Content Warning: blood, loss of family member, violence, and closed door scene.

Thank you to Hear Our Voices book tours and Joy Revolution for an advanced readers copy of A Cruel Thirst by Angel Montoya and the opportunity to review this book.

This Mexican YA paranormal fantasy, told in third-person dual POV, follows Carolina, a vampire huntress, and Lalo, a reluctant fledgling vampire, as they team up against a shared enemy. Packed with enemies-to-lovers tension, witty banter, and themes of self-discovery, it’s a thrilling and heartfelt story.

For additional thoughts, check out my video review - https://www.instagram.com/p/DDbOh9mgiE6/

After a stunning debut, Angela Montoya knocks it out of the park again with her second book, A Cruel Thirst. Sophomore slump who? A Cruel Thirst is a YA romantasy between a prim and proper city boy turned vampire and a fiery vampire huntress with a score to settle.

The chemistry between Lalo and Carolina was natural. Both have such a deep love for their family and it was a joy to see that motivation bring them closer to each other. This book had me laughing out loud and giggling and kicking my feet. Montoya excels at writing YA that feels accurate to the age of the characters and intended audience, yet enjoyable to read at any age (which is not always the case with YA in my opinion). I could see how intentionally every character, including the side-characters, was written. Fernanda and Nena have my heart, they were so adorable.

I just love a story that celebrates the strength in gentle men and ferocious women. I highly recommend any YA romantasy lovers check out A Cruel Thirst coming out December 17th!

A Cruel Thirst follows fledgling vampire Lalo Villalobos and vampire hunter Carolina Fuentes as they work together to end the monsters that threatens their families.
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I really enjoyed this book!! The origin of vampires in this story felt fresh and had me reading to learn more. It was very fun to watch Lalo and Carolina’s relationship develop as they begrudgingly work together. The banter was top notch! Lalo was such an easy character to love. He’s kind, handsome, and selfless. Carolina is also great, a strong girl ready to prove that she is just as good of a monster hunter as any man in her family. Family is at the heart of this story. Both Lalo and Carolina are fiercely protective of their respective families. You can feel the love each character has for the rest of their family. If you’re looking for a new romantasy, then definitely check this book out!

Thank you Random House Children’s & TBR and Beyond Tours for providing this eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Vampires, slow burn romance, enemies to lovers AND Mexican inspired lore/historical fantasy? I loved it. All of it. I will be recommending this to everyone I know! Thank you TBR and Beyond Tours and Angela Montoya for the eARC!

First off, how cute is this cover 🤩?! A Cruel Thirst features Lalo who has been planning on getting revenge for his parents who were killed by a vampire. That failed drastically when he ends up being turned into the very thing he hates. He ends up on the run with his sister as he tries to find a cure bringing them to a place filled with a long line of vampire hunters. One being Carolina who wants to be the best vampire huntress there is. Yet, everything changes when the two meets and a fake dating of convenience ensues between them as they work together to help each other.

The two main characters in this book were great. Lalo was not the average male character where instead, he’s shy, awkward, and prefers to be alone because of how people view him. Carolina is a fierce female character, and with these two opposites attract, their chemistry was everything with the banter between them. This book is rich in culture and lore, and I love the history elements in it. I recommend checking this book out if you’re looking for a young adult enemies to reluctant allies as both the characters go through changes and growth in this book that has a nice focus on family and what we do to protect them.

Thank you to tbrbeyondtours and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own!

I absolutely love Angela's work and her previous book, Sinner's Isle, which is one of my favorite YA fantasies. So needless to say, I was so excited to read this! Carolina and Lalo are sheer perfection. You get vampires, vampire slayers, swoony romance, action, adventure, and enemies to lovers. There was so much tension, pining, and chemistry while fighting the fact that they obviously should not have this attraction as a vampire and vampire slayer. The banter was so well-written and fun and I ate this up. Angela always balances out emotion, romance, and adventure so well.

Actual Rating: 4.5⭐

If you’re looking for an enemies-to-lovers story between a vampire and a vampire hunter, look no further—this book is for you!

