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Fever (The Chemical Garden #2)

by Lauren DeStefano (Goodreads Author)

3.82 of 5 stars 3.82 · rating details · 14,663 ratings · 2,103 reviews

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...more

Hardcover, 341 pages

Published February 21st 2012 by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

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Jan 29, 2012 Sparrow rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: future Henry James fans

Shelves: motherless-daughters, on-a-dare, punching-tour, slaves, utopia-dystopia, young-adult, reviewed

You know, I think after talking to a couple of people about it, reading a couple of reviews, I can see better why someone would like these books. I am not a girl who cares for The Wings of the Dove, so I cannot understand this particular preference, but I can observe that people have it. I guess that there is something about vague wordiness that is attractive to some readers, and, you know, I can see how that is a thing. Maybe it is like black licorice. Like, it is objectively disgusting, but so...more

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Mar 03, 2012 Hayden Casey rated it 5 of 5 stars

GUESS WHO TOTALLY LOVED THIS BOOK????? :D

Let's play Guess What She's Thinking!

Oh, God, I really have to take a shit."

I probably should've slept on the twelve-hour flight here. I feel like I haven't slept in a millenium.

Shit, my foot iches... I wonder if they'll notice if I scratch it.

What the hell did they do to my hair? It feels like I have straw coming out of my head.

I can't wait until I can take a shower . . . I feel like I just rolled around in glittery monkey vomit.

Who forgot the Ex-Lax, go...more

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Jan 29, 2012 Steph Sinclair rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Lovers of Wither

Recommended to Steph by: Me :)

Shelves: dystopian, print-arc, 2012-reads, 2012-favs, beautiful-prose, best-characters, i-didn-t-see-that-coming, i-loved-it, i-need-the-next-book-like-yesterday, i-need-to-buy-this-book, i-really-enjoyed-it, made-me-think, original-and-creative, smart-heroine, surprised-me, omg-that-ending, 2-am-or-later, awesome, deserves-every-one-of-those-stars, didn-t-disappoint, oh-yeah-baby, strong-heroine, to-buy-soon, young-adult

4.5 stars

This is the first book I've read this year that grabbed me. And I mean it grabbed me. In fact, it's the first book that's going right on my "2012 favs" shelf. You know I'm picky and you know my bar is pretty high, but I LOVED this book. Lauren DeStefano stole my heart with her lyrical prose in Wither, but she took my breath away with Fever.

But before I start gushing uncontrollably about how much I loved this book, I feel I need to talk about this cover for a minute. I'm gonna be honest...more

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Mar 03, 2012 Infinite Playlist rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: connected, mine, genre-dystopia-utopia, genre-ya, circus-carnivals-clowns, location-new-york, orphans, roadtrips-travels

Liebes Fever,
was war denn das? Deine große Schwester Wither und ich hatten so eine gute Zeit zusammen und jetzt kommst du daher und machst alles kaputt.
Ich bin wirklich enttäuscht. Ich habe so viel mehr von dir erwartet, stattdessen fühlst du dich an wie ein Lückenfüller.
Es ging ja ganz gut los. Karnevalszenerien gewinnen mich immer schnell für sich, sogar diese sehr rotlichtstichige. Ein Riesenrad, ein Karussell, farbenprächtige Zelte, eine verschrobene Karnevalskönigin und süßlich-betörender R...more

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Mar 17, 2012 Kristina marked it as to-read

Shelves: 2012, books-i-have-to-read, book-i-own

I need it i need it I need it I need it I need it!! I need it now! I can't wait another almost year!

8 likes · like · see review

Feb 14, 2012 Giselle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, own, dystopia-or-post-apocalyptic

An improvement over Wither - Fever starts exactly where we left off in the midst of the excitement from having escaped. The issue I had with Wither lacking energy, where I had a feeling of restlessness being with those girls in their big mansion unmoving, is not the case anymore. In Fever, we're out in the real world. Things are moving fast and the anxiety is heightened. As a lover of fast paced dystopians, I found myself much preferring this second installment.

We're following Rhine and Gabriel...more An improvement over Wither - Fever starts exactly where we left off in the midst of the excitement from having escaped. The issue I had with Wither lacking energy, where I had a feeling of restlessness being with those girls in their big mansion unmoving, is not the case anymore. In Fever, we're out in the real world. Things are moving fast and the anxiety is heightened. As a lover of fast paced dystopians, I found myself much preferring this second installment.

