Actual Rating: 4.5 
 The Immortal Rules is a book with a refreshing spin on vampires. I mean I haven't read a dystopian fiction where vampires are the rulers of a city that is closed off against zombies. 
 In a nutshell, the book is kinda like The Walking Dead meets True Blood's vampire politics tossed in a dystopian setting. It's a very unique and fascinating plot. And that's what practically drew me to the story (and also the fact that I've read Kagawa's Iron Fey books and I was a sucker for them). Plus, I liked the cover. 
 Kagawa does something different here. She created this dark and gritty world and then pulls you into it with her characters and her story. Everyone in this book seems to be sort of miserable here, save for the zombies, which is understandable since they have no shred of humanity in them. The humans have the short end of the stick. They are preyed on by vampires, and when they're not donating blood or being sucked on, they have to worry about these rabids outside the city. (view spoiler)[Vampires also have to worry about creating these creatures if they're not Masters (hide spoiler)]. 
 The Immortal Rules really digs into what it is to be a vampire in the world Kagawa has created. The vampires aren't cast in a beautiful light or should I say they're not "sugarcoated".No sparkly looking vampires here They know they're monsters. Some of them either accept it or try to become better. 
 Allison Sekemoto, the book's protagonist, is a teenager who constantly has to deal with survival, from when she's a human to when she becomes the very thing she hates the most - a vampire. I loved that her first instinct is always to save herself. It's very fitting for the world in which she lives. And there's also something really raw and human about her selfishness in that aspect. 
 Additionally, Allison's a very strong character, she may be compassionate sometimes but she's not pathetic or soft or completely altruistic. Kagawa didn't make her to be one of those I-need-to-help-everyone-without-thinking-about-putting-myself-in-danger characters. The Vampire Diaries' Elena Gilbert. If anything, that characteristic is projected on to Zeke. So the roles are switched here and it's very interesting. 
 The fact that Allison's love interest isn't introduced until halfway lets you know that the book is not solely focused on romance. There's a lot of action, adventure and suspense in it. It may seem a bit slow but even when it does, Kagawa manages to keep you entertained as she develops her characters. In fact, the pacing reminded me so much of The Walking Dead. 
 Allison's characterization is also very intriguing. I really loved her constant struggle between succumbing to the monster she can become and clinging on to her humanity. 
 It seems as if she becomes more human when she turns into a vampire, as she tries to grasp and hang on to the thing that would make her different from the monsters of her kind. Though she's still kind and compassionate as a human (take her relationship with Stick), Allison seems to not really care apart from anyone but herself. It's like she knows the world she lives in is dangerous, so she just goes through the motions to keep going. However, when she becomes a vampire, as she tries desperately to hang on to that thread of humanity left in her, Allison opens herself and becomes more connected to the people around her and I think she truly starts to care more about people, they're not just a liability to her. This is probably because as a vampire, she sort of has an infinite amount of time on her hands. 
 The other characters are also well defined. From her sire, Kanin, to Zeke, to Jebbadiah and the rest of his crew. None of them seemed wooden. 
 The end was also sort of kickass. 
 In conclusion, it was a highly fascinating read. And I'm looking forward to the next installment of the Blood of Eden series.