The plot was well-paced and well-written; I was hooked right from the start until the end following Carolina and Lalo tackled the vampire issue.
The characters are loveable and I especially enjoyed the funny teasing between the siblings, which really enlivened the story!

Carolina is a badass character whom I admire and love. She’s a fierce fighter and lover, often quite reckless and prideful, and finally she meets her match in Lalo—the sweetest and sometimes awkward guy who always riles her up but also becomes one of the few people who can comfort, understand and support her.

I loved the chemistry between the two of them. It was delightful to see their banter and slight flirting!
I was rooting for them the entire time and curious to see how or whether they would get their happy ending while saving mankind from vampires.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable and entertaining YA vampire romance that comes with a satisfying ending!
I’m definitely keeping an eye out for more books by this author in the future!

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: Grief, animal death, blood, gore, violence

this book was soon goood!!!

I had such a great time reading it, and the tension and romance build up was just everything. Having a dual point of view between the two main characters really helped. I absolutely adored the writing style, the family lore and the world-building. I loved the representation, it's really lovely to see more marginalised groups being represented.

The yearning and pining was everything!! It took so long to get there, but that's what made it such a good book. Like I've never read a vampire x vampire hunter book before but it was done so spectacularly. I would have loved an epilogue scene, regardless I really enjoyed the pacing and atmosphere of this book. It was just such a fun read.

Highly recommend it you want a fake engagement, Latin American representation and romance fantasy books!!

Thank you to Hear Our Voices tour, the author Angela Montoya and Penguin random house books for this ARC.

4.25 ⭐️

A Cruel Thirst follows Carolina, a fearless vampire huntress, and Lalo, a recently turned vampire, as they embark on a journey to uncover a cure that could end vampirism forever. When Carolina’s father tries to marry her off to his godson Rafa, she claims to be in love with Lalo to escape the arranged betrothal. Meanwhile, the two secretly continue their mission to find a cure for Lalo.

This book is a fast-paced, utterly charming romantasy that had me hooked from start to finish. I adored the witty banter and simmering tension between Carolina and Lalo—they’re a dynamic pair you can’t help but root for. Beyond the romance, the story beautifully explores the many ways love manifests, from familial bonds to self-sacrifice. It’s a heartfelt tale that had me smiling and giggling more than once.

CAWPILE Rating
Characters: 8 – Carolina and Lalo are compelling, well-rounded, and their chemistry is electric.
Atmosphere: 7 – The vivid settings and supernatural elements set the perfect tone.
Writing: 8 – Angela Montoya’s writing style is engaging, balancing humor and emotion seamlessly.
Plot: 8 – The storyline is captivating and well-paced, with just the right amount of twists.
Intrigue: 8 – The mystery of the cure and the growing romance kept me turning pages.
Logic: 7 – While enjoyable, a few moments required a slight suspension of disbelief.
Enjoyment: 8 – A thoroughly delightful read that left me eager for more!

If you’re a fan of romantasy with humor, heart, and a touch of the paranormal, A Cruel Thirst is definitely worth the read.

4.25 ⭐️

A Cruel Thirst follows Carolina, a fearless vampire huntress, and Lalo, a recently turned vampire, as they embark on a journey to uncover a cure that could end vampirism forever. When Carolina’s father tries to marry her off to his godson Rafa, she claims to be in love with Lalo to escape the arranged betrothal. Meanwhile, the two secretly continue their mission to find a cure for Lalo.

This book is a fast-paced, utterly charming romantasy that had me hooked from start to finish. I adored the witty banter and simmering tension between Carolina and Lalo—they’re a dynamic pair you can’t help but root for. Beyond the romance, the story beautifully explores the many ways love manifests, from familial bonds to self-sacrifice. It’s a heartfelt tale that had me smiling and giggling more than once.

