Review: Shadowfever (The Fever series #5), by Karen Marie Moning

TLDR recap:

Rainbow Mac 1.0 is long gone, leaving a more hardened, determined, black-leather-wearing Mac 5.0 to unravel the final mysteries surrounding the Sinsar Dubh and the King of all the Fae.

***** There are no outright spoilers in this review!  If you have not read the first four books in this series and want absolutely no information or hints about what will happen in them, then do not read this review.  While there are no actual spoilers, there are some vague hints that are intended for readers who have already finished up through Dreamfever.  *****

• Title: Shadowfever
• Series: The Fever series – book #5
• Author: Karen Marie Moning
• Prominent Characters: Mac Lane, Jericho Barrons, V’lane
• Recommended reader age: 17+
• Sexual content level: Moderate, somewhat explicit

Thoughts:

This series really grabs you and takes you along for a mysterious, dark, and sexy ride!  In my review of Darkfever (the first book in the Fever series), I complained about all the self-indulgent “I’m so pretty” commentaries the reader is forced to endure from Mac as she learns her way around Dublin and starts investigating her sister’s murder.  Thankfully, we see the last of that in the third book (and it is much less prominent after Darkfever anyway) when Mac is forced to deal with some very traumatic circumstances of her own.  By book 5, Mac is a weapon forged of diligence, suffering, and self-discovery and she is more determined than ever to get to the bottom of the chaos her world has become.

For a series with such a violently and sexually volatile male lead, there is a whole lotta sexual tension and buildup.  How does Mac keep her hands off Barrons for so long?!  Barrons is the ultimate alpha male, seemingly invincible and terrifyingly reliable at keeping Mac alive.  After the shocking events at the end of book 4 (Dreamfever), I raced online to download Shadowfever and find out what would happen next.  This book does not disappoint!  It successfully resolves multiple plot questions and hanging threads, while continuing to drive the main storylines and relationships.

There is OH so much more I’d like to say about this book and the characters in it, but I’m trying really hard not to post spoilers, so we’ll leave those discussions for the comments below.  Consider yourself warned!  *grin*

Memorable quotes:

Conversations with the Sinsar Dubh…

TIME IS THE ONLY TRUE GOD, AND I AM FOREVER.  THEREFORE, I AM GOD.

Your logic is flawed.  Time is not forever.  It is always.  Past, Present, and Future.  There was a time in the past when you did not exist.  Therefore, you are not God.

Arguing with Barrons is either sadism or foreplay…

I didn’t say I didn’t like you.  ‘Like’ is such a puerile word.  Mediocre people like things.  The only question of any significant emotive content is: Can you live without it?

On parental wisdom…

Daddy told me once that we believe others are capable of the worst we ourselves are capable of.

If you like Shadowfever of The Fever series…

If you enjoyed Shadowfever and the Fever Series, you may also like the the Cassandra Palmer series (starting with Touch the Dark) by Karen Chance. Cassie shares the same “it’s a good day when no one is trying to kill me” philosophy, and also frequently finds herself in amusing-yet-dangerous situations where she has to use her wits and still-developing special skills to prevail.  Both are more urban fantasy than paranormal romance, and both focus on a central young strong female character who is instrumentally necessary in solving some big world-wide crisis.

If you enjoy the intensity of Barrons and are looking for more male leads with his authority and style of presence, check out the Black Dagger Brotherhood stories by J.R. Ward, starting with Wrath’s book, Dark Lover.  The brothers typically each get a book, meaning less time with each couple, but their storylines arc throughout the entire series, making it a really compelling ensemble piece.

If you like Barrons for his cheeky wit and prowess in bed, definitely read the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost, starting with Halfway to the Grave.  Bones is sexy, smart, loyal, powerful, and has a British accent – just about everything you could ask for in a hero.

Final thoughts:

If you have not read this series, START IT NOW!  Barrons makes even the Black Dagger Brotherhood males pale in comparison to his intensity and authority.  Bold claims, I know… but true!  It probably helps that Barrons and Mac get a whole 5 books devoted to their journey, and the journey is not (like so many other series in this genre) based around their relationship, but rather world-changing catastrophic events and consequences.

The Fever series is an addicting coming of age story in a world where nothing is as it seems and secrets are the new currency.  From books 3-5, I literally could not stop reading!  I was on a two-week Pacific Northwest vacation getaway and all I could think about was finding out the next shocker in Mac’s journey.  I was initially drawn to the series when Barrons beat out some other major male players in the paranormal romance/urban fantasy genres in an online “alpha” competition.  The rabid loyalty of Barrons’ fans piqued my interest (he’s more popular than Bones!), and I am SO glad I chose to read this series.  Here’s what I recommend: find some down time, a week or so, and read the Fever Series start to finish.  Don’t get discouraged in the first one (which is still excellent, just annoyingly narcissistic) – read all the way to the end of book three (Faefever), then just TRY to put it down!  *wink*

Rating: Shadowfever

Related links:

http://www.karenmoning.com/ (The Fever series website)

http://www.karenchance.com/ (The Cassie Palmer series website)

http://www.jrward.com/bdb (Black Dagger Brotherhood series website)

http://jeanienefrost.com/ (Night Huntress series website)