4 stars!

first off, the cover is absolutely STUNNING. it was what made me want to pick this book up in the first place.

the whole premise of this book (a vampire and a vampire hunter) was SO good and forbidden romance is one of my favs. i loved the elements of mexican lore, it intrigued me so much. the relationship and chemistry between carolina and lalo was also really interesting, especially with their warring dynamics.

the only thing i had a problem with in this book was some of the dialogue and prose, which seemed unnatural or too YA/juvenile at times. sometimes it writing was more telling than showing, but it got better as the book progressed and could've just been me adapting to angela montoya's writing.

overall, this was a cute book and perfect for the fall/winter seasons, especially if you're a mood reader.

thank you to netgalley and random house children's for providing me this eArc in exchange for an honest review!

I think I’ve confirmed that this author is not for me. Last year I read Sinner’s Isle and was extremely disappointed. Even though I didn’t like that one I like to give authors another chance in case that one just wasn’t for me. This one was a lot better Sinner’s Isle but not by much.
The premise of this story was so interesting and the beginning goes off with a bang. I really enjoyed Lalo’s character and the intro with just him was great! But then we met Carolina and my interest dwindled. I love a strong independent woman but Carolina was aggravating. The only redeeming quality for her was that she realized how annoying she was and tried to correct it by the end.
For a vampire book, not much vampire stuff happens. Once Lalo is turned, he spends the rest of the book trying to find out how to break his curse until he meets Carolina. Cue insta lust—> insta love. I understand attraction, sometimes it’s strong and you think upon meeting them “oh my gosh this person is so hot” and then move on. No, they would not shut up about how good the other person looked or smelled. And that turned into the whole middle chunk of the book. The action only 10% of the ending.
I wish I could’ve loved this book, could’ve overlooked the stuff that annoys me. But I couldn’t, sorry.

I honestly loved this so much. At first I was a little thrown off by the tone at the beginning because it jumps right into the action and it seemed a little over the top, but that's the overall tone of the novel. It screams telenovela in terms of the drama, the action, the comedy, too. Because this book is actually so funny at times. Such a fun read.

The novel follows two points of view: Lalo and Carolina. Lalo is a serious, anxious, and kind of stuck up antisocial scholar who tries to take vengeance against the monsters who murdered his parents and winds up turned into the very monster he hates: a vampire. Carolina is from a small town in the California wilderness who comes from a family of vampire hunters. She is desperate to prove that she can hunt with the men of her family, but a mistake costs her grandfather's life. Lalo's studies about vampires lead him to Carolina's town to try and undo his curse and destroy vampires for good, even though he is one. Carolina realizes that she can kill Lalo to prove herself to her family, but when Lalo reveals his plans, she decides to use him to defeat the monsters for good. Through all of that, hijinks ensue, including a fake engagement, duels for honor, and fiestas. This was such a fun romp, and Lalo and Carolina are perfect brave idiot characters after my own heart.

THIS BOOK HAD ME IN A CHOKEHOLD!!!!! VAMPIRE AND VAMPIRE HUNTER ROMANCE>>>WHAT!!!

Angela did an amazing job of creating this world, making the characters real, and drawing the reader into the world and the conflict. TALK ABOUT FAMILY SECRETS!!! I enjoyed the inner turmoil of the MFC, and how she was strong-willed but still soft enough to love. When she finally gave in to her feelings I was in tears!!

There is so much I want to say about this book but I don't want to leave spoilers...I READ THIS BOOK IN ONE DAY. I tried to put it down and focus on another book but I couldn't.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's | Joy Revolution, and Angela Montoya for the e-ARC of this gripping book. I am volunteering to leave this honest review without coercion.

'A Cruel Thirst' is an exhilarating, action-packed tale that brings together an unlikely duo in the battle against dark forces threatening their families - and the world at large. The story follows Carolina, a fierce, no-nonsense vampire hunter, who has spent her life training to kill vampires in order to protect her small hometown. Her world is turned upside down when a close family member of hers is killed, and she is forced to team up with Lalo, a newly-formed, reluctant vampire who is as unsure of his place in the world as he is terrified of his own new abilities.

What I loved most about this book was the compelling contrast between the two main characters. Carolona is everything you want in a heroine: tough, resourceful, and determined, yet she's not without her vulnerabilities. On the other hand, Lalo offers a fresh take on the vampire mythos, bringing an intriguing blend of innocence and struggle as he tries to come to terms with his new identity, and search for a cure to vampirism. Their dynamic is both entertaining and heartwarming, as their differences create friction but also foster growth and eventual trust.

The plot is evenly paced, with plenty of action, suspense, and unexpected twists. The stakes feel high as the duo faces off against a powerful and sinister group of vampires threatening to unleash chaos on Carolina's village, due to a generational curse. The world-building is slighlty immersive, with a supernatural backdrop that keeps the reader satisfied throughout - although I wish we could have been given more insight into this world.

While the romance element between the two characters is subtle, it's their evolving partnership that provides the emotional depth. The chemistry between them is palpable, and their journey toward mutual respect is one of the book’s strongest points. The supporting characters are interesting as well, particularly the antagonist, whose motivations are slowly revealed in a way that keeps you guessing.

The writing is easy to follow, and the pacing is just right — keeping you hooked without feeling rushed. However, there were a few moments where certain plot points felt predictable, but the strong character development and action scenes more than made up for it.

Overall, 'A Cruel Thirst' is an engaging supernatural adventure with well-drawn characters, high stakes, and plenty of heart. If you’re a fan of sort-of urban fantasy with a strong female lead and an unusual pairing, this book is definitely worth a read.

Even though this was YA I still really enjoyed this book! The lore, history, and culture in this is very unique and something I haven’t read before. I’m always here for vampire stories and I loved that this one acted more like an origin story and historical fiction. Add in a family of vampire hunters and I’m sold! Main characters Lalo and Carolina were very interesting and I loved their relationship throughout the book. I wasn’t sure how the ending was going to go but I’m happy with how it turned out. I’m really hoping to see more from the author!

Thank you to NetGalley and Joy Revolution for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Angela Montoya's A Cruel Thirst is a wonderfully romantic fantasy that follows the story of what happens when a vampire and a vampire huntress have to team up to fight against the monsters of their world. If you want a vampire story that takes inspiration from Mexican lore, and I promise you do (even if you don't know it), you need to rush to add this book to your TBR.

Everything about this story is exactly as fun as it sounds. The main couple has all the tension and chemistry you could ever dream of. When a book is advertised as romantic fantasy, it's only natural to hope for a great love story. The love story in this book is nothing short of incredible. You fall in love with the main characters, and then you watch them fall in love with each other. Everything about it is so natural and so beautiful. Carolina and Lalo are the type of book couple readers won't ever want to stop talking about.

The plot is entertaining and emotional in all the right ways. You'll laugh and gasp and feel all the emotions. This story has every little thing you could want without feeling like it's trying to do too much. It's a complex plot with writing that makes it easy to follow. Montoya's wonderful writing and storytelling abilities shine so bright in this book. This whole story is captivating from beginning to end.

A Cruel Thirst has vampires. It has enemies to lovers. It has all the emotions you could want. It has Mexican lore. It's complex and it's beautiful. You won't want to look away from the pages of this book. It's a story every YA fantasy lover needs to experience.

Review on Goodreads (sophreadingbooks https://www.goodreads.com/sophreadingbooks) expected 12/6/2024
Review on Instagram (sophiesreading https://www.instagram.com/sophiesreading/) expected 12/6/2024

Carolina Fuentes comes from a long line of vampire hunters, and all she's ever wanted is to prove to the men of her family that she's just as capable of protecting their pueblo from the blood-thirsty monsters as they are. But when Lalo Villalobas, a handsome young man recently turned vampiro, shows up in town and treats Carolina with kindness, she starts to question everything she's ever been told about his kind. Together, the two decide to team up to uncover the secrets of how the first vampiro was made.

This was one of my most highly anticipated reads for the year and I wasn't disappointed. I love a good vampire story, and the rich culture and lore around this one was unique from many that I've read before. The relationship between Carolina and Lalo was fun, with lots of witty banter, and I loved that it developed into something deep and meaningful by the end of the book.

Some of the prose and dialogue did seem a bit stilted early on in the book but the issues seemed to resolve as the book went on.

Keep in mind that this is YA (and reads as such) so if you're looking for something extra steamy, this isn't going to be it. But the characters had a lot of depth, and I really enjoyed watching their journeys and growth throughout the book.

Read if you like:
Vampires
Enemies to lovers
Fake engagement
Latinx rep
Strong family bonds
Secret family history
Dual-POV

Angela Montoya's books are healing. She mixes a delightful amount of humor, action, swoony phrases, grief, and pairs it all up with the perfect ending. Her debut Sinner's Isle helped heal my inner child and A Cruel Thirst is such a good message for hope and trying to do the right thing even if you cannot guarantee you will be standing in the end. It is still worth it to look out for those around you even when you feel like you cannot go on. Sometimes the outcome is worth the burden.

"And what is a few moments when our souls have known each other since the beginning of time" ->Get you a man you barely know that will pretend to be in love with you and loves literature!

Oh, what a story and a series of dominoes falling into place. Lalo witnessed a vampire take the life of his parents and has spent countless years doing research and preparing for the day he will avenge them. Except, things don't go as planned when he finds himself becoming the very thing he despises. Lalo fights against his monstrous instincts and goes in search of a cure or a way to end vampirism altogether bringing his sister alongside him to protect her.

