Thank you for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was everything I wanted and more. The romance was great. The magic was unique and brilliant. I loved all the characters!

I really hope there is going to be a second book!

Give me a few hours... Or days... To dissect this. It was crazy. Diabolical. Absolutely outrageous. My brain hurts from the fact that I can't stop over analyzing everything that happened, all the subtle hints.

Guys. This book made me so angry. But it was GOOD. But I'm angry. I am SO, SO, SO ANGRY

This book was a wild ride from beginning to end, especially that ENDING.

SCREAMS.

Victoria is the only author that really doesn't care about taking your heart and ripping it in several hundred pieces while burning your crops and running over your children. Bloody ruthless if you ask me.

I can't wait for book 2. I need to know that (redacted) is okay, that there will be an uprise... Please..

A more detailed review to come after my thoughts process and I stew on my thoughts.

But guys... Watch out... This book .. this new series... Is coming for you.

**3.5 stars**

This is one of the few times I don’t know what to make of a book after I finish it.

“The Fever King” tells the story of a future where the country is in shambles and real world politics including immigration and the refugee crisis plays out with a magic touch as Noam finds himself on the other side of a war when he survives the plague to become a witchling. With his new found power and a place on the inside he finds himself struggling with his loyalty as those from the past and his present both fight for a new world.

There is a lot that happens in this book and I have to admit at certain points it got a little muddied as to what was happening as both sides of this conflict rose up to the events in the climax and it was a little hard to follow along but it does manage to smooth itself out in the quieter moments.

That being said can we all cry for Dara? I don’t think I’ve gotten this protective over a character since my dear sweet fox who will remain nameless so I don’t spoil anyone and let me tell you I’m a wreck. There were more than a few moments throughout the book where I got that sick feeling in my stomach and to have that entire emotional reveal in the midst of chaos and the aftermath of that conversation was absolutely heartbreaking.

For a young adult book this story contains heavy themes and language that definitely fits the situations at hand but isn’t often seen in the genre, it didn’t bother me as I read but I could see some people on the younger side of the audience who might have issues.

There’s not much that I can say about this book as a whole as the plot tried to do too much too quick without a real statement, as of yet, to the big picture politics it’s commenting on though there are clear nods of that symbolism to present day, but Noam and more importantly Dara are the main reasons I plan on continuing with the series and I hope the rest can catch up with their greatness.

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

Victoria Lee has said that she wrote The Fever King with the intention to express intergenerational trauma, drawing on her own background as a Jew as well as a survivor. I would say she's definitely achieved that goal - The Fever King is a post-apocalyptic tale about dealing with loss, multi-generational effects of immigration, and survival in an oppressive society. It centers on two queer boys reeling from loss, struggling to withstand a government that seems set on destroying them while slowly (very slowly) beginning to fall for each other. While a bit slow at times, The Fever King sets itself apart from many other post-apocalyptic (set in the US) stories; well worth a read.

How to even begin with this book....this is a breath of fresh air. Many books in the YA genre seem to view their readers as children who need to be protected from big ideals, social commentary, or from the darker sides of the human condition. This book doesn't do that. It is unflinching when it comes to sex, philosophy, social erosion, and even cursing. It just toes the line of YA if the main characters were a bit older which honestly in my opinion would have only strengthened the book and its subject matter then this easily could have been a regular adult novel. The writing is wonderful and fast paced. For me this was a highly anticipated book because of its representation for people of color, jewish people, and lgbtq people. The book did not in any way disappoint. However given that the main characters are dropping Marxist and Leninist philosophical arguments every chapter the fact that these are mostly teenagers made the book feel at times a little ridiculous and heavy handed. Its difficult to take a 16 year old anarchist seriously especially when he routinely thumbs his nose at better judgment and attacks every whim he has with a petulant my way or the highway attitude. That said the book was a fun read and managed to create a fresh take on magic and what people would do with it if it suddenly emerged in our world.

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for this early copy!

I felt that parts dragged a bit for me but overall it was a unique YA Fantasy with interesting characters. I would recommend this one if you like slow burn plots and a heavy focus on characters.

