I finally did it. I bought one of those new-fandangled young adult paranormal romance books. Not just any one, either: one published by none other than Harlequin Teen (of Harlequin romance fame, but for Teens, ostensibly) that is about VAMPIRES.
Yes. I finally went there.
Frankly, The Immortal Rules totally defied my expectations. It was really good. I’m psyched for the sequel and when I saw its goodreads.com page I squealed like a fangirl.
(which sounds like this: “Eeeeeeeeee!” and involves very fast clapping.)
The book starts with protagonist Allison living in the Fringe – the slums surrounding a walled Vampire City in a dystopic future. She lives as an Unregistered, ie, she isn’t in the census. This may not seem like a big deal, but to her it is: Registereds, while they get some food every now and then, also have to donate blood once a month for the Evil Vampire Overlords Who Allison Hates Immeasurably.
The heartless collection of these donations was a catalyst in her sick mother’s death, so young Allison lives her life as an urchin, always hungry, always in danger.
At first I thought that was a highly unrealistic choice for a young person to make. As I got to know Allison, however, I realized that it was simply unusual. Allison is an unusual person: fiercely loyal and not in a soppy way, rather in a difficult way because part of why she does it is her own guilty need to be loved. She’s desperate to do right and be good and unsure about how to do so in a world gone crazy.
I like her. I liked the decisions she made and they were reliably consistent. That counts for A WHOLE BIG LOT.
The world of the Fringe is one big wall away from absolute horror and chaos. Outside that wall, crazy evil freaky rabids (very apt word, by the way) who are like super strong and only want to eat human flesh. Talk about scary!
The best part is: it WAS scary. It felt really real. The scary vampires living in their big towers, the orc-like rabids (only less intelligent), and when Allison adventures out into the world, the motorcycle gangs and the f-ed up preacher and (of course) the love interest who shares her desire to build a family and feels just as torn up about it as she does.
Especially because (and this isn’t a spoiler because it’s in the product description) SHE GETS TURNED INTO A VAMPIRE!!!
Dun dun dun!
In discovering the vampires world, Allison learns more than she ever hoped to know about the rabids. And it turns out that she may be the only one who can help destroy them.
Seriously can’t wait for the sequel.
(eeeeeee!)
