The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden #2)

The Eternity Cure was a worthy sequel to The Immortal Rules. Enticing and thrilling, there is an everhigher climb to a heightening of stakes throughout the book. Julie Kagawa keeps proving herself as an author and The Eternity Cure is the best work by her yet.

The Immortal Rules captivated me with it's original premise and snarky main character and The Eternity Cure only built on those qualities. Allison remains a fantastic main character who is completely witty. The return of other characters from book 1 was a real treat as well - I won't say who, as that would spoil, but Julie Kagawa surprised me at every turn. It was like a big fiesta at times.

The plot in this one is SO good. It definitely did not go where I was expecting and Julie Kagawa managed to keep me surprised at ever turn. There were only a few pieces I was able to pick up before they happened, but how they happened managed to shock me even more than just figuring them out I think. Also, Julie Kagawa writes some fierce action scenes. They are one of the best parts of her books.

The ending is an absolute killer - I was so emotionally involved in the book by this point that I was gasping and getting the chills at the complete turn Kagawa throws at readers. I CANNOT wait for book 3. The Eternity Cure had me absolutely riveted - I was stuck to my chair and did not want to put it down the entire time.

What I Loved:

In this compelling sequel to last year's IMMORTAL RULES, Ms. Kagawa delivers yet another fast-paced, gritty story that is as much about defeating the villain as it is about holding on to what makes us human.

The world building is flawless--the reader is completely immersed in the post-apocalyptic, plague-infested, vampire-ruled world Kagawa has created. From the ruined monuments of the previous civilization to the opulence of the vampire towers, there isn't a single false note.

The plot is fast-paced while still giving the reader some breathing room with the characters. Twists and turns will catch the reader by surprise and keep the reader turning pages long past bedtime.

Kagawa is particularly adept at delivering flawed, nuanced characters who sometimes surprise the reader. Vampires in Kagawa's world are monsters, but the heroine is discovering that she can choose what kind of monster she wants to be. Humans aren't always any better than the monsters they fear. And true love (and trust) is hard to come by, but is infinitely precious.

The first book in this series revived my love of post-apocalyptic novels while also convincing me that I wasn't quite done with vampires. This second installment simply solidifies that conclusion.

What Left Me Wanting More:

Nothing. ETERNITY CURE is a strong sequel to IMMORTAL RULES. Both the plot and the characters kept me fully engaged.

Final Verdict:

ETERNITY CURE is a compelling story. Come for the monsters, the mayhem, and the gripping tension. Stay for the thread of hope that binds it all together. This is dark, gritty, and authentic dystopian done right.

I was lucky enough to read THE IMMORTAL RULES when it was a 2012 Cybil's nominated book. Not another vampire book, I thought. Boy, was I dead wrong! And the second book ETERNITY CURE is even better than the first!

I mean, what's not to love? There's Allie, one kick-ass heroine who happens to love Zeke, a human. We first meet him in The Immortal Rules when Allie leaves him at Eden, the paradise without vampires. The ending was bittersweet as she has to leave because she's a vampire.

In Eternity Cure, Allie is on a mission to find Kanin, her mentor, who is being tortured by sociopath vamp Sarren. Then she stumbles on Zeke, who she thought she left back in Eden. While around him, she struggles with her human emotions and the 'monster' inside. They're on a race to find the cure for rabidism which is now not only killing humans but vamps as well.

I swear I was on the edge of my seat following Allie as she searched for Kanin. Her raw emotions she feels whenever she's around Zeke pull at your heartstrings and you hope they can be together. Theirs is a forbidden love. He's very much a human while she's a vampire. This is where it would have been so easy to do a Twilight turn. Instead the author digs deep into both characters and readers are rewarded with an awesome story that is guaranteed to keep you up late at night.

There's action, suspense, mystery, and also a love story. Plus, betrayal from those around her. Who can she trust?

