ARC Review: The Forever Song (Blood of Eden #2) by Julie Kagawa

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: April 15, 2014
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
416 Pages

VENGEANCE WILL BE HERS

Allison Sekemoto once struggled with the question: human or monster?

With the death of her love, Zeke, she has her answer.

MONSTER

Allie will embrace her cold vampire side to hunt down and end Sarren, the psychopathic vampire who murdered Zeke. But the trail is bloody and long, and Sarren has left many surprises for Allie and her companions—her creator, Kanin, and her blood brother, Jackal. The trail is leading straight to the one place they must protect at any cost—the last vampire-free zone on Earth, Eden. And Sarren has one final, brutal shock in store for Allie.

In a ruined world where no life is sacred and former allies can turn on you in one heartbeat, Allie will face her darkest days. And if she succeeds, triumph is short-lived in the face of surviving forever alone.

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When I started this book, I knew that first off, it wouldn’t end happy. This comes from the author who pretty much feeds on our tears. So I was expecting heartbreak. How bad? Now that I was unsure of. So I came up with 3 versions of how it was going to end:

Scenario 1. There is no life anymore and there never will be again.

Scenario 2. I feel only pain and happiness doesn’t exist.

Scenario 3. I understand, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it or be ok with it.

While I admit, I thought Kagawa would go for 1 or 2, I ended up getting Scenario 3 – which, not going to lie, still killed me.

Forever Song picks up where the second book ended with our three “musketeers” on the hunt for Sarren. Kanin, Allie and Jackal: one quiet, one angry, and one just flat out amusing. Allie is still dealing with the loss of Zeke at Sarren’s hands and her mind is only on revenge. With every step she takes, she becomes closer to accepting the monster inside her and Jackal is all too happy to help her along. Along their way, they find all of the surprises that Sarren has left for them, including one especially for Allison. 

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What I love about Kagawa’s work is how true she stays to her characters. Throughout all three books, there is a constant growth of every character. While you may not always agree with their actions, they always make sense. We see Allison’s struggle to maintain her humanity for Zeke, and when he’s gone, we see her struggle to accept the monster. She is constantly at war with herself over doing what she thinks people expect of her and what she actually wants to do. Kanin tries to guide her, but there’s only so much he can do. Especially when there’s someone counteracting his every move.

Enter Jackal, who has quickly become one of my favorite characters. I don’t know how Kagawa did it, but she took a character who was egotistical, conceited, sarcastic, and basically an all-around ass and…well, actually he kind of stayed the same, but oh how I loved him. In a book that was so burdened with heartache and horrors, we needed his comic relief. So thank you, Jackal.

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Parts were predictable, but not so much that it ruined the journey for me. The whole series was a giant build-up to the inevitable showdown between Kanin and Sarren, and Kagawa did not disappoint. There were losses and tears and anger but I truly loved this series…and I totally feel like I’ve made my payment in tears to feed Kagawa’s muse. 

Source

I received an e-copy of this novel from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

ARC Review: The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden #2) by Julie Kagawa

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:

Release Date: April 30, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
446 Pages

Out here in the Fringes, there is only one rule: Blood calls to blood. She has done the unthinkable: died so she might continue to live. Now Allie, the reluctant teenage vampire who was cast out of Eden, and Zeke, the human boy who loves her, must attempt to save the world from a deadly new strain of plague. In order to do so, they must first hunt down the monster who holds the promise of the cure—and Allie’s beloved mentor—in his sadistic grip…. Joined by Allie’s blood brother, Jackal, this unlikely posse of companions will brave a landscape stalked by raiders, rabids, and rogue vampires. But even if they survive, they’re bound for the Inner city, and a vicious showdown that will test their bonds in ways they never expected. It may just be that becoming undead was the easy part. Confronting the horrors of Allie’s awakening hunger, her growing feelings for Zeke, and the uncertainties of their future is going to be the ultimate challenge.

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The Eternity Cure… Oh what to say about you. You are everything a person could want in a young adult horror novel. Gore? Check. Violence? Check. A badass chick wielding a katana? Check. Major twists that will leave readers agape? Check. Check. Check.

