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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
More reviews at Rondo of a Possible World: YA Book Reviews
If there is one thing that I can expect from Julie Kagawa, it's a kickass story with the same qualities of kickass with a main protagonist and I love it!
When faced with the choice of a human death or to remain alive but Turned into a vampire, the very beings that Allison has learned to hate for years on end, she chooses the one choice: to live. Struggling to keep her humanity straight, Allison journeys along the path as a newly born vampire in a society that shuns her and an old world that fears her while she tries to come to terms and accept who she's become or to dwell in her past human life and diverge from the demon she'd become.
Action. The one thing that will keep me interested in a novel and Ms. Kagawa doesn't fail to keep it short or sweet but fluid and long lasting. Every moment was a ride, progressing forward from Allison's point of view as she struggles within a world as well as within herself. That's what makes he wonderful, so complex, so riveting. I often feel bad for her, to hate the beings for stripping her mother from her and ultimately choose to become one in order to escape death. I feel bad for the friends that she lost and the fact that she has to hide who she has truly become in order to maintain that sense of humanity, a remembrance of her old self while masking the new one within. Allison is definitely a character to behold. Witty, crafty, sharp-tongued, and killer with a katana.
In the beginning of the novel there is quite a bit of an information dump as Allison begins her new life as a vampire and just the absorption of the information took me a little bit to space out and comprehend. That was the only thing that stood out for me as a kink in the novel. The world that Ms. Kagawa created was wonderfully scripted and destructive world. Not only that but after reading vampire book after vampire book I finally got to read the pure and evil essence of the creatures: the bloodsuckers that feed, hunt, defile. Not. Sparkle. And I loved it. Thank you!
The Immortal Rules is a wonderful first installment to the Blood of Eden series and something that everyone should pick up off the shelves because it does not disappoint. Not in the slightest.
If there is one thing that I can expect from Julie Kagawa, it's a kickass story with the same qualities of kickass with a main protagonist and I love it!
When faced with the choice of a human death or to remain alive but Turned into a vampire, the very beings that Allison has learned to hate for years on end, she chooses the one choice: to live. Struggling to keep her humanity straight, Allison journeys along the path as a newly born vampire in a society that shuns her and an old world that fears her while she tries to come to terms and accept who she's become or to dwell in her past human life and diverge from the demon she'd become.
Action. The one thing that will keep me interested in a novel and Ms. Kagawa doesn't fail to keep it short or sweet but fluid and long lasting. Every moment was a ride, progressing forward from Allison's point of view as she struggles within a world as well as within herself. That's what makes he wonderful, so complex, so riveting. I often feel bad for her, to hate the beings for stripping her mother from her and ultimately choose to become one in order to escape death. I feel bad for the friends that she lost and the fact that she has to hide who she has truly become in order to maintain that sense of humanity, a remembrance of her old self while masking the new one within. Allison is definitely a character to behold. Witty, crafty, sharp-tongued, and killer with a katana.
In the beginning of the novel there is quite a bit of an information dump as Allison begins her new life as a vampire and just the absorption of the information took me a little bit to space out and comprehend. That was the only thing that stood out for me as a kink in the novel. The world that Ms. Kagawa created was wonderfully scripted and destructive world. Not only that but after reading vampire book after vampire book I finally got to read the pure and evil essence of the creatures: the bloodsuckers that feed, hunt, defile. Not. Sparkle. And I loved it. Thank you!
The Immortal Rules is a wonderful first installment to the Blood of Eden series and something that everyone should pick up off the shelves because it does not disappoint. Not in the slightest.
Originally posted at: http://girlzandtheirbooks.blogspot.com/2012/07/review-immortal-rules-by-julie-kagawa.html
~Review:
A Beginning note: Wow!! Julie has done it once again....amazed me and has blown my mind with her amazing writing talent!! This book stands proud and tall in my favorites!!! A trophy worth showing off! ;)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now, everyone knows Julie Kagawa is my favorite author. Her books the Iron Fey Series got me hooked on my so called book obsession I have today. And when I heard she was coming out with a new series? I was sooo excited!! Another great book like the Iron King!! WRONG!! This book is nothing like the Iron Fey. Not. One. Bit.
