A Cruel Thirst || Angela Montoya

"Her life force burned as brilliant as any flame. But it was not something to be contained in a hearth. She was a wildfire. One could only sit back and watch her burn. And every part of him burned for her."

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book. Book is out 12/17/2024.

Carolina Fuentes has always wanted to become a vampiro hunter like the men in her family, but her father wants her safe, married and far away from their pueblo, which often seems to be attacked by vampiros. Lalo Villalobos was always the responsible older sibling, but when his parents are murdered by a vampire and no one believes him, he sets off on his own to destroy the vampire that ruined his family. However, he, himself, becomes a vampiro and now he's desperate to end vampiros forever. When research takes him to where he believes the first vampiro was created, he runs into Carolina Fuentes.

Instinct tells Carolina to kill Lalo, however, he is different from any vampiro she's come across and when she learns that he aims to forever rid the world of vampiros, she agrees to work with him. In return, he plays the part of her fiancé to prevent her father from marrying her off to a man she despises.

This is a stand-alone novel that has you cheering for both characters by the end. I loved how strong and ferocious Carolina was "You are despicable," he said. "No, I am capable. Most men can't differentiate the two.". And, I loved how caring and selfless Lalo was. I found the two complimented each other perfectly. The story was very well done and had elements of romance (fake fiancé, enemies to lovers, dual POV) that I really enjoy. I recommend this read if you're looking for a stand-alone romantasy.

-romantasy
-stand-alone novel
-enemies to lovers
-fake fiancé
-dual POV
-fade to black love scene

Who doesn't love a romance between a vampire and vampire hunter? I read this authors previous book and wasn't a huge fan but I liked A Cruel Thirst a lot more! I've never seen the vampire lore presented in this book and I found it really interesting! I think fans of Divine Rivals will enjoy this book a lot because it had similar vibes!

In a world where the one thing people fear most are Vampiros, Carolina and Lalo are probably the only two people that are NOT afraid.
Lalo, determined to kill the Vampiro that killed his parents, finds himself on the other side of the coin. Suddenly turned into the Vampire he once set out to destroy. Lalo is now on a mission to figure out how to end this centuries long curse even if that means putting his own life at risk.
That is until he meets Carolina. Carolina, the daughter of a Vampire hunter who wants to prove that she is capable of fighting as hard as any man.
Born in loyalty for their families, the two of them, still wary of each other, set out on a mission to discover the truth about the curse and put an end to it once and for all.

Lalo is the perfect mix of cute and shy and smart.
With his silly little mustache and his unwavering loyalty to his sister, I don’t think I’ve wanted to throw my kindle across the room more than when I was reading his internal monologue.
Carolina is the strong female lead every romantasy deserves. Fighting to save all of humanity, not allowing her father decide who she should marry and trusting the person that should’ve been her sworn enemy wile falling in love with him despite the fact that he’s a vampire. (not that I could blame her)
And Please do not get me started on the banter!
The added Mythology and introduction to new cultures and traditions is one of the biggest reasons why I enjoy reading, period, and this book was choc full of it.

Also love that this is LGBTQ+ friendly.

Angela Montoya’s A Cruel Thirst is a gripping, dark fantasy that immerses you in a world of danger, betrayal, and powerful secrets. With fast-paced action and a complex, fierce protagonist, Montoya delivers an intense and captivating read. The vivid world-building and emotional depth make this a must-read for fans of high-stakes adventure and intricate plots. A thrilling start to a series that promises to keep readers on edge.

This was a really fun read, full of so much Latine culture and a take on vampires I hadn’t seen in books before. The pacing was a bit faster than I would have liked but that’s about it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really enjoyed A Cruel Thirst by Angela Montoya.

Synopsis: A fledgling vampire and a headstrong vampire huntress must work together--against their better judgment—to rid the world of monsters in this irresistible romantic fantasy.

I really annoyed the writing and I felt like the story was as not just about the love that developed, but friendship between the main characters as well. Lalo is so sweet and I loved the contrast with Carolina’s feistiness. They really complemented each other and I loved the calmness that Lalo provided when Carolina was being hot headed. At times Carolina’s naiveness was a little annoying, but I understand that she had been stuck in the same mindset her entire life and that’s hard to change. I enjoyed the banter, the character growth, and just the story as a whole. I can’t wait to read more by Angela Montoya!

I would like to first thank NetGalley and Joy Revolution for the eARC. I greatly appreciate it!

