Review: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

Series: Standalone

Published: September 3rd, 2013

Publisher: Little, Brown Books For Young Readers

419 pages (hardcover)

Genre: Young adult paranormal

Acquired this book: From the library

Warning: May contain spoilers

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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.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown starts off strong. It’s gruesome and horrifying, and it draws you in, making you wonder what’s happening, while also fearing for the main character’s life. But then…I don’t want to say this book was boring, because that’s not the case. It was, however, very slow and I felt at times like I was slogging through it. I started it a few days before Halloween, thinking it would be the perfect creepy (and hopefully quick) read for my favourite holiday, but it took me over a week to get through it.

If I was able to rate on concept alone, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown could get five stars. It's something I've never seen before - when a person is bitten by a vampire, they become Cold. From there, they can bite someone else, die, and be reborn a vampire, or they can go into quarantine (usually self-imposed and unsuccessful) for eighty-eight days, and as long as they don’t drink blood they’ll be okay. Vampires and people who are infected are supposed to go to Coldtowns to keep from spreading vampirism. But it’s not just vampires and people who have been bitten who popular Coldtowns - people who want to be bitten or want that lifestyle can voluntarily go into Coldtowns.

Great concept, right? And I think Black executed it well, but there was an uneven mix of action and then just basically waiting for stuff to happen. I also didn’t really feel myself connecting to any of the characters. I liked Tana, but I didn’t feel much for her. I felt really meh toward Gavriel at first, but then I slowly became intrigued, especially when we started getting scenes from his history - how and when he became a vampire, his dealings with his maker, who later became a famous Coldtown vampire - those parts I found fascinating and engaging. Gavriel was hard to read, but I liked his unpredictability and felt it worked well.

I wanted to love this book, and I wish I could say I did, but there were just too many parts that fell flat for me. I loved the action, the fact that Black wasn’t afraid to shy away from gore and horror and disturbing scenes (which I learned when I read Tithe a few years ago), and a lot of other little things, but there was just something lacking that prevented me from loving it. I’m sure there will be plenty of people who love The Coldest Girl in Coldtown - in fact, I hope there are. I just wish I were one of them.  

 

 

Have you read The Coldest Girl in Coldtown? What did you think? If you haven't read it, does it sound like something you'd be interested in? Have you read any of Holly Black's other books?

 

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Review: At Grave’s End by Jeaniene Frost

At Grave’s End by Jeaniene Frost

Series: Night Huntress, Book #3

Published: January 21st, 2009

Publisher: Avon

342 pages (paperback)

Genre: Paranormal romance

Acquired this book: From the library

Warning: May contain spoilers

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{Read my review of Halfway to the Grave || Read my review of One Foot in the Grave}

 

It should be the best time of half-vampire Cat Crawfield’s life. With her undead lover Bones at her side, she’s successfully protected mortals from the rogue undead. But though Cat’s worn disguise after disguise to keep her true identity a secret from the brazen bloodsuckers, her cover’s finally been blown, placing her in terrible danger.

As if that wasn’t enough, a woman from Bones’s past is determined to bury him once and for all. Caught in the crosshairs of a vengeful vamp, yet determined to help Bones stop a lethal magic from being unleashed, Cat’s about to learn the true meaning of bad blood. And the tricks she’s learned as a special agent won’t help her. She will need to fully embrace her vampire instincts in order to save herself—and Bones—from a fate worse than the grave.

In this third installment of the Night Huntress series, there are more deadly enemies than you can shake a stake at. Cat, Bones, and the team are always right smack in the middle of the action and danger, and I love it.

It’s funny - I went from not really caring for the characters in book one to loving them in book 2 to being totally invested in their lives by book 3. I adore Cat and Bones - separately and as a couple - and I love being reunited with familiar characters each time I pick up one of these books. I also liked being introduced to new characters, some of whom I know will become favourites if they make return appearances.

A lot changed in book 3. The dynamics of the group are changing, and it’s interesting to see how different people react to the changes. There were so many twists, turns, and surprises, it was hard to know who to trust at times, but it made it that much more exiting.

