I don't actually go into books not wanting to like them, but sadly some of my most scathing reviews end up going towards my 'most anticipated' books of the year...and that's how this will pan out. My actual rating is two stars, but a better and more objective rating is three, so I'll land there for y'all. I know this one will ruffle some feathers, given that it's one of the most anticipated SFF books of the year for many.

That said, I will talk about what didn't work for me, and then go into why I think it's going to be some folk's favorite book of 2023.

So let's just get this out of the way first- this is a Reylo fanfiction with the serial numbers filed off. Fanfiction getting published is starting to be quite a trend, and it's fantastic news for fanfic folks. I am beginning to realize that these books do not work for me.

The problem with fanfiction is that you are walking into a fic with all of the background of the characters and the world they inhabit. The goal of MOST fanfiction is to see the two characters you like get together. It's wish fulfillment. It's creative exercising with existing material; it's transformative and beautiful. But fanfics are not novels. They are often written without the patience and context that novels have, even if they are AUs. Because you are walking into a fic knowing the end goal and have a full understanding of the characters, details are often skipped in favor of putting the two characters together. This becomes paramount above all else.

When you are reading The Hurricane Wars, you can feel the 'fanfic-ness' of it all. Thea Guanzon does an amazing job at the beginning providing some details on the world and the war that is going on around it, but after a blast of 1-2 chapters, things start to drop off very fast.

While the early chapters attempt to expand outward for a brief moment, the book only begins to shrink inward. Side characters that seemed like they had the potential to become interesting turn into pawns to move the main characters (Alaric and Tasmyn) where they need to go to fall in love, or sounding boards for the main characters to outwardly express how they feel. Plot points start to feel contrived and hard to believe. Conflict becomes muddied and rushed in service of seeing our protagonists fall in love.

The farther you move in the plot the harder it is to believe- and the more those 'fanfiction' cracks set in. Guanzon makes some small attempts to build the world, but that world will shift and bend awkwardly to ensure that our leads are pushed together into a fun romantic setting. The book basically is set in two halves: an epic war and chosen one adventure- and then a heavily tropey rom-drom. The whiplash I got from this was astounding, and it required a lot of the story's characters to make absolutely bonkers choices to get them there. The shift does not feel organic and it's hard to connect with if you were not expecting it.

The romance is 'enemies to lovers' they absolutely DO try to kill each other as advertised, but the shift from murder to 'wow, I can't stop thinking about them' is instant. Alaric and Talasyn start to make highly unbelievable decisions and go from wanting each other to die to have heart palpitations when they are near each other with absolutely no reason for them to do so. Alaric becomes obsessed with Tasmyn in a romantic way pretty quickly and she responds similarly- the two are actually sitting there worrying about each other despite having like 2 conservations. This isn't the fascination and understanding that Reylo had- they don't even get to a point where they can relate on anything before they start to develop an affection for each other.

The characters change their opinion of each other as soon as it becomes convenient, but those feelings are far from earned.

I probably would not be so hard on the romance if this book was not advertised heavily as THE enemies to lovers book. I think this will please romantasy fans who are used to a certain pace and plot structure (SJM books, A Broken Blade, From Blood and Ash, etc) but is not really suitable for anyone looking for a quality fantasy story OR a well-paced 'Zutara' 'Delena' style E2l romance.

And that's where the second half of this review comes in. The Hurricane Wars is checking all of the boxes for a solid romantasy. Just enough plot to move things along and keep you guessing, a medium to fast burn with a ton of pining and EXTREMELY trope-heavy elements. If A Court of Thorns and Roses was your Count of Monte Cristo, this book is for YOU, and you are going to be obsessed over it.

I also want to give the author props for making Tasmyn and Alaric their own characters. I did not read the original fanfic so she may have already made those changes, but they do not resemble Rey or Ben too much, there was clear effort in separating the two despite them both having some elements of the original characters ingrained in them.

I think I went in with the expectation that this book was going to match my interests, but ultimately this is a trope heavy romantasy that is marketed a little awkwardly (I feel like the publishers are trying to push it to a She Who Became The Sun, The FoxGlove King, One Dark Window fanbase VS a From Blood and Ash fanbase). I am not that audience. I found myself going from overjoyed and ready to give THW 5 stars to feeling like it was a genuine chore to read.

I also learned to just stop trying with fanfiction books. You can file the serial numbers off of them, but they will always have that hint of episodic nature that will typically sacrifice a coherent story for the sake of getting your faves together. And that's fine. Just not for me.

