Fever (Chemical Garden Trilogy, #2)

by Lauren DeStefano

For 17-year-old Rhine Ellery, a daring escape from a suffocating polygamous marriage is only the beginning...Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness. The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine's twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can't seem to elude Rhine's father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary. In the sequel to Lauren DeStefano's harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price - now that she has more to lose than ever.

• ISBN10: 144240907X
• ISBN13: 9781442409071
• Publish Date: 21 February 2012 (first published 16 February 2012)
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Simon & Schuster
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 352
• Language: English

Reviews

[lizarodz]

I’m not quite sure what to make of Fever. I liked Wither more (see my review here) because of the plot and Rhine’s interaction with Linen and her sister wives and that part was missing from the second book in the series.

Fever starts right after the end of the previous book and finds Rhine and Gabriel in a big mess. It seems like they cannot manage to get out of trouble. For all the time that Rhine spent plotting her escape, she did a really poor job of it. I just can’t get over the fact that the book was an (extensive) narrative of one calamity after another. I don’t want to tell you of all the details, but it is very clear what the virus has done to society as a whole, not only to the ‘first generations’, but to everyone. Seeing so many people die and the short life expectancy seems to create a complete disregard for life, feelings, and rights. It is a very dark, hopeless world.

I’m sorry to say that I really don’t care for Rhine. I find her selfish and unprepared for the life outside the mansion. I don’t know what it is about her, but there is something that doesn’t ‘click’ with me. I’m also sad to say that Gabriel is the same way. I can find any depth to his character; Rhine and him as a couple is just plain unappealing to me. They don’t even act like a couple, and there had been not declarations for feelings. What’s even worse is that Rhine is constantly missing and comparing everything for the easy life of her year as Linden’s bride.

What I missed the most was the interaction of Rhine with her sister wives and with Linden. I know he is supposed to be a ‘bad guy’, but I just don’t see him that way. Sure he’s lost, gullible, and lives in ignorance (or pretends to), but he has his share of sadness and he truly cares for his family. I think that Rhine should have trusted him more instead of assuming the worst. I’m curious to know what will happen with Rowan in the last book of the series. Cecily makes an appearance during the book, which I really appreciate. Of course our villain and mad scientist, Vaughn, has free rein during Fever and he is truly an awful human being.

As I’ve mentioned before, I just didn’t like the plot; nothing really happened besides all the catastrophes. A good portion of the book was spent on Rhine’s disease and the experiments she was subjected to. It would have been nice to shed some light into the importance of Rhine and Rowan and what is really going on in the rest of the world. The best thing about the book is the writing; which is, in a word, exquisite. The expert use of simile, metaphor, and images gives the book an almost lyrical feel.

Even though Fever was not my favorite, I am now invested on the series, and I will definitely read Sever, the last book in the series.

About the cover: I like Wither’s cover a lot more than this one, but it is still very pretty and full of clues about what the book is about.

[Kim Deister]

The America of The Chemical Garden is absolutely chilling. DeStefano has created a world that may be a dystopian future, but it is one that is entirely believable. The world has changed drastically from what it once was, from the world as we know it now. But, as much as it has changed, there are some things that remain, even if they have been warped by the new world and its new needs. It is a world of fear and sadness and the inevitability of a shortened lifespan. Yet throughout this book, and the others in the series, there is the never ending thread of hope and humanity.

This series is an engrossing one, with fabulous characters and story lines that make you, as a reader, think. The characters are all very different people, all with stories of their own. Some of them you love and some of them you just love to hate. But they are characters that often challenge you and your values, your thinking. There are moments throughout the books when various characters act in somewhat questionable ways and, at first, it is easy to judge them. But when you put it in the context of the chaotic world they live in, it makes you wonder what you yourself would do in the very same situation. It is a book with definite messages, but it is done in such a way that there is absolutely no feeling of being lectured. Instead, you have a book that is somehow beautiful, even set in a world of despair, darkness, and fear. One of the major questions I found myself asking was whether freedom was worth the things that Rowan and Gabriel had to go through?

Things to love about Fever...

--The mythology. DeStefano has taken elements of our own reality and used them as the foundation for the new post-apocalyptic reality of Rowan's world, creating a reality that is entirely possible.
--The characters. They challenge the reader to really think about themselves and their own beliefs and values.
--The story lines. There are some story lines in this book that are extremely powerful, many with some strong messages about freedom and humanity.

My recommendation: You definitely need to read Wither first, but this is an absolutely wonderful read!

