The Coldest Girl in Coldtown

Graphic and detailed descriptions of violence abound in this vampire story, not only of the traditional blood sucking but also of beheading, stabbing, shooting, torture, and vampires committing suicide by burning in the sun. The grotesque is glorified -- many teens want to become vampires and install shunts and tubing in their veins to feed them blood -- and pervades all facets of pop culture. For example, gift-shop baby tees say Corpsebait, and social and traditional media overflow with live feeds and blogs of bloody, rave-style vampire parties. Several erotic, sensual, blood-drinking exchanges entwine sex and violence.

Sexual incidents are infrequent but powerfully sensual. There are several instances of deep tongue kissing, including one in which Tana bites her own tongue while kissing a vampire, and the blood and physical thrill are described in detail. Sexual arousal is tied to violence in the erotic, sometimes poetic, descriptions of Tana drinking blood. Early on, Tana and then-boyfriend Aidan explore the power dynamics of their relationship by making out with others, and Aidan sometimes makes out with boys. Tana's breasts are mentioned twice; they're not described, but one instance mentions the visible outline of her nipples through thin fabric.

"Damn," "s--tty," and "Satan's balls" are each used once. "Pee" is used once.

Teens are frequently depicted drinking, at typical house parties and at rave-style vampire balls. They play drinking games, and sometimes negative consequences such as hangovers and being sick are portrayed. Heroine Tana, 17, drinks a couple of times but not to excess, although it's mentioned that in the past she drank a lot, and in one incident someone drugs the mooshine she drinks. Teens, mostly background characters, are occasionally depicted smoking. Marijuana is mentioned two or three times and smoking hashish, once.