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!