An affiliate link is included; there is no additional charge. Content warnings are listed below the review.
My philosophy is pretty simple—any day nobody’s trying to kill me is a good day in my book.
Darkfever —
Karen Marie Moning
The Fever Series Book 1
★★★⯪
Mac’s simple, small-town life falls apart when her sister, Alina, is murdered. The only clue – a cryptic voicemail Alina left Mac just hours before her death. Mac flies to Dublin, Ireland – where Alina was studying abroad – to investigate her death and is quickly drawn into a dangerous world. The wall between the world of man and Fae is crumbling. Mac doesn’t know who she can trust, if she can trust anyone at all, but she’ll need help if she’s going to survive the Fae wandering Dublin’s streets long enough to catch her sister’s killer.
Review
Mac – in her early 20s – is a refreshing main character. Released in 2006, it broke away from the “not like other girls” trope that was common at the time. Mac is very much a girly girl – even called Ms. Rainbow for her colorful clothing, painted nails, and cute shoes. While I could do with fewer full-outfit descriptions, I appreciate that her character doesn’t change as the book continues. She doesn’t let others make her feel small or petty for caring about her appearance or loving pink and peach and lavender. I like her. Her motivations are clear and consistent throughout the story, and overall, she’s an incredibly realistic character.
Most of Darkfever is set in Dublin. The Fae are partially inspired by the Tuatha Dé Dannan – supernatural beings from Irish folklore, and they’re the primary tie to the city. I would have liked a stronger sense of place, but we’re in Mac’s head. She’s wholly focused on her sister’s murder (reasonable), so I’m hoping we’ll get to see more of the city as the series continues. The time period, on the other hand, is obvious. There are entertaining references to popular media of the time. It was fun and nostalgic – certainly one of my favorite things about the book.
The Fae themselves are interesting and terrifying, and it’s pretty clear that we’ve only scratched the surface of the many creatures roaming the streets and preying on humans. I’m not familiar with Irish folklore, but after a little research, it seems the Fae’s backstory mirrors the Tuatha Dé Dannan, but there’s few other details related to Irish folklore. Fantasy has a history of using Irish, Scottish (the origin of the Seelie and Unseelie Courts – which also appear in Darkfever), and Welsh cultures to build worlds without respecting their origins. There are also some moments where the handling of Gaeilge (the Irish language) felt insenstive. It doesn’t happen often, and while I appreciated the continued use of the Gaeilge after we learn the English translation, the scenes where Mac and many readers learn the meaning and pronunciations of these terms could have been handled with more tact.
Darkfever is a fun ride, and I will definitely be continuing the series. The characters are interesting, and the plot is fast-paced. It’s well written and propulsive. The story deals heavily with grief and the different ways people respond to it, so if sibling death is a difficult topic for you, I would steer clear of this one. It also has some pretty strong conservative undertones at some points. It wasn’t enough to negatively affect my experience, but something ot be aware of. Otherwise, I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys dark fantasy and Fae that are much more scary than sexy. If you’ve read it, let me know what you thought or if you have any recommendations similar to Darkfever! If not, are interested in picking up?
Content warnings: body horror, death, grief, murder, sexual content, sexual harassment/ assault, violence
Yu’er is a teenager when her parents leave her with her new husband, Xiaozhu. He’s uncomfortable around her but kind. Over time, they become friends before falling in love, but after receiving a curse, they’re left destitute and estranged. Taking control of her fate, Yu’er makes a deal with a jing – leave Xiaozhu forever, and she’ll never be powerless again. Her choice brings enormous power, but it may kill her humanity. As she adjusts to her new life, Yu’er must decide what matters most and what she’ll sacrifice to keep it.