Immortal Rules Review and Giveaway

Author: Julie Kagawa
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
Release date: April 24, 2012
Pages: 485
How I got it: For review from publisher 

In a future world, Vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity.  

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.

I absolutely LOVE Kagawa's Iron Fey series, so I put aside my weariness towards the idea of a post-apocalyptic vampire novel because I knew if Julie Kagawa had written it, I would love it. So imagine my shock and sadness when I...didn't.

The pace was just really...slow. The Immortal Rules is nearly 500 pages, and it reads like it. Certain plot points dragged on and on when sometimes I felt like portions of the novel could've been cut out entirely.

Yet not once through the dragging plot did I find a character to invest in. I thought Allison was going to be kick-butt, and while she has her moments, I didn't find her the be the character I was hoping for and had a hard time connecting with her, especially when she seemed to be making one stupid mistake after the next. I never cared for Zeke either, and Allison and Zeke's relationship seem awkward and fake to me.

However, The Immortal Rules had its shining moments. Kagawa's writing is, of course, great, and the dark and hopeless world she created is strikingly vivid and gory, and Kanin was a mysterious character. Unfortunately, this wasn't enough to hold my interest in the story for long periods of time.

Plot: Slow and not what I was expecting.

Characters: Ok, I guess.

Writing: Great.

Ending: Good, but I doubt I'll be reading the sequel.

Kid friendly? There's violence and gore, and a little bit of swearing.

Overall:

I put this book down way too many times.

It took me a long time to read this, way longer than it should've. The Immortal Rules just didn't hold my attention and wasn't for me.

Other opinions:

YA Book Queen

The Book Cellar

Parajunkee

Gypsy Book Reviews

Even though I didn't love The Immortal Rules, you might, so I've got one finished copy from HarlequinTeen to give away to one of you! US only, ends on the 30th. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Iron Knight Review

Author: Julie Kagawa
Release Date: October 25, 2011
Pages: 394 (e-galley)
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: For review through Netgalley
Other Titles in Series: The Iron King, The Iron Daughter, The Iron Queen

My name—my True Name—is Ashallayn'darkmyr Tallyn.

I am the last remaining son of Mab, Queen of the Unseelie Court. And I am dead to her.

My fall began, as many stories do, with a girl…

This book is so emotional. It was the ultimate Emotion Roller Coaster. Here are some of the things I (literally) shouted while reading:

"Look out!"
"WAIT WHAT."
"AHHHH NO."
"Yes!"
"NO."
"Yes!"
"I just want to bake Ash a cake made of rainbows and smiles so he can eat it and be happy!"
"NOOOO."
"YES!!!"
"Yeah, you know that's right!"
"Oh snap, I like you!"
"Ahhh!"
"...Wait, what?"
"I DON'T UNDERSTAND."
"I DON'T UNDERSTAND."
"I'M LOSING MY MIND."
"I THINK MY BRAIN JUST EXPLODED."
"OH GOD IT'S SO SAD!"
"SO SAD."
"I KNEW IT! I WAS RIGHT."
"Yay!!'
"Um there are only like 60 pages left. How am I going to survive without this series in my life?"
"Only 50 pages left AHHH."
"Only 40 pages left I CAN'T TAKE IT."
"...Wait my ereader says I have 30 more pages but I don't. AH I FEEL CHEATED. Now I need to re-read the series to get my 30 pages in."

Yeah, that pretty much sums up my thoughts.

So, in a nutshell: I've fallen in love with this series, totally and completely. I've laughed and been kept on the edge of my seat, The Iron Queen was the only book to ever make me cry, and I've never been as verbal while reading when I read The Iron Knight (see above). I'm so, so sad to see it ending but so ridiculously happy with how it ended. If you haven't read it yet, please change that immediately.

Plot: Yes.

Characters: Yes.

Writing: Yes.

Ending: SO MUCH YES.

Kid Friendly? There may have been a tad of swearing, and some (very non-explicit) sex.

Should I read it? Abso-freaking-lutely.

Overall:

Summer's Crossing Mini-Review

Author: Julie Kagawa
Release Date: June 1, 2011
Pages: 57 (E-book)
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: Downloaded (legally) for free

A Midsummer's Nightmare? Robin Goodfellow. Puck. Summer Court prankster, King Oberon's right hand, bane of many a faery queen's existence—and secret friend to Prince Ash of the Winter Court. Until one girl's death came between them, and another girl stole both their hearts.

