This book was not what I was expecting. I did feel that it was more about their relationship than the story line. Maybe that's a "me" thing. I wanted more of the plot. I did find myself annoyed with the FMC at times. My favorite parts of the book were the action scenes. I can still "see" them in my mind when I reflect back on this book!

Ughhhh I love everything this woman writes she has such a unique and captivating way of writing and it really sucks you in right from the beginning. I’m so happy to have discovered her when her first book came out

Thank you NetGally, Thea, & Harper Voyage for the free ARC of Monsoon Rising!

Thea never ceases to amaze me with her beautiful writing! But did I enjoy this one more than The Hurricane Wars. The stronger focus on the romance, particularly with the forced proximity of Talasyn and Alaric's arranged marriage, was spot on. Like the first book, I struggled to visualize the magic system and the fight scenes involving magic. But that’s definitely a me thing, lol. However, the romance and witty banter kept me engaged throughout!

This series does not get enough hype. It is really good, and such a fresh take on a genre that has so many of the same types of books. Thea does a great job with her characters and world building. This is my new favorite series, I love to recommend it!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I’m sorry this series is just not for me i tried really hard to like it but i barely tolerated it
there is simultaneously too much plot and not enough plot, i dont know if that makes sense
things were dragging but also too much was happening somehow nothing actually relevant
i hope it gets better for people who have the patience for it, i unfortunately am not one of them.

I think I am retiring this series. I let myself be hopeful after book one, that book 2 would get into the meat of the world/magic/conflict/romance but this book was not that. I felt like had both books been edited down this could have either been a good duology or an okay YA fantasy. It's just too much white noise. After 800 ish pages it still doesn't feel like we have a grasp of the world nor do I enjoy this romance ..at...all.

Thank you to the author, Netgalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for the opportunity to review this title. I attest that I am leaving my review voluntarily and honestly.

I need to look up if there are more coming because this was soooo good. And the special editions they’ve put out are so beautiful. It took me awhile to read this and I have bought a copy for my shelf

𝙷𝚎 𝚌𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚕𝚢, 𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚊𝚗 𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜, 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚋 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚝. 𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚑𝚘𝚠, 𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚊 𝚜𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚊𝚌𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚎𝚕𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢’𝚍 𝚍𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚎𝚊𝚌𝚑 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛, 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚙𝚊𝚕𝚖𝚜 𝚌𝚞𝚛𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔.”

The pining in this book is off the charts! @theagwrites absolutely knocked this sequel out of the park. I loved loved loved this book. I am less thrilled about the cliffhanger because we all know how I feel about those but I could not have asked for more with Alaric and Talasyn. I’m not going to lie, I am terrified of what is going to happen when the truth finally comes out. My only hope is that they see that they were both doing the same thing to each other and that they’re able to quickly get over it because I just need these characters to be happy and in love and living their best lives.

A huge thank you to @netgalley and @avonbooks for a copy of this book! Perfect for fans of enemies to lovers, fantasy, and shadow daddies.

This starts off very slow but omg does it end in such a powerful and exciting way. I loved this maybe more than the first one! I am patiently waiting for the next one and by patiently I mean not even a lil bit..

The fantasy elements we got were so fascinating. I loved the info we got about the magic severs. I loved the relationship that is continuing to be built between Alaric and Talasyn. When this guy calls her Tala in private omg. The smut was very heavy but a healthy amount of plot as well.
That ending though....chefs kiss. I'm so Sat for the next book because I need to know what's happening and what the hell happened and who the fuccccccckkkk is behind this new development.

My main critique is the pacing. The first part of the book focuses heavily on the romance, which, while beautifully written, slows down the plot. Readers hoping for more political intrigue may find this installment less gripping than the first. However, once the story gains momentum, it becomes an exhilarating ride.

Overall, A Monsoon Rising is a beautifully written sequel that leans heavily into romance while still delivering on the high-stakes fantasy elements. If you loved the dynamic between Talasyn and Alaric in the first book, you’ll be completely hooked. I can’t wait to see how the final installment unfolds!

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

My true rating for this one would be a 3.5/5. Honestly, I believe I enjoyed the first book more but that's also because I was mostly oblivious to the Star Wars influence before I read the second one. I sort of felt like this book was a bit slower but the last part picked up a lot and the cliffhanger?? I think I just wish it was more high-stakes but there were still moments that gagged me and wow the writing!! I will definitely still be seated for the third book though and for Alaric and Talasyn!

A Monsoon Rising is the sequel to The Hurricane Wars which is a book I enjoyed. I think I enjoyed this second book more since I was already familiar with the world and characters but this is not an all-time favorite series for me. I still had a fun time when I read it though and would recommend it is the premise sounds good to you!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a review!