We're following Rhine and Gabriel on the run. Rhine is trying to find her brother, while Gabriel is seeing the outside of the Mansion for the first time in a decade. As in Wither, I didn't feel a lot of chemistry between these two. They are clearly good for each other; always there to help one another, but there's no rooted passion between them. Fortunately, the plot doesn't center around the romance as much as their escape and, eventually, what's happening to Rhine. She's started getting sick with the same symptoms as the virus. No one knows why, or how to fix it.

Although it's still not at the scale I was hoping, we do learn more about the outside world in Fever. Rhine and Gabriel travel enough to give us glimpses of society's living situations. We also hear the president give an interesting speech of future plans. Furthermore, we get some good plot development as well as a lot of mystery throughout this novel. The twists we encounter definitely came to impress me. They were very well thought out from the beginning, put together in a way that makes them hard to predict. I, for one, had no idea what was happening and was caught smiling by the cleverness of it all by the end.

I noticed an improvement in the writing from Wither. It's more vibrant, and the story flows really well with an easy to read, but sophisticated prose. It's beautiful in a sense. There is also a sequence where Rhine is drugged, going in and out of consciousness, that I thought was brilliantly done. I felt as confused as Rhine was. Trying to figure out what was happening along with her. You get the sense of unease like in a dream where you know you must escape, but you're trapped, controlled. It's suspenseful and frightening.

A much more fast paced, captivating dystopian than the first in its series- Fever continues Rhine's story while her years dwindle by. With only 3 of them left, Rhine has a lot of life left to live in a very short time. I'm looking forward to finding out how she spends these in the final book of the series!

--
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads (less)

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Nov 19, 2011 Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner) rated it 4 of 5 stars

OH MY GOODNESS. I cannot even formulate words right now. Devoured. Absolutely devoured.

Fever by Lauren DeStefano

Full review on my book blog

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Jul 24, 2012 Reynje added it

Edit: Yeah, okay. The cover makes sense in context. Still don't particularly love it.

* * * * *
Sorry - But. What. Is. Up. With the cover?!

8 likes · like · see review

May 24, 2011 Ellie rated it 5 of 5 stars

2012? Seriously? I can't wait that long! I want to get my hands on that book NOW. This is total agony. *cries*

44 likes · like · see review

Mar 16, 2012 Eunice rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: out-2012, cool-covers, death-tragedy-suicide, dystopian-postapocalyptic, favourites, kick-ass-heroines, ya-romance, young-adult

3.75 stars

My mood on this book keeps on shifting the entire time I was reading it. From being disturbed and unnerved to fascinated and amused then frustrated and confused. And like most second books, this went more like a filler book for the series. The writing was really great though. The prose were really beautiful and captivating. But overall, it was still an enjoyable and intriguing read. The ending totally left me curious and craving for the next book.

This series certainly has almost all t...more 3.75 stars

My mood on this book keeps on shifting the entire time I was reading it. From being disturbed and unnerved to fascinated and amused then frustrated and confused. And like most second books, this went more like a filler book for the series. The writing was really great though. The prose were really beautiful and captivating. But overall, it was still an enjoyable and intriguing read. The ending totally left me curious and craving for the next book.

This series certainly has almost all those icky subjects that might have turn off a reader - polygamy, experimentation, prostitution, early pregnancy, etc. I was unnerve too, myself. Especially during the first parts of this sequel in which Rhine and Gabriel were thrown off into a carnival - or more like a prostitution den. Although it was pretty disturbing DeStefano was still able to make it so intriguing. I was afraid that most of the story will happen within that place but I was relieved and surprised when everything went differently than what I had thought. The turn of events weren't predictable and that just glued me more to the book.

I find Rhine a little confusing in here but I still saw her determined and strong personality. Though I think I understand her confusion - with all the things that had happened and how situations turned horribly, sometimes I just can't seem to get what she's really thinking and feeling. But when something horrible happens, despite all her confusions I love how she fights and faces it. Gabriel - I've seen quite a different side of Gabriel in here and I was really happy for it. But I really do think he was still a little undeveloped especially since he's supposed to be the heroine's love interest. There was also little assessment between their relationship that makes me think if their feelings for each other were genuine. Even though there were moments that reassured me that it is real (and made me swoon), I feel like some of it were just not enough. I'd like to learn more of Gabriel in the next book, I hope so there would be more of him there.

New characters were also introduced like Maggie and Silas. Maggie's one of my favorite thing that had happened in this book. I love her, she's smart witty and very adorable. Silas was an interesting character though I was afraid at first he might be a threat for a love triangle but so far, I doubt it...a little.

Like what I said earlier, this went more like a filler between the first and third book, or what most readers would say, it suffers a second book syndrome. The last fourths kinda frustrated and it was a little disappointing that nothing really happened, I mean, there were interesting things that happened its just that you don't get to conclude or theorize something more concretely. Its something were you'll find yourself asking what now? But well, the the little bit in the ending was quite an attention-grabbing and intriguing. I instantly crave for more.

