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Blood of Eden #1
The Immortal Rules
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2012)To survive in a ruined world, she must embrace the darkness…
Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a walled-in 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 dies and becomes one of the monsters.
Forced to flee her city, Allie must pass for human as she joins a ragged group of pilgrims seeking a legend—a place that might have a cure for the disease that killed off most of civilization and created the rabids, the bloodthirsty creatures who threaten human and vampire alike. And soon Allie will have to decide what and who is worth dying for… again.
Enter Julie Kagawa's dark and twisted world as an unforgettable journey begins.
Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a walled-in 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 dies and becomes one of the monsters.
Forced to flee her city, Allie must pass for human as she joins a ragged group of pilgrims seeking a legend—a place that might have a cure for the disease that killed off most of civilization and created the rabids, the bloodthirsty creatures who threaten human and vampire alike. And soon Allie will have to decide what and who is worth dying for… again.
Enter Julie Kagawa's dark and twisted world as an unforgettable journey begins.
485 pages, Hardcover
First published April 24, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,301 reviews
April 15, 2012
So Allie is an orphaned teenager in a dystopian fantasy where people are enslaved by vampire masters. Then she gets turned into a vampire and struggles with the morality of being a monster.
So at first I was like.
But then she was like.
A comparable representation on the scale of awesomeness - not a literal depiction.
And then I was like.
Right away from the beginning of the novel Allie was pretty ass kicking.
And then Kanin the vampire showed up and I was like.
Yeah, sure. Whatevs.
But then he was like.
And then I was like.
So then Allie goes trekking through the woods and I’m like.
And then she meets up Zeke and I was like.
Then Zeke is like ewwww Vampires suck and I was like.
Then stuff with them happened and I was like.
So then I was worried about the writing since I’d been on the fence about The Iron Fey. But then Kagawa did a lot of:
And I was like.
And then Stephanie said the plot was slow, and I was like.
And then I got to the end and Allie was like.
So I was like.
This review also appears on our blog, Cuddlebuggery
So at first I was like.
But then she was like.
A comparable representation on the scale of awesomeness - not a literal depiction.
And then I was like.
Right away from the beginning of the novel Allie was pretty ass kicking.
And then Kanin the vampire showed up and I was like.
Yeah, sure. Whatevs.
But then he was like.
And then I was like.
So then Allie goes trekking through the woods and I’m like.
And then she meets up Zeke and I was like.
Then Zeke is like ewwww Vampires suck and I was like.
Then stuff with them happened and I was like.
So then I was worried about the writing since I’d been on the fence about The Iron Fey. But then Kagawa did a lot of:
And I was like.
And then Stephanie said the plot was slow, and I was like.
And then I got to the end and Allie was like.
So I was like.
This review also appears on our blog, Cuddlebuggery
Want to read
January 14, 2011
Julie Kagawa has already mastered faeries, now she's doing vamps too? This is awesome!
November 12, 2020
I am absolutely obsessed with Jackal!
3,5/5⭐
So, where to start? I had this book on my shelf since 2012 or 2013, but I never had time to read it. And today I finally did. Right away I have to say that if I read this six years ago, I would have been ABSOLUTELY ecstatic. I would have freaked and asked for more... And where now it was a pleasant read, it was lacking. Somehow. I would say this is 3,5 stars for me.
So few points:
- I love the whole world
- At first, I thought that a rabid was a typo for a rabbit. Dont's ask me why.
- I was actually pretty okay with Allison; she was an interesting main character.
- I want to know more about Kanin.
- I am obsessed with Jackal! He's just thy right character for me.
- Stick is a useless idiot.
- Can someone, please, explain to me how Jeb's group survived that long? Because that's absolutely beyond me. They have zero survival skills, and it seems like pure luck until Allison joined. And you want me to believe that they were okay for over three years?
- The Ruth disliking Allison was pretty cheap.
- These people, including the children, are running for years but they still have no idea when to keep quiet?
- I hate Zeke! That guy is useless and boring as Monday morning. It reminds me about books I've read when I was younger when the good guy was way too good, way too perfect. I hated that, always rooted for the bad guys. And Zeke is just that.
- I'll definitely continue the series because I like where it's going. Especially with the promise of Zeke not being there for a while.
“Strange how a few short hours could change your view of the world.”
3,5/5⭐
So, where to start? I had this book on my shelf since 2012 or 2013, but I never had time to read it. And today I finally did. Right away I have to say that if I read this six years ago, I would have been ABSOLUTELY ecstatic. I would have freaked and asked for more... And where now it was a pleasant read, it was lacking. Somehow. I would say this is 3,5 stars for me.
So few points:
- I love the whole world
- At first, I thought that a rabid was a typo for a rabbit. Dont's ask me why.
- I was actually pretty okay with Allison; she was an interesting main character.
- I want to know more about Kanin.
- I am obsessed with Jackal! He's just thy right character for me.
- Stick is a useless idiot.
- Can someone, please, explain to me how Jeb's group survived that long? Because that's absolutely beyond me. They have zero survival skills, and it seems like pure luck until Allison joined. And you want me to believe that they were okay for over three years?
- The Ruth disliking Allison was pretty cheap.
- These people, including the children, are running for years but they still have no idea when to keep quiet?
- I hate Zeke! That guy is useless and boring as Monday morning. It reminds me about books I've read when I was younger when the good guy was way too good, way too perfect. I hated that, always rooted for the bad guys. And Zeke is just that.
- I'll definitely continue the series because I like where it's going. Especially with the promise of Zeke not being there for a while.
“Strange how a few short hours could change your view of the world.”
April 12, 2012
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
When I first found out Kagawa was journeying down the vampire path, I was nervous. I mean, vampires have been written about over and over in the YA world and I wasn't sure what could be added. I had imaginary conversations, pleading with her, "Julie, are you sure you wanna do this?" And in all her awesomeness she pretty much told me, "Steph, chill. I got this." Do you know what I love about Julie Kagawa? I love how she can take a completely overused paranormal creature like fairies or vampires and create a whole new spin on them. Just when I was starting to lose faith in the Children of the Night, The Immortal Rules comes along and makes me rethink everything I thought I knew about vampires.
The Immortal Rules tells the story of Allison Sekemoto living in a future where most of the human population was killed by a disease called Red Lung. But that's not the only problem. Vampires now rule their world and have caused the human race to become their pets, scavengers, and monsters themselves. And let's not forget about the Rabids that stalk the earth just waiting to take a bite or two out of a human. Allison hate vampires, but when faced with the choice of death or becoming that which she has always loathed, she chooses the latter. When she flees from New Covington, Allie runs into a group of humans. She decides to travel with them, hiding her true nature from them as they travel searching for Eden (and yes, there are Christian themes in the book), a human city not ruled by vampires. She's always thought being a human was hard, but she quickly learns that being a vampire isn't exactly a walk in the park either, especially when you're wanted.
The best thing I loved about The Immortal Rules were the vampires. These aren't the cute sparkly vamps that try their hardest, fighting their nature, by feasting off animals instead of humans. Oh, no. These bad boys are vicious killers, just like unlike 'em! It is made very clear early in the novel that vampires have to drink from humans in order to survive and that one day Allison would kill a human no matter how hard she tried not to. Hell to the yeah. Real vampires! They're back!
That's what I'm talking about!
I also really enjoyed the creativity in this novel. Do you know what happens when Underworld and The Forest of Hands and Teeth have a baby? The result, if you didn't guess, is The Immortal Rules. It was a really cool mix of both flesh-eating, zombie-like creatures and bloodsucking vamps, surrounding poor, defenseless humans. Kagawa wasn't afraid to kill her characters off and show Allison some tough lovin'! I really hate when authors attempt to give every lovable character in the book a "hall pass" from death. The impact of the scene and story usually suffer, but not here. People died, viciously. Such is the way of the circle of life.
My biggest and only issue with the book was the extremely slow first half. It just felt like it dragged on and on. I just wanted to bang my head against a wall. And because of that, I can't give this book 4 stars. However, where the beginning was boring (to me at least), the second half makes up for lost time. Because this is another thing I love about Kagawa: Her action scenes and endings are kick-ass. I was getting major Underworld vibes from Allison and it was awesome. Every time she cut someone's head off, I got ridiculously giddy. I'm not lying when I say the second half saved this book.
Characters:
In the beginning I really disliked Allie. She and I weren't getting along very well because she had an attitude and personality that gave Oscar the Grouch a run for his money. I get why she was like that, but that didn't mean I had to like it. Thankfully, by the end of the novel, I did end up connecting with her. It was very subtle and snuck up on me. Of course, it didn't hurt that she was a badass, katana wielder either. "Useless," she was not! Kick some ass, she did. Lol. Okay, I'll spare you with my Yoda talk, but seriously the second half was a lot of fun.
Zeke, the love interest, was just okay for me. He was very sweet, caring, loyal, all those things you love to see in a person. While I did like him, I feel like I need to see more of him it the next book before I make up my mind.
Kanin (P.S. was that derived from "The land of Canaan?"), Allie's mentor was my favorite character. We didn't see a lot of him and that made me a bit disappointed, but things are looking up for more page time in the next novel.
So overall I did enjoy the novel and I'm looking forward to book two. It looks like Kagawa is planning on kicking it up a notch, so she can count me in. ;D
*A note on the cover: DISLIKE! Allison is of Japanese descent. Thus, the girl on the cover disappoints me for obvious reasons. -_-
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. Thank you!
More reviews and other fantastical things at Cuddlebuggery Book Blog.
When I first found out Kagawa was journeying down the vampire path, I was nervous. I mean, vampires have been written about over and over in the YA world and I wasn't sure what could be added. I had imaginary conversations, pleading with her, "Julie, are you sure you wanna do this?" And in all her awesomeness she pretty much told me, "Steph, chill. I got this." Do you know what I love about Julie Kagawa? I love how she can take a completely overused paranormal creature like fairies or vampires and create a whole new spin on them. Just when I was starting to lose faith in the Children of the Night, The Immortal Rules comes along and makes me rethink everything I thought I knew about vampires.
The Immortal Rules tells the story of Allison Sekemoto living in a future where most of the human population was killed by a disease called Red Lung. But that's not the only problem. Vampires now rule their world and have caused the human race to become their pets, scavengers, and monsters themselves. And let's not forget about the Rabids that stalk the earth just waiting to take a bite or two out of a human. Allison hate vampires, but when faced with the choice of death or becoming that which she has always loathed, she chooses the latter. When she flees from New Covington, Allie runs into a group of humans. She decides to travel with them, hiding her true nature from them as they travel searching for Eden (and yes, there are Christian themes in the book), a human city not ruled by vampires. She's always thought being a human was hard, but she quickly learns that being a vampire isn't exactly a walk in the park either, especially when you're wanted.
The best thing I loved about The Immortal Rules were the vampires. These aren't the cute sparkly vamps that try their hardest, fighting their nature, by feasting off animals instead of humans. Oh, no. These bad boys are vicious killers, just like unlike 'em! It is made very clear early in the novel that vampires have to drink from humans in order to survive and that one day Allison would kill a human no matter how hard she tried not to. Hell to the yeah. Real vampires! They're back!
That's what I'm talking about!
I also really enjoyed the creativity in this novel. Do you know what happens when Underworld and The Forest of Hands and Teeth have a baby? The result, if you didn't guess, is The Immortal Rules. It was a really cool mix of both flesh-eating, zombie-like creatures and bloodsucking vamps, surrounding poor, defenseless humans. Kagawa wasn't afraid to kill her characters off and show Allison some tough lovin'! I really hate when authors attempt to give every lovable character in the book a "hall pass" from death. The impact of the scene and story usually suffer, but not here. People died, viciously. Such is the way of the circle of life.
My biggest and only issue with the book was the extremely slow first half. It just felt like it dragged on and on. I just wanted to bang my head against a wall. And because of that, I can't give this book 4 stars. However, where the beginning was boring (to me at least), the second half makes up for lost time. Because this is another thing I love about Kagawa: Her action scenes and endings are kick-ass. I was getting major Underworld vibes from Allison and it was awesome. Every time she cut someone's head off, I got ridiculously giddy. I'm not lying when I say the second half saved this book.
Characters:
In the beginning I really disliked Allie. She and I weren't getting along very well because she had an attitude and personality that gave Oscar the Grouch a run for his money. I get why she was like that, but that didn't mean I had to like it. Thankfully, by the end of the novel, I did end up connecting with her. It was very subtle and snuck up on me. Of course, it didn't hurt that she was a badass, katana wielder either. "Useless," she was not! Kick some ass, she did. Lol. Okay, I'll spare you with my Yoda talk, but seriously the second half was a lot of fun.
Zeke, the love interest, was just okay for me. He was very sweet, caring, loyal, all those things you love to see in a person. While I did like him, I feel like I need to see more of him it the next book before I make up my mind.
Kanin (P.S. was that derived from "The land of Canaan?"), Allie's mentor was my favorite character. We didn't see a lot of him and that made me a bit disappointed, but things are looking up for more page time in the next novel.
So overall I did enjoy the novel and I'm looking forward to book two. It looks like Kagawa is planning on kicking it up a notch, so she can count me in. ;D
*A note on the cover: DISLIKE! Allison is of Japanese descent. Thus, the girl on the cover disappoints me for obvious reasons. -_-
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. Thank you!
More reviews and other fantastical things at Cuddlebuggery Book Blog.
June 4, 2012
3.5
I've been reluctant to start a Julie Kagawa book ever since I heard the heroine of her Fey series described as "weak" and "constantly in need of saving", they're simply not the kind of heroines I like to read about. However, there was something in me that just couldn't ignore this whole dystopia + vampires thing she's got going on here. I guess it doesn't matter how many shitty paranormal books I read, or how much I hate Twilight, I think I'll always be that girl who grew up on Buffy - give me mean vampires and a spunky heroine any day.
I have to say that The Immortal Rules does have a lot going for it, I enjoyed it a lot, especially the beginning and end parts. Allison Sekemoto is one tough cookie who's had to deal with the harsh realities of everyday survival her whole life. The world of the novel reminded me somewhat of Angelfall - supernatural apocalypse, vamps (instead of angels) have taken over and the human race is seen as inferior, kept alive only to feed and serve the vampires. There is also a peculiar breed of zombie-vampires, these are called Rabids and are vampires which have become infected by an incurable disease.
One night, Allison is attacked by Rabids and lies on the brink of death until a vampire offers her a choice - die or become that which she has hated her entire life. In a weird way I like that Allison makes the morally-questionable choice and takes any chance she can get at survival, a lot of authors can't resist writing MCs that are self-sacrificing and uber-perfect, it pleases me that Allison is flawed like we all ultimately are. Allison continues to kick ass and put survival first throughout the book, there's some romance but it forms a small subplot that doesn't overtake the main focus of the story.
I also like how dark and gritty the novel is. Kagawa doesn't tame up the descriptions of gore and violence, even the daytime seems dark and foreboding in this story. I do think that the novel's 500 pages could've been cut down by at least 50, particularly in the middle where the pacing slows a bit and some of the events feel a little pointless and dawdling. This is the bit where the romantic interest is introduced and the action disappears for a while. Thankfully, though, the love interest is sweet and kind - these creatures are a rare breed in young adult urban fantasy so we have to give a little cheer every time we spot one.
And now for the negative.
My big big issue with this novel is the way Kagawa portrays the only other female character. She is a malicious, manipulative, jealous bitch character and we never get to see another side of her. She is mean to Allison for no reason other than the fact that they are both girls of roughly the same age and she sees Allison as a threat that could come between her and the guy she likes. I can't even begin to understand the usage of such a character in this novel. Normally when authors do this, it is to make the heroine look better... but Kagawa doesn't seem to have a problem with Allison being a bit of a controversial and morally-questionable character, so why was this needed? Do authors just think it a necessity to have a bitchy girl character in their story? There goes all that strong heroine feminism straight out the window.
Another smaller issue is why every vampire is 100% definitely without question EVIL, except Allison and her sire? It doesn't really make sense, in fact, it seems kind of ridiculous that the only vampires with touches of morality are the ones we're supposed to like. Perhaps when we meet more vampires later in the series this problem will be rectified.
I'd like to take a quick moment to comment on the cover and say I seriously think Tatiana was onto something with this whole tinting covers with non-white characters. Allison Sekemoto is Asian, whether that model on the cover is Asian or not I cannot tell because her face appears to be blue. Coincidence? Just fitting in with the vampy theme? Perhaps, but I hope this trend stops soon.
To finish on a more positive note, I really did find this an entertaining read and I will pick up the sequel to see where Allison ends up next. The real strength of this series-opener is, for me, the idea that we always have a choice, that we don't have to accept what society and other people tell us about ourselves, that we can choose to be a better person. I think that's what Allison does, it's so easy to let go and just become a monster when life shits on you, but Allison chooses to be something better than what people expect from her and it's a message I really appreciate.
April 16, 2012
WARNING: INTENSE FANGIRLING TO FOLLOW (run away while you still can!)
This book was SO. AWESOME. It was nothing at all like I expected it to be, but I think that actually made the reading experience more interesting.
First off, I promise I will not make any Twitard references, no matter how strong the temptation. And believe you me, it will be almost irresistible. As a lot of reviewers have mentioned before me, Kagawa takes vampires back to their original, scary, monstrous selves... or does she?
See, there are vampires in this story, and they are way cooler than most of the watered-down, emasculated vampires we've seen in YA fiction these days, but that doesn't necessarily mean that this is a story about vampires. Not in the way that, say, Dracula is. This is more a coming-of-age story than anything else. Which makes it a very special snowflake in its genre, because the themes of self-exploration and self-discovery and growth are not ones that are common to the YA PNR genre... or even the YA dystopian one. And yet, despite its strong underlying message, this book is neither slow, nor preachy; in fact, it moves smoothly and lucidly towards a satisfying conclusion that still leaves the reader panting for more. This book had all the action and romance my lil' ol' heart could desire, but it never lost sight of its ultimate goal in the pursuit of shallow entertainment.
Julie Kagawa's second series, at least at this moment, surpasses her first offering by leaps and bounds. While I did like the Iron Fey series (and on a side note, the opening chapter of the spin-off series was tantalizing - damn you Harlequin!), it did not engender the kind of compulsive devotion and respect this book did.
It's not that Julie Kagawa did something different with vampire lore. In fact, one of the major selling points of this book is that she didn't; however, the story she has to tell, and her protagonists, were compelling. While I was initially a little disappointed that the love interest was human, I couldn't help but acknowledge that the romance served as a powerful vehicle for Allie's journey to self-actualization.
But while Allie was spellbinding as the protagonist, Kagawa managed to avoid the rookie mistake of making her overshadow all of the secondary characters. There were so many players in this book who emerged as actual relatable characters in their own right - Kanin, whom I loved, Jeb, who frustrated me and made me suspicious by turns, Darren, who I was mentally cheering on for defending Allie...