Julie Kagawa has a real talent, there is no doubt about it. If it wasn't obvious before, it is now. In The Eternity Cure, she brilliantly weaves a hellish tale of vampirism and deadly plagues, all while adding a dash romance. It works very well for the author's prose and the characters that she has developed. This series has brought back the terrifying vampires we grew up with back with a vengeance and it's one that readers won't soon forget!

I read this with my reading buddy, Jen and we both found it difficult to finish without a bottle glass of wine. I'd had a warning beforehand about the way the book ends, but no one really explained how big of a cliffie it really is! Though I could kind of see it coming, it still left me shell-shocked and desperate for the next book! 

Julie Kagawa is brilliant. Not only is the book extremely entertaining, but I found very little faults. I loved the movement of the story, the characters, the writing style and how even though we (thankfully) don't live in this world, Ms. Kagawa makes us understand the anguish of this world. 

The world-building is absolutely phenomenal. The prose is haunting. And the characters? These characters are fantastic. Allie, of course, is an awesome female lead. She's smart, she's strong-willed and she's ruthless when she needs to be. Reading from her perspective is utterly thrilling. Kanin is probably my favorite character though. I am dying to get a glimpse inside his head. He's a real mystery because he is so closed-off! Now… Don't tell Jen, but I actually really liked Jackal in this book as well. That may be the biggest surprise of them all! His not exactly a good guy, but his wit and humor provided the perfect amount of comedic relief, so the reader wouldn't overdose on all of the angst (and boy is there a lot of angst). Zeke… I like Zeke, really I do, but I'm still not in love. He feels a bit too much like a cardboard cutout to me.

Readers who enjoyed the first installment of the Blood of Eden series will love The Eternity Cure even more. I know that was the case for me and I am not usually one for horror--unless it involves zombies. If you haven't read this series yet, I sincerely recommend you do so! It's addictive and fast-paced. I just can't rave enough about it. The Eternity Cure is a thrilling ride that leave reader chomping at the bit for the third novel!

I received an e-copy of this novel from the publisher for my honest opinion and review via Netgalley.

Teaser Tuesday: The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden #2) by Julie Kagawa

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading!

To participate, all you have to do is:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can ad the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

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"The smell of blood hit me soon after, soaking the air and making my stomach turn with Hunger. As we drew closer to the underground camp, voices began to echo out of the tunnels: cries, shouts, angry hisses and snarls."
Chapter 17,  74% e-ARC
The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden #2) by Julie Kagawa

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ARC Review: The Eternity Cure (Blood Of Eden #2) by Julie Kagawa

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:

Release Date: April 30, 2013

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

446 Pages

Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.

Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.

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Review:

The Eternity Cure – basically Kagawa takes your heart, rips it out of your body, stomps on it a few times for good measure, and then proceeds to try to shove it back into you. And I loved every minute of it.

Source

The Eternity Cure picks up a few months after the Immortal Rules ends. Allison has left Zeke and his band of wayward travelers at the gates of Eden while she heads out on a mission to find Kanin, her sire. Alone, just following the internal pull she feels toward those of her blood line. Along the way, she finds a very unlikely ally in her blood brother Jackal. Together they set out searching for Kanin. But Jackal is not the only person from her past she encounters. Her journey plus finding Kanin and the events after leave you not only wanting more, but gasping for breath as you sort out what just happened.

While the Immortal Rules felt a little slow moving at times, Eternity Cure was just the opposite. Never once was there a dull moment, and just when you thought you safe…nope. The writing style was flawless. Kagawa has a way of describing everything in just the right amount of detail, and I loved that she never shied away from the violence of vampires.  

Now, let me take a moment to discuss the characters:

Allison

“I was a monster who killed and prayed on human life. I could never escape that, but at least I could choose what kind of lives I took.”

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It goes without saying that she is badass. She’s an amazing fighter, says what she’s thinking, and always tries to do the right thing. She tries so hard to hold onto that little ounce of humanity left inside of her. And she stands by what she wants and what she believes in. The only person ever to give her reason to pause is Zeke.

Oh Zeke.

“No one who fights so hard to do the right thing is evil.”

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I just want to hold him. Wrap him up in a blanket and protect him from this cruel world because no matter how much horror he sees, he still holds on to that eternal optimism that everything will work out. 