Wow. Amazing. With a voice that sings and characters that dance with your heart, The Fever King is sometimes light, sometimes dark, but always fantastic. I cannot wait to read more from the author.

It was coverlove at first sight when I saw The Fever King first mentioned and after investigating further I really liked the sound of the blurb was well. I think that magic acting like a virus is a fascinating idea and a great starting point for a new series... The Fever King is set in a dystopian alternative future where a magical virus has been killing a lot of people for more than a century; the survivors end up being witchings with supernatural powers. They are basically a mix between witches and superheroes and it is an interesting take on the whole 'a spider bit me' phenomenon. Not everything about the plot might be all that original, but it is the characters who make this story stand out for me. For a YA dystopian series, there is a lot of focus on the characters rather than the dystopian world, but in this case I didn't mind that much. Would I have liked to see more development of the alternative future the characters have to struggle in? Maybe. But Noam, Dara and even Lehrer make up for those holes and make this story worthwhile. Noam and Dara are easy to like and it was interesting seeing their characters and interaction evolve over time. Even Lehrer proved to be an interesting character, although I did had my guesses about him which turned out to be right... The other characters could have had more character development though. I did like how none of the three main characters is clearly good or bad, the author instead opting for blurred lines and basically humanity. The story started out quite slow, but picked up in the second half up to the point that it felt like a race against the clock. The writing is overall engaging and makes it easy to get to know and root for certain characters. Some of the plot twists were easy to guess and I didn't agree with everything, but overall this was without doubt a very entertaining start of a new series. It does end with a cliffhanger though, so you've been warned...

A soft 3 stars. This is an urban fantasy novel that feels more like science fiction/alternative history. It's the 22nd century, and North America is divided into several different countries in the aftermath of a worldwide disaster. A magical plague that first hit back in our day that kills over 90% of the people who get infected with the virus. Those who survive have a variety of magical powers.

Noam is a bisexual refugee in the country of Carolinia, the son of a Jewish mother and a Hispanic father (how's that for diversity representation?). When he survives a plague outbreak that kills his father and most of the people he knows, he emerges with magical powers over technology that make him very valuable to the people in charge. Noam accepts his new role as the minister's protege, but plans to use his new position and power to bring down the government, which has been extremely hostile to refugees. But then things get complicated ...

The writing is a little disjointed and unclear for the first half (I really wanted more worldbuilding). I wasn't really enjoying it, just plowing through. But then it gets much clearer, and the ending is exciting, with some solid twists and turns. This is the first book in a series, and though it doesn't leave you with a terrible cliffhanger, the story is clearly unfinished.

The Fever King has had its share of hype around the blogosphere, on bookish social media and more and I have to say, I was both very intrigued and very nervous to read this book. I tried my best to get in with close to no expectations at all and then… well, then I started reading this book and I was swallowed whole. By these words, this world, these characters, everything.

A CAPTIVATING WORLD
💭
Victoria Lee takes us in an apocalyptic United States where magical viruses spread, either killing people or giving them magical powers. It is a delicious mixture of fantasy and dystopia, artfully done and mixing science, politics and magic in such a way that’s absolutely captivating from page one. Everything is so well detailed and thought of, the picture painted feels vivid and so terrifyingly real, I loved it. If it took me a little while to grasp the world and the way it worked, once I did, I was amazed and completely immersed into it, Victoria Lee’s beautiful writing helping in the way. I loved how different, yet how familiar this world felt, too. So, so well done.

A GREAT CAST OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL, AMAZING CHARACTERS
💭
You know me: I live for good characters in my books and boy, did that deliver in The Fever King. I rooted and could feel for Noam, the main character, right away and I just adored how complex and how human he was, somehow that really jumped off the page. His growth, from struggling to fighting back, is stunning for sure, but what I appreciated the most is how he keeps on questioning himself about right, wrong, who is he and what he will do for justice. Also I just wanted to protect him from everything and everyone and when that happens, you know this is a character I LOVE.

The side characters made me just as happy (or…well angry, depending on the situation), everyone well thought-of and the most important ones rightly developed on page. Dara was this sweet tortured complex soul that I quite couldn’t understand, at first, but as we peeled the layers and got to know his own trauma, I could feel for him and love him, too.

