Bloodfever (Fever, #2)

by Karen Marie Moning

I used to be your average, everyday girl but all that changed one night in Dublin when I saw my first Fae, and got dragged into a world of deadly immortals and ancient secrets ...

In her fight to stay alive, MacKayla must find the Sinsar Dubh - a million-year-old book of the blackest magic imaginable, which holds the key to power over the worlds of both the Fae and Man. Pursued by assassins, surrounded by mysterious figures she knows she can't trust, Mac finds herself torn between two deadly and powerful men: V'lane, the immortal Fae Prince, and Jericho Barrons, a man as irresistible as he is dangerous.

For centuries the shadowy realm of the Fae has coexisted with that of humans. Now the walls between the two are coming down, and Mac is the only thing that stands between them.

• ISBN10: 0575108517
• ISBN13: 9780575108516
• Publish Date: 13 October 2011 (first published 1 January 2007)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Gollancz
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 336
• Language: English

Reviews

[jesstheaudiobookworm]

4.5 stars. Series review to come.

Mini review: I tend to prefer the first book in a series over the second (and normally over all other installments), but in this case, I actually liked Bloodfever better than Darkfever. By this point in the series, I am pretty well oriented in the universe of Makayla Lane. I even know her name now! I still think she has a pretty unhealthy relationship with Bairns and he hasn't grown on me much at all. It's obvious to me where things are going between them and I hope he softens up quite a bit before then. 

This installment raised more questions of than answered, but it did answer a few. I like the new Michaela that is emerging. Obviously, she couldn't stay her "pink and rainbow" self for much longer, given the types of situations she was encountering almost daily in Scotland. I hope she continues turning into the type of heroine I like: The kind that does the saving, rather than waiting to get saved.

It took even last time to finish this installment than the first and I'm planning on starting the third immediately.

[Vicki]

Much better than the first book. Mac was not nearly as annoying as she was in the first one, though she still had her moments. And things start heating up with Barrons! Things finally start getting good towards the end and I'm definitely continuing on with the series.

[liz089]

Great to read this one again. I really like how we keep getting to know more, but in the meantime we get more questions and end up knowing less XD Really like the MC, she is very relatable and getting more and more kick-ass !! Will start with the next one right away :)

[mitabird]

I liked this one better than Darkfever. The first two hundred pages were just OK, but the last eighty were great. I couldn't put it down. I like Mac and how she is coming into her own, even if she still needs saving. I still think that Barrons is a jerk.

3.5 stars - 8/8/17

[tellemonstar]

Full review here
I thoroughly enjoyed Bloodfever, had it read in about half a day. I’m enjoying this whole Fae-war storyline quite a bit actually.

Mac didn’t do quite so many naive things in this books, which pleased me a lot. Also her paranoia is turning out to be a good thing, because it was the only thing that saved her from Fiona’s very nasty trick. It was fairly evident that Mac grew up from the girl we first met in Darkfever.

V’lane is a perfect depiction of the Seelie. They see themselves as being ‘good’ or certainly better than the Unseelie, but I think they are probably worse. You don’t necessarily expect the Seelie fae to be manipulative and cruel, you do expect it from the Unseelie. V’lane is manipulative, selfish and entirely self-serving, which is really what should be expected from any of the Sidhe, Seelie or Unseelie. However, people seem to think that because he is beautiful and one of the ‘light’ side, he won’t be a bad guy. That’s a misconception, and I enjoyed Karen Marie Moning’s handling of this. Because, let's face it, V'lane is a bigger a-hole than Barrons - Barrons will readily admit to being one, whereas I doubt highly V'Lane would.

I really want to see the sexual tension between Mac and Barrons resolved once and for all and I hope that happens in the next book, because their little 'adventure' in the caves obviously didn't really resolve anything.

Malluce is just plain creepy. Not to mention being crazier than an outhouse rat. He was very well written, I must say. Did not see that whole part of the storyline coming, so I am not going to mention what happens, just that it was very well played. *appreciative slow clap here*

I don't like Rowena at all. She had plenty of opportunities to step in and help Mac and she just left her to her own devices, and when she did finally figure things out, just expected Mac to go with her without and explanation.

[Berls]

For more reviews, see: Fantasy is More Fun

This book was significantly more exciting than Dark Fever. For me this book was ultimately one mystery after another - very few of which are solved. And just when you think you've figured it out, you realize your wrong again! The problem is, Mac is still incredibly confused about the world she's become an integral part of - and therefore - so are you. This fact makes for incredible mystery at ever corner, especially in regards to the irresistible and all-too mysterious Jericho Barrons. V'lane remains a giant question mark for me... and I'm not sure sure about Christian or Rowena, either.