Kanin and Jackal

Allison’s blood family. We got to learn and see a different side of Kanin here and it was interesting how he went from mentor/teacher to Allison, to more like her comrade in arms. He taught her all he knows and now has left it up to her to decide what she does with it. And Jackal- here was a character I never expected to like, especially after the first book. But holy crap if I wasn’t cracking up at all of his one-liners. And the thing about Jackal, he doesn’t beat around the bush. He tells you straight up where his loyalties lie, but that doesn’t mean that he won’t surprise you at times.

Sarren

“Hello, little bird. The camera on this computer is shot to hell, I’m afraid, so we’ll just have to be content with audio. Pity. I really wanted to show you what I’ve been doing. But, perhaps a song is worth a thousand pictures, hmm?”

Shudders. So so creepy. There aren’t words to describe this monster. His calm demeanor while playing with his prey creeps me out to no end.

And I will not name the one person who we meet up with in New Covington, as I don’t want to give everything away. Just know, there’s a certain place in hell carved out especially for you, remember that. 

And that ending...

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I laughed, I gasped, I almost threw my kindle, and I cried. So many different emotions. So many feelings. I need the next one…like now. Not even joking. You listening, Julie?

JENN

 So much thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Teen for allowing me to read this ARC.

Book Review: The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1) by Julie Kagawa

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
485 Pages

To survive in a ruined world, she must embrace the darkness…

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a walled-in 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 dies and becomes one of the monsters.

Forced to flee her city, Allie must pass for human as she joins a ragged group of pilgrims seeking a legend—a place that might have a cure for the disease that killed off most of civilization and created the rabids, the bloodthirsty creatures who threaten human and vampire alike. And soon Allie will have to decide what and who is worth dying for… again.

Enter Julie Kagawa's dark and twisted world as an unforgettable journey begins.

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Review:

In the not so distant future, after a plague called Red Lung spreads through the world, the human race has been overrun by vampires. Masters rule cities where they keep a selection of humans as pets. The rest are registered and brought in on a schedule to give blood to these vampires. Within this society, there is also the unregistered.  The unregistered are the few who refuse to bow to vampire power, and because of this, they live in severe poverty. Often resulting to stealing just to stay alive.

Allison Sekemoto is one of the unregistered. She lives with a small group on the edge of the Fringe (basically the poor side of town). One night, while out scavenging for food, Allison and her group are attacked by rabids (basically vampires/animals with the Red Lung virus). Allison is found, dying, but a vampire called Kanin. He gives her a choice: she can die or she can become a vampire. She chooses the latter.

A majority of the first part of the book is spent with Kanin training Allison. He tells her about the history of vampires, how a vampire master tried to help human scientists cure the plague by producing vampires to experiment on (this creating rabids), he teaches her how to feed, to hunt, basically to survive. And he constantly reminds her that she is no longer human, that she needs to cut ties to her mortality and realize what she is.

”Sometime in your life, Allison Sekemoto, you will kill a human being. Accidentally or as a conscious, deliberate act, it is unavoidable. The question is not if it will happen, but when. Do you understand?”

When Allison and Kanin are forced apart, Allison must learn to survive on her own. She sets off out into the night, not knowing where she’s going, but knowing that she can’t stay in her city. Along the way she meets a group of surviving humans searching for Eden, a place where no vampires live. Unwillingly, she joins with them, all the while trying to keep her secret.

It has been a really long time since I’ve read a vampire book in YA that wasn’t tamed down or romanticized to the point where they ceased to exist being terrifying creatures of the night. Because let’s face it, that’s what vampires are. And that’s exactly what Julie Kagawa writes. These vampires are deadly, dangerous, and need to survive on human blood.

Now for the characters. Allison is fierce. She’s driven and stubborn and doesn’t follow orders very well. She knows what she is, but fights to be something more. She’s a strong female who makes hard decisions and sticks to them. And she fights – not just physically, but for what she believes in.

Then there’s Zeke. Oh Zeke…you and your optimism. You know that boy who sees the good in everyone and believes every cloud has a silver lining? That’s Zeke in a nutshell. But luckily, he’s also so much more than that and I feel that Kagawa had only begun to scratch the surface of this character.

