The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
Hardcover, 504 pgs.
Published April 24th, 2012 by Harlequin Teen
Source: Gift
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.
I'm not a fan of this cover (though it is growing on me) and I wasn't super eager to read about vampires. Now I do love a good dystopian, but the whole vampire thing had me forgetting about that aspect of it. But the fact that it's Julie Kagawa and I know she's a genius, had me eager to read it. Once I started hearing how good it was I was absolutely dying to pick it up. And the second I did I was loving it. Right from the first sentence I was drawn into this dark and terrifying dystopian world where vampires rule.
The characters were awesome, the story was awesome, it all completely blew me away. And as you'll probably see millions of reviews on this book I think maybe I'll just gush like a maniac. I loved the twists and turns and not knowing what could happen, what decisions Allison would make. I was surprised again and again.
I saw in other reviews that people thought there was too much info and not enough action. I disagree. I thought it was a perfect balance. I never felt bored at all. It's a chunk of a book (504 pages) but if I had had the time I would have read it in one sitting. It was absolutely incredible! To me this book makes the EPIC status. I very very highly recommend to lovers of dystopia, vampires and epic story telling. And I think Julie has me even craving more vampires books...
I was never bored with this one either, it had me from page one all the way through to that cruel last page! I loved Allie and I loved how dark the world was, it just drew me in and wouldn't let go:) So glad you loved it too Candace, it's fun when books just make you want to gush!
ReplyDeleteI totally LOVED this one too!!!! It was super fabulous!
ReplyDeleteIt's a relief that it's such an awesome book! You get such highly anticipated books that end up disappointing people and those sort of reviews aren't my favourite. This was nice and short, I like it :)
ReplyDeleteI did find myself a little bored in the beginning, but then it was like WOW! You're right. Kagawa is a genius, and I can't wait for more.
ReplyDeleteI's great to hear that this book keeps you guessing and in general delivered on all the promise of a Kagawa book. I have this on my schedule to read in June...can't wait:)
ReplyDeleteSee? You loved this books even though it features some genre you do not normally like. This is awesome as it underlines the crazy talent that is Julie Kagawa! She truly created something fresh and unique even among those many Vampire stories!! Glad you loved it!!
ReplyDeleteI agree, not a fan of the cover. I just started this last night! can't wait to read more. So wishing I could go tonight. I went to the doc, I have strep, feeling better but still miserable. How I wish I could meet up with you guys to chat about the new developments that broke in the blogosphere yesterday :(
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad you liked this one! I have mixed feelings on it, but there was certainly a lot of awesomeness, and I loved Kagawa's world-building. Definitely going to be staying for the next installment. Lovely review!
ReplyDeleteLOL the first time I saw the cover, I kind of made a funny face -- it wasn't my favourite either, but it's actually growing on me like it is with you! :) And I agree wholeheartedly about the balance between info and awesome -- it was perfect! I'm starting to think that Julie's a genius at everything she tries x)
ReplyDeleteAmazing review, Candace! I always feel so much better when awesome bloggers like you love a book like I do! ;) <3
The cover did turn me off a bit, too, as did the vamp idea. BUT OMG. SO GOOD! This grabbed me by the throat and wouldn't let me go!! Great review.
ReplyDeleteI've actually heard a lot of people complain about the cover, saying that it totally whitewashed the main character. Haven't read it yet, but I'm looking forward to it!
ReplyDeleteI must have my head stuck in the sand because I haven't heard one bad thing about this book. I wouldn't listen anyway. I love this book so much. I think Julie Kagawa is a genuis! This is an incredible world and so dark, so different, completely from the Iron Fey world. Who knew she had this deep dark world inside her waiting to come out?
ReplyDeleteI wasn't bored for even a second. I devoured this one!
Heather
When I first found out about this I so did not want to read it. I mean come on it is vampires, haven't we been there a million and one times before.
ReplyDeleteI have never read Kagawa so this isn't high up on my list. I guess I might have to change that soon since the hype for this book is just crazy and even though hype is another thing that normally pushes me away from books, this time it might just pull me in.
Thanks for the great review, you got right to the point on what you loved about this one and if you thought it was EPIC then I must see what all the fuss is about.
I wasn't a fan of this cover at all at first either. It also looked a lot like another vampire book I had seen before. But anyways, it sounds freaking awesome and I'm so looking forward to finally being able to get to it! I looove unexpected twists that catch you off guard and it seems to have great world building too. This'll be my first Julie book :)
ReplyDeleteI love when a book gets it right and starts out with bang from the first sentence onward! I'm so anxious to read this book, glad to hear you loved it! EPIC status, huh? Might be hitting the bookstore later today:)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it surprises you, it's always nice like that! You're right it's finally a really big book, but I didn't feel it. Very curious to read the second now. thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteI'm happy you liked it so much! I don't really care much for the cover either.
ReplyDeleteOkay, so this is the first review I've read since reading the book for myself. I very much enjoyed your review. I didn't love it as much as you, not exactly sure why, but did love the world and concept she developed. I finished the book wanting to read the next.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if I should read this or not. I wasn't a big fan of The Iron King (haven't read the sequels to it yet and not sure if I will). So I dunno. If this MC is anything like Meghan, I think I'll be terribly frustrated with her.
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