The basis for the novel came from a short story of the same name written by Black which was released in the prose anthology Eternal Kiss.

[2] The book was written to be a standalone novel but Black has stated on her website, "I know what happens next and I’ve been thinking more and more that a sequel could be in my future.

When she walks out, she sees all of her classmates have been slaughtered by vampires, with the exception for her ex-boyfriend, Aidan, who has been bitten and tied to a bed.

Midnight has turned into a vampire, after killing her twin brother, and she attacks Tana, who officially becomes infected with the Cold.

Gavriel is at the party but appears to make a truce with Lucien, and they decide to kill the head vampire, the Spider.

The story ends with Gavriel promising to stay with Tana until she gets better, and, if she is no longer human enough to do so, to help her get enough vampire blood to sate her appetite.

Critical reception for The Coldest Girl in Coldtown has been predominantly positive and the book has received praise from Commonsensemedia, the Royal Oak Public Library, and Booklist.

A timely novel in every sense of the word, and one I'd very much recommend, both to existing fans of Holly Black and to anyone thinking of giving her a try.

[9] The School Library Journal was somewhat more mixed in their review and the reviewer stated that while they greatly enjoyed the book, it did have flaws such as the pacing and that "Tana’s risky behavior and generally troubled self is something the reader hears about but actually, from moment one she’s thoughtful and has a tendency to basic human decency, so the emotional core is satisfying but not astounding — because it’s actually inevitable given how Tana is written.