BRILLIANT. This sequel was everything I was hoping for and more! I usually despise the miscommunication trope but I’m all for it here. Ahhhh!!! This series is seriously one of my favorite reads this year.

“A Monsoon Rising,” by Thea Guanzon

I loved this book! I liked this book even more than the first one. This one was centered the entire time about the relationship/ arranged marriage and that was my favorite part. I loved the magic system and the technology aspect of the story with ships and planes. The MMC had everything I wanted for the shadow daddy characters that I’m drawn to. The FMC was filled with internal conflict and a backbone. I cannot wait to read more of this series, it was so good. 5 out of 5 stars.

-Enemies To Lovers
-Shadow Daddy
-Magic
-Arranged Marriage/ Marriage of Convenience

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

"A Monsoon Rising" is a captivating novel that immerses readers in a rich, vibrant world with its evocative storytelling and intricate plot. The book excels in creating a deeply atmospheric setting, transporting readers to a landscape where the monsoon rains are not just a backdrop but a pivotal element that drives the narrative. The author’s descriptive prowess is evident, painting vivid images of the environment and the culture that shapes the characters’ lives.

The characters themselves are well-crafted and multi-dimensional, each with their own compelling arcs that unfold with surprising depth and nuance. The emotional resonance of their journeys is both powerful and authentic, allowing readers to form a strong connection with their struggles and triumphs.

While the pacing can occasionally feel a bit uneven, particularly in the middle sections, the overall structure of the story is engaging and well-paced. The final chapters bring a satisfying resolution, tying up various plot threads with a sense of closure.

Overall, "A Monsoon Rising" is a remarkable read that combines lyrical prose with a gripping narrative. It’s a novel that will linger in your thoughts long after the last page is turned. Highly recommended for those who appreciate richly detailed settings and complex characters.

The continuation of this series was great! "Monsoon Rising" by Thea Guanzon is a mesmerizing read, full of lush world-building and well-crafted characters. The plot is engaging and rich with emotion, while Guanzon's writing draws you in from the start. The vivid setting and strong character arcs make this book a truly enjoyable and immersive experience. Definitely a 4-star gem!

Excellent writing, incredible continuation of the first book. The story is captivating and politically informed with a fascinating magic system.

I feel like this is exactly what I look for in a romantasy book. Romance AND Fantasy. This book was my most anticipated read of the year and it did not disappoint. I felt like we got the continuation of the previous book that focused on Talasyn and Alaric. We could read how they interact with each other now post war. It was a great story to bridge onto the next book. I enjoyed seeing the characters going back and forth with each other and knowing that there’s an internal struggle for them. They’re trying to deal with their roles as leaders but also as two individuals who are falling for each other.

My only issue was the ending, which confused me a bit. I think technically this book was a 4.75/5 for me. The twist was from someone who was not mentioned a lot in the story where I could remember who they were. I had to look back and find when and where she showed up. Maybe I would be more surprised about the ending if I had a hint that’s where this was going. They kept mentioning having to turn on each other throughout the book, but no event big or small happened. The only thing that did make sense to me in the ending was the mention about Talasyn’s grandmother and what she possibly did to her mother.

Overall, I can’t wait for the possibility of this story continuing to another book. I really enjoyed this one and I want to read it again.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyage for the opportunity to read this book.

A Monsoon Rising was fabulous, a perfect slow tick to the top of the roller coaster and the ending puts you right at the top of the lift, ready to plummet down.

The story is primarily relationship development and I *loved* it. The writing is beautiful and eloquent, the world is fantastic (even though there’s not much continued development or new layers revealed) and the rising storm metaphor is gorgeous (and the title is so well named). Can’t wait for book three!

I loved reading this book. Talasyn and Alaric are such great characters because they are so strong apart from each other, but they also make each other better. I really enjoyed seeing their dynamic change throughout this book and how they are so honest with each other while also keeping massive secrets from the other.

If you were wanting more spice in the first book, then you will be so happy to read this book, because the spice was fantastic! There were a couple of times I was letdown by the plot, but all-in-all, it was a really fun read.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of A Monsoon Rising.

oh my GOD what an epic sequel

I really enjoyed The Hurricane Wars but wasn't quite obsessed with it, well after reading the sequel consider me OBSESSED. I am hooked, I am in it, I am READY for book 3 and book 2 hasn't even come out yet!! A Monsoon Rising exceeded my expectations and I'm so thrilled about it.

