Immortal Rules

The Immortal Rules

Blood of Eden: Book I

Julie Kagawa
Harlequin, 2012
ISBN: 9780373210510

I knew Kagawa's reputation as a compelling story weaver because my young adult readers are avid readers of her Iron Fey series. The fact that Harlequin publishes that series and this first book in a new series tells me that there will be an engaging plot, some reasonable character development, and romance.

Seems like Kagawa + Harlequin is a great match. There is action but not at the cost of plot development. There is romance, but not at the cost of weak plot. And the young adult attribute seems to keep it all within bounds.

And the title? A nicely complex one, indicating both the preeminence of the vampires in this world, as well as Allison's learning the "rules" of vampireness.

What's different about this book:

The best thing about the book, from my point of view, is seeing the over-done vampire story from the point of view of empathetic vampires. The books starts with Allison as a human, and there is an excellent development of the post-apocalyptic world she lives in, and the amazing challenges she faces.

Then she gets into danger, gets a-l-m-o-s-t killed, and is Turned by a vampire that is different. So as Allison goes through the adjustment, the readers does too -- and somehow all those other vampire books make more sense as I come to understand Allison's perspectives. Yes, vampires are monsters, but each decides what kind of monster s/he will become. And thus a new tension arises for the protagonists in the vampire vs. human conflict: how will Allison keep her humanity despite being a vampire?

Yes, it's another Vampire story. But it's a fresh one. That sounds like an oxymoron, but trust me: this book is worth your time.

What I'll do now that I've read it: 

  This is definitely a To Buy for my young adult readers and the library through which I serve them. Great story, nothing sensationalist or inappropriate, and it's all embedded in an enjoyable read. Looking forward to having this series to offer my readers.

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