Carolina wants to be a vampire hunter, the rest of her family is, but they won't allow it. One of the few people who believed in her gets his life ripped away by a vampire. Of course, blame is thrown on her. Now revenge against vampires is at the forefront of her mind.

📖Vampire x Vampire Hunter
📖Fade to Black
📖Fake Dating (fake engagement)
📖Hate to Love
📖Mutual Pining (loved their inner monologues)
📖Strong FMC
📖Two romances (one is sapphic and very in the background)

A Cruel Thirst was so good. I enjoyed this book, and it kept me on edge. Sit it reminded me of Buffy and Angel's love story. Carolina and Lalo were a cute duo with a lot of passion. Thank you for my early copy of CruelThirstt I can't not wait for the hard copy to come in December.

Let me just start by saying, the cover is absolutely gorgeous. I first saw the cover at the 2024 SteamyLit Convention. I visited the Love, Underlined booth. I was intrigued by the cover and wanted desperately to read it. When I was granted the opportunity to review the ARC on NetGalley, I was elated. Let me just say, it did not disappoint. I devoured this book in a day; I could not put it down.

The banter between the main characters was elite. The chemistry was fire. It is such a unique take on a vampire story. I love the historical fiction setting and unique take on vampire mythology. It was a thrilling roller coaster of emotions. All in all a very enjoyable and easy read. The spice level is on the milder side being YA. There was enough romance and tension to keep me thoroughly entertained. Bonus points for the LGBTQ representation. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 for this review.

Thank you NetGalley and Joy Revolution for the opportunity to read the eARC of this amazingly fun book!

A Cruel Thirst is truly CRUEL.

(In the best of ways)

A beautifully story of vampires and love. A world built with so much precision and layers of history. From the first chapter I cared so much for Carolina (mi tocaya) and poor perfect Lalo and in the end I wanted more. Their chemistry was EVERYTHING, reading them bicker was so entertaining. And their individual dilemmas were so masterfully crafted.

Angela’s version of vampires is so refreshing and original. The descriptions of thirst and humanity were some of the best I’ve read in a long time. SO PERFECT.

This is one of my favorite books of the year. I haven’t laughed this hard in a while, and it’s thanks to Montoya’s humor that shines in her writing in this book.

A love story between a newly-turned, reluctant vampire (Lalo) and a vampire huntress (Carolina) is exactly what we need, and A Cruel Thirst delivers.

Lalo’s fierce loyalty to his sister and Carolina makes him all the more lovable, even as he’s trying to remain on an animal-only diet with all the grace of a baby deer. He gives off Milo Thatch from Atlantis vibes, and I was 100% here for it.

Thank you so much to Random House, NetGalley, and the author for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Who doesn’t love a good vampire enemies to lovers romance!!!! Had everything I was looking for between fantasy a strong female character and plenty of laugh out loud moments. Put this book on your tbr list now!!!

Angela Montoya created a captivating story about a vampire and a vampire huntress inspired by Mexican lore. Carolina Fuentes is the FMC we have all been waiting for. Her stubbornness and fierceness made her relatable to readers. Her desire to protect her Pueblo while facing many challenges in the novel made it hard for me to put the book down. The writing flows and the banter between Lalo and Carolina made the story strong. The two characters are opposites yet alike in so many ways. This YA romantasy stands out from the others.
5/5 stars
Ash approved!

I really enjoyed reading A Cruel Thirst. It is about vampires in the 1800s. Lalo tries to avenge his parents' deaths by killing the vampire that killed him, but gets turned instead. He flees the area with his sister to try to find a way to kill all vampires and comes across a vampire hunter. They decide to work together and end vampires once and for all.

The writing kept you turning pages, wanting more. The characters had amazing banter. I loved reading this book. I also enjoyed Montoya's first book, Sinner's Isle. I cannot wait to see more from her in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

Absolute love everything Angela writes, and I know my teens will be super excited for this. The vampire and vampire hunter plot is always a hit, and she did a great job of keeping the tension high and I was totally engaged. The banter was excellent, and loved how funny it was. I will read and purchase anything Angela writes!

I received a copy through NetGalley for review.

This was a really sweet tale! Vampire and fierce girl from a family of vampire hunters fall for each other, and break a family curse. My how the threads of fate connect!

Lalo Villalobos lost his mother and father to a brutal murder by vampires. Leaving him and his sister Fernanda to pick up the pieces of suddenly being alone, with only each other. Lalo is obsessed, telling everyone who will listen that vampires are responsible for his parent's death, but everyone laughs him off as if he's crazy. Fernanda doesn't know what to think, but supports her brother as best she can.