I also loved that The Fever King manages to give depth to its villains, too, making their motives compelling and not without a harsh background either.

There is romance in The Fever King, yet somehow it does not take all that space, like it happens sometimes in these kind of books. It’s a slow, rightly paced, complex romance that makes you root for them right from the start and until the very end, your heart warming and breaking along with them, too.

OVERALL
💭
You know when a book stays with you for a while that it made quite an impression and as I write this a little time after actually reading the book, I realized that’s it. The Fever King did make an impression on me and I can’t wait for the world to read it. Definitely recommending it for fantasy/dystopia fans, with amazing diverse, complex characters, twists and turns and heartbreaks and well, if you love a good book, you should read this one.

Truthfully . . . I was not expecting to fall so in love with The Fever King. I make it a point to not expect much from anything new I read now because there have been some cases of over-hyping that make the book even more of a disappointment. Fortunately, The Fever King lived up to the hype and then some. This book entranced me from the very beginning with its magic.

The writing is so so so good, both the prose and the world-building. I found myself irritated at times with some characters' inability to communicate, but that was actually a good thing. It was intentional for character arcs and for certain reveals throughout the book. In other words, I was actually affected by the happenings of this book; it was like I was there in the world with the characters.

Lee sends us into a world that is fully developed. I got slight vibes from The Darkest Minds, in that both are set in a fractured US after the epidemic of a disease that leaves magical powers. Here, the powers are rooted in science; your presenting power stems from something you have an intrinsic knowledge of, and you can develop different powers from there. For example, Noam is a technopath and can manipulate technology, and he eventually develops telekinesis after forming a better understanding of physics.

I would genuinely lay down my life for these characters. Dara, if you're reading this, know that I love you. Noam is a great protagonist and I love following the story from his point of view. And a bi main character! I love!! Truly, I don't know how much more I can articulate my love for them and the other characters in Level IV without giving away spoilers, so just know that I am desperate for their happiness and I cannot bear to see them suffering (the next book is really going to hit me hard, huh).

I absolutely cannot wait for The Electric Heir after that ending. This book gripped me with its politics and its idealism, the characters and their relationships. The Fever King's magic is lasting, in that you won't be able to put this book down, nor will you be able to stop thinking about it when you finally have to; it's exhilarating and heartbreaking and hot, it's bold and extraordinary, it's magical and thought-provoking, it's . . . electrifying.

**This post will be up on March 22, 2019, as a part of the blog tour.**

Wow! This book was amazing from start to finish. I loved it so much that I went online and purchased the hardcover for me and my friend. I was absolutely blown away and now I can’t wait for everyone to read this book.

What do you get when you mix politics, immigration, magic, and a fantastic M/M romance? You get the greatness that is The Fever King, is what you get.

Honestly I had no idea what I was in for when I first heard about The Fever King. I mean once upon a time I stayed away from all books having to do with fantasy and magic and here I was wanting to read this debut that was not only a fantasy including magic, but also was a politically driven story. I truly wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into. But I had nothing to be worried about. The Fever King ended up being a fantastic journey with a lot of unexpected twists and turns (and a last 20% of the book leaving you breathless), and the perfect way to kick off a new series.

The Fever King is a book about Noam, the son on undocumented immigrants, who is orphaned after viral magic takes his father and leaves Noam with the ability to control technology. Now Noam has the interest of the minister of defense and his life is not his own anymore. As Noam gets further and further into this new life and closer to Calix Lehrer he is soon learning things about himself and his government that he can’t unknow and meeting people {DARA!!!!} that will forever change his life.

It’s hard for me to pinpoint what I enjoyed so much about The Fever King. I guess when I think about it it was all of the components as a whole that made it such a great reading experience. The story flowed easily and the characters had a naturalness to them that I appreciated. I also really loved that the plot felt so now and current and it felt like something I hadn’t read before. Noam, Dara and Calix are people I found myself wanting to know more about and I can’t wait to get book 2 so I can.

