Review: Iced by Karen Marie Moning


The Fever Series has thrilled me since the beginning. I loved following Mac’s story and the people who came in and out of her life.

That wasn’t any different with Dani O’Malley, 14-year-old with special abilities. She was good supporting characters, giving Mac a chance to have a sisterly relationship.

So, I was concerned with Karen Marie Moning’s new Fever series starring the flippant, cocky teenager, starting with Iced: A Dani O'Malley Novel (Fever Series) .

Reading the book didn’t ease any of those concerns. KMM books have explicit sexual scenes in them. Having a 14-year-old as the main character gave me an icky feeling from the beginning. I know some 14 years olds engage in this behavior, I just don’t want to think about it, much less read about it.

SPOILER (go to the next paragraph if you don’t want to know): Dani doesn’t actually have sex in the book, which is good considering two of three love interests are way too old for her. As in 14 will get you 20 kind of old.

The good news is there were mostly just sexual thoughts, but so much was made of Dani’s virginity that it’s inevitable she is going to lose it during the series. I’m hoping for Dancer.

The story started slowly with lots of background and talking. The story didn’t pick up until the second chapter, and I finally got interested.

Dani gets into a dangerous situation and has to work for Ryodan, a mysterious man with even better abilities. In the end, she has to save her friends from two grisly creatures from another dimension.

A typical day in the life of Mega.

KMM uses a first-person voice, which was frustrating at times. We’re looking at the world through the eyes of a 14-year-old girl. She ‘dudes’ and roll her eyes her way through her adventures.

I enjoyed moments of clarity for Dani when she was able to step back and see the trouble she has caused and the problems she has created for other people.

However, almost as quickly as these revelations came, she pushed them away and went back to being bratty.

I hope there is a progression in her maturity through the series. The character has gone through several experiences that change people, yet, she seems to remain mostly unfazed by much of it. There was even a scene in the book where she should have felt sadness, remorse. But I don’t think she ever actually showed it other than saying she was sad. Instead, she slept and ate Pop Tarts.

Fans of the Fever series will enjoy the book as the world KMM created continues. It’s a good start to Dani’s story, but there needs to be growth in the character for me to want to finish the series. 

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