There were many aspects of this story that I loved and appreciated. I liked the look at motherhood, the discussion in the pages about people who were or weren't meant to be mothers, just based off of their own desires. The otherness that motherhood brings with it in a way that most people don't seem to touch on. However, I do think that some of the points could have been better fleshed out.

This was a good read. Not my favorite but I liked it. Thank you so much Netgalley for the book. It was a good time.

Round this one up to a 4.5. Half a lush Gothic vampire story, half a tale of a woman driven to modern madness. All set in a Buenos Aires as alive as one of its protagonists isn't. Yet another reminder that Argentinian women are dominating the horror scene like no one else right now.

Was looking forward to this most for my Oct. read!!

This novel comprises two distinct segments: the initial half, taking place in the 1800s, is intense and provocative, laying the groundwork for the vampire protagonist's backstory. In contrast, the latter half adopts a contemplative tone, delving into the introspective journey of the human main character as she grapples with her own mortality and that of her family.

While I found enjoyment in both sections for different reasons, I felt they could have been more seamlessly integrated although the themes briefly converged towards the end, I desired a more cohesive blend throughout.

“There was a before and an after. We had crossed a threshold- or, rather, I had crossed one that brought me closer to her”

Following a dual timeline, of a vampire in the nineteenth century fleeing to Buenos Aires in the height of the Yellow Fever, and current day, a woman dealing with the terminal illness of her mother and her connection to motherhood. These woman, suddenly Intertwined with one another form a relationship they can never turn back from.

“I support woman’s rights, but more importantly, I support woman’s wrongs.”
This explains my exact thoughts on this book.

Wow! What a great short read. Yuszcuk’s writing is full of beautiful prose and has such lyricism to it. This was a great gothic book for this time of year. The characters however in vastly different situations both touch on grief and the concept of mortality and it was done beautifully. This quote in particular really stood out to me.

“I’d said to Julia that death had taken a seat at my family's table, but that wasn't it: Death had come to inhabit my body. It was a possession, not a visit”

I just think the writing was so stellar. However, I did want more of the character's relationship I feel like it just touched the surface of what it could be. I think the author's view on illness was such a raw and vulnerability to it that I enjoyed it. Overall what a great read. I will say I did picture our main character as Nadja from WWDITS which also thoroughly enjoyed. Queer vampires, what’s not to like?

Rating: 4⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for providing me with this book for review.

Idk this just might not have been for me, but I feel like I went into this really wanting the cool gothic sapphic worldbuilding, and that just never really happens.

Thirst" by Marina Yuszczuk is a riveting, genre-defying novel that takes readers on a journey through two different time periods, exploring fear, loneliness, mortality, and an insatiable yearning that refuses to be quelled.

The narrative unfolds in the twilight of Europe's tumultuous past, where a vampire arrives on the shores of Buenos Aires. In her second lifetime, she witnesses the transformation of villages into a cosmopolitan city, only to be threatened by the outbreak of yellow fever. Her struggle to adapt, blend in with humans, and remain discreet is a haunting and enthralling tale.

In contemporary Buenos Aires, a woman grapples with her mother's terminal illness and her own complex relationship with motherhood. Their lives intersect in a cemetery when they encounter the enigmatic vampire, sparking a connection that propels them into an irreversible and mesmerizing journey.

"Thirst" is a literary creation that stands alone, pushing the boundaries of traditional genres. It delves into themes of female agency, the consuming nature of desire, and the delicate vitality of even the most immortal beings. Yuszczuk's storytelling is a tour de force, immersing readers in a narrative that resonates long after the final page is turned. This is a book that challenges and captivates, a unique and unforgettable literary experience.

Simultaneously grotesque and sexy, Thirst is a gorgeous new addition to the canon of literary vampires. Split into two (quite disparate) parts, it is the first half that really shines. "María" is a vampire floating through the some of the darkest years of Buenos Aires, notably the corpse-filled decades of the yellow fever. Her story is one of agency, dominance, and the boxes that women have been forced into all our lives. The second half of the novel centers a young woman, Alma, who is coping poorly with her mother's worsening illness while navigating being a mother herself. At the core of the novel is death itself - both the fear it instills and the freedom it offers - and the question of who, if anyone, has the right or ability to decide when, where, and how someone dies.