CAWPILE Rating
Characters: 8 – Carolina and Lalo are compelling, well-rounded, and their chemistry is electric.
Atmosphere: 7 – The vivid settings and supernatural elements set the perfect tone.
Writing: 8 – Angela Montoya’s writing style is engaging, balancing humor and emotion seamlessly.
Plot: 8 – The storyline is captivating and well-paced, with just the right amount of twists.
Intrigue: 8 – The mystery of the cure and the growing romance kept me turning pages.
Logic: 7 – While enjoyable, a few moments required a slight suspension of disbelief.
Enjoyment: 8 – A thoroughly delightful read that left me eager for more!

If you’re a fan of romantasy with humor, heart, and a touch of the paranormal, A Cruel Thirst is definitely worth the read.

The book had good pacing and the writing was enjoyable. Maybe the plot could have been more fleshed out, but overall it was a little fun read. 3 stars.

This was such a great read! I love any kind of vampire book, and the characters made this even better. I LOVE Carolina and her stubborness, and the forbidden romance/enemies to lovers was so well-written.

One of the best books I have read this year.

The vampire lore, the Latin culture influence, and the characters were written so well! My experience reading this book was phenomenal because I felt that I was growing alongside the characters. The romance development was spot on, never felt rushed, and it felt just right. It was everything I was looking for in a vampire, soul-mates, enemies-to-lovers story!

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this book. I enjoyed this authors debut book "Sinner's Isle" and this one was so much fun!

Tropes/Themes: Forced Proximity, Family Curse, Vampire Hunters, Cute Academic MMC, Feisty Independent FMC, Family First

This was so much fun. I did almost rage quit, because the story wasn't going my way, but I was 100% invested.

Quotes: "Proper women cannot live without a husband." "Who said I cared a lick about being propery? I am here, aren't I? Pratically in the arms of my sworn enemy."
"I have been shot and stabbed and hit with a pan, and yet, here I am."

This book had me giggling, stressed, dying from the tension between Lalo and Carolina, and crying...
I really enjoyed that the nerdy academic became and the vampire and that the female was the bada** vampire hunter. I think it was a night change of pace for some of the vampire books I have read. I enjoyed the side characters as well and would love to read a romance between them... just saying.
The plot twists about Carolina's family history was well done and I was quite invested. I also like the concept of vampires seeing people's memories when they fed on them.

This was an adventure that had me not wanting to put the book down.

If you love enemies-to-lovers stories with action, sizzling chemistry, and a dash of heartwarming sweetness, then you need to pick up this book ASAP! Angela Montoya has crafted a gem that swept me off my feet and didn’t let go until the very last page.

Let me tell you why this romantic fantasy featuring vampires and vampire hunters deserves a spot on your shelf.

First off, the characters. Lalo Villalobos is everything you want in a protagonist—awkward, bookish, polite, and utterly lovable. (Seriously, someone wrap this man in a blanket and protect him at all costs! 🥺) His life takes a heartbreaking turn when he’s unwillingly turned into a vampire. Despite his newfound thirst and isolation, he keeps on fighting to preserve his humanity.
Then there’s Carolina Fuentes, who is Lalo's total opposite in the best way possible. She's confident, stubborn, and willing to prove to her vampire-hunting family that she's just as capable as her male relatives-even if it means staking the Sweet sediento she just met.😅

The banter between Lalo and Carolina is chef’s kiss perfection. Watching these two go from enemies to reluctant allies to something so much deeper was pure joy. Carolina’s fiery determination paired with Lalo’s quiet strength made for such a compelling dynamic. And the chemistry? I loved every moment of Carolina realizing maybe, just maybe, Lalo isn’t the monster she’s been taught to hunt.

The action scenes are intense, the stakes (pun intended) are high, and the cultural influences—rooted in Latinoamericano traditions—add a rich layer to the story. From the familial bonds to the lore surrounding the vampiros and vampire hunters, everything felt deeply authentic and immersive. The secondary characters were just as well-drawn, adding depth and heart to the narrative.

And let’s talk about the plot—a perfectly paced mix of danger, discovery, and character growth. Lalo and Carolina’s journey to confront their shared enemy is filled with twists, humor, and emotional moments that had me grinning, gasping, and maybe tearing up a little. Okay, a lot.

