The Coldest Girl in Coldtown
4.4
103
5
1
Paperback
USD
11.69
$11.69
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780316213097 |
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| Publisher: | Little, Brown Books for Young Readers |
| Publication date: | 08/12/2014 |
| Pages: | 448 |
| Sales rank: | 52,559 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.20(d) |
| Age Range: | 14 - 17 Years |
About the Author
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown
4.3 out of 5
based on
0 ratings.
104 reviews.
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One thing I've noticed about vampires in many of today's books is that they've been romanticized to the point where they're not really all that scary any more. Think about the vampires you know the best - Edward from the Twilight series, the Brothers from the Black Dagger Brotherhood, Simon from The Mortal Instruments. These are the sexy, sweet vampires who don't kill humans and love their women fiercely.
Holly Black has reminded us in The Coldest Girl in Coldtown that vampires are inherently evil and bad and so scary. When I learned that this book was about vampires, I was prepared for the usual. What I got instead was something dark, bloody and freaky. It was awesome!
Tana wakes up the morning after a party and 48 of her friends are dead. She discovers her ex-boyfriend and a vampire chained in a room and saves them. The three of them set off for Coldtown, with Tana having every intention of returning home when her cargo is delivered. Things don't happen according to plan, though, and before she knows it, Tana finds herself fighting for her life as she knows it.
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is unique in many ways. In it, our world knows about vampires and fears them. Vampirism is treated as a disease, and something that can be fought - like a cold. It's a different way of looking at it, for sure.
Let's talk characters. Tana was an awesome heroine. She had something truly awful happen to her as a child, and although that event certainly helped shape her, it hasn't defined her like we see so many times in characters that are in situations like this. She's brave and strong and smart. She's cautious when she needs to be, and she doesn't blindly trust anyone.
Gavriel was... wow. He was something else. A centuries-old vampire who is more than a little nuts-o, yet young-looking and hot (of course!) and so dynamic. He says the craziest things, and pairs them with moments of lucidity that make you think that perhaps there's a method to his madness. And, there's definitely more to him than what meets the eye - that was evident from the very first moment we see him.
The way that Black layered the chapters with one flashback followed by one present-day helped to slowly develop the characters and the world so that it wasn't so much info dump all at once. I did appreciate that a lot.
The other thing I appreciated is that, although there is a very nice slow burn romance, it wasn't thrust in with a crowbar. Many times, a romance is added just for people like me who need something like that in my stories. Not because the story calls for it. In this case, the romance is a little darker, but no less sweet. Gavriel is an a-typical hero and leading man, and I was okay with that. I still fell in love with him, just like Tana did.
At 419 pages, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is a smidge long. It could've been tightened up some. Some of the flashback chapters felt unnecessary. In fact, I think the addition of Tana's sister Pearl was completely nonessential to the main story, and I don't think I would've felt like I was missing anything important if she had been omitted entirely.
Despite that, I really loved the dark and foreboding aspect of this story. The romance that I need was there, although it wasn't prominent. The heroes are exciting. The villains are confusing in a very good way (Are they all bad? Good? How bad are they?). If you like vampire stories even a little, you really should give this one a shot. I can't wait to see where Black takes this story next.
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This shows all just how horrid Twilight & other Vampire stories with little-to-no plot and only romance.
Really, Twilight had quite 1-dimensional characters, while this makes you feel for them.
This story takes you back to true vampires- Scary, blood sucking monsters.
This has an amazing plot, the premise of Coldtowns, and interesting characters.
Crazy plot twist in the end- I recommend this to anyone that likes to read!
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Perfect vampire book. You get the true nature of what, if real, vampires might go through. It's like True Blood meet The Walking Dead. Loved the writing!
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Wow! This book is a wild ride - full of scares, adventure and a new take on vampires. Tana Bach is a scarred but intrepid heroine. Her trip with her friend Adrian and recently met Gavriel to the Coldtown is full of suspense and revelations. Once they reach the Coldtown you are introduced to a whole new world within the walls.
I have been a fan of Holly Black for a long time and this book does not disappoint!
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My daughter and I both love Holly Black as an author. She didn't disappoint with this book. It's good for young adults and adults. We both loved it and want more of it.
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Great read.......I would love if you continued the story.
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Sure it was a little slow in the beginning but when u hear more about everyone's back story u like it more and then when u see how insane and dangerous the love interest is, it makes u absolutely love him and the story
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I thoroughly enjoyed this book and didn't want it to end.
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The vampire trend in YA books seems to be dying down, but I'm still interested in reading books that have a creative twist on an old favourite. The synopsis for Holly Black's new release initially drew me in, particularly because of the Coldtowns introduced in the book.
