A monsoon Rising.. So, I'm terrible and didn't know that this was a series when I picked it up (that's what I get for looking only at a pretty cover). And BOY, is this a pretty cover!? This book was initially hard for me to understand, obviously, I didn't read the first book. However, it does an amazing job of recapping slowly throughout the book so you get caught up. I was hooked! The entire story is intriguing. The slow burn is SOO SLOW, but I know it's going to be worth it! Talasyn and Alaric are perfect for each other and she's such a bad a$$! 10/10 recommend!

"Whatever better world you think you’ll build, it will always be built on blood."


“One word from you and I let my guard down. I couldn’t kill you, either, all those times before . . . What am I, if I’m not a weapon? What have you done to me?”


I was hoping the sequel would blow me away, but I really need to remind myself that this is a romantasy series first and foremost.

So, if you’re looking for romance, then this is it.

Since I’m an idiot who wanted more politics in her romantasy, this ain’t it.

This installment was a lot more romance-focused than the first book. There’s still a hint of enemies in this enemies-to-lovers romantasy, but it’s more lovers than enemies at this point. Our two favorite idiots are in love, but there’s tons of denial and a helluva lot of colonizing politics cockblocking them from actually fully giving themselves into each other.

I’m not usually one for love stories, but I definitely want to see how this will all pan out. Will there be an ultimate sacrifice on someone’s part??? Tell me, Thea Guanzon!!! I’m begging you!!!

Other than the love story going hardcore (the sex scenes weren’t too bad but there were too many fade to black scenes for my liking. And somehow Alaric, who's a virgin, knows how to finger her AND make her cum?? BFFR lmfao), the actual bigger plot points were just okay.

No spoilers but the action scenes were on point! I loved the fight scenes and any scene where Talasyn and Alaric combine their light and shadow magic. (Okay, I’m a huge sucker for shadow daddies. Whatever. Judge me.) The author is really descriptive when it comes to the magic and the worldbuilding. I could feel myself being there, either on the Continent or Nenavar.

But sad to say though, since the focus was heavy on the romance, it felt like there was less politicking this time around. I wanted more backstabby political schemes and behind the scenes plotting. In the next novel, maybe?

And while the whole sevenfold eclipse, and the major preparations for it (including Talasyn and Alaric combining their powers) was super cool, the conclusion to that huge plotline felt like a letdown. Like the author wasn’t sure what to do with that huge piece of info, so she just said peace out and left that plot point for the next book. (I’m trying really hard not to mention any spoilers here lol)

It was great to get back into this world, but I wanted more backstabbing and less lovey dovey true love pining. With the enemies part dialed down, it felt like I was reading a fanfic of a fanfic.

But then again, that’s my bad for going into a romantasy series wanting more out of it.

Here are some of my favorite corny ass lines that are supposed to be romantic lol:

"He yearned to talk to her, but what could he say to his wife of political convenience, a wife he had already inconveniently orgasmed with?"

"The woman he had reluctantly married was in possession of the loveliest breasts on Lir."

"Let the Nenavarene see their Lachis’ka ride the Night Emperor’s face."

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this arc.

*An advanced digital copy was received from Netgalley in return for an honest review*

Preface:
I devoured the first book in this series, so needless to say I did freak out after being approved for this ARC. I was so excited to get back into this wonderful world of light and dark that Guanzon created.

Quick Synopsis:
After being in a lifetime of war, Alaric and Talasyn are thrust into an alliance with one another in order to stop the Moonless dark, where their combined powers of light and dark would stop the devouring of everything. However, the Hurricane Wars aren't quite over, and it's time to choose what - and who - to fight for.

As with the Hurricane Wars I was completely enthralled with the world building of this book. Since it was the second book in the series, a lot of the world building was already developed from the first book, so we as readers really had a chance to delve more into the plot and politics this time around. The book picks up right where we left off and really takes us deeper into the characters and their relationships with one another.

Characters:
I really enjoyed being able to diver deeper into these characters. This book really showed us what their tensions and motivations are (and of course what they think about each other). We got to see more of Alaric's past, and his home at the Shadowforged Legion, in general it shines a new light on Alaric's character. With Talasyn, I liked reading her chapters and seeing her grow more into herself and her powers over the course of this book. The dual POV chapters really helped add to this element of not knowing which side to pick, and showed our characters internal struggles to figure that out.

Strengths and Weaknesses:
What I think this book did really well is keep me on my toes. There were a lot of twists that I didn't see coming, and the tension between the characters was very entertaining. The enemies to lovers was really well written, and makes me very very excited for the 3rd book.

What I do wish was that the pace of the book was a bit slower in regards to the Moonless Dark. That part did feel a tiny bit rushed to me. All in all I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! Fans of Hurricane Wars are going to love what Monsoon Rising has in store for them.

Thank you again NetGalley for the ARC!

thank you to netgalley for this arc.