All in all, it was still a good and wonderful read. I especially love the writing. DeStefano's prose were really beautiful and compelling. I am definitely looking forward for the next book! Hurry up, puh-lease! :))

This review is also posted at Book Overdose (less)

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Apr 22, 2012 nancy (The Ravenous Reader) rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, own

FEVER by Lauren Destefano was a much anticipated novel for me because I enjoyed reading it's predecessor, WITHER and was very intrigued on how this new storyline would play out. Although I anticipated a few plot points, on a whole it was not what I expected.

Upon returning to the bleak world that Rhine and Gabriel inhabit we find them on the run, fleeing a madman that is hell bent on cruel experimentation. Unfortunately they do not enjoy their freedom for long before they are held prisoners in a...more FEVER by Lauren Destefano was a much anticipated novel for me because I enjoyed reading it's predecessor, WITHER and was very intrigued on how this new storyline would play out. Although I anticipated a few plot points, on a whole it was not what I expected.

Upon returning to the bleak world that Rhine and Gabriel inhabit we find them on the run, fleeing a madman that is hell bent on cruel experimentation. Unfortunately they do not enjoy their freedom for long before they are held prisoners in a different kind of torture of which Rhine becomes a feature attraction. They barely escape with another in tow and travel up to Manhattan but the journey is long and they encounter a few hardships along the way but nothing prepares Rhine for what awaits her back home.

When I read WITHER I was drawn to it's heroine Rhine, and her storyline. I admired her spirit and drive to escape her captors and return to the free world and find her brother. I am scarcely into a few pages of FEVER and Rhine quickly becomes ensnared in a fresh kind of hell that is brutal and sexually driven. This new place reminds me of some perverse carnival of the flesh, filled with withered and broken girls, illicit drugs and nightmares. Although this new situation is uncomfortable to read about I do find Madame, the flesh carnival's keeper, to command the pages that she inhabits because she is a ridiculously excessive character that is a perverse shell of a human whom is cunning and crazed by the ghosts in her past. Yet, despite my fascination with her I was eager to leave that place and move on. It is their first of many harrowing moments on their travels but they seem to manage despite their bleak circumstances.

As I witnessed Rhine and Gabriel on their arduous mission to find Rhine's brother I had hoped that their relationship would grow stronger.The frail bond between Rhine and Gabriel is constantly tested by the strain of their situation; Gabriel is dealing with his own personal demons while Rhine seems to drown in memories of her past. While I could tolerate her recollections of her life with her brother I could not stomach her nostalgia of being with Linden and her sister wives. If she was so eager to leave that hellish situation why did she have so many fond memories of it and of Linden? Why didn't she take off her wedding band? Of all the things she does, that fact I find the most off and incomprehensible.

Besides that issue there are several factors that initially threw me off. Some where explained as the story progressed, especially one that caused my head to ache, but at that point I did not care. I guess I became overwhelmed with Rhine's turmoil and delirium and was left dazed and confused. What I previously enjoyed about this series seemed to be lacking with this current novel, too much confusion and shock value situations seemed to prevail, weighing it down.

Despite my thoughts on this novel I enjoy Lauren's writing style for it is well detailed and poetic in nature and the world that she has created is imaginatively original. I just cannot say with certainty if I will return to finish this series.(less)

11 likes · like · see review

Jul 27, 2011 Nhi Vo marked it as to-read

Shelves: definitely-to-read

OMG, FEB 2012!!!??? I CAN'T WAIT! :D I just finished Wither like 10 minutes ago. I loved it, and I just can't wait for Fever. <3<3<3

Edit: omg, loving the new cover!!! 2012 NEEDS TO COME SOONER, there're just so many books that I want to read.

16 likes · like · see review

Feb 23, 2012 Angela rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: apocalyptic-or-dystopian, arc, issues, young-adult, 2-stars, triggering-topics, read-in-2012

Gritty sequel failed to keep my attention like WITHER did

Fever takes readers into an even darker world than did Lauren DeStefano’s debut novel, Wither. Having escaped the confines of the mansion, Rhine and Gabriel make the run to freedom only to find that the outside world may offer even less of it. As they struggle to make their way to Manhattan in search of safety and Rhine’s twin brother, the two find that the world is populated by those both cruel and kind and that everyone is looking for a...more
Gritty sequel failed to keep my attention like WITHER did

Fever takes readers into an even darker world than did Lauren DeStefano’s debut novel, Wither. Having escaped the confines of the mansion, Rhine and Gabriel make the run to freedom only to find that the outside world may offer even less of it. As they struggle to make their way to Manhattan in search of safety and Rhine’s twin brother, the two find that the world is populated by those both cruel and kind and that everyone is looking for a way to survive.

