Blog Tour: Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning
Please join Karen Marie Moning, author of the MacKayla Lane novels, as she tours the blogosphere with TLC Book Tours!
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Review of Darkfever – Book One – by Jennifer J.
If only MacKayla Lane had not dropped her cell phone into her swimming pool, she might have some clues as to who murdered her beloved older sister, Alina. Left to ponder Alina’s very last words to her left in a voicemail, 22-year-old Mac travels across the ocean to Dublin to solve a murder the Dublin police consider hopeless. As she connects with Alina’s friends and college professors, she learns that the life she thought her sister was leading was nothing but a lie. If Mac can find Alina’s hidden diary, she may learn the identity of her sister’s murderer, as well as the truth behind her own heritage.
Mac, like her older sister, is a sidhe-seer. She has the ability to detect otherworldly creatures called the Fae and see past their glamour. Under the tutelage of the handsome, mysterious bookstore proprietor Jericho Barrons, Mac learns how to defend herself against these creatures. But Jericho also has other plans for her–she will help him locate the Sinsar Dubh, a powerful dark Hallow which possesses the power to take over the world of the humans.
Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning is a well-paced introduction to a world where Fae, vampires, and other non-humans walk the streets alongside us. To help keep unfamiliar terms such as sidhe-seer and Sinsar Dubh straight, there is a glossary of terms complete with pronunciations located at the back of the book. I found this extremely useful as I read Darkfever, even though Moning straightforwardly defines each of the terms as they become relevant to the plot. Seasoned fantasy readers are likely to have come across things like fae, Hallows, and shades before, but newcomers to the genre who start with Darkfever will definitely appreciate the guide.
[amazonify]0440240980[/amazonify]The first novel in the series patiently presents the setting, develops the main characters, and delivers an engrossing murder mystery with plenty of twists and turns along the way. Though it’s tagged as a romance novel, I consider it to be more of an urban fantasy akin to books written by Kim Harrison and Charlaine Harris. It’s subtly implied that a romance might occur between Mac and Jericho, but Moning is rightly saving that for a future installment.
As the book reaches a conclusion, Mac and Jericho are still getting a feel for each other, and Mac still isn’t sure if Jericho can be trusted. None of Jericho’s secrets have yet been revealed, and he is by far the most intriguing character; I’m absolutely stumped as to who-or what-he might be.
As someone who considers herself well-read in the fantasy/romance genre, I can confidently say that this series has the potential to become one of my all-time favorites.
Check back for our reviews of more MacKayla Lane novels starting in October!
Jennifer graduated from the University of Utah with a BA in English. She occasionally dabbles with her own fiction writing, particularly with the Young Adult and Paranormal genres. She currently resides in Utah with her husband and daughter.
Review and giveaway copies were provided free of any obligation by Dell Books. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.
Category: Literature & Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Series
Can’t the vampires and other fantasy in this book but I really do like that mystery and suspense are incorporated.
Carol Wong
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Yeah, I don’t think this one is for me. I am getting a little bored with the paranormal thing! I absolutely loved the Twilight series but beyond that I just can’t get into these books! However, if this is your thing it sounds like this book would be awesome.
So far as fantasy/borderline-paranormal books goes, this one sounds like it’s much better developed! I like that the author took the time to explain ‘foreign’ terms in the text, and also included a glossary (with punctuation! how awesome is that?!
) … Not sure I’d read it, since it’s still not really my kinda thing, but it sounds much more palatable than a lot of other fantasy reads appear. 
After Reading OUT OF THE DARKNESS by Lilly Gayle(great, can’t put down book), I am now interested in reading more books about vampires. After reading this review, I have found another vampire book that I am very interested in reading. DARKFEVER by Karen Marie Moning is now on my TBR list.
Rebecca, see my comment to Sharon. Take note that Fae are not vampires. There is a vampire in “Darkfever”, but the focus is strictly on Fae.
After a couple of seasons of watching True Blood I have had enough of vampire stories to last me my entire life. I guess the reading public’s interest in vampires still continues but it holds no fascination for me. However, I wish the author the best of luck with her publications.
Sharon, you completely misread this review. This is not a series entirely dedicated to vampires; there is *a* vampire that was in this book, but he is a minor character.
This series focuses on Fae, which are defined by Moning as: “a highly advanced race that came to Earth from another world.” Or more simply put: aliens.
The Fae are divided into two Courts, the Unseelie and the Seelie. The Seelie is “light”, and the Unseelie is “dark”. There are different caste systems within each of the two courts, and each of these castes have different appearances and abilities. For example, the Gray Man is an Unseelie who targets beautiful women and draws its strength from their beauty, sucking it right out of them.
“Fae” is sometimes synonymous with “fairy”. Fairies are not necessarily pretty, glittery, winged, happy beings.
The Sidhe are a very important part of Irish mythology, which is why Moning set her story in Ireland. This is just a slightly less traditional spin on the original mythology.
Laurell K. Hamilton also writes a series about the Seelie and Unseelie courts, explaining in great detail the different kinds of beings that inhabit all the various castes.
Thanks Jen. Not too sure I read very closely after reading the word VAMPIRE. I was trying to read and watch updates on a fire in the SF bay area so I was distracted. However, sounds like a book that I will either need Cliff notes for (like your own) or to keep notes on. Not my cup of tea as I have always been more interested in real world than fantasy. I even had to have Animal Farm explained to me.
Maybe in my next lifetime, I will go the fantasy, sci-fi route.