THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME — EVEN IF HOME IS WHERE THE DEAD LIVE.
It’s the start of the fall semester, and a new crop of Acari and Trainees has descended on the Isle of Night. Watcher training has intensified, and Drew has a new roommate named Mei-Ling. But Mei-Ling harbors a dangerous secret that drove the vampires to abduct her against her will. Drew knows she shouldn’t get involved, but she can’t seem to leave her roommate to fend for herself.
Luckily, Drew has other things on her mind—like vampire Carden. A blood bond to a brawny, eighteenth-century Scottish bad boy tends to preoccupy a girl. And though she’s still figuring out what this bond means, one thing has become clear: She craves him in a major way.
But then bodies start turning up on the island. All the evidence points to the existence of a rogue vampire, and the sinister vampire Alcántara is gunning for Carden, even though Drew has proof that Carden had nothing to do with the murders. Now she has to find the true killer—without endangering Carden, Mei-Ling, or herself…
Veronica Wolff is an award-winning, bestselling author who likes monsters, fight scenes, and first kisses. Sometimes all at the same time. She lived everywhere from Texas to Hawaii to India before settling in Northern California, where she shares a home with her husband and her black cat familiar, Josie.
She writes across genres, including Scottish historical romance, time travel, contemporary romance, and young adult fiction. She may or may not have a top-secret alter ego named Ron Wolff, who writes gonzo sci-fi thrillers.
It’s the start of the fall semester, and a new crop of Acari and Trainees have descended on the Isle of Night. Watcher training has intensified, and Drew has a new roommate named Mei-Ling. But Mei-Ling harbors a dangerous secret that drove the vampires to abduct her against her will. Drew knows she shouldn’t get involved, but she can’t seem to leave her roommate to fend for herself. Luckily, Drew has other things on her mind—like vampire Carden. A blood bond to a brawny, eighteenth-century Scottish bad boy tends to preoccupy a girl. And though she’s still figuring out what this bond means, one thing has become clear: She craves him in a major way.
CHARACTERS- Drew is a great character to follow, she was so fun to watch in this book and I really enjoyed her character a lot. Carden is my favrouite, he is the best and he is so sexy and charming and he cares for Drew in a way that it should be.
ROMANCE- Carden and Drew are my favrouite couple and I love them with all my heart and their moments together were so cute and memorable.
PLOT- The plot was so fast paced and entertaining in this book and this was probably the best so far in the series.
ENDING- The ending was heartbreaking but so good at the same time.
I feel like I'm watching The Vampire Diaries every time I read the books of these series. PEOPLE DIE ALL THE TIME. IN EVERY SINGLE ONE. It makes me a little sad but it's also, like, awesome. I'm conflicted. :/
Drew. I loved Drew again. Same as always. She's smart, funny, brave, strong, and I just want to be her friend. But not while she's on that isle and supplied with weapons...she's scary!
Ronan. Why do I feel like there is never enough of him? Probably because there isn't. He's in maybe four scenes in the entire book. Blah. I want to know more about him already!
CARDEN! Hot, sweet Carden. Boy oh boy! I didn't know what to expect from him but I didn't think I would like him as much as I do. I'm still worried about his and Drew's relationship though. It happened pretty fast and you know, that always puts me on edge. No time to gain trust...so do we trust him? *shrugs*
I'M SO GLAD THERE IS AN ESCAPE FROM THE ISLAND! Atleast we know, if shit gets deeper, there is a way out. I was surprised by the HOW but it's so super awesome and exciting I don't give a shit! There's a way OFF that isle of hell! Yay!
I thought it would be a cool twist if Drew did die in battle and ended up whatever Lilac is. However Lilac got that way. Whereever Lilac is. I thought that would be interesting to find all that out with Drew experiencing it.
Anyway...I love this series. The book seem like they end too soon but I figure it cause I never can get enough of Drew's crazy life. :) Can't wait for the next. Oh! The surprises that may come...SO STUPIDLY EXCITED. :D
Not since reading Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead have I enjoyed vampires so much or found them so addicting! But hot tamales, this series just keeps getting better and better. The idea of vampires living in secret on an island and “capturing” young girls to turn them into watchers, in order to guarantee their survival, was different and very thrilling to me. I was fascinated by the concept of this series - that was why I decided to read the books - and I think the author did an excellent job of keeping that element at the forefront in Blood Fever. That was one of the main reasons why I enjoyed this book so much.
Blood Fever was a roller coaster ride of non-stop action, adventure, danger and romance. I was impressed with how well Ms. Wolff kept her story so well balanced, especially with so much going on. But the truth of it is; nothing is overbearing. It was a creatively woven story, that is both exciting and full of angst. It kept me right at the edge of my seat and the many twists and turns were enough to make this a one sitting read for me.
The plot of this book was just brilliant. With everything that has happened to Drew since Isle of Night, you’d think she gets a break. But, nope...her life is hectic as ever. There is a murderer loose on the island killing girls in gruesome ways, and Drew being Drew, decided it’s her job to find out who. There is more action, more fights, more blood shed, more deaths, more Draugs (crazed vampires) and even more romance. Like I said before - she never gets a break....
But as much as I loved the plot of this book, my all time favourite part of the book, were the characters, most specifically Drew. She is full of curiosity, determination and strength. I loved her will to stay strong against the vampires, and no matter what happens, she is never afraid. But what I love most about her - is her recklessness. Amongst all the goody two-shoes, she is the rebel - and I adore that part of her personality. She is a strong character, and her witty remarks were always amusing and entertaining even in the most serious times.