This was my first Angela Montoya book, and I am officially a fan. Her storytelling is captivating, her characters unforgettable, and her world-building vivid and intricate. I can’t wait to dive into more of her work.

In short: READ THIS BOOK. It’s action-packed, sweet, funny, and swoon-worthy all at once.

This is easily one of my favorite books I’ve read this year. This book is a great addition to the historical romantasy canon. Carolina Fuentes is a complete badass and Lalo Villalobos is a sweet little bookworm who must be protected at all costs! I absolutely loved the dynamic between these two and how they had such strong growth throughout the novel. The enemies to lovers/ forbidden romance trope works well here because we are given such a rich history as to why these two people cannot be together. The stakes were high enough throughout the entire book that I really believed them as enemies. Some of the other highlights for me included the cast of side characters and the integration of Mexican mythology and folklore. I thought that the use of Mexican mythology really gave a unique background to fantasy creatures that we are all familiar with. It can be hard to come up with a fresh new take on a vampire story because we’ve seen hundreds of them but Montoya has created a world that feels very lived in; I was fully immersed the whole time. I would highly recommend this novel!

This book was such a fun and easy read. Carolina, our FMC, is a sharp-tongued aspiring vampire/vampiro hunter. Lido, our MMC, is a newly turned vampiro grappling with his new life as a vampiro and how to hold on to his humanity. Suddenly, they are thrown together in a fast-paced adventure filled with humor, action, and unexpected romance. Their banter is pure gold, and their chemistry leaps off the page as they navigate a journey of self-discovery, family secrets, and vampiro slaying.

The world building is rich and atmospheric, blending unique mythology with a historical Spanish setting, and the story balances humor with heartfelt moments of grief, growth, and resilience. From enemies to reluctant allies to lovers, Carolina and Lido’s dynamic is the highlight of this Mexican paranormal fantasy romance.

Angela Montoya’s A Cruel Thirst delivers an atmospheric and compelling vampire fantasy with a slow-burn romance that perfectly balances tension, awkwardness, and unexpected tenderness. With rich cultural integration and vivid descriptions, this book immerses readers in a world of danger, passion, and the age-old conflict between vampire and vampire hunter.

The dynamic between Lalo and Carolina is a highlight of the story. Carolina’s fiery determination and prickly exterior are the perfect foil to Lalo’s straight-laced and brooding personality, creating interactions that are as humorous as they are heartfelt. Their chemistry builds slowly, adding emotional weight to their shared mission and deepening their connection.

The setting is beautifully crafted, with the author’s cultural influences seamlessly woven into the narrative, adding depth and authenticity to the story. The writing is descriptive and engaging, painting a vivid picture of the world while keeping the focus on the characters and their journey.

While the pacing is generally well done, the beginning felt a bit slow, taking some time to fully draw me into the story. However, once the plot picked up, it was hard to put the book down, and the twists and turns kept me thoroughly engaged.

A Cruel Thirst is a beautifully written romantic fantasy with a rich cultural backdrop and a captivating love story between a fledgling vampire and a determined vampire huntress. Fans of vampire romances and slow-burn tension will find much to love in this engaging and atmospheric tale.

Thank you to Angela Montoya and TBR and Beyond for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Thank you for the arc! I loved it so much. I had read Angela Montoya’s first book and became obsessed with her stories.

I love the aspect of vampire x vampire hunter especially in a way that is very captivating. Lalo and Carolina’s story had its funny moments and cute scenes. Lalo being a vampire who is not so good at it while Carolina is wanting to kill him had me cracking up at some points.

This is my first read by Angela Montoya, and it did not disappoint. I loved the Hispanic culture in this book and the lore. This was a fresh take on Vampires and vampire hunters. Carolina and Lalo had great chemistry and I loved the fake marriage aspect of it. I enjoyed watching them work together to figure out how the vampiros were created and how to get rid of them. I honestly wouldn't have minded if this was a duology, but Montoya wrapped it up pretty well as a standalone. I look forward to reading more of her work.