This book was insane in the best possible ways. I finished the book and immediately found myself cursing that I needed book 3 right away. Alaric was even more tortured and sad in this book than in book 1 and Guanzon took his angst and truly ran with it. Having read book 1 a while ago, I do not entirely remember what the war is about, however Guanzon writes about war and the challenges the people across all the nations so beautifully and with such dedication that myself as a reader got so wrapped up in the description of the events i found myself remembering what it was about and why the character were so incredibly complicated (in a good way!). Tala was so lonely for so long, and even though she had her friends prior to being Alaric's wife, she still finds herself struggling with that loneliness as well as the loneliness of being in a marriage where she is unsure if her husband loves her at all (spoiler alert he totally does).
When I see authors describe their romances in their books as characters from other shows, I always end up feeling let down because usually theres never any comparison worthy, but i truly feel like Alaric and Tala are alternate universe Zuko and Katara. Readers who crave a romance like that will find absolute joy in this series (and that includes the horrible cliffhanger!!!!)

I was a big fan of The Hurricane Wars so I was absolutely thrilled to get to read A Monsoon Rising early. Enemies to lovers romance (ahem... kylo ren and ray, anyone?) with political intrigue in a southeast asian-inspired war-torn fantasy world. Yes yes yes.

Thank you to NetGalley for the copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was worried this book would suffer from sequel slump, but I am so happy to have been proven wrong! This was a very solid follow up to The Hurricane Wars. I read through it so quickly, probably the fastest I've gone through a book all year. It kept me interested all the way through (hello, one bed trope), and that ending hit me out of nowhere! I am very eager for the third installment, and don't want to have to wait at least a year for it!

Started off strong but the FMC was a bit too immature for my tastes. Her decision making and over all demeanor grated at times. Also, needed more plot! Felt like there was too much focus on their obsession with each other.

My two little idiots were so hot and dumb in this second book too. I love them so much!
The plot: amazing
The romance: amazing (I’m screaming)
The cliffhanger: amazing (I’m dying inside)
The tension: amazing (I’m kicking my feet)
The worldbuilding: amazing

TEN TEN TEN ACROSS THE BOARD.

Thanks to HarperVoyager US, Netgalley and the author for providing me with this ARC!
Full review to come.

I enjoyed the banter and spicy scenes in this book! The development of Talasyn and Alaric is compelling, as we delve into their struggles with their forced marriage and evolving feelings for each other.

This installment focuses on preparing the characters for the Moonless Dark and their training. The banter between them remains entertaining, and the spice level has definitely ramped up.

While the first book concentrated on introducing the characters, settings, and conflicts, this second book adds depth to the characters and political intrigue while setting the stage for the impending war.

The cliffhanger ending deserves a special mention!

Overall, it was an enjoyable read, and I appreciate Thea’s writing style. However, I found myself occasionally confused by the plot and felt that more context from the first book would have been helpful. Despite this, I’m looking forward to book 3 and am excited to continue the series!

Thank you NetGalley, Thea Guanzon, & HarperCollins Publishers for the eARC!

First things first, I enjoyed this more than the first book of the series. Where I felt like The Hurricane Wars lacked plot movement and action, this had a lot more happening and advancement of the romance. I still struggled with the pacing, especially in the middle chunk of the book, and the inner dialogue of both MCs is repetitive and frustrating.

The main thing I loved was the relationship development, even if the characters don’t make much progress on themselves. This sequel sets up the third book for lots of action, revelations, and hopefully the MCs making better choices and communication (finally). I will definitely be checking it out so I can see how this story concludes. Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review.

Consider my expectations exceeded! This made me like The Hurricane Wars even more knowing we were getting set up for this banger of a book. The tension was hot! The plot was thick! When I wasn’t reading it I wished I was!

My only regret is getting an ARC (obviously joking thank you so so much) since it means I’ll have to wait even longer after that ending for the next book!!

Swooooooooon! A Monsoon Rising by Thea Guanzon is a splendid sequel to The Hurricane Wars. It is the perfect blend of romance, fantasy, politics and adventure. 5 stars! The only downfall is having to wait for the next book. Talasyn and Alaric are *chefs kiss*

Thanks Netgalley, Harper Voyager and Thea Guanzon for letting me have access to this eARC!! I have no critiques for this novel and would rate it One Million stars if I could. I would defiantly recommend this novel for anyone who loves the Enemies to Lovers trope and for anyone who is a fan of South East Asian Authors :) Even though I have already had this on pre-order, I'll defiantly do a re-read again this year :)

O M G!!!!! This is the kind of sequel I was needing after finishing The Hurricane Wars earlier this year😩 The plot is so so good. The tension between Alaric and Talasyn only continues to grow and I ATE IT UP🤪 This book is really a build up towards the end and I think it ends on a great opening for book 3. I need book 3 asap now 😭
Overall, this book gave everything I was needing and was an amazing continuation to Talasyn & Alaric’s story. So excited for this to release in December!🙌🏼

