Title: Fever (The Chemical Garden #2)
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Release date: February 21, 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 341
Source: Publisher

Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind.

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.

SPOILER ALERT: If you have not read Wither, do not read this review!

I didn’t think it was possible but Fever is even better than Wither.  Fever was gripping and heart-pounding and I was hooked from the very first page.  This series is so unique and I can’t believe where Lauren DeStefano took the story in this book.

Rhine is a strong heroine.  She does not sit by while people hurt her and the ones she loves.  She takes action! Still, she isn’t afraid to show weakness to the people she loves.  She is smart, strong, courageous, and vulnerable.  She is practically the perfect heroine and there is a lot of development of her character in this book.  Gabriel is also a lot more developed in this book.  He is brave yet scared, strong yet weak, and always great to Rhine.  He grows so much throughout Fever and my heart broke for both him and Rhine at times.  Some new characters were also introduced, both good and bad.  And speaking of bad characters: daddy dearest is back and even crazier than before!  Vaughn is one sick man with pretty much no redeeming qualities.  He pretty much scares the crap out of me.  Lauren DeStefano has done a great job making him a realistic villain.

The story in Fever is a lot darker than that of Wither.  Rhine and Gabriel may have escaped but they are definitely not safe.  The trials that face them in Fever threaten their lives, their sanity, and their love for each other.  Things never turn out quite right for these two but I seriously hope there is a happy ending for them.

Lauren DeStefano’s writing has only gotten better since Wither.  Her prose is beautiful and lyrical and impossible to stop reading.  Read this book for the writing, if nothing else.

Overall, Fever is by far, one of the best books I have ever read. It is dark and gritty but there is always a small ray of hope.  Fans of Wither will not be disappointed by this one!

Looking for more reviews of Fever?
Stories & Sweeties’ Review
Cheezyfeet Books’ Review

Series:
Wither (The Chemical Garden #1)
Fever (The Chemical Garden #2)
Untitled (The Chemical Garden #3) – 2013