Joint Review: The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

by:  Julie Kagawa
published by:  Harlequin Teen
publish date:  April 24, 2012

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.

I haven't read anything by Julie Kagawa before.  I know that makes me really behind on the times, but I never got on the Iron Fey train.  I was going to pass on this book because the last thing I wanted to read was another vampire book, but somebody (Kari) said we should read it.  Parajunkee really liked it too, so I reluctantly gave into the lure of yet another YA, vampire series....dystopian at that.  Peer pressure!

The Immortal Rules is the first book in the Blood of Eden series.  I haven't found any information about how many book this series is expected to include.  It's set in a futuristic world that has ravaged by plague.  The concept of a human plague being detrimental to vampires hadn't really occurred to me before, but it makes for a plausible storyline.  Despite all my foot dragging to get to the book, once I got there I did find it an enjoyable read.

I found The Immortal Rules refreshing in that Allison wasn't always giving into her desires.  I appreciated that she was willing to do the right thing even if it wasn't the easy thing to do.

I don't doubt that this will be a huge series for Ms. Kagawa.  The movie rights have already been optioned by Palomar Pictures.

I'll admit, I am a sucker for vampire books. But, I tend to like nice vampires in my books (Can we say Black Dagger Brotherhood?).  When I saw the synopsis for this book, I thought it looked interesting and told Autumn we should do a joint review.  I'm not sure I liked it as much as I was hoping I would.

While I did eventually enjoy the book, I thought it dragged in the beginning and didn't really get interesting until the last third of the book. What I did enjoy about the book wass that the Allie is the vampire and not someone in love with a vampire.  I felt badly for her for the entire book.  She keeps trying to do nice things and help others, but they turn on her once they find out what she has become.   I hope in future books she stays true to herself.  I would be disappointed if she changed too much.

I will pick up the next one just to see how things work out for Allie and Zeke.  But if there is a love triangle, I'll stop there.