But Zeke and Allie were, undoubtedly, the best part of the book. Allie stole my heart when she decided that she would prefer being a bloodsucker to being dead. I like the fact that she was such a realist. More of a cynic actually. And I absolutely, totally, adored the fact that it was only after she was dead and something non-human that she really managed to discover her humanity. Allie the Fringer was little more than an animal with a strong survival instinct, and a vague dream of being more; Allie the vampire is the one who makes the choice to be forgiving and selfless and loving, even. And her transformation into that person is what makes this book so unique and so very special.
I also loved the way Kagawa played with power and gender roles in the book. It's always Allie who's coming to Zeke's rescue, and yet, you never get the feeling that Zeke is powerless or helpless or unhealthily co-dependent. In fact, Kagawa makes it subtly but unmistakably clear that while Allie has the physical (and occassionally moral) superiority, Zeke's humanity and faith and generosity of spirit are their own kind of power. In fact, put the two of them together, and they seem to complement and supplement each other's strengths, and that sort of equality is what makes for healthy romances.
I also know that one of the reasons this book, and the romance, worked, was because Allie was not a centuries-old vampire. She was a baby vamp, and with the memory of her human life still so very fresh, she seemed more human than not most of the time. So it was conceivable that she was still attached to human beings, rather than seeing them merely as a succession of food items.
A few very small things bugged me, such as Kanin telling Allie she didn't need to breathe; the thing is, they've been talking, and you can't talk without breathing, because how will your voice box work without air? Also, in the penultimate scene, I kind of wish Zeke hadn't fed her, you know? It felt like it had descended into an overly dramatic cliche.
But all in all, a truly awesome book. I loved it (as if you couldn't tell!) and I cannot wait for the next book to come out; I hope we see more of Kanin there, he is becoming a firm favorite! Definitely a book I would recommend if you're looking for an entertaining, action-packed book that is also thoughtful.
My thanks to Harlequin and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel.
This book was SO. AWESOME. It was nothing at all like I expected it to be, but I think that actually made the reading experience more interesting.
First off, I promise I will not make any Twitard references, no matter how strong the temptation. And believe you me, it will be almost irresistible. As a lot of reviewers have mentioned before me, Kagawa takes vampires back to their original, scary, monstrous selves... or does she?
See, there are vampires in this story, and they are way cooler than most of the watered-down, emasculated vampires we've seen in YA fiction these days, but that doesn't necessarily mean that this is a story about vampires. Not in the way that, say, Dracula is. This is more a coming-of-age story than anything else. Which makes it a very special snowflake in its genre, because the themes of self-exploration and self-discovery and growth are not ones that are common to the YA PNR genre... or even the YA dystopian one. And yet, despite its strong underlying message, this book is neither slow, nor preachy; in fact, it moves smoothly and lucidly towards a satisfying conclusion that still leaves the reader panting for more. This book had all the action and romance my lil' ol' heart could desire, but it never lost sight of its ultimate goal in the pursuit of shallow entertainment.
Julie Kagawa's second series, at least at this moment, surpasses her first offering by leaps and bounds. While I did like the Iron Fey series (and on a side note, the opening chapter of the spin-off series was tantalizing - damn you Harlequin!), it did not engender the kind of compulsive devotion and respect this book did.
It's not that Julie Kagawa did something different with vampire lore. In fact, one of the major selling points of this book is that she didn't; however, the story she has to tell, and her protagonists, were compelling. While I was initially a little disappointed that the love interest was human, I couldn't help but acknowledge that the romance served as a powerful vehicle for Allie's journey to self-actualization.
But while Allie was spellbinding as the protagonist, Kagawa managed to avoid the rookie mistake of making her overshadow all of the secondary characters. There were so many players in this book who emerged as actual relatable characters in their own right - Kanin, whom I loved, Jeb, who frustrated me and made me suspicious by turns, Darren, who I was mentally cheering on for defending Allie...
But Zeke and Allie were, undoubtedly, the best part of the book. Allie stole my heart when she decided that she would prefer being a bloodsucker to being dead. I like the fact that she was such a realist. More of a cynic actually. And I absolutely, totally, adored the fact that it was only after she was dead and something non-human that she really managed to discover her humanity. Allie the Fringer was little more than an animal with a strong survival instinct, and a vague dream of being more; Allie the vampire is the one who makes the choice to be forgiving and selfless and loving, even. And her transformation into that person is what makes this book so unique and so very special.
I also loved the way Kagawa played with power and gender roles in the book. It's always Allie who's coming to Zeke's rescue, and yet, you never get the feeling that Zeke is powerless or helpless or unhealthily co-dependent. In fact, Kagawa makes it subtly but unmistakably clear that while Allie has the physical (and occassionally moral) superiority, Zeke's humanity and faith and generosity of spirit are their own kind of power. In fact, put the two of them together, and they seem to complement and supplement each other's strengths, and that sort of equality is what makes for healthy romances.
I also know that one of the reasons this book, and the romance, worked, was because Allie was not a centuries-old vampire. She was a baby vamp, and with the memory of her human life still so very fresh, she seemed more human than not most of the time. So it was conceivable that she was still attached to human beings, rather than seeing them merely as a succession of food items.
A few very small things bugged me, such as Kanin telling Allie she didn't need to breathe; the thing is, they've been talking, and you can't talk without breathing, because how will your voice box work without air? Also, in the penultimate scene, I kind of wish Zeke hadn't fed her, you know? It felt like it had descended into an overly dramatic cliche.
But all in all, a truly awesome book. I loved it (as if you couldn't tell!) and I cannot wait for the next book to come out; I hope we see more of Kanin there, he is becoming a firm favorite! Definitely a book I would recommend if you're looking for an entertaining, action-packed book that is also thoughtful.
My thanks to Harlequin and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel.
March 18, 2013
Oh, my god. Thank you Julie Kagawa, for restoring my faith in YA vampire fiction. After the nightmare that was Twilight, I find myself stuck in a glut of Mary-Sueish clones, until Richelle Mead (AKA She Who Can Do No Wrong) and now Julie Kagawa brought the genre back to life. No pun intended, of course.
Let me just say that I was not a fan of Julie Kagawa before this. I read most of her Iron Fey series, and while it was well-written, it did not draw me in. So in as much as I admire her writing, her storylines did not interest me, and even though it's been released for awhile, I resisted reading it because of my previous history with her books. Finally, in a desperate night with nothing to read, I bought this book and I am so glad I did. This ranks among the best YA books I've ever read.
Allison---what a character. Julie Kagawa has a kack for writing female characters that don't suck (besides that annoying girl in The Lost Prince), and Allison is no different. She is so strong, she is a survivor, and she has to be, given where she has grown up. Also, not completely strong, she has a soft spot, especially for strays. I was so sad for her when her well-intentioned actions backfired on her...oh man, that scene with Stitch broke my heart. The world building is tremendous, one of the best depictions of a post-apocalyptic worlds I've ever read. I love the characters, the dimensions they have, their weaknesses and strengths that keep them multi-dimensional. I'm waiting with bated breath for the next book, and I'm kicking myself for waiting this long to read this fantastic novel.
Let me just say that I was not a fan of Julie Kagawa before this. I read most of her Iron Fey series, and while it was well-written, it did not draw me in. So in as much as I admire her writing, her storylines did not interest me, and even though it's been released for awhile, I resisted reading it because of my previous history with her books. Finally, in a desperate night with nothing to read, I bought this book and I am so glad I did. This ranks among the best YA books I've ever read.
Allison---what a character. Julie Kagawa has a kack for writing female characters that don't suck (besides that annoying girl in The Lost Prince), and Allison is no different. She is so strong, she is a survivor, and she has to be, given where she has grown up. Also, not completely strong, she has a soft spot, especially for strays. I was so sad for her when her well-intentioned actions backfired on her...oh man, that scene with Stitch broke my heart. The world building is tremendous, one of the best depictions of a post-apocalyptic worlds I've ever read. I love the characters, the dimensions they have, their weaknesses and strengths that keep them multi-dimensional. I'm waiting with bated breath for the next book, and I'm kicking myself for waiting this long to read this fantastic novel.
April 23, 2012
In a perfect world, Julie Kagawa's The Immortal Rules and I would have been best friends. Look what the story has to offer: A vampire-ruled post-apocalyptic world! The return of vampires who are blood-drinking monsters and not brooding lovers! A heroine who wields a katana and kills zombie-like vampires with it!
What could go wrong with any of this, you ask? Sadly, a lot could -- and did, at least for me.
In the vampire city of New Covington, Allison "Allie" Sekemoto (yes, she's of Asian descent -- and, no, the cover does not reflect this in the least) lives life on the fringe of society. She's an Unregistered, someone who isn't listed in the system and who doesn't need to have monthly blood draws -- but there's a downside: being Unregistered also means that you're on your own as far as food goes. Therefore, Allie does what she can to survive, even though doing so means joining a gang and eating whatever she can find (even if that means moldy or maggot-infested food). What follows is a story of survival turned on its head as Allie ends up becoming what she hates the most yet still strives to survive against vampire and human alike...
When I started The Immortal Rules, I really expected a story that would amaze me with its world-building, its characterization, and the "Us Vs. Them" mentality (of humans and vampires coexisting in a society). Sadly, none of it really left an impression on me.
One of the most disappointing things about Kagawa's novel is that, rather than be a new entity unto itself, it seems a patchwork creation of plot elements that have been explored in other vampire-centric stories. You have a girl who fights the monster inside herself even as she strikes down bloodthirsty creatures to protect the people she cares about. That story was explored in the 2005 anime Blood+ . You have a seemingly incurable strain of virus that destroyed nearly the entire human race and turned many into creatures bent on devouring the humans who have survived; even though all seems hopeless, some humans still search for a cure even if it means sacrifices along the way. The 2007 film I Am Legend (based on the novel of the same name) already followed such a post-apocalyptic scenario -- and in a two-hour film, not almost 500 pages! I can understand some similarities: after all, vampires have become a product of pop culture, over the past 30 years especially, so it stands to reason that someone writing a vampire novel would (unconsciously or not) draw inspiration from other works already out there. But here's the thing: the work needs to stand enough new ground on its own that it can be seen as something not entirely derivative of components seen in other works within the genre. In my opinion, The Immortal Rules is more derivative than innovative, so my reading experience wasn't as enjoyable as I had hoped it would be.
I can't say I felt the nearly 500-page length was justified either. As I read through the novel, I couldn't help but note long stretches where nothing of importance happens. The first part ("Human") kept me fairly intrigued, but I felt my interest wane with each successive chapter. Though Kagawa had a good handle on keeping the mundane passage of time (such as days or weeks) to a few paragraphs, the overall feel of the novel to me was one of monotony, even despite some action scenes that should have helped to keep me riveted. Nothing surprised me in this novel even though I so wanted to be on the edge of my seat, glued to the story and desperate to find out what happened next.
Aside from all of that, what really annoyed me about this novel is that it suffers from something I'm going to call the "Strong Girl Spotlight," where the heroine is the only "girl of worth" in the novel. In a world of mainstream fiction and media dominated by male main characters, why would such a thing (a strong female main character) bug me? Well, I believe that a story shouldn't get props just for having a strong female character as a lead. I mean, what does it say about the story if (a) the only "important" girl in the plot is the heroine, (b) all the other girls in the story are much "weaker" (physically, mentally, emotionally, what have you) by comparison to the heroine, and (c) the only other notable female character is mostly defined by her hatred for and jealousy of the main character? Thus, I can't say this story won any feminist badges from me. Believe me, I wanted to love Allie as a character, as a strong heroine surviving as best she could in a crummy world -- but I felt maneuvered to like her, especially with the lack of any other likable or notable female characters.
With all that being said, I think that people who enjoy vampire novels, post-apocalyptic novels, or both will likely come away liking The Immortal Rules, even despite its flaws and the similarities to other post-apocalyptic tales. This is just one of those cases where I'd say, "Try it from the library first if you want to read it." As for whether I'll continue on and read the next book in the series...well, I guess I have a year to decide.
(Note: I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.)
What could go wrong with any of this, you ask? Sadly, a lot could -- and did, at least for me.
In the vampire city of New Covington, Allison "Allie" Sekemoto (yes, she's of Asian descent -- and, no, the cover does not reflect this in the least) lives life on the fringe of society. She's an Unregistered, someone who isn't listed in the system and who doesn't need to have monthly blood draws -- but there's a downside: being Unregistered also means that you're on your own as far as food goes. Therefore, Allie does what she can to survive, even though doing so means joining a gang and eating whatever she can find (even if that means moldy or maggot-infested food). What follows is a story of survival turned on its head as Allie ends up becoming what she hates the most yet still strives to survive against vampire and human alike...
When I started The Immortal Rules, I really expected a story that would amaze me with its world-building, its characterization, and the "Us Vs. Them" mentality (of humans and vampires coexisting in a society). Sadly, none of it really left an impression on me.
One of the most disappointing things about Kagawa's novel is that, rather than be a new entity unto itself, it seems a patchwork creation of plot elements that have been explored in other vampire-centric stories. You have a girl who fights the monster inside herself even as she strikes down bloodthirsty creatures to protect the people she cares about. That story was explored in the 2005 anime Blood+ . You have a seemingly incurable strain of virus that destroyed nearly the entire human race and turned many into creatures bent on devouring the humans who have survived; even though all seems hopeless, some humans still search for a cure even if it means sacrifices along the way. The 2007 film I Am Legend (based on the novel of the same name) already followed such a post-apocalyptic scenario -- and in a two-hour film, not almost 500 pages! I can understand some similarities: after all, vampires have become a product of pop culture, over the past 30 years especially, so it stands to reason that someone writing a vampire novel would (unconsciously or not) draw inspiration from other works already out there. But here's the thing: the work needs to stand enough new ground on its own that it can be seen as something not entirely derivative of components seen in other works within the genre. In my opinion, The Immortal Rules is more derivative than innovative, so my reading experience wasn't as enjoyable as I had hoped it would be.
I can't say I felt the nearly 500-page length was justified either. As I read through the novel, I couldn't help but note long stretches where nothing of importance happens. The first part ("Human") kept me fairly intrigued, but I felt my interest wane with each successive chapter. Though Kagawa had a good handle on keeping the mundane passage of time (such as days or weeks) to a few paragraphs, the overall feel of the novel to me was one of monotony, even despite some action scenes that should have helped to keep me riveted. Nothing surprised me in this novel even though I so wanted to be on the edge of my seat, glued to the story and desperate to find out what happened next.
Aside from all of that, what really annoyed me about this novel is that it suffers from something I'm going to call the "Strong Girl Spotlight," where the heroine is the only "girl of worth" in the novel. In a world of mainstream fiction and media dominated by male main characters, why would such a thing (a strong female main character) bug me? Well, I believe that a story shouldn't get props just for having a strong female character as a lead. I mean, what does it say about the story if (a) the only "important" girl in the plot is the heroine, (b) all the other girls in the story are much "weaker" (physically, mentally, emotionally, what have you) by comparison to the heroine, and (c) the only other notable female character is mostly defined by her hatred for and jealousy of the main character? Thus, I can't say this story won any feminist badges from me. Believe me, I wanted to love Allie as a character, as a strong heroine surviving as best she could in a crummy world -- but I felt maneuvered to like her, especially with the lack of any other likable or notable female characters.
With all that being said, I think that people who enjoy vampire novels, post-apocalyptic novels, or both will likely come away liking The Immortal Rules, even despite its flaws and the similarities to other post-apocalyptic tales. This is just one of those cases where I'd say, "Try it from the library first if you want to read it." As for whether I'll continue on and read the next book in the series...well, I guess I have a year to decide.
(Note: I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.)
September 9, 2021
3.5 stars
This was fun! The story is interesting, surprisingly there are still some interesting vampire stories out there. I've been having a problem with reading YA lately but I did not mind this book at all! Hence, I recommend it if you want to go back to reading some YA because now I feel less wary of this genre.
I liked Allie, she was smart, loyal, and brave but not without her faults. I could not see the chemistry between her and Zeke and I kept imagining her as a vampire with cold dry skin, so yeah not sexy. Zeke was sweet but did not interest me much. I would not have minded the book to be romance free.
The world Kagawa created was fresh, kind of post-apocalyptic with vampires ruling with their human pets. A plague changed the balance of the world and now vampires aren't hiding anymore and humans are afraid of the rabid-zombie like infected ex-humans.
Kanin is too similar to canine which is VERY unoriginal. I tried changing its pronunciation in my mind but I couldn't. Another complaint I have is the girls hate, a trope sadly popular in oldish YA books (the newer generation realized probably how readers actually hate it and tried to create good girls best friends). The other girl we have in the book, of course, will have to be jealous of Allison because of a boy and act like a bitch. And although the book got off strongly, I could not stop reading after the first chapter, the pace later slowed down. It did not annoy me exactly but it lost its thrill from time to time. It did not last long thankfully. One last thing I don't understand is why mortals haven't killed vampires while asleep since they are actually as dead as a log when the sun is up? I'm pretty sure people close to the vampires must have discovered it. At least this question could've been tackled.
Nonetheless, the Immortals Rule was very entertaining. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel, I heard it's better than this one. Maybe I should continue the Iron Fey series as well, will see.
This was fun! The story is interesting, surprisingly there are still some interesting vampire stories out there. I've been having a problem with reading YA lately but I did not mind this book at all! Hence, I recommend it if you want to go back to reading some YA because now I feel less wary of this genre.
I liked Allie, she was smart, loyal, and brave but not without her faults. I could not see the chemistry between her and Zeke and I kept imagining her as a vampire with cold dry skin, so yeah not sexy. Zeke was sweet but did not interest me much. I would not have minded the book to be romance free.
The world Kagawa created was fresh, kind of post-apocalyptic with vampires ruling with their human pets. A plague changed the balance of the world and now vampires aren't hiding anymore and humans are afraid of the rabid-zombie like infected ex-humans.
Kanin is too similar to canine which is VERY unoriginal. I tried changing its pronunciation in my mind but I couldn't. Another complaint I have is the girls hate, a trope sadly popular in oldish YA books (the newer generation realized probably how readers actually hate it and tried to create good girls best friends). The other girl we have in the book, of course, will have to be jealous of Allison because of a boy and act like a bitch. And although the book got off strongly, I could not stop reading after the first chapter, the pace later slowed down. It did not annoy me exactly but it lost its thrill from time to time. It did not last long thankfully. One last thing I don't understand is why mortals haven't killed vampires while asleep since they are actually as dead as a log when the sun is up? I'm pretty sure people close to the vampires must have discovered it. At least this question could've been tackled.
Nonetheless, the Immortals Rule was very entertaining. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel, I heard it's better than this one. Maybe I should continue the Iron Fey series as well, will see.
February 15, 2021
3.5 stars. Well, now, these dark vampires were pretty fun to follow!
۰•● Julie Kagawa is such a master in world-building. Indeed after having loved her fairy land in The Iron King (which is much-hated by many of my friends, but what can I say, I loved it and I'm not even ashamed), again I felt myself completely immerged and eager to learn more about the violent and merciless world we discover here.
See, to me a great world-building isn't necessarily complex. No. Of course it mustn't be overly simplistic, but above all that, in my opinion, a well-done world-building is coherent, without 'holes' in it, and let us immerge into it straight away. That was the case here.
"Always leave yourself an out ; that was the first rule of the Unregistered. Do whatever you want - hate the vamps, curse the pets - but never get caught."
