Sadly this book just didn’t grab as much as I hoped it would. I put it down and picked it up multiple times but I just couldn’t connect with it. Super bummed.

This enemy to lovers book is one of those books that the end of the book helps excuse some of the earlier problems. It is a bit wordy.

As someone with Filipino roots, I was really excited to see Southeast Asian influences in a fantasy novel. The world-building was pretty cool, drawing from that rich cultural backdrop.

The story follows Talasyn, an orphan soldier with light magic, and Prince Alaric of the Night Empire. Their enemies-to-lovers journey had its moments, but sometimes their chemistry felt a bit forced.

While the plot had potential, it dragged in parts, and some twists were predictable. I wanted to love it, especially with the Filipino-inspired elements, but it didn't completely click for me.

Still, it's worth checking out if you're into fantasy with unique cultural influences.

I'll admit, I'm not a huge fantasy person. I took a chance on this book because it sounded interesting, and I want to get more into Romantasy, but maybe this isn't the book for me. The parts were a little disjointed which took me out of the story. I definitely got Star Wars vibes. Also, the worldbuilding was done in a way that I couldn't really get into it. Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this ARC!

The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon is an epic, enemies-to-lovers fantasy that absolutely delivers on the drama, magic, and romance. The story follows Talasyn, a rebel fighting against the Night Emperor’s oppressive rule, and Alaric, his ruthless heir. Their chemistry is off-the-charts, with so much tension and longing that I couldn’t put the book down.

The world-building is lush and immersive, with magic tied to light and darkness, and the stakes feel high from start to finish. The political intrigue and slow-burn romance are perfectly balanced, making the story as gripping as it is emotional. Talasyn’s fierce determination and Alaric’s inner conflict add so much depth to their characters, and watching their relationship develop was both heartbreaking and addictive.

If you love dramatic, high-stakes fantasy with romance that’ll have you rooting for the characters despite all the odds, The Hurricane Wars is absolutely worth the read. It’s intense, beautifully written, and will leave you desperate for the sequel!

I did not enjoy this book, I felt a lack of connection with the characters but I will also acknowledge that it is more. of a "Me" problem than that of the book or the writing.

The Hurricane Wars, by Thea Guanzon

The Hurricane Wars will definitely appeal to readers who like their books teeming with tropes! This slow burner has a lot! Enemies to lovers, arranged marriage, complex character and world building, paths pre-set in part by destiny … and I am sure there are others. It was a lot and unfortunately due to my own brain I had a hard time keeping up. I liked the concept but it wasn't the right time for me.

Readers have commented that it felt like “fan fiction”, which may be true, but as I hadn’t read the book they referred to, it didn’t bother me as much. I do think that knowing this might help with a better understanding of what to expect prior to going in.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for my advanced digital copy to read and review.

I really enjoyed this one. There were times I had a hard time picturing what was happening. I also felt that the pacing was all over the place, but I loved the romance. Can't wait for the sequel to come out.

It's Publication Week for The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon! (Released Tuesday 10/3)
Short & Sweet Synopsis: Talasyn is hiding a deadly secret: light magic courses through her veins, a blazing power that can cut through the Night Empire's shadows. Prince Alaric, the emperor's only son and heir, has been tasked with obliterating any threats to the Night Empire's rule using his own magic. This war can only end with them.
In full disclosure y'all, this book just wasn't for me. I am so grateful to have had the chance to read it early but we can't love them all. I urge you to read
@thatswhatnatread and @_bingereader reviews as they both loved it.
Thanks to @harpercollins for my advanced copy!

I am glad that I knew before reading The Hurricane Wars that it was loosely based on the pairing of Reylo from Star Wars, and as I am not an avid Star Wars fan it did not impact my enjoyment. If anything, I thought it was kind of fun to have an exact visual image to have in my mind. But if you are a huge Star Wars fan, proceed with caution and keep an open mind. Overall I enjoyed the book although at times it felt like the pacing was slow and the plot dragged on a bit. I am interested to see if book two leans more adult, as this read more upper YA or new adult than a true adult romantasy. There is a lot of world-building and set-up for the future books, setting the foundation for something that has the makings of a very strong series. Overall this was a solid book and I am looking forward to book two.

