#Allison Sekemoto

[burrowkit]

Hijacking for a fandom.

Allie @ Jackal and Jackal @ Kanin.

This needs to be some fic…

[burrowkit]

Betray Us, You're Dead. Die, and I'll Drag You Back to Life

Allie: If you betray us, I'll kill you myself. Jackal: Noted. Allie: And if you die, I'll drag you from Hell myself. Jackal: Is this before or after you kill me? Kanin: I assume that's a moot point, unless you were planning to betray us and then getting yourself killed. Jackal: Riiiight. Zeke: Are you sure we can trust him? Kanin: No, but it appears we need him. Jackal: Gee, thanks old man. Allie glares down Jackal, already both planning on killing him and forcing him to stay alive.

[lauraisakilljoy]

I’ve been re-reading blood of eden and I’m once again upset that there is not a large fandom for it so interact with this post if you love the series and maybe I’ll make a tumblr community for it 👀

[tabithahallows]

Yeah, okay, I know this famdom is largely non-existent but there's gotta be at least a couple of you mother fuckers out there so I made us some memes to share 🩷

[jkags-doodles]

The Jackal&Allie dynamic makes perfect sense when you remember that they are not actually the Oldest and Youngest Children. They are the Youngest Son and the Youngest Daughter. All of their older siblings simply happen to have gotten killed.

This also explains how Kanin regards them.

[marahsfandomloves]

Blood of Eden characters by @unusualmuffin-art.

From top to bottom-

Zeke Crosse

Kanin

Jackal

Allison Sekemoto

[why-am-i-not-cat-blog]

Just finished rereading book 1 of blood of eden and allison at the beginning of the book describes kanins fangs as surgical instruments but at the end of the book when she is told zeke is in surgery she doesn't know what that means. So either jkag forgot that Allison knows what surgery is or Allison thinks surgical instrument is just used to describe something as really REALLY sharp.

[byndebondry]

Illustration of Allison Sekemoto for the spanish edition of Julie Kagawa’s book: La Sangre Inmortal 🩸

And published by Siren Books 🖤

[burrowkit]

somehow slightly Allie from Blood of Eden by Julie Kagawa?

How much blood is she covered in? Usually quite a lot. Dirt, too.

Are her eyes filled with madness? Not really, but she does get (justifiably) angry at people a lot. And provokes fights with those stronger than her.

Can she rip things to shreds with her fingernails? I mean, she regularly digs herself a grave. So I'd say she could, she just doesn't.

Just to cover Jackal-

Blood? Minimal if he doesn't have to be.

Madness? A little. He likes to cause chaos, I think, which is often considered madness.

Ripping things to shreds? Idk, he also digs graves, but seems to like to be clean, so hard to tell. But, I could also see him trying (and succeeding) just for fun.

things to ask yourself when designing a female character:

how much blood is she covered in

are her eyes filled with madness

can she rip things to shreds with her fingernails

[j-marlowe]

Contributing to an extremely niche Fandom time. I finally got around to posting my Blood of Eden work that I've been working on forever. Sit back and Enjoy some Zeke content

(Side note if you love the apocalypse, Vampires and religious themes you should totally check out this book series)

[nellasbookplanet]

Book recs: vampires

Listen, vampires are a classic for a reason, but they have also been done to death (pardon the pun) to the point that finding books that are creative with the premise can be a bit of a slog through tired old tropes. Hopefully this rec list can be to a bit of help for all vampire fans out there wanting something fresh!

For details on the books, continue under the readmore

Previous rec posts:

Really cool fantasy worldbuilding

Really cool sci-fi worldbuilding

Dark sapphic romances

Mermaid books

Sci-fi vampires:

Fledgling by Octavia Butler

Octavia Butler my beloved, literally you cannot go wrong with one of her books. Fledgling follows what at first seems to be a ten-year-old amnesiac girl, who finds out she is in fact a decades old vampire on the run from others of her kind. The vampires here are a separate species from human, not supernatural, and are as a whole very fascinating and unsettling. Come in prepared for fucked up power dynamics.