۩۩ Welcome to New Covington, city ruled by Vampires, where humans are either pets (understand : minions) and food or unregistered and then surviving by stealing and scavenging.
You want to escape?
*shakes head*
Now, that's what I call a bad idea. Outdoors you will find hybrid creatures who will most likely rip you apart. Literally. Oh, and we're in a post-apocalyptic area, where everything kind of fall apart, so be careful when you find a house, the roof could be destroyed rather easily. You've been warned.
۰•● Let's talk about the characters, shall we?
▩ Allison is badass. Fierce, sarcastic, brave, loyal. She's the heroine of her own story, stands for herself and doesn't let other bring her down. High-five, girl, I like you already.
➸ Tired of these heroines who always need saving? Allison is the one who saves others.
➸ Annoyed by overlong inner whiny monologues? Allison is sharp, strong-minded, confident in her choices, even if what she has to do to respect them isn't the easier path to follow - far from it.
"I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to control myself, and I would end up killing someone.
And, deep down, a part of me didn’t care. That was the scariest thing of all."
And cherry on top, the girl uses a katana. A fucking katana. Well, that's pretty obvious that she's my favorite, isn't it?
▩ As for Zeke, I need to point out that even if it took me longer to be truly interested in him, his hopeful personality won me in the end. You know, he's the kind of character whose comments can bring a real smile on your face, who we can't help but want to both hug and shake a little ➸ And that's what Allison felt, and if I wasn't already a fan of her, I would have loved her for that. No blind admiration from her, but recognition of something as rare as hope - trust. Yes it can be annoying but do you want to get my opinion
Now, the guy is blond. Not that I have a problem with that or anything but seriously. The guy is blond. Sorry, I might have some weird preferences when it comes to my male-leads fantasies. Fortunately he doesn't have long hair.
▩ And there're the Vampires. Monstrous, heartless, selfish, who need to bury themselves underground to avoid the sun - finally, YA vampires who don't own big cars and sparkle.
No, thank you. Really, I'd prefer not.
In The Immortal Rules there's no good vampires, but only different shades of Evil. Allison included. But then, are there such things as Evil and Good out there? I'm not really sure, and that's for the best.
"We are vampires, Kanin had told me, on one of our last nights together.It makes no difference who we are, where we came from. Princes, Masters and rabids alike, we are monsters, cut off from humanity. They will never trust us. They will never accept us. We hide in their midst and walk among them, but we are forever separate. Damned. Alone. You don't understand now, but you will."
۰•● Overall, the plot kept me interested but even if I never was bored to death, I must admit that the pacing was uneven : indeed after a strong beginning that captivated me, I found the middle a tad weak but absolutely adored the last 30%.
۰•● Apart from that, my main complain is the unnecessary and childish girl's hate. Oh, how it annoyed me! I mean, I'm trying to be kind here, but why create such insta-hate from Ruth toward Allison? There's no reason to explain it at first. Absolutely no. reason . Look, back when I was a teenager I always had more guys friends than girls, but I would have never hated a girl on sight just for having made an apparition. Note that I wasn't struggling to survive in a rude world in the middle of a mainly male group. So, this bitchy hate? In my opinion, it was completely unnecessary.
In a nutshell : Here's a really good first book of a trilogy I'm eager to continue, as I'm sure there're more to know about this dark and twisted world.
PS : No, my friends, you're not delusional. I did post parts of this review last year. Then I did delete it when reshelving today, because somehow, I'm a moron like that. Just like that. I guess I should be grateful to be an organized kind of moron. Oh well. It reminded me that I should read the sequel soon^^
For more of my reviews, please visit:
April 2, 2012
Wow! This book is one of my new favorites for the year.
If you think you can't read another vampire book for a while because you are sick of the unoriginal plots and characters that have been around lately you are like me. Rest assured, this book is completely original and creative. For starters, vampires rule the world in this story. The Immortal Rules is set in the future, and it's humans who are going hungry and forced to find ways to get food. Vampires have the control and even reading is illegal! The vampires want the humans to stay as ignorant as possible about the past.
Our main character is a girl named Allie who is just trying to survive. She loves to read (okay so this trait is not very original), and she's the strong, brave girl in her group. She absolutely despises vampires and the control they have over humans. When she is attacked one night she has to decide if she will become a vampire herself.
This book surprised and impressed me. I was surprised that I was so impressed. I really went into this with mixed expectations. I first thought "bleh, vampires...boring" but then I thought "Julie Kagawa is an author that everyone seems to enjoy, she will bring it". The world building in this story is perfectly executed. As soon as you start reading you will be in this desperate world, and feel the hopelessness of this place ruled by vampires. The rabids are truly terrifying as well. They are I guess half zombie, half vampire, and 100% creeped me the F out! The romance was actually beautifully done, and this is from someone who doesn't usually care about romance much at all.
The story itself was often quite intense and engaging. When you get into this book you will need to keep reading, because this book does a fantastic job at sucking you in. As soon as one little issue is resolved she throws something else at you. Her writing is just fantastic, and she is the queen of suspense.
I am one of the rare people who loves YA yet has never read the Iron Fey series by Miss Kagawa. I'm not sure why, really, because it is highly praised my all of my friends, and has decent ratings and whatnot. Either way my point is just that I can't compare this to her other series, but I have been seeing other reviewers say that this series is much darker.
I can't think of any YA lover that I would NOT recommend this to. Part Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Dystopia, Vamp, Zombie, and much more, it has so much to offer.
April 16, 2012
Sometimes you read a book, you moderately enjoy it, but when you finish it, you have very little to say about it. This is one of those times. The Immortal Rules was a pretty entertaining read, but it simply failed to impress me. I suppose I expected more originality, but instead I got the same old story hidden behind a few interesting details. That’s not to say I didn’t have fun reading it – I did, for the most part, and I’ll definitely pick up the sequel.
Allison Sekemoto grew up in the Fringe, outside the walls of a big vampire city. She has never set foot inside those walls – as an unclaimed and unprotected human, she is easy prey for any vampire she might run into. One day, while hunting for food, Allison’s crew gets attacked by rabids. After seeing her friends die and being savagely beaten herself, she is saved by a Master vampire Kanin and offered a choice: she can either die or be turned into the very thing she hates the most.
I really enjoyed the worldbuilding at the beginning. I was hoping Allison would somehow explore these vampire cities, spend some time discovering New Covington and the life inside the walls. I wanted to know more about how they function, about the vampires and the humans that chose to live among them. I was vastly disappointed when Kagawa decided to lead her heroine out of there and have her wander around through wilderness where nothing is even remotely interesting. I realize that she’ll probably go back in the second book, but I wanted to know more now, and that feeling of disappointment when Alison ran out of the city and when I realized she won’t be going back soon stayed with me throughout the book. The second she left the city and started walking on her own, my interest in the book dropped by about 25%. It didn’t help that the middle part bored me almost to death: the time Allison spent alone and all that wandering around when she joined Zeke���s group didn’t work for me at all. In fact, I think this entire book would have been much better if it were a hundred pages shorter.
Julie Kagawa is undoubtedly a talented writer and I could tell she put much thought into her worldbuilding (especially the first part), but it’s the little things that make a book and in my opinion, she failed in polishing those details, which ruined the story for me to some extent. It bothered me that certain things didn’t make sense, for example, when Allison joined Zeke’s group, they gave her an old tent to sleep in, but she still had to cut a hole in the bottom and bury herself in the ground every night to avoid being accidentally exposed to sunlight. I don’t know how dirty they all were, but it is impossible that no one would notice she was covered in dirt every evening. You sleep in the ground, you come out covered with it no matter what, and nothing short of a long bath and a complete change of clothes could possibly fix it.
Another thing that didn’t work well for me was the romance. I didn’t really understand where the attraction between Allison and Zeke was coming from at all, and to be honest, I didn’t really like Zeke all that much. I like my love interests with just a little bit more fire than he had to offer – he was too vanilla for my taste. I would have loved to see a relationship between Allison and Kanin, the vampire who turned her, instead. It’s the first time I’m actually hoping for a love triangle in the future.
Huh. I guess I had a lot to say after all. I realize that my opinion won’t be very popular in this case, but I had to share it anyway. The majority of my friends really enjoyed this book. After all the gushing reviews I’ve read in the last month, I’m pretty sure my lack of enthusiasm won’t do any damage at all.
For more of my reviews, please visit The Nocturnal Library
Allison Sekemoto grew up in the Fringe, outside the walls of a big vampire city. She has never set foot inside those walls – as an unclaimed and unprotected human, she is easy prey for any vampire she might run into. One day, while hunting for food, Allison’s crew gets attacked by rabids. After seeing her friends die and being savagely beaten herself, she is saved by a Master vampire Kanin and offered a choice: she can either die or be turned into the very thing she hates the most.
I really enjoyed the worldbuilding at the beginning. I was hoping Allison would somehow explore these vampire cities, spend some time discovering New Covington and the life inside the walls. I wanted to know more about how they function, about the vampires and the humans that chose to live among them. I was vastly disappointed when Kagawa decided to lead her heroine out of there and have her wander around through wilderness where nothing is even remotely interesting. I realize that she’ll probably go back in the second book, but I wanted to know more now, and that feeling of disappointment when Alison ran out of the city and when I realized she won’t be going back soon stayed with me throughout the book. The second she left the city and started walking on her own, my interest in the book dropped by about 25%. It didn’t help that the middle part bored me almost to death: the time Allison spent alone and all that wandering around when she joined Zeke���s group didn’t work for me at all. In fact, I think this entire book would have been much better if it were a hundred pages shorter.
Julie Kagawa is undoubtedly a talented writer and I could tell she put much thought into her worldbuilding (especially the first part), but it’s the little things that make a book and in my opinion, she failed in polishing those details, which ruined the story for me to some extent. It bothered me that certain things didn’t make sense, for example, when Allison joined Zeke’s group, they gave her an old tent to sleep in, but she still had to cut a hole in the bottom and bury herself in the ground every night to avoid being accidentally exposed to sunlight. I don’t know how dirty they all were, but it is impossible that no one would notice she was covered in dirt every evening. You sleep in the ground, you come out covered with it no matter what, and nothing short of a long bath and a complete change of clothes could possibly fix it.
Another thing that didn’t work well for me was the romance. I didn’t really understand where the attraction between Allison and Zeke was coming from at all, and to be honest, I didn’t really like Zeke all that much. I like my love interests with just a little bit more fire than he had to offer – he was too vanilla for my taste. I would have loved to see a relationship between Allison and Kanin, the vampire who turned her, instead. It’s the first time I’m actually hoping for a love triangle in the future.
Huh. I guess I had a lot to say after all. I realize that my opinion won’t be very popular in this case, but I had to share it anyway. The majority of my friends really enjoyed this book. After all the gushing reviews I’ve read in the last month, I’m pretty sure my lack of enthusiasm won’t do any damage at all.
For more of my reviews, please visit The Nocturnal Library
May 2, 2015
Full review posted on my blog.
Julie Kagawa, I am in love with you.
And I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH ARGH.
Julie Kagawa, I am in love with you.
And I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH ARGH.
February 15, 2018
“You are a monster.” Kanin’s deep voice droned in my head again, as I forced myself to move, to walk away. “You will always be a monster, there is no turning back from it. But what type of monster you become is entirely up to you.”
Wow! I didn't expect this, but I really liked this book, because it has made me out of my reading slump and that is a goal !.
:D. I'm very happy!.
It is my first book of Julie Kagawa and I've been delighted by its so fluid and entertaining way of writing, also I liked how incredible is the dystopian world where the story unfolds, the author has certainly managed to explain everything in a big way!
The way in which Kagawa introduce to the vampires within the plot is brilliant, unique and different.
I was looking for a reading of vampires and nothing seemed convince me until I met The Immortal Rules and I read the description and I knew I had to read it. When I started with it, I was afraid that I shall not have been fully involved with the plot ,as the story begins as something heavy in some parts, especially in the explanation of why the world is like it is and why it's the way in which it is located, but I found myself trapped in the end by the incredible way of writing of the author, who I think is noteworthy
“The closer you got to someone, the more it would destroy you when they were inevitably gone.”
I immediately endears with the main character, I really like Allison Sekemoto, she is strong and tough and she never have afraid to say what she thinks. I admired her inner struggle to defend the humans against her vampire instinct, I think she has taken the whole issue in a very mature and sensible way, although she almost can't contain herself at times, I think I can be agree or at least understand most of her actions
Kanin is one of the most interesting characters, I liked him to throughout the history , although doesn't appear much as I would like, I think he brings the best messages to the plot and helps a lot to our protagonist to deal with her situation and face to life, I must say that I can't wait to read more about him! :3, has captivated me and his history is addictive
He is powerful and personally I love him for Allie
“You don't dwell on what you've lost, you just move on."-Allison”
Guys I really loved this story I can't wait to read more about it and its characters, highly recommended!.It's a reading that undoubtedly has everything and for everybody !, Action, Drama, Romance and it will be manage to surprise you on more than one occasion!
I liked Zeke although I still like to read more about him to get a clearer idea of what I feel about this character, because although it is obviously a sweetness and a very noble human being, I can't yet reach to him as I would like.
I would highlight the incredible writing this book has like a thousand times , but I recommend you find out for yourself will not regret. The created world is amazing manages to take extraordinary and dark places .BRILLANTE!
Want to read
November 18, 2011AHHH! Julie! Are you freaking kidding me! You sly dog!
I love this so much if I knew where you live, I'd drive whatever amount of miles to give you a hug. A huge, gigantic, love-filled hug. Like this:
But I will just settle for an imaginary one for now; until I can find her address, of course ;)
If anyone can bring back vampires from slow, painful, death that Meyer inflicted on them; it's Kagawa. I cannot wait! :D
EDIT: So, I read Iron Knight and Kagawa had a couple pages of this book in there! *happy squeal* from what she had so far, it looks awesome! Vampires are actually fucking ugly, soulless, beings, and the MC is actually a badass who, right away, fights for her life and isn't a twit! I LOVE YOU KAGAWA!
I love this so much if I knew where you live, I'd drive whatever amount of miles to give you a hug. A huge, gigantic, love-filled hug. Like this:
But I will just settle for an imaginary one for now; until I can find her address, of course ;)
If anyone can bring back vampires from slow, painful, death that Meyer inflicted on them; it's Kagawa. I cannot wait! :D
EDIT: So, I read Iron Knight and Kagawa had a couple pages of this book in there! *happy squeal* from what she had so far, it looks awesome! Vampires are actually fucking ugly, soulless, beings, and the MC is actually a badass who, right away, fights for her life and isn't a twit! I LOVE YOU KAGAWA!
May 17, 2023
Rating Clarification: 4.5 stars
Wow, this book is brilliant!
It is EXCITING, RIVETING, really ENTERTAINING, EXHILARATING, GRIPPING, from top to bottom AMAZING.
There are two reasons why I didn't give The Immortal Rules the complete 5 stars (everything else was excellent):
1)I wanted more romance, I always do. So I think that I would have like it more if the characters were a bit older, better directed towards new adults like the introductory novella Dawn of Eden (book 0.5). I would have enjoyed some adult content between Allie and Zeke very much.
2)It always bothers me when religion invades fantasy books, all the nonsense of God, souls, evil, yada yada yada, annoys me to no end when is so shallow and not essentially necessary to the story or spiritually fulfilling. In my opinion, just pointless blind faith in Christianity matters has no business in fantasy. However if the writer finds that the religious element is necessary for the book it would make more sense to create a new mythology, a new religion to go with the created fantasy. In a book that vampires are described as monsters the notion of them believing in a Christian God is just absurd.
Allie I loved, loved, loved the heroin, she is FANTASTIC, a kickass and completely selfless yet utterly realistic and believable. Allie just has too good of a heart, it’s remarkable how she can care so much for a character like Stick when all I wanted to do was punch him in the face.
I found FASCINATING the different stages that Allie went through, her emotional and physical trip from the beginning with her as a human trying to survive on the streets, to her transformation into a vampire, to finally discovering who she really is or who she wants to be.
I found BEAUTIFULLY TRAGIC the part where she it was heartwarming.
Zeke He is all you usually want to find in a guy. Zeke is kind, reasonable, selfless, cute, intelligent, tough, resourceful, a giver and of course has his own demons to overcome. He is pretty perfect, however he is too sweet for me, what can I say? I just tend to like them more domineering.
Kanin Tortured soul vampire trying to redeem himself and being obscure and distant about it. Enough said.
I always find appealing a survivalist element in the stories and we can find some here, the universe we encounter in the Blood of Eden series is quite interesting, a post-apocalyptic zombie-vampire world where the humans face a triple threat: the rabids, the vampires and other humans. I think that the best way to fully appreciate this universe is by reading the prequel first. In Dawn of Eden we are introduced to how the apocalypse came to be, we can see what happened and why the world is the way it is in The Immortal Rules, also I think that it gives us a better understanding of the rabid vampires.
I do recommend reading the novella before this first book, it’s worth it, it’s quite short so it won’t take you more than three hours and the story grips you instantaneously. As an incentive we meet Kanin for the first time there in an excellent way to later comprehend him better in Eternity Cure (book 2).
Audiobook The narrator Therese Plummer does a terrific job. She gives the perfect tone and strength to the story and the characters. She unquestionably improves the narrative. I definitely recommend listening to this audio-book edition instead of reading the book.
I am a lover of vampire books, and this one doesn't disappoint one bit.
Wow, just wow.
READ IT!
My Reviews in the Blood of Eden Series:
Book 0.5: Dawn of Eden
Book 1: The Immortal Rules
Book 2: Eternity Cure
Book 2.5: Zeke's Letter to Allie
Book 3: The Forever Song
Wow, this book is brilliant!
It is EXCITING, RIVETING, really ENTERTAINING, EXHILARATING, GRIPPING, from top to bottom AMAZING.
There are two reasons why I didn't give The Immortal Rules the complete 5 stars (everything else was excellent):
1)I wanted more romance, I always do. So I think that I would have like it more if the characters were a bit older, better directed towards new adults like the introductory novella Dawn of Eden (book 0.5). I would have enjoyed some adult content between Allie and Zeke very much.
2)It always bothers me when religion invades fantasy books, all the nonsense of God, souls, evil, yada yada yada, annoys me to no end when is so shallow and not essentially necessary to the story or spiritually fulfilling. In my opinion, just pointless blind faith in Christianity matters has no business in fantasy. However if the writer finds that the religious element is necessary for the book it would make more sense to create a new mythology, a new religion to go with the created fantasy. In a book that vampires are described as monsters the notion of them believing in a Christian God is just absurd.
Allie I loved, loved, loved the heroin, she is FANTASTIC, a kickass and completely selfless yet utterly realistic and believable. Allie just has too good of a heart, it’s remarkable how she can care so much for a character like Stick when all I wanted to do was punch him in the face.
I found FASCINATING the different stages that Allie went through, her emotional and physical trip from the beginning with her as a human trying to survive on the streets, to her transformation into a vampire, to finally discovering who she really is or who she wants to be.
I found BEAUTIFULLY TRAGIC the part where she it was heartwarming.