I’ve been looking forward to “The Hurricane Wars” and was so excited to receive an ARC of it. I loved the Filipino influence and was eager for the enemies-to-lovers plotline. The world felt like “Shadow and Bone” meets Reylo fanfiction, with a Southeast Asian steampunk vibe.

Unfortunately, the book just wasn’t for me. The writing was convoluted. There was so much infodumping at the beginning, with lots of new words and not enough clear explanation, that left me reeling. In a jarring contrast, you have the use of very modern language in the dialogue. I also did not have a strong connection to the main character.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving this ARC, and this doesn’t influence my review. This was an okay read, but I did love the cover!
This is a spellbinding debut in a fantasy romance trilogy set in a South-east Asia-inspired world ravaged by storms. Ngl, the intro was hella confusing, we had places and names and words flung at us. The writing style was very wordy, there was a lot of word vomit, which made it hard to read.
Tropes: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, tasked to kill, hidden identity, fighting 😳, knife to throat,

This is fantastic! The cover *chef's kiss*. Characters are amazing.

It has everything. You want some magic. BOOM have some magic. Gritty war descriptions, boom. Lost family, boom. Enemies to lovers boom. Peasant to royalty, boom. Take it all. And the best part is that none of it feels rushed. It's all melded together in a gorgeous story.

I will be eagerly awaiting the next one.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

5/5 stars

Wow! I couldn’t put this book down and devoured it! The author did a great job building a rich detailed world. I felt transported to Nenavar and enjoyed the different areas Talasyn explored.

The conflict in this book was intense right from the beginning. It didn’t let up throughout the book either. You could feel the frustrations from Talasyn and Alaric with the war and differing views. They definitely had different ideas and never were really on the same page.

Talasyn was a strong outspoken character and she often had me laughing out loud at her quips. I appreciated her passion and how she didn’t give up!

Alaric was the morally grey misunderstood male. I do wish in the end he fought more for Talasyn. I think the next book will have a big redemption arc for him. I am looking forward to seeing that!

Talasyn and Alaric are enemies to lovers. And at the end of the book still somewhat enemies? I am hoping that book 2 we see their relationship improve more!

Overall I greatly enjoyed this story about war and love and the sacrifices people make for others. I can’t wait to see what Talasyn and Alaric do together to mend the hurt the generations before have caused!

An amazing and well written fantasy with strong overtones of Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha Saga. I loved the descriptions of the costumes even though I’m sure magic would be needed to create and wear some of them.

Thea Guanzon’s THE HURRICANE WARS is the book I didn’t know I’d been waiting for. It’s one that blasts past your defenses, unapologetically wrecking you, leaving you changed for good.

Everything works — the characters are sensational, the writing stunning and the plot a thing of perfection. Guanzon’s flawless style shines through in simple but powerful ways. We see it emerge regularly in the vivid scenery that makes THE HURRICANE WARS a real treat to read, setting the backdrop for consistently effortless dialogue that hooks you from start to finish.

In many ways, it’s easy to draw comparisons from her work to the caliber of storytelling produced by some of YA’s most beloved modern authors — namely Tahereh Mafi, Hafsah Faizal and Chloe Gong. All are celebrated for their gorgeous craftsmanship, non-Western representation, nail-biting romance and so-good-it’s-almost-unbelievable world-building — all of which Guanzon delivers with ease in her debut.

THE HURRICANE WARS is a hell of a story. Nothing short of riveting, with a conclusion that leaves you breathlessly wanting more, Guanzon is soaring onto the literary scene with it, demonstrating that she — just like Talasyn, the book’s fierce protagonist — is a force to be reckoned with. I am anxiously in need of a sequel.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.*

Actual rating: 3.5/5 stars

Hmm. This one has me a touch perplexed in terms of rating.

On the one hand, exquisite writing. Truly incredible vocabulary immersive description. The world built between the pages was enthralling and captivating. And the beginning of the story! I was hooked at the first page. The book starts by thrusting it's readers directly into the story through excitment and high stakes and intrigue.

But sadly, this did not last. The plot fell completely flat in a way that felt like we were left with no plot at all. It all felt like a big build up for something cataclysmic, only for absolutely nothing to happen. I was also very disappointed by how few characters and relationships were given depth. I feel like I know absolutely no one except our MC's and a certain cantankerous queen, and the only relationship given any depth or meaning was between the the MCs. But ever their's was left feeling unfulfilling due to nature of their relationship being a never-ending merry-go-round of hatred and lust. After the exciting beginning (about 100 pages or so), the entire rest of the book really just felt like never-ending dialogue of them arguing with each other. All other friendships, familial ties, comradery, allies, etc felt hollow, unimportant, or just non-existent in general.