Blindsight by Peter Watts

Vampires and aliens and questions of the nature of consciousnesses, oh my. Not a vampire novel so much as a scifi novel about aliens in which there also happens to be vampires (one of which is captain of a spaceship sent to explore an alien ship just entering the solar system). Another example of vampires as an entire separate species, but more horror focused than Fledgling. No, seriously, this book will fuck you up, highly recommend if you're okay with a lot of techno babble and existential horror.

Peeps (Peeps duology) by Scott Westerfeld

Young adult. Vampirism as a sexually transmitted parasite that turns most people into bloodthirsty monsters. Cal is an asymptomatic carrier working to find other infected before they hurt people, including his own former girlfriends. But there is something else lurking in the dark, an ancient enemy of the vampire parasite...

Post apocalypse vampires:

The Hallowed Ones (The Hallowed Ones duology) by Laura Bickle

Young adult. Katie is an Amish girl eagerly awaiting her rumspringa, when she gets to try out the outside world. But before she has the chance, something happens to the Outside; a nearby town is wiped out, and something evil stalks the night. To protect their community, the Amish elders decide that no one can leave and no one can enter the sacred ground that makes up their home. That is, until Katie finds an injured young man and decides to help him.

The Company of Death by Elisa Hansen

Wild mix of genres, where a zombie apocalypse has struck and vampires gather up humans to keep their food source from going extinct, a robot travels across America with a young man she's tasked to keep safe, and former-vampire-hunter-recent-zombie Emily teams up with Death himself to stop the apocalypse. Features bi and ace characters! Bonus rec: the author also runs the youtube channel Maven of the Eventide, where she talks about various vampire media. Check it out!

The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden trilogy) by Julie Kagawa

Young adult. Another zombie apocalypse (well; feral vampires) scenario in which vampires gather humans up to keep their food safe. Allison Sekemoto hates vampires, but when she ends up on the brink of death and is offered a way out, she has no choice but to take it. Hunted by a mad vampire and forced to flee the relative safety of her city, Allie must enter the post-apocalyptic outside world and team up with the free humans roaming there, seeking a cure for the undead plague that ravages the world.

Urban fantasy vampires:

Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Queen of fucked up gothic horror, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, comes for vampires in this gritty novel following Domingo, a garbage collecting street kid in a Mexico City where vampires walk the streets. His life gets turned upside down when he meets Atl, a vampire descendant of Aztec blood drinkers who’s on the run and needs all the help she can get.

Sunshine by Robin McKinnley

Urban fantasy on a level of its own, where dangerous magic exists alongside humans. It keeps you guessing and much is left unexplained; if you want clear answers and explanations to everything you might be disappointed, but if you want a world that feels mysterious and dangerous and lived in you'll probably like it. It follows a baker who, after getting kidnapped by vampires, gets embroiled in a dangerous struggle and has to team up with one of them to survive. The vampires here are really inhuman and unsettling.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

Young adult. After vampirism swept the land, special Coldtowns were built to quarantine anyone bitten, whether they have turned or not. After having survived a massacre at a party in which her ex-boyfriend got bit, Tana sets out with him and mysterious vampire to reach the nearest Coldtown, not knowing if she’ll ever be able to leave it again.

Modern vampires:

Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist

Swedish literary novel set in the 1980s. Follows twelve-year-old Oskar, a troubled and bullied boy who befriends his new neighbor, Eli. But there’s something strange about Eli, such as her only coming out at night. Also available as two separate movie adaptations (I highly recommend the Swedish original; the American remake is perfectly adequate standard horror fare, the original is a masterpiece).

Woman, Eating by Claire Kohda

Literary novel following Lydia, who’s grown up as a vampire under the thumb of her mother, who’s been obsessed with self-hate over their existence as blood drinkers. Finally on her own for the first time in her life, Lydia moves to London hoping to make it as an artist. But surviving alone as a vampire is harder than expected. Slow and fairly light on plot, but utterly captivating.

Companions of the Night by Vivian Vande Velde

Young adult. After Kerry saves a young man from three attackers who claim he's a vampire, she's drawn into a dangerous game and forced to work with a manipulative vampire. Pre-cursor to the modern ya vampire genre, Companions of the Night utilizes many of the same tropes but in very different ways, making it a unique experience.

