What do you think?
Rate this book
Feverwake #0.5
The Traitor's Crown
A hundred years before Noam and Dara, two very different revolutionaries fought for justice on Carolinian soil.
Sixteen-year-old Calix Lehrer has spent the past four years being tortured in a government-run hospital by scientists seeking to understand his dangerous magical abilities. Now that he’s free, he joins with his brother Adalwolf, a so-called terrorist who leads a violent militia fighting to destroy a United States that seeks to exterminate all witchings.
Calix has always been smart–too smart for his own good, Adalwolf would say–and when Adalwolf asks, he’s only too willing to apply that intelligence to military strategy. But something’s not right in Calix’s mind, and the more he plots death and destruction, the deeper that darkness takes root. And if Adalwolf can’t figure out a way to help his brother, there might be nothing left of Calix to save.
Sixteen-year-old Calix Lehrer has spent the past four years being tortured in a government-run hospital by scientists seeking to understand his dangerous magical abilities. Now that he’s free, he joins with his brother Adalwolf, a so-called terrorist who leads a violent militia fighting to destroy a United States that seeks to exterminate all witchings.
Calix has always been smart–too smart for his own good, Adalwolf would say–and when Adalwolf asks, he’s only too willing to apply that intelligence to military strategy. But something’s not right in Calix’s mind, and the more he plots death and destruction, the deeper that darkness takes root. And if Adalwolf can’t figure out a way to help his brother, there might be nothing left of Calix to save.
85 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 26, 2020
11 people are currently reading
602 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Lee
12 books1,802 followersVictoria Lee grew up in Durham, North Carolina, where she spent her childhood writing ghost stories and fantasizing about attending boarding school. She has a Ph.D. in psychology, which she uses to overanalyze fictional characters and also herself. Lee is the author of A Lesson in Vengeance as well as The Fever King and its sequel, The Electric Heir. She lives in New York City with her partner, cat, and malevolent dog.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
April 4, 2021
“we are a nation of witchings, and this is a declaration of war.”
despite not really wanting to read a whole novella in calix’s pov, i was still super intrigued because he’s honestly such an interesting and complex character. and also because the stars and everything in between was so incredibly unsatisfying and left a bad taste in my mouth that i physically could not just end the feverwake series on that note.
i love reading novellas, but i hate those without any purpose or further meaning to them. and this one was really what i would expect from a good novella. it gave us a very good back story to how calix became to be who he was in this series and especially was such a good base for what’s to come (chronologically) in the fever king. so much so, that it kinda makes me wanna reread the main books again soon!!
→ 3 stars
despite not really wanting to read a whole novella in calix’s pov, i was still super intrigued because he’s honestly such an interesting and complex character. and also because the stars and everything in between was so incredibly unsatisfying and left a bad taste in my mouth that i physically could not just end the feverwake series on that note.
i love reading novellas, but i hate those without any purpose or further meaning to them. and this one was really what i would expect from a good novella. it gave us a very good back story to how calix became to be who he was in this series and especially was such a good base for what’s to come (chronologically) in the fever king. so much so, that it kinda makes me wanna reread the main books again soon!!
→ 3 stars
April 23, 2020
"He was a cluster of physiological impulses, he was a seething seed of emotion. He was magic and agony. He was human. He'd never been so goddamn human."
Me, starting this novella: ugh, I want to read this but I really don't want to read from Lehrer's point of view
Me, like 20 pages in: oH
Me, reading the final pages: FUCK
Me, starting this novella: ugh, I want to read this but I really don't want to read from Lehrer's point of view
Me, like 20 pages in: oH
Me, reading the final pages: FUCK
August 4, 2021
I didn’t think I’d like this as much as I did considering I hate Lehrer and I’m not usually a fan of prequel or side stories around people who aren’t the main characters in a series. But of course Victoria Lee’s writing is just too incredible and I enjoyed it anyway.
Lehrer is a character I’ll never sympathise with, but I have to admit he is a good antagonist. I can see why he did the things he did in regards to the government, and if that was the extent of his evilness I’d probably root for him a bit too. But being an abuser has no excuses, so he still remains a very evil and disgusting character to me.
Lehrer is a character I’ll never sympathise with, but I have to admit he is a good antagonist. I can see why he did the things he did in regards to the government, and if that was the extent of his evilness I’d probably root for him a bit too. But being an abuser has no excuses, so he still remains a very evil and disgusting character to me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2020
Calix remains one of the most complex and compelling villains I’ve ever read.
