Dual Review: The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa (Blood of Eden #3)

The Forever Song (Blood of Eden #3)
Julie Kagawa
Published: April 15, 2014 (Harlequin Teen)
Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon
Review source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

Reviewed by: Chelsea and Jo

Rating (out of 5): 5 stars

Note: This review assumes you’ve read both The Immortal Rules and The Eternity Cure. If you haven’t, please start with those reviews lest you be spoiled on this must-read series.

Chelsea: Was it just me or has this series really grown up with each book?

Jo: Definitely. Allison felt like much younger teen in the first book. I also love that this is one of those rare series that now I know the end point for the characters, I want to go back to the beginning and see the changes happening.

Chelsea: The Forever Song let Allie come full circle. She had to truly decide what makes a monster and make peace with it. I liked seeing her consistently own her actions this time out.

Jo: Totally agree. She goes to the darkest place yet for her in the series but I loved the fact she was responsible for pulling herself back from the brink. I think then being confronted by what Zeke had become (and being put in the mentor role) just bought into sharper focus that it was a choice to give in to the monster or fight to hold on to her humanity.

Also, how badass where the visuals in this book? Some of the fight scenes totally leap off the page.

Chelsea: Oh, this book definitely had the most fight scenes. They were detailed and emotionally powerful. You know I loved them. Heh.

Sarren’s taunts this time were scaled up, too. They were made worse by making Allie revisit places she’d had happy memories before (flashback to her first kiss with Zeke included)!

Jo: There was definitely some emotional sucker punch moments! On the flip side there was also some great humor, albeit of the darker variety. I particularly loved Karin hitting Allie and Jackal with the vampire equivalent of the classic road trip if-you-kids-don’t-stop-fighting,-I’m-turning-this-car-around.

I loved the development of Jackal’s character. There is growth, a desire to help those he’s beginning to feel connected too, but it’s all done with his trademark snark. He isn’t going to spoon fed anyone a happy ending.

Chelsea: With what happened to Zeke at the end of The Eternity Cure, I was so worried this book would take the route of Richelle Mead’s Blood Promise (which I loved), and for a bit there I thought that might happen. I was really pleased that Julie Kagawa took Allie to dark places without turning down that road. I don’t think I could have handled that one emotionally.

Jo: Tell me about it! I think Julie Kagawa handled it perfectly, there was just the right balance of hope and fear that I was left guessing on which way this would go. This still put me through the emotional ringer though, BIG things happen and there may have been tears (there were tears).

Chelsea: Seriously! Even the moments when things were really great, I kept worrying something awful was going to ruin it. I was pleased that the sweetest/happiest moments weren’t ripped away too quickly. It was a good roller coaster like that. Big highs and deep lows. So good.

Jo: The tension in this book was INSANE! From chilling, crept forbidding, to heart-thumbing-in-yours-ears anticipation. Then it would exploded in a cacophony of screaming rabids, psychotic adversaries and singing katana blades. Julie nailed the pacing.

Chelsea: And there was kissing. I was worried there might not be kissing. But yay kissing!

Jo: Yay indeed!

Chelsea: Ends of trilogies can be frustrating. It was such a relief that The Forever Song ended on such a strong, satisfying note. I’m okay with the story ending, because it feels so complete.

Jo: Absolutely. The door is left open if JK ever wanted to revisit but this definitely felt like a satisfying conclusion to this chapter in Allie’s life. I’m sad to leave this world though, I will miss the richness in just about every aspect!