This book was truly amazing! Whatever you do. Do not go into reading this book thinking it will resemble the last books. But that often happens doesn't it? An author rights something and then their next series will be different...but you will see the similarities.Not at all the case here. Where the fae books was all beauty and glory this one was all dark and run down. The vampires took over the world and nature has destroyed the buildings and structures of man kind.
The only similarities you see is the amazing talent of Mrs. Kagawa. How great and wonderful her imagination spreads and transfers into words on a paper for all to enjoy. How great her details are. How she uses her words...her writing is...pure perfection. I have read enough books to see that some authors try too hard with vocabulary and their comparisons ("his touch was as light as a butterflies wings" whatever. you get the point.) Some authors over due it. Vocabulary: too many big words when not needed. Or not enough where it's like a childs book. Julie uses those big words correctly. When a simple word doesn't get the point across then she uses a more colorful word. Comparisons: way too detailed. Or no details at all. Again, Julie pulls through and uses them when she should and has a great comparison!
Now onto the book.....Right from the beginning I was trapped in between the pages of this awesome book. You get enough information about this new world to understand it but later on you learn more. This book took vampire's to a whole new world! Since the Twilight series people have tried to write vampire books and while some have succeeded....others have failed. Julie definitely made a succeeding book! And it totally kicks the Twilight series a$$!
Speaking of kicking a$$ lets talk about Allie...dude this chick was fantastic! She was a total kick butt character even before she became a vampire! She was fearless when it came to the people she cared about. Ya, she was taught to think for yourself, that's the only way how to survive but let's face it...Allie doesn't follow the rules. No one. And I mean...no one. tells her what to do. She tries so hard to be the best vampire she can be....but when it comes to the Hunger....she has no choice but to embrace her killer instincts..but she fights...she fights so hard and she is truly remarkable! I loved her character a lot!
All the characters were somewhat likeable! (except for those who were made to not be liked of course) Kanin was an awesome vampire mentor. And his secrets....are just coming undone. (Can't wait for book 2 yo!!) And of course....Zeke...he was amazing! Again...not even here, the boy love interest, can you compare to the Iron Fey. He is nothing like Puck or Ash. He is so....Zeke! I loved him. I hated him. I wanted to devour him and eat him for dinner ;)
And...I gotta finish this review up. If you are at the book store and this book is there and you ask your self....Take it....or leave it?? Your answer: Grab the freaking book and run the heck out of there to begin reading! (after paying of course! I don't want to be blamed for you stuck in jail) haha
Ya....Darn you Julie for addicting me! ;b Is there ever going to be a book from you that I won't like?? Answer: No. Because you are to great of an author!! I love everything thus far! Your writing never seizes to amaze me! My favorite author of all times write here ya'll
This book has romance, a$$ whooping, crazy plot twists, amazing imagery and all that is great wrapped into one. Julie did a phenomenal job. Definitely worth re-reading several times!
~Rating:
4.5 wonderful stars!! :D
Thanks for stopping by!! :)
Have a great day!
~Jaiden
~Review:
A Beginning note: Wow!! Julie has done it once again....amazed me and has blown my mind with her amazing writing talent!! This book stands proud and tall in my favorites!!! A trophy worth showing off! ;)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now, everyone knows Julie Kagawa is my favorite author. Her books the Iron Fey Series got me hooked on my so called book obsession I have today. And when I heard she was coming out with a new series? I was sooo excited!! Another great book like the Iron King!! WRONG!! This book is nothing like the Iron Fey. Not. One. Bit.
This book was truly amazing! Whatever you do. Do not go into reading this book thinking it will resemble the last books. But that often happens doesn't it? An author rights something and then their next series will be different...but you will see the similarities.Not at all the case here. Where the fae books was all beauty and glory this one was all dark and run down. The vampires took over the world and nature has destroyed the buildings and structures of man kind.
The only similarities you see is the amazing talent of Mrs. Kagawa. How great and wonderful her imagination spreads and transfers into words on a paper for all to enjoy. How great her details are. How she uses her words...her writing is...pure perfection. I have read enough books to see that some authors try too hard with vocabulary and their comparisons ("his touch was as light as a butterflies wings" whatever. you get the point.) Some authors over due it. Vocabulary: too many big words when not needed. Or not enough where it's like a childs book. Julie uses those big words correctly. When a simple word doesn't get the point across then she uses a more colorful word. Comparisons: way too detailed. Or no details at all. Again, Julie pulls through and uses them when she should and has a great comparison!
