Review: The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

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.

The best part of reading The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1) by Julie Kagawa was how much I liked the main character. She was never stupid, never all "oh, what me, I am special?” She was above that, trying to survive. PLUS her struggle between being a vampire and holding on to her humanity was riveting.

• Originality: 6. Outside the wall definitely made me think of The Road by Cormac McCarthy mashed with I Am Legend mashed with a general coming of age story. While the setup was derivative, this was not a deal breaker! The Immortal Rules comes out with a 6 for giving us a vamp’s POV.
• Absurdity: 2. I liked the world building a lot and bought the whole vampire-controlled world. The only thing that felt ridiculous was Allie’s evil vampire nemesis.
• Level of Paranormal Romance: 4. Hello, vampire and forbid human love! I have missed you as a trope in my YA fiction! I liked Zeke but didn’t feel like there was enough substance behind his feelings for Allie. Maybe he liked her most because she was the new girl? His little group wasn't exactly brimming with potential love interests.
• Level of Harry Potterness: 3. As Goosie Mama might say, I am not reading this for it’s literary sophistication. The Immortal Rules is completely plot driven--but it was a fun ride.

 Did I mention the cool final scene? Allie’s character might be a bit predictable but she is bad-ass nonetheless less. Kagawa leaves us wanting to know more on two plot lines while avoiding annoying cliffhangers. Yay! Bring on the sequel.