Amazing, incredible story building, fantastically magical world, great technology (reminded me of stuff from Atlantis: The Lost Empire)

I learned after the fact that this was at one point in time a Rey/Kylo fanfic and while a lot of resemblances I’m sure have been taken out. There were a few scenes that after learning I went “huh I see it”.

Loved the story, definitely went somewhere I wasn’t expecting towards the end. I loved the direction and the twists each character went through. Right when you think they developed and changed it’s like they may have taken a step back. But we don’t really know.

I really love where adult fantasy is going and I can’t wait to read the next book.

“Given our respective objectives, it would probably save a lot of time if we died together.”

The Hurricane Wars is a brilliant debut fantasy novel following Talasyn, an orphan fighting the conquering rule of the Night Emperor and especially the heir - Prince Alaric. She is the last of the Lightweavers and hiding her powers from the Night empire and their Darkweavers after their genocide. These two have nothing in common besides their mutual desire to kill the other. But when their magics met - a stronger shield magic was made.

With the basis of war and colonialism between them, it makes sense for Alaric to be painted as this huge villain. Especially from Talasyn POV - and while his morals aren't clear, the more we learn about his role as his father's puppet, the less he's cast in pure darkness. Talasyn is no martyr either - even with the full force of the night emperor against her people, she still wants to fight and plans to til her very end.

Two people forever set as enemies as the backdrop to a huge war forced together isn't the most original of settings but the writing here truly sets it apart. They are enemies through and through, even when their motivations are aligned. I love when a good enemies to lovers is really ENEMIES. That level of hatred shouldn't be overcome in a few chapters. Alaric even says some 70% of the way through the book that even with their okay moments, they'll always have the hurricane wars between them. Can't wait for book 2.

cw// parental abandonment, violence, war themes

This book is a masterclass in how to write character chemistry and I'm obsessed. Thea Guanzon is going to take the world by storm.

This was quite a slog to get through. The first 100 pages or so was so info dump-y that it was hard to push through. I finally did, and while it did get better, it wasn't great. The best part by far is the interactions between Talasyn and Alaric. While this book lacked in the technical aspects of writing a book, I can't deny that Guanzon can write a great enemies to lovers story. The banter and tension was great. Overall, I think it was fine but needed a little more polishing. Another round of edits could have really helped. Still, it was kind of fun and I see why people will love it.

This novel hooked me from the start. Not only were the vibes impeccable and the story very much reminiscent of Star Wars, but the characters were delightful! Alaric and Talasyn have an incredible dynamic-they hate each other. This novel is written keep readers entertained especially during Alaric and Talasyn's scenes those two were either fighting or snarling childish insults at each other. Additionally, the world built in this novel was fantastical and I loved the juxtaposition between the romance and political plots.

Readers who are fans of arranged marriages, enemies to lovers, and magic will eat up the Hurricane Wars.

This book had me at the prologue…THE prologue! I fell immediately for the descriptive first look scene between the lead characters. Ugh! So good. I loved the strong-willed the female main character, Talasyn. She wasn’t going to let her strong attraction to the main male character, Prince Alaric, deter her from her loyalty and main objective to help her country. This was a definitely slow burn and enemies-to-lovers trope, but I was all here for it. The middle part of the book had a lot of political maneuverings between the fighting countries, and it felt slower-paced compared to the beginning because of it. If you stick to it, the ending is well worth the wait. The world-building was strong with the concept of opposing magic and leaves the reader wondering what other powers are possible in this story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to people who love orphan and royalty tropes, slow burn romance, and magical powers.

I was so excited for this book because it sounded like a lot of fun. I’m not a huge fantasy reader, I dabble. But when I find a fantasy that I like, I love it. When I originally got this one as an e-arc I struggled with it. I will admit that the reason I struggle with fantasy is because I have a hard time with world building, and that was my downfall here. My brain struggles to comprehend the concepts. However, when this one showed up on my door and it was so gorgeous, I decided to give it another chance. I picked up where I left off on my electronic copy, and was immediately sucked in. I loved it and was really annoyed when I had to put it down with 50 pages left. All the romance cumulates in the last 50 pages, so I had to put it down at the absolute best part of the book. When I was able to pick it back up all the tension, all the angst that had been building, just WOW, worth the wait. The writing is well done and captivating.