"A Cruel Thirst" was a wonderful surprise. I was initially drawn by its cover and then by its synopsis. When I read the first page, I knew I was going to love this unique story. It was refreshing to read about a vampire who simply struggled to be a vampire, one who was neither extraordinarily graceful nor a badass. It felt real, and while many may long for the attractiveness of vampirism, Lalo just wanted to be a boy who could walk in the sun without burning to a crisp. And that is the charm of "A Cruel Thirst".

Hands down my favourite read this year!! This was so much fun! I couldn't put it down!A Cruel Thirst by Angela Montoya is an exciting and fast-paced adventure that grabs your attention from the first page. The enemies to lovers trope was executed perfectly and the banter was top tier!If you enjoy fantasy with depth and passion, this book is a must-read!An absolute page turner!Angela Montoya is my new auto buy author and can't wait to read her other work!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for letting me read an advance copy!

Overall I think this book is fun, it took me a long time to get into it but once I was in, I was hooked. I am unsure of the complete rating that I would give it, but if you are looking for a fun vampire novel, definitely pick this one up!

This was nonstop a great time! Lalo and Carolina are perfect. This characters reach off of the pages and tell you this story in such a vibrant way. I loved every minute I spent reading this book.

3.75 stars, rounded up | I really enjoyed this book! The characters were super fun, and I thought that the plot was interesting and engaging. As a character driven reader, this was a really easy read for me. Carolina was well developed and had more character development than a lot of other feisty fmcs usually have. Lalo was also a really well written character, and I especially appreciate that he wasn't your stereotypical mmc (the fact that he's a tall nerdy may have also helped his case).
That being said, the writing was kind of simplistic towards the end (compared to the rest of the book), and I feel like certain side characters and plots were a little underdeveloped. There's definitely more plot that other reviews give it credit for, but I do think that this book could have benefited from a little bit more thought.
Overall, I definitely recommend this book if you're looking for a fun, fast read!

This book was pitched as “Pride and Predjudice meets Buffy meets The Mask of Zorro” with a vampire x vampire hunter romance, so I was immediately interested. Also, let’s take a moment to appreciate the cover! (I know they say don’t judge a book by its cover, but let’s face it…a pretty cover definitely doesn’t hurt lol 😍).

This was such a fresh take on a vampire story! The world-building is rich with Mexican lore/mythology which felt really unique. It offered such interesting explanations for the classic symptoms of vampirism that we are used to (like why they can’t be in the sun, why they need to be invited into places, why they need to drink human blood, why they are so fast/strong, etc.). I really appreciated this aspect of the story because it felt so original!

The writing was engaging and lovely! I had numerous highlighted lines throughout the book. I also really enjoyed the epistolary elements that were incorporated between the chapters and thought they supplemented the story well. There was a good balance of romance, plot, and action. I will say that the pacing did feel a little off at times with some parts feeling a bit slow and the ending feeling a tad rushed. The book features a slow-burn forbidden romance, family secrets, action, fake engagement, vampires, and is written in dual POV!

I loved how Lalo was such a different MMC than we often encounter in the Romantasy genre. Rather than a 1000 year old vampire who is badass and broody or cocky, we get a clumsy, freshly turned 19 year old vampire with a heart of gold who cannot stand what he has been turned into. He is not a fighter…he is sensitive, innocent, sweet, shy, and bookish. And bless his heart, he made such a bad vampire lol. You couldn’t help but love his charming character. Honestly, he was kind of refreshing as an MMC!

Carolina was a force to be reckoned with. She was a strong FMC who knew what she wanted and went after it! She was fierce, fiesty, passionate, and bold. I enjoyed her character! She and Lalo were such opposites in many ways, but they worked well together. I really enjoyed the humor and banter in this book! Carolina and Lalo were so cute together.

I will say that I wanted a little more from the Romance—I’m having a hard time pinpointing exactly what I wanted more of though. Chemistry? Swooniess? Idk. It just didn’t entirely sweep me away. 🤷‍♀️ Overall though, it was a cute and sweet romance!

(NOTE: In a time where YA books can border on NA territory, I will say that this one felt firmly seated within the YA genre. It felt similar to the maturity level of the Caraval series, for example.)

Thank you to Angela Montoya, Netgalley, and Random House Children’s for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This cover is *stunning*!!! This book was such a pleasant surprise because I loved it from start to finish. I had so much fun reading it, which made the whole experience incredibly enjoyable. I LOVED the MMC and the vampire x vampire hunter vibe (please give me 14 more of these right now!!!). The romance was super cute and definitely deserves some extra points too! Highly recommend

This was so lovely it has me in tears!

