Monday, April 9, 2012

Review: The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa


The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden, #1)
The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
In a future world, Vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity.
Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.
Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die… or become one of the monsters.
Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.
Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.
But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what—and who—is worth dying for.
Publishes in US: April 24th 2012
1st in Blood of Eden series, 2nd is untitled and I can't find info on release date
Source: Harlequin teen for honest review
Check out my great giveaway courtesy of Harlequin teen HERE

My Review:
    Just when you think that nothing new can be done with vampires, Julie Kagawa decides to write about them, and boy does she write a refreshing take!
    I was immediately drawn to Allie, the main character. I love her survivor instinct and how she clings to her humanity and ultimately who she is even in the darkest of circumstances. This is really what defines a strong main character. They can have all the wit in the world or the hottest guy, but if they don't stay true to themselves (this doesn't mean they don't struggle or make mistakes, by the way--in doing these things they discover more about who they are and make me ultimately like them more) then I don't really find them to be  believable.
   I really love the mystery surrounding Kanin and I can't wait to find out more about what makes him tick and what led him to the place he's in now. Ms. Kagawa has such a talent to keep me guessing, because for every answer we get in the book, five more questions arise.
    Julie Kagawa writes with such immediacy for her characters and with the right amount of detail that it makes me feel like I am a part of the story rather than a passive passenger. I also admire the talent she has to craft these paranormal societies with such subtleties and dysfunction all at the same time. I'm amazed at how authors such as Ms. Kagawa continue to have things up their sleeve to surprise me, because she did it beautifully in The Immortal Rules with the plot twists and revelations, from Jeb's secret, to the mysterious Raider King, Kanin and the whole story with Zeke.
    As I mentioned a bit earlier, the characters are crafted wonderfully in this first book of The Blood of Eden. I admired Allie's loyalty and resiliency, and Zeke's unwavering ability to see the good in others. Not only are there great characters, The Immortal Rules is packed with action and adventure. You know it's true when one line reads: "I was tired of being shot, stabbed, burned, gutted, staked and thrown out windows..." It is also a sign that you have one kick butt heroine on our hands.

If given a choice: death or becoming something you hate, what would you pick?
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29 comments:

  1. I haven't read any of her other books, but I am hearing all these great things about this book that I went to pick this one up. I can't wait to read it. Great review! Happy reading!

    Check out my blog

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    Replies
    1. Very different than Iron Fey but both in their own respects. Hope you enjoy

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  2. Love the review! :)

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  3. I keep seeing this book, and you make it sound very good. Thanks for the review!

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    Replies
    1. Julie did the hard work and wrote a fantastic book.

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  4. Glad to read your review. I've been wondering about her new book.

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  5. I'm glad you enjoyed this one. I haven't finished her other series yet.

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    Replies
    1. It took me a bit to get into 1st one then I couldn't put down.

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  6. Great review! But I'm afraid I didn't enjoy this book as much as you did. :( I must be the only one, though. LOL.

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    Replies
    1. No worries. Everyone entitled to their opinion. What didn't you like though, just curious?

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  7. nice review. sounds like an interesting read. i don't know if it's quite for me...at least at the moment. *shrug* in time, perhaps.

    interesting question though. couldn't really say. i guess it depends on the circumstances.

    -Lauren

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    Replies
    1. I think that being faced with death we all might do something we'd otherwise never consider. I agree though-def depends on circumstances.

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  8. I'd pick death. I have actually spent time thinking about if I was turned into a vampire or a zombie and hoping that anybody who remains in my life would kill me and end my miserable existence. Thanks for the thought provoking question-great way to end your review!

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    Replies
    1. I think that I could handle vamp before zombie... the whole thing about losing soul though.. if thats true I couldn't do it.

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  9. Wonderful review! I am so excited you found this refreshing, especially with it being about vampires ! I'm reading it soon.

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  10. Thanks for stopping by. I voted for you

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  11. Awesome review! I totally agree- this was an amazingly refreshing take on vampires! I LOVED it to bits! And Allie and Zeke were such great characters!

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  12. The Immortal Rules is an unapologetically dark and unflinching story about survival where everyone is fighting for some semblance of an existence. The characters are constantly living within a cloud of despair, but for those strong enough, the despair isn't enough to vanquish their hope for something better then merely existing. The world-building is outstandingly original and compelling, and the characters are surprising in both their resilience and fragility.

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  13. Well, I guess now i need to give this book a harder try. I started it, but only got into about 3 pages, then too many review copy books came through, and had to catch up, so it got shoved to the side, but maybe I will be caught up by next week and will give it another try. I do like these kinds of books, and Love the Iron Fey series, so I know she writes amazing books. Great reveiw. :)

    Concise Book Reviews By Michelle

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  14. This book sounds awesome! I love vampires & I love Julie Kagawa. I can't wait to read it. :D

    Thanks for the review!

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