THE FEVER KING Feverwake, Book 1

Listeners will be drawn into Carolinia, where magic is a virus that leaves survivors, including Noam Alvarez, with special powers. Noam, a technopath, is offered lessons by Calix Lehrer, the Carolinian minister of defense. Noam is right to be distrustful of Lehrer and his son, the bewitching Dara, to whom he is attracted. Narrator Michael Crouch injects Noam's and Dara's voices with suspicion that changes to longing as their relationship develops. Maintaining a steady narration and ably differentiating a multitude of characters, Crouch helps listeners follow the convoluted plot. His portrayal of Noam's inner battle over his romantic feelings and his desire to save himself and his people despite ongoing betrayals is riveting. Book 2 will be eagerly awaited. E.J.F. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2019]