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Book Review of Fevre Dream

Fevre Dream
althea avatar reviewed on + 774 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2


According to Martin's web site, this is his "favorite of my early novels."
Although it doesn't share the scope, breadth or flavor of 'A Song of Ice and Fire,' I have to say that I'd highly recommend this entertaining vampire story.
I'm surprised it hasn't been optioned for a movie - I kept 'seeing' it on film while I was reading it.
The first vampire scene reminded me of Anne Rice, but probably only because vampires in a decadent, Southern, 19th century setting have become associated with her writing. The rest of the story did not seen like something she would have written.
The main character is the down-on-his-luck, fat, ugly, crusty - but honorable and eminently likable riverman Abner Marsh. When he receives an offer from a mysterious and suave character who offers to bail out his bankrupt steamboat company - on the condition that he not ask any awkward questions - it's a deal to which he can't say no.
However, after his new partner and his friends are on board - but don't appear on deck in broad daylight - and the ship's ports of call along the Mississippi seem to oddly correspond to sites of unsolved murders in the newspapers... Marsh can no longer refrain from asking questions...