4.5 stars!!

I loved this book - I thought the premise was sooooo good, the characters were interesting and exciting, the dialogue could be a bit childish at times but nothing crazy. I think the story was just so well thought out and everything happened in the right amount of time - I didn’t think anything was rushed except I would’ve loved more of an ending! I want more of Lalo and Lina!!!

Carolina proviene de una familia de cazadores de vampiros y desea convertirse en una de ellos. Cuando su abuelo es asesinado frente a ella, jura vengar su muerte y deshacerse de todos los vampiros.

Lalo es un erudito que busca a los responsables de la muerte de su padre, y así descubre la existencia de los vampiros. Sin embargo, al intentar encontrar a la responsable de su muerte, es convertido en uno de ellos y ahora está contrarreloj para buscar una cura o morir en el intento.


Ojalá la versión final incluya un epílogo; necesito saber cómo es su vida años después.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really really enjoyed this book! It was so unique, so funny, so heartwarming and yet full of action with a fast pace. I adored the enemies to reluctant allies to lovers plot line between a vampire who hates vampires x a wannabe vampire huntress. The banter was top notch and I loved Lalo’s soft side so much. This is really quite a special read & I really recommend it!

A fang-tastic read! I absolutely adored this story. It had a fresh twist on vampiric lore. the romance was full of tension and pining, and the narrative voice was captivating. Furthermore, I especially enjoyed having a fantasy book with Latinx characters written by a Latinx author! Angela Montoya is an auto-buy author.

for all the girlies who love jasper whitlock but didn't like the confederacy of it all this book is for you!

I really loved the premise of this book--Buffy meets Zorro, kind of? It had a refreshing take on vampires and a new mythology. All of that was great. I felt like the execution, though, started losing steam about midway. It was hard to stay invested in the characters and their goals. Chapters were interspersed with excerpts from news articles and whatnot that didn't really seem to add anything to the plot. Overall I wanted this to be a fun romp but I think it might have been taking itself too seriously for the level of prose and it created a disconnect for me. I'd recommend for younger YA readers.

I genuinely really enjoyed this book. It had a bit of everything which made it fun to read. You get family holding together while also having a family feud. You get true love while also having frenemies to lovers. You also get the feel for a family’s history. In my opinion, an amazing romantasy. While it does relay on romance, it doesn’t feel like it’s overpowering. I absolutely recommend this book if you like vampires!

such a gorgeous cover with gorgeous characters and gorgeous plot. THIS WAS SO GOOD!!

thankyou netgalley for the arc. all opinions are my own!

#ACruelThirst #Netgalley

Thank Netgally for the Arc!
Can I just saw this cover!!!!! It’s what sold me and the inside of the book was equally as amazing!

The atmosphere of the books was amazing! This author does not play when it comes to imagery. I felt like i was in the world. The cultural lore was so intriguing.
The romance as slow burn , with top tier banner. For my girls who look fake engagement/marriage of convenience. She does it so well in this book. The fmc was a badass who didnt take anyone’s crap I loved her. The tension from them was dripping off the page. It was overall a good read

Everything was amazing one minor critic would have to be sometimes the pacing felt a little off, and we’d move from one point to another but other than that it was a good read!

If you’re looking a vampire romantasy please pick this up!

This was such a great read! After reading Sinner’s Isle, I fell in love with the author’s writing style and the mix of adventure, heart and romance in her stories.

So to say I was pumped for a vampire romantasy was an understatement. And this did not disappoint.

The chemistry & banter between the two main characters was fantastic and I loved their slow burn romance, but the best part of this story was the blend of adventure with the dark humor. It really felt like Vampires of El Norte meets Warm Bodies and the end was seriously adorable after having such a fast paced plot.

Angela Montoya is for sure an auto buy author for me now.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for an ARC to review! ♥️

Whoa, that was a good book.

This is a great one to go into somewhat blind. I’d recommend skipping the synopsis and diving in without too much detail, that is what I did and I really enjoyed the unexpected (but would otherwise be expected, if you read the synopsis) events!

What I loved…
- Such a unique take on the vampire/vampire hunter
- laugh out loud funny
- Grade A+ banter
- the most perfect MMC
- badass strong, takes no crap, FMC
- family forward (they’ll do anything to protect their family and community!)
- imagery & atmosphere for dayyyyssss
- adventure, a quest, and some really great fight scenes.
- detailed world, brimming with cultural and lore.
- enemies to lovers, fake engagement - but these “tropes” don’t feel like tropes they are done flawlessly and naturally! 10/10

What I didn’t love…
- The only issue I have is very minor… At the beginning of the book some of the prose was choppy, but it was only at the very beginning of the book, and quickly resolved itself.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children’s (Joy Revolution) for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This book hits all the right notes for a romantic fantasy that’s equal parts thrilling and swoon-worthy. The enemies-to-allies trope is done so well here, with their partnership growing in such a natural, satisfying way. You can feel the tension simmering beneath every interaction as they reluctantly come to rely on one another, even when they’re clearly fighting their attraction. The romance unfolds beautifully, layered with a delicious slow-burn that makes each moment between them feel like it counts. The writing style is punchy and full of life, with just enough action to keep my pulse racing and plenty of heart to ground it all. The world-building is rich without being overwhelming, and the underlying theme of identity and finding strength in unexpected places adds a lovely layer of depth to the romance. This is the kind of book that will make you fall in love with the characters and their journey, leaving you wanting more of Carolina and Lalo’s fiery, irresistible connection.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House gor the ARC!