If you are looking for an amazing fantasy with a slow burn romance, then you need to pick this one up. Plus it’s also gorgeous, the picture doesn’t do it justice.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Harper Voyager for sending me not only the e-arc but also a finished copy. Thank you to Netgalley for the e-arc.

Rating: Solid Book, 3 stars

The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon is a book inspired by many of the wars in the Philippines. We follow Talasyn and Alaric, two different magic wielders on opposite sides of a decades-long conflict as they are brought together in a contentious alliance to face an even greater threat.

I think that this book started off really strong. I was intrigued by the world that was introduced, and the magic system felt like a creative take on elemental powers. There may have been a bit more info-dumping in the early bit of the book for my taste, but it's a debut, so I wasn't too concerned about it. I was excited for an enemies to lovers story in which they have genuine reason to hate each other.

I think that this story is definitely a romance book with fantasy elements. The focus is on the relationship between the two main characters and the game of cat and mouse that makes up the slow burn portion of their relationship. I have seen this called Reylo Fanfic, and I can't speak to that because I don't know what that really consists of, but it is a smol girl and large boi. There is an uneasy alliance, arranged marriage, and one bed tropes. I definitely see this being a popular book.

However, what I saw as one of the main drawbacks is that the fantasy elements are not nearly as strong as the romantic elements are. I think that the world and magic system have a lot of potential, but it wasn't really fleshed out well beyond the info dumps. Then as we got further into the book past the info-dumping, it was a lot of telling rather than showing for both the world building and the character development. There were times that we were told that the court was highly political and that there was a lot of political maneuvering, but we never really got to see it or hear about it. It all seemed to happen off the screen unless there was something that was important to the romance plot line. So with those pieces being weaker, it felt like the book was waaaaay too long.

I'd say that the romance was believable. The enemies to lovers didn't happen quickly by any means, and there was a lot of back and forth as it progressed throughout the story. I liked both the characters, but Alaric didn't seem to have a lot of personality beyond how he related to Talasyn whether as an enemy or an ally. The time we spent in his head felt very repetitve, and he showed the most personality when we were viewing him through Talasyn's POV. I almost think this would have been stronger if it was predominantly Talasyn's POV with just a chapter here and there from Alaric. I think this would have helped with the length.

Really, overall this would have been a 4 star book if it hadn't been nearly 500 pages. I definitely think there is an audience out there that will absolutely love it, but for me sadly, there was just some pieces that were missing that would have improved my experience.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperVoyager for an advanced copy of The Hurricane Wars. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for an e-arc of this book now onto my review

This was a strong debut for this series, I thoroughly enjoyed the story telling and how the characters interacted with one another. I would have liked the story to continue more with the political intrigue and a bit let of the romance, but over all it was very well done and I plan to read the next installment in this series.

3-1/2 stars rounded to 4

📣 *intense* enemies to lovers where they slowly catch *very conflicted feelings*

📖 what’s been the best part of your day so far? Mine just started about 40 minutes ago but it’s definitely been enjoying a quiet morning & a cup of coffee by myself in the den 😍.

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

Despite the fact that it took me so long to read (#moodreaderlife 😤), The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon is so good, so intense, so very perched on the knife’s edge.

As so many others have said the enemies to lovers designation really applies in this fantasy, & not in a cutesy way.

Talasyn & Alaric have been on opposing sides in a long war with many casualties, including people close to them both.

They meet at a couple of different moments before their arranged betrothal (!) & the magical weapons fly between them.

But despite their animosity & the fact that their past is so bloody & complicated—& that he in particular is part of an Empire bent on taking &/or destroying anything it wants in its quest—the leads actually have a lot in common, not to mention a mutual attraction.

