YA Book Review- The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

eARC
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin TEEN
Series: Blood of Eden #1
Author: Julie Kagawa
Thank you to Harlequin and Net Galley for providing this eARC.

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.

Who's sick of vampire books? Yeah, I was, too.... Until I read THIS vampire book!

Holy frak, did I LOVE The Immortal Rules!

Allie is pretty much my idea of a perfect female character. 5-foot-nothing, tough, rough, strong, smart, and STILL sweet, kind, caring and feminine. 
She takes what life throws at her--which is a LOT--and STILL comes out on top.
The setting and background of the novel are refreshing as well. The story is just different. I loved that.

A post-apocalyptic world where vampires rule and humans are kept as blood-slaves? Epic!
The battles and fights are ah-MAZING. You can almost feel the blood and gore spatter as you read. A big plus for this horror lover! ;)

And the romance! Finally a non-gushy, non-wishy-washy, non-instant-love romance. An actual believable, realistic (er, as realistic as it can be with vampires involved), heartfelt romance.

As the first book in the series, it does wrap up quite nicely....However, you ARE left anticipating book 2, and you WILL have many questions, about three characters in particular, who are certain to have big roles in the next novel.

Honestly, there was not one thing about The Immortal Rules that I didn't like. We all know THAT doesn't happen often! ;)

This would be a great book for older teens--because of the blood and gore mentioned above--And you moms will enjoy this one, too!