This book was action packed, funny and beautiful. A true YA enemies to lovers. Lalo and Carolina's banter was top tier and the way the author incorporated Mexican and Aztec mythology into the vampire mythology in the book.

Un libro que se quedará grabado en mi mente por par de dias!

THANK YOU TO THE PUBLISHER FOR THIS ARC !!

if you see this, add this to your tbrs now! i was kicking my legs like crazy for a good majority of the book. carolina and lalo will have my heart forever.

a vampire huntress falls in love with a cute and shy newly turned vampire? hello? do i have to mention they had to fake an engagement in order to work together? the lore, the writing, and the world itself was so compelling. there's also some wlw rep in there for my gay readers 🧏🏻‍♀️

although the beginning of the story did take a bit to build up, i couldn't put it down for the last three and a half hours. a boy who wanted revenge for the murder of his parents ends up turning into the creature responsible and he LOATHESSS himself for it, but he'll do whatever it takes to keep his little sister safe. when looking for ways to help himself, he runs into the coolest girl, carolina, who just happens to hate the same creatures he does.

anyways, carolina and lalo >

thank you

Thank you so so much to Joy Revolution and Netgalley for sending me an early copy of this book! All opinions are my own!


We have an angst-ridden, self-loathing vampire determined to destroy his own kind, only to accidentally team up with the Carolina—the vampire hunter who, despite her meticulous research, almost takes him out right from the start (seriously, how does someone so well-prepared mess up so much?).

The romance? Perfection. Lalo and Lina absolutely stole my heart. Their dynamic was bursting with chemistry, humor, and this simmering tension that made every scene between them unforgettable. Lalo and Carolina are made for each other, and the slow realization of this only made their story more satisfying. The banter was top-notch—I found myself laughing out loud multiple times. Every scene between Lalo and Carolina had me completely hooked, and by the end, I was completely attached to both of them. This story reimagined vampire lore in such a clever way that it felt completely fresh and unlike anything I’ve ever read. It’s action-packed and adventurous, but there’s this cozy, intimate feel that balances everything out, making it impossible to put down.

I’m smiling so hard right now because I just finished it, and honestly, Lalo and Lina are still living rent-free in my heart. It’s always satisfying when an anticipated release delivers—and this one really did.

From page one, the humor draws you in and makes you fall in love with the characters as they embark on their journey. But beyond the laughs, the balance between grief, heartache, and personal growth is what truly makes this story shine. Watching the characters confront family trauma and the weight of other people's expectations felt so real, and their journey of self-discovery hit hard in all the right ways.

Simply put, I adored this book and can’t recommend it enough!

A Cruel Thirst by Angela Montoya is a dark, thrilling fantasy filled with intrigue and intense emotions. With captivating characters and a plot full of unexpected twists, it pulls readers into a world of danger and desire. Montoya’s gripping prose and well-paced storytelling make it a must-read for fans of dark fantasy and romance.

— 4.5

smiling so big right now because i just finished this book and Lina & Lalo have my heartttt 💞 its always wonderful when an anticipated release holds up!

can i just say that you need to add this to your tbr’s NOW ?!?!

my shy boy vampire and very stabby vampire huntress were so precious 🥹 we’ve already established that the reluctant allies trope slaps but reluctant allies that have to pretend to be ENGAGED???yeah a SERVEEE

deadass just sat through and binged the second half of this book in 2 hours because i couldn’t put it down and can i just say that Angela Montoya is so talented because this book was absolutely sending meeeee.

the writing was so so good and compelling. i loved the the unique take on the concept vampirism and the lore the author managed to build around it.

god i loved the characters and their chemistry and how they complemented each other so well. they’re both characters that craved acceptance in their own way and found it in the last person they’d expected it to be with.

overall, it was such a moving story about love, loss and acceptance and i can’t wait for everyone to read this! i will definitely be reading more of this author’s work 🫶🏽

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 stars

Such a quick and easy read. The world is not complicated at all. You get the same familiar story but with a slight cultural twist. This book definitely reads as Young Adult, so do what you will with that information. That could be a deal breaker to some, maybe not to others. I wasn’t a huge fan of the romance, but that’s probably because it’s a standalone (which I very much appreciate) so there’s only so much room for the romance to develop. Overall, a decent read and I LOVE the cover!!

I wanted to enjoy this book. But honestly I couldn't get through it. The premise and the setting are unique. But the main characters were somehow flat.

🌹 out December 17th

wowweee. this book was GOOD.
this cover? beautiful.
vampire and vampire huntress? yes.

the chemistry between Carolina and Lalo was delicious, and Angela’s take on vampires was very unique and refreshing. I loved how the two worked together and the banter and relationship that unfolded on the page.

the only thing “cruel” about this is the fact there’s no sequel.

Thank you Penguin Teen Canada and Netgalley for an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.