Knowing this series was going to be a trilogy, I really should have held off on reading this book until closer to the release of the third. But I couldn’t. Not any longer. I just finished a re-read of Black Sun, by listening to the audio book, and had to immediately dive into Fevered Star.
The audio for this series is AH-MAZE-ING. There are between four and five performers (per book respectively), and each of them gives each character distinct, unique voices that allow me to know who is talking no matter whose POV we are in. They convey such depth and beauty through their performances and really deepen the native languages that are found throughout. The story is fantastic all on its own, but the audio really adds to the experience and I can’t recommend it enough.
Second book syndrome is a thing that is readily understood in series. And, after looking at some reviews, I can see that it’s fairly evenly split on the determination of whether Fevered Star falls prey to that dreaded experience. (I saw people complain this book was too slow with not enough happening, and others complain it was too breakneck paced and they couldn’t settle in with all that was happening.) LOL. Gotta love when a book is polarizing.
For me, it’s clear that we’re being set up for the finale, with the third book, The Mirrored Heavens (August 1, 2023). But this book has so much going on and it kept me breathless with the need to read and find out what happened next with these characters I’d come to love so much. It was the perfect blend of character development and plot, with one driving the other at almost all times.
“We are but fevered stars,” he intoned, like an orator on a stage. “Here a little while, bright with promise, before we burn away.”
What I really appreciated here though was the expanding development of relationships – not just romantic, but platonic, enemies, and allies. Black Sun had one relationship that I was deeply invested in and several that I cared about. Fevered Star explodes with relationships being developed. There was a character in Black Sun that I desperately wanted to trust, and I loved getting more exposure to xir here, showing both xir love and ruthlessness. I even grew to have new appreciation for Abah and her machinations through what I saw here. (Not that I’ll ever like Abah, but I appreciate her character more after learning of learning of the depth of the machinations and planning)
The development of Naranpa and Serapio’s interactions were top-tier. We’ve known since the beginning that these two characters were going to collide, and I love the way that it was handled – in a way that neither expected.
Within even the smallest act of love lives the potential for a miracle.
Understandings and beliefs are turned on their head in Fevered Star. For everyone. No one escapes surprises and revelations. Including me.
The world expands to include visits to Hokaia and Cuecola, along with learning more about Teek. I loved this, and the political machinations that came with it. I appreciated that no one is really painted as a villain only, but there is depth built into each faction. Learning about the other players on the board, sometimes from their own thoughts and point-of-view chapters, really rounded out the struggle that is about to explode in book three.
“That is my price.”
This is an awesome book that elaborates on the world, characters, and plot in a stunning way. I could stop this review here and say nothing more, because I loved this book so much. But I feel like I need to talk about Xiala for a moment.
I’ve seen a lot of reviews that have lamented and complained about Xiala’s lack of agency and actions in this book. Hating – simultaneously – the actions she took and the lack of actions she took. This really frustrates me. Xiala is making the best choices that that she possibly can. She doesn’t always have all the information, but we – as the reader – shouldn’t hold that against her simply because we do. Xiala is not impassive here. She is moving forward and dealing with trauma from her past and more recently. Actively. She’s making decisions that she intends to get her the future she wants, even when near death’s door, Xiala doesn’t give up. I hope people don’t give up on her either.
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