These complicated feelings are not miraculously solved by their betrothal & book 2 will hopefully do a lot of emotional work that picks up where this one leaves off.

Not only is this book compelling on the action-front, the emotions & the deeper backstories & feelings that run through Talasyn & Alaric are strikingly crafted. Each of them is complex, not one-note, & I can’t wait to see what happens in book 2.

5 ⭐️. Out now!

Please see a trusted reviewer’s list of CWs.

[ID: Jess’s white hand holds the ebook in front of a waterfall. A rainbow runs across the waterfall & another glowing white line runs immediately above the ebook.]

This is a gem of a book with all the best enemies to lovers vibes for you to be obsessed with!

I LOVE this one. You take Star Wars, add in dragons, a war torn land, and a FMC & MMC who hate each other but also should just kiss. 😘

The Hurricane Wars is so fun, it gives strong Reylo (Kylo Ren and Ray from Star Wars) vibes for anyone who needs more of that in your life.

The first half drags a bit as we have a TON of story here, but I was so enthralled when our enemies started having tension that I was IN IT and read the rest in a night.

I truly think this one is going to be BIG and the Fairyloot edition is one I am eagerly awaiting. 🤓🤓

I predict this will be one of the most talked about books of the Fall and I am here for it!

Is The Hurricane Wars on your TBR? It should be!

Thank you so much to @harpervoyagerus for this advanced copy! I lovedddddd it!

The Hurricane Wars was such a fun book and I really liked it, even though I’m not really a sci-fi person. It was really well written and I liked the characters so it helped draw ,e into the story even though I usually don’t like sci-fi.

Action packed , fast paced, with an added hint of spice.

This book was a roller coaster of emotions and sympathy for our two lead characters. They have far more in common than they know but throughout the book it is hard for them to truly see it. Even when they do , their shared conflicting pasts make it hard for them to truly connect. Talasyn is a fantastic and strong FMC but , like anyone who has been in her position , has plenty of faults. She is overly headstrong and lets certain goals get in the way of her own happiness.
Alaric is our violent and stern MMC, he is prince/emperor and he has been a constant enemy against Talasyn and her group of fellow soldiers. He is highly manipulated by his father and only seeks to please him but as we go he starts to see he isn’t exactly who his father wants him to be.

I liked the dynamic between the two characters however I will say there is far too much back and forth and by the end it is super hard to believe that this is an enemies to lovers. It is more like an enemies to tolerating each other. I found their moments of mild spice to be exhilarating but I had hoped for more for them. Both emotionally and physically.

I liked the contrast between the Night Empire and Nenavar. One is so dark and solemn while the other is colorful and bright . Just like the representation of our lead characters. It created nice imagery and comparisons.

Overall I had wished for more of a true enemies to lovers but every time they would start getting close to each other they immediately went back to complete and utter hatred and it felt like any effort to become closer was cut off completely. By the end it seemed they were kind of closer but with all the time spent together one would think it would have been a lot closer .
Highlights:
Lots of action .
Enemies to lovers (kind of)
Mild spice
Suspenseful

this book is MY roman empire ✨

i haven't read a fantasy romance that's consumed me this way since finishing fourth wing back in may. in this southeast asian inspired fantasy romance, we follow talasyn, who grew up an orphan and was raised to fight with the sardovians against the night empire in the years-long hurricane wars. she meets alaric, the son of the emperor of the night empire, in combat during a battle, their opposite magical abilities—lightweaving and shadowweaving—coming to a head.

without spoiling it, i can tell you that the dynamic between the two characters is very much giving rey/kylo ren vibes. it's enemies to lovers in its truest form, with a delicious slow burn, forbidden love, political intrigue, and a unique magic system.

i don't want to hide my review for spoiler and don't want to spoil anything, but just READ IT! you won't regret it. it had me giggling and kicking my feet like a loser at 1am :P <3

thank you to the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

This was amazing! Little hard for me to follow at first but the more I read the more I wanted to keep reading and was sadly disappointed when it ended. Looking forward to the next book, can't get enough of the storyline or characters!

This is an absolutely fantastic romantasy with one of the best slow burns I’ve ever read. The world building is rich with detail and the magical system is SO COOL—they fight their wars with ships that can create storms!!—and it’s full of political intrigue and drama. It took me a minute to get into this one because my brain is working against me pretty hard these days, but once I was in I could not put it down. I am so excited to continue on with this series and I truly cannot wait to find out what happens next! Thanks so much to Harper for this lovely advanced review copy.

a beautifully written enemies to lovers fantasy. I love when they are true enemies rather than just ... disliking eachother.

this was brilliant.

Thank you to Netgalley & HarperCollins Publishers for an ARC.

Talasyn, a orphan, is hiding a dangerous secret - she's a Lightweaver. She can pull forth light from the ether and bend it to her will. She can create weapons and shields from the Light.

Prince Alaric, the emperor's only son and heir, is Shadowforged. He has been raised to despise Lightweavers for what they did to his family. During one of their battles, it is discovered that together they can create a strange, new magic that might be the only thing that can save their world.

Positives:
- Total REYLO vibes
- The enemies to lovers aspect was amazing. They were TRUE enemies. Like, they were trying to kill each other up until (and maybe a little after) they are forced into a very uncomfortable situation.
- I loved both Talasyn and Alaric! When the book got a little slow, I kept going because I enjoyed both of the characters.

What Didn't Work for Me:
- The slow burn was possibly the SLOWEST BURN I have ever read in my entire life. Too slow for me. Once both the characters start to have thoughts about one another, there is so much of the "but I know he/she could never feel this way" (approximately 300 pages of it). And even though readers get little snippets here and there of the characters having "moments", it wasn't enough for me.
- Too many side characters - it was hard for me to keep track of them. Some of the more important side characters had potential (Sevraim) but weren't fully fleshed out. Maybe in book two?

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2023. While I did enjoy it, I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I will read book two when it's released because I'm curious how Talasyn & Alaric's story will unfold.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was one of my most anticipated reads this year and I’m happy to report that it did not let me down. I did struggle a bit in the beginning because there was a lot of information and terminology and it felt like it was thrown at me all at once. The pacing in the beginning was also a little slow, but around 35% in I found myself unable to put it down.

Read this if you like:
⭐️ Enemies to lovers where they’re actual enemies
⭐️ Slow burn
⭐️ A unique magic system
⭐️ Lots and lots of angst

Blog Post goes Live Oct 17th
Featured in Instagram Stories but due to low rating will not be featured as post

There are few things I like less in reading than to be bamboozled into finding out something I’m reading is a fanfiction with the serial numbers scrubbed off. For that reason, I’ll point out one or two things someone else might enjoy. But I’ll get it out of the way that I did not enjoy this, and I felt like it was incredibly obvious what the source material on this was and it completely ruined what could have been a unique and fun new debut.

The story is following two enemies who are forced together while their two sides war for control of their world. One, the Kylo Ren character who I don’t even remember the name of because he was described exactly how you would describe Adam Driver, is the heir/emperor of the Shadow Empire. Our female character is one of the last Light Seekers, and stands in opposition to the Shadow Empire.

The two have a clear connection through the text (they meet once and then they can do nothing but think about each other), and the book moves at a fast pace so if you love fast paced stories this is one to pick up. The author has some very interesting additions to the story, such as dragons that defend a somewhat neutral land the two converge on though these are small and don’t take away too much from the very clear Star Wars inspiration.

I’ve seen it said that many people enjoy seeing the source material through these types of books - for those readers this is a big recommendation. Additionally she does an interesting job with her wide cast of characters initially. After about 30% or so this becomes much more singular and focused in our main characters, however knowing the nature of fanfiction this seems to make sense so again this could work for those readers.

For me I really did not enjoy it - but I can see this being a huge hit for those that don’t mind this type of thing.

1 out of 5 Weave Weapons