I was sucked right into this story. There's twists and turns and major revelations from characters. Not everyone is what they seem to be including Zeke. Exactly what is his motive to find Allie?

And Stick is back! Here's another example where the author could have left him as the cowardly, weak friend who stabs Allie in the back by betraying her. No, instead we see him now in the vampire tower that Allie hated when she lived outside of the Fringe. Now he's Mr. Stephen and he has his own secrets which involve some unresolved issues with Allie.

Great pacing, dynamtic chemistry between not only Allie and Zeke but her blood brother Jackal. Loved the dialogue between these two. And what is behind the cure is another major 'omg' reveal.

The ending had me gasping. I seriously got chills. And there's one scene that is so heart wrenching, I had to stop reading for a few. I won't give any spoilers but do suggest you keep a box of tissues close by.

Emotion-packed vampire/dystopian tale with amazing writing and characters that make you hate to close the book. Plus some scream worthy revelations. Can't wait to read more!

DISCLAIMER: This review, try as I might, will not do justice to this book...

I enjoyed THE IMMORTAL RULES (BLOOD OF EDEN #1) SO much I wrote a poem but THE ETERNITY CURE left me speechless - and rocking back and forth in a corner.

What I Loved: Julie Kagawa tells a story like few people can and this book wrecked me. She is a master world builder whose characters are complex, flawed yet easily relateable. I was sucked right back into Allie's world and I held my breath in anticipation throughout most of it as I watched Allie and company in their bloody and often violent journey for the cure.

Allie has become one of my very favorite heroines, she is an amazing mix of strength, courage and vulnerability and she's constantly striving to do the right thing despite what it may cost her. I enjoyed getting to know Kanin more and even Jackal, the smart-mouth bloodsucker who is exactly how I imagine a vampire to be.

Sarren, however, is the epitome of evil and I hope Allie guts him like a fish in the end! Yeah, I said it. COME AT ME SARREN! *hides behind Allie and her giant sword*

Then there is Zeke...I fell in lurve with Preacher Boy Ezekiel Crosse in book one and sweet baby bloodbags, he is even MORE perfect in this sequel! Zeke really is a light in Allie's dark world and the one person who has the ability to see past all that she despises about herself to the heart of her and his selfless bravery is no match even for the most evil of creatures.

What left me wanting: There are NO WORDS for the final chapters of this book... NO.WORDS. *clutches chest*

Final verdict: Fans of THE IMMORTAL RULES will not be disappointed, but you should prepare yourselves because this book is like a stab in the feels with a katana.

Favorite quote: "You're not evil...No one who fights so hard to do the right thing is evil."

The Eternity Cure picks up a few months after The Immortal Rules leaves off, after Allie has left behind her human friends - including Zeke, the human boy she had grown to love - at Eden, the last remaining vampire-free city. Now she's using her sire bond - a psychic link with the vampire who created her - to track Kanin, and it leads her to her former home, where she encounters a new, deadly plague, as well as some faces from her past she thought were gone forever.

Just like in The Immortal Rules, Julie Kagawa does not shy away from the ugliness of her world. These vampires are not glamorous (even the glamorous ones have an ick-factor), and the world they rule is beyond grim. This is a series where I never feel complacent and I never assume that a character is safe simply because they're important. She keeps the tension high and the action intense from the beginning through to the end, and just when I thought I might get a break -- she'd raise the stakes again.

Some of the secondary characters in The Immortal Rules come front and center in The Eternity Cure, which was awesome. We get to spend a good chunk of time with Jackal, the vampire prince who we last saw staking Allie and throwing her out a window. He returns, dark and snarky as ever, and walks an impressively fine line between villain and reluctant hero. Like all the best villains, he is layered and complex, and is true to himself above all else.

