The Immortal Rules

I have only recently discovered Julie Kagawa from her Iron Fey series (which is one of the best YA series' I have read) and can now say that she is definitely up there in my top 10 favourite authors after starting to read this Blood of Eden series as I have not been able to put the books down. I had recently been offered an arc of the third book in this series ( The Forever Song (The Blood of Eden: Book 3) ) by Harlequin and so knew I would need to purchase and read the first two in the series before reading the third and I can honestly say my money has been well spent. I am already halfway through the second book in the series ( The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden - Book 2) ) before I have even got around to writing this review and I am sneaking every chance I can get to read inbetween looking after my two little ones. If you are a fan already of Julie Kagawa, enjoy YA or dystopian style books then I think you would really enjoy this series and I can't recommend it enough.The premise of the series is that in the future vampires rule following a worldwide pandemic (called Red Lung) that nearly wiped out the human race. A side effect of the pandemic is that the majority of vampires when turned actually do not transition properly into vampires but turn into rabids who are blood thirsty crazed beings with blood the only thing on their minds. These Rabids are kept out of the main cities by walls and fences and it is unsafe for humans or even vampires to approach them. Most humans live in these walled cities but are basically blood cattle for the vampires in exchange for food and security however there are a few within these cities that refuse to be 'registered' and these humans have to scavenge for food to survive. Allison is one of these unregistered humans who lives with her little gang trying to survive from day to day, when a lottery find of food outside the city walls has them venturing outside and entering into the dangerous world of the rabids. You can probably guess what happens next and so I don't think I would be ruining the story to confirm that Allison is given a choice to either die for good or be reborn as one of the very creatures she hates. Can Allison go against the very nature of a vampire and retain some of her humanity?As I said before I was gripped from start to finish with this story and I love the characters Zeke and the mad raider king Jackel. The book just seems to draw you in and before you know it you are past the halfway point and totally hooked. Another amazing series from Julie which I would highly recommend.Blood of Eden Series:-1) The Immortal Rules2)  The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden - Book 2) 3)  The Forever Song (The Blood of Eden: Book 3)The Forever Song (The Blood of Eden: Book 3)The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden - Book 2)The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden - Book 2)The Forever Song (The Blood of Eden: Book 3)

(Source: purchased on kindle for only 99p!)It is sixty years since a virus called `red lung' wiped out most of the human population, and now there are 3 races living on the earth - humans, vampires, and rabids.Allie is human, and lives on the fringes of a vampire city called `New Covington'. She is unregistered, which means that she doesn't have to donate her blood to the vampires of the city, it also means that she doesn't get fed. Slipping outside of the walls of the fringe one day, into the wastelands beyond, Allie thinks that her and her friends will be safe for the winter when she discovers a hidden storage room full of tinned food. Little does she know just how much that discovery will change her life forever.Attacked by rabids while trying to save the life of her friend, Allie is offered a choice - die or become a vampire. Finding an intense desire to live, Allie becomes a vampire, and must then learn to live as a vampire, which means what was once unthinkable - drinking human blood.Forced to flee the city where she has spent her entire life, Allie comes across a group of humans who are searching for a place called `Eden', a place where humans are safe from rabids and vmapires. But with her hunger growing, can Allie live among them and not feed on them? And what should she do about Zeke - the boy she can't stop thinking about?This book had a very interesting concept - part dystopian, part classic vampire, and I couldn't wait to read it! I have to say that unfortunately it didn't reach up to the high expectations I had for it.To start, the storyline was a mix of dystopian and vampire, and at times I felt like the two ideas just didn't really mesh well together.I think what was odd was that in a dystopian society, I kind-of felt like maybe we should have moved on from vampires, that there could have been something a bit different going on 60 years in the future, rather than good old blood sucking, sunlight avoiding vampires. I don't know why, but I just didn't fall in love with the concept.The other thing that annoyed me is how the hell no one noticed that Allie didn't breath! She didn't even pretend to hide it! Surely someone would see her not breathing and think it was odd?!Okay, moving on;Allison/Allie was an interesting character. She started off wanting to be different, wanting to not kill human beings, until she realised how difficult it was. She really did try so hard though, especially to not feed off those she was traveling with - even though Kanin (her sire) had told her she wouldn't be able to resist.I like Kanin and his blunt attitude, and I actually liked his background story, as it proved him to be different too. I found it refreshing that Kanin, was very blunt and to-the-point with Allie when telling her about vampires;"Sometime in your life, Alison 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."There was no - `maybe you can change', `maybe you'll be different', he gave her the facts, which was a nice change from the norm. Although I have to say that the rest of the book was then spent proving him wrong!Zeke (the love interest) was really sweet, and I really liked him, although several of the other members of the group were a bit irritataing. Zeke really believed that people were ultimately good, and always tried to help people if he could, even if it meant endangering his own life.Thankfully, after a slow start and a few moans, the book picked up towards the end, and I'm interested to see what will happen to Allie in the next book.7 out of 10.