Zeke He is all you usually want to find in a guy. Zeke is kind, reasonable, selfless, cute, intelligent, tough, resourceful, a giver and of course has his own demons to overcome. He is pretty perfect, however he is too sweet for me, what can I say? I just tend to like them more domineering.
Kanin Tortured soul vampire trying to redeem himself and being obscure and distant about it. Enough said.
I always find appealing a survivalist element in the stories and we can find some here, the universe we encounter in the Blood of Eden series is quite interesting, a post-apocalyptic zombie-vampire world where the humans face a triple threat: the rabids, the vampires and other humans. I think that the best way to fully appreciate this universe is by reading the prequel first. In Dawn of Eden we are introduced to how the apocalypse came to be, we can see what happened and why the world is the way it is in The Immortal Rules, also I think that it gives us a better understanding of the rabid vampires.
I do recommend reading the novella before this first book, it’s worth it, it’s quite short so it won’t take you more than three hours and the story grips you instantaneously. As an incentive we meet Kanin for the first time there in an excellent way to later comprehend him better in Eternity Cure (book 2).
Audiobook The narrator Therese Plummer does a terrific job. She gives the perfect tone and strength to the story and the characters. She unquestionably improves the narrative. I definitely recommend listening to this audio-book edition instead of reading the book.
I am a lover of vampire books, and this one doesn't disappoint one bit.
Wow, just wow.
READ IT!
My Reviews in the Blood of Eden Series:
Book 0.5: Dawn of Eden
Book 1: The Immortal Rules
Book 2: Eternity Cure
Book 2.5: Zeke's Letter to Allie
Book 3: The Forever Song
April 10, 2012
In a land ruled by Vampires, and overrun with rabids (creatures and humans bitten by vampires and turned into rabid beasts with absolute no control or reason), a young girl fights against the odds to preserve her humanity, and to accept what she has become. Allison lives in a Vampire City. She has a fierce hatred for these soulless creatures who put humans on registers and feed off them at the humans designated time. But in a moment of desperation, when Allison is facing the inevitability of death after a brutal attack from rabids, Allison chooses life over death, to become a vampire, the very creature she despises. But her will to live, even a life as a dead creature, overrides her hatred. And so begins her new life.
So. Vampires. I really have no love for them. There are too many vampire books, rip offs of Twilight, trying too hard to be the next Twilight. If I’m to read a vampire book, I want it to be more like, say, Dracula *evil grin*. I mean, what’s a vampire story without bloodthirsty, vengeful, distasteful monsters? Give me no charming, swooning vamps that can control their desire for human blood, and sparkle and shine like they’re Prince Charming themselves. Well, Kagawa created the perfect bloodthirsty vampires, and boy did she deliver! This story gives no apologies. It makes you cringe, it makes you hate vampires. And Kagawa is not shy with the violence and deaths. She brings you into the intense fights and scrambles for life, and it’s like you’re right there witnessing the atrocity. So, for this, for Julie’s willingness to describe the horror in detail, I thank her.
Allison was a pretty strong character. She’s dependent and fierce, and knows that to survive in a world of monsters, she must look out for herself, and not become attached to other people. But all this changes when she leaves the city as a vampire herself, and finds a group of people who are looking for a “promised land.” She finds something worth living for with these people, and though not all of them accept her, she understands them, because she used to be just like them. Haters of vampires, and understanding that sometimes to survive, you need to leave people behind you. But now Allison is that monster, and may very well kill these people if she lets her Hunger overcome her. Allison has to fight this wild desire in order to preserve some semblance of her humanity.
Now, I can’t say that I loved this book. While it was original and interesting, it didn’t enrapture me like Kagawa’s fey series did. Those, were fantastic. This, was just good. So I can’t say that fans of the fey series will love this new vampire series. Because I am one of the biggest fans of the fey series, but I didn’t love this book nearly as much. But most of the fey series fans who have read this book love it, so it may just be me. I think one thing that was a factor of my not loving it, was the amount of time it took for me to really become involved in the book. The first half of the book was kind of slow going for me. Sure, there was stuff happening, but there just was something that was holding me back. It wasn’t until about 60%, , that I finally perked up, and thought that finally! things were happening.
Another thing I did not like, sadly, was the romance. Oh, Zeke. Well, I did like him. He was a good character, with good qualities. He looked out for everyone and cared for them. He accepted Allison when others treated her with unkindness. As a character, he was alright, as the love interest, he fell flat. I felt no spark between the two, and, one thing that really annoyed me was that one part . It was at an inappropriate time, and all I was thinking was “Guys, really? Shouldn’t you be doing something that is more important? *rolls eyes*
Alright, enough with the bad. Immortal Rules was a pretty good novel. I would recommend it to fans of Kagawa’s fey series, and other people who are tired of vampire books. Because I think this is a vampire book that we readers have been looking for. It’s different and is unforgiving with its dark tone. And Kagawa’s writing is still amazing. That’s part of what kept me going, her flowing writing style that can paint vivid scenes and draw the reader in. So, while this may not have been what I was expecting, (both good and bad), I still enjoyed the book, and am looking forward to the sequel.
Thank you to Harlequin Teen and Netgalley for the arc.
So. Vampires. I really have no love for them. There are too many vampire books, rip offs of Twilight, trying too hard to be the next Twilight. If I’m to read a vampire book, I want it to be more like, say, Dracula *evil grin*. I mean, what’s a vampire story without bloodthirsty, vengeful, distasteful monsters? Give me no charming, swooning vamps that can control their desire for human blood, and sparkle and shine like they’re Prince Charming themselves. Well, Kagawa created the perfect bloodthirsty vampires, and boy did she deliver! This story gives no apologies. It makes you cringe, it makes you hate vampires. And Kagawa is not shy with the violence and deaths. She brings you into the intense fights and scrambles for life, and it’s like you’re right there witnessing the atrocity. So, for this, for Julie’s willingness to describe the horror in detail, I thank her.
Allison was a pretty strong character. She’s dependent and fierce, and knows that to survive in a world of monsters, she must look out for herself, and not become attached to other people. But all this changes when she leaves the city as a vampire herself, and finds a group of people who are looking for a “promised land.” She finds something worth living for with these people, and though not all of them accept her, she understands them, because she used to be just like them. Haters of vampires, and understanding that sometimes to survive, you need to leave people behind you. But now Allison is that monster, and may very well kill these people if she lets her Hunger overcome her. Allison has to fight this wild desire in order to preserve some semblance of her humanity.
Now, I can’t say that I loved this book. While it was original and interesting, it didn’t enrapture me like Kagawa’s fey series did. Those, were fantastic. This, was just good. So I can’t say that fans of the fey series will love this new vampire series. Because I am one of the biggest fans of the fey series, but I didn’t love this book nearly as much. But most of the fey series fans who have read this book love it, so it may just be me. I think one thing that was a factor of my not loving it, was the amount of time it took for me to really become involved in the book. The first half of the book was kind of slow going for me. Sure, there was stuff happening, but there just was something that was holding me back. It wasn’t until about 60%, , that I finally perked up, and thought that finally! things were happening.
Another thing I did not like, sadly, was the romance. Oh, Zeke. Well, I did like him. He was a good character, with good qualities. He looked out for everyone and cared for them. He accepted Allison when others treated her with unkindness. As a character, he was alright, as the love interest, he fell flat. I felt no spark between the two, and, one thing that really annoyed me was that one part . It was at an inappropriate time, and all I was thinking was “Guys, really? Shouldn’t you be doing something that is more important? *rolls eyes*
Alright, enough with the bad. Immortal Rules was a pretty good novel. I would recommend it to fans of Kagawa’s fey series, and other people who are tired of vampire books. Because I think this is a vampire book that we readers have been looking for. It’s different and is unforgiving with its dark tone. And Kagawa’s writing is still amazing. That’s part of what kept me going, her flowing writing style that can paint vivid scenes and draw the reader in. So, while this may not have been what I was expecting, (both good and bad), I still enjoyed the book, and am looking forward to the sequel.
Thank you to Harlequin Teen and Netgalley for the arc.
October 5, 2015
Final rating: 5/5 stars
Final rating - for the whole series: 4.25/5 stars
edit: rewritten whole review :D
I love love love this book. It gripped me from the start and i just had to finish it - that's how good it was. I was sooooo absorbed when i was reading that i didn't even notice the time. Strong heroine, strong characters, destroyed world and vampires and zombies. Could you possibly ask for more? It's creepy, it's crazy, it's fantastic and it's fabulous story.
___________________________________________
STORY :
____________________________________________
In the future, Vampires have conquered the Earth - they are new masters and they must be obeyed. They made their own systems for living, including cities which they made for themselves and for their own pleasures and living. (Practically: We are vampires, we are powerful, we are kick ass, and we are going to take over your world!!!! Mwhahahahahaha!!! Wait, we already did that in Immortal rules. VICTORYYYYYY!!!!!.) Vampires offer sanctuary, at the price of your own blood and following their rules.
But, outside the city walls it's not safe. There is a teror lurking in the shadows...and people are scared of it.
Should they live with bloodsuckers, or should they try to escape and be butchered into pieces by Rabids? The answer is...if they are crazy enough. Rabids are failed vampires - zombified vampires and they are not naive or easy opponents, they are vicious, vile and horrifying.
Enter Allison Sekemoto, the human, who lives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. She and her companions/friends are scavengers - they are trying to survive by stealing food. None of them wants to give vampires their blood and therefore they live harshly and poorly. Until the night Allie is attacked by Rabid - and given the ultimate choice. She needed to decide whether she would become a vampire...or die.
Choosing to live, to survive, she accepted what she despised the most - to be a vampire. But she refuses to be like them, she refuses to drink blood, and most of all, she refuses to accept it and become a monster.
But when she is forced to escape the town at the cost of her own life, she meets a group of people led by Jeb, and she is forced to be careful not to be discovered...or the consequences would be deadly.
___________________________________________
CHARACTERS :
____________________________________________
I think Kagawa did a great job on characters as well. The big three in this whole story are Allie, Kanin & Zeke. Thankfully it didn't seem to be love triangle for which i am thankful(i hate love triangles). So, Allie is a mortal who gets torn apart by rabid and turned afterward into a vampire by Kanin. Kanin (my love) is ruthless trainer but also good one. He shows her what she needs to do to survive. Allie's choice to become vampire, even though she never wanted to be one, was driven by her desire to survive, even as a dead immortal. Soooo...after few events, we meet Zeke (Ezekiel) who is son of a leader of a group of people out of town, who are trying to find Eden, a town without vampires.
♦ Allie :
Allie was awesomeeeee. She isn't irritating, she is brave, cunning and smart. And she is also narrator of the story. She struggles with the fact that she became a vampire and that she must drink blood, but she chooses to survive.
♦ Kanin :
Is awesome. The Oh-the-great-one of the story, also the one who successfully converted Allie to vampire. He is ruthless trainer, he is genious, he is mystery and he is fantastic.
Especially because of that cliffhanger where (serious spoiler) .
♦ Zeke :
Was actually sweet. He is an innocent type, he despises vampires only because of his father; who isn't his real father btw. I liked him, he was charismatic, cute and strong in the same time. Some major spoilers ahead .
♦ Jeb :
Jeb is so sure that vampires were at fault for everything. He refuses to see that there are some who didn't wish for all of this to happen, and he refuses to believe vampires like that exist. He thinks they took everything from him and that they must pay. He is also father of Zeke, and a guide of the people in the wild.
___________________________________________
OVERALL :
____________________________________________
Excellent book - had everything i wanted, the romance, the horror, excellent plot, action and fantastic set of characters. I cannot wait for the sequel - i need it as soon as possible!
This review can be found on my blog: infinity-of-time.blogspot.com also known as...
____________________________________________
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
____________________________________________
MY BLOOD OF EDEN REVIEWS:
◉ 'Til the World Ends (Blood of Eden, #0.5)
◉ The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden, #1)
◉ The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden, #2)
◉ The Forever Song (Blood of Eden, #3)
Final rating - for the whole series: 4.25/5 stars
edit: rewritten whole review :D
I love love love this book. It gripped me from the start and i just had to finish it - that's how good it was. I was sooooo absorbed when i was reading that i didn't even notice the time. Strong heroine, strong characters, destroyed world and vampires and zombies. Could you possibly ask for more? It's creepy, it's crazy, it's fantastic and it's fabulous story.
___________________________________________
STORY :
____________________________________________
In the future, Vampires have conquered the Earth - they are new masters and they must be obeyed. They made their own systems for living, including cities which they made for themselves and for their own pleasures and living. (Practically: We are vampires, we are powerful, we are kick ass, and we are going to take over your world!!!! Mwhahahahahaha!!! Wait, we already did that in Immortal rules. VICTORYYYYYY!!!!!.) Vampires offer sanctuary, at the price of your own blood and following their rules.
But, outside the city walls it's not safe. There is a teror lurking in the shadows...and people are scared of it.
Should they live with bloodsuckers, or should they try to escape and be butchered into pieces by Rabids? The answer is...if they are crazy enough. Rabids are failed vampires - zombified vampires and they are not naive or easy opponents, they are vicious, vile and horrifying.
Enter Allison Sekemoto, the human, who lives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. She and her companions/friends are scavengers - they are trying to survive by stealing food. None of them wants to give vampires their blood and therefore they live harshly and poorly. Until the night Allie is attacked by Rabid - and given the ultimate choice. She needed to decide whether she would become a vampire...or die.
Die as a human, or become a bloodsucker. Either way, the choice was death, because the vampires were dead, they just had the audacity to keep living—walking corpses that preyed on humans to survive. I hated the vampires; everything about them—their city, their pets, their domination of the human race—I despised with my entire being. They had taken everything from me, everything that was important. I would never forgive them for what I had lost.
Choosing to live, to survive, she accepted what she despised the most - to be a vampire. But she refuses to be like them, she refuses to drink blood, and most of all, she refuses to accept it and become a monster.
My vampire creator told me this: ...Sometime in your life, Allison Sekemoto, you will kill a human being. Accidentally or as a conscious, deliberate act, it is unavoidable. The question is not if it will happen, but when. Do you understand?... I didn't then, not really. I do now.
But when she is forced to escape the town at the cost of her own life, she meets a group of people led by Jeb, and she is forced to be careful not to be discovered...or the consequences would be deadly.
___________________________________________
CHARACTERS :
____________________________________________
I think Kagawa did a great job on characters as well. The big three in this whole story are Allie, Kanin & Zeke. Thankfully it didn't seem to be love triangle for which i am thankful(i hate love triangles). So, Allie is a mortal who gets torn apart by rabid and turned afterward into a vampire by Kanin. Kanin (my love) is ruthless trainer but also good one. He shows her what she needs to do to survive. Allie's choice to become vampire, even though she never wanted to be one, was driven by her desire to survive, even as a dead immortal. Soooo...after few events, we meet Zeke (Ezekiel) who is son of a leader of a group of people out of town, who are trying to find Eden, a town without vampires.
♦ Allie :
Allie was awesomeeeee. She isn't irritating, she is brave, cunning and smart. And she is also narrator of the story. She struggles with the fact that she became a vampire and that she must drink blood, but she chooses to survive.
“We are vampires, Kanin had told me, on one of our last nights together. It makes no difference who we are, where we came from. Princes, Masters and rabids alike, we are monsters, cut off from humanity. They will never trust us. They will never accept us. We hide in their midst and walk among them, but we are forever separate.
Damned. Alone. You don’t understand now, but you will. There will come a time when the road before you splits, and you must decide your path. Will you choose to become a demon with a human face, or will you fight your demon until the end of time, knowing you will forever struggle alone?”
♦ Kanin :
Is awesome. The Oh-the-great-one of the story, also the one who successfully converted Allie to vampire. He is ruthless trainer, he is genious, he is mystery and he is fantastic.
Especially because of that cliffhanger where (serious spoiler) .
“You are a monster.” Kanin’s deep voice droned in my head again, as I forced myself to move, to walk away. “You will always be a monster, there is no turning back from it. But what type of monster you become is entirely up to you.”
♦ Zeke :
He smiled, a real one this time, though his voice remained teasing.
“So, what do you think I am?”
Naive, I thought at once. Naive, brave, selfless, incredible and much too kind to survive this world. It’ll break you in the end, if you keep going like this. Good things never last.
Was actually sweet. He is an innocent type, he despises vampires only because of his father; who isn't his real father btw. I liked him, he was charismatic, cute and strong in the same time. Some major spoilers ahead .
♦ Jeb :
Jeb is so sure that vampires were at fault for everything. He refuses to see that there are some who didn't wish for all of this to happen, and he refuses to believe vampires like that exist. He thinks they took everything from him and that they must pay. He is also father of Zeke, and a guide of the people in the wild.
“Jeb regarded me with n o expression. "Do you believe in God, Allison?"
"No," I said immediately. "Is this the part where you tell me I'm going to hell?"
"This is hell," Jebbadiah said, gesturing to the town around us. "This is our punishment, our Tribulation. God has abandoned this world. The faithful have already gone on to their reward, and he has left the rest of us here, at the mercy of the demons and the devils. The sins of our fathers have passed to their children, and their children's children, and it will continue to be so until this world is completely destroyed. So it doesn't matter if you believe in God or not, because He is not here.”
___________________________________________
OVERALL :
____________________________________________
“There will come a time when man is no longer concerned only with survival, when he will once more be curious as to who came before him, what life was like a thousand years ago, and he will seek out answers for a hundred years or so, but humans' curiosity has always driven them to find answers.”
Excellent book - had everything i wanted, the romance, the horror, excellent plot, action and fantastic set of characters. I cannot wait for the sequel - i need it as soon as possible!
This review can be found on my blog: infinity-of-time.blogspot.com also known as...
____________________________________________
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
____________________________________________
MY BLOOD OF EDEN REVIEWS:
◉ 'Til the World Ends (Blood of Eden, #0.5)
◉ The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden, #1)
◉ The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden, #2)
◉ The Forever Song (Blood of Eden, #3)
December 29, 2014
What do you get when you mix dystopia and vampires together? You get THE IMMORTAL RULES!
The Immortal Rules has got to be one of the best vampire books out there. I mean it was unique yet it still managed to stay true to the original concept of vampires. I don’t hate sparkly vampires because they introduced my to the YA genre but the vamps here in Immortal Rules were bad, fierce and I love it. I seriously adore it.
The Immortal Rules was set in a world where vampires ruled over the humans.
They use humans to feed themselves.
They hire the humans to do slave work for them.
They humans were the lowest member of the society.
The vampires lives in the Inner City while the humans live in a place called the Fringe where they must fight for food, for shelter in order for them to survive.
Allie Sekemoto was one of them.
She was one of the Unregistered.
She despised the vampires.
But because of a food hunt that has gone wrong she had to become one of them in order for her to survive.
The concept of merging vampires with the current hype of dystopian book was very genius. It was a very smart move. But I have to say that although there might be some writers who might have thought about it already I think it is only Julie Kagawa who could pull something like that off. Julie Kagawa did pull it off with flying colors. She was able to take me again to another world that is very different from our own but as you read the book made you feel that somehow everything felt real. I mean I was like “oh wow how'd she even thought of that?” the whole time I was reading it. The world she created on this book was entirely different from the world she created in her Iron Fey series but equally creative and real.