As for the secondary characters, I really enjoyed all of them. The love interest, Carden, is hot, sweet, sexy...and I liked him in this book. When we first met him, I thought he was a no-good vampire like all the others, but what we see in Blood Fever proves otherwise. He genuinely seems to care about Drew, but I don’t know if he is just pretending and has an ulterior motive or not. I’ll admit, I am wary of him, but I enjoyed his character all the same. The one character that I love, and found his presence missing from the book was Ronan. He is one of the main characters and a love interest in this series, but he never has more than 3-4 parts in the entire book. I don’t know anything about him, or where his relationship with Drew stands. I want to know more about him. I really hope Ms. Wolff changes this in the next book.
The ending of Blood Fever was perfectly done. Where some of the problems for Drew are solved, we are still left with more questions than answers. And that is the best part about Veronica Wolff’s series - they always leave you anticipating! I cannot wait for the sequel, The Keep to come out. If you are a fan of vampires and addicting story-lines, and have not read this, then this series is definitely for you. You won’t be disappointed!
YESS!! Veronica Wolff has done it - it's like she heard all my grumbles about Vampire Kiss and fixed it all. Everything. Blood Fever is where the Watchers series finally takes off. Like a rocket, it is just impossible to predict what Wolff will do to us next - make us laugh, cry or go into nervous shock.
So what happens to Acari Drew and her fellow birds in Blood Fever? THEY ALL DIE. Muahaha. Not really. Though a lot of characters die in this book, and if you think you can guess who will die and when, think again. Veronica Wolff is a very cruel author. She doesn't just stab you in the gut, she twists the knife. And smiles while doing it. And then she'll do something that makes you want to beg for more.
I had a few bones to pick with the two previous books in The Watchers, particularly Vampire Kiss. It fell flat for me, my main gripes being the weak character development, uneven pacing and lack of action/romance to carry us through the more 'boring' bits (i.e. bits where no one dies - kidding).
In Blood Fever, Drew cleans up and becomes a character I can actually admire. No more "am I pretty; why will no one kiss me", "must become vampire slave" annoying, whiny girl. She shows a strength, loyalty and maturity that was lacking in previous books. Hallelujah!!
Weirdly enough, the pacing remains uneven but for some reason, it is absolutely perfect in Blood Fever. Drew is faced with trial and tribulation after trial and tribulation. Girls are being murdered on the island by a rogue vampire and Alcantara is gunning to pin the murders on Drew's gorgeous bonded vampire, Carden McCloud. If that wasn't hard enough, Drew has a fragile new roommate who is harbouring quite a secret. And she's under Drew's protection. Add to this a whole slew of issues involving Guidons, battles to the death, betrayal and jealousy and you can see that this skinny little book packs a punch.
Wolff's pacing is pretty unusual. The conflicts and dramas aren't spaced evenly, one after the other to keep readers interested. For the first third or so of the novel, it reads like a paranormal romance. This made me VERY VERY happy. It was a solid and (THANK GOD) much more mature romance. We also get many more "almost-" scenes (i.e. almost kiss, almost bite, almost... more) which was HOT and which made me fall in love with Carden. He is DEFINITELY swoon-worthy. He is so sweet and trusting and the opposite of everything Drew has seen of vampires. Carden is my kind of alpha male *stares at Carden with googly eyes*.
The best thing about this book tho is that it made me run the gamut of emotions - something I didn't get in the last 2 books. The Watchers is finally nearing Vampire Academy status with me, a very prestigious rank. I came very close to tears a couple of times in this book and no-one is more surprised by that than me. Wolff also showed me moments of courage and triumph where I could feel proud of humanity. And then there were the shockers i.e. the scenes where I had to put down the book and try to pretend that what just happened did not happen. Oh and just when you think you can't take any more, Wolff will change your mind and give you faith. She gave us Carden, didn't she? So yes, my faith is fully in this series and I cannot wait for The Keep and Drew's revenge against you-know-who.
A one-day read!! I truly treasure these kinds of days! They're just so fun, to have accomplished a whole book in one day...it's just the best feeling ever! Only a fellow reader would understand this euphoria! Veronica Wolff's Blood Fever, the latest in her The Watchers series was a pretty good read! I really love Drew, she's such a great heroine!
I think what I love most about her is her journey. She starts out as a brain who has no physical abilities whatsoever, yet she has come so far in three books! She can kick some major ass! And now she's got herself a vampire tied to her. Sort of. After saving Carden's life and giving him her blood, a bond has formed between them. She craves him, wants him. There are some pretty intense moments between them and Carden wants and craves her just as much as she does him, but yet...I just couldn't feel any romance between them. Sure, there are steamy moments that make your toes curl, I just wasn't feeling it. Guess I'm too hung up on Ronan!
Drew gets a new roommate this time around, Mei-Ling. She's fifteen and completely musically gifted. But yet, there's not much else to her. When Mei tells Drew that Otto, the one who brought her here, forced her to come, Drew is baffled. Mei explains that she watched him kill her boyfriend and then had her family threatened to death if she didn't come to the school. Drew wonders why the vampires would take Mei when she obviously would be missed by her family. Like her, the rest of the students are outcasts of a sort. Ones who wouldn't be missed once they disappeared. And even after finishing the book, I still can't understand what it was about Mei that the vampires wanted.
People at school happen to be dying, by having their blood completely drained. Obviously the work of a vampire. Could it be Carden? Drew doesn't think so, but that means there's a rogue vampire on the loose. Drew decides to do some investigating to find out who's to blame before eyes start to turn to Carden--who's at the school as a "special guest".
Once again Veronica gives us an action packed read! Although, I was a mite disappointed that Ronan didn't garner a lot of page time. He was only there briefly, to my dismay. Carden's great and all and I do love his personality. He's spunky, yet still dangerous and oh-so sexy, but he just doesn't have the mysterious air that Ronan has.
The ending was freaking OMG wowzers!! Like WTFreak man?! Luckily I have the next book in line to read but with the upcoming holiday it might be a wait til Friday for me to start it. Needless to say, the ending was shocking in the jaw dropping sense! There were quite a few deaths, this school is definitely no Hogwarts and it's every girl for herself!
