Good Books, Good Coffee, Good Life: Review: Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning

Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning
Fever #5
Urban Fantasy
January 18, 2011
Hardcover, 594 pages
Random House Publishing Group
Source: Purchased a copy from my local Chapters.
Steam factor: 4 out 5 cups of steamin' smexy goodness.
Favorite quote: “I was happy. I knew why you’d lied.” His dark gaze was ancient, inhuman, and uncharacteristically gentle. Because you love me.

Evil is a completely different creature, Mac. Evil is bad that believes it's good."

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.

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SLIGHT SPOILERS

Few books have ever made me cry. I believe the last time I cried while reading a book was when Dumbledore died and when I finished the 7th Harry Potter book. Actually, the most recent cryfest I had over a book was after I read Breaking Dawn. I just become so emotionally invested in a story that when it's all over, I feel devastated that I can't continue on the characters' journey. Sometimes being a lover of fiction just isn't fair.

As of about 10 minutes ago, I can now add Shadowfever to the books that made me cry list. I think I'm just so emotionally exhausted from reading this book, I just had to have a good cry to get some sense of stability back. This book was just truly epic in every sense of the word. After having to endure four books filled with unanswered question and cliffhangers, Shadowfever is more than satisfying conclusion (maybe?) to one of the best urban fantasy series I have ever read. I'm so happy I gave Darkfever a second chance!

In Shadowfever, we finally to get to see a version of Mac that balances both the lighter and darker parts of herself. Her journey from the spoiled pink princess, to warrior, to a grown women was incredible. Although I didn't really appreciate Mac's personality in the first book, it was exciting to see just how much she has grown over the past four books. And finding out Mac's true origins through me for a loop. However, I felt like it's been staring me in the face the entire time.

As far as the rest of the book goes, that is just so much that happens I can't even begin to comment on all of it. When I thought for sure I had something pegged down, Moning went in and turned everything upside down. However, I love how we are still kept a little bit in the dark about Barrons' true identity, although we do get answers to why Barrons behaves the way he does and why wants to obtain the Sinsar Dubh. There is still so much more that can be explored regarding Barrons and the other eight men like him. Perhaps in future Moning books we will get to learn more about these mysterious fellows...

Without giving to much away, we do get the answer to who murder Alina and why. Moning also reveals everyones' true role in the story. Let's just say most characters are not what they appear. It will BLOW YOUR MIND HOLE!

And then there is the Barrons and Mac's HEA. Well as much of an HEA as they can have. Yep, that means some hot Barrons and Mac loving. Woohoo! Although they do finally confess their feelings for one another (sort of), there relationship continues to be dark, intense, and primal. Kind of like Barrons himself.

Shadowfever surpassed all of my expectations. It will take you on a emotional rollercoaster from the first words and not let you go until the very end. Everything I thought I knew coming into this book was blown out of the water. Moning kept me guessing throughout the book and truly made reading Shadowfever an exciting adventure. I haven't been this invested in a series for a long time. I'm just sad that it's all over...for now.