Darkfever

This book was an engaging & fun read, with one or two exceptions. Every time I had to endure a page long, or god forbid, two page long explanation of clothes, hair, and/or make up, I stopped reading. I wish I could rip out those pages, I really do.

I have no problems with the heroine's disposition or interest, but I do struggle when she's...boring. And that's when she's boring. At this point, she does feel like a typical, vapid early 20-something, which isn't something that I generally find young 20-somethings to be. I usually find them bright and complex--even *gasp* ambitious and socially conscious! So really, it often feels like this is just our idea of a young woman who is lacking ambition. Of course her toes are always pedicured, show more of course we hear about her sandals. Of course we always consider her hair. Truly, I don't see this in the hard-working young women I've met & mentored who are just out of college, so I find it incredibly annoying. Also note that I like pretty clothes but I don't keep my nails up. I'm obsessed with shoes. But I have more to me than that. I wish I had seen that in Mac. She wants to go back to the time that she was ignorantly lazing by the pool working on her tan...I did see a bit of a stubborn streak, and independence, and some questionable choices, which was the saving grace for her character--and why I'll continue with the series. (And I'll end my rant, sorry).

Admittedly, I'm intrigued. Like I said, it was a bunch of fun, and I'm willing to watch Mac grow. I do get bored following one character in a long series so I hope these don't all center around her.

But honestly, V'lane skeeves me out. Jericho is interesting but there isn't much to him yet. I admire KMM for taking her time with this, and I don't mind, especially because it is a fun read. show less

Firstly, Jericho Barrons is such a smexy name! It goes quite well with this sophisticated, wealthy, mysterious man. He’s intelligent, extremely confident and dead sexy. His demeanor reminds me so much of Trent Kalamack from The Hollows series by Kim Harrison (which you should read!) Mac is a different type of heroine. In the beginning, I was a tad worried about her carrying that weight, but she did just fine! Her personality is great. What a fun, bubbly, sarcastic little spitfire she is. Being a proper Southern girl, she doesn’t like to cuss (at first), so she and her sister created words to use in lieu of. I found that hysterical.

"Crap was fudge-buckets. Ass was petunia. Shit was daisies and the f-word, which I can’t even recall show more the last time I used, was frog."

Mac isn’t all rainbows and lip gloss, however. She packs some intelligence of her own and I enjoy some of her more thought-provoking moments.

"I love books, by the way, way more than movies. Movies tell you what to think. A good book lets you choose a few thoughts for yourself. Movies show you the pink house. A good book tells you there’s a pink house and lets you paint some of the finishing touches, maybe choose the roof style, park your own car out front."

I was relieved that Mac’s disbelief about the paranormal was realistic. So many characters (mainly occurs in YA) take the newfound knowledge like it’s another day at the office. I really hate that reaction, even though these books are so not realistic. Mac takes time to gather her wits and face the truth about who she is and what she must do to protect mankind. It’s a lot for a 22 year old to take on, but she (wo)man’s up.

I loved Mac and Barron’s odd relationship, as it presented many laughable moments. He was an ass to her throughout the book and loved to apply the dumb blonde stereotype. At the same time, he showed respect by referring to her as Ms. Lane.

“Woman, you are a thousand kinds if fool.”

"You, Ms. Lane, are a menace to others! A walking, talking catastrophe in pink!"

However, you get a peak at his tender side a few times when he surprises you with his actions. I look forward to more development between these two, as I assume it becomes quite heated.

Some of the more humorous scenes involved Mac and V’lane. Every time Mac is around V’lane, she loses clothing and finds her hands down her panties. In the middle of the street, or a packed museum. Anywhere. Granted, V’lane is a one of those Death-By-Sex Fae and humans lose all control around him…

"Even now, my back was still arched with sensual invitation, my bottom was questing up like a cat in heat, and my every move was supple, sinuous. I was one great big come-hither."

The author did a great job at world building and you learn quite a lot about the Fae, other paranormal creatures, and the fate of the world. I think it’s fair to say that I have the Fever! Lucky for me, the final book in the series, Shadowfever, releases this month, so I don’t have to wait to read them all (although I may not be able to read them immediately anyway) show less

Review courtesy of AllThingsUrbanFantasy.blogspot.com

What do I want in an urban fantasy? A strong, likable protagonist with an as yet unrealized magical potential, a richly layered paranormal world, a well matched love interest who holds their own, and the promise of a multi-book meta-narrative. DARKFEVER has all that and more.

Mackayla “Mac” Lane is a near perfect UF heroine, and she befriended me immediately. As is a Sidhe-seer, Mac is someone who can see past the disguises, or glamours, that the fey use to hide in our world. Tenacious in pursuit of her sister’s killer, Mac is thorough and smart. Yes, she's a bit cocky, which she glosses over with more than a hint of old fashioned Southern charm, but she's also resilient and show more quick on her feet. The first time she truly spots a fey and is in danger of being discovered, it’s her quick thinking and cool under pressure that save her life.