I highly recommend reading this series if you're looking for an action packed YA read! Drew is a different kind of heroine who wasn't skilled with the kick-ass-ery, but has learned. She's got brains and talents! I look forward to seeing the rest of her journey and survival at this school where it seems everyone wants to kill her. She ends this chapter possibly with even more enemies! There are still so many unanswered mysteries to this series that I cannot express how excited I am for each and every new addition! Glad I waited to read this one now that I have The Keep at the ready!
This series keeps getting better and better! I enjoyed the first two books in the series but to me, they simply felt like an introduction to heroine Drew’s vampire world. And that’s to be expected, right? Everything is new and needs to be explained. However, in BLOOD FEVER, the third of the series, the story line really starts to warm up as the characters face battle after battle.
For all the young characters, school will never be the same. The fact that they’re attending a special vampire school isn’t necessarily an original concept in the young adult literary world but what goes on outside of class will have you biting your nails throughout the book. On an island in the North Sea, this vampire school is training young women into soldiers and young men into vampires and I’m sure physical education is unlike anything they ever expected. Most vampire myths are laid to rest as we learn more an more about these vampires, especially the fact that only boys can become vampires. Instead, girls are trained to fight and become warriors and spies for the vampires. Although, it’s still not all that clear why these girls are absolutely necessary and I’m sure Veronica Wolff is keeping a few secret things to herself, for now.
In BLOOD FEVER, one thing that stands out from the other two books, is the romance. Even though Drew always had a few guys interested in her, it’s only in this newer book that things get hot. Drew’s many different guys includes vampire Alcántara, vampire Carden, Tracer Ronan and vampire trainee Josh. So romantic and feudal tensions are definitively not missing in this story. As Drew grows closer and closer to one of her admirers, jealousy and maybe disinterest becomes evident among the others.
Of course, romance isn’t the only thing that gets hot. More action, more fights and more deaths follows Drew and her schoolmates. Like in the other books, Drew is still threatened by older bullies and Draugs (a sub-race of rabid vampires). You can’t help rooting for Drew in all her battles especially since she’s gone through so much as a child and as a student. On top of everything, she finds it’s her duty to determine who is responsible for the death of so many girls on the island. And I guarantee you, one of the deaths will catch you by surprise.
In my opinion, there’s only one thing that could have been better which is the passing of time in the narration. At times, it was difficult to follow the story since time passed very quickly between some scenes while some other scenes lasted quite a bit of time. Other than that, I have nothing to critique about Veronica Wolff vampire series. Drew is such a mentally strong character, despite her small stature and her quick snarky responses are amusing and entertaining. Everything began in ISLE OF NIGHT but so much has happened since our introduction to Drew. If you’re a fan of young adult vampires books and strong female characters, and you haven’t read this series, this might be the right match for you!
I seriously have so much love for this series I can barely put it into words. It’s snarky and quirky without being over the top and it’s so so incredibly violent but not unnecessarily so and there are fangs and lust and impure thoughts abound. I can’t get enough. It’s new adult before there was new adult but without the somewhat squicky romance that can come with it. Drew’s still only 17 but Wolff doesn’t shy away from more romantic situations and feelings for the sake of age. As if 17-year-olds don’t feel those things. She just doesn’t give details and I’m okay with that here.
This was one of the books in the series that NAL sent me directly and I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again but I’m glad they did. Right up there with Mari Mancusi’s Blood Coven series Wollf’s Watchers series is one that I’ll recommend to anyone with ears, whether they want the recommendation or not. It’s not satirical like Blood Coven but it has its quirks and its sass and Wolff is far more unforgiving in the pain department and she has my heart for that.
One of the best things about this series is it’s not formulaic. Wolff keeps you guessing and keeps throwing wrenches into your spokes. And I’m pretty sure she’s laughing while she does it too. She’s set up this air of complete mistrust on the island and even when a new character comes in that seems to be worthy of trust you still don’t know. She conditions her readers well. At least this reader, anyway. Even when a character exists stage right, I wasn’t wholly on board with their trustworthiness. Unless a character dies. Then they can’t come back and punch you in the face or anything. Maybe.
I was not expecting the ending that BLOOD FEVER gave me but at the same time I’m not surprised by it. Wolff set it up from the beginning that no one is safe and she lives up to her own promise, however sad it makes me. But she’s not entirely sadistic. She does allow her characters some love and Drew is no exception to that. Carden is a bit of a beefcake and I would like my own Carden McCloud calendar, if that’s possible. I’d like to have that made possible.
Drew really is a great character and she’s true to herself. She hasn’t made any decisions that would make me question her or her development. She feels like a tangible person and I’m engrossed in her story before it even starts for every book. She’s broken and dejected but strong and resilient and will not lay down her laurels for anyone, no matter what. And sometimes that really backfires and she cracks a little more because of it. Still, I do love her so.
I have one more book in The Watchers series on my shelf. I know there is at least a novella more but I really don’t see how a single book can resolve this story. I’m hoping there’s a pile more. Truly.
In this third installment of The Watchers (don't know how many books she is going to write, there is at least one more), Drew has returned from her mission, bonded to a vampire. A sexy and Scottish one, at that. While she craves him, their bond must be kept secret or the consequences could be devastating. At the same time, someone is murdering girls, leaving their drained bodies behind to be found. And when Drew's vampire is framed, she decides to do something. Beside investigating the murders and keeping her bond secret, she also has to watch out for her new roommate.
In some ways, this is a brutal world. Girls constantly fighting each other, sometimes to the death, adding to a very hostile environment. But some of the girls find a way to rise above it and find friendship and loyalty, albeit it does not tend to last. As we see so little of the boys' training, I don't know if they have a hard time as well, but I sure as heck wouldn't last long in this island.