Historical and fantasy vampires:

A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson

Dracula inspired novella, following Constanta, who’s turned from a medieval peasant to an undead bride. As time passes the relationship between Dracula and Constanta grows all the more strained and potentially dangerous. Teaming up with his two other consorts, she seeks to unravel her husband's secrets. Sapphic and polyamorous.

The Gilda Stories by Jewelle Gomez

Having escaped from slavery in the 1850s, young Gilda is taken in by a vampire, and eventually finds herself turned as well. Consists of a series of novellas following Gilda throughout the centuries, from the past to the present to the future. It’s also sapphic!

House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson

In a world where the rich drink blood to preserve their health, Marion applies to a position as bloodmaid in a notorious noble house far from home. Suddenly showered with luxuries and debauchery, Marion soon gains the interest and favor of Lisavet, countess of the house. A fresh take on the idea of vampires and deliciously dark sapphic romance.

Bonus AKA I haven't read these yet but they seem really cool

The Hunger by Whitley Strieber

Ancient vampire is on the hunt for a new partner, none of which tend to last long.

My Soul to Keep (African Immortals series) by Tananarive Due

I keep seeing this one described as a vampire book, and once stumbled on the description "almost a vampire book" and listen by now I'm simply curious to see what it's about.

Team Human by Justine Larbelestier & Sarah Rees Brennan

Young adult. As far as I can tell, a satire on typical ya vampire romances.

The Madness Season by C.S. Friedman

*chanting* vampires in space vampires iN SPACE

The Lost Girls by Sonia Hartl

Young adult, sapphic. Three vampire girls turned and abandoned by the same vampire get together to stop him from turning yet another girl.

The Balance of Fates by Raquel Raelynn

Young adult, sapphic. A girl enters a competition against vampires and werewolves, complicated by her feelings for one of her vampire competitors.

[burrowkit]

Happy Birthday Jackal

Inspiration by @why-am-i-not-cat-blog

Allie: Happy Birthday! Jackal: What's this? Allie: It's... a pair of shoes? Jackal: Why did you bring me a pair of shoes? Allie: Cause it's your birthday? Jackal: My... birthday? Allie: You know, once a year, on the day you were born? Jackal: Yes, I'm familiar with the concept. Today's not my birthday. Allie: Okay, but like, you won't tell me when your birthday is so just... nevermind. Screw this. I tried Allie: You know what, screw you, Jackal. I tried to do something nice cause I thought you might enjoy these, but whatever. If you want to continue wearing shoes that are beyond repair, whatever. I'm done. Allie: And another thing, f you. Jackal: Are you done? Allie: ... Jackal: My birthday was in the fall. Allie: Really? Jackal: No idea. But I died in the summer, so if you really feel like celebrating, pick a day in the summer and call it my Deathday Allie: Oh. Okay, then I'll bring these back in few months. Jackal: Where's the puppy? Allie: Not in a giant cardboard cake? Jackal: A cardboard cake? Allie: I said he wasn't. Gosh, do you even listen to me? Jackal: Hard to say. You tend to go in circles, moaning and complaining about my treatment of your precious bloodbags. Allie: Whatever. Happy Deathday you bugger Silence Jackal: Sister, wait Jackal: I... when's your Deathday? Allie: I refuse to celebrate the day I die Jackal: Fine, then- Allie: Pick a day in the fall. Allie: Come on Zeke, let's go

[shadowsof-thenight]

Book Recommendations: week 7

Book 7

The immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

I’ve mentioned before that I LOVE fantasy and I can now add that within the fantasy genre I adore vampires. Yet, I don’t read an awful lot of vampire books. This one was the exception and I am so glad I found it. 

The story follow Allison Sekemoto who is surviving in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a walled-in city in dystopian USA. By day she and her friends scavenge for food and by night they must hide. The city is controlled by vampires, who keep humans enslaved like cattle for their blood. Allison doesn’t want to be anyone’s slave, but she also knows she wouldn’t survive outside of the walls that enclose this city. 

Yet when she dies and is reborn, she must face the fact that her life of surviving just got more difficult. Her friends turn their backs on her and she is forced to flee the city—where she must evade the rabids, bloodthirsty creatures that pose a threat to humans and vampires alike. 