I’m trying to think of what to tell you to make this a book you will want to read. Will telling you it is a fantasy that is heavily based in technology do the trick? What about if I say it is a LGBT book with two adorable boys? What about if I tell you about how politics and immigration plays a huge role in the story? So much awesomeness and not enough words to describe it. Instead I will just tell you, READ THE BOOK and be done with it.

It’s hard to say in a sentence what The Fever King is about.

You could say it’s about Noam, a Jewish Latino bisexual teen who survives the magic virus that kills most of the population and leaves him a witching, status which grants him a spot among the people he and his family have always fought against. You could say it’s about impossible decisions and the line between right and wrong. You could say it's about intergenerational trauma and what it does to the individual and to a community.

The Fever King is a book that will draw you in and make you care about the characters and the story. Even if you are not familiar with the genre (I would say it’s YA political fantasy/dystopia), the narrating voice of Noam guides you through the book in a way that draws from more light-hearted YA books. That is to say, Noam is a joy to read and he manages to make you smile and laugh even amidst all the stuff that goes on in the book. Sometimes I found like this could have been toned down a little, and at times I felt like the type of narrative used was more proper of a first person POV than the third person used here, but that's just a personal preference.

I loved the magic system and the fact that, even with magic powers, people still need to know the science behind what they’re doing (eg knowing physics in order to move objects with telekinetics). That's something I wish was more present in books with magic because it's always so interesting to see and much better than when magic has no explanation or rules.

One of the strongest things this book has to offer are the many political themes that I don’t feel qualified enough/entitled to talk about. I encourage you to read Victoria Lee's words about some of the themes that shape this book.

I'm not going to lie, I struggled a lot (for months!) trying to write a review, because this is such an important book and I felt so bad not giving it a full five stars. I also read an early copy and I don't know how much the final product will be edited, but I fully plan on rereading it because the only problems I had were in the writing, which to me feels somewhat debut-y. I felt like the worldbuilding could've been better interwoven into the plot instead of being sometimes dumped in a big bulk. Sometimes it was tell-y instead of show-y, and I think certain *hints* were a little too obvious for my tastes.

Those are just my personal preferences though, and I don't want anyone to think that this isn't an incredible debut. There were so many points that made me laugh out loud and others made me SCREAM because they were some of the most evil things I've seen done by an author, and I mean that in the best way possible of course.

Some reasons you shouldn't go into this book is if you're expecting it to be about 100% good people (they're not) and also if you don't like gay shit. But in that case you can gently go fuck yourself and it's your loss I guess, because e v e r y o n e in this book is wonderfully queer.

TWs: list of trigger warnings on the author's website, plus a few I feel like adding: sickness resulting in death of a child, mention of c.p., murder, blood, gore.

I cannot speak highly enough of this story. First of all, it features significant diversity and is both very inspiring and empowering. It's politically relevant in a way that would compel even the least politically-connected teens. It's also worth mentioning how clearly brilliant the author is. The world and the rules behind the magic feel both very plausible and detailed. Part of what makes the story so edge-of-your-seat exciting is the fact that it does feel possible, the characters do feel real, and the stakes are palpable. Lee doesn't shy away from weighty topics and we are rewarded for it.

The first 65% of this book was so boring I was deeply concerned I’d have to DNF it. And then – incredibly – the plot went from plodding along to flat-out sprinting. Honestly, I nearly got whiplash from the sudden change of pace.

But! It’s that change of pace which definitely saved this book from utter tedium.

In this futuristic world, the US has been split into two countries – Carolinia, the north, and Atlantia, the south. The two sides have a relationship similar to that of the modern-day US and Mexico. Refugees from Atlantia constantly try and escape into Carolinia, which is richer and has better resources.

Carolinia, however, strongly objects to these illegal immigrants. Atlantians often bring diseases with them: not just any disease, but magic. Magic manifests itself as a fever, and only if you survive it (very unlikely) will you get magical powers. Most of Carolinia’s government has magical powers, but they don’t want the huge death tolls that would result from Atlantians infecting the general Carolinian population with the disease.

