The Forever Song

Gr 10 Up—Fans of The Immortal Rules (2012) and The Eternity Cure (2013, both Harlequin Teen) will enjoy the final installment of Kagawa's "Blood of Eden" trilogy. Allie, Kanin, and Jackal return to Old Chicago in pursuit of Sarren, the evil vampire leader who nearly destroyed them in New Covington. It is a bleak and dangerous journey; the land is full of rabids (former humans who have been infected with a deadly virus), as well as dangerous gangs of humans who work for Sarren. Food—blood from humans, that is—remains scarce, and Allie still struggles in her new role as a vampire while trying not to lose all of her human qualities. The wise-cracking Jackal provides some comic relief along the way, while Kanin offers guidance to his protégés. The plot offers constant surprises, with each chapter ending on a cliff-hanger that propels readers forward. The author describes this dystopian society in dark and bleak tones, with graphic details of fierce battles awash in blood. The language is meant for mature teens. Fans of Kagawa and paranormal-infused stories in general will enjoy the tough, unapologetic, yet sympathetic characters as they fight to save what is the last of the human race.—Anne Jung-Mathews, Plymouth State University, NH