When I first heard that Julie Kagawa was writing a book about vampires, many eons ago now, to be quite honest I think I groaned out loud. Does the world really need another book about vampires? The answer my friend is a very resolute YES. This book was OUTSTANDING and that's not a term I throw about lightly. The Immortal Rules is centred on one girl's survival in a terrible dystopian future where vampires outnumber humans but both are threatened by rabids, mutated creatures who are not easy to fight. Is it possible that a cure exists to turn the rabids back into humans? Can Allison save the human race from both vampires AND rabids?Allison Sekemoto is one strong willed, tough cookie and what she lacks in stature and muscle, she makes up for in spirit. She's the kind of girl that you might be a little scared of at first but you definitely want her on your side. One of the best parts of the book was watching how Allison coped when she was turned into a vampire, the very thing she despises with every fibre of her being. How do you live with yourself knowing that you're a monster? Allison will tell you everything you need to know. And more.The Immortal Rules is brutal and intense with nonstop action and a tidal wave of tension. Just be warned, Julie is NOT afraid to kill off her characters and this really upped the ante as I never knew what was going to happen next (or who was going to die).The Immortal Rules is not a quick read but it is by no means laborious and you'll savour every moment. I really liked how the book was cut into sections entitled Human, Vampire, Wanderer and Monster and I'm glad Julie did this. It was very appropriate for the book. Overall, The Immortal Rules was a really clever book with a well thought out and flawless plot and believable characters that are truly worth rooting for. My personal feeling is that it is a shining example of outstanding writing and how other YA novels should be. I wasn't when I heard that Hollywood had come knocking and I can't wait to read the next instalment in the series! I might only have read one other Julie Kagawa book before now but by God, she's made a fan girl out of me.

I was rather torn when I saw this book - the cover is rather stunning, but I wasn't sure if I was ready for another vampire book - what else was there to say or do?Thankfully though, it turns out there was plenty to be added to this genre, and the key to this particular book is the character of Allie. The Immortal Rules is set in a future where most of the population have been wiped out, and the rest live in cities under the control of vampires.Some live in the Fringe, where they refuse to be registered, instead scavenging for food. Allie has lived here, in a small gang, ever since her mother died. One day, whilst leading her gang to a food supply, she is attacked and is about to die. A lone vampire offers her a choice - to die, or to be turned. Choosing the latter, she becomes what she has always hated, a vampire.Over time, Allie has to come to terms with her decision, learning more about the vampires, and just what it means to be one. It's a difficult journey, and as a reader you take every step with her. Books become extra special to me when the characters do too, and Allie was written in such a way that I believed in her, and the decisions she made.The vampires themselves are pretty much traditional, with most being powerful, violent and controlling. There is a hint of a potential romance, but that's the limit. It's published as a YA book, but it will appeal to all ages. It's the first book in a trilogy, which means there's plenty more to come.. but there's no frustrating cliff-hanger. In short, I loved this book, and would recommend it to nearly everyone!

At first when I saw the market for teenagers and hunger games , I did not expect to much from it, I have read so many of this style before.I could not put this book down , it had me hooked from the beginning and I am 37 years old. I love the atmosphere created and the world of vampires/zombies. Don't want to give any spoilers but the world of vampires ruling and people scavenging on the outskirts is brilliant. The female lead is such a strong character like the others in the novel , this is one of the best stories I have read in a long time from this genre. Although it is recommended for fans of hunger games, it is no way a copy or trying to be hunger games, it is original . All three books would make great films. If you like vampire /zombie action books or novels, then this one is for you . It is an excellent read and very well written . Will have you addicted.