Fever by Lauren DeStefano
Release Date: February 21, 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Pages: 341
Source: Purchased
Rating: 
Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository
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. – Goodreads
Review:
I hate to say it, but Lauren DeStefano’s Fever is yet another disappointing read for me this year. Considering how much I loved Wither, I was very much looking forward to seeing what Lauren DeStefano had up her sleeve in this newest installment. Unfortunately, it was an underwhelming sequel that read like unnecessary filler between the first and final book in the series.
Fever picks up immediately where Wither left off, with Gabriel and Rhine’s escape from the mansion. Normally this would be great, as I hate having to go through a recap of what characters have gone through since the last book, but I wish there had been a pause to allow the Gabriel and Rhine some time to appreciate the success of their freedom. I think there could have been some emotional impact from that. Instead, they’re quickly captured and forced into a carnival brothel under the helm of a character known as Madame. I may be wrong, but the events that took place there didn’t seem to tie in with the series as a whole. Sure, the situation was horrific, but the characters they met and the things they had to go through? Very forgettable as the conclusion approached. It felt like those scenes were only inserted for the shock factor and, without giving anything away, they became very irrelevant when the storyline from the first book resurfaced.
In addition to the dragging pace, the characters came across as very flat. The first book resonated with me because of Rhine’s relationship with the sister wives. For better or for worse, there was feeling between the characters and, for me, that was the highlight of Wither. With Fever, there was no attachment to anyone. Rhine is in a haze for a good portion of the book, which certainly didn’t allow me to connect with her character, but there was no growth from the others either. Gabriel? Same bland guy from Wither. The new characters? Um, I think it’s enough to say that I can barely remember their names.
The last third of Fever really proved to me how full of filler it was. Unlike the previous two parts, the conclusion really picked up steam and easily tied in with the larger series storyline. As I continued on, it was frustrating to see how few pages were left to turn before it was over. THIS was what I had been waiting for the entire book, THESE were the characters I cared about, and OF COURSE I was going to have to wait another year to come full circle.
Overall, I found Fever to be lacking in the emotion and character focus that made me love Wither so much. Lauren DeStefano’s prose was still lovely, but I wish the story arc transitions had tied together more seamlessly. I think the final installment of the series will be an improvement from this one.
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About Stephanie
Oh, man, that sucks that you didn’t like it! I hate filler books or books that hit the Sophmore Slump curse. But fillers are worse because they almost feel deceiving, and, of course, they’re a waste of precious reading time that you can’t get back. :(
— Asher
Sadly it did feel like a waste of time. Like, I could have read the last 40 or so pages right before book 3 was released and I wouldn’t feel lost. :(
Nooooooo don’t tell me this =\ Underwhelming sequel? Filler? I absolutely loved Wither, so I really hope I feel differently about it when I read it, but it’s so disappointing that the story let you down. And especially with the attachment to the characters, because the bond between the girls was such an important part of Wither, I’d hope for something as equally moving from the new characters. At least the ending was a highlight…. even though it was over too quickly for you haha.
Fantastic review, though, so sorry it didn’t live up to expectations!
I hope you feel differently about it too! And if you don’t, we can cry about it together, haha. Hopefully it doesn’t get to that point.
I’ve had this tab open for ages, and it’s about time I finally read and commented on your review.
You know, this is exactly the reason why I don’t like series. Second books are ALWAYS fillers and bothers the hell out of me. I’m no longer tempted to continue with this series.
Thanks for the review!