Now onto the book.....Right from the beginning I was trapped in between the pages of this awesome book. You get enough information about this new world to understand it but later on you learn more. This book took vampire's to a whole new world! Since the Twilight series people have tried to write vampire books and while some have succeeded....others have failed. Julie definitely made a succeeding book! And it totally kicks the Twilight series a$$!
Speaking of kicking a$$ lets talk about Allie...dude this chick was fantastic! She was a total kick butt character even before she became a vampire! She was fearless when it came to the people she cared about. Ya, she was taught to think for yourself, that's the only way how to survive but let's face it...Allie doesn't follow the rules. No one. And I mean...no one. tells her what to do. She tries so hard to be the best vampire she can be....but when it comes to the Hunger....she has no choice but to embrace her killer instincts..but she fights...she fights so hard and she is truly remarkable! I loved her character a lot!
All the characters were somewhat likeable! (except for those who were made to not be liked of course) Kanin was an awesome vampire mentor. And his secrets....are just coming undone. (Can't wait for book 2 yo!!) And of course....Zeke...he was amazing! Again...not even here, the boy love interest, can you compare to the Iron Fey. He is nothing like Puck or Ash. He is so....Zeke! I loved him. I hated him. I wanted to devour him and eat him for dinner ;)
And...I gotta finish this review up. If you are at the book store and this book is there and you ask your self....Take it....or leave it?? Your answer: Grab the freaking book and run the heck out of there to begin reading! (after paying of course! I don't want to be blamed for you stuck in jail) haha
Ya....Darn you Julie for addicting me! ;b Is there ever going to be a book from you that I won't like?? Answer: No. Because you are to great of an author!! I love everything thus far! Your writing never seizes to amaze me! My favorite author of all times write here ya'll
This book has romance, a$$ whooping, crazy plot twists, amazing imagery and all that is great wrapped into one. Julie did a phenomenal job. Definitely worth re-reading several times!
~Rating:
4.5 wonderful stars!! :D
Thanks for stopping by!! :)
Have a great day!
~Jaiden
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Settings/Atmosphere: 5/5
Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Connection: 5/5
This can be a little bit more slice of life than plot heavy, but it still manages to stay fast paced and interesting as Allie navigates her new life and relationships. I think the characters manage to be complex, especially Allie and her love interest Zeke. I understand why they are drawn to each other, why they admire each other, and why they're good for each other because they are both full characters.
Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Connection: 5/5
This can be a little bit more slice of life than plot heavy, but it still manages to stay fast paced and interesting as Allie navigates her new life and relationships. I think the characters manage to be complex, especially Allie and her love interest Zeke. I understand why they are drawn to each other, why they admire each other, and why they're good for each other because they are both full characters.
I thought this was a great book for those who love dystopian and vampire lore. The story was different in the respect that it doesn't romantize vampirism and you don't get a typical girl meets boy they fall in love the end love story! I would recommend this book to teens who are looking to fill the twilight/hunger games void!
Jugendbuch-Fantasy-Lesern wird der Name Julie Kagawa durch die Reihen Plötzlich Fee und Plötzlich Prinz sicherlich bekannt sein. Ich habe zuvor noch nie etwas von ihr gelesen – und hätte ich das Cover zu Unsterblich vorher betrachtet, hätte ich das eventuell auch nie (ich las es als ebook). Ich finde es überhaupt nicht hübsch und zum Buch passend!
Vor etwa hundert Jahren breitete sich ein Virus aus und tötete viele Menschen. Bei dem Versuch, ein Heilmittel zu finden, wurden Experimente an Menschen und den bis dahin im verborgenen lebenden Vampiren durchgeführt. Dabei entstanden die Verseuchten, menschenfressende, nachtaktive Bestien. Um ihre Nahrungsquellen, die Menschen, zu schützen, errichteten die Vampire Schutzwälle rund um die verbliebenen Städte, über die sie herrschen. In einer dieser Städte, New Covington, lebt die siebzehnjährige Allie, die jeden Tag ums Überleben kämpft und Heldin dieser Geschichte ist.