Like the other books, there are plenty of deaths in this book, some justified and some for no reason. It's survival of the fittest. And Drew has to make the most of it. Throughout the books, she has built as much of a support net as she could, in Emma, Ronan and Yasuo, with Carden coming in in this book. However, she should be prepared to have this net used against her, as it usually happens.
I expect that the next book will show us the backlash of Emma's death, and what became of Drew's fugitive roommate.
I really enjoy The Watchers series. I like Drew. She is an awesome character. I love that she thinks for herself and I also love how independent she is. I love that she wanted to break off the bond and that she tried to fight it.
Carden was also a pretty interesting character. I think that he might be my second favorite actually. Mostly because he isn't like the other vampires on the Isle and that even though he wanted Drew and was bonded to her, he was willing to give her what she wanted. Alcantara was on his back through out the book, and I'm still not sure whether it was because of the attraction felt between Carden and Drew, so he was either jealous or scared of Carden.
Something that I also really enjoyed in this was Mei-Ling. I love how different she was and what the vampires had to do to get her. I also loved what she was able to do with her weapon. I'm also glad that a character was introduced that could be on level with Drew on brains, although they might not be both genius on books, they were both on the same wave-length which was pretty cool, because the other characters all wanted to be there because they have nowhere else to go.
The plot was pretty intriguing. The way that girls are dying and the Vampires are trying to pin this on Carden. It created a pretty interesting scenario in which Mei-Ling and Drew are investigating. My favorite character in this book had to be the witness. The fact that he is human and that he watches and takes care of the things that scare the vampires that most is pretty interesting and that fact that he isn't scared of them was pretty fun.
I wasn't a huge an of the last one, but wanted to continue with the series to see where it was going, and basically figured out that no one has any idea. It almost felt like there was no goal or really any climax. Drew has no focus and is kinda wishy washy, with all the guys in her life, in the first it was Ronan (who has my vote) then in the second Josh and Alcántara and then in this one it's like none of then exist because now she is bonded to a vampire. Then the last three chapters are a complete disconnect. when it should have been the falling action and finishing up after the so called climax it brought in a whole other issue that is them "solved" . There was nothing leading into it at all and felt like a spur of the moment thing.
Wow! This was awesome! I can't wait for the next book. I am just baffled at some of the things that happened in this one. Did Al really care for her or want to control her. There really isn't a reason for her stay now. He wants her dead. Her only allies are dropping like flies and now she has a new enemy. Keeps getting better. Still team Carden.. There wasn't much of Ronan this go round, but we will see him soon I'm sure! I definitely recommend this series.
Well, I liked it. Caden won me over a tad, not going to lie. But I can't still help liking Ronan, even though he was pretty much non-existent in this book.
Despite the fact that I hadn't read the previous two books (couldn't locate any copies, unfortunately), I still found this one easy to understand and enjoy. Very good story, and Drew is an awesome protagonist.
Quick & Dirty: A more engaging sequel, the heroine’s eyes are open to the truth of the vampires’ intentions.
Opening Sentence: His mouth.
The Review:
In Veronica Wolff’s third installment of The Watchers, Blood Fever comes back with a darker theme. While I was beginning to think that I may be too old for the series (I am in my 30s), Wolff brings a more adult vibe throughout the story. There is definitely more danger around the corner on the Isle of Night. And luckily for me, I was able to read about it right away.
Blood Fever begins at the start of a new semester. Fall brings new Acari recruits and trainees. For the rest, Watcher training has intensified, bringing more guts and glory for the determined. Drew has survived another year, and with some surprising allies. One ally is Camden. A bond has solidified their connection, but that connection goes beyond what was formed. Mei-Ling has a secret and a talent. That secret was the cause of her abduction by the vampires. Drew is involved, no matter if she should or not. And when the death counts start rising, will she be able to prove the cause? Or will it bring danger to her, more than it already has?
I loved Drew in Blood Fever. I think she became so much more personable than the last three books. Maybe because of her bond with Camden, or even her friendship with Mei-Ling. Whatever reason, she shows so much emotion on the inside and out. It was entertaining to read and the accompanying dialogue was fun, to say the least. Her relationships get serious, whether it is in a positive or negative light. There’s so much more on the line and I appreciated the way Drew handled every single scenario. Her days of act-first-think-later seem to be in the past, but who knows, Drew will surprise me when she can.
The all-around character progression was believable and realistic. Each character, whether it’s Drew or a supporting character, had a purpose and a reason, each one playing a key part into the storyline. There was so much more to the characters this time around. There was an intensity and ferocity that I loved. Maybe it was because the theme of Blood Fever is darker and the stakes are higher. Whatever the reason, I loved it.
Wolff knows how to slowly transcend each story into its own plateau. The amount of chaos included within Blood Fever was the right amount. The pacing was on par with the events, and not once did I feel the lull of a scene, or lack thereof. Wolff pushes the boundaries, testing her readers with more of this and more of that. There was a point where I didn’t think I could take another thing, but Wolff went there and brought it. And as a reader, I can say that it made the story much more enjoyable to read.
I highly urge you to read Blood Fever, or The Watchers series. So much fun.
Notable Scene:
“If I’m quiet, it’s because I listen. Unlike you.”
Whoa. Get back. I actually laughed. Was that an insult or an observation? It didn’t piss me off, though. On an island of secrets, I liked her candor. “What do you mean, unlike me? I’m just trying to help. I wasn’t sure if you understood what was going on back there.”
“I grew up in New York. I speak English.” Though the words carried a sting, there’d been no animosity in her voice when she’d said them.
I stopped on the path. “Wait, Mei. Do over. I know you understand English. Jeez. I meant, you’re not used to the Guidons.” I rubbed my temples—the headache was back with a vengeance. “God, I can barely think straight.” Inhaling deeply, I faced her. “All I meant was that those girls would love to kill us—and they will if we’re not careful. They could make your life serious hell.”
