A Cruel Thirst by Angela Montoya is a lush and evocative fantasy novel that plunges readers into a world of intrigue, dark magic, and forbidden desires. One of the novel’s strengths lies in its complex characters, each driven by their own desires, fears, and motivations. The protagonist, in particular, stands out with their internal struggles, making them deeply relatable despite the fantastical setting.
The magic system in A Cruel Thirst is intricately developed, adding layers to the plot as the protagonist grapples with forces beyond their control. The world-building is immersive, filled with intricate political dynamics, magical lore, and haunting landscapes that pull the reader further into the story’s atmosphere. Though some readers may find the pacing a bit uneven at times, especially with the slower buildup in the beginning, the payoff is worth it as the stakes rise dramatically toward the end. The novel explores themes of power, sacrifice, and the consequences of ambition, leaving readers with much to think about.
Overall, A Cruel Thirst is a captivating read for fans of dark fantasy who appreciate rich world-building, morally complex characters, and an emotionally charged narrative.

I had to request this book because the number one reason was it had vampires in it.  The cover is gorgeous!  The story line was magical.  The twists and turns of this historical, fantasy adventure of a vampire and vampire hunter had me swiping the e-arc story nonstop because I had to know what was going to happen. Would there be a happy or tragic ending?  

I totally fell in love with the main characters because of their unique personalities and their skills. The conversations and witty comebacks between Carolina and Lalo were amazing and magic. There was humor, yearning, action, fighting, drama, and great chemistry throughout the story. I will admit there were a few times I yelled and giggled at the story. As a vivid reader of vampires, this story was amazing!

It's a must have for anyone who likes reading about vampires. I am definitely going to get a physical copy of this book. 

Comes out December 2024!
Pre-order it now, my dear bookish vampire readers!

Wow, was this exactly the book I needed or what???

The characters were so well developed and just so easy to love. Lalo was so fun to read from the perspective of; I love that he's a little vain (he is very proud of his facial hair and fashion sense), while also having a really good heart and is willing to do what he needs to in order to protect those he loves. He so quickly believes in and trusts Carolina, despite her attempting to kill him multiple times, but it didn't feel unrealistic at all. And Carolina, she was such a headstrong, powerful individual, it was so easy to want everything good to come her way. I loved how she did what she wanted, and because of her circumstances she'd make mistakes. She was the realist to Lalo's optimist, and I felt their relationship was really balanced.

Speaking of their relationship, so many moments in this book had me squealing and kicking my feet. It was just so cute!! As a romance, this book truly shines, and I wanted it to never end. I'm not a big fan of novellas, but if there was a novella released about these two I'd eat it up. Their relationship is built on trust and a need to work together to get what they want, with mutual attraction being a plus, which is the kind of relationship I love. Even though this is a standalone, it felt like I'd read a series of development for their relationship.

The world-building and plot were so well-crafted as well. It's set in a town based on a Mexican pueblo, and you could tell the author was writing from the heart. From the food, the environment, and the families, everything was so clearly steeped in something the author was very knowledgeable in, and I found myself really enjoying the world and not feeling like anything more needed to be added.

Overall, this was my perfect book. I NEED everyone else to read it when it comes out, so they can experience all the warm-fuzzies I did as I read this. It's just so good, and now I will go read everything the author has and will publish!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book <3

A Cruel Thirst follows our two leads, Lalo Villalobos—an unwillingly turned fledgling vampire searching for a cure to his new affliction; and Carolina Fuentes—a hot-headed vampire hunter endeavoring to prove her worth as a hunter. As Lalo and Carolina’s paths collide, they find themselves allying together to embark on a mission that could spell the end of vampiric race (with a little bit of fake dating on the side).

To start off, I found myself really liking Lalo and Carolina as characters—Lalo’s introverted and submissive nature are often contrasted with the sarcastic quips he makes while interacting with Carolina. Carolina’s impulsiveness and eagerness to prove herself clashes with the guilt she feels when her actions cause harm or worry to others. Both characters are compelling in their own right and I loved seeing their relationship grow as they came to trust in each other.

My main gripe with the book was definitely the pacing. The beginning and ends of the story are extremely rushed, which is made worse by the relatively short chapters. I think the book could have benefited from more exposition and allowing the readers to get to know the characters before they are thrown right into the thick of the story. At the end of the novel, the final conflict just flies by before being tied up in a neat bow, and despite the characters making seemingly contrived poor decisions to amp up the tension, it really has no effect when the pacing is so rushed.

Another issue I had lies with the action scenes. The fighting scenes are quite short and have unclear-to-confusing staging. At times, it felt like the characters were just teleporting to each other because of how little explanation was given during these scenes or between POV shifts.

Other than that, the book—while being quite predictable—was a very easy and quick read. The prose isn’t complex and is likely better suited to the tastes of younger readers, but it definitely is not stale. And as I said earlier, I found Lalo and Carolina’s relationship to be very sweet and heartwarming.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children’s for providing the ARC!