Speaking of the fey, in DARKFEVER they are divided into two courts. The fey from the Unseelie court are the stuff of nightmares: grotesque hulking monsters who can suck the life out of humans with a touch. The fey from the Seelie court are the stuff of fantasies: breathtakingly beautiful beings whose very presence can send a human into an all-consuming erotic frenzy.

And this is Karen Marie Moning, so you know to expect romance, but it’s far from conventional. The enigmatic Barrons is Mac’s unwilling teacher/protector. He is harsh and demanding, bordering on cruel through out DARKFEVER, and yet, there are flashes of something more, mere glimpses of a different man beneath the brusque demeanor. The slow, smoldering attraction that builds between these too was palpable.

Overall, DARKFEVER is a near perfect urban fantasy (and yes, it is more urban fantasy than paranormal romance). A chilling mystery, a darkly seductive enigmatic love interest with questionable character, in a terrifying yet alluring world full of both scary and seductive fey. I am dying to devour the other books in the Fever series and be devoured in return.

Sexual Content: References to sex. References to masturbation. Two scenes of graphic sensuality. show less

MacKayla Lane, 22 Jahre jung und aus einem kleinen, ländlichen Ort in den Südstaaten, ist eigentlich eine ganz normale, junge Frau. Sie liebt Musik, interessiert sich für Mode und liebt ihre Schwester Alina, welche in Dublin studiert. Pink ist genau ihre Farbe, sie ist ein echtes Girly.Ihre Welt zerbricht als sie einen Anruf erhält und mitgeteilt bekommt, dass ihr geliebte Schwester bestialisch ermordet wurde. Nachdem MacKayla eine verwirrende Nachricht ihrer Schwester auf ihrer Mailbox entdeckt und die Polizei vor Ort den Fall zu den Akten legt, steht ihr Entschluss fest: sie reißt nach Dublin und wird den Tod ihrer Schwester aufklären und rächen.Diese Entscheidung wird ihr Leben komplett umwerfen - Nichts wird mehr so sein wie show more es mal war. Warum verwandeln sich bildhübsche Männer in schaurige Monster? Was hat die mysteriöse Nachricht ihrer Schwester zu bedeuten?Meine Meinung:Oh, es ist so spannend und fesselnd, gleich von Anfang an! Moning versteht es, ihren Figuren Leben einzuhauchen. Sie lässt uns an Mac's heiler Welt teilhaben und genauso an dem Moment, in dem sie vom Tod ihrer geliebten Schwester erfährt. Sie hat es geschafft, dass sogar ich traurig war - und das kommt nicht allzu oft vor.Sie beschreibt den verzweifelten Kampf einer liebenden Schwester, die einen Mord aufklären will und in eine Welt kommt, die ihr vorher gänzlich unbekannt war. Langsam tastet sie sich vor und lernt den Buchhändler Jerricho Barrons kennen, welcher ihr von nun an zur Seite steht. Barrons führt sie ein in eine Welt voller Feen, Magie, ungeahnten Gefahren und Dingen, von denen sie vorher nicht mal wusste das es sie gibt. Außerdem ist da noch Alina's Geheimnis, welchem Mac auf die Spur kommen muss. Ein Kampf gegen das Böse beginnt!Der Leser erlebt dies alles hautnah, erzählt in der Ich-Form. Moning hat eine phantasievolle Welt erschaffen, die sie geschickt mit der Heutigen kombiniert. Mehr noch, sie schafft es, diese Welt im Kopf des Lesers aufblühen zulassen.Punktabzug gibt es, weil mir die Dialoge teilweise zu flapsig sind. Wenn Mac und Barrons Unterhaltungen führten, wirkte das auf mich teilweise sehr gestellt. Außerdem ist der Titel nicht wirklich passend einen Vampir trifft man auf ca. 10 Seiten des Buches. Der Originaltitel, Darkfever, passt einfach viel besser zu dieser düsteren Geschichte. Jedoch mindern diese Punkte den Lesespaß minimal.Noch ein kleiner Tip: Solltet ihr mit all den neuen Begriffen nicht zurechtkommen, ist am Ende des Buches ein Auszug aus Mac's Tagebuch zu finden. Hier kann man alle Begriffe nochmals nachlesen, was ich als sehr hilfreich empfand. show less

“You, Ms. Lane, are a menace to others! A walking, talking catastrophe in pink!”

I’m a huge Urban Fantasy person, but usually the fairy and fae stuff is a turn off. Even with that being a major plot point in the synopsis of the book, I was curious with the rest of the details so had to try. I’m glad I did, for the book turned out to be a fascinating introduction into a dark, bleak world where a girl who loves light, the sun, and backyard barbeques is thrust into a depressing existence while trying to solve her sister’s murder.