Even though I love the action in these books - and there was a lot of it in this one, with most of it being wonderfully frightening and gruesome - I also love that there’s a lot of heart. I genuinely feel like I know these characters now, so when they’re in pain, you really feel it. Whether it’s heartache, anger, fear, or something else, it’s easy to get drawn in and get emotional over what’s going on. You don’t really expect to get teary-eyed in a paranormal book, but I sure did, and more than once!

Funny, action-packed, sexy, and surprising, At Grave’s End is a great third installment of what’s quickly becoming one of my favourite series. 

  

Have you read At Grave's End? Are you a Night Huntress fan? If so, which is your favourite book in the series, and what (or who) do you love most about the series?

 

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Review: One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Series: Night Huntress, Book #2

Published: April 29th, 2008

Publisher: Avon

357 pages (paperback)

Genre: Paranormal romance

Acquired this book: From the library

Warning: May contain spoilers

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{Read my review of Halfway to the Grave}

Half-vampire Cat Crawfield is now Special Agent Cat Crawfield, working for the government to rid the world of the rogue undead. She’s still using everything Bones, her sexy and dangerous ex, taught her, but when Cat is targeted for assassination, the only man who can help her is the vampire she left behind.

Being around Bones awakens all her emotions, from the adrenaline rush of slaying vamps side by side to the reckless passion that consumed them. But a price on her head—wanted: dead or half-alive—means her survival depends on teaming up with Bones. And no matter how hard Cat tries to keep things professional between them, she’ll find that desire lasts forever…and Bones won’t let her get away again.

 Halfway to the Grave, the first book in the Night Huntress series was on my radar for a really long time. I kept hearing a lot of things about Cat and Bones and how amazing they were, so I was curious. When I finally got around to reading it earlier this year, I have to admit I was a bit disappointed. I didn’t see what so great about the pair, and I didn’t get why girls obsessed and swooned over Bones. I decided to give the series a fair shot and read One Foot in the Grave…and I am so glad I did.

One Foot in the Grave was funny, scary, sexy, action-packed, gruesome, and just overall amazing. I was finally able to understand the appeal of Bones, and I fell hard for him and Cat as a couple. Picking up four years after where Halfway to the Grave left off, One Foot in the Grave saw Cat as a changed woman. Now leading a team of government paranormal hunters, Cat’s as kick-ass as ever, and she has a great team of guys watching her back and helping her fight the undead.

I found myself really getting attached to not only Cat and Bones, but the secondary characters as well. All the characters were well fleshed out, and it was easy to get invested in their lives. Throughout the book, I laughed, I cried, I cringed (Frost really doesn't shy away from the gory details). There were so many secrets and revelations, twists and turns...and things between Cat and Bones were so sexy it practically had me gasping. *fans self*

It’s hard to believe I ever doubted this series. One Foot in the Grave is a phenomenal second book in a series I can’t wait to devour. I am now proud to call myself a Night Huntress fan!

 

 

Are you a Night Huntress fan? Have you read One Foot in the Grave?

 

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Review: Friday Night Bites by Chloe Neill

Friday Night Bites by Chloe Neill

Series: Chicagoland Vampires, Book #2

Published: September 2nd, 2009

Publisher: NAL Trade

357 pages (paperback)

Genre: Adult paranormal/urban fantasy

Acquired this book: From the library

Warning: May contain spoilers

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 {Read my review of Some Girls Bite}

You’d think headlines like that would have provoked the fine citizens of the Windy City to take up arms against us bloodsucking fiends. Instead, ten months later, we’re enjoying a celebrity status reserved for the Hollywood elite—fending off paparazzi only slightly less dangerous than cross and stake-wielding slayers. Don’t get me wrong, Joe Public isn’t exactly thrilled to be living side-by-side with the undead, but at least they haven’t stormed the castle yet.

