Author: Holly Black
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date: September 3, 2013
Pages: 419, Hardcover
Source: Library, Audiobook
Source: Library, Audiobook
Tana lives in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. The only problem is, once you pass through Coldtown’s gates, you can never leave.
One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are her exasperatingly endearing ex-boyfriend, infected and on the edge, and a mysterious boy burdened with a terrible secret. Shaken and determined, Tana enters a race against the clock to save the three of them the only way she knows how: by going straight to the wicked, opulent heart of Coldtown itself.
One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are her exasperatingly endearing ex-boyfriend, infected and on the edge, and a mysterious boy burdened with a terrible secret. Shaken and determined, Tana enters a race against the clock to save the three of them the only way she knows how: by going straight to the wicked, opulent heart of Coldtown itself.
- I like vampire stories and this one was no exception. I don't read a ton of vampire fiction so I'm not "burnt out" on the subject to judge this one harshly. It wasn't an entirely new idea but there was uniqueness, mostly regarding the transition to/from a vampire.
- This book was dark and gory right from the start, and I loved it. Vampires in this book are as they should be, more monstrous than glamorous. As such, people die, get bitten and turn cold, act savagely - all that good stuff. I couldn't get enough.
- I thought technology played an interesting role in this book. This was the first story I read that really explored social media and how it might be used in a world with Vampires. Imagine The Vampire Diaries or True Blood with blogging and instagram =P. It's not overly prominent but definitely visible and I thought it was cool.
- I always love me an ancient and dangerous vampire (although yes the romance was totally cliche). The narrator of the audiobook gave him a sexy voice.
- I didn't really connect with the characters or the story. There wasn't a whole lot of character development and Tana wasn't anything special. So while I thought the book was interesting, it didn't bring a whole lot of feels.
- I think Holly Black could have taken more risks with her main characters. Where Tana and Gabriel were concerned, some things were a little too cliche.
So I think The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is a worthwhile read. It's definitely an interesting story, it just lacks a little in "making-readers-really-care" department. It's still memorable. But my favorite Holly Black remains to be The Curse Worker series. Much love.