My favorite part of this book though, is Mac. She's developed so much since the first book; While you still her sweet, coiffed, and bubbly underbelly from time-to-time, she's quickly becoming a much tougher, stronger, and more kick ass heroine. And her relationship with Barrons continues to grow, change, and excite as she changes as a character.

Prepare to be confused, excited, grossed out and titillated. Can't wait to read the next one!

[littleread1]

Better ... still not *wow* like everyone says it is. Will do the third book and see.

[Angie]

Proceed With Caution:

This book contains death, violence, gore, and mentions of rape and murder.

The Basics:

Bloodfever is the followup to Darkfever, so yes you must read these books in order. Our narrator is, once again, Mac as she continues her mission in Ireland to avenge her sister and save the human world from the evil fae.

My Thoughts:

Well, I don't think I liked Bloodfever quite as much as the first time around, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. It picks up a bit after Darkfever left off. Mac is adjusting to her new darker life, while still longing for sunshine, pink dresses, and gold jewelry. She's learning more and more about the Fae and herself as she and Barrons continue scouring Dublin for Fae relics.

In fact, the first half of Bloodfever is mostly world-building. Mac finally meets more sidhe-seers and learns that she's barely scratched the surface of this world. She's also being followed by some kind of specter. Is it real? Is it just her imagination? Who sent the Hunters into the city? Lots of questions, very few answers. We're also introduced to a slew of new characters who may or may not survive.

However, the second half of Bloodfever really picks up. We finally find out what happened to Malluce, although there's no word of the Lord Master. Mac is in a lot of trouble! Who can she trust? Barrons? V'lane? Rowena? The Dublin Garda? Who even knows! While a lot happens in the latter half of the book, Mac essentially ends exactly where she started at the start of the book. I think that's why I liked it less this time. I hadn't remembered anything that happened and expected something big! Oh well.

[inlibrisveritas]

Oh how good it feels to be back in the world of MacKayla Lane. I didn’t know how much I really missed until I started reading. I think this is one of those comforting series that I can just slip into without hesitation.

This one moves a tad slower than the first one but that doesn’t really detract from the story since there is so much stuff going on. I loved the fact that Mac is really trying to find herself in this one. After everything she’s been through with the first book she’s finally trying to place herself firmly on the chess board. I also think I may be in love with Barrons, sure he can be a jerk…but it’s those moments where he isn’t that really got me. He’s such an intriguing character and I think I may have an idea who he really is, but who knows I could be wrong. I can’t wait to see more of him though, he’s definitely worth reading a whole book for. I honestly hope there will never be a love triangle, I just want Mac to be with Barrons. The other people that come into play in this one really add to the mystery of everything, and there is a lot of “what side are they on” going on while you read it.The Lord Master doesn’t play a tremendous part of this but the few times he does crop up ended up making me want to know ever more.

I mentioned the writing in the first review and how familiar it is. It has an informal tone about it that really welcomes you and makes it super easy to fall into. Despite it’s size this is a book you could finish within a few days and I think that makes it even better. Most paranormal books like this are rather thin and small, and then they are over before you know…and it wasn’t because you read it really fast but because the page count it low. This book actually has length and it’s a complete plus for it, there is more detail and more to the story.

There was one part of this book that I really hated…and that was the end. The cliffhanger! I must know what Mac saw, I need to know and now I’m left hanging. It makes me want to scream, but I suppose that’s a good thing. I do love this series so far and I can’t wait to find the third book and see what happened.

[celinenyx]

I give this book five stars. Does Bloodfever deserve these five stars? I have no idea. All I know is that this series is horribly addicting.

I'm flying through this series right now, and I can't exactly recall what this one was about. I can tell a few things about these books as whole though.

Karen Marie Moning is a terrible person. No really. She is the absolute master of cliffhangers. She doesn't even save them for the end of the book; she implements them at the end of chapters too. She keeps driving you forward, without ever bothering to answer some of the questions she raises. You can't put these books down when you started them. The Fever series takes you in a headlock, and drags you away to this wonderful Dublin.

Because Ms Moning has created one of the most interesting and terrifyingly beautiful world I've encountered in urban fantasy. There's just something with Irish mythology that I find so fascinating. It combines the supernatural with beauty, yet at the same time with darkness. Ms Moning is a queen in bringing these ancient traditions into the 21th century, weaving their mythical creatures into modern society.

Somehow, these books are just damn catchy. If you haven't tried them yet, you should. Come join the Fever!