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The Coldest Girl in Coldtown
by
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 h ...more
One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are h ...more
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Hardcover, 419 pages
Published
September 3rd 2013
by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
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Amanda Murray
I took it as a bit of an analogy for the real world. The powerful vampires aren't really contained, because powerful people never have to follow the rules.
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Start your review of The Coldest Girl in Coldtown

May 20, 2013
Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies
rated it
it was ok
Shelves:
horror,
mary-sue,
tstl,
on-the-run,
high-school,
why-do-i-hate-myself,
urban-fantasy,
twins-triplets-clones,
siblings,
ya

Stop being stupid, [Tana] told herself, even though it was much too late for that. She’d been a hundred kinds of stupid already.I mean, I can hardly be accused of being excessively judgmental on a character's idiocy when she repeatedly realizes she's being dumb, right? :|
I know that Twilight is standard for the vampire book we love to hate. It's often been the butt of my jokes, and I often find myself mocking Bella Swan for her stupidity. With that said, I would read the Twilight series thre ...more

Holly Black is my Queen
But if you didn't believe in monsters, then how were you going to be able to keep safe from them?Tana lives in a world where vampires are no longer creatures of myths. Only Holly Black can take such a worn out trope and breath fresh life into it.
Even from the beginning, that was the problem. People liked pretty things. People even liked pretty things that wanted to kill and eat them.And, like any good government, the US immediately banished the "new" citizens to ...more

Full disclosure, listened to this on audiobook, as I do more and more these days.
Looking back on the book, I suppose that I'm not really the target demographic. It could be that this is YA, and probably targeted toward young women instead of men. (And by "Targeted" I'm mostly talking about the marketing, rather than Black's writing.)
That said, I really enjoyed it. And it only occurred to me right now as I was sitting down to write about it that this book might not be *for* me, technically.
I f ...more
Looking back on the book, I suppose that I'm not really the target demographic. It could be that this is YA, and probably targeted toward young women instead of men. (And by "Targeted" I'm mostly talking about the marketing, rather than Black's writing.)
That said, I really enjoyed it. And it only occurred to me right now as I was sitting down to write about it that this book might not be *for* me, technically.
I f ...more


1.5 stars
Please note that I didn't manage to read the last thirty pages (approx) because, in short, I just couldn't do it. I feel really sad about The Coldest Girl in Coldtown as it was easily in my top five most anticipated books of 2013. Since the end of Black's Curse Worker series, I've been desperate to get my hands on anything and everything she writes and I confess to still loving a good vampire novel when it's being told by a capable author. And I gave this book every chance to turn i ...more

"What are they? Are they diseased or demonic? Are they citizens who have become ill, deserving hospitals and care, as some have argued? Or are they the bodies of our loved ones animated by some dark force that we ought to seek to destroy?"
And here I thought originality was gone from vampire stories! It takes none other than Holly Black to prove me wrong. Coldest Girl in Coldtown is not only unique, it's a fun, exciting story full of horror and blood with a little flair of post apocalyptic.
E ...more
And here I thought originality was gone from vampire stories! It takes none other than Holly Black to prove me wrong. Coldest Girl in Coldtown is not only unique, it's a fun, exciting story full of horror and blood with a little flair of post apocalyptic.
E ...more

Back in 2015 I have this 5 stars and loved it, this time around it started out awesome and then fizzled off for me. I’m glad I decided on a reread as I was interested in special edition of the book coming out. Thank God I can save more money.
I will always like the book though!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
I will always like the book though!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾

3.5/5
Not bad! I'm glad that I finally got around to reading this as it's been on my shelf for FOREVER. I really enjoyed the beginning of this book, but towards the middle it slowed down and I began to lose interest. The concept of vampirism in this book was also sort of confusing to me, with "the cold" and how you don't necessarily have to become a vampire if you get infected. I'm used to the straightforward "get bitten, become vampire" type of thing and this world with coldtowns and whatnot unf ...more
Not bad! I'm glad that I finally got around to reading this as it's been on my shelf for FOREVER. I really enjoyed the beginning of this book, but towards the middle it slowed down and I began to lose interest. The concept of vampirism in this book was also sort of confusing to me, with "the cold" and how you don't necessarily have to become a vampire if you get infected. I'm used to the straightforward "get bitten, become vampire" type of thing and this world with coldtowns and whatnot unf ...more