Now Ash has granted one favor too many and someone's come to collect, forcing the prince to a place he cannot go without Puck's help—into the heart of the Summer Court. And Puck faces the ultimate choice—betray Ash and possibly win the girl they both love, or help his former friend turned bitter enemy pull off a deception that no true faery prankster could possibly resist.

An ebook exclusive novella from Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series.

What a nice little tidbit of awesome to keep me (mildly) satisfied until The Iron Knight. This short story had everything I've come to expect from the wonderful Mrs. Kagawa: action, tragic romance, and humor. And of course it helped that this story was from Puck's point of view, which was so cool, since I love me some Puck. Basically, in only 50-some pages, I gasped and laughed and had a blast. Loved this...of course! More please.

The Iron Queen Review

Author: Julie Kagawa
Release Date: January 25, 2011
Pages: 362 (e-galley)

Publisher: Harlequin

Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: For review from Netgalley
Other titles in series: The Iron King, The Iron Daughter

My name is Meghan Chase.

I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.

This time, there will be no turning back.

The Iron Queen was the best of the Iron Fey series so far. I swear, Julie Kagawa just gets better and better with each book.

You wanna know how much I love this series and this book and these characters? Well, guys, guess what?

I cried.

I didn't cry at Mockingjay, If I Stay, Linger, or Looking For Alaska. I almost did, and maybe I would've if people weren't interrupting me or shouting, "JESSICA'S TEARING UP OMG!" But I didn't. I've never had tears actually fall out of my eyes because of a book. Or TV show. Or Movie. Or song.

Until now.

And I'm not ashamed. Not in the slightest. Because I love this book and everything about it.

Seriously, absolutely no complaints about The Iron Queen. ...Or the series.* It's such a well-crafted wonderful world, and I cannot wait to return to it in The Iron Knight. Go get this series. Get. It. Now.

P.S. Puck is fan-freaking-tastic. He is one of the sweetest characters ever and definitely the ideal best friend.

P.S.S. Razor reminded me of Elmo. And I love Elmo, so naturally I loved Razor, and I want one.

*Wow do I sound like an overly obsessed fan-girl or what?

Book Report:

Plot: Bloody brilliant.

Characters: I wish they were real. So hard. LOVE THEM.

Writing: Amazing.

Ending: Very bittersweet.

Kid friendly? Pretty. There's very mild swearing, some violence, and a very vague sex scene.

Should I read it? If you've read the first two, and you haven't picked this up yet, then you will kick yourself  hard for waiting so long to read it.

Overall:

 

Interview with Julie Kagawa, Author of The Iron Fey Series

The Iron King and its sequel The Iron Daughter are some of my favorites, so I'm absolutely thrilled to have the author of them, Julie Kagawa, stop by for an interview.

Where'd you come up with the original idea for the Iron Fey series?

I've always loved faeries, but when I started The Iron King, I wanted to write something that was a little different. So I started thinking, what are the fey afraid of? In myth and legends, the answer is iron. So, what if there were a type of faery that was immune to iron, and how would that affect the other fey? Then I remembered we already have 'monsters' in machines: gremlins and bugs and viruses and such. And from that thought, the Iron Fey were born


Was The Iron King your first completed novel?

No, I'd worked on and finished several other stories before The Iron King, the last one being a fantasy set in medieval Japan. The Iron King was just the first novel that was published.

What made you decide to write for young adults?

I've always enjoyed writing for and about teenagers. Guess that says something about my maturity level. :P

Out of nowhere, you've been teleported to an island. At first you freak out, but you then realize that 4 of your favorite books have come with you and this calms you down. Those 4 books are...?

Poison Study, The Fox Woman, Helm, and The Druid of Shannara.


What's your biggest guilty pleasure? (Anything. Movie, book, show, game, etc.)

Video games. Particularly The Sims 3. :D


How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

If a woodchuck could chuck wood, the amount of wood that a woodchuck could chuck depends on the amount of wood that a woodchuck chopped before he could chuck wood. :P

Can you give us any clue to what you're working on now?

At the moment, I'm working on a new YA series. Think vampires.

Thanks so much Julie!

The Iron Daughter Review

Synopsis includes spoilers for those who haven't read The Iron King

Author: Julie Kagawa
Release Date: August 1, 2010

Pages: 359 (Paperback)

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: Bought
Other titles in the series: The Iron King

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere.

Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron Fey, iron-bound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her. Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off.
She's alone in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

It was just. so. AWESOME. I mean, I'd heard fantastic things about it, but...so. AWESOME.

Now that Ethan's safely back at home, you'd think that Meghan would have less drive. Well, she didn't. She's still as driven and strong as she was in The Iron King. But she's not some lifeless warrior woman. (Even if she wants to be at times.) She has feelings, and they're strong and conflicted. Conflicted between Puck and Ash....

