This is even more haunting now. Lot of similarities between the fever and COVID, strangely. Maybe the most likely scenarios to play out did? I’m not sure. But it’s eerie!

We follow Candace in the present, with a group of survivors trying to find a specific safe place under the leadership of a man simply named Bob. She also recounts her story. How she came to leave NYC and how the fever broke out, what it is (more-or-less), and her, mm, personal situation, without spoiling things somewhat.

It’s an immigrant story and a zombie apocalypse (though not the zombies you are thinking of) and a bit of a realistic romance. It’s unique and it just works despite never being thrilling. Neither is it plodding, though. It’s mellow and matter-of-fact, the voice and craft is strong. There is always more of her past to unravel, sure, but it’s just a very pleasant reading experience you want to continue with.

I instantly clicked with the prose. There are no quotes for dialogue but it flows brilliantly anyhow. Sally Rooney vibes with dynamics somewhat as well, and stylistically.

There’s no judgement to the gaze, which is very interesting considering it’s all Candace and she has plenty of reasons to be judgemental and she’s smart and observant. It’s off kilter, emotionally, and it always made me wonder if she too is fevered, who are endlessly playing out a loop. It’s a very clever criticism of capitalism. Ended up being a pleasant surprise that, like all books I tend to like, end up being rich. You just sort of sink into it.