Book Review: The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

Just a few days ago, I posted my glowing 5-star review of The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa. I did not waste any more time after that and I immediately started devouring the 2nd book, thank you.

So, hello! I’m here again with my overflowing emotions over the second book of Blood of Eden, The Eternity Cure. I, uh… Wait… Just… Let me take a deep breath and take some time to sort things out. How do I even start…

Alright. this is a SPOILER-FREE review. I’ll try my best to avoid spoilers as long as my human instinct can take it. Because!… I have tons of things to rant about this book… but I’ll try to keep it cool.

We were once again reunited with our kick-ass vampiress, Allison Sekemoto, continuing her journey after The Immortal Rules. Just like on The Immortal Rules, Allie is still as strong and fierce. However, here in The Eternity Cure, she’s so conflicted most of the times. She always argues with herself and her emotions. One minute, she’s all “alright, I’ll be the monster I’m supposed to be and throw away all humanity left in me”, then the next second, “No, wait, this is not what I wanted to be. Alright, I’ve decided to be more humane after all.” Frustrating, ain’t it? I tried to understand her, that it’s probably because of all the hullabaloos going on around her.

But even though Allie turned out so whiny at times, I still love this book as much as I loved the first. The story is still engaging. That’s what’s more important, right? Even though there were flaws, what’s important is you enjoy reading the book and there’s this strong pull that keeps you going. I am still so amazed at how detailed Julie Kagawa wrote the scenes. I don’t usually read gory stuff, but hell, this is one of those apocalyptic novels you would want to read. We don’t have just rabids and vampires in here, we now have freakin’ bleeders as well. And I’m telling you, they’re more terrifying than rabids. Here are just some few lines describing the bleeders.

But what made this book even more engaging? The awards goes to Jackal and Kanin.

We’ve already seen Jackal and Kanin on the first book. I’ve always eyed Kanin. I’ve always known that there’s something about him, like a time bomb just waiting to explode. lol. No, but seriously, Kanin is that mysterious vampire you’d want to know more and can’t help but get intrigue more and more. And let me tell you this, Kanin is the coolest vampire ever! I just love him like that. I don’t even know how to explain it. He has this aura that just can’t ignore. He’s always so composed, calm and rational. When things were starting to get messy and annoying, it’s always Kanin who neutralize everything.

Jackal, on the other hand, as much as I loathed him on The Immortal Rules, it’s how the complete opposite here on The Eternity Cure. God, I just love him. He’s the most realistic… and most talkative vampire ever! I bet, if Jackal weren’t on the picture, this book will be boring as hell. I was always looking forward on his smart remarks. He’s cunning and a complete ass, yes, but he’s so funny and entertaining… and smart, and very realistic as a vampire.

The conflict? Oh, of course. The psycho vamp, Sarren, on the first book showed himself again. And he’s more deranged than ever. God, you’ll get all the creeps with all his demented ideas of revenge. And to add more to all these shit-loads, let’s all welcome the batshit-crazy bloodrat, Stick. Yes, you’ve read it right. Allie’s former friend from the Fringe, Stick. If the aim is to make us all hate Stick because of all his lunatic tantrums for Allie, well, congratulations because I detest the rat from the core of my whole being. If I were Allie, I may have killed him more than a thousand times already. So much for my boiling rage over a book character.

The romance between Zeke and Allie made me fangirl a little. Just a little. Zeke just so happened to know how to draw his words perfectly and make my heart flutter, He became so dreamy! Oh, Zeke, you’ve grown a lot, preacher boy. I just don’t like all the trust issues. Not between the two of them, but between themselves, Allie specifically. There was never a single time Allie didn’t doubt herself – about ripping Zeke’s throat or turning into a monster and can’t control herself or whatever – when she’s together with Zeke. Just so frustrating! They both know the consequences, and they just keep talking about those issues over and over and why just can’t they get over it, really?

Final Verdict. But overall, I still love this book as much as the first. I just don’t like how Allie became a little whiny and doubtful of herself. I’ve always loved Allie, but she seemed weaker here because of her emotions or I would have given this a complete 5-star rating.  Also, most of the time, they just venture to get into one place to another, and back, and back again. It’s almost like the book is a sewer and tunnel adventure. Well, thanks to Jackal and Kanin for saving the whole thing. Also props to all the gory and nasty stuff. It made all the adventures more exciting. This book is still stunning on so many levels! So I’m looking forward to read the last and final book. Thanks for yet another awesomeness, Julie Kagawa!