Chosen one becomes the king who becomes the villain? Such. A. Good. Arc.
Highly recommend to anyone who read The Fever King. Usually short stories don’t add much to the series, but this one was well worth the read!
Chosen one becomes the king who becomes the villain? Such. A. Good. Arc.
Highly recommend to anyone who read The Fever King. Usually short stories don’t add much to the series, but this one was well worth the read!
April 17, 2020
I've always been fascinated by Lehrer and his past, and this story about his life before, during, and directly after his time in the militia was what I'd been desperately wanting. He's such a complex character, and I loved getting this look into how his mind works.
December 7, 2020
Please, Victoria. Just let me read your notes. Your grocery list. Anything and everything. 18/5 stars.
August 10, 2021
4 Stars
Review:
This is a novella series extra that takes place before the Feverwake duology but that I recommend reading after (at least, that's when I read it, and I think it helped that I already knew who Lehrer was).
It was interesting getting to see into Lehrer's past. You learn some of this vaguely in the main books, but this actually puts you in his POV and makes it more real. I felt terrible for him, for what was done to him. But of course that doesn't excuse his actions. It is interesting though, to have this character whom the reader can both hate and sympathize with. You also get to see Adalwolf and Calix's relationship with him, and that was kind of heartbreaking. I think Calix loved Adalwolf, as much as he could love anyone. And Adalwolf loved him, saw the best in him (or deluded himself into believing Calix was actually a good person), wanted the best for him, despite all his own struggles within himself (mental illness) and with his childhood (growing up with a little brother who always got what he wanted by using persuasion and who was doted on while he himself was ignored).
I don't know how to rate it though, since it's just an extra, and I got it free for preordering Book 2. It was good for what it was, but not particularly special all on its own. I believe this was originally meant to be part of the first book. I gave it 4 stars, but I'm kind of undecided between either 3.5 or 4. I found this one more interesting than The Stars and Everything In Between though. For free, I'd say definitely read it. But I think whether it's worth money might depend on how interesting you find Lehrer or how much you like villain backstory.
*Rating: 4 Stars // Read Date: 2020 // Format: Ebook via TTS*
Recommended For:
Fans of Victoria Lee's Feverwake series who find Lehrer interesting or who like villain backstory.
More Reviews @ Metaphors and Moonlight
Review:
This is a novella series extra that takes place before the Feverwake duology but that I recommend reading after (at least, that's when I read it, and I think it helped that I already knew who Lehrer was).
It was interesting getting to see into Lehrer's past. You learn some of this vaguely in the main books, but this actually puts you in his POV and makes it more real. I felt terrible for him, for what was done to him. But of course that doesn't excuse his actions. It is interesting though, to have this character whom the reader can both hate and sympathize with. You also get to see Adalwolf and Calix's relationship with him, and that was kind of heartbreaking. I think Calix loved Adalwolf, as much as he could love anyone. And Adalwolf loved him, saw the best in him (or deluded himself into believing Calix was actually a good person), wanted the best for him, despite all his own struggles within himself (mental illness) and with his childhood (growing up with a little brother who always got what he wanted by using persuasion and who was doted on while he himself was ignored).
I don't know how to rate it though, since it's just an extra, and I got it free for preordering Book 2. It was good for what it was, but not particularly special all on its own. I believe this was originally meant to be part of the first book. I gave it 4 stars, but I'm kind of undecided between either 3.5 or 4. I found this one more interesting than The Stars and Everything In Between though. For free, I'd say definitely read it. But I think whether it's worth money might depend on how interesting you find Lehrer or how much you like villain backstory.
*Rating: 4 Stars // Read Date: 2020 // Format: Ebook via TTS*
Recommended For:
Fans of Victoria Lee's Feverwake series who find Lehrer interesting or who like villain backstory.
More Reviews @ Metaphors and Moonlight
September 28, 2020
Me, reading about Lehrer: just as I thought, TRASH.
Calix comes from messed up, lives through messed up, is himself messed up, so obviously he would end up being exactly the piece of...work he is. It was interesting, though, to read about this period in his life. And I won't lie, that letter from Wolf really made me tear up. That being said, I would still obliterate Lehrer on sight.
Calix comes from messed up, lives through messed up, is himself messed up, so obviously he would end up being exactly the piece of...work he is. It was interesting, though, to read about this period in his life. And I won't lie, that letter from Wolf really made me tear up. That being said, I would still obliterate Lehrer on sight.