All that being said, I REALLY wanted to love this book. It started out so promising and the writing style truly is superb. I have hope that the sequel will make up in plot and characterization/relationships that this one lacked.

Star Wars mixed with Shadow and bone and a touch of Throne of Glass

The perfect mix of magic, politics and romance!

The Hurricane wars by Thea Guanzon, a fun read that makes you want the sequel NOW! I really enjoyed the magic system and think this book will do well.

If you are looking for a true enemies-to-lovers romance fantasy, look no further. You've found it. The Hurricane Wars was probably my most anticipated read of 2023. It didn't disappoint.

The chemistry between Alaric and Talasyn is electric. You can feel their energy as they revolve around each other. They wage against their hatred and attraction in perfect balance.

Like most fantasy, it takes about 50 pages to make it past the plot setup, worldbuilding, and magic setup to the meat of the tale. The magic system is fascinating, well-described, and easy to visualize. The politics are intriguing, tantalizingly leaving room for exploration in the sequels.

My one criticism: I desperately wish we got to see more of the MMC and FMC's dynamics with their friends and especially their families. This aspect seemed pushed aside to spotlight their dynamic.

The Hurricane Wars was an all-together thrilling read. I await the sequel with bated breath.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC. This review contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

This book, without a doubt, has the best enemies-to-lovers relationship I have ever seen in any book. The development of Talasyn and Alaric's relationship was done perfectly, and was extremely believable. It's definitely a slow-burn, but it's absolutely perfect in the context of what is going on around them.
The first part of the book is a little slow and confusing; I was prepared to give this a 3 or 4 star rating. However, it really started to pick up. I enjoyed the politics, especially Talasyn's connection to Nenavar, as well as how that connection was revealed. I'm still a little confused on the intricacies of the magic system; I think this is something that could have been explained a little better at the beginning of the book.
The romance completely made up for any shortcomings in the world-building. I think the set-up was absolutely genius.

Do you know the feeling when you read a book and get upset that you started it when the next book in the series isn't out yet to fill that void? This one is that book for me right now. ( And it's not even technically out yet). The Hurricane Wars mixes slow-burn romance, magical tension, and political intrigue. This is a genuinely remarkable fantasy romance filled with drama, intrigue, and enough enemies to lovers passion to make you kick your feet. This book was recommended to me as the romantasy baby of RF Kuang and Sarah J. Maas, and oh baby, is it ever? Guanzon beautifully mixes environment and characters to create two well-built tangible narrators who, despite their reluctance toward each other, are absolutely secretly, accidentally in love. I am thoroughly excited to see what is in store for this series, and I absolutely cannot wait for release day.

Lethally sharp in both its cunning political intrigue and exquisite prose, THE HURRICANE WARS is a strategic marvel that holds your heart in a death grip. Romantic fantasy at its very best.

I really enjoyed this! I have to admit, I looked on Goodreads/at other reviews before reading the novel just because I knew literally zero about this author or this work and a lot of people are super excited for this to come out which is great! I guess there must be some existing excitement about this author or what the book is about? I'm not quite sure. I did really enjoy it though. The world-building was great and the magic system had familiar pieces but was overarchingly a pretty unique idea. I liked the characters a lot and the way their magic meshed together, and how Talsyn is a lost princess determined to stand against the Night Empire. Thrown together with Alaric, she has to find a way to save her family and friends safe while navigating being the perfect heir. This was a fun, well-written fantasy romance that a lot of people are excited for! I think they're really going to love it--I had a lot of fun, and I'm really excited for my library to get physical copies of this, the cover is absolutely gorgeous!

I received an advance copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, let's get it out of the way: this originally was in the world as Landscape with a Blur of Conquerors, a Rey-Kylo Ren fanfic that even Tor Publishing's blog listed as "one of the things that brought us joy in 2018", a meticulously-researched enemies to lovers epic. I am a Reylo trash person, and I admit that. When I heard the author had gotten a book deal because of the book, I was excited for her (especially as a Southeast Asian debut fantasy author!) but was worried it would be a very shallow makeover, one where I could still easily pick out all the supporting characters, just with new names.