Just picture romance, female rage and vampires with a Mexican spark. Doesn't that sound amazing?! It was!!!

From the very beginning I fell involve with the main characters and their dynamics. The book is really easy to read and the storyline is very engaging. The author truly transport you into this slightly dark but beautiful world. Montoya really helps you connect with every character by the way she describes them and immerses you into their thoughts. While I love the romance, I was happily surprised to encounter themes such as found family, vengeance, forgiveness, acceptance, chance vs tradition, and many more. This is definitely a book you do not want to miss if you love vampires, specially the sweet and caring ones.

Thank you so much to the publisher for the eARC!!

A Cruel Thirst is a fantasy novel about a vampire and vampire huntress who team up to conquer a common enemy.

While the premise of this book was interesting, I was not able to really get into the story. However, from what I did read, I found Lalo's point of view to be quite interesting.

Even though this book was not for me, those who enjoy romantasy novels about vampires should definitely check out A Cruel Thirst.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. A vampire that sucks at being a vampire and a vampire huntress. The story was very unique. Banter was superb. Laugh out loud comedy. The writing was very fast paced, no lag which made enjoy every scene. So many beautiful quotes in this book!! Character developments for both were great and entertaining. Great introspection and conversation about selfishness vs selflessness, grief and loss, pride, power and weakness of love, family, etc. Standalone that really hit the spot.

The pace is consistent with plenty of action, banter, and awkward situations that made me laugh out loud! I adored Lalo, who is super sweet and bookish, and his interactions with the fierce Carolina were so much fun. It's refreshing to see a vampire romance where the two are the same age instead of hundreds of years older, especially since they are both relatively inexperienced teenagers. This book solidly delivered on the vampire aspect, featuring vampire lore and origins that were new to me, and had so many awesome fights scenes. I also loved the way this book didn't shy away from loss and grief, and the way those themes played into the vampire storyline. I enjoyed this book so much!

Carolina Fuentes has always fought against the gender norms set by her family. She is just as worthy as her brothers and cousins to fight the vampires attracted to her beloved hometown. When she suffers a loss too great to bear, she vows to prove her worth and end all vampires.

Eduardo “Lalo” Villalobos only has his younger sister left in this world. He must do all that he can to protect her. When he foolishly tries to avenge his parents, his usually responsible choices lead him astray. He becomes the very thing that ended his parents. A vampire. When Lalo and Carolina cross paths, will they be able to put aside their differences to save their families and end the existence of vampires for good? Will their burgeoning feelings for each other lead to ruin or redemption?

I loved this book. A vampire x vampire hunter book is something I didn’t know I was missing in my life. I loved Carolina’s strong and tough character. She held the daggers and knew how to use them! Her character arc was beautiful to follow. I could feel her grief through the story. I was glad that she was able to grieve and process through the course of the book. I loved Lalo’s development from timid and bookish to fierce defender. I liked that he never tried to dull Carolina’s shine. Not that she would ever let him. This book included a very sweet love story along with vampire hunting and action. I recommend this book to fantasy fans who are looking for a book with action and a sweet love story.

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!

i’ve recently been reading a lot more horror/thriller, and this was a great addition to the genre, especially with such a unique twist on vampires.

angela montoya takes a beloved genre (are vampires considered genre? or are they more paranormal🤔) and adds culture and creativity to her novel. i feel most vampire novels never disclose how the first vampire was “born”, but montoya explains how the vampires in her novel were created through mexican gods/religion, specifically the god tecuani, and the grief of loved ones left behind. i also thought it was interesting that montoya explained that when her vampires feed, they don’t necessarily only take the “life blood”, but years, months, and days from their victims.

i also just love a scene between two mcs where they succumb to the feeding… and of course it makes it all the better when the vampire mc clings to their humanity. the angst is real 💗

overall, i enjoyed a cruel thirst and am excited to read what montoya writes next!

Beautifully written. Not your typical vampire and vampire hunter love story. It takes place in a remote town where vampires are the biggest predator in the woods. The town prides itself on its ability to hunt sedientos (vampires). The author does an amazing job describing the beautiful culture and the towns inhabitants. The founding family of the FMC is hiding a centuries old secret that changes everything. The MMC is not your typical love interest. He is unsure of himself, awkward and has a big heart. Not qualities you typically see in a vampire.