Barrons...Oh My!

The Fever Series # 1-4

(Dark Fever, Blood Fever, Fae Fever, Dream Fever)

by Karen Marie Moning

Yep, hands down, Jericho Barrons is one of the most enigmatic, popular, delectable bad boys of the UF/PNR genre. For many of his fans, Barrons defines Alpha! Dangerous, mysterious, sarcastic, cryptic…you never know what to expect when he enters a scene.

I delayed meeting Jericho. I’m not sure why…his fans are intensely obsessive and passionate, the way I feel about Acheron. I wasn’t sure if he would replace my uber hero as the ultimate alpha (as some profess) so far he hasn’t. However…

I thoroughly understand the allure. Barrons is hott…sophisticated, cold, distant, emotionless, sardonic, and… obsessed. He’s downright scary! Ambiguous and feral, this antihero dominates; his conversation filled with arrogance and sarcasm.  Unapologetic, he pulls no punches. Barron intrigues… masters the numerous moving parts…pieces that we’re unaware, but he sees the larger picture, his ultimate goal. He knows everything! And this is Moning’s talent…she engages us with his persona…his mystique, obscurity. Yet, you feel, you know there is more; a depth, a complexity forged by tragedy and madness.  He transcends our definitions and delineations of who or what he is. 

(Oh Wait! This sounds like Acheron!)

Similar to Acheron, Barrons’ story unfolds slowly, bit by bit; we sample him, taste him, delectable. And…here the similarities end. For with Barrons, just as we begin to enjoy his succulence,  savor his flavors, his behavior becomes less palatable; his taste…bitter, acrid, caustic, and impassive! 

Moning spins a riveting dark tale with her Fever series, steeped in Irish mythology of Druid arts  dark magic, vicious villains replete with their political alliances, adversaries, and hidden agendas.  Dark Fever, the 1st installment of the series, opens with MacKayla Lane traveling to Dublin to investigate her sister, Alina’s mysterious death. In her search for answers, she meets the wealthy, cultured, evasive Jericho, the proprietor of Barrons Books and Babbles Bookstore. And her adventure begins… Each book of the series (Blood Fever, Fae Fever, Dream Fever, Shadow Fever) continues the tale highlighted by Mac’s discoveries…about this nefarious dark realm, the major players; self-growth, personal blood lines, courage, betrayal, naïveté, terror, and…trust.

Each character, multilayered and complex, complicates Mac’s search. The Fae: Seelie and Unseelie,  the Lord Master, V’lane; Malluce, the sidhe-seers, Rowena, Dani; the MacKeltars,  Christian; the O’Bannions, Fiona, the 8, and…Jericho, all motivated by self-serving hidden agendas…and Mac is the key, the linchpin. For they all seek the Sinsar Duh! 

And Jericho…

 a practitioner of Druid magic, covered with tattooed runes, a master warrior, and member (or leader) of the infamous Nine… intimidates with a perniciousness that exudes destruction and death. Even his nemesis, his opponents retreat. Is it fear, terror, or respect…He offers no apologies…

Moning engages us with the unexpected twists and turns…incredulous suspense and surprises…especially the WTH cliff hangers…

In Dream Fever…

The beast attacks, a battle ensues with Mac assisting Ryodan by stabbing, fatally wounding the beast.  Tragically, Ryodan falls over a cliff into the raging waters…and the beast, dying, appears devastated about Mac’s betrayal. Close to death, the beast transforms into…a OMG!

“The shape of its head began to change. Webs and talons vanished. Matted locks became hair…It continued to transform. Height diminished. Mass decreased. It became what it was…I thought I’d lost everything. I hadn’t. I stared at the person who lay dead on the floor of the forest. The person I’d helped kill. Now I’d lost everything.”

Yep, Moning defines suspense! Who is the beast: so many speculations!

Thus, the next book, Shadow Fever is a “must” read!