Holly Black is always reliable for a fun, twisted ride. This vampire story is a delightful mix between Anne Rice and Buffy the Vampire Slayer--it combines a dark nature with sick humor. There are even some paranormal romance tropes that get altered all in the name of a good story. The story opens on a hungover Tana discovering the deaths of forty of her school friends. At the post-soon-to-be-vampire-infested party, her ex-boyfriend is still alive and an almost-vampire, who just so happens to be hanging out with a disgraced vampire named Gavriel. So Tana decides to rescue both of them, because it bizarrely means prolonged survival for herself. 
 That's the biggest problem with this book--it's a little convoluted and the jumps from A to B to C don't always make sense. But to its credit, it is beautifully written and a fun ride nonetheless. The reality television aspect makes for an intriguing portrayal of voyeurism in the internet age. Also, I must admit that the first kiss scene is entirely unique and caught me by surprise. That doesn't happen very often. The setting of Coldtown is crucial to the book and thankfully, Holly Black pulls it off. Coldtown seemed like a real place--a real, very, very, creepy place and Tana doesn't belong there. But in a life where vampires are inevitable, where does she belong? I would be thrilled if Holly Black wrote a sequel someday.