3.5/5 stars

I love Thea Guanzon. I've been reading her work since the fan fiction days and have voraciously consumed everything I could that she has written. I really liked The Hurricane Wars. I felt that it set us up for a very interesting story that gave plenty of nods to the original inspiration (which if you weren't aware is a Star Wars fanfic). That said, I didn't love A Monsoon Rising as much as I wanted to. The plot felt stilted at times, even though the writing remained lovely. We got a lot of development with regard to the relationship between Alaric and Talasyn, there was some spice and a lot of push and pull and banter between the two of them, however I felt like all of this was overshadowed by the story dragging at some points. The stakes were supposed to be very high, but it simply didn't feel that way. I remained completely unattached to the side characters as well. I had to stop and let one or two chapters simmer for a while before I picked the book back up again so it ended up taking me a while to finish this. The ending did catch me off guard, so be warned there's a cliffhanger. Despite all of the things that I didn't love about A Monsoon Rising, I do think it is overall a good series thus far, and given that I know what kind of writer Thea is, I have faith that book 3 will knock my socks off.

Wow what a follow up to The Hurricane Wars! No second book slump here!!! Monsoon Rising was everything!

We are picking up right where we left off in THW. The Moonless Dark is a few months away. In a night where all 7 moons are in eclipse the void sever will erupt and spill death magic all over the world, sounds bad right?! Well our two favorite heroes can save everyone but they have to do it together! Alaric and Talasyn combined magic has the power to create a shield to withstand the sever but training is required to build up their magical strength. That means lots of time spent together and while their relationship is changing they are still both keeping secrets.

The growth in this book for both Alaric and Talasyn was amazing. Alaric really comes out from being under his father’s thumb and shows Talasyn some real emotion. He was so dumb and clueless when it came to sexy times it was so sweet lol. I loved how he would get so grumpy when people would defer to his wife in front of him and his jealousy was so hot too! Talasyn really shines as a leader in this book. She is a natural at caring for her people and after being only a soldier for so long I love how she gets to be the one to give orders instead. Her heart really softens for Alaric this time around but she still shows that spitfire side of her when needed. Can I just say that I loooooove Prince Elagbi?! He is hilarious and such a good dad. When he gets Alaric drunk and plays Casongkâ with Sevraim, soooo funny! He’s a show stealer for sure!

This book has MUCH more romance than the first book and it was so lovely getting to see their relationship grow and change from hateful enemies to almost in love with one another. Thea mentions several times the fact that they were both so lonely and now they have someone…just my heart omg! There is loads of spice, sometimes awkward but still hot! The rain scene on the beach…goodness! Towards the end Alaric gets all grisly and assertive and it’s really yum.

We end on the biggest cliffhanger I think I’ve read this year (almost 100 books!) and I’m beside myself. It comes out nowhere really and if what I think happened really happened I’m gonna be so sad!!! Thea! How dare you! I really thought we would end with one the secrets these two have been keeping being revealed but noooooo let’s just keep my anxiety going into book three about that! Besides being so cruel for this cliffhanger the author has brought her A game again and Monsoon Rising is going to be another massive hit! Thank you so much to Avon and HarperVoyager for blessing me with an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

After the events of The Hurricane Wars, Talasyn and Alaric begin training to hold back the void magic on the seventh eclipse and get a little too close for comfort while planning on stabbing each other in the back.

Loved this and seeing both main characters grow into themselves. I feel like often times with trilogies the second book is just setting up the pieces for the third book while adding nothing meaningful, but A Monsoon Rising doesn’t fall into this trap. It does set up for the third book, but there’s so much more happening that it doesn’t feel like filler or fluff. The ending had me absolutely screaming though and I feel like we needed more court politics to really explain why it happened

I thought this was an interesting book, but don’t feel like it was my style of book. Well written and a good read.

I have been put through the wringer. Thea wrote a masterpiece. I absolutely loved this high fantasy with a romance subplot. I LOVED how Talasyn’s and Alaric’s relationship developed throughout the book.

The magic system, the world building, the mythology of the Nenaverene is just absolutely beautiful.

I cannot wait to see how the story wraps up in book 3!!!!

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Voyager and Thea for this arc!!!!

It’s official: Thea Guanzon is the YA author to watch. I didn’t think it was possible for Guanzon to top the perfection she achieved with THE HURRICANE WARS, and then I had the absolute pleasure of getting lost in A MONSOON RISING. Everything in this book is flawlessly done, and the stakes have never been higher for Talasyn and Alaric going into the next book. (I am OBSESSED with them, and so wrecked over that cliffhanger.)

Too many sequels ultimately fall short of their predecessors. This is not that kind of book. In so many ways, A MONSOON RISING is a literary masterpiece. Guanzon not only recaptures the magic of her debut, but elevates it to impossible heights. A MONSOON RISING grips you from the very first page and doesn’t let go until long after the last. I have no doubt: This is the book of the year.