I FLEW through this book; I could not put it down and desperately needed to know what happened next. Just like the last book, the stakes were high so I was on the edge of my seat while reading. The tension between Alaric and Talasyn is top tier, I love their romance so much and definitely grew more attached to these characters through this book.

I wish I could say more but honestly this book left me speechless. I just loved it so much. The ending had me screaming. I need book 3 like immediately. I'll be rereading this when it's released so I can be back in this world again with everyone else :)

⭐️5/5 EASILY
🌶️1/5

I am actually flabbergasted by how good this sequel is. It's very rare to come across a sequel that can hold up to the first book, but Thea did it! I'm not going to go too much into the book as it is a sequel and I don't want to spoil anything, but what I will say is that this picks up where The Hurricane Wars left off and it has an INSANE cliffhanger! You get so much Alaric and Talasyn time and you get to see more of the side characters that we love. I had the absolute best time reading this. There were times that I had to hold my breath because it was so tense and others when I was squealing and acting like a school girl. I absolutely LOVED it and I love these characters so much! I cannot wait for the next one!

Thank you to @harpervoyagerus for sending me the arc. I can't even begin to tell you how appreciative I am. This is a prized possession of mine.

3.75 stars rounded up! I feel like I say this about every book, but "A Monsoon Rising" is sooo hard to rate. I love a lot about this series: the fantasy world inspired by Filipino culture, the witty banter between the characters, and the unique magic system (plus, this book has dragons!). And while the character relationships are better developed in this book, I still think the plot could benefit from tighter pacing. That's the only reason I'm not rating it 4+ stars.

I love how this book picks up where the first one leaves off. I read "The Hurricane Wars" and "A Monsoon Rising" back-to-back, which is perfect for this series' immersive setting. If you like the concept of castles nestled amongst rainforests and scrumptious descriptions of tropical cuisine, I highly recommend you read this series! I also like how the tropical islands and the shadowy mainland complement both of the MCs' personalities. This book has the epitome of a grumpy/sunshine romance, and I like how their native countries reflect that.

And speaking of romance, it's sooo much better (and spicier!) than in the first book. Personally, I thought the constant "will they/won't they" part of the first book's romance was overdone. And this is coming from someone whose favorite trope is enemies-to-lovers! Thankfully, the characters are more accepting of their feelings and each other in this book. And it shows! Some of the spicy scenes had me blushing. I'm so happy this book embraces its place in the new adult genre.

The only reason I'm not giving it 4+ stars is because of the pacing in the last 25%. I feel like so much of this series leads up to one crucial event, only for it to resolve in the span of two chapters. After so much build-up, the resolution feels too easy. Additionally, this central plot point wraps up around the 85% mark, and the story continues for another six chapters. I can see why the author extended the story (it sets up a major cliffhanger!), but I think the ending would benefit from tighter pacing.

Overall, I definitely recommend this book! I think it's perfect for readers who love a grumpy/sunshine relationship, a Southeast Asian-inspired setting, and a book that's equal parts romance and fantasy. 3.75 stars, and kudos to the author for this series!

I received an ARC courtesy of the publisher and Netgalley; all opinions are my own.

This book was so addicting. I loved the first book in this series, but this one brought the spice and fire! Every time I had to put the book down, I was counting down the seconds until I could pick it back up again. Our two main characters Alaric and Talasyn are back with even more tension than before. When a potential apocalypse is brewing in the horizon, the two have to overcome their differences and work together to save their countries. Add in the already tense political climate between the Night Empire and the Dominion court, the stakes are higher than ever. This book has everything from training montages to banter and bickering. Truly on my list for book of the year, I enjoyed it so much! This book was so addicting. I loved the first book in this series, but this one brought the spice and fire! Every time I had to put the book down, I was counting down the seconds until I could pick it back up again. Our two main characters Alaric and Talasyn are back with even more tension than before. When a potential apocalypse is brewing in the horizon, the two have to overcome their differences and work together to save their countries. Add in the already tense political climate between the Night Empire and the Dominion court, the stakes are higher than ever. This book has everything from training montages to banter and bickering. Truly on my list for book of the year, I enjoyed it so much!