Allie would have to be one of the most kick-ass heroines I’ve ever read. She was smart, strong, brave and occasionally a wise-ass which made her funny at times. I found her hardheadedness a little annoying but she does try to make up for her mistakes when she does one. Like all of Ms. Kagawa’s other characters, Allie was well developed and very real. Kanin who I thought was going to be her love interest was very cold and distant. He was her mentor and he played his part well. The real love interest Zeke blew my mind. I was in love again (sorry Ash). Zeke was just loveable and there was no way you could not fall in love with him. I mean who wouldn’t want a handsome guy who’s full of battle scars. Ooohhh! Gosh Zeke was so sexy! (I am so sorry for my infidelity Ash)
Also I loved how Allie and Zeke’s relationship developed. It developed gradually and surely. THANK GOD ITS NOT INSTA-LOVE! I hate heroines who falls head over heals with the male lead just by looking at him. Gawwdd that makes me want to puke. Good thing this one wasn’t one of them. Also it wasn’t the main focus of the book which for me was a very big thing. The purpose of paranormal books is to let the readers have that paranormal experience it’s not all about the romance. I mean if you want romance stick with romance. Paranormal is not supposed to be all about romance. A little romance is okay to keep the readers interested and The Immortal Rules has the right amount of action and romance which I suuuper LOVED!
One other thing I liked was the setting of the book which was New Covington. She was able to incorporate a little of a dystopian feel to this book which is why I think its going to be a huge hit. Readers want something new and this was it. The concept was fresh, the plot intriguing, the characters were kick-ass, the villains were despicable, the setting was perfect, what more could you ask for? Also the rabids were a great addition to the already great plot and characters. The rabids were creepy. Gosh I wouldn’t want to meet one of those in my lifetime.
OMGosh! Julie Kagawa does it again. I just couldn’t stop praising this book. Honestly, I am so enchanted by this book just as I was with the Iron Fey series.
Dear Julie Kagawa,
Thanks for making The Immortal Rules.
Thank you for making this book about vampires and not making them sparkly and lovestruck.
Thank you for making the heroine brave and independent and not like the others who depend too much on their male counterpart.
Thank you for adding a dystopian feel to this series because it was genius.
Thank you for making these books as if they were real.
Please continue to make more books and showing us more of your magic.
The Immortal Rules is a series that you wouldn’t want to miss especially if you love vampires. It’s fresh, full of action with a little bit of romance.
The Immortal Rules has got to be one of the best vampire books out there. I mean it was unique yet it still managed to stay true to the original concept of vampires. I don’t hate sparkly vampires because they introduced my to the YA genre but the vamps here in Immortal Rules were bad, fierce and I love it. I seriously adore it.
The Immortal Rules was set in a world where vampires ruled over the humans.
They use humans to feed themselves.
They hire the humans to do slave work for them.
They humans were the lowest member of the society.
The vampires lives in the Inner City while the humans live in a place called the Fringe where they must fight for food, for shelter in order for them to survive.
Allie Sekemoto was one of them.
She was one of the Unregistered.
She despised the vampires.
But because of a food hunt that has gone wrong she had to become one of them in order for her to survive.
The concept of merging vampires with the current hype of dystopian book was very genius. It was a very smart move. But I have to say that although there might be some writers who might have thought about it already I think it is only Julie Kagawa who could pull something like that off. Julie Kagawa did pull it off with flying colors. She was able to take me again to another world that is very different from our own but as you read the book made you feel that somehow everything felt real. I mean I was like “oh wow how'd she even thought of that?” the whole time I was reading it. The world she created on this book was entirely different from the world she created in her Iron Fey series but equally creative and real.
Allie would have to be one of the most kick-ass heroines I’ve ever read. She was smart, strong, brave and occasionally a wise-ass which made her funny at times. I found her hardheadedness a little annoying but she does try to make up for her mistakes when she does one. Like all of Ms. Kagawa’s other characters, Allie was well developed and very real. Kanin who I thought was going to be her love interest was very cold and distant. He was her mentor and he played his part well. The real love interest Zeke blew my mind. I was in love again (sorry Ash). Zeke was just loveable and there was no way you could not fall in love with him. I mean who wouldn’t want a handsome guy who’s full of battle scars. Ooohhh! Gosh Zeke was so sexy! (I am so sorry for my infidelity Ash)
Also I loved how Allie and Zeke’s relationship developed. It developed gradually and surely. THANK GOD ITS NOT INSTA-LOVE! I hate heroines who falls head over heals with the male lead just by looking at him. Gawwdd that makes me want to puke. Good thing this one wasn’t one of them. Also it wasn’t the main focus of the book which for me was a very big thing. The purpose of paranormal books is to let the readers have that paranormal experience it’s not all about the romance. I mean if you want romance stick with romance. Paranormal is not supposed to be all about romance. A little romance is okay to keep the readers interested and The Immortal Rules has the right amount of action and romance which I suuuper LOVED!
One other thing I liked was the setting of the book which was New Covington. She was able to incorporate a little of a dystopian feel to this book which is why I think its going to be a huge hit. Readers want something new and this was it. The concept was fresh, the plot intriguing, the characters were kick-ass, the villains were despicable, the setting was perfect, what more could you ask for? Also the rabids were a great addition to the already great plot and characters. The rabids were creepy. Gosh I wouldn’t want to meet one of those in my lifetime.
OMGosh! Julie Kagawa does it again. I just couldn’t stop praising this book. Honestly, I am so enchanted by this book just as I was with the Iron Fey series.
Dear Julie Kagawa,
Thanks for making The Immortal Rules.
Thank you for making this book about vampires and not making them sparkly and lovestruck.
Thank you for making the heroine brave and independent and not like the others who depend too much on their male counterpart.
Thank you for adding a dystopian feel to this series because it was genius.
Thank you for making these books as if they were real.
Please continue to make more books and showing us more of your magic.
The Immortal Rules is a series that you wouldn’t want to miss especially if you love vampires. It’s fresh, full of action with a little bit of romance.
April 5, 2016
An Advanced Reader Copy was provided by the publisher for review. Quotes pulled from the ARC may be incorrect and may be subject to change.
Allison lives in a world where a virus has decimated the human population, and vampires rule the city. Squatting and learning to survive is all she has ever known. She lives this bleak existence as an Unregistered so no vampire can control her as a pet. Living for seventeen years, she finally meets her end when she encounters rabids. (Soulless infected vampires and humans that kill everything in their path.Think zombies). A vampire comes into her path as she lays dying, giving her a choice. To die or to become one of the very thing she hates..a vampire. From then on her world is never the same again. Always thirsty, hungry for human blood Allison learns to latch on as much of her humanity as she can. Along the way she finds a group of humans in search of Eden, desperate to hide her secret she accompanies them and finds love in the kind-hearted teenager Zeke. Will she give into her blood lust and betray them or will she help them find the security they deserve? Find out in The Immortal Rules.
To be honest I haven't even picked up any of Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey novels so I didn't know what to expect when reading this, but I am so glad it exceeded my expectations! I may be a fan for life. She is a genius. Clever plot direction, character development and enough action to keep me off the edge of my seat!
I just fell in love with Allison. Considering how strong her will to survive was, choosing to be a vampire was the clear option. Allison was such a kick-ass kind of character! I love how her background is Japanese. Wielding that Katina and being able to defend herself was just so much fun to read. Ah! Love love love! Where's book 2? :(
Allison lives in a world where a virus has decimated the human population, and vampires rule the city. Squatting and learning to survive is all she has ever known. She lives this bleak existence as an Unregistered so no vampire can control her as a pet. Living for seventeen years, she finally meets her end when she encounters rabids. (Soulless infected vampires and humans that kill everything in their path.Think zombies). A vampire comes into her path as she lays dying, giving her a choice. To die or to become one of the very thing she hates..a vampire. From then on her world is never the same again. Always thirsty, hungry for human blood Allison learns to latch on as much of her humanity as she can. Along the way she finds a group of humans in search of Eden, desperate to hide her secret she accompanies them and finds love in the kind-hearted teenager Zeke. Will she give into her blood lust and betray them or will she help them find the security they deserve? Find out in The Immortal Rules.
To be honest I haven't even picked up any of Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey novels so I didn't know what to expect when reading this, but I am so glad it exceeded my expectations! I may be a fan for life. She is a genius. Clever plot direction, character development and enough action to keep me off the edge of my seat!
I just fell in love with Allison. Considering how strong her will to survive was, choosing to be a vampire was the clear option. Allison was such a kick-ass kind of character! I love how her background is Japanese. Wielding that Katina and being able to defend herself was just so much fun to read. Ah! Love love love! Where's book 2? :(
May 16, 2012
When I picked up The Immortal Rules, I thought I knew what I was getting into. I haven’t read Julie Kagawa’s highly praised Iron Fey series (YET), but I gathered from the reviews that Ms. Kagawa is a great writer with engaging characters. I also knew that The Immortal Rules was a vampire dystopian, so I was prepared for kind of a Hunger-Games-meets-Twilight book.
Um, no.
I probably should have gathered from the creepy cover (that I still don’t like, even though I now understand it) that this book was going to be darker than that. It makes The Hunger Games look positively mild, and the Twilight vampires would be reduced to trembling granite-hard puddles of sparkly fear in the face of the beasties in The Immortal Rules.
A better mashup comparison would probably be Interview-With-a-Vampire-meets-I-am-Legend. It’s the internal struggle between man (or in this case, woman) and monster, set in a world where plague has decimated humanity and horrifying creatures like this (but scarier) roam the planet.
The Plot
In a future world where plague has wiped out most of the human population, vampires rule supreme. Allison Sekemoto lives on the fringes of a vampire city, struggling to survive from day to day with no parents or food.
One day, desperate from hunger, Allison ventures outside the walls of the vampire city in search of food. Venturing outside the walls is dangerous and possibly deadly, as the open area surrounding the city is haunted by rabids — once-human creatures turned insane and bloodthirsty by the plague. If the rabids notice her, they will tear her to pieces.
But Allison’s risk pays off when she discovers a huge cache of untouched food. She hurriedly brings the rest of her small gang back to scavenge it, when it all goes horribly wrong.
They are attacked by rabids. Allison herself is mercilessly ravaged, to the point of death, when suddenly a mysterious figure appears. A vampire. He offers her a choice: Die a human. Or rise a vampire.
Allison chooses a new existence as a vampire. And then she is forced to deal with the consequences of that decision.
Her situation is further complicated when she is driven from the city to wander the wilderness alone. She meets up with a small group of humans searching for something impossible — a city without vampires. As she hides her true nature from them, she struggles between her desire to retain her humanity and the Hunger that threatens to consume her, always conscious of the fact that if she denies herself human blood for too long, she will go mad.
My Thoughts
First off, this book is dark, people. D-A-R-K. There is a lot of death. A lot of violence. And the feel of the world that Ms. Kagawa has created is bleak and hopeless and terrifying. I would not recommend this one for the faint of heart.
That said, I actually loved this book. I know it seems kind of weird that I’d love something I just described as “hopeless and terrifying,” especially since I’m not normally one to go for that sort of thing. But the writing is vivid and engaging, and had me sucked in from the first page.
The world is extremely well planned and developed. I understood the intricacies of the vampire mythology, and how the world came to be this way. I really felt like I was there in the dirty city, and then out in the open wilderness with Allison.
Allison is a bit of an anti-hero, in that she spends the majority of the book struggling to avoid killing everyone around her. Her internal struggle between the kind of person she wants to be and the monster she realizes she is, is fascinating and heartbreaking.
There are moments of bittersweet tenderness followed directly by heart-pounding (or…not…in Allison’s case) action. There is a love story (not a triangle, thankfully) that is sweet and impossible and heartbreaking. There are characters that you want to hate that you kind of like, and characters that you want to like that you kind of hate.
It’s a nuanced and fascinating book, creating a frighteningly believable world where darkness rules, and clinging to even a small glimmer of hope and happiness seems naive. It makes most other YA dystopians seem downright utopian.
And yet, even though Allison is a monster, she fights to be human. Even though the humans are searching for the impossible, they continue to search. And even though hope seems foolish, we do it anyway.
The Immortal Rules is the first book in a new series, and I will be very interested to see what happens next in Allison’s journey.
Um, no.
I probably should have gathered from the creepy cover (that I still don’t like, even though I now understand it) that this book was going to be darker than that. It makes The Hunger Games look positively mild, and the Twilight vampires would be reduced to trembling granite-hard puddles of sparkly fear in the face of the beasties in The Immortal Rules.
A better mashup comparison would probably be Interview-With-a-Vampire-meets-I-am-Legend. It’s the internal struggle between man (or in this case, woman) and monster, set in a world where plague has decimated humanity and horrifying creatures like this (but scarier) roam the planet.
The Plot
In a future world where plague has wiped out most of the human population, vampires rule supreme. Allison Sekemoto lives on the fringes of a vampire city, struggling to survive from day to day with no parents or food.
One day, desperate from hunger, Allison ventures outside the walls of the vampire city in search of food. Venturing outside the walls is dangerous and possibly deadly, as the open area surrounding the city is haunted by rabids — once-human creatures turned insane and bloodthirsty by the plague. If the rabids notice her, they will tear her to pieces.
But Allison’s risk pays off when she discovers a huge cache of untouched food. She hurriedly brings the rest of her small gang back to scavenge it, when it all goes horribly wrong.
They are attacked by rabids. Allison herself is mercilessly ravaged, to the point of death, when suddenly a mysterious figure appears. A vampire. He offers her a choice: Die a human. Or rise a vampire.
Allison chooses a new existence as a vampire. And then she is forced to deal with the consequences of that decision.
Her situation is further complicated when she is driven from the city to wander the wilderness alone. She meets up with a small group of humans searching for something impossible — a city without vampires. As she hides her true nature from them, she struggles between her desire to retain her humanity and the Hunger that threatens to consume her, always conscious of the fact that if she denies herself human blood for too long, she will go mad.
My Thoughts
First off, this book is dark, people. D-A-R-K. There is a lot of death. A lot of violence. And the feel of the world that Ms. Kagawa has created is bleak and hopeless and terrifying. I would not recommend this one for the faint of heart.
That said, I actually loved this book. I know it seems kind of weird that I’d love something I just described as “hopeless and terrifying,” especially since I’m not normally one to go for that sort of thing. But the writing is vivid and engaging, and had me sucked in from the first page.
The world is extremely well planned and developed. I understood the intricacies of the vampire mythology, and how the world came to be this way. I really felt like I was there in the dirty city, and then out in the open wilderness with Allison.
Allison is a bit of an anti-hero, in that she spends the majority of the book struggling to avoid killing everyone around her. Her internal struggle between the kind of person she wants to be and the monster she realizes she is, is fascinating and heartbreaking.
There are moments of bittersweet tenderness followed directly by heart-pounding (or…not…in Allison’s case) action. There is a love story (not a triangle, thankfully) that is sweet and impossible and heartbreaking. There are characters that you want to hate that you kind of like, and characters that you want to like that you kind of hate.
It’s a nuanced and fascinating book, creating a frighteningly believable world where darkness rules, and clinging to even a small glimmer of hope and happiness seems naive. It makes most other YA dystopians seem downright utopian.
And yet, even though Allison is a monster, she fights to be human. Even though the humans are searching for the impossible, they continue to search. And even though hope seems foolish, we do it anyway.
The Immortal Rules is the first book in a new series, and I will be very interested to see what happens next in Allison’s journey.
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April 28, 2024
RATING: 3 stars to The Immortal Rules ★ ★ ★
“I forget, sometimes, the complexities of the human race. We’ve reduced so many of you to animals – savage, cowardly, so willing to turn on each other to survive. And yet, in the darkest places, I can still find those who are still, more or less, human.”
The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa is an austere dystopian story appraising the world in a post-apocalyptic realm of rapacious vampires, and human survivalists.
‘The vampires had outlawed books in the Fringe and had systematically gutted every school and library building once they’d taken over, and I knew why. Because within the pages of every book, there was information of another world- a world before this one, where humans didn’t live in fear of vampires and walls and monsters in the night. A world where we were free.’
The world is split into hierarchies, vampires being the foremost ruling race, predators of blood and night preying on humans, enslaving them since the plague some sixty years ago when disease spread throughout, altering the world irreversibly and wiping out billions. Allison Sekemoto is one of many teenagers, orphaned and living as an Unregistered on the edges of the Fringe district – the outermost section of the vampire city where poverty is fact, privation is unavoidable, and the nonessential are left to make a living for themselves however they can; where the humans do whatever it takes to live through another day and hide from the grisly adventures of nightly tormentors, even if that means stealing, venturing into unbidden territory, braving the worst and being loyal unto themselves.
“But there will come a time when man is no longer concerned only with survival, when he will once more be curious as to who came before him. What life was like a thousand years ago, and he will seek out answers to these questions. Maybe it won’t happen for a hundred years or so, but humans’ curiosity has always driven them to find answers. Even our race cannot keep them in the dark forever.”
After the death of her mother, Allie swore to never become a registered human because she would rather live the unprivileged life as an unregistered than sell herself and her blood to the bloodsuckers for just a bit more food and safety. The Unregistered are riven into bands, protecting their own and defending their own. The Fringe is a place stripped of culture and education where the inadequate and ineffective are left to slice out a living in whatever paltry capacity is available to them, among predators of many kinds.
“And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive. But better than both…is the one who has never been born, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.”
Allie and her friends venture outside the perimeter of the city, into the ruins – where the ravenous rabids are known to stalk, looking to sink their teeth into unassuming exposed humans. After saving a friend from being slaughtered by a pack of rabids Allie is only minutes away from death. She is given two choices of death by a vampire – Kanin – he can either let her leave this world with a human conscious, or she can substitute the human blood in her veins for his own, turning her into the undead – a vampire. Her makeup has always led her to choose life over anything else, so she makes her choice. Allie condemns herself to the life of the undead and awakes a vampire with tears of blood, and a keen craving for the blood of her own kind…or what used to be her kind.
“We hid in their midst and walk among them, but we are forever separate. Damned. Alone. You don’t understand now, but you will. There will come a time when the road before you splits, and you must decide your path. Will you choose to become a demon with a human face, or will you fight your demon until the end of time, knowing you will forever struggle alone?”
Allie’s urges are vulturine. Humans are now sustenance. Blood, a required nourishment. Her soul? Soulless…or does it have to be? And this is the line that Allie questions always and treads on mercilessly – how can she hold on to her humanity when she has to cross lines to live as a vampire? She wants to reserve her humanity in the midst of what she is becoming, but she will always be part of the despicable, monstrous race that bathed the world in bloody phobias in a baneful hell. It’s interesting how Allie approaches the role of vampire, once thinking them to be ‘soulless’ beasts, now trying her hardest to veer away from giving in to her prior insights of vampires.
‘I was truly inhuman. Humans were prey. I craved their blood like the worst addict on the street. They were sheep, cattle, and I was the wolf, stalking them through the night. I had become a monster.’