Unfortunately, I didn't quite get the creepy, intriguing book I desired and was left feeling a bit disappointed with the story.
Reason to Read:
1. Coldtown is a great setting:
The Coldtowns are a main focus of the story, and easily the most fascinating aspect. There's so much mystery and eccentricity stemming from Coldtown; I couldn't help but want to know more about the place and I was eagerly awaiting the characters' arrival in Coldtown. I also thought that was a great approach to take in a story where vampires are real and the world is trying to learn how to handle that reality.
The beginning of the book had me hooked very quickly, but unfortunately that just didn't last. The pace slowed down considerably early on, and I found it dragged on for a while. Much of the story seemed to revolve around Tana's internal thoughts and feelings about the events taking place around her. As a result, she didn't seem grounded in the story at all.
On top of that, I couldn't connect with any of the characters in the slightest. I was indifferent towards them, at best. They never really grew on me, as much as I wanted to be invested in their lives. Their personalities weren't consistent, and the ending didn't feel like a natural result of characters' decisions but simply because the plot demanded it.
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is well-written, but I found it difficult to be excited about the story or care about the characters.
Review copy received from HBG Canada for review; no other compensation was received.
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I read this book for fun and because it was reccommended. I read quite a bit and enjoy a variety of books. The angsty teen vampire thing has really been played out, however based on the reviews I thought this book would be a good read. It was not entirely awful, just very forced feeling. The charcaters were all incredibky flat and dull, everything about them was so contrived and sterotypical I had to check to make sure this book wasn't written in 1982. It was as though the author had never heard a teenager speak before. The "love" story was forced from the very begining and felt fake. The good characters were 100% good and perfect and the evil characters were 100% evil. There was no actual conflict and the main battle never actually happened. This book reminded me of a poorly written twiglight fanfic.
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I couldn't even finish this book because it was so boring. It moved too slowly
and the characters were completely unlikeable. I didn't care what happened to any of them. Not her typical work.
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I really enjoyed this book. It takes you on a wild adventure into a world where vampires are really monsters and not what people have turned them into today. I enjoyed it and will read it again.
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Not your typical vampire story
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.
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I'm usually picky when it comes to fantasy books but WOW, I fell in LOVE with this book. Holly Black was able to do many things with this story that many aren't able to when it comes to writing about vampires. I was amazed at how much I wanted to keep reading more and more, never wanting to put the book down. Can't wait to see what is next from Holly Black!
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AMAZING!!!!
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Great read!
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Loved this book. Fun read with unexpected twists. I wish there was a sequel.
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Love this book
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This book is sooooo well detailed and never makes you bored, always on my toes. # vampires
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I realky like this book, but i with there was more
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There are so many people out there that complain that the Vampire thing has been over done. I personally disagree. I still love a good vampire story. I think I always will. They are just so fascinating to me. This book was a lot of fun to listen to.
Tana goes to a party one night and her whole life changes. When she wakes up there are dead bodies every where. Frightened and not knowing if the people responsible are still in the house, she runs to find her ex-boyfriend and tries to get him out of the house. When she finds Adrienne, she finds another man chained to the wall, and decides he needs to be saved as well. That night changes Tana's life forever.
Tana's ex-boyfriend has been bitten and is in the middle of changing. Tana is trying to help him so that he doesn't change. There is a way to fight of the sickness. If you can last the 12 weeks it takes for the sickness to fully take over your body, you can "cure" yourself. It is a dangerous undertaking though. You have to self "quarantine" and hope you don't go mad during the process.
Adrienne isn't sure he wants to fight it off. The though of being immortal is very appealing to him. While traveling they stop at a gas station to refuel and run into some kids that are headed to the nearest Coldtown. There they plan on getting bitten and becoming immortal.
Coldtowns are where vampires and humans live together. Once you enter though it's almost impossible to leave. Tana is about to find this out the hard way.
This story is kind of intense. Tana is constantly fighting for her life, and trying to keep her friends and family safe. BUT, Gabrielle the other boy she saved that deadly night might have other plans for her.
Listening to this story unfold was so much fun. It was full of excitement, near death escapes, family, friends, and a vampire that is charming and intriguing. Tana isn't quite sure if she can trust Gabrielle, but finds she doesn't have much of a choice.
If you like vampire books, then you will like this one. It's a different story about vampires than I have read in a long time. A lot of crazy happens before Gabrielle and Tana find out what is really happening between them. I think you will enjoy the ride this book takes you on!
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A completely different, sadly believable vampire story
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Good book. Could use a sequel but fine as it is.
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