Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Source: Publisher
"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.
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CATCHALL
I enjoyed this book, but I also struggled with it. I thought it was a fun yet dark read, and it was definitely unique in a number of ways. I enjoyed the interpretation of vampires it offered, as well as a dystopian world different from any I'd ever seen before. Sure, it has aspects in it that remind me of other dystopians I've read, but it was varied enough that it was an entirely new world that was completely impossible to not fall in love with. It wasn't the Iron Fey, but it was genuinely enjoyable.
THE HEROINE
ALLIE
So. Um. I have mixed feelings about Allie. In some ways I liked her, but then again in some ways I didn't. She was strong and independent, which is admirable, and yet she had a tendency to act like she didn't really need anyone, until she doesn't have anyone. Additionally, she can be too stubborn for her own good and on occasion acts like she has some sort of death wish. She also sometimes does things that are less-than-intelligent (which is my nice way of saying totally stupid) things that are likely to get her either into major trouble or dead.
THE LOVE INTERESTS
KANIN
Honestly, I think this guy makes a lame love interest, but apparently he is, so whatever. I also don't really have too much to say about him. He's just—weird. And he kind of gives me shivers, and not in the hold-me-close-because-I-love-you-to-death way that my boyfriend does. No, these are the creepy kind of shivers that makes me think of running for my life or something similar. I don't necessarily not like him, but I definitely do not actually like him either. God, I need to learn to get my opinions straight. Anyway, I do think that for all I didn't care for him, Kanin is actually a pretty well-developed character.
ZEKE
I like Zeke. He's not my favorite character in the world, but you know, not my least favorite either. He's a tad bit too naïve for my taste, and seems to think the world is essentially good. Maybe it is, but there's still a hell of a lot of evil. Anyway, naïveté aside, Zeke was a pretty good character. He's well-developed, and he's also realistic and relatable. His reactions are believable and they make sense. He doesn't just blindly accept what he's told.
THE PLOT
The immortal Rules had a unique interpretation of vampires. It also involved a different type of paranormal called rabids who were essential to the story and definitely made it more interesting. Luckily, no other fantastical creatures were involved in the story, so it focused on the vampires. I loved the vampires in this story, and particularly admired the fact that they must drink human blood. That makes me sound really awful, I know, but it makes it unique the way it needs to be.
Okay, so, there were some things I found unrealistic. Like the way Allie picks up swordfighting so quickly. Swordfighting is NOT easy, people. And she kind of adjusts to things too quickly, if you ask me. Not that there's anything wrong with learning to adjust, but there is such a thing as adjusting too quickly. It's just odd and makes Allie seem insensitive.
Also, while it starts out fairly-action packed and quick-moving, the plot actually starts to slow down somewhere in the middle, which was obviously boring. For a long time, the plot remained static and nothing of any major interest happened. I guess in some ways, it was necessary to build up to what was going to happen next, but it still could have moved more quickly.
Still, which I just realized is a word I use a lot in reviews, once the plot picked up, it was actually much more fun to read. When things were actually happening, I quickly was pulled into the story and the latter half of the novel was completely unputdownable.
THE ROMANCE
I'm not sure how I feel about the romantic development here. I think Kanin is too weird to be love interest, and there was no romantic development on that side whatsoever anyway. Therefore, I will be moving on. I think that the romance with Zeke was rather underdeveloped. I wouldn't call it instalove, but I wouldn't call it true love either. It's not that it moves too quickly, it's more that I don't see much chemistry and not much really happens. I don't get the feeling that Allie and Zeke are really connected, and it's difficult to get a read on their relationship.
THE WRITING
I honestly don't care too much for the way Allie's voice is written. I like it, but it's not my favorite. She sometimes comes across as too self-centered. It's difficult to relate to. Also, the description can be a little weak at points. There are times when I get a really great visual in my head, but not too often. However, I do enjoy the dialogue. The dialogue is gorgeous.
THE ENDING
I'm not sure how to feel about the ending. I think this cliffhanger ending was kind of cheap. It just doesn't feel right somehow. When I reached the ending, I personally mostly felt disappointment. I think that it could have been much better. It was too abrupt and somehow felt a bit—off. It was also kind of—boring. It was predictable and nothing special.
WRAPUP
Well, after Julie's Iron Fey series, I will pretty much follow her wherever she takes me so long as she doesn't write something as awful as Juliet Immortal. I definitely enjoyed this book, although I'll be looking for more in the sequel. Still, I am looking forward to it! This series is fresh and fun, and a unique paranormal experience. You have my recommendation!
FINE.
