Angela Montoya’s first novel A Sinner’s Isle was released on October 31, 2023, and now she is back with another book to sink your teeth into. A Cruel Thirst is set to release on December 17, 2024, with Joy Revolution at Penguin Random House.
Carolina Fuentes wants to join her family in hunting the bloodthirsty vampiros that plague her pueblo. Her father, however, wishes to marry her off to a husband of his choosing, someone who’ll take her away from danger. Determined to prove she’d make a better slayer than wife, Carolina vows to take down a monster herself. But when she runs into un vampiro that is somehow extremely attractive and kind, her plan crumbles. Lalo Villalobos was content leading a perfectly dull life until un vampiro turned him. Now forced to flee his city, he heads to the pueblo where he believes the first vampiro was made. Surely its residents must know how to reverse this dreadful curse. Instead of finding salvation, Lalo collides with a beautiful young woman who’d gladly drive a dagger through his heart. Fortunately, Lalo and Carolina share a common enemy. They can wipe out this evil. Together. If his fangs and her fists can stay focused, they might just triumph and discover what it feels like to take a bite out of love.
Montoya’s gift of incorporating her own twists on classic themes and monsters leaves readers with a memorable impression of her writing. The novel has many characteristics of the “classic” bloodsucker; burning up in the sun, needing an invitation inside someone’s home, and super strength. Her vampires also absorb the memories and shorten the lifespan of their victims with every bite. This feat of the vampires added to the intensity of the attacks and for the protagonists to reach victory. An additional attribute of her strong writing style in this novel is the inclusion of newspaper articles, journal entries, and more that amplify the plot. While readers can enjoy the story of Carolina and Lalo, Montoya demonstrates that she can successfully relay a story from all angles.
“ Montoya’s gift of incorporating her own twists on classic themes and monsters leaves readers with a memorable impression of her writing”
Carolina Fuentes is the daughter of affluent rancheros in Del Oro. The thing to note about her family is that the men are all decorated vampiro hunters. Throughout the novel, Carolina perseveres to show her father that she is capable of being a hunter. Something admirable about her, though, is her character growth. While her iron-will was a great proponent in reaching her goals, it also had its downfalls. Her need to be respected as a hunter came from a place of selfishness, which caused blindness in how she viewed the world. In her journey with Lalo, she saw that he wasn’t the hungry bloodsucker that she viewed all vampiros as. A buried secret exposed that her family wasn’t as righteous as she thought they were. Carolina is incredibly courageous, not just because she is willing to fight supernatural beings but because she is willing to admit when she is wrong and to rectify those wrongs.
Lalo Villalobos was on the hunt for revenge for his parents who were killed by a vampiro. In an unfortunate situation, he was turned by that same vampire. In navigating his new affliction with his sister Fernanda, he researches possible cures while in the city of Del Oro. What he doesn’t know is that it is also a hot spot for vampire attacks and hunters. He partners up with a novice vampiro hunter, Carolina, who is constantly trying to kill him, to get to the bottom of a possible cure. At a glance, Lalo has every reason to succumb to the darkness that has overtaken his life. His parents were murdered, he was turned by the same monster, and is constantly getting attacked by Carolina before uttering a sentence. Not to mention he is also clumsy, awkward, and desperately introverted. However, there’s something to admire about someone so well acquainted with the terrors of the world but never lets their heart darken. This light within Lalo served him well and showed him that life is worth living, and that he should sink his teeth into every moment with vigor.
Overall, A Cruel Thirst has intriguing vampire lore and an intense battle to correct a familial mistake. Lalo goes against the grain of what traditional vamps are viewed as while realizing life is worth living to the fullest and Carolina uses her novice vampiro-hunting skills to absolve her and her family’s mistakes. Montoya shows readers that adventure goes hand-in-hand with uncovering a larger meaning of life.
Melissa Gonzalez (she/her) loves boba, horror movies, and reading. You can spot her in the fiction, horror/mystery/thriller, and fantasy sections of bookstores. Though she is short, she feels as tall as her TBR pile. You can find Melissa on her book Instagram: @floralchapters
