The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

When Tana was just a little girl, the vampire virus began to spread rampantly across the globe. All it took was one vampire who didn't follow the rules and the delicate balance was tipped in vampires' favor. Those who were bitten became infected or Cold. They could recover but only if they abstained from drinking human blood for eighty-eight days. The hunger associating with being Cold is unbearable, though, and the recovery time brutal and torturous. This is the new reality.

Now a teen, Tana is used to the world that's come up around her as a result of the vampires. She and her friends have overnight parties - locked in from sundown to sunset and safe from any potential roaming vamps - and reality tv shows broadcast from Coldtowns (walled cities for vamps, infected, and people who volunteer their blood for food) offer outsiders a glimpse of the glamorous and sinful times to be had living the life of a vampire. But then Tana's friends are attacked, leaving just Tana and two others alive and able to escape. Tana is afraid that she could be infected and knows that the only solution is to turn herself in at the nearest Coldtown. Eighty-eight days and she can be free again. Eighty-eight days, if she can survive.

It just goes to show you there still is plenty of room for a unique and stand out vampire book! Holly Black's latest is just that - truly unique story with characters and a plot that will surprise you.

First, let me say the premise is wonderful! The opening pages set the tone for a dark and twisted spin on a vampire apocalypse and the people living through it. Tana is a teen like any other teen. When we meet her she's complaining about a problematic ex and she's just about to head home from an all night party when she discovers something shocking: everyone at the party is dead. Almost everyone, that is. She's still alive and her problematic ex is found tied to a bed in one of the other rooms along with a strange companion who turns out to be a vampire himself.

Aiden is Cold and Tana is determined to see him through it. Their new vampire companion is a particularly interesting individual, a vampire who's crazy in the strictest sense of the word. But he's willing to help all thanks to Tana saving him.

Each turn of the story presents something new and somewhat unexpected for a vampire book. Yes, there's a bit of a love story - though it's quite well developed in terms of timing and such (no insta-love here, folks). Yes there are the romanticized vamps (though they don't sparkle) and yes there's plenty of gore. And while I know this is Holly Black's bit of a love letter to vampire books, I found it to be reminiscent of one of my own favorite teen vampire movies, The Lost Boys.


Rating: 5/5