4.5 stars
Do you like/love Robin McKinley’s Sunshine? Then you should read this book.
Tana wakes up after a high school party to find that while she was passed out in the bathtub, the other party-goers in the house were brutally slaughtered by vampires. As she’s dealing with the shock and trying to find her things (you don’t want to escape a house of carnage in your bare feet if you don’t have to), she discovers that there are survivors – her douchy ex-boyfriend Aidan, and a dark haired boy she’s never seen before. Both are tied up in a back bedroom where the windows have been covered, most likely left as a snack for later. When trying to untie Aidan, he lunges for her, and Tana has to face the fact that Aidan is turning Cold.
In this world, there were always vampires, but they were few and kept themselves hidden. Until one day, a single individual decided to just feed a little off his victims instead of killing them, starting an epidemic that soon spread world wide. When bitten, but not killed, by a vampire, the victim turns Cold. They start to hunger for human blood, and once they drink it, they transform fully into vampires. If they manage to lock themselves away and avoid the temptation to drink the blood for 88 days, they’re cured of the infection, but barely anyone ever has the strength to manage it. As a result, to stop the spread of vampirism, there are walled off cities around America, where vampires and the ones who are turning Cold are confined. In the Coldtowns there are celebrity vampires, and live streams of their glamorous parties and all over America there are people who worship and dream of becoming just like them.
Full review on my blog.
Cannonball Read V 
I read the short story that Holly Black originally wrote for this story last year in school. It was definitely my favourite short in our exploration of “Urban Fantasy,” and this review has made me very interested in reading the novel now! Might just have to go pick it up for myself…
I knew it was based on a short story, but I haven’t read it. It’s a really good book, to the point where about a week later I’m still thinking about it and considering re-reading it already. I’m certain it’ll be on my top ten list of the year.