“Katniss aus Tribute von Panem hat eine Konkurrentin bekommen: Allison aus der neuen Buchreihe Unsterblich.”
Radio ERF Pop (19.06.2013)
Ich will nicht zu viel vom Inhalt verraten. Es handelt sich um einen Vampirroman (natürlich wird Allie auch zu einem), es geht um Liebe und Freundschaft, den Kampf zwischen Gut und Böse, den Ursprung der Versuchten, und vor allem gibt es ganz viel Action! Die Story ist wahnsinnig spannend! Teil eins habe an zwei Tagen gelesen, nun bei Teil zwei kann ich kaum Pausen zwischen dem Lesen machen.
Alle Charaktere sind mir in der kurzen Zeit sehr ans Herz gewachsen. Doch vor allem toll finde ich, dass die Liebesgeschichte nicht im Vordergrund steht und das Buch nicht ins Kitschige abrutscht, was bei Vampirbüchern ja meist der Fall ist. Allie ist eher ein Einzelgänger und wundert sich selber sehr über ihre plötzlichen Gefühle.
Was mir auch super gefiel, sind die vielen Anspielungen auf unsere Zeit, also die Zeit vor der Epidemie. Allie (die asiatischer Herkunft ist,) soll sich zum Beispiel eine Waffe aussuchen. Sie greift zu einem Katana Schwert, ohne zu wissen, das dies die Waffe der Samurai war.
Ich glaube an die anderen Bücher von Julie Kagawa traue ich mich nicht heran (die Titel klingen schon so kitschig, und ich genieße so, dass Unsterblich so viel Action und Kampfszenen enthält), aber die beiden Fortsetzungen zu lesen kann ich kaum erwarten!
Vor etwa hundert Jahren breitete sich ein Virus aus und tötete viele Menschen. Bei dem Versuch, ein Heilmittel zu finden, wurden Experimente an Menschen und den bis dahin im verborgenen lebenden Vampiren durchgeführt. Dabei entstanden die Verseuchten, menschenfressende, nachtaktive Bestien. Um ihre Nahrungsquellen, die Menschen, zu schützen, errichteten die Vampire Schutzwälle rund um die verbliebenen Städte, über die sie herrschen. In einer dieser Städte, New Covington, lebt die siebzehnjährige Allie, die jeden Tag ums Überleben kämpft und Heldin dieser Geschichte ist.
“Katniss aus Tribute von Panem hat eine Konkurrentin bekommen: Allison aus der neuen Buchreihe Unsterblich.”
Radio ERF Pop (19.06.2013)
Ich will nicht zu viel vom Inhalt verraten. Es handelt sich um einen Vampirroman (natürlich wird Allie auch zu einem), es geht um Liebe und Freundschaft, den Kampf zwischen Gut und Böse, den Ursprung der Versuchten, und vor allem gibt es ganz viel Action! Die Story ist wahnsinnig spannend! Teil eins habe an zwei Tagen gelesen, nun bei Teil zwei kann ich kaum Pausen zwischen dem Lesen machen.
Alle Charaktere sind mir in der kurzen Zeit sehr ans Herz gewachsen. Doch vor allem toll finde ich, dass die Liebesgeschichte nicht im Vordergrund steht und das Buch nicht ins Kitschige abrutscht, was bei Vampirbüchern ja meist der Fall ist. Allie ist eher ein Einzelgänger und wundert sich selber sehr über ihre plötzlichen Gefühle.
Was mir auch super gefiel, sind die vielen Anspielungen auf unsere Zeit, also die Zeit vor der Epidemie. Allie (die asiatischer Herkunft ist,) soll sich zum Beispiel eine Waffe aussuchen. Sie greift zu einem Katana Schwert, ohne zu wissen, das dies die Waffe der Samurai war.
Ich glaube an die anderen Bücher von Julie Kagawa traue ich mich nicht heran (die Titel klingen schon so kitschig, und ich genieße so, dass Unsterblich so viel Action und Kampfszenen enthält), aber die beiden Fortsetzungen zu lesen kann ich kaum erwarten!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden Series #1) RATING: 4.5 stars-ish.
I'm still not sure why I liked this book so much... I just did. Allison was kick-ass and the author blended various storylines almost seamlessly. The writing was great, as usual, simple and with a cinematic-like quality and the love interest was actually likable (needed a little more development though, as did the world).