I’d lost Amanda, and keeping Mei-Ling safe felt like righting that wrong. Besides, I liked odd ducks, and Mei was shaping up to be pretty massively odd.
“Hey,” I added, trying to lighten the mood. “We’ve gotta watch out for your hands, right?”
She held out one of those hands, studying it. Then her eyes met mine, and she smiled. A real, genuine smile. “Right.”
FTC Advisory: NAL Trade/Penguin provided me with a copy of Blood Fever. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
It's a new semester on the island, and Drew has a new roommate, Mei-Ling. She's different from the other girls as she didn't chose this life. The vamps stole her as she has something they covet. Knowing the girls on the island will chew her up and spit her out, Alex is determined to look out for Mei-Ling. But babysitting her roommate is the least of her problems. Since rescuing Master Vampire Carden in the previous installment, Alex has been trying to figure out the bond between them. All she really knows is that she craves him in the worst way. So when bodies start showing up drained and Carden is accused, Alex is determined to do everything she can to clear his name and keep him safe, even it if mean risking her own life.
The plethora of potential love interests seemed to settle down a great deal in Blood Fever. Some faded to the background as the relationship dynamic changed more to allies rather than attraction. Another seemed to be on the brink of dissolution, which considering the circumstances, isn't really a good thing, at least not where Alex's safety is concerned. But one came firmly to the forefront. Since the vamps in this series are cruel and manipulative without a romantic bone in their bodies, I never thought I would actually be rooting for Alex to be with one. However, that being said, Carden is quite different than his counterparts, and it makes me wonder if there are other more "human" vamps out there. Perhaps the ones on the island (and the ones she encountered on her mission) are just an evil bunch. Just like humans can be good or bad, perhaps the same applies to the vamps as well.
I still don't really understand the purpose of the island although I do have theories. Why do the vamps even need the Watchers to be warriors? They are supposed to be so strong, why do they need humans to protect them? Why they train these girls to be able to outmaneuver them is beyond me. Perhaps they are just that arrogant that they don't believe one of them would be capable of doing so. Even so, it just strikes me as odd that they don't just train them in obedience, manners, and poise. Considering how much the vamps like to be in control, you would think a warrior wouldn't make for the perfect companion. Perhaps it is a status thing to have the cream of the crop, but honestly I have a feeling it will come back to bite them in the behind one day. Perhaps our dear Alex will be the one to take them down and show them the error of their ways, and I will be cheering for her all the way.
Alex really shines in Blood Fever, even as her personality traits were laid bare in front of her. She has managed to hold true to her humanity even as she continues to play the deadly game of survival that the island holds. She really stands above the rest of her peers as her iron strength and will has not turned her cruel. She still has compassion, although the vamps do their best to stomp it out. That more than anything else is what makes this series so very enjoyable. With each book released in the Watchers Series, I only become more invested. Blood Fever was no exception as it takes everything that I loved from the first two installments and only made it better. Definitely a must read!
Wolff is one talented and imaginatively sadistic author; BLOOD FEVER had so much more bloodshed, action and, not surprisingly, romance! (Carden!! GAH!) Everything was back more intense, and the storyline was a little more complex with a confuddling riddle at the end!
Drew is back at the Isle of Night after her hard-won mission with Alcantara, at which one mysteriously attractive Carden McCloud was rescued. Drew's having a tough time dealing with the bond that she unknowingly forged with McCloud, craving for him and his blood and all, plus the newest assignment that the vampires dumped onto her - to ensure the safety of her new roommate, Mei-Ling. There's something a little off with Mei, not in the psychopathic-pyromaniac way that her previous roommate Lilac was, but Mei didn't come to the Isle of Night willingly. Not like Drew or the rest of the Acaris that were outcasts in society. Thing is, Mei isn't even an outcast in society with a family that wouldn't miss her even if she were gone. She had a loving family and a loyal boyfriend. Mei was abducted. But why? The only thing that Mei have in common with the she-wolves at the Isle of Night is that she has a gift, a very peculiar and dangerous gift that the vampires are interested about. Mei's good at playing musical instruments, and Drew's going to find that out what's so special about it.
Also going on at the Isle of Night are strange killings that are happening around the island. Random people are turning up exsanguinated and nobody knows the how and why. And the Directorate seems to think that Carden's the culprit.
So, on top of finding out why the vampires are so interested in Mei, Drew's got to protect her from Masha, the other Guidons and Acaris AND protect her own hide from her hate club at the island (which surprisingly has a huge fan base) AND figure out the nitty gritty of her bond with Carden AND clear his name to save him from a possible public staking.
I love all those private moments between her and Carden. They're reaaaally sweet together. But what makes this book different from its predecessors is the amount of bloodshed! I'm still reeling from all the fights that Drew had been pitted through in BLOOD FEVER! Especially at the end. It was one fight after another after another traumatic accident. More, much, much more people are going to die and when they do, a new mystery pops up and Drew's in deep enough that she's going to figure it all out.
This series gets more and more interesting and intense that once you pick ISLE OF NIGHT up, you know you're a goner till the series ends. This Watchers series is similar to The Hunger Games series, but in my opinion, better and much more intriguing. Gripping till the end! Can't wait till next June for the next and fourth instalment in the series, THE KEEP (which, very aptly, is the new mystery that Drew has to solve. ).
17 year old Annelise Drew, or Acari Drew as she is called on the Isle of Night, has some serious problems that she needs to resolve. The first issue is her growing emotional connection to Carden McCloud the Scottish vampire she helped rescue on her away mission. (If you haven't read Vampire's Kiss, you really should before you read this book.)