When I read WITHER last year, I was impressed by the author’s writing and her willingness to explore what dire things might happen in a world where all young people die early. Even with this gritty dystopian world laid out, I found the world building to be weak enough that I spent a lot of time questioning how this world came about. Unfortunately, this is the same problem I had while reading FEVER, and it seemed even more prevalent this time. Incomplete or unbelievable world building continued to draw me out of the story too often. Also, while I liked the author’s exploration of sexuality and oppression in the first book, this book’s tone comes across as even more bleak and without as much purpose. Rhine and Gabriel routinely end up in situations that felt like they were there more for shock value than for character or plot development. And when these terrible things happen, they don’t touch the main characters in the way one would expect, again making the world less believable. Because of this, I sometimes felt disconnected from Rhine and Gabriel and their struggles. I also never felt really moved by Rhine and Gabriel’s relationship, despite a few good moments. The book then finishes on a cliffhanger with little resolution. FEVER as a whole felt very much like a “middle book” where things don’t move forward a great deal.

On the positive side, DeStefano continues to show that she can write well, and her pretty prose allows readers to easily visualize the surroundings she describes. FEVER also provides much more information about the world outside the mansion, and sympathetic new characters are introduced. Although I don’t think it was as well done as in the first book, I also continue to appreciate the author’s willingness to examine the harsh realities that could result in a world where women become little more than sexual commodities.

Overall, FEVER failed to keep my attention in the way that WITHER did one year ago, and it didn’t leave me mulling over important issues in the same way. Even such, I am sure that many fans of the first novel will appreciate this sequel and where it sets up things for the final book. I know I’ll be reading it to see where DeStefano takes her characters and her story and whether she leaves readers with a sense of hope or just continued despair.

Note: This review refers to an advance review copy.(less)

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Dec 14, 2011 Arlene rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Arlene by: Simon & Schuster ARC - Publisher Review Request

Shelves: arc, read-2011, ya-dystopic, dress-me-up, young-adult

Things will get worse before they get better. A little more agony before the fever will break.

Fever, the second installment to The Chemical Garden Trilogy, picks up immediately where Wither left off. As Rhine and Gabriel escape Linden’s mansion in search of their freedom and Rhine’s twin brother, they find themselves captured by Madame Soleski and forced to become a perverse display for profit. The story unfolds into a brutal yet subtly romantic dystopic nightmare where no matter how harsh and m...more
Things will get worse before they get better. A little more agony before the fever will break.

Fever, the second installment to The Chemical Garden Trilogy, picks up immediately where Wither left off. As Rhine and Gabriel escape Linden’s mansion in search of their freedom and Rhine’s twin brother, they find themselves captured by Madame Soleski and forced to become a perverse display for profit. The story unfolds into a brutal yet subtly romantic dystopic nightmare where no matter how harsh and morbid it becomes, there seems to be something that makes this novel increasingly addicting.

I’ll admit right now, I am sort of shocked at myself for how engrossed I’ve become with this trilogy. It’s definitely not like anything I’ve categorized in the past as romantic, beautiful, or hopeful, yet there’s a deep seeded part of this story that deserves those exact descriptors; and it’s for reasons that hide beneath the layers of DeStefano’s story-telling. As I read certain scenes, I’d find myself both cringing and embracing this author’s ability to enrapture me with her bold skill to push my comfort level yet keep me fully engaged. She seamlessly creates a journey that leaves me craving for more and turning the pages to its harsh conclusion. ~applauds~

The writing continues to be a blend of beautifully poetic and increasingly morbid. As a reader, I had to be careful not to be completely hypnotized by DeStefano’s ability to deliver attractive prose because it never fails that she has a harsh reality waiting to unfold at every corner. DeStefano’s writing really shines in this book as she demonstrates her ability to use both symbolism and foreshadowing to its advantage.

For example for most of the book, I was baffled as to why Rhine continued to wear her wedding band and long for the luxuries of Linden’s mansion, until I realized it served a purpose. The band symbolizes an invisible cord that tethers her to her nightmare. Even after her escape, she longs for the luxuries found in Linden’s mansions, but Rhine soon discovers that those luxuries come at the hefty price of her freedom. In the end, she’ll take the hardship because even if the lies and luxuries are beautiful, the truth is what she’ll face in the end and that’s a world where she was born to die at a young age.

