Review: The Immortal Rules

Author: Julie Kagawa
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 485

Series: Blood of Eden #1

Source: NetGalley

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Summary:  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, anyone 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.  

My Favorite Line(s): 

"I wasn't thinking of his blood, rushing just below the skin.  I wasn't thinking of his heartbeat or his touch or the pulse at his throat.  Right now, all I was thinking of was Zeke."

"Hunger flickered, always there, but I pushed it down.  I was a vampire.  Nothing would change that.  But I didn't have to be a monster."

Why I Loved It:  As a lover of contemporary YA, I've slowly pushed myself into paranormal.  Since there have been so many vampire books being pushed and popularized in the past few years, I normally scoff at vampires.  But this book wasn't just vampires.  This book was Julie Kagawa.  I knew if I didn't read it, I knew I would want to hit myself later.  So I requested it on NetGalley, and I was swept away in the first few pages.  I was thrilled to discover that this book was also dystopian.  I was hooked.

Allie is this incredibly strong character who has managed to survive on that strength.  She's a survivor and she hates vampires.  As you read, you might think she's a little self-absorbed.  Don't worry though.  Ms. Kagawa knows what she's doing.  Her relationship with Stick shows just how much she really cares, though she can't let herself think she cares.  That's how life works in the Fringe, the outskirts of the vampire city.  That's right.  A city controlled by vampires.  It's an incredible and perhaps terrifying idea.  When Allie becomes the very monster she hated, she has a lot to learn.  Later, as she has to fight her way through the wilderness outside the city, Allie has to come to terms with who she is as a new vampire.  With time, she discovers what kind of "monster" she is going to be.  Allie's world is dark and rough and beautiful in the way she pursues life.

When I first got the book, I realized it was a little bit chunkier than I had read lately.  However, by part II, I knew that the book wasn't going to be long enough.  I was right, of course, because now I have so many questions.  I want more NOW!  But I will be patient.  Because Julie Kagawa deserves patience for her to create the new masterpiece.

Julie Kagawa did something that I have never seen with a "vampire" book.  This wasn't a beautiful love story with anyone sparkling.  The story was real, harsh life plopped into this wild dystopian world.  The characters are developed in such a way that leave you screaming for more.  Honestly, I would love to live in Julie's head.  Can you imagine how marvelous it would be?    

Who Should Read It:  EVERYONE!!  Seriously.