Thirsty

Lucy Lehane
Completed 11/2/2025, Reviewed 11/3/2025
4 stars

Very engaging M/M vampire-human, enemies to lovers, urban romantasy.  What I liked best about it was the exploration of other supernatural communities.  Well, and yes, the romance.  One of the main characters is not a traditional hot male, but rather a bear: bearded and a little chubby.  But the physical wasn’t as important as the emotional connection, and I really appreciated and honored that.  This book is very readable.  It’s also fun and silly at times, while tackling the issues of blood family, found family, honesty, and intent.  This isn’t going to win any awards, I don’t think, but I just might win Lehane an army of fans.

Charlie writes an advice column called the Wise Old Crone.  It’s been losing readership now that other advice columns are tackling the recent coming out of the supernatural community.  Charlie has no knowledge of vampires, werewolves, poltergeists, unicorns, trolls, and the like.  One day, he runs into Lorenzo, a man who dated a friend of his in college.  Charlie advised her to end the relationship with Lorenzo because she wasn’t that into him.  Now, five years later, Lorenzo still carries the grudge against Charlie.  Lorenzo confronts him, demanding to know why he did it, and if it was because he was a vampire.  Charlie didn’t know he was a vampire and tries to apologize, but sees an opportunity.  He convinces Lorenzo to answer questions about vampire-human relationships in exchange for running errands for him during daylight hours under the guise of it being for a “research paper” for Charlie’s dissertation.  Lorenzo begrudgingly accedes. Soon the two are attending supernatural functions of all types. With this information, the Wise Old Crone column becomes a hit and of course, the two slowly develop feelings for one another.  But can this relationship last when it is based on Charlie’s lie?

I was impressed with the character development of both Charlie and Lorenzo.  Charlie is simply a charming guy.  He loves life and helping people.  Lorenzo is terse and solitary.  Over two hundred years old, he’s bored with his vampire life and would rather have nothing to do with Charlie, or most people for that matter.  Charlie slowly falls for Lorenzo, but tries to keep it casual knowing that their relationship is based on the “research paper” lie.  He stresses over this and won’t admit he’s falling in love.  Lorenzo finds his heart opening up to Charlie despite his resentment over his old girlfriend’s rejection.  Charlie’s innocence and sense of wonder tug at Lorenzo.  But he too has a secret, besides the fact that he rarely opens his heart to anyone.  The play between falling in love and cognitive dissonance is very well played throughout the story.

The cast of side characters is also wonderful.  Lorenzo lives in a big house with a troll, a human possessed by a poltergeist, and a unicorn in human form.  They each have their own quirks and add color and humor to the story.  Lorenzo takes Charlie to a werewolf wedding, a druid initiation ceremony, and succubus/incubus art opening, among others.  Almost every chapter is chock full of new supernaturals for Charlie, and the reader, to learn about.  

I only had a few minor complaints about the book.  First, the narrative is third person, alternating between Charlie and Lorenzo per chapter.  Sometimes, it was hard to remember whose perspective was being told, even though the two characters are very different.  Second, the resolution was awfully quick.  I thought it could have played out a little more.  Still it was satisfying and a little surprising.

I give this book four stars out of five because it is terrific fluff.  I love a good romantasy.  The angst isn’t too deep, but the passion is powerful.  I particularly loved Charlie’s desire to be bitten for the increased intimacy while fighting his reluctance over his lie about the advice column.  And I loved Lorenzo’s slow turn from hermit to recognizing found family.  A very satisfying book even if it is a little silly.