Dawn of Eden by Julie Kagawa

Blood of Eden

The Immortal Rules * The Eternity Cure * The Forever Song 

Dawn of Eden

Published: 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises, Ltd/Audible
Author's Website 
Format: Audiobook, Unabridged
Series: Blood of Eden
Narration by: Thérèse Plummer

Introduction

This is the prequel to The Immortal Rules. It follows a new character, Kylie, and returning character Ben Archer as they attempt to survive the early days of the epidemic. 

Not Really YA?

First, the two protagonists are in their 20s, in their careers, and away from parents. They are established adults. 

Second, there is also some graphic sex in the middle of the book that I found really off-putting, especially as I listened to this audiobook while running in a park. Why do this when the other three books are YA? Goodreads has this listed as YA as well, and I can't agree. It was so detailed and it went on forever. It is by far the most graphic scene of its kind I've encountered in "YA" thus far. 

Final Thoughts

It didn't add anything to the other entries in Blood of Eden. In the beginning, Kylie is indistinguishable from Allie. If I were a library purchaser, I'd probably just skip it, unless you have die-hard fans, which is unlikely now, as the series is old and finished. This isn't YA, where would you put it? Away from the rest of the series in the regular fiction? Nah, not worth the trouble.

The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa

Blood of Eden

The Immortal Rules * The Eternity Cure * The Forever Song 

Dawn of Eden

Published: 2014
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises, Ltd/Audible
Author's Website
Format: Audiobook, Unabridged
Series: Blood of Eden
Narration by: Thérèse Plummer

Introduction

Zeke is dead, and Allie, Kanin, and Jackal are still travelling to stop Sarren. Allie has decided that with Zeke dead, she hates everything, and she wants to be a monster now. Jackal approves. Kanin isn't mad, he's disappointed.

Weak Female Protagonist

First, this book waxes sentimental WAY too much. I wish my music app on my phone had a "skip ahead 10 seconds" button like Youtube.

Overall, Allie is a weak protagonist in this book, which is the exact opposite of what she once was. People do change, sometimes for the worse, but this seems like bad writing. Instead of saving the world, she decides to go after her love interest. You know, after saving the world, he will STILL BE THERE. Saving the world is more important. Too many times she should have waited for the other two members of her team to come, but she rushed into danger and made everything worse. I guess the power of lub <3 is detrimental to strong women.

Sacrifice Ending

That was so lazy and just a dramatic gimmick. I'm pretty sure you could have sprayed your blood on them and gotten the same effect. You're a vampire, and we know limbs regenerate. Toss them an arm!

In my headcanon, he didn't die. He decided to get a hobby, like golf, and he took some time off to be by himself, away from the trio of idiots he had to spend last 6(ish) months with.

Final Thoughts

Despite Allison's terrible decision-making abilities, I still recommend this book. The trio has a nice family dynamic to it that was hilarious to listen to. If you've read the first two books in this series, or if your library has purchased the first two, there isn't a reason to not have the final book in the series in your collection. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys paranormal fiction, dystopias, vampires, or horror.

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

Blood of Eden

The Immortal Rules * The Eternity Cure * The Forever Song 

Dawn of Eden

Published: 2012
Publisher: Audible
Author's Website 
Format: Audiobook, Unabridged
Series: Blood of Eden
Narration by: Thérèse Plummer

Introduction 

In a dystopian future, a disease called "Red Lung" wiped out most of the humans. Now, vampires reign and humans are used for their blood. Cities are walled and humans who do not feed the vampires--unregistereds--are unsupported and starving. Allie is unregistered, hating the vampires to her core, living with her small group of fringe scavengers to survive. In addition to vampires, there are rabids--crazed monsters that didn't quite become vampires in the turning process. During a scavenging outing gone terribly wrong, Allie has to make a terrible decision.

Eventually, all alone in the world, she tries to find a purpose. From a band of humans, she learns of Eden, a place free from vampires.

Protagonist

Allie is a rough scavenger. She talks back, is sarcastic, and wields a katana. She does have a nice side; teaching others to read, making sure Stick doesn't starve, and going out of her way to help even the people that hate her. She is definitely not passive and it is refreshing.

The Love Interest

I wasn't too attached to him. Everyone hates vampires without question, kind of like how everyone hates the pixies in Carrie Jone's Need series. You love someone, they hate what you are. At what point do you throw up your hands, call them a bigot, and tell them to save themselves? And Allie isn't a damsel in distress in this book. She has a sword and will kick butt. She does more than her share of saving others, all while hiding what she is.

Essay Topics

Discrimination (humans vs vampires OR vampires vs humans) would be a very easy one, and it can be paired with Wicked, Need, or pretty much any other YA paranormal book. You could also look at vampire depictions across different genres/publication dates/marketed audience. These vampires are ruthless monsters. Twilight, not so much. Interview with a vampire, they can be, but they are very Romanticized. Depending on the story, vampires represent many different types of real-life fears, and you can tie in some film clips, if you have to present the argument (the film rights have been sold, but we will probably have to wait a while before it is released).

Worst character award goes to:

Stick.

Morgan has his stick.

Rafiki has his stick.

This Stick, is not good.

Second to Stick in the worst character award:

Ruth.

Final Thoughts

An interesting mix of paranormal and dystopian fiction with a female protagonist that can hold her own and vampires that don't suck (har-har). Julie Kagawa is a popular YA author, so I see no reason to exclude this book from a YA section. I hope to alternate between this series and the Immortal Game series by Ann Aguirre.