So to be honest, I did not pay attention to the fact this was the second book in a series when I requested it. I decided to read the first title so I wouldn't be completely lost and to say I was not a big fan of the first book is a bit of an understatement. If not for the fact that I'm trying to read all of the books I'm approved for, I probably would have skipped this book. Which would have been a shame because I feel like the second book majorly outshines the first. The author has learned a lot since her debut book was released and it shows. The characters are done so much better in this book, the pacing for the story is better, and overall I enjoyed it immensely more than the first. Whereas I found myself not caring at all about where the story would be going after finishing the Hurricane Wars, Monsoon Rising has me disappointed I can't pick up the third book and read it now. If the author continues at the pace she is going, the third book in the series could be one of my favorite books of all time.

Holy wow, what a follow up. A Monsoon Rising took everything I loved about The Hurricane Wars and leveled it up. The action, the tension, the spice. It’s all there and then some. Alaric and Talasyn are beautifully written, both as individual characters and as a couple. The cliffhanger ending left me with a massive book hangover, but it was well worth it.

4 Stars

A Monsoon Rising is an intense, romance-driven sequel that raises the stakes in The Hurricane Wars trilogy. Thea Guanzon delivers an action-packed, tension-filled continuation of Alaric and Talasyn’s story, filled with pining, political intrigue, and undeniable chemistry.

Picking up immediately after the events of the first book, we follow Alaric and Talasyn as they navigate their new marriage of convenience while secretly plotting against one another. With the looming threat of the Moonless Dark and the fragile political balance of their world, they are forced to work together—even as their feelings grow more complicated. The forced proximity, slow-burn tension, and emotional depth of their relationship make this book a compelling read.

The romance truly takes center stage in this installment, and while the slow burn from The Hurricane Wars evolves into full-fledged tension and passion, at times, it overshadows the larger political stakes. There are moments where the plot slows in favor of focusing on the romantic dynamic, which, while enjoyable, sometimes leaves the world-building and larger narrative feeling slightly underdeveloped. However, the action scenes and the final act of the book more than make up for the slower moments, delivering shocking twists and a heart-stopping cliffhanger.

Overall, A Monsoon Rising is an emotionally charged, beautifully written sequel that leans heavily into its romantasy elements. Fans of the first book will love the angst, longing, and explosive chemistry between the leads, and the ending will leave readers desperate for the next installment.

Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Oh. My. God.

I LOVED THIS.

The Hurricane Wars was incredible and I was expecting this to have second book syndrome a little bit.

Nope. Miss Thea SERVED. And it was piping hot.

The pining. The sexual tension. And then the adult fun times. This was the perfect romantasy. Plot for days, amazing pacing, great character development, and of course it ends with our hearts ripped out ravenous for more.

Mother please deliver us the next book ASAP.

If you are here for the romance with a touch of denial, you came to the right place!✨ It was pretty steamy, but I was definitely expecting more than a few fade-to-black moments. 👀 Talasyn and Alaric are LOVE birds, but the politics prevent them from being able to fully give in to each other. I’m dying to see how their story plays out… like, will there be a huge sacrifice coming? Cause that’s how it sounds to me and I’m not ready to get my heart broken 😭.

The action scenes were AMAZING. 🔥 I loved when Talasyn and Alaric teamed up, it was one of my favorite parts. The world-building is also great; I felt like I was actually there, it was playing in my head like a movie. But here’s the thing, I was kinda expecting more politics! The first book had all these cool scheming moments, but this one barely touched on that. It’s a romance-heavy book, but I was hoping for some juicy political drama to keep me on my toes.🧐

In the end, I’m really invested and can’t wait for the next one! I just hope we get a little more of the political twists I was craving this time around.✨

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!


I was very excited to read this novel and had been anxiously awaiting its arrival since I read the last page of The Hurricane Wars. This book did not disappoint!

A Monsoon Rising picks right back after the events of The Hurricane Wars and follows a newly married Alaric and Talasyn as they navigate not only marriage but the upcoming Moonless Dark in a bid to save both of their countries. This had all of the fast paced action, witty banter and fantastic world building of the first novel.

A lot of the problems that I had with the first novel were taken care of early on in the story and it was so much easier to enjoy than the first book. I loved that we got to see more of the Nenavar Dominion and what remains of the Continent. As Talasyn learns to control her magic we are also given more insight on the magic system of this world and the politics that come with it.

Overall cannot wait for the next novel! I think this is going to be a series that only gets better with each book.

This book is for the romantasy and Reylo fanfic fans! It had pining, tension, banter, and chemistry that was off the charts! I can’t wait to dive into the next installment 😍

The only reason this isn’t a 5 star read for me is because the pacing could be slow at times but I recommend this book to anyone who loved The Hurricane Wars and this series to anyone who loves Romantasy.