Author: Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequinn Teen
Publication Date: April 2012
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Fiction
Series or Stand Alone: Series, Book One
Synopsis can be found here.
NetGalley review.
Review:What. Fun!
Allie, an orphan who scavenges in the Fringe, has a few friends who watch her back. They try to survive, scrounging for food and staying away from Vampires, who inhabit the cities. Humans are used as blood banks and there is no way she's going to feed any of these creatures she hates so much.
That is until she's bitten by one. Given the choice to live as a vampire or die, Allie chooses life as a vampire and is forced to leave her familiar surroundings to venture into the unknown. There she will try to hide herself among the humans, and hope they do not find out her secret.
The story is a slow developing, long road but totally worth it. This is the first Kagawa book I've read and really enjoyed the world building and character development. I loved the vampires, and cities and most of all the zombies! Yes, there are zombie beings too. They're rabid vampires who didn't change correctly, becoming evil and unpredictable creatures. Post apocalyptic vampire world, dark, intense and thrilling.
Allie is so conflicted, filled with self hatred and struggling to become a monster, she's easy to root for. She teeters on the life she knew and the creature she's become, and in any given moment, both sides are in her, fighting to get out. She really becomes this awesome character, strong, sympathetic and dangerous. I'm really interested in seeing how she grows in book two.
Kanin is especially interesting. Her sire, he holds secrets he won't share. But I'm looking forward to learning much more about Kanin in the future!
At first, I thought Zeke was sorta dull. He's in this group of humans Allie stumbles upon, looking for the lost island of Eden, where vampires cannot reach. But as the book went on, he grew on me, becoming a more developed character.
And that's really the hook of this book. It's on the longer side, and it takes a while to get into but once you're in it, you're invested. You're there. And then the ending comes and you say "Wait, what?! But what happened?!" and then you realize its a series and you have to wait for book two.
Stupid series.
Rating 8 Cookie Worthy
Aww you beat me to the review! Mine's much more negative though, haha. So I'm glad you posted this here ;) Glad you had fun. I'd rather read Iron Fey again :D
ReplyDeleteI haven't read Iron Fey yet! But I've heard good things. I'm interested in that. I liked this one quite a bit, but it is my first Julie K book so maybe when I read Iron Fey I'll love that more! :)
DeleteGreat review, I've heard so many great things about this book and about this author. Can't wait to get my hands on this
ReplyDelete