Thank you, NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
I liked this book a lot more than I expected! I usually do not go for a vampire or dual POV books. But this book by far exceeded all of my expectations. The connection between the two women in this book and their experiences made for a powerful story about loneliness and life, that spans throughout hundreds of years. The conversation of what life and living means gives a deep introspection into the lives of both women. The ending was not what I expected and left me thinking about this book.
October was the perfect time to read this book and get into the fall spirit!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one is for fans of S. T. Gibson’s Dowry of Blood. Thirst was a great quick read. It was spooky and chilling and a perfect October read. I loved the story and couldn’t put it down.

3.5 stars

This is really two books: the first half, set in the 1800s, is bloody and smutty and sets up a backstory for our vampire main character, whereas the second is moody and introspective and follows our human main character as she comes to terms with her and her family's mortality. I enjoyed both in different ways but thought they could have meshed better with each other. The themes did come together briefly at the end but I wanted more.

Overall impression: This is a quick moody read for spooky season, very atmospheric but not super deep

I requested this hoping I’d get a weird LGBTQ+ horror and that’s exactly what I got…

A piercingly novella that in the first follows a vampires who arrives to Buenos Aires as it turns from a small rural village to a large city, and the second part a young mother dealing with her own mothers illness and coming death. When they cross paths, their life and deaths are forever changed. Each page had me constantly thirsting for more as I read. Marinas words drew a beautiful gothic story that will have me recommending it to others.

Thank you #NetGallery and #PENGUINGROUP for an advanced copy for #Thirst by Marina Yuszczuk

Unsettling and poignant, this was a rollercoaster of emotions and I honestly didn’t even know who I was rooting for half the time. Really enjoyed this book!

"Thirst" by Marina Yuszczuk is a genre-blurring and haunting novel that spans two different time periods and explores themes of fear, loneliness, mortality, and an unquenchable yearning that binds two women together.

In the 19th century, a vampire arrives on the shores of Buenos Aires from Europe, witnessing the transformation of villages into a cosmopolitan city. As she navigates her existence among humans, she must adapt and remain discreet, all while the city faces the looming threat of yellow fever.

In contemporary Buenos Aires, another woman is grappling with her own challenges. She is dealing with her mother's terminal illness and reflecting on her own journey toward motherhood. Their paths cross when she encounters the vampire in a cemetery, setting in motion a relationship that defies the boundaries of time and mortality.

Marina Yuszczuk's narrative draws on the legacy of classic Gothic literature and feminist writers like Shirley Jackson and Carmen Maria Machado. The novel's genre-blurring nature adds to its allure, making it a story that is both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant.

"Thirst" delves into the limits of female agency, the consuming power of desire, and the delicate vitality of even the most immortal of beings. It is a testament to the enduring appeal of the Gothic genre, with its exploration of darkness, mystery, and the complexities of the human experience.

For readers who appreciate genre-defying narratives, atmospheric storytelling, and thought-provoking explorations of desire and mortality, "Thirst" offers a captivating and unique reading experience. Marina Yuszczuk's novel is a beautifully crafted work that lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned.

When I requested this book, I was hoping for a short, strange, gothic read that was sexy in a kind of gross way (I mean bloody and murdery). I was not at all disappointed by what I got from this. There are going to be a lot of comparisons of this book to a Dowry of Blood by ST Gibson (one of my favorite books), and I do think that the two have a lot of similarities, but with our main character having centuries more personal agency under her belt, and her conquests not being solely chosen by a man, which was something that I liked.
Importantly, neither of the characters are really selfless people, and I really enjoyed that neither of them were demeaned by the narrative for it, although they’re not necessarily bad people for it either (debatably)

This was a weird one but it definitely kept me engaged. I really loved the plot and the characters were very intriguing. I’d definitely recommend this to a friend!