-----------------------------
Portuguese review:
AVISO: Spoilers
Há livros que são intrinsecamente bons; não me refiro a livros assim classificados pelas sumidades da literatura ou por quem atribui o Prémio Nobel da Literatura ou o Pulitzer... mas sim segundo os leitores. Há livros que possuem todas as qualidades para integrarem aquela prateleira dos "favoritos" porque simplesmente contêm todos os 'ingredientes' necessários para nos proporcionar bons momentos.
The Immortal Rules, de Julie Kagawa é, para mim, um desses livros. Não sei se gostei dele o suficiente para o integrar na minha prateleira dos "favoritos", mas este é definitivamente um livro que li com muito gosto e que reúne alguns dos elementos sobre os quais mais gosto de ler: vampiros, sociedades distópicas e elementos sobrenaturais.
Julie Kagawa é uma autora de fantasia urbana juvenil bem conhecida nos Estados Unidos. A sua série, The Iron Fey, é bastante popular e interessante (na minha opinião), por misturar mitos e criaturas antigos com elementos modernos (talvez até seja um pouco ficção científica, suponho? Não sei, percebo pouco de classificações deste género).
The Immortal Rules segue a história de Allison Sekemoto, uma jovem de dezassete anos que vive uma existência miserável. Ela vive numa cidade controlada por vampiros, que "obrigam" todos os humanos a registarem-se como doadores de sangue. Há sempre uma alternativa, claro... uma pessoa pode sempre não se registar; mas em contrapartida não tem direito a comida e a água.
Allison tomou a decisão de não se registar pelo que vive da mendigagem e dos roubos oportunísticos (qualquer pessoa não registada apanhada a roubar é imediatamente condenada à morte).
Para além das muralhas da cidade dos vampiros não existe nada a não ser os restos de uma civilização perdida que os humanos controlavam e os rábidos (uma espécie de mistura entre vampiro e zombie nascidos da combinação do sangue de vampiros com uma doença fatal denominada doença do Pulmão vermelho - Red Lung disease), pelo que é proibido sair da cidade.
Quando Allie descobre uma cave cheia de comida nas ruínas, ela conduz o seu grupo até lá para poderem transportar a comida de volta para a cidade. Infelizmente são atacados por rábidos e Allie vê os seus amigos morrerem um por um. Em estado crítico devido ao ataque, Allie é interpelada por um vampiro que lhe dá uma escolha: morrer ou tornar-se um deles.
O livro segue Allie enquanto ele se esforça por sobreviver (e viver) com a sua nova condição num mundo pós-apocalíptico.
Como disse, não tenho muito jeito para descortinar as classificações dos livros. Para mim, esta obra não pode ser propriamente classificada como "ficção científica" uma vez que não se fala muito de ciência avançada. Talvez ficção especulativa? Porque é uma distopia com elementos paranormais? Não sei.
Gostei imenso deste livro (como já devem ter percebido pelo meu parágrafo de abertura). A Allison é uma personagem bem construída, dura e habituada às desilusões da vida devido a tudo o que passou. Quando se torna um vampiro, dão-lhe uma catana e POW! Transforma-se numa heroína kick-ass. Mesmo! Também gostei bastante do resto das personagens, embora não estivessem tão bem desenvolvidas como a Allison (mas pronto, sendo uma série, percebe-se).
Outro aspecto positivo deste livro: a escrita. Já nos livros da série Iron Fey tinha achado que a Julie Kagawa escrevia bem que se fartava. A escrita dela é simples e pouco rebuscada (para mim isso é, geralmente, uma coisa boa), mas tem uma qualidade cinematográfica maravilhosa que nos permite imaginar o mundo em que as personagens se movem de forma vívida.
Portanto, recapitulando: gostei do cenário geral, das personagens e da escrita. Gostei do facto de não haver insta-love (amor instantâneo) ou um triângulo amoroso. Gostei do facto de a nossa heroína ser independente e corajosa, mas mesmo assim feminina. E, claro, gostei da luta constante da Allison com a sua natureza vampírica; uma luta que, de resto, não vence sempre, o que achei refrescante. A Allison não é um paradigma de bondade e perfeição como tantas heroínas de livros juvenis; não, ela tem defeitos e virtudes e dúvidas. É sobre este tipo de personagens que mais gosto de ler.