But all that will change once they learn about the Raves—mass feeding parties where vampires round up humans like cattle and drink themselves silly. Most civilized vampires frown on this behavior, putting mere mortals at ease with their policy of asking a person’s consent before taking a big gulp of the red stuff. However, that doesn’t make good copy for a first time reporter looking to impress his high society family.

So now my “master,” the centuries old, yet gorgeously well-preserved Ethan Sullivan, wants me to reconnect with my own upper class family and act as liaison between humans and vampires—and keep the more unsavory aspects of our existence out of the media. But someone doesn’t want people and vamps to play nicey-nice—someone with an ancient grudge.

I loved Some Girls Bite, the first book in the Chicagoland Vampires series. I thought it was original, funny, and action-packed, and I was eager to see where the series went. I never thought this would be a series that would suffer from second book syndrome, but it was. Friday Night Bites was…meh. It was slow (it took me almost two weeks to read) and lacked so many of the things that made Some Girls Bite so fantastic. I wanted to love this book so badly, but it really fell short.

There wasn’t a whole lot of development in Friday Night Bites. There were some issues with Merit and Mallory’s friendship, and Merit learned a little bit about her vampire side, but it all felt kind of superficial. It could have been fleshed out more and added to the plot, but it felt like it was thrown in halfheartedly, and as a result I was bored and found it hard to get invested in the characters. The romances were also really disappointing. Merit got nowhere with Ethan (who I felt we could have learned a bit more about), and I was beginning to like where things were going with Morgan until he turned into a possessive, jealous, untrusting jerk...mind you, I guess Merit was leading him on, but still. The way he started treating her just didn't sit right with me. At this point I don’t know who Merit should end up with, nor do I particularly care because nothing made me care in this book. 

I found Merit hard to like at times, when I absolutely adored her in Some Girls Bite and thought she was this strong, kickass heroine who was easy to admire and respect. Where did that girl go? I only saw very small glimpses of her in Friday Night Bites.

The plot - what there was of it - was fairly interesting, although similar to the first book. I’m curious to learn more about the Breckinridges, and see how Merit fits back into her family now that she’s a vampire.

Overall, I found Friday Night Bites to be a big disappointment. It lacked in action, romance, and character development, and left me unable to connect with the characters or the story. However, I’m not quite ready to say goodbye to Merit and the gang just yet. Because I loved Some Girls Bite so much, I’m hopeful that Friday Night Bites was just a bump in the road and that the series will pick up. I feel like this series has a lot of potential, and I’m looking forward to reading the third book and hopefully falling back in love with the Chicagoland Vampires.

2.5 stars

Have you read Friday Night Bites or any of the other Chicagoland Vampires series? What did you think?

 

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Review: A Shade of Vampire by Bella Forrest

A Shade of Vampire by Bella Forrest

Series: A Shade of Vampire, Book #1

Published: December 14th, 2012

Publisher: Self-published

149 pages (ebook)

Genre: Young adult paranormal

Acquired this book: From the author in exchange for an honest review

Warning: May contain spoilers

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On the evening of Sofia Claremont's seventeenth birthday, she is sucked into a nightmare from which she cannot wake.

A quiet evening walk along a beach brings her face to face with a dangerous pale creature that craves much more than her blood.
She is kidnapped to an island where the sun is eternally forbidden to shine.
An island uncharted by any map and ruled by the most powerful vampire coven on the planet. She wakes here as a slave, a captive in chains.
Sofia's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn when she is the one selected out of hundreds of girls to join the harem of Derek Novak, the dark royal Prince.
Despite his addiction to power and obsessive thirst for her blood, Sofia soon realizes that the safest place on the island is within his quarters, and she must do all within her power to win him over if she is to survive even one more night.
Will she succeed? ...or is she destined to the same fate that all other girls have met at the hands of the Novaks?

I’ll be honest: I wasn’t expecting much from A Shade of Vampire. I thought the premise sounded interesting, but between the length of the book and the fact that vampire books these days are often very similar, I didn’t have the highest of hopes. I’m pleased to say  this book was a pleasant surprise. Not only was the premise interesting, it was different from anything I’ve read, and despite how short the book was, the characters were well fleshed out.