Kanin is also back, and I love him just as much as I did in the first book. I am a sucker for the strong, noble, self-sacrificing type - provided they are not sappy and patronizing - and Kanin fills this role perfectly. He is unwavering in his morals and convictions, and they drive every action he makes, but he is also a man who has made many mistakes, and realizes they come with a price. I cannot say enough good things about his character. There should be more Kanins, both in books and in life.

Zeke and Allie both come into their own a bit in this book. In The Immortal Rules, so much of their relationship was hindered by secrecy. Now, they each know up front who the other is, and have to decide whether or not to come to terms with that. I enjoyed both of them, and appreciated their increased honesty, and the closeness that came from it. I also liked seeing Allie embrace her humanity a bit more, and seeing Zeke really examine his beliefs, instead of just accepting what his father believed. There was good growth from both of them.

As far as the plot, I think I'm becoming a bit immune to plot twists, because I watched everyone freak out about the twists in this book when it was released, and none of them really surprised me. BUT! That didn't lessen my enjoyment of the book in the least - just because I suspect something is coming doesn't mean I enjoy watching it unfold any less. So I can't comment on how surprising or satisfying the twists are. What I can say is that the plotting is tight, the action is prevalent, and once you get to the twisty parts - she pulls no punches. NONE. AT ALL. I begin to wonder if she's even heard of pulling punches.

The Eternity Cure is a solid follow-up to The Immortal Rules, filled with intense action, thoughtfully developed and varied characters, and break-neck pacing that will keep you turning pages well into the night. Just make sure to keep the light on, because here, there be monsters.

What I Loved:
Julie Kagawa can write the heck out of some action scenes. She keeps the pace of Blood of Eden moving at a steady clip. There's pretty much always something exciting happening: sneaking, chase scenes, verbal sparring, kissing, or battles to the death. On top of that, the stakes are definitely raised. Where The Immortal Rules focused primarily on Allison fighting to maintain her humanity and on rescuing a little tribe of humans, in The Eternity Cure Allison is still trying to avoid becoming a monster, all while attempting to rescue Kanin her maker from a plot with far-reaching consequences.

Another big plus of this series is that, unlike Kagawa's Iron Fey series, romance is a very minor element in the plot. Survival comes first, and thinking about boys and their feelings comes second. For readers who like romance, yes, there is some, but the book doesn't go in the love triangle direction I was expecting. Plus, Allie doesn't just sit around all the time thinking about Zeke when she should be doing other things. Romance doesn't keep Allie from being a force to be reckoned with, especially when armed with her katana.

My favorite character, and my favorite aspect of The Eternity Cure, is Jackal. He's Allie's "brother," as he was also sired by Kanin. He also killed Zeke's dad and a couple of others from that little group, so he's her enemy. However, they have to team up to find Kanin/a cure for rabidism. Listen, Jackal isn't the most trustworthy guy around, but he knows what he is. What can I say? I'm weak to characters that unapologetically wield sarcasm. Jackal's black humor and brutal honesty are necessary to counteract Allie's endless optimism in the face of this post-apocalyptic world.

What Left Me Wanting More:
What kept The Eternity Cure from being a more beloved book of mine were the other characters. Both Allie and Zeke lack spark. They're nice, sure, but they're boring. They reminded me a lot of Stefan and Elena in TVD, right down to me rooting for the demise of their relationship. Kanin still has a lot of potential to be a fascinating character, but he gets so little actual screen time. In a first person narration, it's just really hard to care overly about where the book is headed if you don't love the MC.

The ending, too, was a mite disappointing. Kagawa employs one of my least favorite plot devices to bring everything to a close, which left me disappointed. I wanted the book to be just that slightest bit darker, even though I knew there was probably no way Kagawa would actually go there.

The Final Verdict:
Kagawa's Blood of Eden series is cinematic and packed to the brim with action. If you enjoy vampires or dystopian/post-apocalyptic scenarios, this is a series you will not want to miss. I'm looking forward to book three, and hoping the romance between Zeke and Allie will fizzle out, though I doubt it.