By Karen Marie Moning
Series: Fever #5
Synopsis
Mackayla Lane's life has taken quite a turn since arriving in Dublin to search for her sister's killer. The walls between the human world and Faery have come down, wreaking havoc on the world. Now, Mac is dealing with grief, mysteries abound, and she's not even sure who - or what - she is. And yet, Mac must continue her quest to find the Sinsar Dubh, a magical book that can make and destroy worlds.
Appeal
Pacing: Pacing is quick, with twists and turns everywhere. Any reader who thinks they know what is going on is quickly disabused of that notion. The pacing feels almost frantic at times. Some readers may feel like Moning is spinning her wheels in a few spots, but others may be happy for a brief reprieve from the twists and turns.
Frame & Setting: Moning has set up a rich world in which to set the Fever series, and "Shadowfever" continues the building of the worlds she has created. The mythology is thick, and all but requires readers to have read the first four books in the series. The world is built up even more in "Shadowfever," though readers are still far from knowing all of the secrets.
Storyline: The plotting is thick in "Shadowfever"; there is a lot going on in this book. However complicated the story gets, though, the book mostly stays in Mac's point of view, with just a few asides from teenager Dani. This helps keep things a little bit simpler for the reader while deepening the mystery - the reader only knows what Mac knows.
Characterization: Mac is a strong, likable character, and the fact that the reader is in her head during the vast majority of the book means that, even when she makes bad decisions (which she certainly does!), the reader understands her way of thinking. Mac is well-written and complex, as are most of the other characters in the book. Fans of Moning's Highlander romance novel series will also be pleased to see some well-loved characters from those books.
Tone & Mood: The Fever series has a lot of dark elements, and "Shadowfever" is probably the darkest yet in the series. However, Mac's underlying positivity shines through when things seem darkest, and bits of humor pop up throughout. Moning reassured readers throughout the series, in notes at the conclusion of books, that the story is ultimately a positive one, and Moning does make good on that promise despite a lot of darkness.
Style & Language: Moning's writing style is easy to read and understand, though it is peppered with strange names and expressions due to its magical content. "Shadowfever" is a quick read, despite its bulk.
Read-Alikes
In addition to Moning's "Highlander" romance series (especially the later books, "The Dark Highlander," "The Immortal Highlander," and "Spell of the Highlander"), readers may also enjoy paranormal romance and urban fantasy by Sherrilyn Kenyon ("Dark Hunter" series); the Southern Vampire mysteries by Charlaine Harris (upon which the TV series "TrueBlood" is based); and Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson series.
Jenny's Take
The Fever series quickly became almost an addiction, and "Shadowfever," which brings to a satisfying-enough conclusion, if not an outright ending, the story that Moning has been weaving through the series. It's a fast-paced, exciting story with many elements of fantasy, mystery, and romance mixed together in a perfect way.
The things I enjoyed the most about "Shadowfever" were the characters and the setting. Mac does have some pretty dark periods throughout this book, but they are understandable - though I was glad when her positivity came back. She is a very cool, strong, and funny character who feels very real to me. The other characters in the book are also well-written and fleshed-out. I also felt like the characters were inhabiting a real world, and the book allowed me to spend time in that world, with those characters, too.
"Shadowfever" is an absorbing book. This is top-notch urban fantasy, and it will be especially popular with readers who enjoy romance or romantic elements in their books.
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