The Fever King is first in Victoria Lee’s Feverwake duology. I got this book as part of the Kindle Firsts program, and am really glad it’s the book I chose! It was a timely read too, given the themes of contagion, and immigration. This is an alternate timeline of our world, where a pandemic of massive proportions has decimated the global population. Those who survive end up as ‘witchings’, able to use magic. Our focus is in the former United States, on the countries of Carolinia and Atlantia.
Noam is caught up in an outbreak and the lethal protocols to wipe it out. He wakes some time later in a ‘red ward’ where he’d been expected to die. When tested, Noam proves to be powerful, strong enough to be sent to straight to Level 4 for training. His presenting power is technopathy, which is fairly rare. Noam quickly learns he can make use of his new position to get information to the Atlantian refugees to help them gain proper rights, and not be deported back into a severe contagion zone. But Noam isn’t the only Lvl 4 cadet with a secret agenda.
It took me a bit to get into Fever King, but once I did, I devoured it! I loved the LGBTQ rep that was slipped in as simply an aspect of personality. It doesn’t dwarf other aspects of who and what the characters are. The concept of magic sparking from contagion was fascinating. The subsequent magic holocaust was expected, though I always hope ‘humanity’ will prevail. People are, after all, animals and few animals like change or difference. That genocide is in the past, thankfully, so we get it from records. Noam, however, lives through not only getting sick, but having the entire area he called home utterly eradicated to stop the spread of the virus. Which I’d say seems like overkill, but the descriptions of the virus at work make me think of ebola. So, mass killings are a part of the Carolinian way, even though they aren’t biased against witchings.
I’m hoping more about the initial overthrow of the United States by Lehrer’s group shows up in the next book! I’m really curious. I can’t say I *like* Lehrer himself though. He comes across as a sociopath. Also, how is he using magic to prolong his life?? Noam is adorable. He’s still young, and while not sheltered at all, he does come across as naive at times. It was Dara who became my favourite though. He’s older, and a ward of Lehrer’s, but he’s clearly broken and hurting. I want to show him he’s worth safety, security, and love. Recommended!!
***I received a free copy of this book as part of the Kindle Firsts program.