Sixteen-year-old Atlantian Noam Álvaro has just survived the fever which killed his father. But when he wakes, it’s to discover that Calix Lehrer – the immortal, all-powerful Minister of Defence for Carolinia – has taken a special interest in him. Noam hates the Carolinian government for its treatment of refugees. He’s determined to bring it down… and maybe, just maybe, he has an ally in Lehrer.

Let’s go over what I liked about the book first.

✴️ Noam’s love interest Dara Shirazi, Lehrer’s adopted son, was a great character. He’s damaged, loyal, protective, angry… it was wonderful seeing the slow-burn romance develop.

✴️ I loved how the three main characters – Noam, Dara, and Lehrer – were all very much shades of grey. I’m a sucker for moral ambiguity, and The Fever King had that in spades.

✴️ The political intriguing moved very slowly for most of the book, but in the last third it became a whirlwind of twists.

✴️ I did appreciate that Noam was a bisexual Jewish boy of Argentinian ancestry.

Now… for the dislikes.

✴️ This is my biggest gripe. THERE WAS A VERY STRONG AND DISTINCT LACK OF THE PLUPERFECT TENSE. It jarred my nerves constantly. The author seemed utterly unaware that such a tense existed, which really damaged the quality of the narrative.

✴️ Noam acted weirdly stupidly at times. Like, he broke into a top-security government building, but he had zero plan – no disguise, no idea what his excuse would be if he got caught, nothing. It’s got to be one of the dumbest things I’ve seen a character do.

✴️ It took me a while to be clear on what exactly happened to splinter the US into these two countries, and I’m still not sure if I get it. Also, it’s mentioned that at one point, the American people voted themselves a king. I’m not American, but I venture to suggest that there is nothing the American people are less likely to do.

✴️ The book is very short on character descriptions, which was okay for the main characters – because I’m invested in those – but meant I could barely tell the side characters from one another.

On the whole:

A fairly good book, which improved so much at the end that I’ll be reading the sequel. I would recommend this to anyone okay with slow-burn romance and slow-burn plot.

The politics in this book are deep and gloriously complex, the characters are bitter and angry (rightfully so), and the magic system blends technology in an utterly unique way. I flew through this in only a few sittings.

You know that feeling when you climb on a roller coaster and you are anxious, yet excited? Then the ride dips and your insides go wild, your heart races and you aren’t sure if you’ll make it to the end. It goes on like this until the ride stops, you get off, your legs wobble and the pounding of your heart cannot be contained. THE FEVER KING is that experience – but in book format.

I’ve been blessed with an ARC of The Fever King. I read it in a few weeks (it took this long because I didn’t want it to end). I’m here to tell you it is next level. The perfect blend of magic, politics and messed up characters. The magical concept is new and vibrant. It takes the form of a virus which either kills you or makes you a Witching. Even with the twist, it still carried the magical atmosphere of new possibilities.

Victoria managed to ease the reader into a political filled plot, without making them confused about what was going on. The politics were presented in a clear way which didn’t make me scratch my head and wish for it to end. It was full of intrigue and kept me hooked. I think even the most anti-political person would appreciate the political theme.
The characters glue the entire story together. Noam, Dara and Lehrer are the three main characters. Each one of them will influence you in another way (believe me). They’re arcs are so complex and gray that you like them even when you don’t.

Noam is the kind of character you connect with on an emotional level. He feels like a friend you haven’t seen in a while, one who is up to something and you’re slightly worried to find out what. He is also a friend you desperately want to help, but unfortunately you cannot, because he has a mind of his own. His actions are driven by experience and circumstances. He does not wait around for something to happen, he makes it happen. Noam is going to break your heart and stitch it together. You might be angry at him for a while, but it won’t last. Because deep down inside you know he has his reasons.

Dara will probably steal your heart. He was everything I didn’t know I loved in a character. He had various layers, each with a different part of his personality shining through. He was messy and vulnerable, yet he carried his facade around like a glass of bourbon.

Lehrer was…something else. Sophisticated, well-dressed and you never quite know his agenda. He was a well-developed character in more aspects than one. Added in between the main story were pieces of transcripts and paper clippings, giving the reader a glimpse into Lehrer’s background. It was done in such a way that I had to pause and think everything over before I could continue reading.

