attention of the minister of defense and thrusts him into the magical elite of the nation of Carolinia.
The son of undocumented immigrants, Noam has spent his life fighting for the rights of refugees fleeing magical outbreaksārefugees Carolinia routinely deports with vicious efficiency. Sensing a way to make change, Noam accepts the ministerās offer to teach him the science behind his magic, secretly planning to use it against the government. But then he meets the ministerās sonācruel, dangerous, and achingly beautifulāand the way forward becomes less clear.
Caught between his purpose and his heart, Noam must decide who he can trust and how far heās willing to go in pursuit of the greater good.
Did you read The Fever King? Do you want to?
What’s the last book that surprised you with its twists and turns? Let me know in comments!
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Iām so glad you liked it, Marie! ? Iāve been wanting to read this book for a while now, and I canāt wait to buy it soon! I just know Iāll love it (and, letās face it, I might even cry) ?
AHH yes, I hope you’ll be able to get it soon and that you will enjoy it as much as I did, I had such a great time with it <3
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment, Xandra! <3
I got an ARC of this book but haven’t started it yet since it’s on my Kindle and I always forget to read on there, haha. But I’m so glad to see that you enjoyed this book! I might just have to start this one this weekend!
Ahhh yay, I hope this might be the reminder you needed to get started with this book! I really, really loved it š
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3
Yay, I am glad you enjoyed this Marie ? Itās on my TBR too. Going to read it next month.
Fantasy is a either a hit or mox for me so I am usually afraid of that genre ? But this book definitely looks promising.
Oh well I hope this one will end up being a hit for you, Sim, fingers crossed! š
Thank you so, so much for your comment, I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on that one š
Oooh! I guess I must have been under a rock (who are we kidding? Under a rock is where I live) because I have not heard of this. But it sounds goooood! I am intrigued by this some people die some people get magical powers scenario.
I am also so with on a romance that compliments a story rather than completely takes it over. Much as in real life, you don’t want you boyfriend to be EVERYTHING.
This was such a great book – definitely worth a read. I loved the world building and, you know me, I especially love it when the characters are so well-developed and just, so, so good. I rooted for the main character so much. I hope you’ll give it a try! š
Thank you so much! <3
I am so glad you enjoyed this book. I saw the hype and wanted to pick it up. But hearing what you had to say has definitely made me want to pick this book up even more.
I really like the sound of complex characters and giving depth to the villain because I think that’s important.
I really like the cover as well.
One of the books that make me think of surprising twists is ‘we are all completely beside ourselves’ by Karen Joy Fowler. I read it ages ago but still my go to when I think of plot twists ?
Lovely review!! ?
I’m so happy to hear that! I hope you will give this book a try someday, it’s worth a read. I loved how complex all of the characters were, so interesting to read about š
Ooh, that’s good to know, I haven’t heard of that book before, I will have to check it out! š
Thank you so, so much! <3
Love this review! I had been hearing whispers about this book here and there, and was looking into it. It sounds super interesting and I’m really looking forward! I recently read The Lies of Locke Lamora, and the amount of twists and turns in that book *stressed me out* ?
Thank you, Chana! I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts about that one, I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did š
Ooooohhh… well I’m all for a good twists and turns kind of books, but I’m not here to stress out too much either ? would you still recommend it? š
Amazing review Marie! I was really looking forward to reading this novel before, and I am even more now! I can’t wait for it to be released ?
Oh thank you so, so much! I hope you will end up loving it as much as I did! <3
I’m really glad you enjoyed this book Marie. I’ve seen plenty of people talking about this book (and I added it to my TBR list because of the hype and how so many people who’d read it and whose opinions on books I trusted were raving about it) but yours is the first review I’ve actually seen (and it’s just made me want to read it more)!
Of course I love fantasy books (dystopian books tend to be a bit hit and miss but hopefully this one will be a hit), I’m glad the characters were all well developed, especially the secondary characters as well, and the fact that you’ve said this is a book that’s going to stay with you means I’m sure I’ll love it.