When Sofia is kidnapped and taken to the island of a powerful vampire coven, she is intended to be part of Derek Novak’s harem when he awakes from a magically-induced 400-year slumber. Derek hates the fact that he’s a vampire, which is why he had a witch put him to sleep...only it was supposed to be forever rather than just four centuries. When he awakes in a completely different world than the one he knew, he takes an immediate interest in Sofia and wants her to be more than just his blood slave.

I liked that Sofia was tough but also compassionate. She was afraid of what would happen to her, and yet that didn’t stop her from being kind to Derek and eventually accepting her fate by trying to get to know him. The romance happened a bit quickly, but I enjoyed watching it unfold. Derek struggled to retain some of his humanity, and fought against the darker nature of the vampire, yet he still had some of the classic traits most people associate with vampires: commanding, possessive, etc. There was nice contrast between the two characters.

Forrest did a great job with the world building. Most vampire books are set in modern society, but A Shade of Vampire takes place on a secret vampire island, the Shade, where the sun never shines and vampires have their own society with rules and a hierarchy that’s similar to ours but with their own vampire politics. It was a fascinating place that was described in a way that was easy to picture.

If you enjoy books about vampires and you’re looking for a unique, fast-paced story with plenty of action and romance, I’d definitely recommend A Shade of Vampire. I was hooked from beginning to end, and read this in one day (which, despite only being 149 pages is pretty good for me since I’m a slow reader). I’m really eager to read A Shade of Blood, and find out what happens to Sofia and Derek next. 

 

Have you read A Shade of Vampire? What did you think? If you haven't read it, does it sound like something you'd be interested in? Do you like vampire books, or are you tired of them?

 

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Review: Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

 

Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Series: Night Huntress, Book #1

Published: October 30th, 2007

Publisher: Avon

358 pages (paperback)

Genre: Adult/new adult paranormal

Acquired this book: Won from Giselle

Warning: May contain spoilers

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Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father—the one responsible for ruining her mother's life. Then she's captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unholy partnership.

In exchange for finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. She's amazed she doesn't end up as his dinner—are there actually good vampires? Pretty soon Bones will have her convinced that being half-dead doesn't have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her newfound status as kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers. Now Cat will have to choose a side . . . and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat.

 

I’d wanted to read Halfway to the Grave for quite awhile, so when Mother/Gamer/Writer announced they were having a read-along for the series, I decided it was the perfect excuse I needed to finally pull the book off my self and read it. So many people rave about this series, and I’ve heard countless good things about Cat and Bones, so I was curious. While it didn’t quite live up to my expectations, I thought it was a promising beginning to the Night Huntress series.

Both Cat and Bones are complex characters. On one hand, Cat is really sheltered and naïve, but on the other hand she’s this sarcastic, kick-ass vampire hunter. She tries so hard to please her mother, hide her vampire side, and get the vengeance she thinks her mother deserves for having been raped by a vampire and impregnated with Cat.

Bones is ruthless and calculating, but then he can be sweet, romantic, tender, and loving. I can see why girls swoon over him, and I have to admit he had his moments, but I also found it hard to understand the appeal at times. He was violent, controlling, and possessive, and yeah, ok, that kind of comes with the vampire territory, but I found him hard to like at times. I had a bit of a love/hate relationship with both of them throughout the course of the book. I’m sure we’ve all read books like this - particularly paranormal books with vampires, werewolves, and other alpha males who are rough, controlling, obsessive, and maybe even abusive - but because the guy has some redeeming qualities and a softer side, you feel torn on whether to like him or not.

Despite Bones’s sometimes hot and cold attitude, I thought he was good for Cat in a lot of ways. He showed her that the world isn’t always black and white. Vampires, just like people, aren’t always all good or all bad. He challenged her in many ways and opened up her narrow little mind. I also thought they were both really well fleshed out - their histories, their motivations, their personalities. I felt bad for Cat. She’d had a very lonely life, living with a mother who only saw the potential evil in her, and residing in a small town that alienated her for being the child of an unwed mother.