This book was so good! I love the South Asian and steampunk inspiration in this series and the enemies-to-lovers between Alaric and Talasyn is so well done! And the cover of the book? Beautiful.

Picking up right where The Hurricane Wars left off, Talasyn and Alaric continue to struggle to combine their magic to save the world. The first part of this book felt very slow, and I was worried it wouldn't live up to the first. However, the last 75% had me on the edge of my seat and staying up way past my bed time. I'm pretty sure I said "one more chapter" to myself about 20 times one night.

The spice REALLY picks up in this one, and I am here for it! This book is really all about their relationship development, so tensions and libido are consistently high.

Honestly, just as good as book 1. And I CANNOT wait for number 3.

I am an “Alaric stop pissing off your wife” advocate.
The ending was not what I was expecting I need book 3 asap but also the way the tension built between the two throughout the book!! Wow

Thank you so much to Thea Guanzon and Avon and Harper Voyager | Harper Voyager for the eARC of this title. I was so excited to get an early copy of this sequel! I loved the Hurricane Wars and this one was no exception! Loved reading more of this fabulous universe and you will too! Brilliant writing from Thea. Definitely recommend.

Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo I need the next book in the series. I can't believe that Thea Guanzon left me in a big cliffhanger ever! Like, how can I operate? I literally need the next book so I can know. Like right now, please and thank you.

Beside my mini rant about getting the next book in the series, let's talk about how amazing this book is and why you need to read it as soon as possible. First, this book outshine the first book. It literally made me more invested in the series and where it is going next. Second, the tension and the banter between Alaric and Talasyn are off the charts. You can just tell that they want to be together, but they won't give in since they are political rivals. Third, the spicy scenes between Alaric and Talasyn are off the charts. It's so steamy and hot! Readers are going to be fed in this book. Lastly, the endless battle between the two kingdoms is never ending. There are so many things that's going against them. It's going to be ugly in the upcoming books in the series. I can't wait!

Note: book finished, reviewing in progress and incoming. I appreciate the patience and the opportunity!

I am currently very physically ill and not able to read very much or some days even at all. I apologise to anyone this review might inconvenience, but I thought I might do a placeholder until I am well and can finish reading and write a proper review. I didn’t want it to potentially expire before I could post something. I will edit this when I am well enough to read again. Again I am sorry and hope this doesn’t affect my standing.

I'll be honest... I read A Monsoon Rising almost immediately after finishing the first novel, The Hurricane Wars, so some of the plot lines bleed together for me.

That being said, AMR was stronger, writing-wise than THW but weaker in terms of overall storytelling. I'm rating AMR higher because I was better able to connect with the characters, I appreciated some of the additional world-building, and I'm a sucker for a halfway decent love scene. But, I do think some fans might be left disappointed with this second installment.

I found that AMR lacked some of the political turmoil that was originally stirred up in THW and, while that made the book easier to follow overall, it felt as if Guanzon was pandering a bit to the TikTok girlies who just want to spend their days "shipping" Alaric and Talasyn.

All in all, I'm happy I read this and I'll definitely be continuing the series, but it won't be a must-read for me.

Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this e-arc!

Finally getting around to writing my review for this a month later... oops. I was SO excited to be approved for this arc on Netgalley because I loved The Hurricane Wars when I read it at the end of 2023! It's such an intriguing fantasy world to step into and the characters are sooooo fun to read.

After the ending of The Hurricane Wars (and Talasyn and Alaric's infamous wedding night) I was so excited to dive back into this world and see where our characters are at. During A Monsoon Rising, our two main characters spend a majority of time preparing for the Moonless Dark - the big catastrophic event that only they can put a stop to if they combine their powers - but there are secrets being kept on both sides and lots and lots of tension (which was one of the best parts of the book, I love tension LOL).

I just love how Thea Guanzon writes interactions between Talasyn and Alaric! Their interactions were truly impeccable. I was giggling and swooning in equal measure and I loved seeing how their dynamic shifted throughout the story. I also loved seeing the state of their world after the war was won... or is the war really over? It's an interesting landscape that both of our main characters have to navigate and I'm really interested to see where the story goes next (especially after that ending).

I had so much fun reading this!! Thank you to Netgalley and Thea Guanzon for the e-arc!