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.

🥀 REVIEW 🥀

Title: A Cruel Thirst
Author: Angela Montoya
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We all know I would read Angie's shopping list, so I have to admit I'm a little biased. I don't even need to say I loved A Cruel Thirst because it's just a given that I did. I've decided this will be more of an appreciation post than a review since I don't even know if I could review it as I probably should.

Angie's the queen of ✨️ vibes ✨️ and this was no different. If Sinner's Isle was Pirates of the Caribbean, A Cruel Thirst was The Legend of Zorro. Reading this book was like watching a magical, nostalgic movie from your childhood. The characters? Human (pun intended). The worldbuilding? Encapsulating. The humour? Impeccable!

I'm so excited to see more people discovering Angie's writing and trust me when I say the world is not ready for this book!! We need a movie asap please and thankyou 🥹

Release date: 17th December 2024

The lore and culture of this book was new, refreshing, and fascinating. I enjoyed the relationship between the main characters. However, it was such a slow read, I found myself skimming a lot to get to the action. I will definitely recommend this book, but it wasn’t my favorite read personally.

This book is perfection. No notes. It’s so entertaining and witty with a cast of characters that I adore and a love story that I am obsessed with.

A Cruel Thirst is a biting, refreshing and a delicious read. The lore, the details, and the growth of Lalo and Carolina in the span of the novel was just so good.

When Lalo is turned into a vampire he searches for a cure to reverse his new monstrous state. He has an insatiable hunger but refuses to turn into a shell of himself. A scholar he’s been looking for a way to reverse his vampiric state and unexpectedly strikes an alliance with vampire hunter/slayer Carolina. The two work together to find the true cause of vampires, how to end a vampire’s line, and possibly reverse a vampire back to human.

Throw in a fake marriage situation, the stunning culture, and you have a winner. I need to give bonus points for the outstanding setup with the world’s lore.

A Cruel Thirst was fresh, and filled a void in the genre. I haven’t read a vampire book in years, and this was such a great way to be re-introduced. I wish this book was coming out in October (the vibes would’ve been insane!), but I can’t wait for everyone to devour this in December and close out the year with a strong read.

Thank you so much Penguin Canada for providing an ARC!

A Cruel Thirst by Angela Montoya is a gripping and atmospheric novel that immerses readers in a world of dark secrets and intense drama. Montoya’s evocative prose and well-crafted plot create a compelling narrative filled with suspense and intrigue. The book’s rich character development and unexpected twists ensure a captivating reading experience from start to finish.

DNF'd at 25%.

While I think the setting was interesting, the pacing, despite opening in the middle of the action, was a little too slow. I didn't care about the characters as much as I wanted to by the time I reached 1/4 of the way through the book. It wasn't bad—it was well written, the setting interesting, and the heritage inside gave a different spin on the regular vampire YA genre—I just didn't find myself wanting to pick it back up as soon as I put it down.

Carolina Fuentes wants nothing more than to take down all the bloodthirsty monsters that plague her pueblo. Too bad her family won't let her help. No matter she will take them on all on her own and prove what she is capable of.

Lalo Villalobos is a recently turned vampire. But he is not like the rest of them. He would rather die than hurt another human or let his sister come to harm. Fleeing the city to seek answers he instead finds a headstrong vampire hunter.

They must work together to take down the vampires and save everyone. Along the way they may just find something else.

This is the best story including vampires that I have read. I love how they are described, from their creation to what happens when they drink blood. It's unique and helps with understanding them. I would have liked even more interactions with them.

I like Carolina and Lalo. For a romantic male lead Lalo is quite different and not just because he's a vampire. They have many great scenes together. There is a lot of humor I wasn't expecting. I think they make a great couple and I believe in their love, but I didn't feel anything from the romance. That's probably just me and my pickiness. Perhaps if this had been a duology more time could have been spent on all the different things going on and I would feel differently.

The action is pretty much nonstop in the last 30 percent. There are some harrowing scenes where you're not sure what the outcome will be. I enjoyed the ending and think it is well done.

If you love vampire stories I definitely recommend this!

Thank you so much to the author for the digital ARC!

A Cruel Thirst, Montoya's second book, shows growth in its concise plot and well developed characters. It breaks stereotypes many have for vampires and brings something new to the table. What makes this book excel even more is the Latine twist to the romancing a vampire trope. I would certainly recommend this book to my high school students; however, I hesitate to do the same with my younger students as later in the story theres a suggestive moment between Lalo and the main character.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Summary:
Lalo is on a mission to find the vampire who killed his parents, but his life takes an unexpected turn once he does. Carolina is determined to eliminate any vampire in her path until one shows her that they can be different.

Highlights:

Dual POV
Enemies to lovers
Fake relationship
Vampires
Hispanic representation
This novel had an intriguing premise, but I found the execution difficult to follow. While I was tempted to stop reading, I pushed through because it was an ARC. Despite this, there were aspects I appreciated. Lalo's strong moral compass stood out, as he refused to succumb to evil. The elements of a fake relationship and enemies to lovers were well done. The ending, which provided closure to generations of curses, was particularly satisfying. I believe this story would appeal to teenage readers looking for more after Twilight.

Rating: 3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level: 0.5 🌶️

Where to start with such a masterpiece?? How does one capture such beauty?? How did Montoya deliver such perfection? From action to mystery and intrigue to romance and family and everything in between, this book truly has it all in perfect balance.

Angela Montoya sure knows how to tell a story. This was the romantic fantasy adventure I've been looking for. I devoured SINNER'S ISLE. The story was so artfully crafted and did not feel like a debut. The plot had a great arc, and the characters were compelling. A CRUEL THIRST was no different. Another fantastic romantic fantasy adventure from Montoya. The fake engagement and enemies-to-lovers tropes were so well executed, and this was such an interesting, original take on vampires--especially after an oversaturated market rendered anything vampire-related overdone. Additionally, both characters had depth and dimension. Just wonderfully done. I cannot wait to get my hands on whatever story Montoya decides to tell next. She has a fan for life.