This book was heartbreakingly beautiful. The writing style was engaging and descriptive. It flowed easily throughout the story and kept the reader engaged. I don’t know if I would call this book a horror novel because I did not feel it was scary at any point.

I loved how the FMC grew and changed throughout the story. She made the reader fall in love with her despite her flaws.

Rating: 3.6⭐️

Thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thirst is split into two parts that follow two very different women.

In the first part of the novel, which reads as a fast-paced historical fiction, we follow the journey of a woman, starting with her as a child in Europe, then seeing what drove her to leave Europe, and, ultimately, her life in Buenos Aires. This woman’s story spans centuries, and it was so captivating. I had such a hard time putting my kindle down.

The second part of the novel is where it dropped off for me, unfortunately. Here, the story shifts to the perspective of another woman, in current day, and we’re reading about her through journal entries. It felt like I was reading a completely different book. At some parts, I got frustrated with how much unnecessary detail there was; however, I can see how those parts may have contributed to why this woman made the decision she did at the end.

I feel like the reason I was disappointed, particularly regarding the second half, was because this novel was advertised as a “sapphic vampire” book. While yes, there is a vampire and one sapphic scene, it’s not, as a whole, a “sapphic vampire” book. Ultimately, it’s a story about grief and survival, which a sprinkle of sex, love, and hate.

Overall, my expectations weren’t met, and the ending was rushed, but I really enjoyed the first half.

3.5 stars. I wanted more from this. More development. More motivation. Both women experience loss. The unmooring sensation that comes at the hands of that. But beyond that, there isn't much. They both float through repetitive actions and thoughts, and after a time, even the admittedly lovely prose couldn't surpass that.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy.

3⭐️

This was well written and very different than any other vampire story I’ve ever read. I enjoyed having two main characters and getting both of their POVs. Some of it was strange, but still good, but something about it felt lacking.

This complicated, interwoven dual narrative is ambitious in its aims, and it pulls it off gracefully. I enjoyed both the historical timeline and the contemporary one. Beautifully done.

The first half of the novel, focused on the vampire is a --ahem!--feast of beautiful imagery. Buenos Aires seems like a New Orleans of dark delight; a chamber of commerce couldn't ask for more appealing atmospheric press. The second half, focused on the living, was less compelling to me: the quotidian details and the character's seemingly inexplicable decisions about choosing death over life were not compelling to me.

I do wonder how much of the lesser elements are really due to the overall feeling changing/being lost in translation.

I very much appreciate being gifted this copy of Thirst, and the opportunity to read & review it. Thanks so much to the publisher.

i really liked this story. it was a unique take on the vampire story and i really liked the two main characters as a whole: i think they had good character development throughout but i think the romance between them could have been developed a bit more. overall i really enjoyed this book a lot.

An awesome, bloody take on vampires. I loved this fresh spin on the subgenre. Add in the feminist, latinx twist and you get a thrilling story!

Thirst is a book following two women living in different time periods. One woman is a vampire who finds herself in Buenos Aires. Immortal, she watches the city transform as time goes on while struggling with her vampirism and how to ensure her safety among humans. While she is a predator, she also knows the danger of humans finding out about what she is. The other woman lives in present day Buenos Aires. This woman is dealing with the grief of slowly losing her mother to a terminal illness. Set in two parts, Thirst is about how these women's lives slowly entangle.

This novel is unique compared to other vampire novels I have read since you read from both a vampire and human perspective. While their stories seem to be unrelated at first, you slowly see how each woman is dealing with death, grief, desire and feelings of isolation.

This novel is less fantasy and more literary fiction with horror and gothic elements. In some ways I feel like this novel shouldn't work as well as it does. It covers such a wide period of time and as I mentioned before, the two parts seem so unrelated, but I loved the way they slowly came together. I was engrossed for much of this read even though I would say it's slow moving. I always love reading translated literature and I would love to read more by Marina Yuszczuk in the future.

This book is a captivating read that effortlessly draws you in from the first page. The story flows smoothly, with intriguing characters and an unpredictable plot that keeps you hooked. It's the kind of book that makes it hard to put down, with just the right balance of depth and entertainment. A thoroughly enjoyable experience that will keep you engaged until the very end.

A Bloody, Beating Heart: A Review of Marina Yuszczuk's "Thirst"

Marina Yuszczuk's "Thirst" is not your typical vampire novel. Forget sparkly immortals and brooding romance. This book plunges you headfirst into a visceral, queer, and utterly punk-rock take on the vampire mythos, dripping with blood, beer, and a raw, pulsating energy that leaves you breathless.

