Thicker Than Water

by Avery Timmons

Eighteen-year-old Lydia Ross wants nothing more than to be normal, which is impossible, considering she’s half-vampire, half-human. But she finds her escape from her overprotective father when she starts her freshman year of college in downtown Chicago.

Just as Lydia feels like she is finally fitting in among her newfound human friends, she gets lost in the facade and accidentally attacks a classmate. The attack unlocks a fantastical world of fellow vampires, Fae, and even werewolves that has been hidden just below the surface of her everyday life—including its threats.

Caught between the two sides of herself, her blood family, and her found family, Lydia is faced with the struggles of self-acceptance and impossible decisions, including her biggest coming clean to the humans in her life and risk losing them for good.

Genres: Vampires

370 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 16, 2025

About the author

Avery Timmons is an Illinois-based young adult author holding a Bachelor of Arts in
creative writing with a focus in fiction from Columbia College Chicago. She has had numerous speculative fiction short stories and photographs published in literary magazines and anthologies. 

She is the author of young adult fantasy novels THICKER THAN WATER (2025) and MAIMED (2026).

Reviews

[Avery Timmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

So obviously this is my book and I’m biased.

I’m writing this because I’m coming back to it after quite some time to work on edits. I love this story and these characters and I can’t wait for everyone to meet them too!

[Adele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, my goodness, what a delicious debut!

The best thing about vampire stories is how you can take the basic premise of them and create all kinds of new twists on the lore. In Thicker Than Water, Lydia is a half-vamp just trying to go to college, date a cute boy, have friends and live her life. But things get so damned complicated! I absolutely adored the characters and the story. There are lots of engaging surprises along the way as well. And I was not prepared for that ending!

I’m looking forward to more from this author.

Thanks to Wild Ink and Story Origin for the ARC.

[Bruce Buchanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Going to college is a big transition for most kids. Leaving home, making new friends, even reinventing the way others see you are all part of leaving high school behind and starting fresh in college. It’s an exciting—but also scary—time.

Now, just imagine you’re a half-vampire trying to make that transition! Freshman Lydia Ross has a big secret: She isn’t fully human and needs blood to live. She makes some good new friends and even gets asked out by Jake, a football player with a big heart. But what if they discover the truth? Will she lose all the love and friendship she’s found in college?

Things get even scarier for Lydia when she isn’t the only supernatural being in town. There are others—some of whom aren’t as connected to the human world as Lydia is. The teen wrestles with issues of identity—where does she fit in, exactly? We may not be half-vampires, like Lydia. But most of us can relate to that fundamental question.

Author Avery Timmons does a great job in showing these important turning points that come when kids start college. Lydia and her friends are a compelling, sympathetic group of teens, even when the choices aren’t always easy. And there are some great twists and turns along the way. I’m looking forward to seeing where their story goes next (especially given the great cliffhanger at the end of the book!)

[Christine Kattar · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review!

This is the perfect YA Vampire Novel, Just In Time for the Fall!

Avery Timmons' debut novel, Thicker than Water, is a coming-of-age set in Chicago. Our main character, Lydia, is half-human, half-vampire, grappling with self-acceptance in her new environment as a college freshman. Things turn messy fast with a new friend group, a big secret, and some boys who might just be her type.

The familiar tropes from other fantasy-vampire novels build the base for the rest of the lore and twists this story takes. It also shares the journey of love: self-love, friendship-love, and romantic-love. We follow her to find acceptance in who she is and where she comes from, as well as the vulnerability in allowing others to see you for yourself and having them choose you anyway.

PS. Love a great cliff-hanger ;)

[Jennifer Duff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

What a read! New to this genre I wasn't sure what to expect. But this book pulled me in and threw me into these characters lives. Very well written this paints a very vivid picture as we watch Lydia navigate figuring out who she is and having all of herself accepted by her friends. This is heartwarming, funny and overall a great book!

[The Baker and the Bookmark Nikki Montalvo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful book! Perfect YA paranormal read. I received this as an advanced read and am voluntarily leaving a review. Great characters. I love Lydia’s vulnerability and seeing her work that and allow herself to be seen for what she truly is and allow those that love her to the do the same. Full of surprises and cliffhanger ending!! Great read!!

[Kimijo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Half-Blood follows eighteen-year-old Lydia Ross, who is half-vampire, half-human, as she navigates college life in Chicago. When a sudden attack reveals a hidden world of vampires, Fae, and werewolves, Lydia must confront her dual identity, balance the demands of her blood family and chosen friends, and face the fear of losing the humans she loves.

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so easy to read. I devoured it! Can't wait to read more from this author.