I can't believe how much I loved this book! I'm crying internally that it doesn't seem like it's gonna be a series. I love a slow-burn romance and this delivered. As well as I loved the aspect of the mmc being softer and the fmc having a harder edge. I applaud Angela for exploring those gender stereotypes. The mythology in the book was interesting and the ending was perfect, I just can't believe I'm begging for another book about Carolina and Lalo. Thank you for the ARC!!

This was a fresh take on enemies forced to work together for a common goal. Lalo and Carolina were great characters who I adored. I liked the role reversal of the male and female stereotypes. Overall it was something different that I will recommend to my students when it’s available.

This book has it all! Action, Adventure, Romance, Comedy! Not to mention vampires and vampire hunters. I loved this book so much! The writing and the characters were amazing! I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it! Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the arc in return for an honest review.

Lalo is a thoughtful, shy, bookish guy who loves his family, fashion, and his moustache. Then tragedy strikes as he witnesses his parents devoured by a vampire. When he tries to rid the city of this scourge, Lalo is turned too and takes off with his younger sister to what he believes to be the birthplace of vampirism with the hopes of finding a cure and making the world safe for those he loves. Almost as soon as he arrives, he meets Carolina, a kick butt vampire hunter whose family is more concerned with marrying her off than letting her protect the valley they've called home for generations. They are enemies to the core but are also immediately drawn to each other—Lalo to her bravery and verve, and Carolina to his caring and thoughtfulness. And when Lalo shares his goal of taking down the original vampire, they team up…and pretend to be engaged. It is an absolute romp with gorgeous writing, top-tier banter that put me in mind of The Mummy, laugh-out-loud moments, and a slow-burn tender journey to first love. One of my favorite things about this book is how the world-building and lore is woven into the story and makes the vampirism all the more emotional. And the banter is truly hilarious, driven by who these characters are as well as their greatest fears. A beautiful exploration of love, grief, hope, and how a couple can elevate each other. One of my favorite books of the year so far. Highly recommend.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I found it a very fast read and think it will be a good recommendation for teens who are looking for vampire books. I also appreciated this latine perspective on vampire lore and I think that was probably my favorite aspect of the book.

I think the characters and the romance could have been more developed as I didn't feel a huge connection to them despite them being pretty much the entire focus of the book. This though is just a personal preference of mine, readers who like to focus on plot over characters will likely find more enjoyment out of this book.

There's generally no way to disappoint me when it comes to paranormal vampire romances, but this blew my expectations completely out of the water. Carolina and Lalo made me swoon, the setting was novel and rich and totally captured my attention, and the book balanced humor with angst in a skilled way. Definitely recommend!

-- vampire historical fantasy
-- turned into vampire against his will and needs to revert into human MMC x aspiring vampire hunter FMC who get fake engaged to find the original vampire and reverse everything
-- wonderfully chaotic and wholesome family members
-- book lover / panics about crumpled and dirty clothes MMC x ferocious sword wielding FMC (it's a very Jurdan vibe okay 😭)

The angst was very VERY real with this one. I will never get tired of vampires.

As always with any new author I read, Montoya brings forth a new light to Vampires and completely makes them her own.

The characters are memorable and the story entertaining.

Very much on the reread scale. Love love love!!!

***Crossing my fingers for a cover rework*** I was given the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publishing by netgalley. I'm not usually a "vampire" girl. To campy of a read, too predictable, "he bites her, she turns, they un-live happily ever after." But... this book has a twist. A good twist. And while this is definitely a romance, it's not a "spicy" romance, but rather sweet. I highly recommend this book. Even if you have a few doubts, you should definitely read it. And if they don't update the cover, this recommendation is covered by the old adage, "don't judge a book by its cover".

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy!!! Badass Female MC, a scholarly boy turned monster, and shameless flirting. There are a lot of romance featuring vampires, but not many trying to fight the curse.

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

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.

From the very start, this book is funny in a way that is so endearing and helps you really connect with the characters as they get started on their journeys. But the balance of humor with heartbreak, grief, and angst made it even more powerful. There was a lot of growth from the characters in the area of family trauma and expectations that others may place on you. This truly felt like they were coming of age and discovering themselves and their places in the world, but it felt so authentic to who they had been the whole time that every twist of the story felt inevitable.

I adored the romance and the way that these two fit together. They are made for one another, and the fact that they can't realize that for so long makes it all the better. Carolina is so strong and what my soul has always wanted to be as a fierce young woman. Lalo is so soft that he's genuinely too good for this world. The two of them learn to be soft and fierce for one another, and their love had me smiling like an absolute fool. Which is saying a lot for someone who reads with RBF!

From the all-Latine cast to the perfectly curated story of love and family, this is going to become the book of the fall, and I cannot wait to see it happen!

I’m a fan!! A Cruel Thirst is a thrilling fantasy adventure with a unique and captivating plot. Montaya creates a vivid world filled with magic, intrigue, and memorable characters. Brilliantly executed!