[Jo]

Originally posted on
This book is completely heartbreaking. On their way to Manhatten, Rhine and Gabriel meet a range of characters, and you get a better understanding of how the virus is effecting other people. In Wither, we think Rhine has it bad because of being kidnapped and forced into marriage to Linden, but, despite knowing the things Vaughn gets up to in his basement of horrors, reading Fever, I started to think she had it quite good, compared to others. We know that those girls who Linden didn't pick to be his wives were shot by the Gatherers, and now part of me thinks that was probably for the best, for them. Not everyone is as lucky to be killed. Some girls have to live, and are sold into prostitution, and have to suffer the intrusive violation from more men than you could count, day in, day out - and somehow manage to find the strength to survive this awful life. We also see the desperately sorry lives that are lived by the parents who are left behind when their children die, and the lives of orphaned children. It's almost like each page brings something more, each page another heavy weight on your heart - but this is the world these people live in, from which, without an antidote, there shall never be escape.

There are moments of hope, when things look like they are finally looking up, but each time... it's crushed. Even as the reader, you come to distrust situations that look hopeful, that look like things may just work out ok, that Rhine and Gabriel's lives have taken a small step in the right direction, because after so much, can there really be anything good left? And how can it be enjoyed when so many others are suffering so much? But it's not until the final chapters do we realise that DeStefano has been playing with us. I don't want to spoil anything for you, but dear god. I have put this book down, and despite how it ends, I feel completely numb. It is a wonder to me how people have the strength to go on sometimes, to try and survive, to try and live. With this book, if I lived in this world, I could easily see myself giving in and waiting to die, or simply losing my mind, because I wouldn't want to, no, couldn't face the things these characters have too.

I'm not going to say any more, other than that Fever is one of the most heartbreaking, demoralising, and emotionally draining - yet completely and utterly brilliant novels I have ever had the honour of reading. Really. I really don't think there's anyone who wouldn't be hurt by this book, but for all the right reasons. Phenomenal. I cannot wait to read Sever, the third and final book in this incredible series.

[nannah]

Wow, this book was like an ache in the chest.

Nearly the whole time I was thinking: oh things have to get better they HAVE to get better. But they didn't. It was such a bleak painting of a novel, one horrid thing after another and it just made my heart break.

I also felt, while I liked it a great deal, that it had the "middle book" syndrome. Because while there was stuff going on, nothing happened in the overall scheme. Sure, secrets were revealed and relationships tested, but the amount of plot moved forward was small. It's just a bridge from the first to the last.

But DeStefano's writing is engaging and evocative and I couldn't put this book down! The wait for the third is going to really test my nerves . . .

Original Review on Oh, For the Love of Books!

3.5

To be honest, I didn't go into this with high expectations and that might be why I enjoyed it more than most. I know a lot of other people didn’t like this novel and thought it was boring, but, personally, I thought more happened in this novel than in its predecessor.

Plot:
I thought the beginning was very interesting, albeit disturbing. Rhine and Gabrielle are finally free from the mansion but are they actually free? Within the first few chapters, they once again find themselves captured, this time by a crazy gypsy woman who owns a circus brothel. To see these girls is heartbreaking but with life spans being so short love is a lost commodity. Most just want to be less lonely, if only for a bit and are therefore, willing to be with any amount of men. This part had my heart-racing because I wanted to know what was going to happen to Rhine and Gabriel. Was Rhine going to end up like those empty shells of girls? This part was crazy and exotic with its mad circus-mistress, young prostitutes and drug-hazed atmosphere. I liked the creepy circus feel throughout the beginning of the book. It was both creepy and intriguing.

And this was all fine and dandy up until the middle of the book. Meh. I have to say that I could've skipped a good majority of it and not missed a thing. It was way to repetitive. While yes, that part of the journey is necessary, it definitely could have been shortened. A lot. The only thing that actually kept me interested during this part was the writing. I'll give the author credit when it comes to her beautiful writing. That in and of itself is what kept me going during the boring parts (now that I think about it, same thing happened in Wither). With this beautiful writing, she creates amazing atmospheres that are both eerily creepy and beautiful

Then, the last couple chapters start to pick up. You finally start to see something! Woot! though I don't want to give much away, it leaves me excited for the third book because we might actually get to learn about this darn virus! And this brings me to....

World-building:
I'm still so lost. I'm not sure if this is 100 years in the future (there is a "kind of" reference that means this might be possible) or heck, it could be just 10 years in the future. And while there are holograms and what-not, and the buildings are kind of dilapidated, I don't really get a feel for this world. Though, you do get to know that America is all thats left. But what is the virus exactly? We still don't know how it came to be. All we know is that it kills people off at a young age. Um...Okay. Well how did it start? What were they actually trying to do when they accidentally created a virus? How come it kills everyone off at the same age (girls-20, boys-25)? How does it know when someone is that age? I know nothing and I hate that. Ugh...

