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yoohanna's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Murder and Car accident
lilliana_blackstar's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Finished Reading:
The Coldest Touch (2021)
By Isabel Sterling ♒️
YA Paranormal Adventure Romance with queer vampires? Yes please!
Omgosh I loved this! It is as if the assignment was: "Take the best parts of Twilight and The Vampire Diaries, but make it more wholesome, more inclusive, less problematic and more queer and sapphic" - and this story is successful at that! I love the world building, the loveable characters, the delightful and believable teenage angst, the crushes, and the mystery adventure! I want to have more! I dont know if the author is going to bring us more and make this into a series, but I NEED IT.
The Coldest Touch (2021)
By Isabel Sterling ♒️
YA Paranormal Adventure Romance with queer vampires? Yes please!
Omgosh I loved this! It is as if the assignment was: "Take the best parts of Twilight and The Vampire Diaries, but make it more wholesome, more inclusive, less problematic and more queer and sapphic" - and this story is successful at that! I love the world building, the loveable characters, the delightful and believable teenage angst, the crushes, and the mystery adventure! I want to have more! I dont know if the author is going to bring us more and make this into a series, but I NEED IT.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Blood, Bullying, Death, and Car accident
jodierose14's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Death, and Grief
accidentalmuse's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
It's been a long time since I've read a YA paranormal romance, I used to be obsessed with them when I was a teenager. I was worried I wouldn't be able to enjoy this book, that the secondary school setting would feel to juvenile now that I'm in my twenties, but this book pleasantly surprised me.
Right from chapter one, I was happy. Finally we have a vampire who doesn't want to spend their eternal life in high school. I have eternally been frustrated by vampires who go to school - like you're hundreds of years old, why are you surrounding yourself by teenagers? I'm only 23 and I feel like I have nothing in common with teenagers, surely a vampire, with the mind of an adult, would get so bored and frustrated with teenage problems.
Speaking of mental age, I found the author's take on vampires to be interesting - they remain 'stuck' at the age they were turned. So, a 17-year-old, whose brain didn't finish development, will constantly remain as a 17 year old emotionally. I thought that was pretty cool.
I liked both of our main characters, I felt like they were fully developed, and most of their actions felt true to character. The only time emotions felt a little unnatural were after the fight between Claire and Elise. Claire felt too quick to put the blame on herself, when her anger was justified. That was slightly annoying, but nothing too detracting.
The story was also surprisingly gripping, and hinted to a larger world I would like to learn more about. The romance was sweet, but definitely not an element I cared about deeply.
Right from chapter one, I was happy. Finally we have a vampire who doesn't want to spend their eternal life in high school. I have eternally been frustrated by vampires who go to school - like you're hundreds of years old, why are you surrounding yourself by teenagers? I'm only 23 and I feel like I have nothing in common with teenagers, surely a vampire, with the mind of an adult, would get so bored and frustrated with teenage problems.
Speaking of mental age, I found the author's take on vampires to be interesting - they remain 'stuck' at the age they were turned. So, a 17-year-old, whose brain didn't finish development, will constantly remain as a 17 year old emotionally. I thought that was pretty cool.
I liked both of our main characters, I felt like they were fully developed, and most of their actions felt true to character.
The story was also surprisingly gripping, and hinted to a larger world I would like to learn more about. The romance was sweet, but definitely not an element I cared about deeply.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Violence
katiethepenguin's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A fun, sapphic romance with just the right amount of bite. This is the first LGBTQ+ paranormal romance I've read and it did not disappoint. There are some nods to other popular vampire stories but this story still feels new. Honestly, it's filling the hole First Kill's cancellation left in my heart. More stories like this please!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Car accident, Body horror, Death, and Murder
lavender_narwhal's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It was a decent book. Good writing, well rounded developed characters, some plots twists I saw coming and some I didn’t.
My only complaint is we never found out how Elise’s dad dies. I was CONVINCED there was going to be a major plot twist involving his death. I also thought the cat was sketchy but nothing happened with that either. 🤷♀️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, and Death
miaaa_lenaaa's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I rly rly liked the start but then it got a bit predictable and some of the plot felt like it was just rushed and very convenient. I rly liked dark claire at the start and then she just got a bit like, weak and emotional lol
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Grief, Violence, Car accident, and Blood
arminam's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Murder and Violence
Minor: Lesbophobia
lottsofplots's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Blood
Moderate: Violence
dododenise's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Was this book incredibly predictable? Yes.
Was it loads of fun anyway? Absolutely!
This is just a fun little story, with teenage highschool drama and a big paranormal mess with vampires. It’s nothing groundbreaking, but it’s very enjoyable.
Was it loads of fun anyway? Absolutely!
This is just a fun little story, with teenage highschool drama and a big paranormal mess with vampires. It’s nothing groundbreaking, but it’s very enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Racism