Carden and Drew's connection is not something she can hide from even though she tries. It's also a dangerous proposition if anyone, including the demented, psychotic vampire Hugo Alcantara, finds out she's bound herself to a vampire who is not him which is against everything she's been told. Alcantara is a vampire who gets what he wants, and what he wants is Drew at the expense of anyone else including Carden, and Drew's best friend Emma. Drew also has to keep up her emotions hidden from Tracker Ronan who has become a friend to her and has protected her from unpleasantries on the Isle. Ronan understands the dangers facing Drew and tries hard to get her to understand how dangerous her position on the Isle really is.
The second issue is that a rogue vampire is killing off Trackers, Watchers, and Acari indiscriminately and perhaps with encouragement from someone in the Directorate. Naturally, Drew and Carden are prime targets for blame since they both have a plethora of enemies. Truth be told, Drew isn't very popular because of her attitude and her belief that she is much more powerful and intelligent than anyone else on the Isle. So, in lieu of any semblance of reasoning or her own safety, Drew plays CSI and tries to figure out who the killer really is before he comes after her.
Ming-Lei Ho enters the story as Drew's new roommate, and I immediately found her story compelling and cheered for her to help Drew or escape the Isle while taking some vampires with her. Ming=Lei has a unique ability as well, which I won't spoil for you. Let's just say that it comes in handy whenever certain characters are trying to harm her, or Drew which is pretty much all the time.
The romance between Carden and Drew has moved to another level and I hope that the author will explore what it means in the next book. Unfortunately, a character who I really liked falls by the wayside and Drew is blamed and punished. I wasn't all that surprised that it would happen this quickly. One can only hope that Wolff gives us closure in regards to this character and that it doesn't take too long to expose Alcantara for the psycho he really is.
Blood Fever was an interesting story with and I will definitely be looking forward to continue reading the series when The Keep releases June 2013.
In Veronica Wolff’s third installment of The Watchers, Blood Fever comes back with a darker theme. While I was beginning to think that I may be too old for the series (I am in my 30s), Wolff brings a more adult vibe throughout the story. There is definitely more danger around the corner on the Isle of Night. And luckily for me, I was able to read about it right away.
Blood Fever begins at the start of a new semester. Fall brings new Acari recruits and trainees. For the rest, Watcher training has intensified, bringing more guts and glory for the determined. Drew has survived another year, and with some surprising allies. One ally is Camden. A bond has solidified their connection, but that connection goes beyond what was formed. Mei-Ling has a secret and a talent. That secret was the cause of her abduction by the vampires. Drew is involved, no matter if she should or not. And when the death counts start rising, will she be able to prove the cause? Or will it bring danger to her, more than it already has?
I loved Drew in Blood Fever. I think she became so much more personable than the last three books. Maybe because of her bond with Camden, or even her friendship with Mei-Ling. Whatever reason, she shows so much emotion on the inside and out. It was entertaining to read and the accompanying dialogue was fun, to say the least. Her relationships get serious, whether it is in a positive or negative light. There’s so much more on the line and I appreciated the way Drew handled every single scenario. Her days of act-first-think-later seem to be in the past, but who knows, Drew will surprise me when she can.
The all-around character progression was believable and realistic. Each character, whether it’s Drew or a supporting character, had a purpose and a reason, each one playing a key part into the storyline. There was so much more to the characters this time around. There was an intensity and ferocity that I loved. Maybe it was because the theme of Blood Fever is darker and the stakes are higher. Whatever the reason, I loved it.
Wolff knows how to slowly transcend each story into its own plateau. The amount of chaos included within Blood Fever was the right amount. The pacing was on par with the events, and not once did I feel the lull of a scene, or lack thereof. Wolff pushes the boundaries, testing her readers with more of this and more of that. There was a point where I didn’t think I could take another thing, but Wolff went there and brought it. And as a reader, I can say that it made the story much more enjoyable to read.
I highly urge you to read Blood Fever, or The Watchers series. So much fun.
It’s official, The Watchers is my new favorite YA vampire series. Not since Richelle Mead‘s Vampire Academy series have vampires and human interaction been so dangerous and so addictive. The training at Isle of Night has never been more deadly as it’s not just the teachers and fellow students that Drew has to worry about. Someone or something is slaughtering people all over the island, and Drew’s secret and accidental bond with Carden is becoming harder and harder to ignore. They are both suspected of the murders and if their bond is discovered, they won’t live long enough to prove their innocence.
BLOOD FEVER, the third book in Veronica Wolff’s The Watchers series is the best installment yet. Drew is shedding the last remnants of her weak, victimized former life. She has fully embraced her training to one day become a lethal vampire Watcher–if she lives that long–and now has the skills to draw some unwanted attention from the vampires and other students. As with the previous books, the violence level is high. Expect plenty of bloodshed and vicious attacks on par with THE HUNGER GAMES.
Balancing out the constant threat of death and dismemberment, the romance is also heightened in BLOOD FEVER. A few potential love interests have been circulating in the previous books, but one emerges clearly this time. I flat out loved how this romance developed. No insta-love here, instead there is a lot a caution and doubt and plenty of attraction to make both parties loose their head is several delicious encounters. Plus there’s the added mystical nature of the bond that keeps Drew constantly suspicious of her own desires–though never in an angsty, annoying way. She’s a smart girl who’s getting smarter all the time. She wants to make sure her heart in involved and not just her hormones…and in the case of the vampire, that he hungers for more than just her blood.
Danger, desire, and intriguing mystery fill every single page of BLOOD FEVER. Wolff clearly has an endgame in mind for this series and based on the hints and revelations so far, the next book in The Watchers series titled THE KEEP which will be hitting shelves on April 1, 2013, promises to be killer.