What I liked was that Allie could’ve chosen the easy route many a times and didn’t. She kept fighting for a world, a position within the world that she could barely envision. She has heart, despite trying to keep others out and she will fight for the underdog whenever she can. Even though she has a lot to learn about her new life, she keeps looking out for others and feels a strong need to hold on to her morality. Despite her sudden allergy for the sun and an incessant need for blood. 

Every character has such a different view on their morality, their humanity and how they should move through the world. There is no black and white with these characters, even though some are pretty vile. 

This story is fun, interesting and has enough twists and turns to keep you wanting more.  Which comes in handy, as it’s part of a trilogy. 

[jkags-doodles]

Thinking about the Blood of Eden animal metaphor is truly an iceburg of brainrot, and I have been rotating implications for MONTHS.

It starts off easy, with puppies (Zeke) being a domesticated form of canine (Jackal), and that serves as a metaphor for how Zeke is civilized/more humane, but maybe has more burden of expectation, while Jackal is both wild/savage and comparitively free. But then you think about how Jackal gave both himself AND Zeke the canine moniker— what does that mean about how he sees Zeke? How he sees himself? Does this imply that he sees himself— or rather, how he used to be— inside Zeke? If it does, is there some truth to that insight? When Zeke is Turned, does this symbolize him "growing up" into a dog, or becoming rabid and having to be put down?

And then there's Allison's bird motif— representing hope and new beginnings, which fits her role in the story as Kanin's mistake being amended through her, and it being her who brings the cure into the world. But also, birds can be scavengers and hunters, birds of prey, much like her role changing from prey to predator. Birds can show a symbiotic relationship with canines— ravens often lead wolves and coyotes to ailing prey, and falcons and domesticated dogs have worked in tandem for centuries as hunting parties. Is Allie then metaphorically leading Zeke and Jackal? To what end? What does it mean that Sarren is the person to give her this role— when he calls her a songbird, is this referring to renewal or hope (and what renewal does Sarren see in her), or is it referring to a canary in a coalmine?

And Sarren. Sarren. The "Spider to the fly". Spiders kill their prey through entangling them, by trapping them, much like he trapped Kanin, Allison, and Zeke at points throughout the story. Spiders and Jackals are both trickster figures in various mythologies— is this parallel between Jackal and Sarren intentional? Most spiders are easy to kill (does he consider himself dead?), but many are equally deadly foes, and have killed birds, dogs, and humans in equal measure. Spiders get eaten by songbirds, and Sarren was killed by Allie.

If one assumes Sarren's "Little Fish" monologue was about Jackal, that has its own implications. There are species of spider that have evolved to eat both fish and birds. If Jackal is a fish and Allison is a bird, that implies there's a distance between them that cannot be understood by the other (fish inside a birdcage).

And finally, Kanin has ZERO ANIMAL MOTIFS. What does that mean, that the story with consistent animal imagery left him out? Does he represent humanity— a force that effects every part of wildlife but is seemingly untouchable by it? Does it imply he sees himself as above the people he surrounds himself by? That he is above them??? Is he a nonentity? A plague?

Rattling the bars of my enclosure, chewing on glass, etc. It's about the metaphor, it's about the symbolism, it's about the THEMES.

[marahsfandomloves]

Allison Sekemoto from Julie Kagawa's Blood of Eden trilogy!!! Art by @unusualmuffin-art

[why-am-i-not-cat-blog]

Screaming into the void with this one but I have a theory that jackals raiders are the reason Zeke's town was attacked by rabids. Kanin tells Allison that he turned jackal "a few decades ago" and not to long after being turned he took his gang and booked it "into the mountains". And where was Zeke's town? At the base of a mountain! So it shouldn't be too much to say that they could have been in the same geographic place at the same time (plus it feels odd that kagawa would have both of them have ties to mountains). Also isn't it odd that 47 years into the apocalypse Zeke's town suddenly gets attacked by rabids? (He was 4 when the rabids came and he is 17 when he is telling Allison about the attack). So I think that the raiders where close to Zeke's town but probably just didn't have a clue where it was and the rabids came poking around because they smelled humans and found the town by scent while looking for the raiders who were probably raiding other towns close by (and let's be real here they most likely killed everyone in the towns they came across so the rabids had no food left for them). So yeah I've had this theory for like 8 years but just now have time and energy to get into my fav fandoms and if anybody thinks I'm right or wrong I'd love to talk about it