This second installment provides some additional insight into DeStefano’s world-building. In Fever, we get a better idea of the leader’s role in this nation, how organized law enforcement has morphed into a more private security system and finally how the Gatherers own the streets in search of girls they can sell into polygamist relationships. However, we’re still left wondering how the other continents collapsed into nothingness, leaving the US as the only surviving nation. So, I’m both curious and excited to see what DeStefano will unveil as the world beyond this setting in her concluding installment.

In addition, I loved everything about the art cover and title of this book because of how appropriate and well-tied to the story it proves to be. Nothing is insignificant or frivolous. The accessories and props you see on the cover relate to some fact about the story, that I continually found myself turning back to the cover to relate it to what I was reading.

Overall, I cannot wait to experience the final installment to The Chemical Garden Trilogy to see how the world survives this dystopic nightmare. Harsh, yet hauntingly beautiful!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Publishing for allowing me to preview this book. Definitely a story that I anticipate will cause both turbulent waves amid resounding praise. Well done!
(less)

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Apr 25, 2012 Ellie (a.k.a. QE3) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Oh geez. The cover looks like something my parents will take one look at and immediately demand to inspect. Looks like the space between my bed and my wall will be getting dusted out again.

Now, what I don't understand is what Rhine has more to give up than before. The freedom, I suppose, but it says she has to decide if "freedom is worth the price, now that she has more to lose than ever." Or something like that. The only thing I can think of is Gabriel, but for some reason that doesn't really s...more

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Jan 14, 2012 Jena rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Fever is gruesome. Addictive. Enticing. Dark. And overall, yet another stunner from Lauren DeStefano.

Fever starts off just where Wither left us. Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion and are now on their own. But, not for long. They fall into the unfortunate arms of Madame Soleski and her "carnival". Rhine and Gabriel are quickly introduced the world of "selling" girls, drugs, and danger and are getting dragged down when all they've wanted was freedom. Rhine and Gabriel are determined to ge...more Fever is gruesome. Addictive. Enticing. Dark. And overall, yet another stunner from Lauren DeStefano.

Fever starts off just where Wither left us. Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion and are now on their own. But, not for long. They fall into the unfortunate arms of Madame Soleski and her "carnival". Rhine and Gabriel are quickly introduced the world of "selling" girls, drugs, and danger and are getting dragged down when all they've wanted was freedom. Rhine and Gabriel are determined to get to Manhattan though. And, Rhine will stop at nothing to find Rowan. But, their world is still a dark and twisted one. And headmaster Vaughn is still lurking on their tails.

Most of the time you get nervous when reading a second book in a series. Because most of the time you're afraid... will it be just as amazing? Will it fall short? Will it just be a filler until the next book? Honestly, I had absolutely no doubt in my mind going into Fever that Lauren DeStefano would blow me away again. This series is unlike anything I've ever read. It's so unique. It twists its deadly claws into my brain and hasn't let go yet. Drugs. Realism. Sex. Determination. Darkness. Love. At times, laughs. There's nothing about these books I don't love... except maybe Cecily. For some reason... I still don't like that girl.

While we still encounter characters from Wither we fell in love with, like Linden who I still have a soft spot for, we are also introduced to new characters. I have to admit the first one that comes to mind is Silas. I don't know why... but there's something about him I was immediately drawn too. His blonde curls, his seductive ways, they way he has this tough exterior but a maybe softer interior. I loved him a lot, and I hope we get to see him again in a future book. I also loved Lilac, I think she portrayed a kind of meaningful lesson. She was also, so strong and determined... just as Rhine is.

Rhine. There is hardly a perfect way to describe her. She goes through so many emotions... emotions that she doesn't always show. Does she have tremendous strength? Hell yes. Is she completely determined to find her brother, her freedom, and her own life with, possibly, Gabriel? Yes of course she is. Rhine's issue, which may not necessarily be bad, is that she can't always admit when she's feeling sick, exhausted, or lost. Regardless, I adore her. I think she's dazzling and completely capable of taking her life into her own hands. But, it doesn't hurt to have something with you along the way. Cue Gabriel. I don't think I'll ever get tired of Gabriel. He has this tenderness to him that you cannot find anywhere else. He has his own strength in him and I adored watching him overcome everything he has in Wither and now in Fever. I am so, so rooting for these two.