What does Acari Drew do when she is secretly bonded to a vampire, has feelings for Ronan that she doesn’t understand, has another master vampire after her and gets a new roommate? Drew isn’t finished with her training on Eyja næturinnar or the Isle of Night. She is training to become a watcher, who will help protect the vampires. The training is intense and a lot of girls have died, including Drew’s old roommate, which made her the only occupant in her room.
Then she gets a new roommate, Mei-Ling. She is different than the other girls on the Isle of Night. First of all, she is young; the youngest one there. Second, she didn’t come willingly. She was forced to come. Drew is trying to figure out why. Why would the vampires risk exposure to bring this girl here? What is so important about Mei-Ling? At first Mei-Ling is standoffish and this just intensifies Drew’s curiosity.
There are other stressors in Drew’s life on the island. People are being killed and drained of their blood. This is being done without permission and that is punishable by death. Master Alcántara thinks that is the works of the vampire that they rescued in Vampire’s Kiss, Carden McCloud. Drew was a part of that rescue and has a feeling that Alcántara didn’t want him rescued. She tries to stay away from McCloud to not draw suspicion to him, but there is the blood bond that will prevent them from being apart.
Who is leaving the bodies on the island? How will Drew figure this out while trying to protect Mei-Ling and McCloud? What will happen between Drew, Alcántara and McCloud?
When I received this book in the mail, I was excited. I had previously read and reviewed Isle of Night and Vampire’s Kiss and loved both of them. Blood Fever was no different. I like how Drew feels that she is responsible for people, Mei-Ling and McCloud. She feels that she needs to protect them. You don’t see much of Ronan in this book and that might be the only drawback. I really liked his character. I liked Mei-Ling and that she appeared so innocent in the book. She has a secret that she is protecting and Drew really wants to find this out because then she might understand what the big interest in her is.
The ending of this book left me wanting more. It was written well, but I didn’t like it.
I cannot wait for the continuation of this story in The Keep
BLOOD FEVER is an epic follow-up to the first two exciting books in the Watchers series. Wolff has proven herself with frightening vampires with ulterior motives, but in BLOOD FEVER, she shows that not all vampires are evil. Sexy Scottish vampire Carden will have girls swooning and vying for him and Drew. The stakes are raised even higher in BLOOD FEVER, so if you were a fan of the first two books in the series, this one is right up your alley.
Drew is back in BLOOD FEVER and as fierce as ever. Her strong fighter spirit doesn't let anyone get her down, no matter how hurtful their words or punches. I have tremendous respect for Drew and in all honesty, she's someone I would aspire to be if I lived in a world like hers. Let's just say I am thankful that I don't though, because she goes through some seriously scary trials that had me shivering in anticipation of the outcomes.
I thought that I loved Ronan, but I have to say that Carden has surpassed him in all ways after reading BLOOD FEVER. Ronan barely has a chance to come on the scenes with this head strong vampire determined to be in Drew's life. Oh, and they're bonded so that just makes their relationship that much steamier. I think it is safe to say that Carden has won me over, no matter how yummy Ronan may be.
There is so much action in BLOOD FEVER that you won't have a moment of peace before the next problem arises. Of course, Drew kicks some serious booty in this one and while I won't say who, I will say that I was extremely happy that she finally got her revenge. The romance is as steamy as every in BLOOD FEVER, especially with Carden. WOW, he and Drew sure create some serious sparks when they're together, no matter the circumstances. I can't wait for more of Carden, that's for sure.
If you haven't yet read this series, you are sure missing out! It may appear to be just your average vampire YA on the outside, but on the inside it is so much more than that. So take a chance on this series. I can guarantee you won't regret it!
I was intrigued when I received this book for review because the description seemed so kick-ass. In this third installment of The Watchers series, Drew has bonded with the Scottish vampire, Carden and their bond is getting pretty serious. Meanwhile, Drew is roommate-less until new girl Mei-Ling shows up, having been kidnapped and forced into the Isle of Night. Drew becomes her protector when things start getting out of hand on the island - people are being murdered and drained and plenty of people suspect Drew herself.
I was right, there are so many intense things about Blood Fever to love. First and most obvious is the relationship, or rather bond, between Drew and Carden. The chemistry between the two becomes almost palpable as the novel goes on and if this had been an adult novel rather than YA, I feel like it could have become very, very steamy indeed. But even without the act of sex on the table, their chemistry is just plain off the charts. Who doesn't love a little Scottish leading man, anyway?
Second, of course, is the plot involving mysterious murders. When Drew is informally accused by others at the school, she feels she must find the killer and absolve herself, all while keeping her friends safe. This culminates in some very intense scenes involving Drew searching through the wilderness and some pretty epic battle scenes. Trust me, the action in this book will have you turning the pages as fast as you can! I know the ending was pretty climatic for me and while I knew it wouldn't go the way I wanted it, too, I was surprised at what really happened. It set things up for the next book in the series extremely well.
Three stars! I was admittedly a little lost having not read the first two books in the series, but it wasn't anything I couldn't overcome. If you're a fan of YA vampire books, or books that take place at training academies, or books about vampires at training academies, this series is definitely something you should check out.
"Blood Fever: The Watchers" by Veronica Wolff is the 3rd book in the "Watchers" Series. It starts with the beginning of the fall semester, and a new crop of Acari and Trainees have descended on the Isle of Night. Bodies start turning up on the island and people are beginning to suspect that Drew or Carden are responsible for murders. Also the vampire Alcántara is gunning for Carden, even tough Drew has the proof that Carden had nothing to do with the murders. Now she has to find out who is behind all of the attacks before something bad really happens to herself or someone that she cares about...
Drew has a new roommate named Mei-Ling. She is different from the other girls as she didn't chose this life and what the vampires had to do to get her...Drew seems having no choice but to protect her new roommate. There is also the bond with "the Scottish vampire" Carden which is becoming harder to ignore. That keeps Drew suspicious of her own desires. She wants to make sure that not just her hormones are involved, but also her heart.