Set against the backdrop of a crumbling Buenos Aires, ravaged by a mysterious plague and steeped in political unrest, "Thirst" follows a group of young, queer vampires navigating a world on the brink. They grapple with survival, addiction, and the ever-present threat of both the plague and a fascist government hunting them down. Yuszczuk's prose is sharp and evocative, painting a vivid portrait of a city simmering with decay and rebellion. The atmosphere is thick with a sense of desperation, but also with a fierce, defiant will to live.

The heart of the novel lies in the complex relationships between the vampires, particularly the bond between the fiery, impulsive Clara and the more reserved, thoughtful Fran. Their love is messy, passionate, and ultimately deeply human, despite their monstrous nature. Yuszczuk expertly portrays the fluidity of identity and desire within this found family, challenging traditional notions of love, sexuality, and belonging.

Interwoven with the vampires' story is the tale of Eva, a woman grappling with her own personal tragedies in 19th-century Argentina. Initially, the connection between these two narratives seems tenuous, but Yuszczuk masterfully weaves them together, revealing parallels and echoes that deepen the novel's exploration of female rage, societal constraints, and the eternal struggle for liberation.

"Thirst" is not a book for the faint of heart. It is graphic, brutal, and unflinching in its depiction of violence and desire. Yet, amidst the bloodshed and despair, there is a profound beauty to be found. Yuszczuk celebrates the power of female friendship, the resilience of the marginalized, and the intoxicating allure of living life on one's own terms, even in the face of oblivion.

What makes this book stand out:

A refreshing take on the vampire genre: Yuszczuk dismantles traditional vampire tropes, creating a world that is gritty, realistic, and deeply political.
Queer and feminist representation: The novel centers queer characters and explores feminist themes with nuance and sensitivity.
Powerful prose: Yuszczuk's writing is evocative and captivating, immersing the reader in the sights, sounds, and smells of her vividly realized world.
A compelling narrative: The intertwining stories of the vampires and Eva are both engaging and thought-provoking.
Potential drawbacks:

The graphic violence may be too intense for some readers.
The dual narrative structure may require some patience to fully appreciate its intricacies.
Overall:

"Thirst" is a stunning debut novel that is both thrilling and profound. It is a bloody, beating testament to the power of love, resistance, and the enduring allure of the vampire. If you're looking for a vampire story that will sink its teeth into you and refuse to let go, this is it. Prepare to be consumed.

Highly recommended for fans of: Carmen Maria Machado, Anne Rice's "Interview with the Vampire" (with a distinctly punk edge), and anyone looking for a queer, feminist, and utterly unforgettable horror novel.

Thirst was more highbrow than your typical vampire novel and I really loved the direction this book took! It was very interesting and kept me guessing. I can’t wait to read more from this author!

3.5 stars

Very enjoyable! I think it needed a bit more… something though. I was missing something by the end of the book. Queer vampires always has me at the start- but I just needed something more.

I wanted to adore this book as much as I expected to, but I felt like the two halves were too disjointed and there wasn’t something catching to keep everything in line. It was a fun read, but missing anything deeper.

Marina Yuszczuk’s Thirst is an unusual vampire story, following two women (one human, one decidedly not) in Buenos Aires. The first section of the novel follows the vampire as she flees Europe for the new world and tries to survive, undiscovered. The second half details the life of a young woman raising her son and dealing with her mother’s terminal illness. Thirst was billed as a “feminist Gothic” and lives up to the title, with lush, opulent descriptions of tombs, blood, and sex. I enjoyed reading it but didn’t love it, though I would gladly read another novel by Yuszczuk. (And shout out to the translator for such an excellent, readable translation.) I was interested to note that several readers found the vampire tale more interesting than the second half. I was the opposite--I really enjoyed the young mother’s life and struggles, whereas I kept waiting for the payoff in the vampire portion.

Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for a copy of the book.

4.5/5 stars! A compelling, sexy, dark, tragic, controversial little novel that I really enjoyed! I found the two different points of view equally compelling, and I was surprised by how much it made me cry!

The title is what 100% drew me into requesting this work. Excellent writing done by Marina Yuszczuk. I will be on the lookout for more of her work for sure.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Team for this Advanced Digital Readers Copy, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

A slow burn of a novel, but the compelling and rich characters and the short length made it...devour-able. I think it is for the queer readers who love a slightly different spin on the vampire story.