The ending was one which broke my heart- but in a good way. Instead of wanting to fling my Kindle across the room, I was holding it closer, savouring the last words. Everything weaved together seamlessly to create a satisfying story, from the first page to the last.

The Fever King is one of those books that stay with you long after you’ve read it. This book is important for so many different reasons. It tackles current problems the world is facing in a way which shows different perspectives. I could relate to the characters and circumstances on several occasions. And I can imagine even more people identifying with the book and feeling seen.

IT'S A MUST READ!

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts below are my own. Quote featured are from an unfinished copy of the books and are subject to change*

In Carolina, a country part of the what was once the United States, sixteen-year-old Noam Álvaro wakes up alone in a hospital bed. Sent there after deadly viral magic swept through his neighborhood, he’s now alone, his family killed. Still, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Now a technopath thanks to deadly magic, his ability to control technology attracts the Minister of Defense. Inviting Noam to train with the magical elite, he’s asked to help serve his country by training to become one of their elite magical soldiers. But as the son of undocumented immigrants in a country whose Prime Minister promotes nothing but oppression of immigrants, the last thing Noam wants to do is help the government and wipe away the years he’s spent fighting for the refugees. So he embraces the opportunity as a way to finally make change, accepting the minister’s offer to teach him the science behind his magic and secretly planning to use it against the government. But when he meets the minister’s ward and all his dangerous beauty, Noam becomes less certain if what he’s doing is right. Stuck between his longing for change and wishes for love, Noam must decide if trust is a thing he can give out liberally, or if the more he lends his heart out, the faster his world might come crashing down around him.
This book was what I’ve been waiting for for so. Damn. Long. Ever since the day I saw one of the author’s beautiful aesthetics on her twitter (which you should definitely check out) I knew that I had to read this book. Why, you may ask, were you hooked on this book from the start? For most books, this might be a relatively hard question to answer. But for The Fever King, I never once questioned my seemingly undying love for its concept, characters, plot, setting, and just about everything else. So, let’s go over a few of these.

“Power’s a nasty thing, and none of us are immune.”

The first aspect that I was completely in love with was one that I feel isn’t discussed that frequently: dark characters. I’ve read many synopsizes and descriptions of books, and I feel like a common theme in many of them is saying that the book contains ‘dark’ characters or themes. As the person that I am, this attracts me to the point where I would do anything to get my hands on the book. The problem occurs when I get the book and finally get to read it. The book that claimed so frequently to be filled with darkness and pain, isn’t, leading me to feel let disappointed. When it came to The Fever King, I was excited because yes, it’s described by having dark characters, but the author also backed this up with amazing aesthetics and excerpts of things such as the first chapter (subscribe to her newsletter for more of this). And when I finally got to read the actual book… well it’s safe to say that excited couldn’t even get close to describing how I felt. Like, WOW. From page one, an almost painful sense of sorrow can be felt through the pages of Noam’s story as he goes through trauma unlike anything else I’ve read before. And even when something ‘light’ occurs, the sense that something can still go wrong is prevalent. This is caused by a few different elements, one of which being articles that the author includes at the ends of some chapters. The true definition of dark and particularly clinical, these articles chronical one of the character’s trauma while helping to promote the overall feel of the book by creating its dark history. Horrid descriptions of terrifying experiments and twisted recorded conversations are featured through these, making the reading wonder just how destructive and horrifying this world is.

“I take back what I said about silence.”

These articles would mean nothing without the setting. In a post-war Carolina, the world is in shambles. Yes, there are some ‘good’ parts to some of the cities, but most of the people live in disease-ridden ruin and struggle to survive because of the poor treatment they receive. So who exactly are these people who are treated so horribly? They’re citizens from the country lining Carolina’s border—Atlantia. Fleeing their home country to purse a better, safer life in Carolina, they’re often treated like disease ridden rats, given little if any rights, treated horribly, and left to die by the hundreds from the viral magic. Being Atlantian is a big part of Noam’s identity. Fighting for Atlantian rights for as long as he’s been alive, all he wants to do is to continue in his parent’s footsteps and help them. I loved how Lee included this aspect into her book and wove it in so beautifully. The way she discusses a topic so current to our world is breathtaking. Readers will appreciate how she didn’t just mention it once and let it be, but fully ingrained this theme throughout the book, showcase the horrid and disgusting lengths that some leaders might go to prove a point or please the wealthy. The way that she discussed fascism in a young adult book was truly unique, and how she dealt with it even more so.

