Book Review: The Eternity Cure

The Eternity Cure

(Blood of Eden #2)

By:  Julie Kagawa

Published By:  Harlequin Teen

Publication Date: April 30th, 2013

Page Count:  446 pages

Buy it at:  Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound

Source:  ARC Kindly Provided by Publisher

  Audience:  Mature Young Adult

Reviewing a book I absolutely adore is sometimes one of the hardest ones I ever have to write, and once again, I find myself at a loss for words to adequately describe how I feel upon turning the last page of another Julie Kagawa book. The Eternity Cure, Julie's second installment in her Blood of Eden series, literally left me STUNNED.

Ummm...er...ok...GAH! 

I'm obviously really struggling here.  What can I say about this amazing sequel to The Immortal Rules without spoiling the story and still do it any justice??  Maybe it's that absolutely brutal cliffhanger that is messing with my brain?!  Julie...I thought you loved us?!!  We've seriously got to wait a WHOLE YEAR to find out what happens?!  I honestly don't think I can survive it. 

But don't get me wrong.  DO NOT wait an entire year just to avoid the despair and agonizingly long wait till the third installment is released because you will surely kick yourself if you do.  Julie continues to write EPIC stories that are like movies playing out in my head.  You NEED to read this now...not a year from now.  Suck it up...you won't be disappointed!

Where to start?  Well...we pick up a few months after Allison left Zeke and his people safely in Eden, where she hit the road to find her sire, Kanin, after realizing her dreams were actually visions she experienced, through her blood tie to Kanin, of his capture and torture at the hands of the maniacal Sarren.  However, blood calls to blood so the trail presents a fork in the road, which eventually leads her to an unexpected destination and an even more unlikely ally.  Along the way, a new threat is soon realized -- another mutation of the Red Lung virus -- and time is even more of the essence. 

As much as Allie and some of the other characters say they do not believe in it...FATE has a huge part in this story as it is responsible for intercepting Allison at every turn.  Allie continues to grow into her new vampire skin.  She constantly has to fight her literal inner demon...the Monster that wants her to succumb to the Hunger -- the bloodlust -- in the worst way.  It is ALWAYS there, lying in wait to take over, and cut that tenuous tie to her humanity that she struggles to hold onto.  Some may not appreciate the repetitiveness of this always present inner-struggle but for me it further illustrates Allie's incredible resolve.  I truly believe her life as a Fringer -- her life before she became a vampire -- taught her determination and strength.  She is slightly more confident in this chapter of the story, and a much stronger fighter when she finds herself in precarious situations...which is often.  She and her katana have become one.  There is absolutely NO WAY I could NOT get behind this protagonist and want the best for her.  She continues to be one of my favourites!

The aforementioned unlikely ally Allison meets up with and continues with on her dangerous journey to save Kanin was a total surprise!  HOW exactly did I end up liking him so much?!  To say anything else will totally ruin the surprise...but consider that another reason NOT to delay reading this installment. 

Another reason why you do not want to wait till book three comes out is Zeke.  Fate brings them back together in this story.  If you are like me and just really liked Ezekiel in the last story, you will absolutely LOVE him in this one...for Zeke has grown too.  His time in Eden has strengthened his own resolve and he knows what he wants.  He had me swooning all over the place once his path crossed with Allie's yet again.  You do not want to wait another year before you get more of Zeke, do you?!

And yet another reason you do not want to hold off on reading this installment, is Kanin.  All you Kanin fans will not be disappointed!  But be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster! 

I also don't think you will find a more cruel and terrifying villain than Sarren.  We only got a taste of his psychopathic tendencies in the first book, but you will get to experience, literally, the worst of the worst of him in this portion of the story.  He is 'bat-shit-crazy' and utterly maniacal...and expertly written.

There are some absolutely sobering, terrifying, violent and horrific parts to this story as well.  This is the life of a 'real' vampire...they are not sugar-coated in the Blood of Eden books.  These vampires do not sparkle (not that there's anything wrong with sparkly vampires...I for one happen to love them too!)  Having said that, there are also some incredibly tender, romantic and bittersweet moments that temper the bleak and dire situations these characters find themselves in.  Once again, it is another brilliantly executed story!

All my bookish friends know what a HUGE Julie Kagawa fan I am...I love her Iron Fey books beyond what is considered normal and I love her grittier and darker side in the Blood of Eden series as much!  Without fail, Julie always manages to pull me into her stories...even the dark and creepy ones.  Without fail, I'm always on the edge of my seat.  Without fail, there is always an extraordinary adventure involved. Without fail, I'm always swooning over the boys in her stories.  Without fail, she knocks it out of the park with her protagonists.  Without fail, Julie manages to rip my heart out at some point in her story and leave me in an utter mess.   Without fail, I love another of Julie Kagawa's books.  It is no wonder she is my favourite YA author!

I'd like to thank Harlequin Teen for providing the opportunity to read this book in advance.

* There is more than one fan of Julie's books here at Reading Lark.  Please check out Jen's 5-star review of The Eternity Cure here, as well!

Summary:

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.