January 3, 2023
WHAT THE HELL I AM IN PAIN PAIN PAIN PAINNNNN
May 30, 2022
Well I’m a bit confused about some parts?? But overall it was really interesting and - can I even say that??- a delight to get inside Lehrer’s head. I love to hate him tbh it’s quite scary
January 25, 2021
He was a cluster of physiological impulses, he was a seething seed of emotion. He was magic and agony. He was human. He'd never been so goddamn human."
The fact that the author lists one the trigger warnings for this novella as the pov of the main character tells you a lot about it.
I was at first apprehensive about reading this because Lehrer is absolutely disgusting to me. Literally i was feeling sick to my stomach reading his scenes in Feverwake after the reveal and my anxiety during The Electric Heir was through the roof. Hands down one the the best and most hated villains i've read about.
I think what makes Lehrer such a good villain is that he feels so real to reality and to the way abusers work. And of course, the fact that the author and the narrative never try to make him sympathetic is what makes this short story work.
Read
December 4, 2020fucking calix, man.
May 21, 2022
Aaaaa con razón
November 7, 2020
Calix Lehrer is one of the worst kinds of villains, and it’s not often you get to see a villain origin story or a deeper dive into their history. Mostly what I liked about this was Lee’s writing. It’s so engaging and flows off the tongue, and this short novella adds more to the world and backstory of The Fever King, which I appreciated. I was a little lost at points and didn’t know what was going on in others, but I got the gist of it, and again I just love the writing style and the way the narrative moves. I hope Victoria Lee writes many more novels.
August 20, 2025
In honor of my yearly re-read of the feverwake duology, I decided I should finally pick up the novella's. All I have to say is: Holy Shitttt.
This has so much packed into it, it is such insane amounts of character study, worldbuilding, and just ughhhh, so much juicyness that really makes you feel just how fucked up Calix is.
The way that we see how the entirety of Calix's upbringing was his downfall, and not just his 4 years of torture, is just hnngnfn. Like this is some crazy good shit.
Don't get me wrong I hate Calix as much as the rest of us, but it is just crazy seeing how dark and twisted he is, and the world around him that truly pushed him into the villain he is.
This has so much packed into it, it is such insane amounts of character study, worldbuilding, and just ughhhh, so much juicyness that really makes you feel just how fucked up Calix is.
The way that we see how the entirety of Calix's upbringing was his downfall, and not just his 4 years of torture, is just hnngnfn. Like this is some crazy good shit.
Don't get me wrong I hate Calix as much as the rest of us, but it is just crazy seeing how dark and twisted he is, and the world around him that truly pushed him into the villain he is.
May 5, 2024
*chefs kiss* gimme more of Lehrer and his history, give it all to me please - thanksssss
November 10, 2024
It's been a while since I've thought about the Feverwake series. But i recently got back into it and I'm planning to re-read the duology.
And so I read The Traitor's Crown. It was short, as expected of a novella. It follows a young Calix Lehrer, (yes, his PoV) offering a glimpse of his life before the catastrophe, after he escaped from St. George's and how he became the psychopathic revolutionary that was crowned king of Carolinia at age 20.
Lehrer is a psychopath. This is abundantly clear from how willing he is to torture, murder and committ mass genocide to achieve his goals. He is a manipulative and vile individual in the main books of the series. Throughout the duology, he had remained (until the end) an untouchable being, almost godlike in the way that he manoeuvres the characters into place like pawns on a chess board; he reads people's intentions with frightening accuracy, while his own emotions and thoughts remain unfathomable, if any traces of humanity shone through his mask, they are always immediately shut away. All things aside, his twisted mind and thought process is intriguing. How can someone commit such atrocities in the name of the greater good?
I expected the novella to answer that, and in a way it sort of did. Lehrer was angry at the world, unable to trust anyone but his own brother. Wanting to create a nation of Witchings, he dedicated everything to achieve that. Lehrer's desire for absolute control stems from his presenting power of Persuasion, an ability that formed as a result of his innate nature.
I suppose my main criticism of this novella is that it doesnt give the reader much new information about Lehrer's life as a revolutionary or about the formation of Carolinia. While it does give further insight, the events are mostly already covered in the archive sections of the duology. It is most likely an unpopular opinion, but I kind of wish this were a full novel. Partly because I love the world of Feverwake so much, but also because of my interest in Lehrer's actions as a revolutionary. How his years as King of Carolinia then as Minister of Defence, brought him to being the antagonist of The Fever King and Electric Heir.
