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
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.

Comments

  1. Oh maaaaan! You don't know what you are doing to me! After reading The immortal rules, I wanted to continue Allie's story right away. Now I still need to wait to read it and you come up with such an amazing, exciting review. Torture! I'm very happy that this book delivers, but actually, that is what I expect from Kagawa. She is a great author.

    Mel@thedailyprophecy.

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    1. Thank you, Mel. It's not too long a wait till her book comes out, at least! You won't be disappointed if you loved The Immortal Rules! I thought this was even better! Enjoy!

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  2. I can't wait to get a copy. So glad you loved it, I just know I will too. Great review!!

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    1. Thanks fredamans! I'm sure you will love it! Let us know what you think when you do read it!

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  3. I loved it so much!! I did feel Allie's struggle to be a bit repetitive, and I liked Zeke OK, but he did grow so much since we last saw him in the first book! But her unlikely ally has to be my favorite character in this book! and that CLIFFHANGER!! I'm totally with you there! WHYYYYY??

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    1. Ning, I was thinking that too at the beginning of the story about Allie's struggle, because I have a friend who thought it was repetitive in The Immortal Rules...but I truly felt that there was a reason for that...it's Allie's inner demon always there trying to take over. It didn't bother me in this regard...but in another story -- if there was no reason for it -- it would have bothered me. And as I said, that illustrated to me her incredible inner strength! I SOOOOO loved her 'ally' too! What a complete surprise! The cliffhanger was brutal! Glad you loved the story, too!! :)

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  4. I'm really going to have to read a book by Julie soon since I own all of her books. I just keep putting them off because everyone loves her books and I know there is huge hype around the books and I just don't want to be left disappointed.

    Thanks for the great review! I'm glad you love this author and that this was another great book for you.

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    1. Hey Alexa! I know...it's hard not to pay attention to the hype and not be possibly let down a little. All I can say is that I personally believe that Julie's books live up to the hype. Of course, not everyone agrees...but I think the fact that more DO agree, speaks for itself! ;) I hope you try them soon! They are amazing reads! Both series are very different but equal in the quality of story-telling! Enjoy!

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  5. Very nice! I loved this one as well and devoured it as soon as I read it on Netgalley earlier this year. Although I was not expecting that cliffhanger! Great review!

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    1. It was SO. MEAN. of Julie to end with that cliffhanger!! I nearly died!

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    2. Jessica...I wasn't expecting that ending either...it was brutal! Hoping The Forever Song is available soon on NG so the wait won't be so long!

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  6. Another series I get to binge on! Yea! :-)

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  7. This was so awesome - love the vampires and how Zeke comes back:)

    Lovely review:)

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  8. I'm almost tempted to recommend that you wait until all 3 books are out - they are SO GOOD, but the wait for the next one is BRUTAL!

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  9. Love the bad guys too, and her "brother":)

    Lovely review:)

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  10. I only read The Immortal Rules recently so haven't picked this one up yet. Sounds EPIC!! I'm so excited and I love the cover.

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    1. This sequel is even better than TIR...just the cliffhanger is pretty brutal...

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  11. I agree with you all! It's a great series to binge on! The vampires are so "REAL" in this series...and I love Zeke's comeback in this book...he's much tougher! And I love Jackal and Kanin! Not crazy about Sarren but I have to admit he is one heck of a villain! Jen...I'd almost recommend everyone wait till all three books are out...especially now that the last book is due out this year...but I'd rather everyone read it now...misery loves company! lol!

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  12. I love, love, love Julie Kagawa. Words can't explain how much I love her and her books. I have such a hard time picking which series I love better: The Iron Fey or The Immortal Rules? She writes so incredibly descriptive that it's so easy to get lost into her books. Fantastic review!

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    1. Thanks Holly Ann! And I agree with you on everything you said about Julie and her books...of course! She's definitely my favourite!!

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  13. I dislike cliffhangers, especially when it's a really good one too! I am torn between reading them now or waiting for all three.

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  14. Wooh....lucky me I don't have book 1 yet. Neither do I have this book but this is one of the series I really wanna collect! I LOVE Julie Kagawa! Thanks for not spoiling the surprises. And who doesn't hate cliffhangers? But it just makes the heart grow fonder. Lol.

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  15. I hope you both enjoy them when you DO read this series!

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  16. I've never read a Julie Kagawa book before but she sounds like an author I'd like to try out.

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  17. It's such a harsh and unique vampire world that she's created and I love how each character and each group grows and changes their opinion just by befriending each other.

    LOVE the romance, hope it still goes strong and they get a HEA!

    LOVELY review :)

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