Early Review: The Immortal Rules

The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden 1)

-       Julie Kagawa

Publisher: HarlequinTeen (Published 24^th April 2012)

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.

Having never read any of the Iron Fey series, this was my first introduction to Julie Kagawa’s writing and I have to admit I was swept up in the story straight away. A lot happens in a short space of time – all of it exacting, moving and heart-breaking. People die abruptly. Betrayal is an everyday occurrence. The vampire cities treat humans as cattle – food and protection in exchange for blood and this balance of vampires and humans is unsettling but easily recognisable.  

The writing is taunt and descriptive. The journey through the ruins of America feels very much like a scene from The Walking Dead or Mad Max (the first one) – where the ruins of our world is merely the haunting set for something lethal and remorseless. Characters are unique and memorable. Especially Allie and her mentor Kanin. Kanin remains a mysterious figure, but with plenty of hints about his past and his need for redemption.

Allie is one determined survivor. Whether she is a street rat fringer or a newly turned vampire, she knows how to survive. However, where this book shows its true is colours is not in how she survives but why she does. This is a story of a young girl wanting survive and finding reasons for that survival. She is stubborn and headstrong, but strangely vulnerable and willing to protect those weaker than herself. She is fiercely loyal. Allie is a memorable character and it’s easy to see her story is no-where near done yet!

There is a hint of romance, but it plays a backseat to an exploration of humanity and an exciting road trip through the wilderness. For a cinematic story of survival and adventure you can’t really get much better than this!

Recommended for fans of Suzanne Collins and Veronica Roth. 9 out of 10.