Fever Dream

by Samanta Schweblin
Fever Dream cover
Good Books rating 4.0
Horror
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  • ID: 7728
  • Added: 2025-12-16
  • Updated: 2025-12-30
  • ISBN: 9780399184598
  • Publisher: Penguin
  • Published: 2017-01-01
  • Formats: 2
  • Reviews: 3

Fever Dream is a haunting exploration of love and fear, wrapped in a ghost story that feels all too real. The narrative delves into the psychological terror of a nightmare come to life, where the boundaries between the supernatural and the mundane are disturbingly blurred. It's a tale that will keep readers on the edge of their seats, questioning what is real and what is imagined. /n/n The book is not just a horror story; it's a cautionary tale that resonates with the anxieties of modern life. The author's skillful storytelling weaves a tapestry of emotions, making it a compelling read that lingers long after the last page is turned. The atmospheric prose and the unsettling plot make Fever Dream a standout in the genre of psychological horror.

Reviews
Slanted Spines · 2020-11-06
unsettling 3.50

The book is described as a muddled and erratic experience, more than just a story. It's unsettling and gallops towards an uneasy conclusion.

The reviewer describes the book as a fever dream in the literal sense, with a muddled and erratic narrative that is more of an experience than a traditional story. They found it unsettling and disorienting, with a sense of urgency that drives the plot forward. The reviewer appreciated the book's unique style and its ability to create a sense of unease, but they also noted that its ambiguity and lack of clear resolution might not appeal to all readers. Overall, they found it to be a thought-provoking and memorable read.

Quick quotes

    It is quite a fever dream—it is muddled, erratic, and unsettling.

    More than just a story, it is an experience, galloping towards its uneasy conclusion.

    The book's unique style and ability to create a sense of unease make it a thought-provoking and memorable read.

The Guardian · 2017-03-24
terrifying 4.00

The novel is haunting and addictive, with a bleak landscape that adds to its eerie atmosphere. It's a gripping tale that speeds towards an inevitable doom.

The reviewer found the novel to be a terrifying yet captivating read. The bleak landscape of rural Argentina serves as a haunting backdrop, enhancing the story's eerie and unsettling atmosphere. The narrative is fast-paced, drawing the reader into a sense of impending doom. They appreciated the novel's ability to create a sense of unease and dread, making it a memorable and chilling experience. However, the reviewer also noted that the story's ambiguity and lack of clear resolution might frustrate some readers.

Quick quotes

    This dangerously addictive first novel in which a woman's life speeds towards doom is haunted by the bleak landscape of rural Argentina.

    The novel is a haunting and unsettling read, with a sense of dread that permeates every page.

    The story's ambiguity and lack of clear resolution might frustrate some readers.

The New Yorker · 2017-01-04
thrilling 4.50

The novel is described as a sick thrill, with an earnest streak of ecological horror. It's a story that sucks the reader into its eerie and unsettling world.

The reviewer found the novel to be a sick thrill, with a sense of dread and unease that permeates every page. They appreciated the book's ecological horror elements, which add a layer of depth and relevance to the story. The reviewer noted that the novel's eerie and unsettling atmosphere is created through its unique narrative style and pacing, which draws the reader in and keeps them on the edge of their seat. They also noted that the book's ambiguity and lack of clear resolution might not appeal to all readers, but they found it to be a thought-provoking and memorable read.

Quick quotes

    Schweblin drops few hints as to what real-world inspiration might be driving her novel.

    There's an earnest streak of ecological horror, and a sense of dread and unease that permeates every page.

    The novel's unique narrative style and pacing create an eerie and unsettling atmosphere that draws the reader in.

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