The Immortal Rules: Review & Giveaway
Title: The Immortal Rules
Author: Julie Kagawa
Series: Blood of Eden #1
Release Date: April 24th 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Source: Media Masters Publicity
Pages: 485
Links: Amazon | Goodreads | TBD
Rating: 3.5 stars
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.
Review:
OMG, look! It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s another review and giveaway for The Immortal Rules.
Sick of seeing this book everywhere yet? I hope not, because then you’d truly be missing out on something fangtastic.
Being the vampire fiend that I am, I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a bit more critical of my vampire reads than any other genre I read. I can’t help it. It’s just the nature of the fang-girl in me.
So, upon discovering that Julie Kagawa, the same author who enchanted me to the wickedly awesome world of the Fae when I thought fairytales were lost on me, was next going to be releasing a vampire series, I squee’d in my pants. And when the ARC of The Immortal Rules arrived at my doorstep, the first thing I did was sink my imitation fangs into it.
The Immortal Rules is a perfect example of why I don’t like to give up on books. I have the hardest time DNF-ing books, and it’s because somewhere in the back of my mind, I have that endless hope that even if I don’t really like the beginning of the story, things will get better. And fortunately, most times it does, as was the case with Allison’s tale.
In a effort to not give too much away, and this is coming from the girl who loves spoilers but still refused to read a single review for this book so my reaction could be completely authentic (yes, that is how seriously I take my vampires), I’ll say the latter half of The Immortal Rules is where Kagawa truly shined, with her slow but extremely intense take on one girl’s journey to take the world. It pains me to admit this, but I had my doubts because the beginning half of the novel was predictable and, well, kind of boring.
Initially, my main problem was with Allison. Her TSTL moments piled up faster than I could bear. Plus, the one thing I’m always looking for in stories about vampires is that one unique quality that makes the author’s interpretation of my beloved bloodsuckers stand out from the norm. Yes, keep the fundamentals intact, but also give me something different, something exciting. Much to my dismay, everything about the way the vampires fed to the way they turn others into the undead was very standard and familiar in Kagawa’s novel, and I failed to identify one single quality that would brand her vampires to her.
Those first disappointing impressions aside, I was beyond thrilled when I discovered that the story found more solid footing almost from the start of Part III of the novel. Not surprisingly, this was also when the boy showed up. Yes, I’m that shallow, but come on! Who has the power to resist swoon worthy boys? And the turn in tone finally make me feel wholly invested in Allie and her plight. Now, I can’t wait to get more.
Maybe it’s wrong of me to do this, but I always judge a book by how easily or not it is for me to put it down. Does it erase time by capturing my attention from the start, or is it one that I could leave on my bedside table for a few days in between passages? I may have had a rocky start with The Immortal Rules, but ultimately, I was left breathless, desperately needing just one more shallow gulp of air in the form of another page to keep me until next year.
Thanks to Media Masters Publicity and Harlequin Teen I have a hardcover copy of The Immortal Rules to give away! To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway is open to US and Canada mailing addresses only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Posted at 1:34 am • Labels: 2012, 3 stars, Book Review, Dystopian Fiction, giveaway, Julie Kagawa, Vampires, YA
“OMG, look! It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s another review and giveaway for The Immortal Rules.” Bahaha this made me LOL. I have seen a LOT of reviews but I love em becuase people love it so much the reviews are super fun to read
I have to read this like YESTERDAY!! GAH. Awesome review Missy!!
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I definitely classify it as a worthy read.
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I have only read wonderful things so it’s nice to hear that you had reservations at the start.
I would probably have given up but knowing it got better for you will make me stick with it now.
Great review Missie.
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I think I may have been too critical. I need to get over my vampsession.
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I find it very interesting that you disliked the first two parts and loved the rest, while I felt exactly the opposite. Allie was infuriatingly stupid at times and I really didn’t like her at all, not until the end, which was my biggest problem now that I think about it. I had troubles getting through the middle part too, I’m afraid.
That said, I’m very happy you had fun reading it, especially after the hard time you had at the beginning. Wonderful review, my friend.
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Funny about the opposite reactions. I struggled with Allie, too. But once I got past the predictable setting in the first half, I really started to enjoy the book much better.
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Oh yes another giveaway!!! Whew hew, that just means more chances for me to win…..:D
Glad you liked it, cause I really want to read this one.
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I do hope you win this book. It needs to be on bookshelves everywhere.
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I like to judge my books by how hard they are to put down too! That’s why I didn’t rate books like Daughter of Smoke and Bone with fives even though everyone else did because I had no problem putting it away for later LOL x) Your link to Urban Dictionary had me laughing though — I had no idea they actually had a page for it! And even though you had problems with it (awwww, shucks), I’m glad you enjoyed it overall!
Amazing honest review, Missie! <3
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hehe!
Yes, I did enjoy it overall, but I also was able to put it down many, many times and not think about it for a while.
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This book is virtually everywhere and there’s really a big marketing push, eh? I was skeptical about yet *another* vamp book fearing it was another emo-rendition of TW (which I can stomach one or two times but then gets very old quickly). Since you are queen of all that’s vamp, I trust your judgement to read this one with my blinders on. Thank you for the heads up about the slow half, I now know to push forward since you really enjoyed the last half. Thanks for the awesome review. Happy Friday, Missie!