I loved the character of MacKayla; she’s funny, not afraid to be herself, doesn’t care if she’s different and is instead proud of that fact, loyal, determined, but not so unusual to where you feel show more isolated from her. She’s amusing in her mind, her words, and her actions – including wearing a ridiculously bright and rainbow-colored dress to a dark, formal, somber occasion. One of the biggest tragedies for her was having to dye her blonde hair dark, too cute. It may sound like she could get annoying, but she really didn’t, the author handled her well.

“Last night you said you wanted to know what to expect so you could better select your attire. I told you we were going to visit a vampire in a Goth-den tonight. Why, then, Ms. Lane, do you look like a perky rainbow?”

Mac grows into her own and shows that beneath the beauty and allure, she’s a strong woman who is determined to find out what happened to her sister. That sisterly bond and thing and all works strong. She unearths some startling revelations about her heritage and herself as well, forcing a sped up change and acceptance.

Oh, and this series also celebrates the love of books! A great bookstore is one of the main settings and Mac loves to read, enjoy when an author focuses on that.

Barrons…well, what can be said about Barrons? The man is hard to sum up in words, you need to read it to know. Cultured and sophisticated, he possesses a wit, an attitude, a dark allure that just oozes off of him with minimal effort. Vlayne is introduced as an ‘other’, a fae light prince who uses seduction as his tool. He’s as disturbing as he is fascinating. Just the characters alone made it impossible for me to put this book down.

“He didn't just occupy space; he saturated it. The room had been full of books before, now it was full of him.”

The world Ms. Moning has created is a brilliant one – taking the beautiful but rain drenched streets of Dublin, Ireland and tying them into the mystical battles of the dark and light fey. There are genuinely creepy, horrifying creatures that roam the streets, whether shadows or other monsters, all terrifying in their intensities, methods of killing people, their appearance, their cruelty. The light fey aren’t much better as death and addiction may ensue, but they are a delight on the eyes and the senses. It’s wrapped up further as all are after an ancient, powerful object that Mac’s sister was tied up in.

This book is all about the story – lots happening, great scenes, fast pacing, no romance (but some fun stuff anyway), a little humor, tons of morbid darkness and severely brutal stuff. Highly recommended for fantasy fans. show less

This was the first book I read by the author and I must say I liked it :)
Not in the gushing way some other reviewers go about it, but yeah, it was good.

Worldbuilding was really good. It's an Urban Fantasy, so pretty much current Earth with the supes still in hiding but swallowing whole chunks of property (and well... humans). Every scene and environment was detailed and clear enough for the mind to just follow along with the story without having to fill up blanks in between.

Character development was good. Mac undergoes a drastic transformation, from southern belle to being a seer. And this is a bit where I have some issues (but then again, that's just me)... she knows she's in danger, she knows what's out on the streets... and still she show more goes out? I mean, I get that she needs answers and she doesn't want to rely on the mysterious (but very hot) Barrons, BUT STILL! He saves her oooooooover and oooooover again and still, she throws herself in the thick of it?! Yeah, that did annoy me a tad. That said, the revelations she had to deal with were drastic, out of the blue and at least at first, unbelievable.
I hope, for the next book, she comes to grip with her new reality and moves on, stronger then she was in this instalment.
Barrons, cloaked in mystery but apparently with a soft spot for our lovely naive heroine. How that must gall him to no end :D

Pacing and flow were good. It started a tad slow, but that was to be expected since it still had to set the stage for the rest of the story, but once it got going the flow was really good with a good balance between action and conversation.

The book itself was well written with only some minor errors here and there, nothing that really bothered me. There is some slight sexual content in this book (if that is important to you).

All in all, while I'm not super hyped about it as I thought I'd be, it was a good and enjoyable read and I will be reading the next part (it's on my ever-growing TBR list lol). show less

Yay! This book really surprised me! Though the ending felt slightly anti climatic, the rest of the book really was not what I expected at all. It's been awhile since I've read an urban fantasy that has been so unique and has me entranced. This book was everything I had hoped The Mortal Instruments would be, plus more! Where I was disappointed after all the hype of TMI, I was in no way disappointed by this.

I really loved how the fae world was handled in this book, its been awhile since I have been completely creeper out by a world (in a good way!) For once in a fantasy book, VAMPIRES WERE NOT ROMANTICIZED! (yes I have a not so secret hate for the bloodsuckers)

I loved Mac so much and COMPLETELY relate with her, but can see where some have show more found her annoying or conceited. I didn't see it as that, rather as a personality that was highly sarcastic. The writing was decent, though it did feel like some bigger events were skipped and didn't go into as much of detail as I would of liked. That being said, however, I don't think I would have noticed, nor would it have bugged me had it not been pointed out previously.

The only thing I had a problem with other than the time skips, was initially Barron's character. Though it grew on me, I wasn't too into how physical he got with Mac and a few times I found him very creepy.

Looking forward to the next book! show less