The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1) by Julie Kagawa

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

Genre: Young Adult - Paranormal
Publication Date: April 24th 2012
Publisher:  Harlequin Teen
Age Range: Young-Adult
Pages:  512
Book Source: ARC from publisher for review

Synopsis (via Goodreads): 
In a future world, Vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity. 

 Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die… or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.

Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what—and who—is worth dying for.

Scoot’s Review:

I enjoyed the Iron Fey series, but Julie Kagawa has managed to raise the bar with her newest novel. This story was sooo good and it was long! Yay for a book with a little meat on its bones! So many YA books seem to cut the story short, or get chopped up into three books when it could easily be one good, long book.  I felt Julie took her time to do justice for the storyline and truly develop the story.  And yet, despite its length I was instantly ready for the next 500 pages! I wanted to keep reading and reading.  The story was very action packed; a never-let-your-guard-down kind of book because you never knew what might be lurking (literally!) around the corner. Once the story got rolling the pace was intense; full of twisting plot-lines and action until the last page. A lot happens in this book, but I don’t want to say anything to spoil your enjoyment of learning and adventuring with Allie. This was a story of choosing what kind of person you will be – despite your circumstances or life-assumptions. The characters were unique and well developed; there were a lot of characters and they ranged from one extreme to the next.  They were multi-dimensional and made mistakes, but then they learned from them.  Allie was a strong female lead, with a backbone of steel. I loved it! The romance element in the novel was perfect for me – no insta-lust here.  It was a slow-build romance with plenty of obstacles and tension to make it feel genuine.  The book also had hints of occasional humor that I wasn’t expecting and really appreciated. The story didn’t leave a cliffhanger ending; the arc of this initial book was settled, but the larger story still has plenty more pages to fill.  I feel this is Julie’s best book yet and I can’t wait to see what she writes next. 

Notable Quotable*: 

"My vampire creator told me 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."

    -  Julie Kagawa, The Immortal Rules

Grade:

Random Note: Be sure to enter my giveaway HERE for a chance to win a hardcover copy of The Immortal Rules from Harlequin Teen!

 

 *This quote is taken from the back cover of the ARC.  Please see the final printed edition of the novel to verify accuracy.