The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

432p.
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Available: Sept. 3, 2013
Source: NetGalley and publisher for review.

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.

My Thoughts:
The book starts out almost like a normal contemporary, but quickly turns horrific. I have to admit the beginning wasn't my favorite part and it seemed like it may go the way of several vampire books where the vampire is a predator rather than a romantic partner. I also had problems with Tana. She kept making stupid decisions so I worried that would be the same throughout the book.

I was wrong! Yes! First, let me tell you about Tana. Yes, I was upset with her, but she keeps getting smarter throughout the book. Toward the end her choices weren't about intelligence ("stupid decisions" as she says) but more about fear. She was smart but decided if the only thing holding her back was fear, then go for it. She turns out to be a great heroine! She becomes the smartest person in the book.

I also enjoyed the fact that most of my questions were answered. I thought that we wouldn't learn the background of Gavriel (romantic interest) but we get it in a flashback. In fact I get several answers I didn't expect to get. So, I was a happy camper about that.

There is also a twist in the end that I did enjoy. I didn't see if this one was a standalone or a series, but I'm hoping for a series. One question you are left with in the end and I'd like to see where the author takes it. I know what my vote would be. :D Oh and no, it's not a cliffie. :D

I give this book 4.5 stars. Although it worried me in the beginning I found the book original and fun. I recommend it to those that like YA vampire books with a female who keeps getting smarter. :)