This series is the type of series I like to curl up on my couch during a thunderstorm and read. Wither and Fever just have that feel to it. It's the type of story that's devastatingly beautiful and I absolutely love it. The ending of Fever leaves us with so many questions. Not enough to throw you over the edge screaming holy cliff hanger! But, just enough that you'll want book3 immediately. I just cannot get enough of this series! Of these AMAZINGLY STUNNING covers. Cannot get enough of Gabriel or of Rhine. Am desperately awaiting book3!(less)

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Sep 19, 2012 April rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, ya, dystopian

Sometimes I think a sequel can generate more excitement than a debut. We already know the characters and the world and going back is much like slipping on a pair of sneakers that have already been broken in. After reading Wither, Lauren DeStefano’s debut novel, I was blown away and chomping at the bit for Fever, the sequel and second book in the Chemical Garden trilogy. Y’all Fever is such a painful, lush, gripping read. I can’t even.
Read the rest of my review here

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Sep 02, 2012 Merary rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: post-apocalyptic, cheesy-cute-romance, in-the-near-future, dystopia, fantastic-fantasy, fucked-up-situations, mystery-and-or-murder, kick-ass-heroines-and-or-heroes, didn-t-see-that-one-coming, ya, sci-fi, twins, series-that-i-love

Actual rating: 4.5/5 stars

Normally, sequels aren't as good as its predecessor.
But, wow!! Fever was goooooooood.
This is definitely one of my favorite books so far.

Don't get fooled by that crappy cover. Once you read the book, you'll realize why it has that cover. And it's not because the book was shit. I promise.

I don't want to say much--GASP!! Merary isn't doing spoilers!! What did you do with the real Merary?--but, I'm going to tell you this: This book is more fucked up than Wither. Oh, yeah....more

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Jul 04, 2012 Kristy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopian

First off, let me just say I loved Wither, but after reading it I really didn't feel like it needed another book. It could have been a standalone. But, Destafano's writing is was so good in #1 and the cover for this one was so appealing I thought, what the heck, I'll give it a go.
dis·ap·point(ment)
1. to fail to fulfill the expectations or wishes of: His gross ingratitude disappointed us.
2. to defeat the fulfillment of (hopes, plans, etc.); thwart; frustrate

So, I still feel like Whither could h...more

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Sep 22, 2012 Maddie Cromar rated it 2 of 5 stars

**spoilers*
My roommate summed this book up in a single sentence: "It's like one long acid trip."

I liked the first book enough to pre-order this one. When I got it in the mail a few days ago, I excitedly opened it up and took a good look at the cover. "She looks like she's on drugs," I thought to myself. Whereas the cover of Wither was beautiful, I really didn't like this one. I didn't want to do the whole book-cover-judging thing, so I slipped off the dust jacket (revealing the neon pink underne...more

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Apr 30, 2012 Lissa added it

Shelves: 2012, kick-ass-heroine

Also appears on Lissa Reads

Fever takes up where Wither left off, with the escape of Rhine and Gabriel from the opulent mansion where she was a Gothic-style prisoner and he was a servant.

And it never bloody slows down.

From the new capture of the couple to their daring escape, to their lonely trek to Manhatten and Rhine’s subsequent recapture, the book – despite about half of it being flashback, pondering, and the delirium of the ‘fever’ the book is named after – the story moves at a breakneck spe...more

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Dec 09, 2012 Linna rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: romantic-plot-tumor, mildly-disappointing

This review is a billion times more entertaining through gizoogle translate so i'm SORRY but i regret NOTHING

When it comes down ta it, what tha fuck was tha point of dis book?

What chizzled, biatch? How tha fuck did tha charactas pimp, biatch? Did our crazy-ass asses learn anythang significant via ghetto-building, biatch? I kept readin n' readin but not a god damn thang straight-up happened. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! Rhine n' Gabriel carry on from one place ta tha next, description here, d...more This review is a billion times more entertaining through gizoogle translate so i'm SORRY but i regret NOTHING

When it comes down ta it, what tha fuck was tha point of dis book?

What chizzled, biatch? How tha fuck did tha charactas pimp, biatch? Did our crazy-ass asses learn anythang significant via ghetto-building, biatch? I kept readin n' readin but not a god damn thang straight-up happened. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! Rhine n' Gabriel carry on from one place ta tha next, description here, description there, dreams, muthafucka! nightmares!, traveling, then they just end up back all up in tha mansion. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch fo' realz. And then stuff... kinda happens there, biatch? And then CLIFFHANGER.

I straight-up dug Wither, n' I don't be thinkin Fever is terrible. But I feel like I can just skip muthafuckin right on ta book three without eva havin ta read dis one. This is filla fo' a trilogy, itz straight-up unnecessary, n' I be pissed tha fuck off. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka!

Da writin is ill n' at times, dope yo, but I had ta think, who straight-up talks like that? What kind of playa says "In a cold-ass lil couple muthafuckin years yo big-ass booty is ghon be not a god damn thang but ash", biatch? And can you straight-up imagine some muthafucka narratin n' describin thangs like Rhine do, biatch?

