"Fever" by Lauren DeStefano Review

Date Published: February 21, 2012

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Number of Pages: 341

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

First Thoughts:

When this book first came out I just wasn’t feeling it; I wasn’t in the mood to read it and therefore put off doing so. But I was browsing the library and it just kind of popped up and I thought I needed to give it a try; I mean it wasn’t going to cost me anything. So after having to renew it one time I finally got myself to read it and though I wouldn’t count it better than the first it did have its moments. The beginning was a little hard to get into so just give it a bit; it’ll get easier to read; easier to reconnect back into Rhine’s world. This book had a lot of complicated twists and turns, there’s a lot more to be discovered in this world that’s for sure.

Plot:

So like I mentioned earlier the beginning was a little rough, it was hard for me to snap back into the world and connect with Rhine again. It took me a good part to finally get back into the world and be interested. But once I was the plot became twisted and full of new scenery and action, there was plenty of interesting ideas introduced in this book and I’m glad it wasn’t full of primping and luxury, we as the reader really got to see the characters world in this book; we got to see what life was outside of the mansion; to really see how the other people in this world are living…and wow the images and symbols this author put into this book were amazing. As for the concept I still like it, I like that it doesn’t have really any supernatural or paranormal qualities to it; it’s just a dystopian book portraying the fate of the US years and years away from now. And though this might never come true (It is fiction after all) I still like all the thought and care the author put into this story. She added in ideas that would interest a young reader and created a story that any person can take to heart. And the plot in this book had plenty going for it once it got over that rough patch in the beginning, it had all the required elements required but also has an ending that will leave you wanting more. And like some books lately this doesn’t seem to be stretching out the story, I feel there’s so much to explore in this world. As far as the pace of the book it was slow at times but then quick at others, so really they just kind of balanced each other out. So overall I enjoyed the plot of this book and liked the added elements this author added to this world. It gave this book a more somber/depressing feel but aren’t most dystopia’s supposed to be that way?

Romance:

There was romance in this book but it was in no way overwhelming, I thought the author created the perfect balance between romance and the actual “Meat” of the story. The romance was more sweet and gradual not in any way pushy or overwhelming. And near the end it gets even more complicated and I’m not quite sure where the author is going to go with this, I guess all we can do is wait. But overall I enjoyed this aspect of the book and wouldn’t want to have it any other way.

Characters:

I really enjoyed some of the new characters introduced, they really added another layer to this world and made the read that much more enjoyable. I thought Rhine was easy to connect with once I was able to get into the story and though she’s changed some she’s still there. I really think in this book you can see how their world is starting to weigh down on them…their actions and the way they talked really showed the reader exactly how bad their world is and I really liked that about this book. It was like at times a character didn’t have to say a word; their expression said everything. I didn’t really find any unnecessary characters in this book; each one had their own part to play. So overall I enjoyed the characters in this book.

Transformation of the Character:

You could see the characters start to change in this book, though I don’t think there were any complete transformations; they were mostly in their own stages of changing. And I liked that; each one is taking their time to transform; it really makes them more believable. Overall this was a good aspect to the book but didn’t really add or deter from the book.

Description:

The description in this book was good, I especially enjoyed the way she painted the scenes of the carnival…well maybe not carnival don’t think you could really call it that but it was in a way but either way it was very well described and easy to picture. It really showed the reader the state of minds to some of the people of her world and opened up new ideas for the reader. Some of the other scenes were really well described, I think the pure description itself really told the story, it allowed the issues to be described and felt rather than told. And as for the dialogue in the book it was good, there wasn’t too much or too little, and it seemed to be true to the character. So overall I felt the description really added another texture to this world and without it I wouldn’t have enjoyed this book as much as I did.

Style:

This was written in one POV but it felt at times felt like was in the eyes of some of the other characters. As for the authors writing it was just as easy and fun to read as the first book. Though I felt in this book her writing shifted a little, it seemed a little more dark and somber than in the first book which would make perfect sense due to what is happening to the characters in this book. But either way I still enjoyed the author’s writing. It was almost addicting at times. So overall I enjoyed this aspect of the book.

Quote of the book:

““I lost everyone I loved," I tell him. I wait for him to look at me, and then I add, "The day I met you.””

Goodreads Summary:

Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind.

Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.

The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.

In the sequel to Lauren DeStefano’s harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price - now that she has more to lose than ever.

Last Thoughts:

I would recommend this to fans of Wither and YA dystopia lovers. If you didn’t enjoy the first book I really don’t think you will enjoy this one. But overall I enjoyed the book and found it quite enjoyable. The ending really left me yearning for more. Though I can wait for the next book to come out I still enjoyed it enough to want to know what happens. So overall I hope you enjoy this book just as much as I did and happy reading!!

My Rating: