Title: A Cruel ThirstAuthor: Angela Montoya
Pages: 432
Publication Date: Dec. 17, 2024
Publisher: Joy Revolution
Genres: Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Romance
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.
Carolina Fuentes has always wanted to join her family in hunting down the bloodthirsty monsters that plague her pueblo. But these days, her father wants her out of town with a husband of his choosing. That’s not happening. Carolina plans to show everyone that she’d make a better vampire slayer than wife. But when she runs into a sediento that is not only handsome but kind, she questions everything.
Lalo Villalobos doesn’t act on impulses. As the eldest of two, his duties were to carry on the family business, marry, and have children. But then he is turned into a sediento and must flee the city, taking lives as he goes north, where he believes the first vampire was made. Surely, the pueblo there will have the answers to reverse this curse or end sedientos altogether. Another unexpected turn? Lalo runs right into a beautiful young woman who’d gladly stake him.
Fortunately, mostly for him, they share a common enemy. They can stop these evil beasts. Together. And if along the way, Lalo and Fernanda discover what it is to truly live and love, then they’ll have won anyway.
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I’m thrilled to be on the book tour today for A Cruel Thirst, a rich and atmospheric young adult fantasy by Angela Montoya! I loved the book and am excited to share my thoughts and favorite quotes.
Last year, I read Sinner’s Isle, and ever since I’ve been eagerly awaiting Montoya’s newest book, A Cruel Thirst, even more so when I learned it was a vampire romance. It’s a fantastic read that sucked me in from the very first line and left its mark on me long after I finished it (puns intended).
In a world where vampiros are considered bloodthirsty monsters and are hunted mercilessly, Lalo is horrified when, instead of avenging his parents’ deaths, he is turned. Fleeing his home with his sister in tow, Lelo searches for a way to end the curse that has plagued him before he can do any more damage. Growing weaker because of his refusal to take human blood, Lelo meets Carolina, a hopeful vampire hunter from a family of vampire hunters.
Instead of a fierce MMC vampire and a FMC who is a damsel in distress, we have a bit of a reversal here. Lalo is unlike any vampire hero I’ve ever read, and I absolutely adored him. A man who still mourns the violent death of his parents and wants nothing more than to protect his beloved sister, Lelo has become what he abhors. Lelo struggles with his new immortality and all it encompasses. He’s soft and sensitive, and very different from the fiery woman he meets as he flees with his sister in search of an end to his vampirism.
Carolina is a fierce and bad-ass woman who knows what she wants, and it is not to become engaged to the man her father chooses. She’s determined to prove to her male-dominated family that she, too, can be a worthy vampire hunter. But when Carolina meets Lalo, everything changes. He is different from the other vampiros she’s encountered, and he challenges everything she ever knew about vampiros, her family, the past, and herself. And when he agrees to be her fake fiancée, their feelings become undeniable. They have so much chemistry, and I adored their banter and the way they slowly learned to trust each other.
Both Lalo and Carolina learn so much about each other and especially about themselves as they grow closer. I like how they both have their own epiphanies about life and love and what makes it all worth living. They begin to see that they are not so different. I love that Lelo opened Carolina’s eyes to the reality of vampires and shed some of her biases and prejudices, and I found it so satisfying that Lelo had to become what he hated the most to realize what he truly wanted in life and in himself. Their love story builds perfectly with the right amount of angst and longing, and some beautifully tender moments.
There are a bunch of stand out secondary characters too, especially Lalo’s sister, who is the sunshine to Lalo’s quieter, more broody personality. I loved Carolina’s cousin and her grandfather. Both hold such a special place in Carolina’s heart, and their staunch support of Carolina, when others tend to dismiss her, is lovely. I loved the exploration of different types of relationships, from romantic to familial to some wonderful friendships.
With an immersive and vivid setting, an interesting backstory, and dynamically layered characters and plots, this is a brilliant read. There’s a lot of depth and some amazing messages about family, love, generational expectations and trauma, and more.
“But life isn’t something one just eases through. Life is a constant battle. Every moment of peace, every smile, every kiss that is worth a damn must be earned. So fight with me, Lalo.”
If you are ever lost, simply search into my heart and there you will be.
“You must know what you do to me,” he said softly.
- Fake engagement
- Enemies to lovers
- Reluctant vampire mmc
- Bad ass fmc
- Partnership of convenience
Angela Montoya lives in Northern California with her family. She is the granddaughter of the celebrated activist and poet laureate Jose Montoya. When she isn’t with her partner, two children, goats, chickens, and dogs, you can find Angela co-hosting the podcast, Of the Publishing Persuasion. Sinner’s Isle was her debut novel.
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check out the rest of the TBR & Beyond book tour for A Cruel Thirst HERE!
Great review! I really enjoyed this one as well. I loved the dynamic between Carolina and Lalo and their banter was A+ perfection. The number of times I cracked up while reading them banter was fully unexpected 🤣
Thanks, Dini! I’m glad you enjoyed it too. It was such a good read, and I agree, the banter was top notch!