Review- Shadowfever

Karen Marie Moning
Urban Fantasy
594 Pages
Fever Series #5
Delacorte Press


Synopsis:
   MacKayla Lane was just a child when she and her sister, Alina, were given up for adoption and banished from Ireland forever.
   Twenty years later, Alina is dead and Mac has returned to the country that expelled them to hunt her sister’s murderer. But after discovering that she descends from a bloodline both gifted and cursed, Mac is plunged into a secret history: an ancient conflict between humans and immortals who have lived concealed among us for thousands of years.
   What follows is a shocking chain of events with devastating consequences, and now Mac struggles to cope with grief while continuing her mission to acquire and control the Sinsar Dubh—a book of dark, forbidden magic scribed by the mythical Unseelie King, containing the power to create and destroy worlds.
   In an epic battle between humans and Fae, the hunter becomes the hunted when the Sinsar Dubh turns on Mac and begins mowing a deadly path through those she loves.
Who can she turn to? Who can she trust? Who is the woman haunting her dreams? More important, who is Mac herself and what is the destiny she glimpses in the black and crimson designs of an ancient tarot card?
    From the luxury of the Lord Master’s penthouse to the sordid depths of an Unseelie nightclub, from the erotic bed of her lover to the terrifying bed of the Unseelie King, Mac’s journey will force her to face the truth of her exile, and to make a choice that will either save the world . . . or destroy it.





Review:
I've taken a few days to let my thoughts and emotions simmer, let them settle. I've filtered out the "girlie" reactions and looked at the story, the writing, and the character development objectionably.  Yup, still loved it... for the most part.

Let it be said, Karen Marie Moning has made confusion and frustration an art form. Readers should clear their schedules, because Shadowfever takes it to the next level and you wont be able to stop reading until you know all the answers.  From now on, when you look up "shocking" in the Webster's dictionary you will see the front cover of Shadowfever.  There are so many surprises along the way, and I didn't see anyone even close to guessing the correct answers.  That in and of itself, should be applauded.  The story went places I would never have expected and I couldn't have asked for much more.

The story is long and maybe does drag slightly, but I was so engrossed throughout, the world around me fell away.  The main grievance I had with Shadowfever was that it didn't seem like a series conclusion in my opinion. Yes, i know that KMM has plans for a spin-off series {and by God, it sure seems like Dani is going to be the lead...to which I will stab myself in the eye} but I don't think that Mac and Barrons ended in a place where I'm happy wiping my palms together saying "Yup, they're done.  Let's move on, shall we?" Maybe that just speaks to the attachment I have to both characters, but I think it's more than that.  Almost as though, she defined their relationship by this one big thing, and now that that's settled they're good. {and I'm not talking about the Sinsar Dubh} Gosh, I think they're worth so much more than that.  And really, who writes a 5 book series?  Aren't story arcs suppose to come in 3s? *evil grin*

Ok, so let's discuss what you're all thinking. Barrons is still Barrons, infuriating and driving you crazy. I have to say though, there are a couple of scenes in which he really makes himself vulnerable by opening up and revealing his feelings.  Readers will swoon at the softer side of his character, even if only for a few sentences.  But in the same breath, he's still the definition of alpha male.  If you're expecting him to change face, and suddenly start spouting poetry and bringing home flowers then you've fallen for the wrong hero.  I enjoyed where his character went with this book, but like I've said, I don't think his story has been fully told. 

For the most part this reader was pleased with the answers she was given; Alina's killer and the mastermind behind it, what/who Barrons is, how does dreamy-eyed guy fit into all this, who was the fourth prince at the church, more answers about the Druid's place in the story, V'lane's mysteries, what ever happened to Fiona, is there a good reason for my utter hatred of Rowena, who IS the Unseelie King.  I mean this is good stuff people.  

Bottom Line: Moning didn't just write a book, she's created her own Delorian, capable of taking the reader to a place far far away from their couch at home. 

4 stars