Other things I really liked about Halfway to the Grave: the unexpected humour. There were parts that were genuinely, laugh out loud funny. There was a lot of great action - sometimes it was a bit gruesome, but I guess that’s to be expected in a vampire book, right? Also, the sex scenes - YOWZA! I’ll admit, those scenes made me see how girls could fall in love with Bones. I also thought the vampire origin legends were really clever and different from anything I’ve read. 

Overall, despite having some mixed feelings about Halfway to the Grave, I enjoyed it. It had a little bit of everything - action, romance, suspense, humour. There were even parts that were surprisingly emotional, which I liked. I’m eager to carry on with this series and find out what happens to Cat and Bones next.

 

 

Have you read Halfway to the Grave? What did you think? Are you a Cat and Bones fan?

 

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Review: The Demon Lover by Juliet Dark

The Demon Lover by Juliet Dark

Series: Fairwick Chronicles, Book #1

Published: December 27th, 2011

Publisher: Ballantine Books

450 pages (ebook)

Genre: Adult urban fantasy/paranormal

Acquired this book: From NetGalley

Warning: May contain spoilers

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Note: This book is not YA

Since accepting a teaching position at remote Fairwick College in upstate New York, Callie McFay has experienced the same disturbingly erotic dream every night: A mist enters her bedroom, then takes the shape of a virile, seductive stranger who proceeds to ravish her in the most toe-curling, wholly satisfying ways possible. Perhaps these dreams are the result of writing her bestselling book, The Sex Lives of Demon Lovers. After all, Callie’s lifelong passion is the intersection of lurid fairy tales and Gothic literature—which is why she finds herself at Fairwick’s renowned folklore department, living in a once-stately Victorian house that, at first sight, seemed to call her name.

But Callie soon realizes that her dreams are alarmingly real. She has a demon lover—an incubus—and he will seduce her, pleasure her, and eventually suck the very life from her. Then Callie makes another startling discovery: He’s not the only mythical creature in Fairwick. As the tenured witches of the college and the resident fairies in the surrounding woods prepare to cast out the incubus, Callie must accomplish something infinitely more difficult—banishing this demon lover from her heart.

 

The Demon Lover was much different than what I expected. It didn’t feel like your typical paranormal book - it was like a mixture of paranormal, fantasy, erotica, and romance. The author builds a fascinating world of supernatural creatures, along with a story that kept me guessing while madly turning the pages to find out what happened next.

In most respects I liked Callie as a main character. She was believably flawed - often so wrapped up in her own dramas that she didn’t see that the people around her were suffering or having problems, and she often missed things that should have been obvious. However, there was something relatable about her that drew me to her and made me accept her, flaws and all. Her voice was very authentic, making it feel like a friend was relating a story to me. 

Even though the plot was slow moving at times (my only complaint about the book is that it was too long), I don’t think the story dragged. I kept wondering where the story was going and found myself thinking ‘I can’t imagine how it goes on for another 200 pages…100 pages…50 pages…’ etc., but there was something compelling about it that made it nearly impossible to stop reading. It was captivating and unique, and while I had a couple things figured out, I was anxious to see how it all played out and figure out the mysteries that eluded me.

One thing I’d like to point out: this story was HOT. If you’re easily offended by graphic sex scenes or don’t enjoy a lot of sex in books, you’re going to want to skip The Demon Lover. The sex scenes start from the very first chapter and get hotter and hotter throughout the book. I’m sure some people will argue there was too much sex, and while it did seem a bit gratuitous at times, at least it was well-written and fun to read! I think I’d rather read a book like this than straight-up erotica because the story itself was so good.

Overall, while The Demon Lover is hard to peg down and even harder to describe, I enjoyed it very much. An interesting cast of characters, great setting, unique spin on supernatural creatures, beautiful yet simple writing, and a romance that leaves you yearning for book 2; I would recommend The Demon Lover to any fan of the paranormal.