I absolutely loved this book!!! This story transports readers to a pueblo besieged by bloodthirsty vampiros. Carolina Fuentes, a fierce and determined young woman, yearns to join her family in hunting these monsters. However, her father has other plans for her, desiring to marry her off to a man who will keep her safe from danger. Undeterred, Carolina sets out to prove her worth as a slayer. But her resolve wavers when she encounters Lalo Villalobos, a vampiro who possesses both an alluring appearance and a surprising kindness. As they team up to battle the evil that threatens their pueblo, Carolina finds herself torn between her duty and her forbidden feelings for Lalo. Montoya deftly weaves together action, romance, and social commentary in this compelling tale. Carolina's unwavering determination to defy traditional gender roles and prove her strength is both inspiring and refreshing. Lalo's transformation from a cursed creature to a sympathetic protagonist adds depth and nuance to the narrative. The pueblo setting provides a rich cultural backdrop for the story, infusing it with both beauty and danger. The vampiros are depicted as formidable adversaries, their thirst for blood creating a constant threat to the community. Montoya's vivid descriptions bring the horrors of these creatures to life, while also exploring the complexities of their nature. The romance between Carolina and Lalo is a slow-burning and forbidden one, filled with longing, doubt, and ultimately, a profound connection. Montoya does an exceptional job of depicting the emotional turmoil these two characters experience as they navigate their feelings for each other. This story is a must-read for fans of paranormal romance and anyone who enjoys a well-crafted tale of adventure and love.

Carolina is the child of a vampire fighting family. Lalo is an unwilling vampire doing whatever it takes to free himself from this curse, and protect his sister. Of course they run into each other and are forced into each others company constantly.
What made me want to read this book especially was at Yallwest, Angela talked about The Mask of Zoro being one of her inspirations for the novel. This book definitely has the same kind of vibes. I am such a sucker for vampire romances and this was no exception. I loved how Angela brought in so much history to the novel. So often vampires are European and this setting was so refreshing. More stories like this need to exist. I would love to see fan art for this story, it's such a magical setting.
The characters were lots of fun. Carolina is assertive and sassy. Lalo is a quiet, shy scholar. I absolutely loved their dynamic. Watching Carolina teach Lalo how to fight and dance was a delight. Their banter was also top tier. No spice, but there is a fade to black scene.
The side characters didn't get a ton of screen time, but I enjoyed them a lot. Nena and Fernanda especially were fun. I would have love to see more of them, but in the context of the story, it did make sense.
Overall, a great story. I will definitely be recommending this to all my vampire loving friends.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book!

Two unlikely protagonists coming together to face a common enemy.

We have Lalo, a boy turned vampiro, and Carolina, who comes from an notorious family of vampire hunters.

Together they join forces to find a cure for Lalo and an opportunity for Carolina to prove herself to her overprotective father. And they just happen to find a little bit of love on the way. ;)

I liked this interpretation of vampires. It was definitely not one I had seen before, and I thought it raised the stakes in the story and for the characters.

I also appreciated the representation of Spanish speaking individuals with the mix of vampire lore. It's not a combination that I've seen many times, and I thought that it added a nice element to the story.

Ah how I absolutely loved every page! Life was busy so I wasn't able to read it as fast as I wanted to, but sigh. It's left that, 'books and authors and reading are just magic' feeling while reaching the end. Thank you for the opportunity to read A Cruel Thirst early because I just couldn't wait until December.

A Cruel Thirst is everything I’ve ever wanted. Beautifully crafted, incredible characters, and a storyline that had me literally glued to the pages. This book was unputdownable. Angela is such a masterful storyteller, from her perfect pacing to lush prose, I was hooked. The two main characters Carolina and Lalo were absolutely swoonworthy. The banter, their chemistry, they had me rooting for them the moment they met. I could go on and on about how much I love this book, but suffice it to say, this book is amazing, an absolute must read.

The second time reading this book was even better than the first. I again was taken with the intentional descriptions of the setting that really helped set the mood. I can seriously see the scenes from the book in my head as I read, from the first chapter to the last. I didn’t think it was possible, but I have fallen even more in love with Lalo and Carolina. Carolina is so headstrong and loyal, and works so hard to protect her family. Lalo is so devoted to his sister Fernanda, and will do anything to protect her as well. I loved the enemies to lovers trope that played out here and no one does banter like Angela Montoya. In her first book I remember loving the banter between the two characters, but somehow she has elevated it even more so in this book. The way the two main characters interacted with each other as well as the other characters gives you a very full picture of who they are, and I rooted for both of them. The thing I think I loved most about this story is that this is a vampire story, but it didn’t feel like just another vampire story. There is definitely a box for teen vampire books, but Angela did not write herself into that box. Angela was able to write her story in such a way that it brought new life to vampire stories by adding unique mythology and by having a vampire who is doing everything he can to change his fate with his own intelligence and research. In my first review I raved about this book, but going into it a second time just made me love it even more.

I will forever be obsessed with Lalo Villalobos and Carolina Fuentes. This book has my whole heart. Fernanda and the pan-wielding sidekick, Nena, are hilarious too.

I'm a sucker for vampire romance. When I requested "Cruel Thirst" by Angela Montoya, I wanted something breezy, fast-paced, cute, with a dash of angst. And that is exactly what I got! The sizzling tale of Lalo the reluctant vampire and Carolina the vampire hunter might not have been the most unique or unpredictable tale ever written - you knew the beats going in - but it was charming and engaging, with well-rounded side characters and a real threat hanging over everyone's head. I particularly appreciated how everyone in "Cruel Thirst" made smart decisions despite their circumstances- Carolina's stubbornness and impetuousness never made her stupid. Lalo might have been cautious and self-loathing, but he made efforts to communicate clearly at every turn. This book was a lot of fun, and I am now going to hunt down Montoya's other books!