‘I was part of their world now, part of the darkness.’
Allison is constantly enveloped in this conflict of accepting her new place in the food chain because her instincts want to overpower her sense of humanity, rivalling the despair that her new heritage will never be accepted, therefore having no real place in the world. Unlike her peers Allie was never content with just fading into the patterns of her circumstance, or writhing under the name of survival. This girl with a fighter’s instinct wanted to make the small changes that would have potentially given her people a chance for furtherance, a better life or the fringers…but with nothing left, Allison is alone.
“Knowledge is important. Words define us. We must protect our knowledge and pass it on whenever we can. If we are ever to become a society again, we must teach others how to remain human.”
Her indifferent, pragmatist mentor Kanin teaches Allie the ways of vampire survival. But he is only one of many that Allie consorts with because her life takes her out of New Covington, into a world she has never seen. Travelling unfamiliar terrain in the form of both the outer world which she has never dared into, and the unacquainted qualities she now possesses, Allie rides a path of bleak rejection, fearful betrayal, and a hope that she can tame the monster within. Learning her true place in society, she meets varying shades of human on her lonesome travels – being betrayed and hurt not because of her actions but because of what she now is. Coming from a broken city, Allie only wants to be human, but needs to be a vampire. Despite a past of pain Allie always looks forward, accepting her circumstance, but never accepting something of common belief.
“Let me give you your first and most important lesson, Allison Sekemoto – you are a monster…”
Allie Is not your typical hero, her character squandering that line sometimes past the margin of protagonist, and as a reader I wondered whether she would lose herself to her demon. I wouldn’t call her a protagonist per se, but neither really an anti-hero, somewhere in that liminal pocket between perhaps. I found her less relatable, her character controversial, and unfortunately one I didn’t feel a great deal of empathy for – more of a distant courtesy and respect. Characters are such – if not the most – important aspect of a story and I need to be involved with them to connect with the overall story, and with Allie I didn’t feel that way. Characters in a story are lights that make the night shine, and my night had few stars.
“Evening, little bird. Out for a midnight flight, on wings of blood and pain? Like razor blades across the moon, they cut the night and make the night bleed red.”
Allie has the mind of a survivalist. She doesn’t fall into the specific manner of morality, rather having her own notion of principle. Always questioning the choices she will make – as did I - her attitude is dark but also one of a realist. Everything about Allie is believable, she is smart, adaptive, and sympathetic within reason. Her actions are heroic, even though she doesn’t always appear to be, and the strength of her character is formed on her sense of loyalty even for those who show none to her.
‘The vampires have taken everything from us, I thought, angrily kicking a pebble into a wall. Well, I’m going to make sure we take something back.’
Julie Kagawa’s exploitive world is well crafted and deeply atmospheric, but it felt one-dimensional and more abstract than not to me, tonally speaking, and the story felt stagnant. It seemed to be more absorbing than it actually turned out to be for me. I found myself not enjoying it as much as I'd hoped to unfortunately. I do fully credit the creativity, the refreshing take on vampiric lore and the atmospheric world setting, because it was well crafted. As an indulgent reader I want characters to indulge me, give me something considerable to work with, and I didn’t feel that with Allison or the story, only with one or two other characters – and the only other female teenage character was a jealous competitor. My interest diffused the further I fell into this twisted post-apocalyptic tale.
‘In this world, the only law was to obey to Masters, and the Masters didn’t care if their cattle occasionally turned on each other.’
The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa reminded me of the film I am Legend, following Allie and a diverse set of characters on her dangerous journey outside the confines, processing betrayal, loss, indoctrination, moral drama and doomed romance. A bloody, perverse and an ostensibly unfruitful world The Immortal Rules deals with continual loss, grief always, feuding clans, perpetuating desolate hope, a promising potential utopia, standards of loyalty during survival and the frailties of human choices when faced with the abysmal. This book is distinctively dystopian, with the characteristic elements of a dystopian world would have. Human versus vampire, an us versus them tale which doesn’t paint a whole race in one light. This story is not light-hearted, it’s honest, scrutinising a strong-minded lead that always has a choice to follow blindly, but always follows her own rules, challenging the norms of the society she lives in.
‘I suddenly wished we could’ve had more time, that the world didn’t consume every bit of light and goodness it found, that people like Zeke and I could somehow find our Eden.’
Content Warning: Torture, attempted rape, swearing, moderately gory scenes.
Favourite Quotes:
“I forget, sometimes, the complexities of the human race. We’ve reduced so many of you to animals – savage, cowardly, so willing to turn on each other to survive. And yet, in the darkest places, I can still find those who are still, more or less, human.”
The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa is an austere dystopian story appraising the world in a post-apocalyptic realm of rapacious vampires, and human survivalists.
‘The vampires had outlawed books in the Fringe and had systematically gutted every school and library building once they’d taken over, and I knew why. Because within the pages of every book, there was information of another world- a world before this one, where humans didn’t live in fear of vampires and walls and monsters in the night. A world where we were free.’
The world is split into hierarchies, vampires being the foremost ruling race, predators of blood and night preying on humans, enslaving them since the plague some sixty years ago when disease spread throughout, altering the world irreversibly and wiping out billions. Allison Sekemoto is one of many teenagers, orphaned and living as an Unregistered on the edges of the Fringe district – the outermost section of the vampire city where poverty is fact, privation is unavoidable, and the nonessential are left to make a living for themselves however they can; where the humans do whatever it takes to live through another day and hide from the grisly adventures of nightly tormentors, even if that means stealing, venturing into unbidden territory, braving the worst and being loyal unto themselves.
“But there will come a time when man is no longer concerned only with survival, when he will once more be curious as to who came before him. What life was like a thousand years ago, and he will seek out answers to these questions. Maybe it won’t happen for a hundred years or so, but humans’ curiosity has always driven them to find answers. Even our race cannot keep them in the dark forever.”
After the death of her mother, Allie swore to never become a registered human because she would rather live the unprivileged life as an unregistered than sell herself and her blood to the bloodsuckers for just a bit more food and safety. The Unregistered are riven into bands, protecting their own and defending their own. The Fringe is a place stripped of culture and education where the inadequate and ineffective are left to slice out a living in whatever paltry capacity is available to them, among predators of many kinds.
“And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive. But better than both…is the one who has never been born, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.”
Allie and her friends venture outside the perimeter of the city, into the ruins – where the ravenous rabids are known to stalk, looking to sink their teeth into unassuming exposed humans. After saving a friend from being slaughtered by a pack of rabids Allie is only minutes away from death. She is given two choices of death by a vampire – Kanin – he can either let her leave this world with a human conscious, or she can substitute the human blood in her veins for his own, turning her into the undead – a vampire. Her makeup has always led her to choose life over anything else, so she makes her choice. Allie condemns herself to the life of the undead and awakes a vampire with tears of blood, and a keen craving for the blood of her own kind…or what used to be her kind.
“We hid in their midst and walk among them, but we are forever separate. Damned. Alone. You don’t understand now, but you will. There will come a time when the road before you splits, and you must decide your path. Will you choose to become a demon with a human face, or will you fight your demon until the end of time, knowing you will forever struggle alone?”
Allie’s urges are vulturine. Humans are now sustenance. Blood, a required nourishment. Her soul? Soulless…or does it have to be? And this is the line that Allie questions always and treads on mercilessly – how can she hold on to her humanity when she has to cross lines to live as a vampire? She wants to reserve her humanity in the midst of what she is becoming, but she will always be part of the despicable, monstrous race that bathed the world in bloody phobias in a baneful hell. It’s interesting how Allie approaches the role of vampire, once thinking them to be ‘soulless’ beasts, now trying her hardest to veer away from giving in to her prior insights of vampires.
‘I was truly inhuman. Humans were prey. I craved their blood like the worst addict on the street. They were sheep, cattle, and I was the wolf, stalking them through the night. I had become a monster.’
‘I was part of their world now, part of the darkness.’
Allison is constantly enveloped in this conflict of accepting her new place in the food chain because her instincts want to overpower her sense of humanity, rivalling the despair that her new heritage will never be accepted, therefore having no real place in the world. Unlike her peers Allie was never content with just fading into the patterns of her circumstance, or writhing under the name of survival. This girl with a fighter’s instinct wanted to make the small changes that would have potentially given her people a chance for furtherance, a better life or the fringers…but with nothing left, Allison is alone.
“Knowledge is important. Words define us. We must protect our knowledge and pass it on whenever we can. If we are ever to become a society again, we must teach others how to remain human.”
Her indifferent, pragmatist mentor Kanin teaches Allie the ways of vampire survival. But he is only one of many that Allie consorts with because her life takes her out of New Covington, into a world she has never seen. Travelling unfamiliar terrain in the form of both the outer world which she has never dared into, and the unacquainted qualities she now possesses, Allie rides a path of bleak rejection, fearful betrayal, and a hope that she can tame the monster within. Learning her true place in society, she meets varying shades of human on her lonesome travels – being betrayed and hurt not because of her actions but because of what she now is. Coming from a broken city, Allie only wants to be human, but needs to be a vampire. Despite a past of pain Allie always looks forward, accepting her circumstance, but never accepting something of common belief.
“Let me give you your first and most important lesson, Allison Sekemoto – you are a monster…”
Allie Is not your typical hero, her character squandering that line sometimes past the margin of protagonist, and as a reader I wondered whether she would lose herself to her demon. I wouldn’t call her a protagonist per se, but neither really an anti-hero, somewhere in that liminal pocket between perhaps. I found her less relatable, her character controversial, and unfortunately one I didn’t feel a great deal of empathy for – more of a distant courtesy and respect. Characters are such – if not the most – important aspect of a story and I need to be involved with them to connect with the overall story, and with Allie I didn’t feel that way. Characters in a story are lights that make the night shine, and my night had few stars.
“Evening, little bird. Out for a midnight flight, on wings of blood and pain? Like razor blades across the moon, they cut the night and make the night bleed red.”
Allie has the mind of a survivalist. She doesn’t fall into the specific manner of morality, rather having her own notion of principle. Always questioning the choices she will make – as did I - her attitude is dark but also one of a realist. Everything about Allie is believable, she is smart, adaptive, and sympathetic within reason. Her actions are heroic, even though she doesn’t always appear to be, and the strength of her character is formed on her sense of loyalty even for those who show none to her.
‘The vampires have taken everything from us, I thought, angrily kicking a pebble into a wall. Well, I’m going to make sure we take something back.’
Julie Kagawa’s exploitive world is well crafted and deeply atmospheric, but it felt one-dimensional and more abstract than not to me, tonally speaking, and the story felt stagnant. It seemed to be more absorbing than it actually turned out to be for me. I found myself not enjoying it as much as I'd hoped to unfortunately. I do fully credit the creativity, the refreshing take on vampiric lore and the atmospheric world setting, because it was well crafted. As an indulgent reader I want characters to indulge me, give me something considerable to work with, and I didn’t feel that with Allison or the story, only with one or two other characters – and the only other female teenage character was a jealous competitor. My interest diffused the further I fell into this twisted post-apocalyptic tale.
‘In this world, the only law was to obey to Masters, and the Masters didn’t care if their cattle occasionally turned on each other.’
The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa reminded me of the film I am Legend, following Allie and a diverse set of characters on her dangerous journey outside the confines, processing betrayal, loss, indoctrination, moral drama and doomed romance. A bloody, perverse and an ostensibly unfruitful world The Immortal Rules deals with continual loss, grief always, feuding clans, perpetuating desolate hope, a promising potential utopia, standards of loyalty during survival and the frailties of human choices when faced with the abysmal. This book is distinctively dystopian, with the characteristic elements of a dystopian world would have. Human versus vampire, an us versus them tale which doesn’t paint a whole race in one light. This story is not light-hearted, it’s honest, scrutinising a strong-minded lead that always has a choice to follow blindly, but always follows her own rules, challenging the norms of the society she lives in.
‘I suddenly wished we could’ve had more time, that the world didn’t consume every bit of light and goodness it found, that people like Zeke and I could somehow find our Eden.’
Content Warning: Torture, attempted rape, swearing, moderately gory scenes.
Favourite Quotes:
August 7, 2014
You can find more reviews @BloodyBookaholic
Click here for my dream cast of The Immortal Rules
You are a monster. You will always be a monster-there is no turning back from it. But what type of monster you become is entirely up to you.
Julie Kagawa made me believe in Faeries. Now she will make us believe in Vampires all over again.
How can I possibly describe how hugely talented Julie Kagawa is? She managed to take something old, and mold it into something completely unique and completely her own. This book resembles nothing you have read before, and nothing you will ever read in the future. The mix of characters, vampires, emotion, survival, blood, necessity, desire... It's just wonderful guys, so freaking wonderful. Julie Kagawa has done it all over again.
Things you will like in this book: The main character Allison Sekemoto. She is a kick ass heroine. As a human AND as a vampire. What is so wonderful about her character is that the roles are reversed. When she is human you get that she is disconnected from the world, keeping people at arms length, trying to distance herself from hurt and disappointment. Her main purpose in life is to survive. But when she is a vampire, I dare say is when she is more human in the way we would think a human to be. She creates attachments, she fights hard and long for the people she loves, and she lets herself care about the people around her. Her life isn't just about survival, though there is definitely some of that instinct still there, is also about keeping people safe and giving them the best chance she can give them. I loved her. I could picture her in my mind so clearly, her and her weapon of choice (it's a pretty cool one, but I shall not spoil it for you). She is a girl from which anybody could learn a few tricks.
The thing about this book is that it is very character driven, even the secondary character leave a print. Some of my favorite characters: Kanin, the cool vampire mentor, Ezekiel, the boy who steals your heart (blonde... blue eyes... with the heart of gold), and Caleb, I found myself wanting to hear from him every other page, Caleb is this little adorable boy that you just want to hug and protect. Needless to say there is a lot of characters you will find yourself loving in The Immortal Rules, and some others that you will love to hate (oh Ruth, I am talking about you little *&^%$).
The one thing that did pop into my head as I read the book was The Walking Dead series. The Walking Dead is this incredibly awesome zombie series, the episodes last forever but they are so worth it. Anyways, in The Walking Dead there's this bunch of people who get together and start a journey to some far away place in order to get away from the zombies and find a safe heaven where they can be "free" and stop running. Well, The Immortal Rules is a lot like this in a way. But instead of running from zombies you run away from rabids (crazy ass sick vampires), vampires, and the occasional human who wants to peal your skin off and sell it to the highest bettor. BUT WITH BLOOD AND A KICK ASS HEROINE WITH A WEAPON WHO KNOWS HOW TO WIELD IT!
The book does have a lot of walking and surviving, but it's packed with action. Every other turn Allison would had to face a new threat and every single time I kept wondering to myself how would she get away from this one now? Romance? Some, but it is not the main focus of the story. Love triangles? None that I can see. Vampire Folklore? As I said before Julie Kagawa made a terrific job of covering all her bases and giving us all the information we needed without making us feel like toddler's being force fed big chunks of info. And this aren't the fancy sophisticated vampires that have sprung up from Twilight and things like that either. In The Immortal Rules vampires go back to their roots; they are ruthless killers who for the most part have abandoned their humanities long ago.
Only disappointment of this book? No Ash. I know, bummer. But Zeke (Ezekiel) is enough to keep any young lady on her toes... I am still team Ash though buahahahahaha...
She didn't disappoint guys!! She didn't!!! Get it as soon as it's out!
**Update 12/08/11**
The cover has been revealed!!! I love it!!
I bet this is going to be one of those series that will rock your world so hard that you won't get over it for months! I love Julie Kagawa's writing!!!!
Get here already!!
Merged review:
It says Julie Kagawa in the title, so no questions asked. I trust Miss Kagawa is going to blow our minds away, as always! <3
Click here for my dream cast of The Immortal Rules
You are a monster. You will always be a monster-there is no turning back from it. But what type of monster you become is entirely up to you.
Julie Kagawa made me believe in Faeries. Now she will make us believe in Vampires all over again.
How can I possibly describe how hugely talented Julie Kagawa is? She managed to take something old, and mold it into something completely unique and completely her own. This book resembles nothing you have read before, and nothing you will ever read in the future. The mix of characters, vampires, emotion, survival, blood, necessity, desire... It's just wonderful guys, so freaking wonderful. Julie Kagawa has done it all over again.
Things you will like in this book: The main character Allison Sekemoto. She is a kick ass heroine. As a human AND as a vampire. What is so wonderful about her character is that the roles are reversed. When she is human you get that she is disconnected from the world, keeping people at arms length, trying to distance herself from hurt and disappointment. Her main purpose in life is to survive. But when she is a vampire, I dare say is when she is more human in the way we would think a human to be. She creates attachments, she fights hard and long for the people she loves, and she lets herself care about the people around her. Her life isn't just about survival, though there is definitely some of that instinct still there, is also about keeping people safe and giving them the best chance she can give them. I loved her. I could picture her in my mind so clearly, her and her weapon of choice (it's a pretty cool one, but I shall not spoil it for you). She is a girl from which anybody could learn a few tricks.
The thing about this book is that it is very character driven, even the secondary character leave a print. Some of my favorite characters: Kanin, the cool vampire mentor, Ezekiel, the boy who steals your heart (blonde... blue eyes... with the heart of gold), and Caleb, I found myself wanting to hear from him every other page, Caleb is this little adorable boy that you just want to hug and protect. Needless to say there is a lot of characters you will find yourself loving in The Immortal Rules, and some others that you will love to hate (oh Ruth, I am talking about you little *&^%$).
The one thing that did pop into my head as I read the book was The Walking Dead series. The Walking Dead is this incredibly awesome zombie series, the episodes last forever but they are so worth it. Anyways, in The Walking Dead there's this bunch of people who get together and start a journey to some far away place in order to get away from the zombies and find a safe heaven where they can be "free" and stop running. Well, The Immortal Rules is a lot like this in a way. But instead of running from zombies you run away from rabids (crazy ass sick vampires), vampires, and the occasional human who wants to peal your skin off and sell it to the highest bettor. BUT WITH BLOOD AND A KICK ASS HEROINE WITH A WEAPON WHO KNOWS HOW TO WIELD IT!
The book does have a lot of walking and surviving, but it's packed with action. Every other turn Allison would had to face a new threat and every single time I kept wondering to myself how would she get away from this one now? Romance? Some, but it is not the main focus of the story. Love triangles? None that I can see. Vampire Folklore? As I said before Julie Kagawa made a terrific job of covering all her bases and giving us all the information we needed without making us feel like toddler's being force fed big chunks of info. And this aren't the fancy sophisticated vampires that have sprung up from Twilight and things like that either. In The Immortal Rules vampires go back to their roots; they are ruthless killers who for the most part have abandoned their humanities long ago.
Only disappointment of this book? No Ash. I know, bummer. But Zeke (Ezekiel) is enough to keep any young lady on her toes... I am still team Ash though buahahahahaha...
She didn't disappoint guys!! She didn't!!! Get it as soon as it's out!
**Update 12/08/11**
The cover has been revealed!!! I love it!!
I bet this is going to be one of those series that will rock your world so hard that you won't get over it for months! I love Julie Kagawa's writing!!!!