Characters:
Rhine was much like she was in her previous novel: brave, defiant, determined. However, this time, I believe she actually learned the cost of freedom. She really learns to think through her choices. Is it better to be well fed and taken care of but have not happiness or freedom? Or is it better to be free, fall in love and be happy, if only for a short while? These are the questions that plague Rhine throughout Fever and she must learn what is worth it, and what isn't. However, sometimes, she thought about her past life too often and it became weary. She got what she wanted, and yes, there are always the what ifs in life, but since this is what she wanted from the beginning, she needs to be happy.

I'm also glad we get to see more of Gabriel. I didn't like him in the previous novel, because he was hardly ever there. However, you learn that he is an incredibly sweet guy that truly cares for Rhine and wants to make her happy, even if that means leaving the comfort of the Mansion for a world unknown to him.

Issues:
This book also brings up many ethical and moral issues such as the sexualization of women. Its sad that in this world, all women are good for is for having children. Its always 1 man with a bajillion wives. Guys get all the choices and can do as they please while the women are left being used for their bodies. Its sick, disgusting, and quite heart-breaking. Love is a lost thing in this world. With time being so short, most don't fall in love like in the olden days when you knew you have 50 some odd years together. In this world you'd be lucky having 5. So, instead of actually falling in love with a women, they are only used to keep the populace alive. Would you be like that? If you knew you only have 20 years to live, would you do anything, including prostitution, just to be a little less lonely just for a little while?

Overall:
This book was very interesting, although the middle definitely could have been shortened. While the world-building still leaves a lot to be desired, I'll admit the writing is stunningly beautiful, sometimes making me forget the lack of plot and world-building. I think if you enjoyed Wither you'll still enjoy Fever.

All the best ♥

[bookishzelda]

This is the second book in the series so this review might be spoilery for the first book. Which of course would be true of the synopsis too.

So Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the evil clutches of Vaughn and gain their beautiful freedom but not all as it seems or how Rhine remembers it.

The first book was about captivity, this book is about the journey. Rhine's ultimate goal is to find her way back to her twin brother, even though she doesn't even know if he is still waiting for her. With every turn they seem to find themselves in some kind of crazy situation.

I felt like I connected a little better with Gabriel in this book. The first book he didn't seem all that special to me. This book he displays a little bit more strength and he seems to find his own voice. It's interesting to find out his thoughts about escaping and he doesn't seem like he is going to say things just ease Rhine's mind. He becomes more blunt and truthful.

Rhine is a little bit selfish. She doesn't really realize how her actions are affecting the people around her and until after the fact. Her desire to find her brother is so strong that it sometimes seems to cloud her judgement on other things. She is also strong though fueled by the fact that she doesn't just accept her impending death. She acts more like she thinks she isn't going to die instead of worrying that she is. She has a habit of clinging to the past.......her parents, Rowan, Jenna and Linden especially. Even though she escaped the mansion she finds herself dwelling on it which I think shows that her connection to Linden is much stronger then she even thinks.

The relationship between Gabriel and Rhine develops more in this book. You could see and understand their affection for each other, where in the first book I feel like Rhine was just looking for a way out. If not physical freedom them mental freedom to choose who she wants to be with. I understand them being together a little better in this book. Although I feel like there is a part where Linden really shines through as someone to compete with.

We meet some new characters in this book and even though some past characters are not present they seem to still help the story. Jenna especially, the girl with many secrets. I liked all the characters whether they be normal, strange or deadly.


I have to say my favorite part of this book was the ending. I don't want to give too much away but the turn of events that comes about really had me on edge. It's kind of like if your watching an intense movie and then suddenly the power goes out and you miss the end. I can't wait for the third book, Lauren leaves you hanging in a way that you have to know what happens next.

I think if you enjoyed the first book you will enjoy this book as well. Some of the mysteries from the first book are revealed but with enough still left to leave you anxious for the third book.

[Kelsenator]

For the full review go to my blog at Kelseykins

When I read the first book Wither, I admit that I wasn’t totally comfortable, I’m still getting into Dystopian novels, but I still loved it. The character, the story, it was all a good read.

Now reading this one, it gets even better. This time you get to follow Rhine and Gabriel into the mess of a world, as she tries to find her way home and see her brother again. As they travel, they meet different people, some who try to help them, and some who would betray them the first chance they get. The places they visit definitely fit the vision of what you think her world outside would be, chaotic and ruined.

I think book was well written, I couldn’t stop reading it! Without spoiling it for anyone, I definitely suggest that people read this book. I don’t know if much is going to change from the final release version of the book, but it was definitely a very good ending, with a cliff-hanger of course. I can’t wait for the next installment!