I really really enjoyed this one, vampires yes yes yes, this was so addictive and I craved every page of it!!

This was such a good read and had me on tender hooks throughout! I really liked the representation in it and the world building was phenomenal.

I really loved our main characters and the banter between them was on point. Carolina is a strong-willed and determined character. All she wants is to prove to her father that she can fight and protect their town. I loved how badass she was and I really liked her character development. Lalo is honestly so adorable who is awkward and struggling with his new change. I immediately loved his character and loved that he wasn't strong but so determined to figure out how to get rid of vampiro.

Montoya is an amazing writer who had me hooked, needing to know what would happen with our two main characters and their growing feelings! I definitely recommend picking this one up if you love vampires/vampire slayers!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much Netgalley for gifting this book in exchange for an honest review.

I will say that I'm not a YA book reader and when I read the premise for this book I was expecting buffy and spike vibes so was a little disappointed if I'm honest

It's a cute read although didn't quite feel paranormal or fantasy but more contemporary romance with a vampire twist perhaps

The plot didn't hook me and I felt like I wanted more, the main characters although had some back and forth and was a little rocky at first still felt like insta-love to me.

FMC: 18
MMC: 18

A very nice story and it was refreshing seeing latino representation but i feel like something was missing

3.5. stars!

A Cruel Thirst by Angela Montoya is an engaging romantasy with plenty of drama, lush world-building, and some truly memorable moments, though it doesn’t fully live up to its potential.

The story follows a fierce and determined FMC with a thirst for vengeance and a grumpy yet deeply protective MMC. Their dynamic is rich with chemistry, and the slow-burn romance definitely delivers some satisfying tension. The themes of trauma, redemption, and the search for belonging are handled with care, giving the characters emotional depth.

Angela Montoya’s world-building is intricate, painting a vivid backdrop of intrigue, danger, and forbidden magic. The pacing, however, felt uneven at times—some sections soared while others dragged, pulling me out of the flow. The dialogue occasionally leaned into melodrama, which may appeal to some but felt overdone in parts.

Unfortunately, this just really wasn't for me. I still appreciate the great writing style and the characters. This is really a not the book but me sort of situation.

A brilliantly captivating read from start to finish, even if it did take a little while to warm up so to speak. Carolina and Lalo are wonderful protagonists who you will root for from page 1.

This book is full of beautiful writing, quotes that stick with you and characters that I will love for a long time.

Angela has done an excellent job diving into the one of the most detailed worlds, you can clearly see a lot of time and effort has been put in to make sure the culture and lore are authentic and enjoyable. The first 20% of the book felt a bit choppy in the sense that it wasn't really clicking with me, I had to push myself to keep reading and I'm glad I prevailed because A Cruel Thirst has turned out to be a very enjoyable read.

The strongest aspect of this book is the characters, Angela has created two very strong and lovable MCs, their character development throughout the book, especially Carolina's was great to read about and their relationship developed at a pace that left me wanting more.

Lalo is such an awkward, book loving, warm cinnamon roll type MMC with the most hilarious things to say at times. I couldn't love him more and I think he and Carolina balance each other out perfectly. Carolina has more 'black' cat vibes, she's ready to fight and isn't about to let anyone stand in her way.

You may enjoy this if you like:

- fake engagement
- enemies to lovers
- vampire x vampire hunter
- latinx fantasy
- amazing banter

Overall, a very exciting vampire x vampire hunter book and I can't wait to see what Angela Montoya will go next!

I was a few chapters in before I warmed up to this but from there it was hard to resist reading on, watching Lalo and Carolina’s paths cross and their story unfold from there. Theirs is a dangerous world, and Lalo has caught the attention of the wrong people, and is digging himself in deeper when he’s clocked by one particular vampire hunter - one with vengeance on her mind.

Carolina is fierce, powerful and overall a great character. I enjoyed reading not only her POV but also seeing her behaviour through Lalo’s eyes. She brings a certain level of amusement to the story, particularly in her interactions with Lalo, who is her complete opposite in almost every way. He’s a reserved scholar who shuns socialising and is definitely not cut out for fighting. I’m always here for a hunter/hunted forbidden romance and the type of tension this creates between characters and this one didn’t disappoint. Though the push and pull here is often more playful, and it’s clear that Carolina has the upper hand with all her skills, making this a lighter read despite some of the darker plot points.

I would have liked a little more chemistry between the two but I did enjoy their interactions and seeing how their relationship developed as they spent more time around each other, and found out more about each other and their personalities and interactions. All in all a fun vampire romance read to sink your teeth into!

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

LOVED THIS. Vampire x Hunter?? RELUCTANT VAMPIRE?? RELUCTANT (unexpected) ROMANCE?? Amazing. I hope Carolina got the message at the end, and I loved this so much I want MORE. Also, sapphic supporting characters?? A win.

So can we all collectively agree that the freaking cover is the reason we picked this up? Like hello? Absolutely stunning omg

Aside from how absolutely sinful that cover is, I was really intrigued by the premise of this one. A vampire and vampire hunter teaming up to defeat a big bad all the while trying as hard as they cannot to catch feelings? Come on that sounds so good!!!
Seeing both of the characters go from enemies, to sorta allies/partners in crime and then to LOVERS was so so so delicious to read. I’ll admit that I probably read about half of the book in one go because I was that desperate to read about what was going to happen next. Reading about each of the characters also showed just how much detail the author had put into not only them as the main characters, but into their lives too. All of the characters that they knew, family members and locations were described in such detail/given so much backstory that you really got a sense of what shaped them into the characters they are by the time they actually meet each other.