Great review, š <3
Oh thank you so much, Beth, this means a lot! I really hope I made the book justice and that you won’t be disappointed when you can read it – the hype can be disappointing at times. I hope that won’t be the case for The Fever King though, fingers crossed! š
Thank you so, so much, Beth! <3
Thatās all right, and yeah Iāve had bad experience with hype before but for some reason despite the fact that everyone seems really excited for this book I havenāt seen that many reviews for it. Maybe Iāve just got to read it before I read too many reviews then the hype wonāt have a chance to disappoint me. š
Thatās all right. ā¤ļø
YES YES and you need to update me when you read it, I can’t wait to hear what you think of it š
Of course, Iāll need someone to talk to about it if itās as good as everyone is saying it is! š
I was on the fence of this book and I’m glad you enjoyed me! I think I’ll definitely have to pick it up now. I’ve also been really craving a mix of fantasy and dystopia/sci-fi so this sounds perfect! Loved the review Marie. š
Oh thank you, Madeline, this made me so happy <3 I hope you will end up loving this book as much as I did! š
ahhhh I am so glad you loved this book!!! It is next on my list to read and I am really excited for it. Great review, Marie!
I can’t wait for you to read it, Kaleena, hope you’ll love it š
thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3
I am 50% in now and holy CRAP I LOVE THIS BOOK
AHHH YES YES REALLY AHH, THIS MAKES ME SO HAPPY. Keep me updated on all your feelings, I want to know everythinggg and we can sob together, too, haha. <3
MARIE. MARIE THIS BOOK. I literally went into work late today so I could finish it. MY FEELINGS OMG
AHHH RIGHT ALL THE FEELINGS ALL OVER THE PLACE ughh. I really enjoyed this book so much and that ending, I need more!
My review is literal word vomit garbage this book is too freaking good. I can’t even
AHHHHH I’m sure your review will end up being FABULOUS as always and we’re all here for fangirling screaming reviews!! š
It definitely sounds intriguing!
Yay! I’m glad I could make you curious about that one š thank you so much for stopping by! š
I saw this book around, but I never knew what it was about! It sounds so good. *_* Brilliant review – I really want to read it now!
It is such a good book! Thank you so much, Kyra, I hope you will love it š
Being able to mix fantasy, dystopia, science, politics and magic takes a great author! Fab review!
Agree! Thank you so much my sweechie!! <3
That’s so great this made such a strong impression!! I definitely like the sound of the very realistic world building and it sounds very well executed. Excellent review!
It was so well executed, I was so into the story! Thank you so much! š
This is such a wonderful review, Marie! I’m so glad that you loved this book and that it lived up to the hype. I’ve seen so many people rave about it on Twitter as well, and I’m VERY excited to read it. ?
Oh thank you so, so much Dezzy, I can’t wait for you to read it! I hope you’ll love it š
Great review, Marie! I’m looking forward to read this book! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! š
Oh thank you so much, Raven! I hope you’ll love this book as much as I did š
I’M SO EXCITED FOR THIS!! I’ve had it preordered forever and I’m getting super impatient for release day.?I’m so glad it lived up to the hype for you!!
YAY! I’m so happy to hear this, I hope you’ll love this book as much as I did! š
Great review! I can’t wait to read this book! š
Thank you so much, Ashley! I hope you’ll love it š
wow, I’m actually mad right now. Amazon does this thing for amazon prime members where we get a free book every month, and for february this was one of the options, but I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it, and so I didn’t end up getting it. Now hearing it from your perspective makes me want it. So much regret right now! Great post Marie xxx
Melina | http://www.melinaelisa.com
Oh noooo damn, that’s too bad! I hope you’ll get a chance to read this book another time, it really was SO unique and brilliant. <3
Thank you so much, Melina! <3
So glad you loved this, Marie! Excellent review! I’m interested to hear this is politically charged fantasy – I don’t think I knew and it sounds excellent!
Thank you so much, Elise, I’m so happy you enjoyed it š I hope you’ll get a chance to read this book and will love it š
That sounds absolutely amazing! I love me some great world building where it drags you in and I love when the characters are realistic as if they could dance off the page. I am glad that the romance was steady, well done and complex too. It sounds like the hype was well earned!
Oh yes in that case, the hype was so well earned. I hope youāll give this one a try and will love it!āŗļø