"Our thugged-out asses is tha pimpz of sunken ghettos. Our thugged-out asses was once explorers when tha ghetto was full, up in a past life, n' now we're back from tha dead as fuckin fried chicken."

Da writin is dope but it don't feel muthafuckin right ta mah dirty ass. If tha story, plot, dialogue n' so on was interesting, I don't be thinkin fuckin shitloadz of unbelievably pretty lyrics would be necessary.

Also, Gabriel. ....Dude was just kind of there. I can't discern what tha fuck kind of personalitizzle he has, since he don't do much of anythang, and become a cold-ass lil character up in his own muthafuckin right.

...I axed too nuff thangs. But anyways. This felt like a cold-ass lil chore ta read; midway all up in I was straight-up just sloggin all up in dat shit. I might still check up tha conclusion yo, but dis be another example (along wit Da Scorch Trials, Dude straight So Not Worth It, etc.) of trilogy filler.(less)

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Dec 13, 2011 Sasha rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: simon-and-schuster, dystopian-postapocalyptic, young-adult

So, Rhine and Gabriel are on the run. Rhine is desperate to get back to New York City and reunite with her brother, Rowan. Fever is the journey that Rhine and Gabriel make to try and get to New York City. Will they be successful and even if they are, what will happen once they get there?

I was a little bit afraid that Fever was going to be too much of a “middle novel”, with nothing but fluff in the middle and the “boring” stuff that happens in the second book in a trilogy. But, boy, was I wrong....more

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Oct 15, 2012 Moira rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Začneme hezky od obálky. Kniha má úžasné barvy. Doslova a do písmene má nádherný, strhující design. Tentokrát nejde ani tak o ten obrázek jako o vyladění celé knihy. Smekám. Stejně tak překlepy se vůbec neobjevují – osobně jsem narazila jen na jeden. Jen, cover je kouzelný, ale docela by mě zajímalo, kdo je holka na obálce. Náznaky ukazují na Rein, ale ta je snad blond, hm? :))

Narodila jsem se do světa, který umírá, a jsem jeho součástí. Mám ho mnohem radši než holografické moře a otáčející se v...more

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Feb 25, 2012 Isamlq rated it 3 of 5 stars

Nothing was happening. I feel like Fever was an overlong game of hide and seek, and I didn’t even like the players all that much! As usual, the positive lay in how it’s written. And like the first, the negatives lay in the shock value. If the first had me reeling from the child bride aspect. This one had me reeling back from a number of things:

Prostitution?

Check.

Drugs?

Men turned monsters?

Experiments?

Check, check, and check.

OK. I liked it and I didn’t like it. The hiding and seeking went on fo...more

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Sep 09, 2011 Pam Vlieg rated it 4 of 5 stars

Fever was even better than Wither. I can't give you a full review right now, but I can say that I think DeStefano has grown tremendously as a writer and all my previous notions of what would happen next have all but flown out the window. It does end on a cliffhanger, a horribly beautiful cliffhanger and I can't wait to read the third to see what happens next.

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Mar 04, 2012 Shortlatte rated it 3 of 5 stars

At the end of the first book in Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden series, I was rather undecided yet hopeful that the second book would elucidate some of the plot holes and inconsistencies left unresolved. Unfortunately, I don’t feel that Fever did much to further the worldbuilding of the series, and even less to endear me to any of the characters involved.

My main problem with this series is that, whereas I believe DeStefano thinks that she has created a haunting landscape, it is really only bl...more At the end of the first book in Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden series, I was rather undecided yet hopeful that the second book would elucidate some of the plot holes and inconsistencies left unresolved. Unfortunately, I don’t feel that Fever did much to further the worldbuilding of the series, and even less to endear me to any of the characters involved.

My main problem with this series is that, whereas I believe DeStefano thinks that she has created a haunting landscape, it is really only bleak and dismal. Fever progresses in a series of shattered intervals during which Rhine’s attempts to leave behind Linden and his sadistic father are continually thwarted, each obstacle more unfortunate than the next. DeStefano introduces several new characters, yet I found it difficult even to connect to Rhine and Gabriel amidst this parade of horribles, let alone to form any attachment to these new additions. While I’m still intrigued by the underlying connection that has drawn Gabriel and Rhine together, DeStefano hasn’t yet allowed either character to shed their fronts enough to let each other under their respective skins in a way that would endear me to their struggles. Rhine is particularly aggravating in her alternating malaise and stoic determination; perhaps it is a trait common to all dystopian heroines that the tragedy of the circumstances erases personality despite consistent reminders of the character’s supposed passion.

