Review: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown

Author: Holly Black
Date of Publication: September 3 2013
Pages: 419
Source: Won in a giveaway! :)

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.


Review:

Head colds suck. You don't have a sore throat. Instead, you feel completely dizzy and out there with a headache that never seems to completely leave. In this slightly feverish condition, I started to read The Coldest Girl in Coldtown.

I wasn't surprised to enjoy it. A lot.

The writing is wonderful. Every chapter has an aim and seems to belong on its own. There are some creepy quotes about death before every chapter that are written in cursive that take a few extra seconds to decipher but that are wonderful in the way they accompanied the text. Everything was conveyed very well, very concisely, and every chapter felt deliberate. The story felt as if Holly Black knew what would happen at all times. Some stories feel confusing and our a little bit all over the place, but The Coldest Girl in Coldtown felt like it had a purpose.

The mix of flashbacks at the beginning to give Tana depth and introduce the world, as well as the sometimes different POVs meant that this book felt clean when reading, not fluffy, because it was shaped. There was also a lot of depth to the world, the story, and the characters.

As much as this is the story of Tana, there is something more profound. Some lines speak directly to the reader and they make me want to go back and reread the story.

Enough about writing- let's get to the story. The way everything was set up is probably its biggest strength. The vampire mythology has been molded into something completely new and dark.  The idea of Coldtowns, places where vampires roam freely and where humans that desire immortality enter, even knowing that they'll never be allowed to leave. The society is so messed up what with the vampire obsession that it seems to make sense.

The characters were also pretty fantastic. Tana's perspective is engaging and although I was curious about her hero complex, I couldn't help but root for her. Tana is a pretty likable character and I also admired her strength. It's not the type of strength that shouts and is obvious. She's strong because she's experienced horrible things and has found ways to keep going; ways to stay okay.

I don't want to say too much more because honestly. The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is really great in every way. The plot, characters, writing, mythology, premise... Everything was just well done and shows how talented Holly Black is. I'm so sad that this is a standalone. It was wonderful, and I wouldn't mind more.

4.5 stars.


-P.E.


16 comments:

  1. Well, P.E. you might have just convinced me to read this book once and for all! I've read so many reviews, and some of them loved it and some of them barely liked it that I have been in the fence for a while!
    Great review!

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    1. I love this book so much! I read some on the fence reviews too, but it totally worked for me! I hope you enjoy it too :)

      -P.E.

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  2. Glad you enjoyed this one. For some reason, the people I follow on GR seem to have given this book a lacklastre reception. I've been staying away from vampire books but this one I might try.

    Great review.

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    1. Everyone has their own tastes of course, but I loved this one. I've always been a fan of paranormal stories though. It's my favourite genre, and I thought Holly Black did an amazing job with writing about vampires in a fresh way.

      -P.E.

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  3. Ooo. We weren't really interested in this but now that we've read your take on it, we're intrigued. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

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    1. Haha, I definitely thought it was intriguing, to say the least. :)

      -P.E.

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  4. I have only heard good things about Coldest Girl in Coldtown! I've been looking for a good new vampire read and I think this is the one! Great review. I like stories that have purpose :)

    Crystal @ Elegantly Bound Books

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    1. If you're looking for a vampire read, this is probably one of the best to check out. I thought The Coldest Girl in Coldtown was a series, so the fact that it was a standalone is probably what makes it especially concise. I hope you enjoy it if you do end up reading it!

      -P.E.

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  5. I am dying to read this book soon. It sounds awesome. Glad you enjoyed!

    Teresa @ Readers Live A Thousand Lives

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  6. I can't wait to read this! The vampire mythology sounds so intriguing and the fact that it's a standalone will actually move this one up on my TBR! Great review :)

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    1. I figured a lot of people would be happy to hear that! Enjoy it when you get to it!

      -P.E.

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  7. Wonderful review P.E., it sounds like this book is awesome and hit all the right marks! I like the sound of experiencing the story through flashbacks. I've only heard good things about this and will be keeping an eye out for it.

    Jeann @ Happy Indulgence

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    1. I love flashbacks, and non-traditional linear methods of telling a story. I think it added a lot to the intrigue and gave some history to Tana.

      & thanks!

      -P.E.

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  8. I really, really liked this one. I mean, I usually love whatever Holly Black writes, but I thought this book was great. And I was happy that it was a standalone, because lately I've been feeling that a lot of trilogies I read would have been much, much better as either standalones or duologies.

    Thanks so much for stopping by! Jen @ YA Romantics

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    1. I don't like trilogies either! Glad you feel the same way about this one. Holly Black is extremely talented.

      -P.E.

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