The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: HarlequinTeen

Pages: 485pgs

The Story

In a future world, Vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle.

And one girl with 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.

The Review

A big thanks to HarlequinTeen Australia for sending me a review copy of this book!

When I first heard about Kagawa's new book THE IMMORTAL RULES I was a bit taken back by what it entailed, mostly due to it being of the vampire genre. While vampires are continually being brought out in books and are not necessarily original, but with such love for Julie Kagawa herself, for her previous Iron Fey series and for the dystopian genre and all its brilliance, the fact that the author can write something both exciting and fresh, I definitely can say with all honesty that this is the best book to date when it comes to vampires. Not only does it contain a strong and a heroic young heroine, two kinds of vampires (one so dark and one so grotesque), and bringing together a storyline and characters that are none other fighting for the rest of humanity . . . but it also offers readers that rare edge about it and there's nothing more I love in a book than that edge!

Allison Sekemoto, the main character, lives on the fringe of a vampire dystopian society. Being an Unregistered citizen, defying the law and rebelling against becoming a blood bank for vampires in the city comes within Allison's nature. But when she is attacked one night while scavenging for resources with her dedicated human crew, everything goes horribly wrong. With Allison's time slowly ticking away, she is faced with a choice - to either die as a mortal or be reborn as the immortal monster she'd always feared to become. As she doesn't want to die, Allison is soon turned into a vampire despite her beliefs and with it comes many consequences lying in her wake, and once and for all, Allison will need to decide whether to accept her new destiny or continue living like a human that she will never be for the rest of her immortal life. And unfortunately for Allison, fate has other plans for her and everything will - indeed - change her forever . . .

THE IMMORTAL RULES is such a great story for horror fans like myself. There's plenty of good old-fashioned bloodshed, plenty of action, plenty of death, and even some little tiny bits of tragedy along the way, which made this book an even more perfect read for me. In most dystopian genres or in the supernatural tales, most authors are too afraid to explore the darker side of human nature and I loved the fact that Kagawa wasn't afraid to do so. Putting her character's through the most horrifying situations, challenging them non-stop, and taking them to the highest levels of choosing between what's right and wrong . . . the storyline did all of that and if not more than I expected! While I would've loved some more developed romance to take part in the story, but it didn't even matter because the storyline was what grew on me and not the romance this time round.

As for our leading lady, Allison Sekemoto, I thought she was such a beautiful character whom was completely honest and true with herself. For the majority of the book she was a total badass, but it wasn't just about her kick-assing ways of life. What really drew me to her character was her ability to survive in the dire circumstances and even when things seemed down and damn right gloomy for her . . . she still remained one of the most interesting and the most complex character's I've ever read and it's no wonder why so many readers fell in love with this one awesome chick. Just be sure to keep your distance when she's swinging that mad and super-duper Japanese katana sword around . . . because she'll truly use it when she has to!

Now onto the love interests because there's always a love interest involved in any book. In this case we have Zeke, a human boy Allison meets later in the book, who was a genuine good boy with a heart of gold. My heart may not have swooned nor skipped an actual beat for him, but he had many qualities that I admired. He's understanding, he's not quick to judge, he's forgiving in most matters but the only thing I had trouble in connecting with him was his religious ways of life. I guess when you live in a terrible society . . . people will be driven by religious beliefs but nonetheless Zeke was a great guy. But fear not my dear readers, because there's another dude on the block and I really hope he's a potential love interest for Allison in later sequels because I adore this mysterious young - I mean old - fellow. This fellow being Allison's master vampire sire, Kanin, whom is clearly the only man for me when it comes to this book. There was just something about him I was captivated by and I was soooooooo disappointed that he never got to take part in too much of the book. Only in the beginning, I'm afraid. Oh Kanin I miss and long for you! I love Zeke and all . . . don't get me wrong . . . but KANIN! I need you back Kanin in the sequel . . . we just need you back to rock this vampire-radar of the hotness charts!

Overall, THE IMMORTAL RULES is a traditional vampire story (but it's also an unique take on vampires) whom has clearly brought back what I love in vampires - all the blood and gore that I just can't get enough of. Just when you thought vampires were out of style, you need to think again readers because this book cannot be missed by you all! I think . . . I think . . . I think . . . I may even love this book a hundred times more than Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series and that's the shocking thing of all things when I finished this book!

The Rating

4 1/2 / 5 stars