PJV Quickie: Julie Kagawa has again left me awed by her mastery of the written word and her ability to breath new life into something that has been done over and over again.
Author: Julie Kagawa
Series: Blood of Eden #1
ISBN: 0373210515
Publication: April 24th 2012 by Harlequin Teen
Received eARC from NetGalley
Links: Author Web >> Author Twitter >> Purchase Book >> Goodreads
Rating: 5 out of 5
Review
Kagawa forwards her book with a note about how she never wanted to write vampire fiction. I’m so glad that she decided to give it a go. Her creativity and unique voice took two overdone genres, dystopian and vampire fiction and produced something so unique that everyone will most likely be copying her in the future.
It really is no secret that I’m a fan girl of Kagawa and her other series The Iron Fey. What I take as her perfected craft, is the ability to create these beautiful characters. Characters that are shinning stars within the YA genre, perfectly flawed, yet larger-than-life in their struggle for “the greater good”. ‘The Immortal Rules’ protagonist Allison “Allie” Sekemoto is one of those perfectly constructed characters. Allie lives in the Fringe as an unregistered human. She is no one, is on the brink of starvation or death at every moment, the only thing that keeps her moving is the constant search for food and to protect the few people that are close to her. Just when she thought she hit the score of her life, her world is shattered as her gang is ripped a part by Rabids and she lays dying. She is not alone though, the thing she hates the most, a vampire, rescues her and gives her a choice: Become a monster, a vampire, or die.
Allison chooses to live and from that day on is faced with a new struggle. The Hunger and what kind of monster she chooses to become.
Often in these fantasy novels, the act of becoming one supernatural or another is often romanticized. Yes, they talk of the repercussions, the hunger of being a vampire, or the fact you might accidentally kill another human, but in ‘The Immortal Rules’ the choice actually seemed to leap off the pages and become real. I think this was the beauty of the novel for me. Because it seems, in other vampire novels, vampires are separated and given different “moral codes” to live by. Judge not the vampire because he is different from the humans. Their crimes are diminished because of their nature. They become a romantic figure, when in essence they are a monster, feeding on us. Yes, we don’t judge the lion that eats the antelope — but that lion was never once an antelope himself.
Kagawa shines light on the essence of the vampire in her ‘The Immortal Rules’ with just one line from Kanin, Allie’s maker:
“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.”
I think this is what made the novel for me. I’m a sucker for an inner struggle and she had a few in this novel. She had the struggle of the human made monster and the story of the human struggling to survive in a dystopian world. Then she even included the struggle of the monster/human romantic entanglement to add even more depth.
But wait there is more…
On top of the basic essence of the novel, Kagawa created a back story that was well flushed out and original. I never stopped once and questioned the story, it was perfectly crafted and laid out for me. Secondly, the plot sequences were well-developed and fast paced, leaving me glued to page after page, unable to put the book down. Nothing dragged about this novel. As each new sequence was introduced I was just sucked further and further into the novel. This is a must read. You can’t get any better than this.
Recommendations:
Fans of vampire fiction a must read. Fans of dystopian fiction a must read. There is a bit of violence and heavy topics so I’m throwing a 14+ recommendation on it. There is nothing overly graphic, sexual or inappropriate, so parents will not have worry. Adults will also enjoy because it is written in a mature tone.
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I’m reading this now, and absolutely love it!
Wow, what a rave review! I don’t typically read reviews for books I hope to read, but I’ve been on the fence about reading this early or when I have a bit more time. You sold me to try and squeeze it in early.
I think it was this: Her creativity and unique voice took two overdone genres, dystopian and vampire fiction and produced something so unique that everyone will most likely be copying her in the future.
I love Julie Kagawa’s writing and her characters. The Iron Fey series is absolutely wonderful and books I loved as a reader.
And I also love characters who are going through an inner struggle. It makes them more real somehow.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and I’ve definitely moved this book way up because of your review!
Julie Kagawa is a rockstar. She never fails to amaze me! Allie will ever belong to my most favorite characters, I loved her survival instinct and her desperate wish to stay alive even though it means to become a Vampire. Her struggle to keep her humanity was perfectly described!
I think I loved Kane the most , apart from Allie. He was mysterious, tough, bad ass but with heart!
Perfect Review for a Perfect Book:)
Aside from all the awesome elements in this book (especially the zompires!), I was most impressed how it never once slowed down despite the hefty length. Even in some of my favorite books that are longer like this one, there will inevitably be slow/somewhat boring parts. I just think major kudos are due to Julie for pulling this off so well!
I’m hoping to get to this one soon …. all I’m hearing is really amazing things about it! Though, it’s Julie Kagawa … she’s ALWAYS amazing! Great review … I might have to bump this one up on my list.
I got about 3 chapters on this one last night before I got distracted by my 3yr old! So now that I’ve read your your review, I’m so excited to pick it up again tonight! It sounds like this is just what I need to break out of my reading slump!!
So far, (only a little ways in) I just love Allie – and this is my first Kagawa book too, and her writing is just amazing!
-Jac @ For Love and Books
Julie Kagawa is awesome and I loved the entire Iron Fey series. Excellent review! I was going to wait until next week but you have encouraged me to read this now!
Ah! Great review! I loved this book! I really hope it blows up and becomes HUGE! It’s so good and action packed. Julie Kagawa has one heck of an imagination, let me tell you! LOL I get really excited when I read positive reviews.
Fantastic review! I’ve been curious about this series. I think it will be interesting to read a darker side of Kagawa.
I’m glad that you like this book. I’ve never read one of her books but this one sounds more my style. Since I’m loving dystopian books lately, this will be a great add to my tbr list!
Thanks for the review, The Immortal Rules sounds great! I Can’t wait to read it!
=D
I loved the quote about choosing the type of monster you want to be as well.
Thanks for review.
Brandi from Blkosiner’s Book Blog
OMG you read it YAY!!!!! Iam so excited and you loved it too…i really love the review I think I have to say i feel the SAME way love;)))
Cool review-I liked how you talked about the internal struggle of vampires and our tendency to romanticize them. I think I’ve rebelled against vampire stories partly because of that romanticization (although I wasn’t able to articulate it as well as you
but I’m really looking forward to picking this up now.