Shadowfever (Fever #5) by Karen Marie Moning
Gollancz (Jan 2012) | Ebook, 512 pages | Urban Fantasy
This is a book many fans have been waiting (a long time) for. The final instalment of the Fever series. Both the book blogosphere and twitter were alive with a frenzy of ‘Shadowfever’ obsession last week as it was finally released. I was jealous of some people who were able to take the day off work in order to devour it in one single sitting. Sadly, I had to fit my reading around work, sneaking pages in every spare moment I could. I mean… how dare the real world get in the way of my reading! 
It’s so very hard to write a review for this book without giving anyway any spoilers, which I’m determined not to, as part of the addiction of this series is the huge mysteries and the careening twists and turns of the plot. I keep thinking of things I want to comment on and realise just a small mention of that event or development will give too much away.
The cliffhanger at the of the penultimate book in this series was a shocker. There were still so many unanswered questions. Who is Mac really? What is Barrons? Who killed Mac’s sister? Did her parents survive? What happened to Christian? I could go on, but the the biggest one of all on every fans lips has to be – who is the beast? And as I nervously turned over the first page of this book I prayed it wasn’t who I thought it might be.
Thankfully we’re not forced to wait for very long, just a couple of pages in and I was gasping. This discovery means that the book begins with a huge sense of disbelief and the reader is submerged in Mac’s overwhelming grief. And Mac’s grief is indeed a shocking thing. We’re constantly reminded that this is no longer the Mac we met in the first book, even she refers to herself as ‘Mac 5.0′. But her discovery seems to almost make her lose the plot. For a little while I wondered what on earth she was doing and really not quite liking the path she was taking. But it’s not unusual for me to want to give Mac a good, hard shake and this book is no exception.
Clad in leather, the sunny girl with an obsession for pink (a girl after my own heart), has wholly disappeared. This book is full of many highs and lows and that includes your frustration with the characters. But it really is brilliantly written and totally absorbing. Ms Moning knows just how to play her audience, like a fine violinist.
As you reach the final chapters, you realise that every other book has been a pre-cursor to set up this one. In fact, it’s virtually impossible to predict the ending. Just when you think you’ve got everything worked out, another surprise is thrown at you and you can’t help but smile at Moning’s cleverness. As the complex plot is slowly unwound, a giant light bulb of realisation goes off in your head and you understand just why certain things have happened and how long ago she set them up to do so.
The series is wrapped up with a giant bow on it, it really is the perfect ending. But what I liked so much about this book is through all the twists, shocks and revelations, every character remains true to themselves.
At over 500 pages, it is a lot longer than the other books so far, perhaps some things could have been tied up a little quicker, but if I’m honest I didn’t begrudge a single page.
VERDICT
I’ve read everyone of Karen Marie Moning’s books and adored her Highlander series, which are smoking-hot paranormal romances. But this series surpasses them, it is superb and this final instalment has to be my favourite of them all.
If you have not yet managed to pick these books up, I would urge you to do so, Karen Marie Moning is a very talented writer and is without a doubt one of my favourites. I also really sincerely hope that some of the characters featured will get some spin-off books of their own. The final words “The end……. For now” give me hope.
RATING: 
KAREN MARIE MONING ONLINE
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BOOKS IN SERIES ORDER
- Darkfever
- Bloodfever
- Faefever
- Dreamfever
- Shadowfever
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6 Comments
You have definitely got me all excited for this series – the only aspect I'm worried about is that the characters are faery and I don't often read books with them, they're not my fav otherworld being…
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It's a really great series. I don't mind books about the faery, but I think it's done well if you're not sure. Mac the lead character is human too, which will help. But they are really compelling, well written books – you'll enjoy
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@Book Chick City You aren't the only one. I have a friend who is hesitant about starting it due to the Faery thing. But I told her she is missing out and it isn't like some Disney movie. This is way more complex and mature. Moning does this so well, if not I would have stopped reading after book 1. Love the review Laura. Can't wait for the spin offs. Moning says Ryodan and Christian are getting there own books. YES!!!
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Great review. I like the colorful cover.
Ann
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FYI, there WILL be spinoff books about Christian, Dani and Ryodan. I can't wait. I love this world!
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I just couldn’t stop reading this series, so addicting. I was a bit hesitant with the whole FAE genre but Moning did an excellent job describing their world… this is one my all time fav series and with her new books coming out.. wow this is going to be a fun year, give it a try =D
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