claudiaslibrarycard's profile picture

claudiaslibrarycard 's review for:

Once Upon a Fever by Angharad Walker
4.0
challenging mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Once Upon a Fever is a YA dystopian pandemic story with fantasy elements, but don't let that scare you away if that doesn't immediately put it on your TBR. Set in London, Peyton and Ani are sisters. Their father is a methic- the medical professional term in their society. Unfortunately, their mother is sick and is existing suspended in water until a cure can be found for her disease. 

Peyton wants to grow up to be a methic as well, and Ani is the rebellious younger child who is more worried about now than the future. When Ani discovers a boy with Midas Fingers locked away in her father's hospital, she is determined to free him and find out what is going on. 

The plague is caused by emotions and manifests differently based on what the person feels in excess, so this dystopia won't feel too close to what we've been living for the last several years. The characters are determined and loveable, while also realistic- which isn't always the case in YA. Pick this up if you like a mystery and an adventure story.