 In accordance with FTC guidelines, I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. No money or compensation of any sort exchanged hands. I review books to share my love of reading, and I'm always completely honest in my reviews, good or bad.

*Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for sending me an ARC of this book for review.*

Have you read The Demon Lover? What did you think? What are some of your favourite adult paranormal series?

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Canadian Spotlight Month: Review - Blood Feud by Alyxandra Harvey

Blood Feud by Alyxandra Harvey

Series: Drake Chronicles, Book #2

Published: July 22nd, 2010

Publisher: Bloomsbury

258 pages (paperback)

Genre: Young adult paranormal

Acquired this book: From the library

Warning: May contain spoilers

Read my review of Hearts at Stake, Book #1 in the Drake Chronicles

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Synopsis: It's been centuries since Isabeau St. Croix barely survived the French Revolution. Now she's made her way back to the living and she must face the ultimate test by confronting the evil British lord who left her for dead the day she turned into a vampire. That's if she can control her affection for Logan Drake, a vampire whose bite is as sweet as the revenge she seeks.

The clans are gathering for Helena's royal coronation as the next vampire queen, and new alliances are beginning to form now that the old rifts of Lady Natasha's reign have started to heal. But with a new common enemy, Leander Montmarte—a vicious leader who hopes to force Solange to marry him and usurp the power of the throne for himself—the clans must stand together to preserve the peace he threatens to destroy.

This second adventure in the Drake Chronicles—told from both Logan's and Isabeau's perspectives—has all the same butt-kicking action, heart-pounding romances and snarky humor that readers loved in Hearts at Stake, as well as exciting new revelations about the vampire dynasties to keep readers coming back for more.

There’s something addictive about the Drake Chronicles. A huge part of it is definitely the Drake boys - Nicholas in Hearts at Stake, now Logan in Blood Feud, plus all the other sweet, yummy, protective brothers. If you’re tired or wary of vampire books, the Drake Chronicles are completely different than any other series about vampires.

Blood Feud, like Hearts at Stake, was full of action, humour, and romance. It’s told in alternating perspectives between Logan Drake and Isabeau St. Croix. I loved that we got to see part of Isabeau’s life before she was turned, and all the hardships she had to endure while living in France during the Reign of Terror. It was fascinating, gave us insight into her character, and added a layer of depth to the story. Isabeau is strong, independent, resilient, and brave, and I absolutely loved her.

Then, of course, there’s Logan, the somewhat old-fashioned, most traditional brother. He certainly had some swoonworthy moments, but I’d have liked to see a bit more depth and development from him. Mind you, the story takes place in such a short span of time, and so much happens, I understand it would be hard for major character development, and we learned a lot about Isabeau, so I was satisfied with that.

I loved learning more about the Cwn Mamau/Hounds - the group of vampires that Isabeau is part of. I think it’s great how Harvey incorporates all these different groups of vampires with different histories and powers and appearances. Some use magic, some use strength - they’re all different, and it’s fascinating learning more about them. It takes these books beyond other vampire books that stick with traditional legend and lore, or only veer off a tiny bit with something original. 

I also appreciated that while the book focused on Logan and Isabeau we got to see what was going on with the other Drakes, and got to catch up a bit with Solange, Kieran, Nicholas, and Lucy from the first book. I’d loved to have seen more of them, but luckily there are more books in the series!

Overall, Blood Feud was another exciting installment in a series that is fun, original, full of action, suspense, drama, humour, and romance. I would recommend this series to anyone, whether you're a vampire lover or not!

Have you read any books in the Drake Chronicles? Who's your favourite sibling?

Be sure to come back tomorrow for a guest post by Alyxandra Harvey, plus a giveaway of her three Drake e-novellas!

 

This post has been part of the Canadian Spotlight Month. Click the graphic below to check out the schedule and all things Canadian here at Ramblings of a Daydreamer.