What "team" am I on? Well, if you'd asked me anytime I was reading The Iron Daughter I'd firmly say "Puck! Totally! Ash is a heartless, rude, arrogant, boring, too serious, no-good, orphan-eating, toad-licking, evil, narcissistic, sadistic, lame, heartless...."

Yeah, it'd go on.

BUT THEN the ending came. And something that Ash does just sort of changed everything I'd thought of him like that. I still love Puck...but now I love them both.

And we meet new people and old people with new attitudes! I swear none of them are similar at all, and I seriously don't know how Julie Kagawa does it.

And while we're talking about Julie Kagawa, she's created such an amazing world with her vivid description and excellent storytelling. She just plain ROCKS.

Only with a truly great series is the sequel as good as the first book, and The Iron Daughter was just as good as The Iron King...if not better. Which means potential blow-your-mind amazingness for The Iron Queen, which I want to be out, um, NOW please.

Book Report:

Plot: Full of action and romance.

Characters: LOVE 'EM.

Writing: Gorgeous.

Ending: MORE!

Kid friendly? Well, there's a little swearing and gore as well as mentions of sex.

Should I read it? LIKE, NOW. As long as you've read The Iron King first.

Overall:

And be sure to stop by and check out my interview with Julie Kagawa tomorrow!

Winter's Passage Mini Review

Author: Julie Kagawa

Release Date: June 1, 2010

Pages: 68 (E-book Novella)

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: Downloaded
Other titles in the series: The Iron King

WINTER'S PASSAGE, a novella in the Iron Fey series, takes place between THE IRON KING and THE IRON DAUGHTER and follows Meghan and Ash on their perilous journey deep into the heart of Winter.

 Meghan Chase used to be an ordinary girl...until she discovered that she is really a faery princess. After escaping from the clutches of the deadly Iron fey, Meghan must follow through on her promise to return to the equally dangerous Winter Court with her forbidden love, Prince Ash. But first, Meghan has one request: that they visit Puck-Meghan's best friend and servant of her father, King Oberon-who was gravely injured defending Meghan from the Iron Fey.

Yet Meghan and Ash's detour does not go unnoticed. They have caught the attention of an ancient, powerful hunter-a foe that even Ash may not be able to defeat....

Although short on size, Julie Kagawa packs action, romance, and suspense all into this delightful novella. It's definitely not necessary to read this before you read The Iron Daughter, but I can't see a reason not to. Except maybe Ash...he really peeved me off. A lot. But anyways, I found this to be a quick gem of a novella that is sure to be enjoyed by fans of The Iron Fae series.

The Iron King Review

Author: Julie Kagawa

Release Date: February 1, 2010

Pages: 363

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Most Appropriate For Ages: 13+
Where I Got It: Publisher in exchange for my honest review

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined…

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

----------------------------------------------------------------

I'm just trying. Trying to coherently form words. Trying to take in everything that I've just read. But most of all, I'm trying how to write a review that's actually a review instead of "OMG THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING! I NEEED THE NEXT ONE!!" which will be very difficult. But, I digress....

Sure, the dark faery realm has been done before. It reminded me a little of Tithe, but Julie Kagawa made it her own. She showed such imagination and creativity throughout the novel. Each chapter was filled with heart-pounding action that left me (quite literally) on the edge of my seat. Most of the romance doesn't come in until closer to the end of the book, but I liked that the action was highlighted more than the romance; it made it original, too. Plus I love me some good action.

Oh, the characters! Meghan is such a strong main character. She never overly freaks out, even when in impossible situations. Ash is my new imaginary boyfriend. And the romance between Meghan and Ash is awesome and very believable. But I love Puck- Meghan's faerie friend -too, and it's kind of obvious that he's pining for Megan as well. And Grimlakin, the sarcastic talking cat, was just hilarious. He provided a lot of comic relief when it was tense. The cast of characters overall was outstanding.

Julie Kagawa's writing was phenomenal. I could picture everything so vividly, could feel all of the characters emotions, could smell and taste everything. Her storytelling and writing just completely blew me away.

I didn't want the book to end, and am desperately awaiting for August to arrive, which is when the sequel will be released. The Iron King is my favorite faery book ever and one of my favorite books. So, if you're on the fence about reading The Iron King, I highly suggest you get off of that fence (it must be terribly uncomfortable) and grab yourself a copy immediately. I cannot find one negative thing to say about it. So, in conclusion: OMG THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING! I NEEED THE NEXT ONE!!