I am happy to say that it's not-- this is a fun, well-done novel, with an original magic system, and a world that's unlike many I've read (and seriously I read too much new adult fantasy romance). Talasyn is a foot soldier on the losing side of a war against an empire, and Alaric is the chosen heir to the Night Emperor. When they meet in battle, their powers blur in an unexpected fashion, one they don't have the time or inclination to explore. As Talsyn's side is on the run, she finds out that her heritage isn't of the streets, but rather that of a lost princess, the heir to the lone throne that stands against the Night Empire, and she leverages that knowledge in order to save the country that raised her and the army that became her family. In exchange, she promises to become the perfect heir, willing to do whatever it takes to keep her found family and friends safe.

But she never expected to be bound by political machinations to Alaric, pledged to becoming the Empress, as well as training to become her grandmother's heir. While Talasyn and Alaric are navigating their betrothal, her grandmother reveals a secret, one that could end everything they know.

Yes, clearly, we know who they're both supposed to be. But the work that Guanzon puts in to expand, reimagine, and develop the world is wonderful, and I'm excited to recommend this to other fantasy romance readers. This might not be the book I pick to introduce someone to the genre, but if you're feeling like you've read all the good stuff, this is going to be a delight.

My one drawback is that this ends on a complete cliffhanger and I am going to be so impatient until the next book.

ARC provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

"You could have killed us both!"
"Given our respective objectives, it would probably save a lot of time if we died together,"

I would like to thank Harper Voyager, NetGalley and the author for sending me a copy of this ARC. When I tell you this was my most anticipated book of the year, I am not exaggerating. I might have even emailed the publisher with my updated stats several times in hopes of getting a copy. If the recipient is seeing this, I'm so sorry, but also it was so worth it.

Southeast Asian fantasy, Enemies to Lovers and a Political Marriage? What's not to love.

The Hurricane Wars is easily the most showstopping Fantasy of the year and it lived up to all of the hype building around it. With its luscious worldbuilding, witty banter, sexual tension that leaves you breathless and characters that you are sad to say goodbye to, I have no doubt this book will be beloved by all. By the second chapter I was ready to demand an on screen adaption. It's slowburn in the best way and it drags you along, begging you for more. And the catalyst... boy was it a catalyst. I will never look at the phrase "My wife" in the same way again.

Throughout the story we circle around the common theme of discovering your true self, your capabilities and where you belong. Seeing Tala find her family and come to terms with it not being exactly what she had hoped for, was a whirlwind in its own right. On one side of her relationships we see her father, who is a reminder of just how strong a parents love should be. Their scenes made me teary eyed on several occasions and I am happy I read this digitally because there would've been several tearstained pages. On the other side of the coin, Tala had to learn that just because they are your family, doesn't mean you can always trust them.

For Alaric and Tala, the end of book one can be perfectly summed up by one of my favorite quotes.
"You have to learn the rules of the game, and then you have to play better than anyone else." -Albert Einstein

This was a beautiful debut for Thea Guanzon, and nothing was more heartbreaking than realizing that in my luck of being given the chance to read this book early, I now have that much longer to see Alaric and Tala's story continue.

I love them. I love this book. I love this author. If you haven't preordered yet, what are you waiting for? Brava.

WOW.

From the cover to the last page, this book was SO well done. The eye-catching cover and intriguing blurb are sure to attract many readers and the story inside won't let them down.

This is one of the best romances I've ever read and I hope this book achieves the level of success it absolutely deserves. Wonderful world-building, characters, and dialogue make this a book not to be missed.

Thank you SO much for letting me be an ARC reader. I am happy to be an ARC reader for anything this author writes in the future.

Thanks Harper Voyager/Netgalley for the eARC!

Oh, boy. Admittedly, this book was not on my radar until several of my colleagues recommended and raved about it... but it seems like whatever they thought of this, I'm thinking the opposite. This novel shines with its writting and pacing, but ends there. For me, that's not enough to carry a work. I need good character work and worldbuilding--and that's where THE HURRICANE WARS falls on its face. I need to FEEL something when I'm reading... and this book was not it.

I struggled with this book. On one hand, it is well-written, tightly-paced, and deals with several deep themes, but those elements cannot carry a book on their own without compelling characters, a strong voice, and a well-thought out world, none of which this book has, unfortunately. The writing is also really dry. Everything is presented in a cold, matter-of-fact manner that feels like reading a non-fiction book.