I enjoyed this book, but I also struggled with it. I thought it was a fun yet dark read, and it was definitely unique in a number of ways. I enjoyed the interpretation of vampires it offered, as well as a dystopian world different from any I'd ever seen before. Sure, it has aspects in it that remind me of other dystopians I've read, but it was varied enough that it was an entirely new world that was completely impossible to not fall in love with. It wasn't the Iron Fey, but it was genuinely enjoyable.
THE HEROINE
ALLIE
So. Um. I have mixed feelings about Allie. In some ways I liked her, but then again in some ways I didn't. She was strong and independent, which is admirable, and yet she had a tendency to act like she didn't really need anyone, until she doesn't have anyone. Additionally, she can be too stubborn for her own good and on occasion acts like she has some sort of death wish. She also sometimes does things that are less-than-intelligent (which is my nice way of saying totally stupid) things that are likely to get her either into major trouble or dead.
THE LOVE INTERESTS
KANIN
Honestly, I think this guy makes a lame love interest, but apparently he is, so whatever. I also don't really have too much to say about him. He's just—weird. And he kind of gives me shivers, and not in the hold-me-close-because-I-love-you-to-death way that my boyfriend does. No, these are the creepy kind of shivers that makes me think of running for my life or something similar. I don't necessarily not like him, but I definitely do not actually like him either. God, I need to learn to get my opinions straight. Anyway, I do think that for all I didn't care for him, Kanin is actually a pretty well-developed character.
ZEKE
I like Zeke. He's not my favorite character in the world, but you know, not my least favorite either. He's a tad bit too naïve for my taste, and seems to think the world is essentially good. Maybe it is, but there's still a hell of a lot of evil. Anyway, naïveté aside, Zeke was a pretty good character. He's well-developed, and he's also realistic and relatable. His reactions are believable and they make sense. He doesn't just blindly accept what he's told.
THE PLOT
The immortal Rules had a unique interpretation of vampires. It also involved a different type of paranormal called rabids who were essential to the story and definitely made it more interesting. Luckily, no other fantastical creatures were involved in the story, so it focused on the vampires. I loved the vampires in this story, and particularly admired the fact that they must drink human blood. That makes me sound really awful, I know, but it makes it unique the way it needs to be.
Okay, so, there were some things I found unrealistic. Like the way Allie picks up swordfighting so quickly. Swordfighting is NOT easy, people. And she kind of adjusts to things too quickly, if you ask me. Not that there's anything wrong with learning to adjust, but there is such a thing as adjusting too quickly. It's just odd and makes Allie seem insensitive.
Also, while it starts out fairly-action packed and quick-moving, the plot actually starts to slow down somewhere in the middle, which was obviously boring. For a long time, the plot remained static and nothing of any major interest happened. I guess in some ways, it was necessary to build up to what was going to happen next, but it still could have moved more quickly.
Still, which I just realized is a word I use a lot in reviews, once the plot picked up, it was actually much more fun to read. When things were actually happening, I quickly was pulled into the story and the latter half of the novel was completely unputdownable.
THE ROMANCE
I'm not sure how I feel about the romantic development here. I think Kanin is too weird to be love interest, and there was no romantic development on that side whatsoever anyway. Therefore, I will be moving on. I think that the romance with Zeke was rather underdeveloped. I wouldn't call it instalove, but I wouldn't call it true love either. It's not that it moves too quickly, it's more that I don't see much chemistry and not much really happens. I don't get the feeling that Allie and Zeke are really connected, and it's difficult to get a read on their relationship.
THE WRITING
I honestly don't care too much for the way Allie's voice is written. I like it, but it's not my favorite. She sometimes comes across as too self-centered. It's difficult to relate to. Also, the description can be a little weak at points. There are times when I get a really great visual in my head, but not too often. However, I do enjoy the dialogue. The dialogue is gorgeous.
THE ENDING
I'm not sure how to feel about the ending. I think this cliffhanger ending was kind of cheap. It just doesn't feel right somehow. When I reached the ending, I personally mostly felt disappointment. I think that it could have been much better. It was too abrupt and somehow felt a bit—off. It was also kind of—boring. It was predictable and nothing special.
WRAPUP
Well, after Julie's Iron Fey series, I will pretty much follow her wherever she takes me so long as she doesn't write something as awful as Juliet Immortal. I definitely enjoyed this book, although I'll be looking for more in the sequel. Still, I am looking forward to it! This series is fresh and fun, and a unique paranormal experience. You have my recommendation!
FINE.
****FINAL RATING: 3.50 RED ROSES****
