In the post-apocalyptic vampire future, vampires are not actually the biggest threat to humanity. That would be the rabids. 
 And while Julie Kagawa touched on them in her first Blood of Eden novel, she tackles the problem head-on in "The Eternity Cure." It also brings back her Bladesque heroine, who finds herself handling an increasingly nasty situation in her home city. And while the reintroduction of Zeke is a bit contrived, the upped stakes (rimshot) make this a nicely dark, bloody, grimy story. 
 After leaving Eden, Allie goes in search of Kanin, who has been kidnapped by the malevolent Sarren. Instead, she stumbled across Jackal, who tells her that he is also searching for Kanin -- and that Kanin is seeking a cure for rabidism. So Allie reluctantly joins forces with her intensely annoying "brother," and quickly finds one of the secret government labs where rabidism was produced. 
 But the search takes them right back to New Covington -- which is infested with a new, deadlier kind of the Red Lung plague. Also, Allie soon discovers that Zeke has come to the city. 
 Obviously Zeke isn't happy about Jackal's presence, but the three of them form an uneasy alliance anyway. Their goal is to get to the Prince of New Covington in hopes of thwarting Sarren -- but it isn't an easy business, with the "bleeders," mole men and angry Unregistered people standing in their way. And getting into the vampire citadel will only present new problems. 
 Julie Kagawa spent most of her first vampocalypse book exploring Allie's new life as a vampire, and taking her into the wilderness. "The Eternity Cure" turns her lonely journey into more of a world-changing quest -- the stakes (rimshot) are now higher for everyone, vampire and human alike. At the same time, the whole subplot about curing rabidism provides some glimmers of hope. 
 But don't worry, horror fans. Kagawa's vision of a vampire-ruled world is still dark, bleak and full of slimy sewers, ruined buildings and gore. She has a strong, descriptive writing style ("the rabid shimmied through the cables like a grotesque monkey"), with some moments of fast-moving vampire action. The one problem is Zeke's presence -- he's given a reason for being in New Covington, but it feels pretty contrived. 
 Perhaps it's my imagination, but the situation -- the walled citadel, the Prince, the bloody plague -- seems a little influenced by Poe's "Masque of the Red Death." Well, "Masque of the Red Death" with vampires. 
 Allie reminds me a little of a female version of Blade -- she has the long black coat, the katana, the attitude, and the struggle between her human nature and her vampire thirst. And that struggle becomes more intense with Jackal around, since he considers it natural and normal to not care about "bloodbags," and claims she's no better than him. But Zeke's presence reminds her of what she's clinging to. 
 "The Eternity Code" is a thoroughly entertaining mix of horror, sci-fi and a tinge of romance -- and it sets the stage for an even more epic third act. Expect blood to flow.