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The Coldest Girl in Coldtown

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In a world where vampires are a dangerous problem, a girl named Tana wakes up to a room full of dead people, including a vampire and her infected ex-boyfriend. Together, they must navigate through a vampire enclave known as Coldtown to go through a quarantine period. The story involves modern social media, complex plots, and a unique take on vampires as a disease. The book explores themes of identity, self-awareness, and the fear of a world beyond control, with a fast-paced plot and unflinchingly portrayed vampires.

The book follows Tana's journey as she grapples with the aftermath of a vampire attack, her interactions with a mysterious vampire named Gavriel, and their eventual journey to Coldtown. The writing style is described as vivid, gothic, and engaging, with a realistic teenager protagonist and well-rounded characters. The story is compelling, original, and offers a fresh perspective on the vampire genre, making it a worthwhile read for fans of vampire stories.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, with Tana standing out as a relatable and strong protagonist while others add complexity and drama to the narrative.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is engaging, weaving together suspense and emotional depth through rich descriptions and a dual narrative approach.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around Tana, who must navigate a world overrun by vampires after a devastating attack, grappling with the reality of Coldtown, where both vampires and humans intermingle.

Setting:

The setting vividly depicts a dystopian world shaped by vampirism, establishing a haunting contrast between societal norms and the chaos of Coldtown.

Pacing:

The pacing varies throughout, successfully engaging readers during action-packed moments while also allowing for quieter, character-driven scenes.
Tana woke lying in a bathtub. Her legs were drawn up, her cheek pressed against the cold metal of the faucet. A slow drip had soaked the fabric on her shoulder and wetted locks of her hair. The rest o...

Notes:

The novel features a unique take on vampires, portraying them as a contagious virus rather than supernatural beings.
Vampires exist openly in society, leading to the establishment of quarantined areas known as Coldtowns.
Tana, the main character, wakes up in a bathtub to find her friends dead after a vampire attack at a party.
Cold is a term used for humans who have been bitten but not yet turned into vampires; they can survive without blood for 88 days to regain their humanity.
The novel explores themes of morality, identity, and the allure of immortality in a dystopian setting.
The narrative includes multiple perspectives, including flashbacks that enrich character backstories.
Gavriel, a vampire character, is depicted as brooding and complex rather than simply villainous, adding depth to the romantic subplot.
The story reflects contemporary issues, including the impact of social media on perceptions of violence and celebrity.
The writing incorporates literary quotes related to death and immortality at the beginning of chapters, enhancing its thematic depth.
The ending leaves open questions but resolves the main plotlines, allowing for both closure and interpretation.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content may include themes of violence, graphic scenes, and mentions of death and blood, which could be triggering for some readers.

Has Romance?

The romance is present but not the central focus, offering depth to the relationships without overtaking the plot.

From The Publisher:

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is a wholly original story of rage and revenge, of guilt and horror, and of love and loathing from bestselling and acclaimed author Holly Black.

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.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is a wholly original story of rage and revenge, of guilt and horror, and of love and loathing from bestselling and acclaimed author Holly Black.

Ratings (35)

Incredible (9)
Loved It (15)
Liked It (7)
It Was OK (4)

Reader Stats (106):

Read It (38)
Want To Read (54)
Not Interested (14)

5 comment(s)

Loved It
5 months

This was such a fun audiobook. I always know that whenever I pick up a Holly Black book, whether it's fae or vampires, I'm in for a unique read. She writes to the beat of her own drum and I dig it.

(4.5 stars)

 
Incredible
5 months

A surprisingly fresh take in the young adult vampire genre.

 
It Was OK
6 months

To be honest I found this book to be kind of "meh." I wanted to like it but I just never got that one thing to grab me into the story. It was just there and I was just reading it.

The characters and their development were solid. The plot was solid and the writing was good. I can't find a bad thing to say other than I got nothing from it.

 
It Was OK
1 year

I feel like the main character couldn’t pick which kind of Mary Sue she wanted to be eg. “Should I be helpless, naive and let the hot vampire protect me?” Or the “ Don’t mess with me, I don’t need help with anything and I don’t trust vampires (even really hot good looking ones)”

 
Incredible
1 year

Amazing story. Amazing plot. Amazing world building. Amazing plot twist. Amazing romance. Amazing Inclusivity. Overall an amazing book. Recommended for all.

 
 
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