My bestie sent me this for Christmas and I'm too excited to wait to read it. It's been 2 years. I refused to read spoilers so I'm a clean slate. I hope it's good. Series endings always disappoint me.

I was up most of the night with a migraine. I wanted to throw my guts up. I can always tell when one is coming on because lights start to look funny. The Christmas tree lights got all shiny and had an aura around them. Then bam, I'm huddled in bed with a cold wash cloth and a kitchen pot, praying for death. So if I can manage today, I'm either sleeping, read Ms. Marvel or working on this. Hopefully sleeping. 

Also: WE HAVE A NEW BIRD. MEET MAUI.

He's the one I'm holding while Darcy preens. She met him, fell in love thru the bars of his Petsmart cage and well...here we are. He was my Christmas present. 

This was last week's topic but I've been super busy and wasn't able to post it last week. I'm doing it now so it's all good right? 

If you didn't know T5W was created bygingerreadslainey and every Wednesday there's a topic in which we choose our top 5 to it. If you want to join, check out the discussion page!

There's a lot of books I should have started months ago as I have issues finishing series/reading sequels. 

5) The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa

This is actually not the only Julie Kagawa book I have to read.

I read The Eternity Cure in 2013 when it came out and yet I never picked this up when it came out. I'm just a bit skeptical because of the size of it and the fact that I've heard that it was an okay ending. I loved the first two books but I just don't know. I'm going to have to re-read the first two before I get to this one. 

4) Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

I read the second book when it came out yet for some reason I never picked this one up. I should have read it already but I know what happens at the end so I've been meh about reading it. But the first two books were so good, I need to read this one soon. 

3) Breakable by Tammara Webber

I didn't even know this was a thing and I'm ashamed to say that because Easy, the first book, is one of my all time favorite books. 

2) Attachments by Rainbow Rowell 

This is the only book of hers I haven't read which is weird because she's one of my auto-buy authors. I don't even know what to say.

1) Fire Study by Maria V. Snyder

Another book I'm ashamed about not having read yet. I read the first two like two years ago AND I LOVED THEM. There some of my all time favorite books but I never got this one because I disliked the cover and for some reason that made me not buy it. The cover here is actually really pretty and I wish I had that version instead of the ones I do. 

The list of books I actually have to read is much longer than this. I could literally go on and on and it's kind of embarrassing. I'm just a lazy reader. I have no excuse. I'll get better at reading...hopefully. 

The Immortal Rules

To survive in a ruined world, she must embrace the darkness.

I am not a big fan of vampire novels. I didn’t read Twilight (bring on the hate) and the only vampire themed book I have read is ‘The coldest girl in cold town’ by Holly Black and I loved it, so when a friend told me about this series I was intrigued. And very glad I picked it up. The main reason I don’t usually read vampire novels is because vampires are supposed to be scary, they are monsters of the night who kill and drink blood. Not sparkly, whiney teenagers. But the vampire in this book are scary, creepy and often wildly crazy. Speaking of crazy, enter the Rabids. A mutant human-vampire mess that kills and eats anything in its way.

We follow the story of Allison Sekemoto, a human who is faced with a life altering decision, die or become the undead. She goes through hard training and teachings at the hand of Kanin, a master vampire and her sire. After months of having a father figure, someone to look after her and teach her the ways of a vampire, she is suddenly left all alone. While trying to make it on her own she meets a group of humans, who are making their way to a vampire free city, to safety, to Eden. Allison joins the group and soon finds that they are the family she has always wanted, only problem is they have been taught to hate vampires and they don’t know who or what Allison really is. And things only get worse for the young vampire when she begins to have feelings for Zeke the leader’s son. Allison and the group are faced with many dangers on their journey, the most notable from a raider king by the name Jackal. He kidnaps the group, torturing and killing them for fun. It is up to Allison and Zeke to save them and get them safely to Eden.

The characters are amazing, after a short time I felt like I had known these characters all my life and when bad things began to happen I cried like a baby. Allison is a great heroine, she is strong, brave, a born leader and all round good person. Her only job is to survive and look after those around her and if that means becoming the one thing in the word that she truly hate, then she will do it.

I loved this book, the story, the characters, the settings, everything. And I defiantly love bad boy Jackal, really hope he returns in the second book. Looking forward to getting my hands on the second in the series and seeing what new and old challenges Allison must face.

The Eternity Cure

In Allison Sekemoto’s world, there is one rule left: Blood calls to blood.

The story picks up a few months after the events that saw Allison leave her friends and Eden behind. Now on her own she is haunted by nightmare of her sire. He is in danger, being tortured by a crazed vampire and he need her help. She sets out on her journey, only to come face to face with Jackal, her blood brother, who has been having the same dreams about their master. The pair set out to find Kanin, and obviously are faced with dangers at every turn. Rabids, other vampires, humans, bleeders and Zeke. That’s right Zeke! He left Eden to find Allison and take her back. He vows to help her in her journey and promises to stay by her side no matter what, even if it means playing nice with Jackal. Who just to remind you killed many of his family, threw his father off a building and attempted to destroy everything he held dear.

Jackal is back!!! YAY!!! And as sassy as ever. I love him so much, he is the complete opposite of Allison, he loves being a vampire and although he only joins her out of obligation to Kanin, having him along for the ride was amazing. His quick wit, devilish smile and constant childish mocking and threats towards everyone just made me laugh out loud. But beneath all the bravado Jackal is hunted by his own demons and doesn’t like letting anyone in.

One of the most enthralling, bloody, violent and emotional books I have read in a long time. I don’t think I have ever had so many *gasp* moment during a book before, every page had me on the edge of my seat wondering what could possibly happen next. Bring on book three.

The Forever Song

Vengeance will be hers.

This novel picks up just weeks after the events in the last book (moment of silence for that ending). And Allison has decided to embrace the monster inside, it’s the only way she can cope with losing Zeke. And it will come in handy when they catch up with Sarren. Along with Kanin and Jackal, they start their long journey towards Eden. They need to stop Sarren before he destroys the world.

This is the final chapter of Allison Sekemoto’s journey. Full of bloody fights, heart breaking reunions and a race to save the world. The perfect end to this series. It came full circle and ended brilliantly, there were no questions unanswered, there was no question about where the characters were heading and Eden was safe. And Allison has her family. Something that she never admitted to wanting. But now she has her blood brother, her preacher boy and old friends. Allison has battled and bled to save the people she loves and now she has everything she could ever wish for. I loved this series. I am not a huge fan of vampire novels but took my chances with this series. There are no regrets! Full of gore and violence, love and family, this is the perfect book series for anyone who loves dystopian, fantasy and horror.

A big thank you to my friend who recommended this book to me. I am very glad I read it, it will stay with me for a long time.

Rating – 5/5