DARK FEVER by Karen Marie Moning
DARKFEVER by Karen Marie Moning
Blurb from Author Site
MacKayla Lane’s life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other words, she’s your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman. Or so she thinks…until something extraordinary happens.
When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death–a cryptic message on Mac’s cell phone–Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister’s killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed–a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae….
As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister’s death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysterious Jericho, a man with no past and only mockery for a future. As she begins to close in on the truth, the ruthless Vlane–an alpha Fae who makes sex an addiction for human women–closes in on her. And as the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac’s true mission becomes clear: find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all-powerful Dark Book–because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control of the very fabric of both worlds in their hands. . .
Okay here's the thing, while I'm a KMM fan I didn't luuuurve all her previous books. I have my favs which are the two MacKeltar brothers' stories (don't make me look up the book titles, it's late!) were very enjoyable for me. Yes, I have read all her books because I glom an author when I like a book such as I'm doing with Maureen McKade right now. But, I haven't raved to all and sundry about KMM so I'm a fan but not fanatical.
I knew going in that DARKFEVER wasn't going to be like her other books and wasn't a romance. My hesitation wasn't over it not being a romance but that it involved the fae or faery. I'm just not a fan of this world much, don't ask me why because for me it's like asking why a person likes pancakes or waffles. Some people just have a preference for one thing or the other. One might ask why I went ahead and bought the book and read it. I have one word for you...AMES! Her review made me curious and in a weak moment on Halloween I found myself at the checkout with the book.
I'm getting to the review...really I am.
Wendy's review really does this better justice, but what I liked most about this book is the world KMM creates. She does an excellent job of blending otherworldly beings with our reality. Instead of taking us to a made up realm she brings that world into ours...if that makes sense. This point is a crucial one for me because I hate when we have to take a trip, like in Sherrilyn Kenyon's books, to some mythical place with Ash or the other gods in her books. I HATE IT!!! It always takes me out of the story.
Hey, I know it's Romancelandia and real life in a book isn't really REAL LIFE, but I prefer earth as the realm if at all possible. Okay what about futuristics you say...I know, I know. I don't have this same problem with a make believe planet as much as I do Mount Olympus or Atlantis...so go figure. I guess I don't like mythical places or realms. I'm not much for elves, fairies, or trolls. Huh-uh, not for me. If there is an elf king in the story I'm outta there.
Anyway, these issues didn't bother me in this book. I liked that dealing with this new world is hard for MacKayla. I liked that we are learning about this new realm and the people in it as Mac is. Believe me there is lots to know and learn which makes wanting to read the next book more an act of curiousity than anything else. There is room for so much to happen, I actually like the feeling of not knowing or having it all figured out. There is room for lots of ambiguity in all the characters here which made it interesting to read.
No, this isn't a romance, but it is an fascinating adventure for one young woman. She ain't no wimp either. I liked that these changes were scary and difficult for Mac. I didn't know, until Wendy pinpointed it in her review, that it was refreshing to have a 22-year old who didn't know everything already, who when the story begins is sort of drifting through life in no hurry to rush into adulthood.
So I'll be in line for the next one...because I just have to know what happens next. I think that's the best sort of recommendation, don't you?
I still have some questions though which is why I'll be reading the next book. But for those of you who have read DARKFEVER, what I want to know is when scared sh*tless, beaten and rejected, what makes MacKayla stay the course? I know she wants to find her sister's killer...I do, but it has to be more than that. I'd be interested in hearing your theory. What keeps her going?
BTW, there's a glossary in the back of the book. I love that some of the definitions are a work in progress. How refreshingly honest! Yeah, I'm a nerd I read the glossary. I like when authors do this because then I'm sure I've derived the correct meaning from their made up words. Also, from book to book you can reference it to refresh your memory.
Labels: Book Review, Karen Marie Moning
Posted by Rosie at 9:14 AM
10 Comments:
Wow - there was a glossary? I read an ARC for review - and no glossary. I might have to check out a "real" copy just to see.
As for my theory why Mac stays the course? Honestly, I chalked it up to her sister. She wanted to do right by her. She wanted justice for her. And I think once she realizes that the Fae had something to do with Alina's murder she's pissed off (for lack of a better word). So maybe it's stubborness? Or just growing up? But I got the feeling that she recognized, "Hey, I didn't come all the way to Ireland to give up now."
But I'm probably wrong.
No, I agree with you Wendy. It is about her sister. And look at all the people she thought about while finding the Unseelie at the end. It built up-her reason for staying the course.
LOL I didn't realize there was a glossary either. But I don't read those anyway. I'll go take a peek though.
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Okay I knew I was nerdy but now I KNOW I am! Yes, there's a glossary...which like I said I really enjoyed.
Wendy, I know she was pissed about her sister, but KMM did a damn good job of letting us know how freaked out and scared she was at times too, so I thought maybe there was something more I might have missed.
Your comment about not going to Ireland to give up goes along with maybe having something important enough in her life to see through to the end.
Ames, I just had a hard time when she was on the phone with her Dad and he was basically begging her to come home. I don't know if I could have ignored those pleas...in light of all the other upheaval Mac had I thought it would make sense to run home and not want to deal with it.
But like I said to Wendy, maybe if I see her as a 22 year old who finally has something important enough to hang onto and that she'd never forgive herself if she didn't see it through...well, it's something to think about.
I'm hit or miss on KMM, I haven't read them all but I liked a few of them a lot.
I'm not sure on this one. I'm not a big fan of the fey thing, just not something that trips my trigger. So if the romance isn't there, I'll probably skip it.
Zeek, I'm not a fan of the fey either. I was okay because KMM doesn't take you to the fey world as much as she brings it to ours. Still if you prefer a romantic element, it's not really here.
i've never read anything by KMM but this book was so addictive to say the least. i couldn't put it down. i absolutly loved every second of reading it i didn't want it to end. maybe it's because i'm 18 and ignorant of the real world or because i needed a place to escape to but i recommend this book to everyone i know. it's taught me a lot about life, survival, and HOPE- the most important thing there is. i also recommend Dean Koontz's The Taking that taught me a lot too.
p.s. i read the glossary too it helped as a referance during the book. I've also gone back and read it with a dictionary at my side and that helped too. My vocabulary isn't that big but this book made me want to expand it.
Christine, welcome to my blog. KMM has written several books that are addicting. As you can see we love to discuss books we love here. I write about a lot of other stuff too, but I always come back to books.
I commented on the glossary because I just love when authors do that. It helps so much to be sure you have their understanding of a definition of a "new" word in the unique world they've created.
Your enthusiasm is very catching I hope you've emailed or stopped by Ms. Moning's site and let her know. I don't think there's a writer alive who doesn't like to hear that their work touched someone.
Have you read the second book yet? I have it, but haven't read it yet. I'm thinking of re-reading DARK FEVER first.
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