Fever by Lauren DeStefano

(SPOILER: Read first book first) Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but they’re still in danger. Outside, they find a world even more disquieting than the one they left behind.
     Determined to get to Manhattan and find Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan, the two press forward, amid threats of being captured again…or worse.
     The road they are on is long and perilous—and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and men die at age twenty-five, time is precious. In this sequel to Lauren DeStefano’s harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price—now that she has more to lose than ever.

Now this is the second book in the Chemical Garden trilogy (I love that name for a series by the way) and the sequel to Wither. Wither was a pretty great book, I've read better, but I was pleased. Also, it left you with a pretty intense cliff-hanger, so it was a relief to finally get my hands on this book.

 This book was pretty well-paced. It was slow when it needed to be and fast when needed. It is also so unlike anything I've ever read. You would think it would be a lot like The Hunger Games or any other distopian American society, but it brings to new meaning to the dangers of where our world might be going. There's a lot of talk of prostitution, orphans, death, polygamy (more than one wife), and all that nightmarish stuff. It is a literary slap in the face and you stay a little scared wondering if it could get that bad.

Rhine is a strong character; she is programed to survive and love despite how horrible her life is. I admire her and her courage, and it's almost like an honor to read about her, like some sort of war story your grandparents might tell you. And Gabriel is almost like baggage compared to Rhine. He's scared because he had never left the mansion walls until now, and he loves Rhine so much. It's almost like he has too much heart to do what needs to be done, and yet he's still necessary for the story and for Rhine.

I said earlier that this book was unlike anything I've ever read and this one was even more extreme than the first one. It's pretty creepy with an old abandoned carnival turned into the home for "ladies of the night."  and an orphanage kept up by a haunted grandmother and young man. Not your usual settings, and I am impressed. Then, of course, there is the creepy mansion Rhine was once trapped in. And there is a lot of creepy activities going on in that house that will make you squirm.

Overall, I believe I liked it better than the first, and since there is one more, I expect a satisfying ending to this horrifically magical book series. And since I can;t go without a pun.... I got the Fever!     Plot: 4.5/ 5 stars    Cover: 3.75/ 5 stars    -Katie <3