Get here already!!
Merged review:
It says Julie Kagawa in the title, so no questions asked. I trust Miss Kagawa is going to blow our minds away, as always! <3
October 7, 2016
“It was almost better to be caught by the hungry, soulless vampires; the most they would probably do was drink your blood and leave you to die. Humans were capable of far, far worse.”
I didn't expect this to be so good.
I think most people's expectations of "vampire books" fall somewhere along the lines of angsty teen romance, love triangle, or, if you've read the Vampire Academy series, high school for vampires. I'm ashamed to say I thought the same way. At the most, I expected some silly entertainment from this book.
Vampire books aren't taken very seriously, and I think that's unfair to a book like The Immortal Rules - a vampire book - that is unlike anything you'd expect from this genre. This book was extremely dark and gritty. I loved that it was set in a dystopian world, but instead of the usual evil government, the dictators of this world were vampires.
Allison is a scavenger who lost her family and is trying to survive in the Fringe. She and a group of Unregistereds hunt for food in abandoned cities and help each other survive as they avoid rabids, zombie-like creatures who rise from the ground and are out for blood.
“Growing up in the Fringe, you came to accept hard truths. Nothing was fair. The world was cold, unforgiving, and people died.”
Above all, vampires are hated. Allison sees them as vile, bloodsucking creatures. So when Allison dies and is offered a choice of leaving this world or becoming a vampire… she goes against everything she believes in and chooses to become a vampire.
The plot wasn't nonstop action like your average dystopian, but focused on character development and world building. It followed Allison as she came to terms with the fact that she was now a monster. She struggled with the need to feed on humans and not wanting to hurt them.
The rules of this world were explained well; nothing was vaguely outlined or left up to the reader to fill in the blanks, which I greatly appreciated. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who thinks too many dystopians gloss over how things work in the future.
I was surprised with how well mixing vampires and a dystopian world worked. I loved Allison and the grittiness of this book. This world was brutal, and I got dragged into it as Allison learned how to survive as both a human and a vampire.
A bit of an apocalypse, a bit of a dark paranormal, this book was just so good. And man, I loved when Allison turned into a savage, katana-wielding killer hellbent on hunting down rabids. She was so freaking awesome.
“Allison, how you live your life is up to you. I can only give you the skills to survive. But eventually, you will have to make your own decisions, come to your own terms about what you are. You are Vampire, but what kind of monster you become is out of my hands.”
April 19, 2016
Reviewed on 5/06/2012
The man crouches down in front of the little girl and look at her with concern in his eyes.
“Daddy.” Says the little girl. “Where’s Bob?”
“Baby,” The man says with a heavy sigh. “He is gone.”
“When he is coming back?” Asks the little girl with a confuse expression.
“He’ll never come back.” The man gently runs his fingers over her chick in a comforting gesture. “You killed him.”
The little girl gasps and shakes her head. “No.”
“Baby, you took him out of his home and he is not like us. He was too fragile. You are much stronger than he was.”
“But I love him. He is my best friend and I wanted to hold him and keep him with me forever.”
“You can’t honey. Just because you love something doesn’t mean you can keep it. Sometimes the best way to protect the ones we love is to stay away.”
“I just wanted to hug him.” She says with trembling chin.
“It’s ok, he is in a better place and he will always love you.” He holds her and she cries for the loss of her friend, Bob the goldfish.
Talk about crosstar lovers, right? A human and a goldfish. That’s like the modern Romeo&Juliet. LoL Just kidding.
Ok, so, the point of this was to show a few things I think that’s important about this book: The acknowledge of death and having to deal with the loss of someone very dear to you in early age; dealing with the fact that you were the one to blame even if you had no intentions of harming them; and also the fact that sometimes you need to walk away the ones you love.
Can you tell how much I loved this book? LoL
I know I’m babbling, but before I start this review I need to show you guys something.
This is what a kick ass Asian girl with a katana looks like:
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Don’t be fooled by the cover. That is misleading. My Allie is this girl and I refuse to change my image of her, so don’t need to try to convince otherwise.
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Now, lets get to the review.
The Plot - I’ll keep it short cause the synopsis says at all. Dystopian future, rule by the vamps and the humans are snacks. Allie is an unregistered (registered are the people that give blood in exchange for food and stuff) so she is like a ghost to the society. She runs into trouble and becomes what she hates the most: a blood sucking monster. Ok, that’s not that original, but it has all the things I love in a book: dystopian society + vamps + swords + kick ass lead character + crosstar lovers +internal struggle + desperate plans to save human kind + hopeless hope = me happy as a clam.
.The Characters - They are not perfect and that’s just the way I like them. Flowed people that do bad stuff, back stabbers, liars, rats fighting for survival. I respect that, but I respect even more the ones that stay honest and strong besides the adversity. I’m not saying names, but I’ll say E is number one in my list.
The Writing - Oh, I love Julie’s writing. The main reason I wanted to read this book was the fact that I love her Iron Fey series. She has magic in the tip of her fingers. I’m bound to believe in every single thing she writes. Ice cream makes me lose weight? Ok, Julie, I believe you. Give me more chunky monkey, please. I need to lose five pounds. LoL
.Considerations - So, I’ve read some reviews before I read it and was a little wary that I may cry like a baby in some parts of the book. I need to say that this book is not perfect and it does have some flaws, but the good parts are so magic and wonderful that it made me forget the not so good parts.
This book has action and, even though some said it was a little slow, I don’t felt like that. It had some calm parts, but I found that good, cause the fast parts were furious. If the whole book was that fast passed my heart wouldn’t resist its intensity. For realz.
The thing that amazed me the most while reading is how Julie made me feel inside Allie’s head. I mean, there were some pretty strong parts and killing, but I felt detached and was thinking: Wow, I’m so bad ass, I didn’t cry once. But that was my mistake, cause when I least expected *BOOM* It hit me so hard I felt the pain in my gut.
I cried and stayed zombie like for a few minutes before coming to my senses again.
So, be warned. If you are a crier like me, keep the handkerchief by your side at all times.
I really love this book and can’t wait for the next one to come out. Yeyyyyy…
*An ARC was kindly provided by the publisher. But this in no way influenced my views on this book. This is my honest review.*
This Reading is Part of The Following Reading Challenges:
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November 24, 2017
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🎃 Read for the Unapologetic Romance Readers Halloween 2017 Reading Challenge for the category of: a post-apocalyptic romance 🎃
Far too often, YA novels lauded for their 'strong female characters' have me throwing the book across the room in frustration and asking, loudly and rhetorically, "IN WHAT UNIVERSE?"
Not THE IMMORTAL RULES.
Allison Sekemoto is a human living in a city ruled by vampires. A wall separates them from zombies ("rabids") roaming just outside the city limits. There are two kinds of humans in Allie's world: those that go willingly as feudal slaves and get fed in exchange for the tithes of their blood, and those who live off the grid, forced to scavenge in the ruins of civilization for food, shelter, and comfort. Allie was a member of the latter group, until a terrible accident results in her near-death, and she's forced to become what she hates in order to survive.
It's difficult to say too much more without spoiling anything, and this is a book that really should be read knowing as little as possible. In a way, it's a lot like ANGELFALL, in the sense that it's a post-apocalyptic world filled with paranormal characters, and a butt-kicking Asian girl who wields a sword. I actually like THE IMMORTAL RULES a lot better, though, as Allie is far more likable, the world-building is much more consistent, and the love interests - Ezekiel and, I suspect, Kanin - are much nicer, and more interesting, than the angel dude was in ANGELFALL.
I really can't wait to read the next book (which I own- what would I do if I didn't? Cry, probably). I'm really, really trying hard to be rational and explain my love for this book without spoiling the story or screaming nonsensically in all caps, and it's SO HARD, oh my god. The heroes and villains were handled with equal care, and the world was convincingly grim. I read this pretty much in a single sitting, putting it down only to eat, drink, and occasionally rest my eyes. This is such a good story and if you're a fan of dystopian novels like THE HUNGER GAMES or vampires, you should read this.
5 stars
April 27, 2014
Actual Rating: 4.5 Stars
Oh my goodness. Shoot me now. I waited what, 2 years for this moment?! I'm simultaneously banging my head in the wall because I didn't read it sooner and I'm having a happy-dance 'cause now I can binge read all the books!
The Immortal Rules isn't my typical read. I tend to choose something that has romance written all over it, but in this book, the main focus was the character development, the journey and changes that occur to our main character, Allison. She lives in a vampire city called New Covington about 60 years after a virus wiped out most of the population. She lives in the Fringe, the outer stretch of the city separated from the vampire zone, as an Unregistered. That means she doesn't have to give blood to the vamps like the Registered do, but she's constantly on the brick of starvation. When one fateful night has her friends killed and her almost murdered by rabids (think bat-shit-crazy, vampire-like creatures) she comes face-to-face with a choice of her own: die or become a vampire. And she chooses to live.
“I was no one’s property. If the damn bloodsuckers wanted me, they’d have to catch me first. And I wasn’t going to make it easy for them.”
I truly loved Allie. She's such a strong young woman! Her no-bullshit demeanor always brought a smile to my face. She's sarcastic, smart and stubborn like no other. And she's so, so brave you cannot help then cheer her on her journey. But the thing I liked most about Allie was her constant fight with the monster within, the demon awaiting when Hunger arises. I mean, come on! If that doesn't prove she's damned determined, I don't know what will. She has my wholeheartedly admiration and support, 'cause she's down-right awesome and kick-ass.
“Sometime in your life, Allison Sekemoto, you will kill a human being. Accidentally or as a conscious, deliberate act. It is unavoidable. The question is not if it will happen, but when. Do you understand?”
Kanin, the vamp that Turned Allie, was another favorite of mine. He has a certain allure, you know, he's so mysterious and dark, but his past left behind some ugly scars on his soul. Behind that icy, stock-up facade, he's a kind, wise and merciful vampire, which only proves his unique personality. Of course, the fact that he's a bit arrogant and some of his toneless replies made me laugh out loud, only managed to increase my love for him. I can't wait to find out more about him. And, ahem, am I the only one who thinks he's a bit hot? *wink*
“I eyed the vampire at my side. “You know they’re going to kill us for being here.”
He nodded. “I’m counting on it.”
“You know that they eat people, right?”
Kanin stopped, turning to me with intense black eyes. “So do I,” he said evenly.”
Now on Allie's love interest, Zeke Crosse. Picture a 17-years old boy, blue eyes, blond hair, lean body. Now picture the most selfless, kind, ambitious young man. Mash-up these two entities and ta-daa! You've got Zeke, the caring boy-next-door trapped in a vicious, violent, vampire-filled world. You'll love him from the start, you'll swoon at his romantic gestures and you'll want to hug him a couple of times. He's just great! *sigh*
“Zeke’s snort sounded suspiciously like laughter. “Allie, you’re a beautiful, exotic-looking vampire girl with a katana. Trust me, if anyone is going to attract attention, it’s not going be me.”
Of course, there are some other secondary characters that grasped my attention. Jackal, whom I dispised in this first book, but I have a feeling I didn't see the last of him and that he'll surely grow on me. Jeb, Zeke's adoptive father, whom I came to admire in the end. Stick, who could end up in a ditch and I wouldn't care. And Caleb, who's sweet in all his innocence.
The sometimes slow pace only allowed the reader to acknowledge all the conflicts that play out in the story. In terms of atmosphere, it resembled Angelfall by Susan Ee. They're both dark, gripping, shocking in their peculiar honesty. Plus, they have fantastical creatures in post-apocalyptic settings which gets points for originality and offers awesome material to create something unique. And The Immortal Rules sure is different! From the plot and characters to the world-building, Julie Kagawa moulded a story that will have you relieved you're living in the present.
Let's talk world-building. Guys, I don't think there are many people that create such complex worlds like the ones Julie Kagawa built. First with The Iron Fey series (which is one of my favorite series) and now in Blood of Eden series. She's right there at the top with my other favorite world-building queens like Cassie Clare, Sarah J. Maas and Leigh Bardugo. She doesn't shy away from building a story and world that isn't all hearts and flowers and pink clouds. No, the world from TIR is dire, grotesque, violent and shocking. But it's so wonderfully crafted that you cannot help being sucked right in along with the bloodsuckers, rabids and doomed humans.
“Interesting,” the vamp finally mused, almost to himself. “I forget, sometimes, the complexities of the human race. We’ve reduced so many of you to animals—savage, cowardly, so willing to turn on each other to survive. And yet, in the darkest places, I can still find those who are still, more or less, human.”
The Immortal Rules shaped a new world with vampires, but one so original and captivating you'll want the next book instantly! The heroine is the epitome of badass and the drop of forbidden love makes the book all the more interesting and enjoyable. You'll constantly stay at the edge of your seat, you'll swoon a few times -- courtesy of Zeke -- and you'll laugh at Allie's witty replies. I'm so grateful I finally picked it up and I recommend you do the same, 'cause this is one heck of a story.
ENJOY!<3
Oh my goodness. Shoot me now. I waited what, 2 years for this moment?! I'm simultaneously banging my head in the wall because I didn't read it sooner and I'm having a happy-dance 'cause now I can binge read all the books!
The Immortal Rules isn't my typical read. I tend to choose something that has romance written all over it, but in this book, the main focus was the character development, the journey and changes that occur to our main character, Allison. She lives in a vampire city called New Covington about 60 years after a virus wiped out most of the population. She lives in the Fringe, the outer stretch of the city separated from the vampire zone, as an Unregistered. That means she doesn't have to give blood to the vamps like the Registered do, but she's constantly on the brick of starvation. When one fateful night has her friends killed and her almost murdered by rabids (think bat-shit-crazy, vampire-like creatures) she comes face-to-face with a choice of her own: die or become a vampire. And she chooses to live.
“I was no one’s property. If the damn bloodsuckers wanted me, they’d have to catch me first. And I wasn’t going to make it easy for them.”
I truly loved Allie. She's such a strong young woman! Her no-bullshit demeanor always brought a smile to my face. She's sarcastic, smart and stubborn like no other. And she's so, so brave you cannot help then cheer her on her journey. But the thing I liked most about Allie was her constant fight with the monster within, the demon awaiting when Hunger arises. I mean, come on! If that doesn't prove she's damned determined, I don't know what will. She has my wholeheartedly admiration and support, 'cause she's down-right awesome and kick-ass.
“Sometime in your life, Allison Sekemoto, you will kill a human being. Accidentally or as a conscious, deliberate act. It is unavoidable. The question is not if it will happen, but when. Do you understand?”
Kanin, the vamp that Turned Allie, was another favorite of mine. He has a certain allure, you know, he's so mysterious and dark, but his past left behind some ugly scars on his soul. Behind that icy, stock-up facade, he's a kind, wise and merciful vampire, which only proves his unique personality. Of course, the fact that he's a bit arrogant and some of his toneless replies made me laugh out loud, only managed to increase my love for him. I can't wait to find out more about him. And, ahem, am I the only one who thinks he's a bit hot? *wink*
“I eyed the vampire at my side. “You know they’re going to kill us for being here.”
He nodded. “I’m counting on it.”
“You know that they eat people, right?”
Kanin stopped, turning to me with intense black eyes. “So do I,” he said evenly.”
Now on Allie's love interest, Zeke Crosse. Picture a 17-years old boy, blue eyes, blond hair, lean body. Now picture the most selfless, kind, ambitious young man. Mash-up these two entities and ta-daa! You've got Zeke, the caring boy-next-door trapped in a vicious, violent, vampire-filled world. You'll love him from the start, you'll swoon at his romantic gestures and you'll want to hug him a couple of times. He's just great! *sigh*
“Zeke’s snort sounded suspiciously like laughter. “Allie, you’re a beautiful, exotic-looking vampire girl with a katana. Trust me, if anyone is going to attract attention, it’s not going be me.”
Of course, there are some other secondary characters that grasped my attention. Jackal, whom I dispised in this first book, but I have a feeling I didn't see the last of him and that he'll surely grow on me. Jeb, Zeke's adoptive father, whom I came to admire in the end. Stick, who could end up in a ditch and I wouldn't care. And Caleb, who's sweet in all his innocence.
The sometimes slow pace only allowed the reader to acknowledge all the conflicts that play out in the story. In terms of atmosphere, it resembled Angelfall by Susan Ee. They're both dark, gripping, shocking in their peculiar honesty. Plus, they have fantastical creatures in post-apocalyptic settings which gets points for originality and offers awesome material to create something unique. And The Immortal Rules sure is different! From the plot and characters to the world-building, Julie Kagawa moulded a story that will have you relieved you're living in the present.
Let's talk world-building. Guys, I don't think there are many people that create such complex worlds like the ones Julie Kagawa built. First with The Iron Fey series (which is one of my favorite series) and now in Blood of Eden series. She's right there at the top with my other favorite world-building queens like Cassie Clare, Sarah J. Maas and Leigh Bardugo. She doesn't shy away from building a story and world that isn't all hearts and flowers and pink clouds. No, the world from TIR is dire, grotesque, violent and shocking. But it's so wonderfully crafted that you cannot help being sucked right in along with the bloodsuckers, rabids and doomed humans.
“Interesting,” the vamp finally mused, almost to himself. “I forget, sometimes, the complexities of the human race. We’ve reduced so many of you to animals—savage, cowardly, so willing to turn on each other to survive. And yet, in the darkest places, I can still find those who are still, more or less, human.”
The Immortal Rules shaped a new world with vampires, but one so original and captivating you'll want the next book instantly! The heroine is the epitome of badass and the drop of forbidden love makes the book all the more interesting and enjoyable. You'll constantly stay at the edge of your seat, you'll swoon a few times -- courtesy of Zeke -- and you'll laugh at Allie's witty replies. I'm so grateful I finally picked it up and I recommend you do the same, 'cause this is one heck of a story.
ENJOY!<3
December 4, 2013
Holy sweet goodness... There's a reason why the world loves Julie Kagawa and this is IT. Her writing is flawless; her creativity is out of this world. She could probably write about flying chickens and it would still be amazing!
The first thing you have to know is that this book can hardly be compared to The Iron Fey series because they're so DIFFERENT (in the best possible way!). The only things that remain constant are Julie's talents for writing, fantastic world-building, and creating a cast of realistic characters that you'll be handing your heart to before you know it (like Kanin and Caleb!).
The Immortal Rules is set in a world where vampires dominate and humans have the choice to either be well-fed blood sources or starving Unregistereds. The way it was crafted was flawless. No plot holes here! Vampire stories may be a dime a dozen nowadays, but Julie proves that there's still hope for originality in the bunch.
Both as a human and a vampire, Allie kicks ass and I completely love her for it! She's fierce, determined, and loyal, but she's also REAL in ways that other a lot of other books can't pull off. And then there's Ezekiel Crosse — Zeke for short — who is so sweet and sexy and wholeheartedly good (yet still hot with a weapon) that falling for him is non-negotiable! ♥
Dark and gritty and a page-turner from the very start, The Immortal Rules does not disappoint! My only warning is to not start this book without time set aside to read because you won't stop thinking about it even after the last page is turned. :)
BUY or BORROW?: Buy buy buy buy it! This book is written by Julie Kagawa. (And the heroine wields a katana along with her fangs!) Why are you hesitating?? x)
(Original review at Mimi Valentine's YA Review Blog)
The first thing you have to know is that this book can hardly be compared to The Iron Fey series because they're so DIFFERENT (in the best possible way!). The only things that remain constant are Julie's talents for writing, fantastic world-building, and creating a cast of realistic characters that you'll be handing your heart to before you know it (like Kanin and Caleb!).