Lalo, a more introverted scholar- spends his every waking moment trying to research vampire, and their origins and how to kill them. Determined to seek revenge, he goes into a vampire den looking to kill the vampire responsible for his parent's murders. And while in the end he gets his revenge to a point, he becomes the thing he hates. Lalo somehow maintains his humanity, refusing to feed on human blood. But because of that leaves him on borrowed time.

Carolina Fuentes, comes from a family of cattle farmers, and vampire hunters.
She's feisty, independent and desperately wants to prove herself to her family to join the hunts with the men of her family. She's a better rider, fighter than her brothers, the only one that believes in her is her grandfather. Her parents think she should marry, and settle into domestic life.

Lalo is convinced that the original vampire came from Del Oro, home of the Fuentes's and in an epic collision of vampire, turned fake fiancé under the duress that if he steps an inch out of line Lina will end him, together they uncover family secrets long since buried and together will fight for each other.

It's an adorable, emotional story of love, family and how far you will go to protect those you care for at the expense of your own safety. And give everything for the one you love.

This one has a happy, somewhat touching ending. I really like this one.

You will find descriptions of: Murder, violence, blood letting, revenge, descriptions of weapon violence.
Also- bonus queer representation! Ala- Lalo's sister and Lina's cousin.

I'm not gonna lie, this was one of my most enjoyable reads of the year. When I first saw this cover on Netgalley (she holds a knife to his throat! he's a vampire dripping blood!) I knew I wanted to read it so much, probably a result of too much playing Baldur's Gate 3 and enjoying Astarion romance. I had to wait for my request approval good half a year, but it was so worth it.

As the story goes, Lalo sees a vampire murder his parents and decides to take revenge, which quickly goes south and he gets himself turned into a vampire in result. Wanting to protect his sister, he devises a plan to find a source of all vampires and end their menace. Which could kill him in the process both by the vampires and by the vampire hunters, but that's another story.

At his destination, he meets Carolina who's a wannabe vampire hunter, and pretty good at it, but nobody believes her due to patriarchy, duh (we're in 19th century Mexico btw) except her cousin and her grandpa - who sadly was killed by a vampire, so she too craves revenge.

Their first meeting is explosive - she wants to kill him because he's a vampire, obviously, but one leading to another they're forced to put their enmity aside and work together on solving this case. Also, to escape arranged marriage, Carolina in a spur of a moment decides to "fake date" Lalo which adds another juicy trope into the mix.

This book had a lot laugh out loud moments, from miscommunications to Lalo being clumsy to Carolina trying to trick her family because while she hates their patriarchal ideas, she still loves them very much and wishes them no harm.

There's also a small sapphic side plot between Lalo's sister and Carolina's cousin - I hoped it would amount to more, unfortunately it mostly stays subdued in the background, I imagine not to steal spotlight from the main couple and because nowadays the wordcount limits in YA are so merciless (this is a fairly short, standalone book).

What I loved the most is despite Lalo's journey from a library recluse to courage and confidence, including sexy training sessions with Carolina, the narrative never robs Carolina of her fire, sass and will to fight. There was one moment near the end where I worried Carolina will become an incapacitated damsel in distress only waiting to be saved, but nope, that didn't happen and I'm thankful for it. Also the conflict between Carolina, her father and her wannabe-macho arranged fiance got resolved very satisfactorily without sweeping it under the rug.

This is still a YA novel so the spice level is "fade to black" but I liked how Carolina acted before the "camera cut", it was fitting for a confident woman who knows what she wants.

This book scratched my itch for a romantasy where the fmc calls the shots and the mmc supports her and admires her for it. For that, it's become one of my favourites.

The Mexican lore with the specific gods of the underworld mixed with Christian beliefs of heaven and hell was interesting to read about and a different take on the origin of vampires.

Anyway if you, like me, love YA fantasy with actually stabby heroines and non-macho love interests, don't miss this title, I would put it next to other titles of that kind I loved like Sorcery of Thorns, Little Thieves, Sing Me To Sleep, Scavenge the Stars and The Epic Crush of Genie Lo.

The cover is also absolutely stunning. Only after finishing the read I appreciate the symbolism of the framing with the specific flowers and blades - when you read the book, you'll understand their role and meaning.

I wish the publisher gave it sprayed edges and all those frills, because it deserves it. It's a crime it doesn't get any crate or special edition (that I know of). I feel Latinx YA fantasy is already not that common on the market despite it being the biggest racial minority in the US. C'mon publishing, show them some love.

This book was absolutely delightful and it was a pleasure and honor to read it. The prose was flowing, the banter was top notch, the pacing never bored me. I'd be having an eye out on what else Angela Montoya serves us.

Thank you NetGalley, Joy Revolution and Random House Children's for the ARC.

I have been provided with a review copy of A Cruel Thirst from NetGalley for an impartial review. This book was just so easy to get lost in. I completely got lost in the story and I just loved getting to see these new characters come together. I just absolutely love this story and I just didn’t want to put it down. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.