“‘That’s super Atlantian territory now, right? I heard it’s pretty overcrowded, with all the refugees.’
‘Yeah. I guess it’s…’—what the hell was he even saying?—‘super Atlantian.’”

This theme was seen prominently in Noam and how he dealt with things. As I mentioned before, Noam was practically raised in fear of the Carolinian government and all that they might do to his people. But he was also proactive in his fight against them, doing all he could possibly do to help. When he was originally taken to train, he almost decided not to go but changed his mind when he discovered the power that his new role could grant him. And though he learns not to be so fearful of the pain the government could inflict on him simply because he was Atlantain, his pain and motivation doesn’t lessen. If anything, it gets stronger. The character of Noam is one that would appeal to many in this sense because the sheer motivation and anger that pushes him to act. I loved how he embodied all those that are marginalized and pushed down. The way he moves in such fervor to get to his goal, the way he can be blinded by his ambition at times but still fights for what he believes in, is breath-taking. One other aspect that is so refreshing about his character is that though he actively fights, he still feels the pain of being an Atlanitan. In the quote above, he takes part in a conversation with others from the training center where they say things about his people that, while are not necessarily horrible, are degrading and uncomfortable. Readers would appreciate this as Lee shows the various sides of the immigrant, or minority, experience. How these people speak so plainly about another’s people, thinking of them as a nuance and not as a struggling minority group, and can’t comprehend how horrible their words are, is sadly something that happens every day.

“A moment passed, then Dara abruptly turned his face away. His spine was too straight, head bowed like he was waiting for the blade to fall.”

The fight for immigrant rights wasn’t the only aspect of the book that helped make it the masterpiece that it is. Trauma, a thing that Lee showcased beautifully, was heavily present. And though it was written more obviously for some and more hidden in others, it was such a strong aspect of the book that it would not be complete without it. Now this is the part of my review where I WISH everyone already read it because DAMN I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT THIS. But, I will contain myself and hopefully still successfully explain the absolutely magnificent job Lee did with including this in the book. In the world we live in, there are a few main types of reaction to trauma, including the person who does something about it, the person who allows it to ruin them, and the person who allows it to engrain with their being and take over their world. Each of these people are present in this book. Written in a way that felt oh so real, these characters in no way behaved like Lee just read an article about trauma and decided to write it into her book. Instead, Lee gives them each their own variations and made sure that not a single aspect about them was left loose and sloppy. From subtle things that readers might not notice right away, to aspects of a personality that both the reader and characters won’t realize are destructive until too late, Lee uses this aspect to once again give a new dimension to her characters. This blends in with how she describes the immigrant experience. Many people don’t think much beyond immigrants besides the fact that they are there. Fewer think about helping them. It’s an even smaller group that thinks about what they might be going through once they are ‘safe’ or a full citizen. This is the group of people that Lee seeks to expand. And while this is not necessarily true for all of her characters that experiencing trauma, it’s still an important part them. Lee includes these themes to help educate the youth, something that can’t be said for many books in the same genre. By exposing readers to new aspects of life, she helps turn a simple book into something that means much more.

“‘You’re Jewish?’
Lehrer lifted a brow. ‘Do they leave that part out of the history books? He said, and Noam laughed, surprising himself.”

