I’d rate this a 3.5 but rounded up to 4.

I really enjoyed this, it was a fun take on vampires and even if I’m in my 30s, I still love a YA.

The thing that got me though, was a little over halfway through the pacing just really slowed down. It made it a bit of a struggle for me to finish it but I’m glad I did.

I would read more by this author.

another fang-tastic take on Vampire x Vampire Hunter (or should I say Huntress)!! The banter was incredible and fun and the story was easy to follow and understand, and don't get me started on the enemies to lovers romance, it was *chefs kiss*! honestly, the banter alone was good enough for a solid 4 stars, there didn't even need to be progress in the romance, their connection was just there and it was all beautiful. it also had a fake engagement trope, but done so well! I've read one before and the story was sub-par, so I'm so glad this book was a total hit for me.

I liked this book. It was an interesting twist on vampires in a western setting and I enjoyed the dual POVs. It probably wasn't the most memorable vampire book I've ever read but it was a solid standalone story by an author that I'd definitely read more of.

I don't think I'd reread this one or at least not any time soon but it's a good book to keep in your pocket for a vampire reading challenge prompt or something to read during spooky season if you aren't super into spooky books. This one had creepy vibes for sure at times but it also had a nice romance as well.

This was a fast paced read that I was able to finish all in one sitting.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4 star review - it was a wonderful read. Read well and it kept me engaged. Thank you for the author and team, for the chance of an arc.

I initially read the description of the book and didn't realize it was YA, however, some of my favorite fantasies are YA even as I've aged as a reader. Normally vampires are an immediate yes for me as well but it just felt hard to get into this one for me.

Plot had some holes, characters had good and annoying traits. DNF'd around 55% mark.


Thanks to NetGalley and JoyRevolution for the ARC opportunity!

I loved this book so much I truly don’t think I’ll recover. The star crossed lovers was done in such a fresh way.

This book had me hooked for the first half. However, after 50%, I lost interest in this book and I did not feel the urge to pick it back up. I would recommend this book to others though because the plot and tropes might interest them even if I dnf-ed it.

I really wanted to love this book; but unfortunately it fell a bit flat for me. It might have been because I hyped it up in my mind before reading it though.

Vampires are definitely back! After reading some fun additions to the genre like Vampires of El Norte and A Vile Season, I was excited to pick up A Cruel Thirst. Following Lalo, a reluctant new vampire searching for a cure, and Carolina, a vampire huntress who just wants to be taken seriously by her family, our story takes off when their paths cross and they decide to work together to uncover the original vampire that plagues their land.

❤️ What I loved: Great setting, fun tropes like enemies-to-lovers (for real) and fake-dating wrapped up in one, with excellent banter between our lead characters.
💔 What I didn’t love: Around 50-75% the story dragged a bit—I’m not sure why, as looking back I liked all of the different plot lines, but while reading it felt somewhat slow.

Lovers of vampire fiction and romance will find this to be a unique addition to the genre, and I think it will make a great addition to any school library shelf.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 (4-4.5)

Acknowledgments & Disclaimers
✨ Thank you to NetGalley, Angela Montoya, and Random House Children’s/Joy Revolution, for providing an ARC and the opportunity to share an honest review of this book. ✨ All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. ✨ My reviews and ratings strive to evaluate books within their own age-demographic and genre.

I love a good vampire book! The epic tension with "The Cruel Thirst" if you will. This vampire and huntress dynamic was phenomenal!

This book had all the romance and adventure that I’ve come to expect from Angela Montoya. I just fell in love with Carolina and Lalo and this was an absolute delight. Do yourself a favor and add this one to your tbr immediately!

Thank you so much to Random House Children’s and NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

I was pleasantly surprised by this YA vampire story. It takes place in an alternate ~1830s Alta California (utilizing Aztec mythology instead of Catholic). Though its fantasy I enjoyed seeing the author make shout-outs to real history like the business the hacienda does with people who wear fur from the north ie Russians who came down as far south as Monterey County. It’s also in conversation with Zorro in a clever anti-Spanish/American colonial way (but is not a retelling) and reminds me of a cross between Isabel Cañas’ Vampires of El Norte and an adventure film like The Mummy, with a dash of Hammer Horror thrown in. Supremely fun.

This was definitely a fun read. My bookclub and I all received the alc so we picked it for our book of the month. The two other ladies in my bookclub read it before I did and they both had very different views. One gave it 2 stars and the other gave it 5. I’m in the middle with 3.5 stars. It was like I said fun however I wanted a little more. About halfway through I lost interest but the fight at the end pulled me back in.

I’m a total sucker for vampire stories, so I had high hopes going into this one. Unfortunately, it just didn’t sink its teeth into me the way I wanted. I struggled to connect with the characters from the start, and there was very little spark or chemistry between them to keep things interesting. Even though the concept had potential, it felt like the emotional core of the story was missing. I kept waiting for that moment where I’d feel pulled in—but it never really came.

By the halfway point, I realized I wasn’t truly invested in what happened to anyone. The plot moved forward, but I was only mildly curious about where it was going. If I had been reading this as an ebook or physical copy instead of listening to the audiobook, I probably would’ve DNF’d it. It just didn’t hold my attention, and finishing it felt more like a chore than an adventure. I really wanted to love it—but this one just wasn’t for me.

A Cruel Thirst by Angela Montoya has all the excitement of a teen vampire novel that pulled the strings of my love for Twilight, while giving it a refreshing cultural angle charged with Mesoamerican lore. I am glad Latinx teens will have this story to feel themselves seen in exciting and romantic paranormal tales.

Writing this review several months after the fact and based on my very limited memory, this was a freaking blast. Vampire x vampire hunter, enemies to lovers, vampire mythology based in Mexico, A Cruel Thirst just works!!! The cover is stunning. Pick this up!

✨DNF✨

The idea of the book seemed so promising.
Lalo’s story felt almost like Jasper’s backstory, which I liked.
Carolina will become a fascinating character as the story progresses, I’m sure.

I just couldn’t jive with the cadence of the writing. It felt clunky and overly wordy but somehow like it was missing pieces.

I tried to make it happen but I just couldn’t 🙈

This book had some seriously top-tier tropes and an amazing setting, and I was all in at the beginning. The first half of the story had me hooked — everything felt fresh, exciting, and full of potential. But around the 50% mark, things started to lose steam, and it just kind of… fell apart. The relationship development felt rushed and over-the-top. It was like it escalated way too quickly, and I couldn’t fully buy into it. my absolute favorite part of the book was that the mmc is so afraid and freaked out by the fmc that every time she looked at him, he swore his soul fled his body. (that sums up what type of woman I am)

Started off great but for some reason I found myself losing interest. I have not picked it yo in a while but hope to do so in the future. For now it is a soft dnf.

A fun and fast-paced vampire romance with just the right amount of swoon. I enjoyed the dynamic between the main characters and the rich vampire lore woven throughout. Perfect for anyone looking for a quick, entertaining read!