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

The Fever King follows Noam Álvaro, in the aftermath of a viral magic outbreak that left him the only survivor. When he wakes up he is a witchling, a part of Carolinia's magical elite and is brushing shoulders with people that he and his family have spent their whole lives fighting against.

It's there Noam meets Lehrer, the enigmatic Minister of Defense and one time king and Lehrer's son, Dara. Though Noam sets out to use his insider knowledge to bring down Chancellor Sacha's government his situation becomes precarious as his loyalties are tested and the line between right and wrong become increasingly blurred.

The Fever King was an amasing, intense and wonderful ride. For the first part of the book I was leaning towards a solid 4 stars but as the web was woven tighter and tighter around Noam, with all his fire, the intensity and the stakes get higher and higher. I'm obviously keeping this vague given it's not out for another four months but people you are in for a treat. The last third in particular is relentless in the very best way.

It's the three main characters that truly shine here. Noam, Dara and Lehrer are so well realised they come to life. Of course this also means you are in for a world of pain as Victoria puts Dara and Noam, my sons, through the ringer. If you have have a weakness for angry boys and softe boys and boys that REALLY need to work on their communication skills (honestly ) prepare to fall in love.

And Lehrer is truly fascinating and magnetic. At 120 something years old he is the most powerful witchling to walk the earth. He survived torture as a child, spearheaded the revolution, overthrew a country and was crowned king at twenty. Lehrer has taken an interest in Noam and Noam wants to trust him but Lehrer's motives and actions are shadowed.

The Fever King is a must-read and a powerful debut from Victoria Lee. The characters are complex, nuanced and wholly human. It makes you think about just how far you would go to do what you think is right and the consequences of such actions. The way these people have been shaped by their experiences, the trauma they've suffered and how they've pulled themselves through the other side. Though there are characters that have committed terrible crimes, Victoria excels at writing them in ways that it's hard to categorise anyone as wholly evil or wholly good, they just are.

Also, Dara my smol son let him sleep.

THE FEVER KING was a force, both timely and dark, and explored and exposed Victoria Lee’s complex characters as well a dire political climate steeped in prejudice and injustice. Threaded throughout the story was a science-based magic system that set the tone for the story, making it somehow sharper, more realistic—and all the more intriguing. And in Noam (the main character), Lee crafted a strong voice, someone filled with the ache and anger of loss, determined to right wrongs, to build relationships—headstrong in his choices regardless of the consequences. His interactions with the other characters in the book, with Dara in particular, showed depth and emotion. This is the kind of book that makes you think, not only about the world within the story, but the one we live in each day. (Be sure to read the author's TW.)

Loved how sharply everything was observed in this book, how inventive and cohesive the world was, and the absolute queerness of all the characters and relationships -- MORE PLEASE

5/5 stars. This book will cut you open in the best way. Victoria's characters are brilliant, magnetic, and endlessly complex, and her world is so meticulously crafted that for weeks after you won't stop thinking about this post-war, magic-ravaged Durham.

Also, I could write an essay about Dara Shirazi alone.

(Essay probably to come.)