Um outro aspecto que adorei: a autora não apressou certas partes do livro para chegar à parte central da história (a Allison depois de se tornar vampira)!
Os aspectos menos positivos prendem-se talvez com a natureza algo genérica do mundo distópico/pós-apocalíptico: uma doença fatal correu o globo cerca de 60 anos antes do início da história matando boa parte da população mundial. Os vampiros foram utilizados em experiências para encontrar uma possível cura, mas isso deu para o torto (e assim nasceram os rábidos) pelo que a civilização acabou por ruir. Não há grande desenvolvimento do mundo em que as personagens se movem neste primeiro livro e creio que não haverá muito para desenvolver porque a autora nos dá, neste primeiro volume, toda a informação sobre o que causou a queda da civilização e o "atual" estado de coisas.
No geral, um livro de leitura compulsiva que reúne os meus elementos favoritos numa obra de ficção, pelo que recomendo vivamente para quem, como eu, gosta de livros YA com acção, romance (que não é instantâneo), elementos paranormais e alguns elementos distópicos/pós-apocalípticos. Nesse caso, recomendado.
I'm still not sure why I liked this book so much... I just did. Allison was kick-ass and the author blended various storylines almost seamlessly. The writing was great, as usual, simple and with a cinematic-like quality and the love interest was actually likable (needed a little more development though, as did the world).
-----------------------------
Portuguese review:
AVISO: Spoilers
Há livros que são intrinsecamente bons; não me refiro a livros assim classificados pelas sumidades da literatura ou por quem atribui o Prémio Nobel da Literatura ou o Pulitzer... mas sim segundo os leitores. Há livros que possuem todas as qualidades para integrarem aquela prateleira dos "favoritos" porque simplesmente contêm todos os 'ingredientes' necessários para nos proporcionar bons momentos.
The Immortal Rules, de Julie Kagawa é, para mim, um desses livros. Não sei se gostei dele o suficiente para o integrar na minha prateleira dos "favoritos", mas este é definitivamente um livro que li com muito gosto e que reúne alguns dos elementos sobre os quais mais gosto de ler: vampiros, sociedades distópicas e elementos sobrenaturais.
Julie Kagawa é uma autora de fantasia urbana juvenil bem conhecida nos Estados Unidos. A sua série, The Iron Fey, é bastante popular e interessante (na minha opinião), por misturar mitos e criaturas antigos com elementos modernos (talvez até seja um pouco ficção científica, suponho? Não sei, percebo pouco de classificações deste género).
The Immortal Rules segue a história de Allison Sekemoto, uma jovem de dezassete anos que vive uma existência miserável. Ela vive numa cidade controlada por vampiros, que "obrigam" todos os humanos a registarem-se como doadores de sangue. Há sempre uma alternativa, claro... uma pessoa pode sempre não se registar; mas em contrapartida não tem direito a comida e a água.
Allison tomou a decisão de não se registar pelo que vive da mendigagem e dos roubos oportunísticos (qualquer pessoa não registada apanhada a roubar é imediatamente condenada à morte).
Para além das muralhas da cidade dos vampiros não existe nada a não ser os restos de uma civilização perdida que os humanos controlavam e os rábidos (uma espécie de mistura entre vampiro e zombie nascidos da combinação do sangue de vampiros com uma doença fatal denominada doença do Pulmão vermelho - Red Lung disease), pelo que é proibido sair da cidade.
Quando Allie descobre uma cave cheia de comida nas ruínas, ela conduz o seu grupo até lá para poderem transportar a comida de volta para a cidade. Infelizmente são atacados por rábidos e Allie vê os seus amigos morrerem um por um. Em estado crítico devido ao ataque, Allie é interpelada por um vampiro que lhe dá uma escolha: morrer ou tornar-se um deles.
O livro segue Allie enquanto ele se esforça por sobreviver (e viver) com a sua nova condição num mundo pós-apocalíptico.
Como disse, não tenho muito jeito para descortinar as classificações dos livros. Para mim, esta obra não pode ser propriamente classificada como "ficção científica" uma vez que não se fala muito de ciência avançada. Talvez ficção especulativa? Porque é uma distopia com elementos paranormais? Não sei.