Straight up brilliance! I thought I couldn't be more impressed with Holly's writing than I already was, but this book was EXACTLY what I wanted years ago when I finished her short story (which evolved into this novel). I'll be buying copies of this one for friends & family. Highly recommended.
...more

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown was a deliciously creepy and dark story, one that made my heart race and thrill.
Tanna lives in a world that seems not too far off from our own; a time when vampires are no longer myth but present and a threat. These vampires have been contained in our modern world into cities, Coldtowns, guarded but connected by live feeds, blog posts and news stories. Sensationalized and romanticized, but Tanna knows the darker side of the story. She has a sad, frightening tale of i ...more
Tanna lives in a world that seems not too far off from our own; a time when vampires are no longer myth but present and a threat. These vampires have been contained in our modern world into cities, Coldtowns, guarded but connected by live feeds, blog posts and news stories. Sensationalized and romanticized, but Tanna knows the darker side of the story. She has a sad, frightening tale of i ...more

3.5/5 stars
I'm torn because I really loved Holly Black's writing in this book, but the story still felt too rushed and put together for me. There was lots of insta-love and the characters didn't really get developed - Tana did a bit, but barely. I can understand the rushed feeling because it is a standalone paranormal book - which there are hardly any of - but I've read some great standalones that aren't rushed and include some great character development - I just think this one could've been be ...more
I'm torn because I really loved Holly Black's writing in this book, but the story still felt too rushed and put together for me. There was lots of insta-love and the characters didn't really get developed - Tana did a bit, but barely. I can understand the rushed feeling because it is a standalone paranormal book - which there are hardly any of - but I've read some great standalones that aren't rushed and include some great character development - I just think this one could've been be ...more

✅ World-building
✅ Originality
✅ Characters and interactions
✅ Dark atmosphere
✅🆗 Pace
✅🆗 Plot
❗️❗️ There is (almost) no romance in this book
3.5 stars
Tana lives in a world where vampires are not a secret anymore. They are either despised, or revered, and while some people are scared of them and know how bloody and gory they can be, others are dreaming of becoming fashionable and ever-young vampires. Tana m ...more
✅ Originality
✅ Characters and interactions
✅ Dark atmosphere
✅🆗 Pace
✅🆗 Plot
❗️❗️ There is (almost) no romance in this book
3.5 stars
That was the problem with monsters. Sometimes they looked just like everybody else.
Tana lives in a world where vampires are not a secret anymore. They are either despised, or revered, and while some people are scared of them and know how bloody and gory they can be, others are dreaming of becoming fashionable and ever-young vampires. Tana m ...more

I never thought I’d ever read another YA vampire book again. But I’d also never read Holly Black’s YA vampires. And Holly Black’s vampires are freaking vicious and vengeful and gory and felt more real (like if this were to actually happen in real life, I could see it being like this), and much more true to legend.

I don’t know what made me pick this up after having sworn off vampires years ago. (it was PhantomRin's amazing fanart). I was so over them that I’d literally role my eyes anytime I hea
...more


not terrible, just boring. i've been "currently reading" it (ha) for 2 months and i just...never want to pick it up.
so...DNF at a little over 50% ...more
so...DNF at a little over 50% ...more

Sep 07, 2013
Sarah Elizabeth
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
dystopian,
romance,
vampires,
fantasy,
read-2015,
read-with-abbie,
as,
paranormal,
young-adult
“And I have feelings for you, too. Big, weird, crazy feelings.”
I have mixed feelings about this book, but overall I liked it.
Tana was an okay character, and it was valiant the way she didn’t leave a vampire behind to his fate! Even if the decision was likely to kill her!
The storyline in this was alright, although it reminded me quite a bit of ‘The Immortal Rules’, which is probably in part because I found the pace in both of them quite slow. But otherwise – dystopian setting, slightly differ ...more
I have mixed feelings about this book, but overall I liked it.
Tana was an okay character, and it was valiant the way she didn’t leave a vampire behind to his fate! Even if the decision was likely to kill her!
The storyline in this was alright, although it reminded me quite a bit of ‘The Immortal Rules’, which is probably in part because I found the pace in both of them quite slow. But otherwise – dystopian setting, slightly differ ...more

Oct 02, 2018
Noura Khalid (theperksofbeingnoura)
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition

“Every hero is the villain of his own story.”
I made it my job to read every Holly Black book on the face of this earth. And what could be better than Holly Black and Vampires? damn, this book was good. I say this a lot but this was so incredibly different!
Vampires and modern technology. I mean imagine sitting in the comfort of your home and watching shows about Vampire hunters, Vampire wannabes and Vampires trying to lure you to the dark side. Crazy right? Truthfully, I really missed Vampire ...more

"I love you, you see -- and I fear I have no way to say or show it that isn't terrible, except coming here. I would kill everyone in the world for you, if you wanted."
*Sighs*
Here I am, defending a book I probably shouldn't have even given a chance. There are a lot of things wrong with this book. Not wrong, necessarily, but a lot of things that I should probably hate about this book. Instead, I find myself brimming with absolute adoration for everything in The Coldest Girl in Coldtown.
Firstly ...more
*Sighs*
Here I am, defending a book I probably shouldn't have even given a chance. There are a lot of things wrong with this book. Not wrong, necessarily, but a lot of things that I should probably hate about this book. Instead, I find myself brimming with absolute adoration for everything in The Coldest Girl in Coldtown.
Firstly ...more

Pre-review:
I quite like the world building and the story is doing well so far. Vampire virus! The undead being locked in separated towns! Reality TV featuring vampires and vampire hunters! People who want to get bitten and be vampires! What's not to love!?
The ending isn't what I'd expected but I'm okay with it? I don't think there will be a sequel but if Holly Black decided to give us one, I'll be on board.
Ms. Black's writing never disappoints! Hope to read more of her books later.
PS: in the fa ...more
I quite like the world building and the story is doing well so far. Vampire virus! The undead being locked in separated towns! Reality TV featuring vampires and vampire hunters! People who want to get bitten and be vampires! What's not to love!?
The ending isn't what I'd expected but I'm okay with it? I don't think there will be a sequel but if Holly Black decided to give us one, I'll be on board.
Ms. Black's writing never disappoints! Hope to read more of her books later.
PS: in the fa ...more

“Death’s favourites don’t die”
Didn’t think reality tv and vampires would ever work together but Black really did that!! I LOVED THIS SO MUCH!
This was the most unique take on vampires i’ve read in a longgggg time and i’ve read a lot of them! The world building was so well done, the characters were really interesting, I love Tana so much she was such a good main character. Somehow the insta-love worked well too, props to the author there wow, I found myself really hoping for Gavriel and Tana. Als ...more
Didn’t think reality tv and vampires would ever work together but Black really did that!! I LOVED THIS SO MUCH!
This was the most unique take on vampires i’ve read in a longgggg time and i’ve read a lot of them! The world building was so well done, the characters were really interesting, I love Tana so much she was such a good main character. Somehow the insta-love worked well too, props to the author there wow, I found myself really hoping for Gavriel and Tana. Als ...more

It's rare that I come across a vampire book that I so thoroughly enjoy. The Coldest Girl in Coldtown was absolutely phenomenal and I adored it! It was such an interesting take on vampires, quite unlike any other book I've read with them. The world building was fantastic and I just loved the whole idea of the book. And as usual, Black brings to life characters that you can't help but fall completely in love with. The main character Tana is gutsy and doesn't let anything get in her way and I just
...more

*4.5 stars*
Ah, this book was so great! I really really thoroughly enjoyed it! It's like a zombie apocalypse but with vampires and I looooved it!! The main character Tana was so badass, but I really wish there was like an epilogue or something! Still, really loved this book and it was great to read about vampires again, it's been too long! ...more
Ah, this book was so great! I really really thoroughly enjoyed it! It's like a zombie apocalypse but with vampires and I looooved it!! The main character Tana was so badass, but I really wish there was like an epilogue or something! Still, really loved this book and it was great to read about vampires again, it's been too long! ...more

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is a unique and utterly fantastic take on vampires, with haunting and beautiful prose + a one-of-a-kind story. Easily a new favorite book of all-time!
Let's go ahead and address the elephant in the room: vampires? They've been used so many times, it's gotten quite old. But luckily, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown gives vampires a fresh and original spin - it's unlike anything I've ever read. And you know what I loved the most about these vampires? They're beautiful (thei ...more
Let's go ahead and address the elephant in the room: vampires? They've been used so many times, it's gotten quite old. But luckily, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown gives vampires a fresh and original spin - it's unlike anything I've ever read. And you know what I loved the most about these vampires? They're beautiful (thei ...more

Dec 21, 2012
Stacia (the 2010 club)
rated it
liked it
Recommended to Stacia (the 2010 club) by:
February read for Rated YA-MA group
Holly Black is one of those authors who I struggle with when it comes to putting her style of writing into a category. She's a little bit dark, a little bit snarky, and I get the distinct impression that she's going to write what she wants, the way she wants to, and screw anyone who doesn't like it.
Because of this, I have both a love and frustration with her work. Every time I pick up a book of hers, I read it and get caught up in the story. However, every time I pick up a book of hers, I find ...more
Because of this, I have both a love and frustration with her work. Every time I pick up a book of hers, I read it and get caught up in the story. However, every time I pick up a book of hers, I find ...more

I LOVED this book! I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did an amazing job. There isn't much new or fresh in the way of vampire lore here, but I thought it was an exceptionally well done vampire story. I loved Black's exquisite writing and excellent characterisation, which gave the story a feel of both modern and gothic decadence and decline. For me, it struck exactly the right balance.
I see that my GR friends are a bit divided on this one. I think if you are someone who really likes vam ...more
I see that my GR friends are a bit divided on this one. I think if you are someone who really likes vam ...more

oh yes, now these are my kind of vampires
this has been on my tbr for years - picked it up on a whim this evening and read it in one sitting 😌also convinced this is cousins with Schwab's This Savage Song ...more
this has been on my tbr for years - picked it up on a whim this evening and read it in one sitting 😌also convinced this is cousins with Schwab's This Savage Song ...more

"If she was going to die, she might as well die sarcastic. She'd seen a lot of old movies, and that was definitely the way to go out."Every time I think I'm done with vampire books, my favorite authors pull me back in with their own twist on this paranormal creature. Unlike The Immortal Rules, which I've seen this book compared to on occasion, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown occurs in a more present-day setting, not years from now when the vampire epidemic has already reduced the huma ...more

Holly Black,
I don't know why I haven't read more of your stuff! I've read only The Darkest Part of the Forest before this one, a year or two ago, and really liked it, so I'm not sure why it's taken me this long to pick up another of your books. My mistake! I loved the flawed characters in this one, the depth of the worldbuilding without info-dumping, the creativity. Also, thanks for making sure you put representation into your book. Some people might call it "the liberal agenda," but I'll gladly ...more
I don't know why I haven't read more of your stuff! I've read only The Darkest Part of the Forest before this one, a year or two ago, and really liked it, so I'm not sure why it's taken me this long to pick up another of your books. My mistake! I loved the flawed characters in this one, the depth of the worldbuilding without info-dumping, the creativity. Also, thanks for making sure you put representation into your book. Some people might call it "the liberal agenda," but I'll gladly ...more
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Holly Black is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of over thirty fantasy novels for kids and teens. She has been a finalist for an Eisner Award and the Lodestar Award, and the recipient of the Mythopoeic Award, a Nebula, and a Newbery Honor. Her books have been translated into 32 languages worldwide and adapted for film. She currently lives in New England with her husband and son in a house
...more
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“Every hero is the villain of his own story.”
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