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I love the marketing push! Kagawa’s name is one that deserves to be out there as much as possible, and I’m so excited that this one has been opted for a movie deal.
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you’re rigjt it’s difficult when we see this book everywhere, well I’m glad I’ve read it a few weeks ago lol.
I’m sorry it didn’t blow your mind away but I can understand your problems as well. Hopefully it improved with the reads. thanks for the review.
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Yeah, I think reading this book early on was the key to finding enjoyment in it.
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I know Jenny loved this one so I plan on taking a look at this one. I’m not as critical of vampire books as you, Missie, because I don’t read as many so I think The Immortal Rules and I’ll do just fine because it’s got a nice romance and the vampires are dark.
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Looking forward to your thoughts on it, Z! I’m sure you’ll find some way to crack me up.
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“And when the ARC of The Immortal Rules arrived at my doorstep, the first thing I did was sink my imitation fang into it.”
I love you Missie. That’s really all there is to say about that:) I didn’t have any problems diving right into this one and I loved Allie from the start, but I definitely spent those first two parts wondering when the boy was going to be coming into play
Guess I’m a little shallow and boy-crazy right along with you! Glad the second half made the read worthwhile:):)
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Right?! The boy was such a mystery for a long time. I liked the way that was played.
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Thanks for giving a balanced review that touches on the reservations you had about this book. I’m a little worried about all the TSTL moments — TSTL heroines can drive me crazy! Does Allison improve in this respect?
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I think it does, but throughout the novel, she is very much in the fledgling state of being.
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LOL, this one sure has been making the rounds, but at least people seem to be loving it. I’m sorry to hear that this started out slow for you. But at least it picked up and left you wanting more. Maybe the author was just going for the build up. Anyway, you and the many other bloggers who have reviewed this book, definitely have me interested in reading it. So on the TBR it goes. And thanks for the chance to win this.
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The good thing about a book like this is that the opinions seem to vary a lot, and I like it when that happens because the reactions seems more personal.
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You crack me up!
This one is coming up on my TBR. I’m glad to hear it got better – I’ll keep that in mind if I feel the same. This is actually my 1st book by Kagawa, so I’m kind of excited.
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First book by Kagawa? How is that possible?
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I do know what you mean about the TSTL moments, but I forgave her because she was still so young and they often don’t have foresight. I did like her compassion, though. I loved this book. So glad you ended up liking it too!
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I’m not tired of seeing this book yet. It’s already on my list but I’m hearing there is a cliffhanger which is a definite no-no for me. I’ll have to wait for the next one in the series before I can give this one a try.
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Oh no! Not TSTL!!! But it still sounds like a worthwhile read from your review (though honestly I’m too curious now to NOT read this book anyways). I can’t wait to read this one for myself!
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Lol, yes this is like..my 4th review I am reading today
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Glad you enjoyed it so much Missie, but this is really not calling my name.
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Eeep! I didn’t read it cuz I have to do mine today! But I’m sure it was fantastic cuz your reviews always rock!
Huggles to you, Missie Chica!
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I’m really glad you ended up liking it so much in the end! I seriously cannot wait to start it. I love vampires too and many seem to be impressed by it, so I definitely hope I’ll end up loving it as well! Great review.
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Ah! Missie! It breaks my heart that you didn’t absolutely LOVE this book, because I did. </3 I totally understand why you'd be more critical to vampire books than any other kind. And with that, I'm glad you found enjoyable elements in the book. I'm sorry about Allie being TSTL for large portions of the book! But at least Zeke was fabulous, right? Haha
Wonderful and honest review, Missie! 
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I’ll read anything by Julie Kagawa.
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I am really looking forward to reading this book! Even though it is YA I am going to give it a whirl
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haha, yeah the publicity for this book has been pretty off the charts! Okay, well not to the level of Insurgent or anything, but still pretty high.
I agree with a lot of what you’re saying here. I also thought the beginning was a bit slow, a bit bogged down by exposition. But I really started to get into it in Part III as well. Allison didn’t annoy me too much thankfully. And I didn’t mind that there was nothing particularly unique about these vampires – probably just because I don’t read nearly as many vampire books as you do! Speaking of which, I decided after reading this that I was ready to end my ban on vampires! I know how this news must thrill you…
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OMG, you have an imitation fang? That is SO cool. I wonder what a #NakedWerewolf groupie would have. I’ll have to ask Kelly. She’ll know. I just hope it’s not a fur pelt.
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I loved this book. I didn’t think of Allie as TSTL. She made a lot of mistakes but they didn’t seem unrealistic. But I can see how you’d think that. I loved Julie’s unique take on vampire mythology. Kanin was my favorite.
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Fangtastic<–I see what you did there, Missie. And I like it:)
I'm glad you mentioned that the second half is better than the first. I have NO problem DNFing lately and it's good to know that it might be worth it to continue on if I'm not feeling the beginning.
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Having a TSTL heroine would surely doom a book for me but I’m very glad to hear that the second half of the book redeemed your perseverance. And being such a jaded vampire expert, the fact that this one made you breathless by the end is a very good sign indeed!
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