Book Review | The Fervor

1927

A scientist moves to Shikotan with his family to research a jetstream that he dubs Wasaburo's Winds. However, the locals urge him to leave because they believe the island is cursed.

1944

Meiko and her daughter Aiko live in a Japanese internment camp where a mysterious rage-inducing illness is sweeping through the camp, and she tries to get to the bottom of this strange phenomenon before it spreads further.

The Fervor by Alma Katsu seamlessly weaves historical and supernatural horror in an unnerving and personal novel that is partly based on her father-in-law’s experiences in a Japanese internment camp.

This is an atmospheric read and Katsu does a fantastic job at building up and establishing suspenseful scenes.

However, the story unfortunately gets muddled by too many unnecessary POVs. Honestly, I think the story could have done without the journalist and the reverend’s POVs. The novel would have felt a lot tighter and intimate generational story if it had stuck with Meiko, her daughter, and the grandfather's scientific journal.

Qualms asides though, The Fervor delivers the creepy crawlies and it's refreshing to see a horror novel feature a jorogumo (the entangling bride), and I would love to see more yokai in horror.

Thank you, NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book Details:

Publication Date : April 26, 2022

Publisher : G.P. Putnam's Sons

ISBN : 0593328337

Pages : 320

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