Another aspect that was much needed in the YA world was all the representation it had, in particular the Jewish and LGBTQ rep. I’ll preface this that while LGBTQ+ used to only be popular in contemporary, they are slowly starting to make their way into fantasy. And the same could be said for books with Jewish themes/characters, only much less so in fantasy. And though I like to specifically seek out books that have these themes, it’s quite rare for me to satisfy both my love of fantasy and my yearning for a Jewish/LGBTQ rep book at the same time. Because of this, I believe that it is safe to say that I have actually never read a book that not only showcased LGBTQ characters in a speculative fiction book, but Jewish characters as well. Too say that I was excited would be undershooting how I felt about this. In fact, as soon as I heard that The Fever King was a book that featured both magic, gays, and Jews, I knew that I would have to read it right away. I could not stress this enough but, wow, did the author not only write these aspects in a way that will make readers swoon, but also made them feel heard. As a Jew myself, I couldn’t help but freak out whenever something Jewish-y was mentioned. And as someone who loves LGBTQ representation in books, I couldn’t stop fangirling when an um…certain pair… did basically anything together. And the fact that Jewish references were featured so prominently through this, blew me away. This was particularly meaningful because these two groups are so rarely seen together, so the fact that Lee was able to combine them in a way that didn’t feel forced but meant to be, was absolutely amazing.

“He wasn’t eating a proper dinner, just picking the red pieces from a bag of sour candies. He’s accumulated quite the pile next to his lukewarm potatoes.”

This review would not be complete without mentioning the beautifully crafted side characters. Each with their own characteristics and personalities, I loved how Lee didn’t just write them for the sake of writing them, but wrote them to be a part of the story. I know this sound kind of silly because of course they were written to be a part of the story. But what most readers might not realize is that often times when an author mentions themes like immigration and trauma, or have certain types of representation including, they reserve them for either just the main character(s) or just the side characters. Lee, on the other hand, did not want to stick with that. Readers will appreciate how she took some themes from the main cast and carried it over to the rest of the characters. By doing this, she proves that those themes shouldn’t just be used as a way to make a particular character seem ‘special’, but expand it to show how similar different people could be. Readers will be able to fall in love with her side cast of characters just as easily as with Noam and Dara, slowly, but then all at once.
I would also like to really quickly address the magic system that is featured in this story. Truly unlike anything else I’ve ever read, I was completely obsessed with it from the moment I read about how the viral magic was something people feared, not sought. With most magic books that I’ve read, having magic is something that is wanted and held on a high pedestal. But in The Fever King, it was something to run from. From the very beginning we learn that Noam is the only survivor of the viral magic that swept through his whole neighborhood. And that’s what happens when you have such a low survival rate, only one out of thousands may make it out alive. Readers will find this captivating as it means that for one person to have powers, hundreds of people have to die. I thought that this added yet another dimension to the darkness of the book, but also increased the urgency of which Noam must save his people. Never have I thought that a book’s magic system would serve as almost an antagonist, which was something I enjoyed greatly in this book.
Wow, well that was definitely something. This review meant so much for me to write because I cherished this book so much. Filled to the brim with so many emotions, it’s clear that Lee poured her being into making this book as beautiful and perfect as it could be. From the representation showcased, to the characters that demand to be adored, to the plot that is guarantees to make readers scream because WHY????, Lee wrote precisely the type of novel for me. Utterly perfect in every sense of the word The Fever King is not a book to be missed. If you found yourself interested in any of the themes I mentioned, don’t hesitate to check this book out on Goodreads and maybe even preorder. Inspired by true pain and built in a magical world unlike any other, The Fever King will shock you with the horrors it showcases, but make you fall in love all the same.

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG

This book was SO good that it BROKE me. It reads lightning-fast and just sizzles with fucking fantastic, evocative, succinct, blade-sharp prose. It is so real and in your face and relevant and heartbreaking and I just finished it, and I CANNOT even breathe right now.

By halfway through, you can tell from the shape of the arc that there is GOING to be a betrayal, but it's so murky, and everyone is going after their own goals. I am at this place where I have read and analyzed so many books that I can call an ending like 20 pages in, and I STILL could not figure out where this was going. And it was so, so good that I didn't want to! I just wanted to keep reading and reading and reading.

Even when the shape of the tragedy becomes clear, when everything comes crashing together in its blazing glory, I just couldn't do ANYTHING but keep reading. Noam is definitely not a lily-white purity-hero, and yet, you root for him so hard. You have to. It's a question of survival.

ARGH I CANNOT BELIEVE I HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE SEQUEL. I'LL DIE. <3<3<3<3