Carden is definitely one of my favorite characters. He's not like the other vampires on the Isle. Carden is willing to give Drew what she wanted (like to sever the bond), even though he needed/wanted her.
I don't know what to say about Alcántara. I really liked him in the first two books, but now I don't know...I'm still surprised about his actions. Not sure whether it was because he is scared of Carden or jealous..?! Did he know about the bond..did he feel the attraction between Drew and Carden?!
This Series just keeps getting better and better with every book and "Blood Fever" is for me the best installment yet. I enjoyed and loved this book. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down *literally*. Let me say, that I read the whole book in just one day. It's entertaining, fast paced and full of action. The characters are interesting. Well written.
I'm definitely looking forward for the next book in this Series, I highly recommend this!!
I rate this book 3.5. The theme of this 3rd installment is still the same as the two previous installments. Nothing is changed. Teenagers are brought to the isle to train as hard as they can in order to survive the entertainment they perform for the vampires who rule the island. Annalise Drew is a 17-year old teenager who is very intelligent academically. She may be smart, but she is also stubborn, foolish, and reckless. She loses her wits when her hormones are jumping up and down. She contradicts every warnings that Ronan tells her. Luckily, she was not my daughter. Good riddance! Blood fever is a feeling you encounter when you have bonded with a vampire. This is the feeling that Caden and Annalise are experiencing since they bonded at the ending of book 2. It's the type of affection as in "I'll move the mountain for you, my Darling." I have nothing against with Caden McCloud. He is gorgeous, mellow (for a vampire), and wise. The thing that I don't get is that he is powerful as Hugo "Creepy" Alcantara. Why doesn't he just take Drew with him and banish from that isle to live happily ever after?
My bus stops here since the author of this book won't build up Ronan's character any further. He is the reason why I am following this series. I want to find out his history...why does he continue living in that isle...is he afraid of the vampires...and so on. Furthermore, I wish the author builds up the story on the Trainees as well...like Josh and Yas. These are the things I want the author to deliver and not focus only on Annalise's learning and training to become a gladiator. This series has so much potential, but the author is not exploring it. ;-0(
The Watchers series is one of my absolute favorites. Veronica Wolff has crafted a world that is so enticing - it's brutal, intense, and there is one heck of a story in it. With each book, my love for the series becomes more and more! Blood Fever was the best book in the series so far and now the long wait for book 4, The Keep, begins!
I just love the characters - Drew is such a badass, strong heroine, which I really admire. Drew's new roommate, Mei-Ling, was such a great character! You expect her to be on the weaker side, but boy can she dish out some verbal insults in such a coy way at all the ones who would cause her trouble. I loved seeing more of Carden in this book - he is such an intriguing character who I never know exactly what he is up to. He is probably my favorite character of the series now and boy is he hot.
The plot in Blood Fever is intense, there is no other way to put it. There is no one part of it that is predictable in the least. I sat here and read straight through Blood Fever is 2 hours, hanging on every word. There were some pretty hot scenes that were quite awesome. Blood Fever allows readers to experience a bit more of the actual Isle of Night itself and see a bit more about it, which was neat.
Veronica Wolff goes out with a bang with one of the most intense, all the feelings kind of endings. My mouth quite literally dropped open as I sat there flipping the pages looking for more story, only to find an excerpt of the next book.
Blood Fever by Veronica Wolff is a book you do not want to miss. It is one of the best books I have read recently and I am eagerly anticipating The Keep's release.
Veronica Wolff’s The Watchers Series is not your typical vampire story and actually steers away into a different direction that will surprise readers. The series’ approach in the vampire legacy is refreshing and unique. It has its own original plot line which gives the series its edge. In the third installment, Blood Fever, the author manages to take the story to new levels. The action gets more raw and in your face and the romance is steamier. Drew and Carden’s relationship gets serious and the two heat things up. Murders are happening on the island and people are suspecting Drew and Carden are responsible. Drew takes on the mission on figuring out who is behind the murders before she gets killed or someone she cares about is hurt.
The growth of the characters in the series is believable as Drew is learning from her past to become a stronger leading character. The action is intense and downright violent at times but Drew has determination and is a natural survivor. Readers are exposed to Drew and Carden’s growing relationship even though they do not instantly fall for one another.
Veronica’s writing style is very fluid like and although chaos and pandemonium occurs in every action scene, she beautifully describes each action sequence in perfect form without confusing the reader. The plot carried enough twists and surprises to keep the intriguing factors at high levels. The third installment does not take a step back and actually improves on what the two impressive predecessors had already built. If Blood Fever made the series three times better, it is certain that the upcoming fourth installment, The Take, will make it four times better.
I love this series i was kind of getting bored with the vampire books it always kind of the same 17 year old girl meats vamprie guy they fall in love there is another vampire guy = LOVE triangle or something along the line. This book is not different from the other books from the series, but i feel like it got less action all though not really if you think about it, It maybe because i read the other 2 on after another and this a couple month after.
I really like that Veronica doesn't turn this into a love triangle,not yet anyway (everybody loves a love triangle) Drew is a really strong character and a kick-ass one ,i love her arrogantness and how she actually kills the bad guy or bitches in the book
Carden got to love him he is just so gorgeous, i couldn't stop laughing when Yasuo said he was wearing i skirt, He respected the choice that Drew made about breaking the bond and he was honest with her from the beginning.When he is with Drew he shows her his good side I just can go on and on but it is always in the back of my mind if he like her because of the bond or not it annoys the heck out of me.
Mei Ling she is strange but i definitely like her she is different from the other girls
Roman i thought i would read more about him but i guess i was wrong
I can't believe Emma was killed (or maybe she still alive ) but it was shocking when it happen, And what the hell is going on with Yasuo i think he is going to stab Drew in the back because of Emma's death