AHHHHH! I will scream about this book forever. Angela is an AMAZING author and I loved this one as much as her debut. Sophomore books are challenging. This is addictive and swoony. PLEASE READ IT!

A fledgling vampire and a headstrong vampire huntress must work together--against their better judgment-to rid the world of monsters in this irresistible romantic fantasy.
Carolina Fuentes has always wanted to join her family in hunting down the bloodthirsty monsters that plague her pueblo. But these days, her father wants her out of town with a husband of his choosing.
Lalo Villalobos doesn't act on impulses. As the eldest of two, his duties were to carry on the family business, marry, and have children. But then he is turned into a sediento and must flee the city, taking lives as he goes north, where he believes the first vampire was made. Surely, the pueblo there will have the answers to reverse this curse or end sedientos altogether.
When he meets Carolina she would more than likely stab him than help him but they share a common enemy. Together they can stop the evil beasts once and for all.
I honestly enjoyed the hell out of this book. The banter between our two love birds had me giggling the whole time. And as they slowly but surely fell for each other. Those sparks of anger and desire blossomed into a steady burning flame of love. This tale was a unique take on vampires and you could tell the authors culture was a big influence on this tale and I love seeing that. Overall this book was a solid 4 ⭐️ read for me. Engaging, hilarious and just a wicked fun ride of a novel.
Thanks to the folks at NetGalley & Random House Publishing for an ARC of this book. So appreciative to you all. My review is a honest reflection of my feelings towards this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Angela Montoya for the arc. These are my honest opinions.

WOW!!! Speechless. *Immediately adds to my favorite books*

This book was beyond amazing. It was so beautiful and funny and the banter between characters and the tension and ugh I LOVED it. This book made me so happy, and I loved every second of it. Additionally, I loved the Hispanic representation. Sharing the same name as the FMC added a bonus point lol.

Lalo??? the man that you are oh my goodness he is perfect. Carolina is so wonderful her inner fire and the way she is unapologetically herself.
"She didn't know how to speak sweetly, and she had a feeling he wouldn't recognize it was her if she did." Love her for that.

Everyone, do yourselves a favor and read this book now!

Actual Rating: 4.5/5

What a fun and different take on vampires!

Lalo Villalobos is the responsible one. The sensible and intelligent older brother who doesn’t act on impulse. But when he finds himself on a Sendietos doorstep one night to avenge the death of his parents, all sense goes out the window. Now he’s the monster that killed his parents. A vampire. Grappling with his new hunger and the fact that he’s the only family his younger sister Fernanda has left Lalo must flee north to find a way to end the creation of Sendietos once and for all. Even if that means sacrificing himself in the process. The Fuentes family has been hunting vampires for as long as Carolina Fuentes can remember. But her father would rather she get married and live in the city than put herself in danger. So when the fierce Carolina hears of a new Sendieto plaguing her Pueblo she chases after him to show her father once and for all that she is more than capable of carrying on the family legacy. She doesn’t expect to run into the newly turned and very handsome Lalo and is even more surprised when she learns they have a common goal. Together Lalo and Carolina team up to end the curse of Sendietos and maybe fall in love with life and each other along the way.

Reading this brought me immense joy. The cover and vampire x vampire hunter trope brought me in but Lalo and Carolina made me stay. First, I loved that this was duel POV. I loved that we got to see how Lalo and Lina slowly fall for each other despite their differences. The book loving, introvert in me loved Lalo and his character progression while the fierce woman in me loved Carolina and her never ending bravery and loyalty. The witty banter between the two of them had me giggling and kicking my feet the whole time. It was perfection.

The family dynamics in this book brought me to tears. For one, while I grieved for both Lalo and Carolina’s losses I loved how they had family to support each of them. No matter how big or small. And I especially loved how receiving and caring the Fuentes family was to Lalo and his sister even if it took them a minute to get there. Secondly, I really liked how the dynamic between Carolina and her father changed from beginning to end. It felt messy and real and I enjoyed that. Lastly, I loved the role family legacy’s had in this book. Because as humans we can’t change the past but we can change and have hope for the future and I thought that was shown really well through the relationship Carolina had with her own ancestor's.

Overall, I could go on and on about this book. I was so pleasantly surprised by the relationships, story and different take on vampires and eternal love this book offered. Angela Montoya’s way with words just knows how to make your heart soar and smile. I would recommend to anyone who loves witty and fierce main characters, and a feel good story about finding love and…vampires.

Thank you to Random House Children’s and NetGalley for providing me with an arc is exchange for an honest review.

A Cruel Thirst is a wonderful . We have Lalo, who hated vampires and never wanted to become one - but was attacked by the same vampire that killed his parents and turned. Lina is the mayor's daughter and wants to prove herself to her father as a vampire hunter. Lina and Lalo have amazing chemistry and I loved watching them grow as characters. My one complaint is that there were pacing issues, the middle dragged a bit in my opinion and the ending felt rushed. Still, I would recommend this to anyone who likes vampire romance!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! I found this lushly written and the characters so well-described. Montoya does a great job jumping between different views and perspectives. Also can we talk about the stunning cover?? I would recommend this to anyone looking for a really well constructed vampire romance.

A man forced to be a vampire after he goes after the head vampire in his town that killed his family. He then escapes to the next town where he is attacked by a young vampire hunter. She ends up not killing him and together they try to figure out how to be turned back into a human.

Another book that wasn't great, but wasn't bad. It was OK. The book did tend to drag on and get annoying after awhile. I like the puzzle of the family and how Carolina starting figuring everything out. I wouldn't say there was romance in this book. Definitely for middle school and high school.

Thank you so much to Random House Children's for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Forever obsessed with Angela Montoya's Latinx fantasy books! I loved this historical fantasy novel set in a fictional town in 1800's Mexico. Our two characters, Lalo and Carolina, are the star of the show. Whereas most vampire romance novels involve a broody 1000-year-old vampire who looks like a young man and an innocent human girl. Here, Lalo is a 19-year old boy newly turned into a vampire after trying to avenge his parents' death. His clumsy, awkward, anxious-ridden self thinks being a vampire is the worst thing that could've happened to him. Meanwhile, stubborn and fierce Carolina comes from a long line of vampire hunters and is out for blood after the death of several of her family members at the hands of vampires. Seeing Carolina and Lalo's paths collide was so much fun, and I love how refreshing this vampire novel was.

If you're a fan of Vampires of El Norte, but a more comedic and YA version, I definitely recommend picking A Cruel Thirst up!

I’m just a girl who LOVES vampires and this book did it for me. The world building, the characters and the romance were all spectacular!! This was such a fun read and perfect spooky fall vibes if you’re into that.

Love a good YA vampire story. This was an enjoyable journey with a different vampire lore than usual. The romance was very sweet. Loads of action.

I just thought this one was ok. It was a good start but fell short. I loved the cover and I also enjoyed the previous novel by this author.
I just wanted a more complex storyline about the history of the vampires. And also how they came up with a solution felt rushed and weak. I also longed for more romance with an undeniable chemistry and breathless encounters. 3.5⭐️
Thanks Random House Children’s via NetGalley

I really liked this book! As someone who has trouble ever finding a vampire book I like, this one was great! It didn’t romantize vampires instead kept them as the monsters, but also was a fun vampire/vampire hunter romance, that worked out really well. The characters were well written, the story seemed well paced and very interesting and I loved it. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

i can't deny i'm a sucker for fantasy/horror romance and this one hit the spot. great depictions that felt vivid and alive as i read the book. tysm for the arc.

I enjoyed reading A Cruel Thirst. It integrates a lot of common vampire lore while also providing explanations for its origins, stemming back to gods and the first vampire. I liked both of the main characters, with Lalo being rather dramatic and terrible at being a vampire while Carolina was strong, spirited, and independent. The relationship that develops between them had the right amount of push and pull to keep it believable and interesting. I thought the Latino background of the characters was enhanced with the use of Spanish words throughout the story, but in a way that someone who doesn't know the language can still understand the meaning. Overall, I felt that this story was done really well, and I look forward to reading more by the author.

Thank you to Random House Children's, Joy Revolution, and NetGalley for the advance review copy of A Cruel Thirst! All opinions expressed in my review are completely my own.

The way I screamed when I saw the approval! I loved the Mexican lore found in this story. The vampires in this book were everything! I love that vampires have red eyes ever since twilight but the special abilities they have in this book is something I’ve never heard of, which was so unique. I loved how headstrong Carolina was and the fact that Lalo accepted her like that. The machismo representation was so accurate and did not feel forced. The trope of fake courtship and dislike>friends> lovers was perfect! I think the only reason this was not a five stars was simply because this story did feel more younger YA. I was expecting upper YA and it would have been chef’s kiss. This story still had a lot of adventure, detective work/mystery, suspense, and high stakes.

I definitely recommend for everyone but with a fair warning that it might feel a little juvenile. This was a highly anticipated read for me!

Thank you to Angela, Random House Children’s, and NetGalley for this highly anticipated e-ARC.

This book is a must-read for anyone who loves a fresh take on vampire lore combined with a swoon-worthy romance! Carolina is a fierce, determined heroine who refuses to conform to tradition, and her journey to prove herself as a vampire huntress is both thrilling and inspiring. Lalo, on the other hand, is a complex and intriguing character—struggling with his new identity as a sediento while seeking a way to break free from the curse. Their unlikely alliance, full of tension and unexpected tenderness, brings a perfect mix of action, humor, and heart.

The world-building is vivid, with a rich cultural backdrop that adds depth and authenticity to the story. The dynamic between Carolina and Lalo is electric, and their shared mission to confront the evil plaguing their land makes for a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat read. If you're looking for a romantic fantasy with engaging characters, sharp wit, and an adventure that keeps you hooked, this book is definitely for you. Highly recommend!!