The Coldest Girl in Coldtown Review

Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black is a vampire paranormal young adult read. It possesses action, violence, a dystopian society, and an accompanying element of a small romance. Overall, I would determine that it's a 4 out of 5 book. 

Firstly, I applaud the heroine Tana for caring about more than just her love interest. Thank you Holly Black. Tana cares about the vampire boy that she was raised to hate and fear, but instead she actually saved him from other vampires that purse to kill him. One may blame that she was not mentally stable after discovering that all of the kids at the party she was at were viciously murdered. However, this proved that she could be trusted by the vampire and in turn the vampire helped save her life. Thus on goes their short journey to Coldtown, an quarantined area dedicated to keeping all the vampires and humans inside in, allowing no escape-of coarse, unless you have a marker from turning in a vampire. 

I absolutely loved all of the action within this book! There was not a long, boring dull moment that would have tainted the book. Granted there were some small somewhat dull moments, though only minute. The surprises I honestly did not see coming! They kept coming and coming all the way until the conclusion of the story. In hindsight, it's interesting to see what instigated what, figuring out all the turning points and connections. 

The book offers another look or dimension to the well filled vampire literature that have flooded the young adult section of the book industry in recent years. However, this story has a unique setting and fabulous characters that will continue to shock you. Nothing is exactly as it seems. So even if you've read a shitload of vampire books, give this a try anyway. I'm sure you won't be disappointed. 

The relationship between Tana and Gavriel is great but rather twisted at the same time. It's not exactly your conventional kind of relationship. Though I do love it for that reason, but also that it seems equal. Tana is no damsel in distress, instead she takes on the more heroic persona who rescues others, including her strong, male love interest. This serves as foundation for the equal relationship where Tana doesn't completely, and unreasonably, obsess over Gavriel. They're a great killing duo! 

The Immortal Rules Review

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa was an amazing read. I’d say this was a mix of action, horror, romance, and unnatural beings. This is the first book in The Blood of Eden series. Overall, I’d give it a 4.5/5.

This book has there main parts to it, or more like story arches, which does match the three official parts that book is split into. I really liked it; it gave background into the main character’s life and the dystopian world that she resides in that sets up the book. Trust me, it is anything but boring. It’s a utter horror to imagine such a world. As one character in book said, God has left the world and all that is left is Hell (my poor paraphrase :P ). I can honestly say, I’ve never read a book like this one. 

The main character, Allison Sekemoto, or Allie, I absolutely adored! She is one kick-butt, bad-ass girl! It was more like a role reversal in the latter of the book. Ignoring traditional archetypes, she was the hero of the book; she undoubtedly held her own and even others. She protected everyone around her, showing how caring and humane she is in a world where almost all of that has left, she even protects her love interest, where in typical, cliche young adult books (scratch that, it’s everywhere) that’s who protects the lady. But nope! It’s all her! I just absolutely loved her! I, at least, don’t see very many characters like her, but when I do I just can’t shut up about it. Fortunately, she is stubborn too; otherwise, she wouldn’t be as wonderful. It was fantastic watching her evolve into an even greater person.

It was very hard for me to put this book down; I wanted to read it all in one sitting, but sleep is inevitable-even for vampires too. There was always something going on, something to keep you reading. Believe me when I say that this book is filled with action and battle scenes. Even if you’re not fond of fighting, I highly suggest reading this anyway as there is way more to the book than just that. 

I know that there are many people out there, like me, who are entirely sick and turned-off by vampires. After a certain movie series, it’s been completely drained out and cliche. Yes, this book does retain the typical vampire traits that are common with almost all vampire, but keep in mind that it’s still unique. Unique in how the dynamics of the dystopian world is new and refreshing. It discusses moral and ethical issues that would arise from such a society. Luckily, Allie is such an awesome character who pulls this off and evolves very nicely. 

The only real issue I had with the book is the romantic connection and “chemistry” between Allie and her love Interest Zeke (Ezekiel). I can only plainly say is that I didn’t like it, though Zeke is not a bad person whatsoever! I just didn’t feel it, if you know what I mean. I so do not want them to end up together, but what I want doesn’t matter. 

Instead of Zeke, I whole heatedly wish for Allie to get together with her Sire, Kanin. I really loved him! He’s also her mentor, teaching her the basics of being a vampire, their history, reading, math, and combat. I just have to say it again, I love Kanin! However, there was no tension between Allie and him, making me sadly think that they won’t ever come together.

This was a terrific read! I high suggest this to those who love horror and dystopian novels. Though I do advise to not read it for the romance, but for everything else. Read it for Allison! Trust me, you’d love her! Another dystopian novel like this one is The Color of Rain by Cori McCarthy. 

The Color of Rain Review

The color of Rain by Cori McCarthy is an intense, thrilling, and exciting read! I could not put this book down, well I was forced to, but still! It wasn’t by choice!Overall I rate this book 4.3/5. 

Warning: Prostitution and violence is a major theme in this book, with an emphasis on the prostitution part. 

Though the plot may seem to an outsider like wtf? or just plain weird, this book was a thoroughly edgy, interesting read. The book begins with Rain, being the only remaining redhead; Lo, her prostitute friend; and her touched, younger brother. On Earthcity, it is almost like a post apocalypse, kind of, setting where the people gradually become touched, or in other words infected with a mysterious, mind numbing disease. Those touched are captured by cops/bounty-like hunters for money, and no one knows where they are taken to. Being reduced to selling herself in order to gain enough money to take her and her brother to the edge, where she’s heard rumors that the edge can cure the touched, she sells herself to the cocky, devilish Johnny. Little does she know what she has fully agreed to.

When I bought this book, I wasn’t expecting all of the fucked up things that are contained within these pages. However, it was all of those things that made it an interesting and an attention stealing book. It makes you appreciate the kind of life you may have, after comparing it to Rain’s. At first I was thinking that this was a love-hate romance between Rain and her buyer, Johnny. That misconception quickly vanished when it was revealed that Johnny was also a pimp, and with a very disturbing, violent, sick, deeply psychotic personality, and to only add to all the power he possesses as being the captain of the space ship. 

This book is filled with so much action and so much thrill that it’s easy to get swept up in the story. The author does a good job at transitioning from event to event, and I, for the most part, liked Rain’s character. She is a very mentally strong and smart girl, even more so having a bunch of disadvantages. 

To conclude, I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy some scifi or something really edgy, but also keep in mind the mature themes. Though there is a lot of prostitution, this book is not really pornographic or soft-core/hard-core erotic. For similar reads, I recommend Grave Mercy by R.L. LaFevers, and Delirium by Lauren Oliver.