Overall, DeStefano’s deteriorating world came across as more gratuitous than gritty to me. Whereas the dynamics among sister-wives lent a welcome dimension to the first novel, it was lacking here with nothing quite as compelling offered as a replacement. At this point, I find Linden to be one of the more interesting characters, yet his appearance was unfortunately too brief to begin mining the complexities of his character. I gather DeStefano will focus squarely on Linden and Rhine’s fractured relationship in the third novel, and unfortunately predict that it will play out as the third side to a love triangle rather than as the platonic relationship that I feel would be more appropriate at this point. Still, I’m interested enough to stick around and see how Rhine’s story plays out.

http://abookandashortlatte.wordpress....(less)

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Dec 04, 2011 Vannessa T rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc

I was lucky to receive Fever from a Goodreads Giveaway. I found the second book in The Chemical Garden series a far more exciting and engrossing read than Wither.

I am not going to give a full summary but I will say that the author takes you on quite a ride, as depressing as it is at times. She has vividly created a dystopian world that is fully believable and utterly horrifying. DeStefano writes beautifully and captures the readers attention and emotions, I found myself feeling frightened and a...more

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Jul 28, 2012 Joanne rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-dystopian

Originally posted on
This book is completely heartbreaking. On their way to Manhatten, Rhine and Gabriel meet a range of characters, and you get a better understanding of how the virus is effecting other people. In Wither, we think Rhine has it bad because of being kidnapped and forced into marriage to Linden, but, despite knowing the things Vaughn gets up to in his basement of horrors, reading Fever, I started to think she had it quite good, compared to others. We know that those girls who Lind...more Originally posted on
This book is completely heartbreaking. On their way to Manhatten, Rhine and Gabriel meet a range of characters, and you get a better understanding of how the virus is effecting other people. In Wither, we think Rhine has it bad because of being kidnapped and forced into marriage to Linden, but, despite knowing the things Vaughn gets up to in his basement of horrors, reading Fever, I started to think she had it quite good, compared to others. We know that those girls who Linden didn't pick to be his wives were shot by the Gatherers, and now part of me thinks that was probably for the best, for them. Not everyone is as lucky to be killed. Some girls have to live, and are sold into prostitution, and have to suffer the intrusive violation from more men than you could count, day in, day out - and somehow manage to find the strength to survive this awful life. We also see the desperately sorry lives that are lived by the parents who are left behind when their children die, and the lives of orphaned children. It's almost like each page brings something more, each page another heavy weight on your heart - but this is the world these people live in, from which, without an antidote, there shall never be escape.

There are moments of hope, when things look like they are finally looking up, but each time... it's crushed. Even as the reader, you come to distrust situations that look hopeful, that look like things may just work out ok, that Rhine and Gabriel's lives have taken a small step in the right direction, because after so much, can there really be anything good left? And how can it be enjoyed when so many others are suffering so much? But it's not until the final chapters do we realise that DeStefano has been playing with us. I don't want to spoil anything for you, but dear god. I have put this book down, and despite how it ends, I feel completely numb. It is a wonder to me how people have the strength to go on sometimes, to try and survive, to try and live. With this book, if I lived in this world, I could easily see myself giving in and waiting to die, or simply losing my mind, because I wouldn't want to, no, couldn't face the things these characters have too.

I'm not going to say any more, other than that Fever is one of the most heartbreaking, demoralising, and emotionally draining - yet completely and utterly brilliant novels I have ever had the honour of reading. Really. I really don't think there's anyone who wouldn't be hurt by this book, but for all the right reasons. Phenomenal. I cannot wait to read Sever, the third and final book in this incredible series.(less)

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Feb 27, 2012 Caitlyn rated it 1 of 5 stars

This is my first review ever on GoodReads. I usually don't bother but this book was just very underwhelming for me and I need to rant.

I know it doesn't matter what this review says because anyone who read Whither is going to read Fever. Honestly I read the book in pretty much a day. It pulls you in but I felt like there wasn't anything to the story. She was literally drugged for 90% of the book. It was constant hallucinations in long verbose descriptions. Barely anything REALLY happened. The mo...more

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what did you think?	59	259	May 18, 2013 08:52pm
Crazy for Young A...: Fever (Chemical Garden #2) by Lauren DeStefano → Start Date: April 25th, 2013	47	25	May 01, 2013 05:26pm
when rhine and gab were at the fair place when thay were doing the show were they haveing sex??	17	279	Mar 16, 2013 06:04pm
Cliffhanger	3	46	Dec 08, 2012 07:23pm

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Fever (The Chemical Garden #2)

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