Gostei imenso deste livro (como já devem ter percebido pelo meu parágrafo de abertura). A Allison é uma personagem bem construída, dura e habituada às desilusões da vida devido a tudo o que passou. Quando se torna um vampiro, dão-lhe uma catana e POW! Transforma-se numa heroína kick-ass. Mesmo! Também gostei bastante do resto das personagens, embora não estivessem tão bem desenvolvidas como a Allison (mas pronto, sendo uma série, percebe-se).
Outro aspecto positivo deste livro: a escrita. Já nos livros da série Iron Fey tinha achado que a Julie Kagawa escrevia bem que se fartava. A escrita dela é simples e pouco rebuscada (para mim isso é, geralmente, uma coisa boa), mas tem uma qualidade cinematográfica maravilhosa que nos permite imaginar o mundo em que as personagens se movem de forma vívida.
Portanto, recapitulando: gostei do cenário geral, das personagens e da escrita. Gostei do facto de não haver insta-love (amor instantâneo) ou um triângulo amoroso. Gostei do facto de a nossa heroína ser independente e corajosa, mas mesmo assim feminina. E, claro, gostei da luta constante da Allison com a sua natureza vampírica; uma luta que, de resto, não vence sempre, o que achei refrescante. A Allison não é um paradigma de bondade e perfeição como tantas heroínas de livros juvenis; não, ela tem defeitos e virtudes e dúvidas. É sobre este tipo de personagens que mais gosto de ler.
Um outro aspecto que adorei: a autora não apressou certas partes do livro para chegar à parte central da história (a Allison depois de se tornar vampira)!
Os aspectos menos positivos prendem-se talvez com a natureza algo genérica do mundo distópico/pós-apocalíptico: uma doença fatal correu o globo cerca de 60 anos antes do início da história matando boa parte da população mundial. Os vampiros foram utilizados em experiências para encontrar uma possível cura, mas isso deu para o torto (e assim nasceram os rábidos) pelo que a civilização acabou por ruir. Não há grande desenvolvimento do mundo em que as personagens se movem neste primeiro livro e creio que não haverá muito para desenvolver porque a autora nos dá, neste primeiro volume, toda a informação sobre o que causou a queda da civilização e o "atual" estado de coisas.
No geral, um livro de leitura compulsiva que reúne os meus elementos favoritos numa obra de ficção, pelo que recomendo vivamente para quem, como eu, gosta de livros YA com acção, romance (que não é instantâneo), elementos paranormais e alguns elementos distópicos/pós-apocalípticos. Nesse caso, recomendado.
Julie Kagawa made quite a splash on the YA scene with her Iron Fey series. Although that series didn't quite grab me personally, I know it has been wildly successful among YA readers and fans. I decided to give her another try with The Immortals Rules, and I'm glad I did. I initially picked it up because I saw my favorite word...dystopian! I was a bit dismayed once I realized this was a VAMPIRE dystopian. I am not a fan of vampire books in general. However, I have to say the author won me over with this one. Apparently I like my vampires to be sunlight-hating savages who have to feed on human blood to survive...you know, vampires as they were pre-Twilight. The general idea of the series is that a virus has turned most of humanity into Rapids, which are a mix between zombies and vampires as far as I can tell. Most of the surviving humans live in cities which are ruled by vampire kings. In exchange for serving the vampire king, they are protected from the rapids and provided with shelter and food. If they refuse to serve the king, or allow themselves to be "harvested", they can still live within the city but must find food and shelter on their own. As with most dystopians, civilization as we know it has crumbled and we don't really know what's going on with the rest of the world. The main character, Allie, is a tough, street-smart girl who hates vampires but soon finds that she has to make a choice between death or living-death as a vampire. I liked it, and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who likes vampires, dystopians or teen romance books.
Took me a while to warm up to Allie... not my favorite heroine, but we'll see in the next book.
Reminds me a lot of The Walking Dead & Resident Evil, only with rabids instead of zombies.
Reminds me a lot of The Walking Dead & Resident Evil, only with rabids instead of zombies.
Allie was the best part of the book. I like the fact that she was so realist. I really recommend this book. It's not your typical vampire/dystopian book but definitely has the best of both worlds.