The Eternity Cure

Author: Julie Kagawa
Type: e-book ARC
Source: NetGalley
Genre: Young Adult/Supernatural
Series: Blood of Eden (#2)
Series Order: The Immortal Rules (2012), Eternity Cure (2013)
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: April 30, 2013
First Line: "I smelled blood as soon as I walked into the room."

Book Description: 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.

My Thoughts: So, you've heard of the 'Sophomore Blues', right? Where the first book, CD or movie was amazing but the follow up was not nearly as good?  Well, Julie Kagawa has no need to worry about having Sophomore Blues. The Eternity Cure is the second book in her Blood of Eden series and it is just as wonderful, if not better, that the first book in the series, The Immortal Rules {for my review of The Immortal Rules please click HERE}.

After reading The Immortal Rules last spring I knew that Kagawa had a big task ahead of her if she wanted to impress me with her sophomoric book ... and she did. Wow!  Ms Kagawa continues on with her Blood of Eden series with a fast paced read full of interesting characters, a lot of tension building, emotional scenes and a plot that kept me on the edge of my seat.

This is a dystopian vampire series. I know, right? Those are two extremely overdone genres in today's literary world.  But, Kagawa breathes new life into both of these genres giving her readers a new take on both genres.  She writes a believable yet interesting setting with amazing characters who develop throughout her two books.  She also throws in a bit of romance, amazing fight scenes, a truly sinister 'bad guy' {*shiver*} and a fast-paced story that keeps the reader riveted.  While I realize that this description sounds more like a read that is not of this earth I'm telling you ... Kagawa is where it's at when it comes to vampire/dystopian reads.  Period.  The end.

While I could wax poetic about the pace of the plot, the twists and the amazing fight scenes I think the thing that sets Kagawa's books apart from others in the same genres is her cast of characters.  They are not only believable and flawed in their own right but we see her characters develop before our eyes as the story progresses.

One major example of this is Jackal, Allie's 'blood brother' (meaning that she and Jackal were 'turned' into vampires by the same Sire).  In the first book he plays a fairly minor role.  He's a big, bad dude but that's about it.  In The Eternity Cure he plays a much bigger role and we get to know him better . 

Jackal is a wonderfully complicated character.  At first glance he's just a sarcastic SOB who loves to toy with people and enjoys giving in to his violent side whenever possible.  He brings a wonderfully sarcastic, dark humour to the book and while he does show that he still has a very sadistic side I enjoyed seeing an inkling of the humanity that (I believe) still resides somewhere deep, deep, DEEP down inside him. I think that he needs Allie more than he lets on but he hides his feelings quite well with his snide comments and his dark, animalistic side.  But I still couldn't help but adore him and he quickly became one of my favourite characters of this series so far. 

By taking a fairly tertiary character from the first book (actually there are two such characters) and bringing him into the forefront of the next book, it keeps the storyline fresh. I love how my initial feelings towards Jackal changed from one book to the next.   My point?  There are no clichéd, cookie cutter characters here.

Allie is still the focus of the main storyline and is a very strong main female character.  She's still battling her inner demon, so as her blood lust rears its ugly head we get to see how she fights it on a daily basis ... especially around Zeke.

Then there's Sarren.  Um, wow.  This guy makes Jackal's hijinks in the first book look like child's play.  Sarren is not only one of the most powerful vampires but he's sadistic and ... oh ya, totally and utterly bat crap crazy. Those qualities make for a terrifically terrifying and truly amazing 'bad guy'.  I could imagine his creepy voice as I read his lines.  He has a very disquieting calm about him that gave me the creeps especially as he referred to Allie as "little bird" as he toyed with her. *shiver*

Throughout this book the action and suspense are kept at a high level.  Allie and her group are put through hell (and then some) but Kagawa's writing and how she's developed her world and characters makes the flow believable and, quite honestly, a book that is almost impossible to put down.

Julie Kagawa has quickly become one of my favourite authors.  I eagerly look forward to reading the next book in the series. I'm also looking forward to picking up her Iron Fey series. 

Highly recommended (but make sure that you start with The Immortal Rules).

Note: My deepest thanks to Harlequin Teen and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary e-book copy of The Eternity Cure in exchange for my honest review. 

My Rating: 4.5/5 stars