Shadowfever

Am I living or dying? My head aches, it throbs. I am in so much pain and it is euphoric! As I write this review, a Cheshire Cat grin threatens to split my face in half! A thousand and one kudos to KMM, one of my ALL time favorite author and wordsmith! Her literary genius is poetry. It is for today and yesterday! I can read the Fever series in 10 years and it will feel like brand new! I know this because I read this series just so many years ago! So long ago! It was my first true PNR that whet an appetite that I knew was already insatiable! The further down the series I went, the more everything became like new! — Besides three imprinted scenes, scenes that stuck and formed some of my best fantastical memories, scenes that inspired my own imagination!– everything was like new! Did it take me two days to read this last book? I felt like I spent a half-life. Shadowfever unfolds so much, I could see how KMM could torture us and split the book in two! Maybe three!

I can’t write about what this book discloses, reveal, what it was about because the network KMM built, the foundation she shakes, the beautiful web that is woven between all characters.. any insight I give is an ultimate spoiler. Calling it a spoiler would be euphemistic; I find it damn near sacrilegious to reveal a damn thing prematurely, before the reader has had the chance to discover every secret and revelation for his or herself. I won’t rob you of this bliss!

That’s what this whole book was! A blissful though dizzying rush of events, delectably stymied by soooo many conflicting emotions, full and overwhelming! I was so engrossed in this book. I questioned everything. I followed my internal compass and I was Mac! That’s what KMM does. She hypnotizes you to living in a world she creates and you won’t know reality from nought! I am not just talking flowery words! I mean this. This review is a confessional! to my future self when I revisit this book! Shadowfever was spellbinding, layered with characters as complex as the circulatory system!

If you haven’t read KMM’s works, you are in for a true treat. Read them and then revisit this series and she tells 3 tales in one! So many of my favorite characters revisited! Even my imagining of The Dreaming is reconstructed. And lastly, a yearning I didn’t even recognize, we get to see the true tale of the Unseelie King and his Queen.

I will never forget JZB. That is all. He does not waste words and I have been generous with mine. He is perfect imperfection. And he is a liar:

Im not the hero, Mac. Never have been. Never will be. Let us be perfectly clear: Im not the antihero, either, so quit waiting to discover my hidden potential. Theres nothing to redeem me.

One more thing imma add, I. keep going on… this book has so many OMG moments, and HOW? WTF! I took a tally as I read and made notes. I took HELLA notes! Surprised and confused and many ‘ ah hahs! I was right!”. This book answered as many questions as it raised: Christian, Dani, Keltars, the 8, the ‘sabbatical’… I need more!

STTL!

4.5 Stars!

Because I couldnt possibly write a review for each of these books individually, this is a review of the original Fever series (books 1 through 5). Not only would it be too difficult to review them on an individual basis, but it just wasnt going to happen because I couldnt stop long enough between books to even be bothered to write a review. I devoured these books.

This is so not my cup of tea. Im a traditional girl. I like believability, relatability, and normalcy. I like original and unique stories but ones that could happen in real life. Fantasy or paranormal? Usually, we dont mesh. This series is definitely an exception.

It did have drawbacks. It was long, at times very drawn out (mostly toward the end), and thoroughly confusing. I know it was the authors intention to keep us guessing and on the edge of our seats, but it got to the point where I had hardly any idea what was going on and it became frustrating. There are so many different facets to this story, so many unnatural laws at play, that its hard to keep everything straight. The game is constantly changing, theres so many players, and the board is unfathomably large. Every time you think youre winning, Moning has rewritten the rules.

But in her defense, it does keep you interested. You become desperate to know what happens. You root for good to trump evil and you rethink what it means to be either one. I was so drawn in to this story and the unforgettable, gripping characters.

Mac and Barrons are damn near perfection. Their chemistry is like nothing Ive ever experienced between two characters. This is the ultimate slow burn. It doesnt get any slower and hotter than these two. Their tension is so powerful. They make you feel so much by doing and saying next to nothing. They are unforgettable.

Take a step out of your comfort zone and read these books. You need to experience this world and these characters. Karen Marie Monings imagination is a work of art. I think if my brain was capable of creating a story of this magnitude, Id go insane. Its probably why she writes. Lucky for us.

Wow! What a sizzling finale! Okay, I know it’s not the end, but this book was an amazing way to end one problem yet leave it completely open for the next. I don’t want to give anything away. I want you to read it yourself. I really don’t think you will regret catching the Fever, and this book made sure that I had caught it and caught it hard.

There was so many surprising moments in this book that I couldn’t find a place to start with them even I wanted to share little details. You all know how much I hate to include spoilers, but I’m telling you that with each book in this series it gets harder and harder to not share even the smallest details.

The beautiful thing about this book is that we get answers to most of our questions. We know where the Unseelie King is and what happened to the Concubine. We also learn more about V’lane and what happened to Cruce. Mac learns more about herself in this book and the terrifying secrets she holds. It’s a must read!

Shadowfever is the fifth book in the Fever series, and urban fantasy series set in Dublin revolving around Fae. It’s also the end of the first part of the series and as such this feels like such an achievement. I’ve always enjoyed these books but I’ve never rated any higher than three stars. Now that I’ve read something of a conclusion I know exactly why. The pacing of these books is very messy. Don’t get me wrong this book was great, probably my favourite so far. It had twist and turns, reveals upon reveal, and the steamy scenes we’ve all been waiting for. But this book was 600 pages, much longer than the others and I think some revels could have been spaced out a little. When you look at the series as a whole (so far) this is your reward as a reader for sticking with these characters and this world. I don’t mind waiting for a payoff like this, it was worth it, but it makes it difficult to recommend the series knowing that it’s a bit of a slow burn. I would also like to say that while I love seeing other POVs I much prefer it being announced in a chapter heading because sometimes I got a little confused. While this review feels a little negative I do want to stress that I really enjoy this series and think that it’s been a lot of fun. I’ve been rereading the previous books in anticipation to this one so I could see myself rereading again in the future. I will also be continuing with the series although I’m a little concerned about the change of perspective in the next book because I do find that particular character’s voice a little annoying. But I am hoping for the best. I am tentatively giving this a 3.75 (rounded up to a 4) because I do think that overall this is a better book than the others and I am impressed that Moning pulled it off given how many players there were in this game.

I kinda ploughed my way through this book. I cant say that I didnt enjoy it but I found myself bored about half way through and only persevered through my love of Barrons and MacKayla! This series started well…promised a great story line and then kind of meandered through it all. Nothing much happened…something happened..nothing happened, something happened…I have to admit though that something kept me reading. The whole Unseelie King story annoyed me and I didnt like it. I dont know if this if the end of MacKayla and Barrons but its as far as Im prepared to go. Could have been 3 books instead of 5 with some serious editing and a lot less of MacKaylas inner monologue!! Not a book to re-read but would make a cool movie!

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