The Immortal Rules is set in a world where vampires dominate and humans have the choice to either be well-fed blood sources or starving Unregistereds. The way it was crafted was flawless. No plot holes here! Vampire stories may be a dime a dozen nowadays, but Julie proves that there's still hope for originality in the bunch.
Both as a human and a vampire, Allie kicks ass and I completely love her for it! She's fierce, determined, and loyal, but she's also REAL in ways that other a lot of other books can't pull off. And then there's Ezekiel Crosse — Zeke for short — who is so sweet and sexy and wholeheartedly good (yet still hot with a weapon) that falling for him is non-negotiable! ♥
Dark and gritty and a page-turner from the very start, The Immortal Rules does not disappoint! My only warning is to not start this book without time set aside to read because you won't stop thinking about it even after the last page is turned. :)
BUY or BORROW?: Buy buy buy buy it! This book is written by Julie Kagawa. (And the heroine wields a katana along with her fangs!) Why are you hesitating?? x)
(Original review at Mimi Valentine's YA Review Blog)
March 29, 2012
"You will always be a monster - there is no turning back from it. But what type of monster you become is entirely up to you."
In a world ruled by vampires, one girl challenges her immortality while striving to keep her humanity, even if everything inside her wants to be a monster...
There is only one way to describe Julie Kagawa's writing. Word candy. To both savor and devour. This women continues to awe me with her incredible skills. She ruled the world of faeries and I'm so pleased to say she did it again, but this time with my favorite genre. Vampires!!
First off, anything I say will never bring this book to justice. It felt so great to start a new vampire series again and it's even greater that it's from one of my all time favorite authors.
The Immortal Rules is a dark unflinching story about survival. In this story everyone- human or vampire- is fighting for any kind of existence. There are different types of humans as well as different types of vampires but the thing is, not any one of them are purely good or bad. They fight for a purpose. For food, for sport, for kicks but ultimately to live. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of evil dudes who paint quite the horrific picture, but I liked the fact that I didn't know what to expect from anyone. I loved the surprise I find in them.
We follow Allison Sekemoto in four separate parts. Human, Vampire, Monster and Wanderer. I loved how absorbing Kagawa made each section. You could feel how thick and vivid each atmosphere was. From the Inner City or on the run with the street rats. You could also feel the desperation from Allie, both as a human and a vampire. I simply couldn't get enough of this amazing characters journey.
Kagawa has a certain talent for creating characters to be proud of. So I'm not surprised how much I loved all of them!
~Allie is just to good for this life. She's such a caring and compassionate person who always looks out for others before herself. I was kinda surprised that she would choose that kind of life when Kanin offered, but the will to live is strong, so I get it. It turned out that Allie adapted to this life a little better then anyone I've seen so far. She struggles with what she is, but I admire the strength in her resistance and respect that she's truthful with herself. She is a monster. But she has the power to choose what kind she wants to become. She's also incredibly kick ass and I adore her weapon of choice!
~Kanin would have to be one of my favorites. As a sire and mentor, he doesn't take it easy on Allie. He's harsh, controlling, commanding and exasperating. But he still has a certain grace in his tone. Wisdom that can only come from experience. He carries regret and even hope. He was without a doubt one of the most fascinating characters in this story and I only wish we got to see more of him. I have high hopes for the second book.
~Zeke is also the kind of guy that's not hard to love. He's strong and brave and even finds it in himself to look past what he's been told his entire life and believe in something he hates and fears at the same time. Zeke is good people.
~There are a lot of other characters that I want to mention, but I think once you read the book you'll get the idea. Everyone, bad or good, are all amazingly well developed and put together!
Bottom line, this book is made of awesomesauce! It's entertaining as hell. I loved it from start to finish and I'm so happy that I have a new vampire series to add to my favorites and devour each installment!
Freaken Epic!
We also got a nice little treat, the first look from the Iron Fey Spinoff, The Lost Prince! I'm looking forward to getting to know more of Ethan's story. I can already tell we're gonna get along just fine;)
In a world ruled by vampires, one girl challenges her immortality while striving to keep her humanity, even if everything inside her wants to be a monster...
There is only one way to describe Julie Kagawa's writing. Word candy. To both savor and devour. This women continues to awe me with her incredible skills. She ruled the world of faeries and I'm so pleased to say she did it again, but this time with my favorite genre. Vampires!!
First off, anything I say will never bring this book to justice. It felt so great to start a new vampire series again and it's even greater that it's from one of my all time favorite authors.
The Immortal Rules is a dark unflinching story about survival. In this story everyone- human or vampire- is fighting for any kind of existence. There are different types of humans as well as different types of vampires but the thing is, not any one of them are purely good or bad. They fight for a purpose. For food, for sport, for kicks but ultimately to live. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of evil dudes who paint quite the horrific picture, but I liked the fact that I didn't know what to expect from anyone. I loved the surprise I find in them.
We follow Allison Sekemoto in four separate parts. Human, Vampire, Monster and Wanderer. I loved how absorbing Kagawa made each section. You could feel how thick and vivid each atmosphere was. From the Inner City or on the run with the street rats. You could also feel the desperation from Allie, both as a human and a vampire. I simply couldn't get enough of this amazing characters journey.
Kagawa has a certain talent for creating characters to be proud of. So I'm not surprised how much I loved all of them!
~Allie is just to good for this life. She's such a caring and compassionate person who always looks out for others before herself. I was kinda surprised that she would choose that kind of life when Kanin offered, but the will to live is strong, so I get it. It turned out that Allie adapted to this life a little better then anyone I've seen so far. She struggles with what she is, but I admire the strength in her resistance and respect that she's truthful with herself. She is a monster. But she has the power to choose what kind she wants to become. She's also incredibly kick ass and I adore her weapon of choice!
~Kanin would have to be one of my favorites. As a sire and mentor, he doesn't take it easy on Allie. He's harsh, controlling, commanding and exasperating. But he still has a certain grace in his tone. Wisdom that can only come from experience. He carries regret and even hope. He was without a doubt one of the most fascinating characters in this story and I only wish we got to see more of him. I have high hopes for the second book.
~Zeke is also the kind of guy that's not hard to love. He's strong and brave and even finds it in himself to look past what he's been told his entire life and believe in something he hates and fears at the same time. Zeke is good people.
~There are a lot of other characters that I want to mention, but I think once you read the book you'll get the idea. Everyone, bad or good, are all amazingly well developed and put together!
Bottom line, this book is made of awesomesauce! It's entertaining as hell. I loved it from start to finish and I'm so happy that I have a new vampire series to add to my favorites and devour each installment!
Freaken Epic!
We also got a nice little treat, the first look from the Iron Fey Spinoff, The Lost Prince! I'm looking forward to getting to know more of Ethan's story. I can already tell we're gonna get along just fine;)
April 5, 2017
April 4th, 2017:
I will never stop loving these books.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Review after re-reading from May 6th-8th 2013:
Just as awesome the second time around! My heart hurts. But in a good way. If that makes any sense.
I love this book.
I love Allison.
And I freakin' love Julie Kagawa.
Onto The Eternity Cure! HUZZAH!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Review after reading from May 7th-10th 2012:
I...
I feel so...exhilarated.
My heart is beating like crazy and I can't think straight. As if I just drank a whole liter of coke, 5 cups of coffee, and ran for miles.
All because of this book.
Warning: A full gushing, fangirling, and spazzing review coming up ahead. There will be many sentences where I may not make much sense, A LOT of capitalization, gifs that are exactly what I look like right now, and made-up words that no one would understand but me. If you somehow manage to understand just what the hell I am saying, then I applaud you. There won't be any spoilers though, don't worry. However, you have been warned against my craziness.
Vampire books aren't on top of my favorites list. I feel as if they are way too overdone, the same story recycled over and over again until there is no originality left. But there are a couple of authors out there who rise up against all these books and say "You know what? I'm going to write a vampire book as well - but one that shows what a true vampire is like. One that will make us question them all over again."
Julie Kagawa became one of my favourite authors after reading just one of her books - which was The Iron King. This woman made me see faeries in a whole different light, when I really disliked faery books. So when I heard that she was writing a vampire series, the first thing that went through my mind was "HELL YEAH!". Because if she can make faeries sound exciting, just what will she do with vampires?
And now, after finishing The Immortal Rules, I can safely say that Julie Kagawa is a MASTERMIND. She's like, a crazy scientist. Give her a paranormal creature and lots of time, and just see what insanity she can create.
So, did I love this book? HELL TO THE FREAKIN' YEAH I DID! It blew. My. MIND.
.
.
.
The Good
- Fudgetastically EXCELLENT world building. I am very strict when it comes to details about the surroundings and settings and have many times dropped a book because of poor world building. This world Julie created was terrifying, exciting, and very interesting. I don't know whether vampires exist, or if our future will be anything like the world shown in this book, but it was all very convincing. Many times I felt as if I was right there in the book, standing on a crumbling earth with monsters all around.
- I loved the pacing of the book. There were some parts that were really intense while other parts were more lighter. But the whole time I had this feeling of nervousness in my chest - because whenever something good happened, something bad always followed. The twists and turns of the book were very unexpected. I thought I knew what would happen when, but I was wrong. I was caught off guard so many times that I had to put the book down just to catch my own breath.
- Oh man, the romance? So lovely. We've all read at least one book where in the main couple one was human and the other a vampire, right? It's nothing new. I've read many stories like that and always wondered how they will end up together, but after a while, it wasn't as exciting as when I first read it. But Allie and Zeke were different. Their relationship wasn't all dramatic. Yes, Allie tries to push Zeke away because she's a vampire and it's not a good idea for the two of them, but it wasn't the same as other books. In those books, I want the two to be together despite the fact that it's dangerous. But Allie and Zeke's relationship could never be like that. I do, VERY badly, want them to be together, but they have a lot more to go through before that happens.
- Holy mother of chocolate cheesecake, THE ACTION. GAH! Insane. TOTALLY insane.
- Julie never fails to creep the jelly beans out of me. The Rabids in this book? OHMYGOSH I WANTED TO HIDE UNDER MY BLANKET AND NEVER COME OUT NOT EVEN FOR CHOCOLATE PIE. It is not a good idea to read this at night. But I did it anyways. Also, there's this one line that gave me the creeps. On the back of the book, it says this:
I don't know about you, but that line gave me the chills. Especially how that last line was written all bolded and in red. I can sort of imagine Allison saying it in this deep, really scary, vampire voice. *shudders*
The Bad and The In-Betweens section do not apply to this book, as it was too awesome to have any flaws. Or of it did, I didn't notice any. I dunno, I'm too busy giving this book some love to care.
The Characters
- Allison Sekemoto. I have such deep respect for this girl. Never have I seen anyone try to cling to their humanity as much as I've seen her. On one level, she scared me. I was terrified of her. Even when I knew that she wouldn't do anything bad on purpose with no reason, she was still a vampire. But mostly, I loved her. I felt myself connecting with her throughout the whole book. What she felt, I felt. I'd think something, and a second later, she'd think the same thing. I swear, at times I felt that I was HER. Gosh, I just love it when I can connect this deeply with a character. Allison kicked all kinds of ass, and I can't wait to see what she'll do next.
- Kanin was totally creepy, but I didn't fear him, even though he was a vampire. He was very mysterious. When his secret was out, I was both shocked and full of admiration for him.
- Oh, Zeke. He was so adorable. I loved his determination and how he tried his best to help everyone. That may make him a bit naive, but having hope does not hurt, right?
- Jeb made me want to smack this book on the back of his head. Man, he was so STUBBORN! I understood his actions, his rules and strictness, but he didn't have to be such an ass on top of everything going on.
- Caleb, the five year old kid who was with Zeke, was so freakin' adorable! AW! That kid does not deserve to live in such a world.
- And Ruth. This girl pissed me off like no one else. She was such a bitch. I understood where her hatred was coming from though, and it was clever of her to notice something different about Allie, but I wished Allie had just given that girl a piece of her mind. Or fist. I preferred the fist.
Recommended?
Are you one of those people who are tired of reading the same type of vampire books over and over again? *points at myself* Then you should read this book. In fact, I advise you ALL to read it. Especially if you're a fan of Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series. If you don't I may have to force you. And you won't like that.
And now that the book is over, I am depressed. I tried to read this book for as long as I could, but my head would just not listen. At least the ending wasn't exactly a cliffhanger - I don't think my heart could've taken it. The long, agonizing wait for the second book awaits me.
Oh, and an excerpt for The Lost Prince was included at the end. WHICH I WILL NOT READ. Because I'm weird and want to read the whole book together for the first time. It's very tempting though.
Hey, Julie Kagawa?
(And I mean that in the least creepiest way possible.)
I will never stop loving these books.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Review after re-reading from May 6th-8th 2013:
Just as awesome the second time around! My heart hurts. But in a good way. If that makes any sense.
I love this book.
I love Allison.
And I freakin' love Julie Kagawa.
Onto The Eternity Cure! HUZZAH!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Review after reading from May 7th-10th 2012:
I...
I feel so...exhilarated.
My heart is beating like crazy and I can't think straight. As if I just drank a whole liter of coke, 5 cups of coffee, and ran for miles.
All because of this book.
Warning: A full gushing, fangirling, and spazzing review coming up ahead. There will be many sentences where I may not make much sense, A LOT of capitalization, gifs that are exactly what I look like right now, and made-up words that no one would understand but me. If you somehow manage to understand just what the hell I am saying, then I applaud you. There won't be any spoilers though, don't worry. However, you have been warned against my craziness.
Vampire books aren't on top of my favorites list. I feel as if they are way too overdone, the same story recycled over and over again until there is no originality left. But there are a couple of authors out there who rise up against all these books and say "You know what? I'm going to write a vampire book as well - but one that shows what a true vampire is like. One that will make us question them all over again."
Julie Kagawa became one of my favourite authors after reading just one of her books - which was The Iron King. This woman made me see faeries in a whole different light, when I really disliked faery books. So when I heard that she was writing a vampire series, the first thing that went through my mind was "HELL YEAH!". Because if she can make faeries sound exciting, just what will she do with vampires?
And now, after finishing The Immortal Rules, I can safely say that Julie Kagawa is a MASTERMIND. She's like, a crazy scientist. Give her a paranormal creature and lots of time, and just see what insanity she can create.
So, did I love this book? HELL TO THE FREAKIN' YEAH I DID! It blew. My. MIND.
. .. The Good
- Fudgetastically EXCELLENT world building. I am very strict when it comes to details about the surroundings and settings and have many times dropped a book because of poor world building. This world Julie created was terrifying, exciting, and very interesting. I don't know whether vampires exist, or if our future will be anything like the world shown in this book, but it was all very convincing. Many times I felt as if I was right there in the book, standing on a crumbling earth with monsters all around.
- I loved the pacing of the book. There were some parts that were really intense while other parts were more lighter. But the whole time I had this feeling of nervousness in my chest - because whenever something good happened, something bad always followed. The twists and turns of the book were very unexpected. I thought I knew what would happen when, but I was wrong. I was caught off guard so many times that I had to put the book down just to catch my own breath.
- Oh man, the romance? So lovely. We've all read at least one book where in the main couple one was human and the other a vampire, right? It's nothing new. I've read many stories like that and always wondered how they will end up together, but after a while, it wasn't as exciting as when I first read it. But Allie and Zeke were different. Their relationship wasn't all dramatic. Yes, Allie tries to push Zeke away because she's a vampire and it's not a good idea for the two of them, but it wasn't the same as other books. In those books, I want the two to be together despite the fact that it's dangerous. But Allie and Zeke's relationship could never be like that. I do, VERY badly, want them to be together, but they have a lot more to go through before that happens.
- Holy mother of chocolate cheesecake, THE ACTION. GAH! Insane. TOTALLY insane.
- Julie never fails to creep the jelly beans out of me. The Rabids in this book? OHMYGOSH I WANTED TO HIDE UNDER MY BLANKET AND NEVER COME OUT NOT EVEN FOR CHOCOLATE PIE. It is not a good idea to read this at night. But I did it anyways. Also, there's this one line that gave me the creeps. On the back of the book, it says this:
"Sometime in your life, Allison Sekemoto, you will kill a human being. The question is not if it will happen, but when. Do you understand?'
I didn't then, not really.
I DO NOW."
I don't know about you, but that line gave me the chills. Especially how that last line was written all bolded and in red. I can sort of imagine Allison saying it in this deep, really scary, vampire voice. *shudders*
The Bad and The In-Betweens section do not apply to this book, as it was too awesome to have any flaws. Or of it did, I didn't notice any. I dunno, I'm too busy giving this book some love to care.
The Characters
- Allison Sekemoto. I have such deep respect for this girl. Never have I seen anyone try to cling to their humanity as much as I've seen her. On one level, she scared me. I was terrified of her. Even when I knew that she wouldn't do anything bad on purpose with no reason, she was still a vampire. But mostly, I loved her. I felt myself connecting with her throughout the whole book. What she felt, I felt. I'd think something, and a second later, she'd think the same thing. I swear, at times I felt that I was HER. Gosh, I just love it when I can connect this deeply with a character. Allison kicked all kinds of ass, and I can't wait to see what she'll do next.
- Kanin was totally creepy, but I didn't fear him, even though he was a vampire. He was very mysterious. When his secret was out, I was both shocked and full of admiration for him.
- Oh, Zeke. He was so adorable. I loved his determination and how he tried his best to help everyone. That may make him a bit naive, but having hope does not hurt, right?
- Jeb made me want to smack this book on the back of his head. Man, he was so STUBBORN! I understood his actions, his rules and strictness, but he didn't have to be such an ass on top of everything going on.
- Caleb, the five year old kid who was with Zeke, was so freakin' adorable! AW! That kid does not deserve to live in such a world.
- And Ruth. This girl pissed me off like no one else. She was such a bitch. I understood where her hatred was coming from though, and it was clever of her to notice something different about Allie, but I wished Allie had just given that girl a piece of her mind. Or fist. I preferred the fist.
Recommended?
Are you one of those people who are tired of reading the same type of vampire books over and over again? *points at myself* Then you should read this book. In fact, I advise you ALL to read it. Especially if you're a fan of Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series. If you don't I may have to force you. And you won't like that.
And now that the book is over, I am depressed. I tried to read this book for as long as I could, but my head would just not listen. At least the ending wasn't exactly a cliffhanger - I don't think my heart could've taken it. The long, agonizing wait for the second book awaits me.
Oh, and an excerpt for The Lost Prince was included at the end. WHICH I WILL NOT READ. Because I'm weird and want to read the whole book together for the first time. It's very tempting though.
Hey, Julie Kagawa?
(And I mean that in the least creepiest way possible.)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,301 reviews