Review: Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning

January 20, 2011 By Sophia (FV) 28 Comments

Shadowfever (Fever, #5) I’ve just finished reading what has to be my most anticipated urban fantasy series finale ever. I’ll admit that although I’ve been twitching and whining for Shadowfever ever since I read the final line in Dreamfever, I was a little nervous when I finally got my hands on it. Sometimes unreasonably high expectations can doom a book before the first page is even read. After recently re-reading the fever series, I wondered if Karen Marie Moning would answer all my questions, tie up all the loose ends and would she be able to throw in anything unexpected? We Fever fans have speculated and theorized and dissected this series to bits. We’ve left no stone unturned right? Wrong. Karen Marie Moning brought her “A” game and brought it big time with unexpected twists and turns throughout the entire story.

I feel like it’s impossible for me to write an in-depth review on this book without including spoilers so I won’t. I’ll just tell you how I felt about this amazing story without going into too much detail about events, jaw droppers and oh-em-gee moments. (And there are many, many of those moments.)

Epic is the word that first came to my mind after I read the words “The End” and closed the book on what was an amazing journey. I don’t think I’ve ever read a more satisfying final book in a series. I can’t even count how many times I was taken by surprise, shocked, blindsided and thrilled. I was left emotionally spent and completely happy with the many unexpected paths this story took.

Karen Marie Moning promised in her note to her readers at the end of Faefever that Mac would eventually have brighter days. I found myself wondering how it could be possible as Mac faced impossible foes, heartbreak, internal conflict as she fought her way through Fae infested Dublin. In Shadowfever we see a Mac that is broken beyond her limits, pushed to extremes only to see her rise up and fight another day. We see a Barrons that maintains his title, CJ (constant jackass) yet shows more of his heart than ever before. Since I’m a romance reader the happily ever after is a must and I was not disappointed in any way whatsoever with the conclusion of Mac and Barrons’ journey.

Mac’s story has been told and although the loose ends are tied up, it’s not necessarily a tidy little package. The ending implies there will be more to come from the fever world. Many of the Fever series secondary characters hold potential for some interesting stories to come. There is Dani, who is still very young and wild, Barrons’ eight who are all just as cantankerous and jack-assy as Barrons’, Detective Jayne and his men who are still fighting the good fight, Christian (I won’t say what his deal is) and perhaps even Jo and a few of Mac’s fellow Sidhe-seers.

I absolutely loved this book and it will go straight to my ‘read-it-again’ shelf alongside its four predecessors. My worries about over-inflated expectations and hype were completely unfounded as I was enthralled from the very first chapter. Karen Marie Moning ended her series on a high note and left me completely happy with the conclusion of one of my very favorite series.

Favorite Quotes:

From Mac: