The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden, #1)

by Julie Kagawa

[jnikkir]

So, it took me winning a giveaway for The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden #2) to actually get me to read this first book, and I’m so glad I did. (Why didn’t I read it sooner?! I don’t even know.) I was pretty certain I’d like it, based on reviews I’d read, and I was right – I ended up loving it. But for reasons that surprised me.

I loved the dark, gritty world Kagawa created for this series. It’s terrifying and cruel and bleak, but it created an atmosphere where the characters, flawed as they were, could really shine.

Allie was never going to be your typical YA heroine. Her life on the fringes of the city has made her harsh and distrustful. She struggled with being a good person even before she was turned into a vampire – while she usually ended up making choices that would help other people, she grew up on the streets and ultimately her goal was to look after herself. Once she’s Turned, though, she fights even harder to keep her morals intact, to stay human and to not think only of herself – which says a lot about her strength, and I liked that.

The action was fantastic, but even the slower chapters held my attention, and actually ended up being my favorite parts of the book. Zeke and Allie’s slowly-building relationship was so well-done, and paced perfectly. I loved that Zeke was a lone spot of brightness in an otherwise very dark setting. Allie saw this as a weakness at first, Zeke and his idealism and kindness – but I think she came to realize that it was worth it, and his attitude went a long way in bringing about Allie’s own growth throughout the book.

I would definitely recommend The Immortal Rules to anyone who likes dystopian and/or post-apocalyptic and/or vampire novels – unless you prefer your vampires sparkly, in which case… probably steer clear of this one. ;)

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{ This review can also be found at my blog, There were books involved... }