Kanin – the teacher. When we last see him, well, I’ll just say, all isn’t that well. He was only in it for a short amount of time, but he had so much presence. He commanded attention when he was around. I really hope to see him in future books.

Jeb – the leader. What a character this one was, huh? Not gonna lie, Jeb was a little hard for me to stomach. His attitude and outlook mixed with his cold demeanor did nothing to endear this man to me…but I also understood him. He had his secrets, yes. But I couldn’t fault him for his reasoning.

Last one’s I’m going to mention: the human travelling group. The group that Allison finds herself a part of, a group she would die to protect. There were the children: -Caleb and Bethany (I ADORED Caleb), Ruth – the teenage girl in love with Zeke and insanely jealous of Allison (come on, there had to be one), Darren – Zeke’s closest friend and warrior, Dorothy – the crazy lady who saw angels, Teresa, Jake, Matthew, and Silas – all family, all important, all characters to grow attached to.

While the beginning was a little slow, I understood why. Kagawa was setting up her world, setting up Allisons training. Once Allison meets up with the group, the book takes off. There’s deception, lies, action scenes so visual you think you’re actually watching TV, confusion, pain, and death. I applaud authors who don’t shy away from killing off characters they know fans are going to love. It just evokes that much more emotion out of us, and I loved every second of it.

For this was my first book by Julie Kagawa, it definitely won’t be my last. 

JENN

I received an e-copy of this novel for my honest opinion and review from the publisher via Netgalley.

Book Review: The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1) by Julie Kagawa

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
485 Pages

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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Review:
"'You are no longer human. You are a predator, and the sooner you accept that, the easier this life, this existence, will become.'"

The Immortal Rules is a adrenaline-pumping, action-filled novel that is sure to be enjoyed by vampire lovers!

What a way to start a story! Ms. Kagawa is not afraid to dive right in and that is something to admire.

Allison or Allie as she is called in the beginning is the main character and she is not exactly a nice person. In the beginning, I didn't like reading from her point of view because all her thoughts were negative. Though it was great to read about a character who loved to read and risked her life by doing so. That's my kind of girl. I'm sure we would've been friends, if she could stop being so mean.

This book is so gory and frightening! I normally don't read horrors novels and even though this isn't classified as a horror story, it definitely has elements in it that make it a horror. I had heard so many  good things about this that I had to give it a try! I'm so glad I did. I LOVED the gore and action in this novel. I literally became hooked on it. Allison is hardcore and an amazing fighter. I was captivated by her action scenes.

What I noticed? Julie Kagawa likes the word "glass." She especially likes "broken glass and windows." After a while, it really started to bother me. I counted some form of the phrase "broken glass" twenty times in the first thirty percent of this novel. Much of the author's language is repetitive. I also found a few spelling and grammatical errors, but since this is an ARC, I'm sure they will be fixed for the final copies.

Just after I began this novel, I heard that it was going to be made into a movie. After that news, I actually started to enjoy it more because the way Ms. Kagawa writes gives you great visuals. You can see the story perfectly as it unfolds. I can't wait to see what they can do with this!

I really got into the book about half way through. Allison, which is what she is called by the group she happens upon, really changes. You can see her adjust to being a vampire. Honestly, I think it changed her for the better. She doesn't exactly mature, but she begins to the world and people differently. She begins to care about the welfare of others. That's why I started to enjoy it. Her transformation makes her a likable character.

This book gets pretty angsty at times. I love it! I can't read a book without conflict and this had some great problems and even better villains. Some of the "villains" in this story aren't actually villains, but they definitely aren't good. In this crazy world that Ms. Kagawa created, you can see how people would change. It really makes sense, too.

The ending was very rushed. I pretty much skimmed it, because even through skimming, you could get the gist of the last few major events. I was very annoyed in the change of pace and the lack of my favorite characters. Allison and Zeke were pretty much the main characters, but I wish the author would've included the minor characters more. I loved Kanin and wanted to see more of him.

I am really looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book! This was a good book, not my favorite, but definitely worth reading! 

I received an e-copy of this novel from the publisher from Netgalley for my honest opinion and review.