I think that this was really simple and easy to read which made things progress so quickly and smoothly, yet there were a couple things that kept throwing me off when they came up, but I think it was just getting used to locations, names and the language, but I did actually enjoy that I had to slow down and take my time with it too. I think that with a lot of romance fantasy books things can be dumbed down a lot so that the audience can read it easier and quicker, but after awhile they all start to sound the same and kind of blur together. I can safely say that this is worlds apart from a lot of books in the same genre.

I also really loved just how much knowledge had been put into this one. Things were explained in so much detail and depth that there was no mistaking what was happening, or the exact vision that the author had for this book. Even if you know nothing about vampires going into this, or just the bare minimum it really doesn’t matter because there is so much context and lore put into the origin of the vampires.

A truly enjoyable read, and a really great addition to the vampire romance genre!

The pairing of vampire and vampire Hunter worked fantastically in this book. The romance goes from enemies, to reluctant allies, to lovers. This is one of my favourite ways a romance is developed in fantasy books. Overall, it is an enjoyable read with good romance and plot.

I liked the characters and their development but for me the main plot just fell a little flat, it was predictable and slow in places and then rushed in others.

4.5 ⭐️ I kept going back and forth between a four and five star because of some details but ultimately I think this is a great book! I really enjoyed it

I enjoyed this on a basic level. It wasn’t difficult to read or follow, and the pacing was solid. But sadly, the book just felt a bit too juvenile for my liking, particularly the writing style and because of this, I wasn’t overly hooked by the characters or their relationship.

It was a fun read though! Especially with the tropes. But I wasn’t obsessed.

3.5 stars rounded up!

Thank you Netgalley and Black & White Publishing for the opportunity to read A Cruel Thirst early.

A Cruel Thirst was a fun and exciting take on the classic trope of vampire x vampire hunter romance. Montoya does a great job of turning an overdone trope into an intriguing story. I LOVED the Mexican vampire lore and was fascinated by the origin story of the vampires. The banter between Lalo and Carolina was amusing and found myself chuckling out loud a few times.

This is definitely a story for younger YA readers, however, as the characters and the prose are quite simple and one-dimensional. This is not a criticism at all but I do think more advanced and/or mature readers would have difficulty completely engaging with the book and the characters.

Lalo was such a sweetheart and it was refreshing to see the MMC as the introverted bookish type and the FMC as the strong-willed stubborn yet loveable type. Montoya did a great job of writing the characters so that they acted their ages - teenage faults and all!

The ending was my favourite as it was action-packed and emotional but it did feel somewhat rushed considering the huge build up.

All in all this was a refreshing YA romantasy which I'd highly recommend to anyone looking for a diverse vampire read.

3.25 interesting characters but the romance really fell flat for however I enjoyed the plot and the vampire lore.

When bookish Lalo is transformed into a vampire while on a quest for revenge for his parents' murders, he embarks on a journey to discover the source of all vampires, hoping to break his curse. On the way, he meets Carolina, a competent but ignored vampire huntress whose parents push her toward marriage instead of monster hunting - despite the fact they are a multi-generational vampire-hunting family. The two find themselves at odds but must work together to succeed – and perhaps even come to like each other.

The story combines vampire lore with Mexican cultural narratives and family relationships, offering a fresh perspective on the genre. The constant banter between Lalo and Carolina is fun and funny, bringing relief to what can be quite a dark subject at times. I love that both the main characters truly have to face their shortcomings, which you don't always see in romances, especially YA. This book breaks that mould. The romance has all the classic tropes you love in just the right amount for a YA audience: vampire x vampire hunter, enemies to lovers, fake engagement, and opposites attract. I was not sure how the author was going to pull off a satisfying ending with the challenges set in the story, but boy did she deliver! I also love that it is LGBTQIA+ friendly!

This YA paranormal romance/romantasy has action, humour, and heartfelt moments. It strikes the perfect chord for young adult readers, with sweet interactions and tasteful romantic moments that enhance the story's emotional tension. A determined heroine who stands her ground and a thoughtful hero who respects her strength make this book is a perfect read for anyone who loves paranormal YA.

Thank you so much to Ink Road and NetGalley for the eARC and the opportunity to review this charming YA paranormal romance/romantasy.

DNF @ 30% - YA fantasy with Vampires

After trying to seek vengeance for his recently murdered parents Lalo is bitten by the vampire who killed them. After escaping he vows to find a cure for his vampirism and ventures to a town with hints to vampire attacks with his sister. The town is protected by Carolinas family and ran by her father who wishes Lina would stay out of the “family business”.

Unfortunately decided to DNF this one as I just couldn’t get into the story or characters. The story sounded perfect for me a vampire hunter falling in love with a vampire but I think I found it too cliched. I disliked Lalos hatred of vampires and wasn’t a fan of the complicated backstory with Tecuani. The Mexican wording dotted randomly in the story also pulled me out of getting engrossed in the world. The instant attraction between Lalo and Lina was cringy and the only reason she didn’t kill him because he was “so attractive”.

I normally love YA fantasy but would potentially only recommend this one for younger readers who don’t mind insta love and rebellious teenagers.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me a chance to review a copy of the ebook.

This was a thoroughly fun story that had a lot of great tropes like enemies to lovers etc but it was done really well. This was such an interesting take on the vampire genre and I really enjoyed getting to know Carolina, Lalo and the other supporting characters. I found myself laughing out loud at parts of this story as well. The romance angle is done well and I really enjoyed how the Fuentes family and Lalo's sister was an important part of the story as well.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!