Wow, I loved this! The writing immediately captivated me and the world building was so wonderful and lush. I really like that such an epic fantasy managed to stay very character-focused. Both protagonists felt so real with their self-doubts and traumas guiding their choices. The romance was really thoughtfully done—because obviously these two enemies would have a very hard time grappling with their attraction toward each other! I can't wait to read the next book to see how the story unfolds and how Talasyn and Alaric continue to grow!

This was another five star fantasy for me. I loved this one a lot. This was absolutely amazing, the enemies to lovers in this one was real enemies to lovers where they actually tried to kill each other and basically hated each other the entire time. I loved the political aspect as well and had a great time.

A pretty standard romantasy, but a good debut from this author! I think I'm not in love with the Kylo Ren/Rey line of storytelling so it's not my favorite. I also felt like the enemies to lovers aspect in this kinda tired me sometimes because it felt a little similar to a lot of other fantasy books I've read, but overall this wasn't too bad and I'd recommend!

Okay, so I feel like some context is necessary, in the spirit of full disclosure. I’ve been a fan of Thea for a long time, ever since I read some of her fics on AO3 years ago. So when I found out via a TikTok coment last year that she was publishing a new Southeast Asian-inspired fantasy romance (inspired by my favorite fic of hers, no less!), I quite literally screamed. Out loud. To myself. In an empty room.

Listen, I am nothing if not a rat 🐀

Anyone who follows me on here knows I’m dubious about romantasy. Some of it’s fun. Some of it makes me want to bang my head against a wall. But this book right here?? Full stamp of approval. Thea is just as talented as I remember. Her prose is beautiful, her characters vivid, her world immersive. I swung between wanting to scream at Alaric and Talasyn and giggling and kicking my feet. They’re ridiculous and I love them.

🐉 Readers who don’t know what to expect should probably be aware that this book handles a bit larger of a perspective than many of the other romantasy books I’ve read — it leans more on the epic side, starting with a massive war before scaling back to focus on the more interpersonal part of the story. That’s really all I can say without giving away too much, but trust me. It’s all worth it.

Read The Hurricane Wars right this second if you enjoy:

✨True enemies-to-lovers fantasy
✨Arranged/forced marriage
✨Forced proximity
✨There’s only one bed
✨He falls first (and he’s mad about it)
✨Detailed, creative worldbuilding
✨DRAGONS
✨Lost royalty

Thea Guanzon is quickly becoming a new favorite author! I absolutely adored the world building and the characters. The Star Wars inspiration/vibes were weaved into an original story so well, I was deeply impressed! Any author that can take a beloved story and world (and relationship) and make it their own gets two thumbs up in my book!

Nominated for Best Romantasy in 2023, The Hurricane Wars is an engaging fantasy series that captures the essence of a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance.

While the plot has its strengths, it also presents some challenges. Overall, I found it enjoyable, but I’m hoping that the second book will deliver a more engaging writing style and deeper character development. Guanzon has laid a promising foundation, and I’m excited to see how the story unfolds in the next installment!

I really LOVED this book. It was on my tbr prior to being a bookseller and since then it has been on all of my fantasy displays.

Not sure that I will continue on with this series. Everything felt rushed and somewhat lackluster with regards to the romance, at least for me.

I loved the romance! they understood each and could be themselves together. The chemistry between them was amazing! I also loved the slow-burn and the sexual tension between the main characters. There were several scenes that made me blush and smile so much. The writing is beautiful and descriptive. I honestly felt like I was living in the world with the characters. I felt so many emotions while reading this book, I cried, I laughed and I smiled. This book will stay in my heart for a long time.

From start to finish, I couldn’t put this book down. The chemistry of our main leads here is visceral and will have you turning pages, highlighting, and revisiting again, Guanzon’s world of intrigue, war, and romance is beautifully brought to life in The Hurricane wars. Absolutely do not miss out on the wonderful introduction into this 2 part series. One can only hope 2 parts can turn into 7! Enemies to lovers, unknown identities, destiny, secrets of the past that may unlock the future…. 5 stars of a delicious read. This is your next romance series obsession!