Overall, I think I would give this 3.5 stars. I enjoyed it, but I kind of expected a bit more.
And so I read The Traitor's Crown. It was short, as expected of a novella. It follows a young Calix Lehrer, (yes, his PoV) offering a glimpse of his life before the catastrophe, after he escaped from St. George's and how he became the psychopathic revolutionary that was crowned king of Carolinia at age 20.
Lehrer is a psychopath. This is abundantly clear from how willing he is to torture, murder and committ mass genocide to achieve his goals. He is a manipulative and vile individual in the main books of the series. Throughout the duology, he had remained (until the end) an untouchable being, almost godlike in the way that he manoeuvres the characters into place like pawns on a chess board; he reads people's intentions with frightening accuracy, while his own emotions and thoughts remain unfathomable, if any traces of humanity shone through his mask, they are always immediately shut away. All things aside, his twisted mind and thought process is intriguing. How can someone commit such atrocities in the name of the greater good?
I expected the novella to answer that, and in a way it sort of did. Lehrer was angry at the world, unable to trust anyone but his own brother. Wanting to create a nation of Witchings, he dedicated everything to achieve that. Lehrer's desire for absolute control stems from his presenting power of Persuasion, an ability that formed as a result of his innate nature.
I suppose my main criticism of this novella is that it doesnt give the reader much new information about Lehrer's life as a revolutionary or about the formation of Carolinia. While it does give further insight, the events are mostly already covered in the archive sections of the duology. It is most likely an unpopular opinion, but I kind of wish this were a full novel. Partly because I love the world of Feverwake so much, but also because of my interest in Lehrer's actions as a revolutionary. How his years as King of Carolinia then as Minister of Defence, brought him to being the antagonist of The Fever King and Electric Heir.
Overall, I think I would give this 3.5 stars. I enjoyed it, but I kind of expected a bit more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2023
oh wow!! those being the circumstances of lehrer’s childhood and wolf’s death explain,,,, a lot!!!
literally since he could speak he could manipulate people and at that point there’s only so much you can do; lehrer was pretty fucked from the beginning. yikes!
literally since he could speak he could manipulate people and at that point there’s only so much you can do; lehrer was pretty fucked from the beginning. yikes!
January 26, 2021
"power's a nasty thing, and none of us are immune."
conflicting thoughts. lots of calix lehrer. and too many things that make much more sense now.
conflicting thoughts. lots of calix lehrer. and too many things that make much more sense now.
January 13, 2025
So despite reading the series last summer I couldn't bring myself to read this novella until now; because I knew I wasn't emotionally ready. I am still not. This series - and Calix Lehrer - will haunt me for a long time. I was severally dissapointed by the other novella so imagine my surprise when Lehrer's backstory of all things made me feel all the same emotions the two main books did. I am at work crying my eyes out for all the characters in this univers - and all the ways they deserved better. Even Lehrer. Maybe than he could have "stayed human". Five stars for one of the most fascinating, complex villians I have ever had the honour of reading about. Still, fuck you future Lehrer.
January 31, 2022
Okay, I wasn't sure if a prequel would really justify its own existence, but tbh this is a better look at what the magic in this world does than we got in either of the novels, so for just that I think it's pretty cool already. The glimpse into the villain's psychology is always welcome too, if a little less surprising.
Really my biggest issue is that it felt like it dragged a little? I don't know, it's struck me as a little long for what it was.
Really my biggest issue is that it felt like it dragged a little? I don't know, it's struck me as a little long for what it was.
April 11, 2022
This novella is totally fine but didn't really do it for me. I think Lee is incredible at writing relationships and emotional plot arcs, but not quite as good at fight scenes / major plot conflict. I was really excited to get inside Lehrer's head but seeing all my lingering questions about the birth of Carolinia answered somehow made him less scary and compelling in the end. #ExecuteLehrer #JusticeForDara
December 22, 2022
This was a fantastic prequel novella to the feverwake series and it’s exactly what I needed after reading the series as a whole. I personally love to see the *making of the villain* stories because it humanizes them and gives them more depth. Brava Victoria!
February 8, 2021
*4.25 stars
July 21, 2021
calix noooo
August 27, 2021
4.5 stars!
December 17, 2021
My god. I love to reread books but I struggle to reread it because of how it makes me doubt my humanity. Truly spectacular.
February 25, 2022
this was surprisingly insightful actually
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews