The Coldest Girl In Coldtown

So, I don't even know where to start with this review...I think I've written it 4 different ways already and still have not come up with the best way to say that, yes this is another vampire book but no, it's not just ANOTHER vampire book. The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black wickedly portrays the vampire theme in a refreshingly dark and twisted new way that will leave you breathless as you root for the human, the cold and the vampire.

Black slowly and methodically builds up memorable characters with flashback style writing that will open a window into our main character, Tana's past and present from her point of view showing her struggle with the whole "vampire" apocalypse from a startlingly early age and how that affects her reactions today.  The pace can seem a bit slow (especially in the beginning), but it didn't seem to detour my interest as it seemed very fitting and definitely picks up later on.  Do not make the mistake of overlooking this gem of a novel because you're tired of vampires or it's not action packed in the first few chapters. 

I can't tell you how many times I read a synopsis now-a-days and think, "oh another supernatural/dystopian novel...hope this one isn't like the rest of them."  I can tell you, Coldtown is darker and does not have the expected fairytale "everyone is happy" ending.  Black does not hold back on the gruesome scenes, leaves out the whole love triangle bit (thank you) and even squashes and pokes some humor at the stereotypical vampire traits.  So if you're looking for that storybook ending...look elsewhere, but if you're looking for an action packed thrilling story of death, revenge, and love with a twist that will shock you, then this is definitely for you!

My synopsis in 50 words or less:

Human girl goes to party.  Girl wakes up to find everyone dead.  Girl frees ex-boyfriend and vampire, realizes she might be exposed and heads to the closest Coldtown.  Coldtown is not what it seems on TV.  Humans come there to become vampires and vampires rule Coldtown.  Girl kicks ass.

Synopisis according to Goodreads:

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.