Thank you do much for this arc ! I screamed when I got approved since I loved the first one so much! This was even better and I can’t believe I have to wait so long for book 4! The magic , the couple the marriage of convenience ! That trope is one of my favorite I love when they start catching feelings . Thanks so much !

🌶️ yes

This book. This couple. This magic system.

Ugh. I loved this book.

- angsty forbidden romance
- Dragons
- Political intrigue
- Enemies to reluctant allies
- Dual POV

There is so much softness in this book that tries to buffer out the dark pain constantly in the corner of the main characters eyes. Two dreamer who are essentially never allowed to sleep. UGH I just wanna hold them real tight and protect them from the world.

Tala and Alaric race to try a save their countries from the Voidfall together while also playing on separate sides of another brewing war.

Most of this book takes place in the grey area between them that they try so hard to preserve and cherish while ultimately knowing they will be the ones to destroy it.

I love the way Thea write ls this hard yet soft romance.

I still am obsessed with the magic system.

I’m ignoring the last five pages for my sanity.

Thank you for the arc

- will post to social media the day of release

WOW. This book was one that I just couldn’t put down…and the cliffhanger…. I’m speechless. I’m actually sad that I’m gonna have to wait like another year for the third book to come out.

This was such an incredible follow up to Hurricane Wars. It’s got a unique magic system, enemies to lovers, romantic tension, chemistry/banter, two POVs, a beautiful pacific island/Philippines inspired world, political intrigue, dragons. Also, THE PLOT and not knowing which character to root for because the whole ecosystem of this book is complex and very morally grey… I mean, all of it was just incredible.

This sequel was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024! Special thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this book. Finished it in 2 days (im a slow reader ) so excited I got a chance to read the second book. It's just as great as the first one maybe even better! Thank you netgalley

To give this books a fair review I am going to the read the first book in this Series “the Hurricane Wars” before I review this book and then I will be back to update my review since this book doesn’t release until December.

I’d like to thank Thea Guanzon and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC and I like to give it a honest and fair review

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review A Monsoon Rising by Thea Guanzon.
This is the sequel to The Hurrican Wars, set up the relationship and training between Talasyn and Alaric. The chemistry there, wow. bickering, arguing, head butting, oh my.
Warning: this is a cliffhanger!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of A Monsoon Rising. After re-reading Hurricane Wars I was excited to re-enter this world and revisit the enemies-to-lovers angst of Talasyn and Alaric. While I enjoyed the first book, I think this one blew it out of the water. I loved the world Thea created in Nenavar, the political intrigue and plotting, the romantic and international tension building concurrently, and the plot twists with impending doom and uneasy peace as the backdrop. Thea's descriptions of the places, outfits, buildings, weather, magic, countries and food were lush and vivid and transported her readers completely into the world she created. I loved the way she built up the conflict between the MCs' growing affection for each other and their duties to their countries based on the Hurricane War. I also enjoyed their banter and constant conflict with each other. I felt that the pace dragged at times in this book, and I despise cliffhanger endings, but overall I think it was the best in the series so far, and I can’t wait to see how Thea concludes this series (hopefully a trilogy).

I absolutely loved the plot premise and characters of this book. The lust and attraction between the 2 main characters is amazing, but who doesn't love a good enemies to lovers book? I will add I do get a steampunk vibe from this book or is that just me? I do have two complaints about the book. First, people, places and things have unusual names, and I had a hard time remembering who or what names were for. I wish the book had a glossary as a quick reference. Second, I struggled picturing what was happening in several scenes and would have to re-read some sections. I just felt confused alot. So additional description would have been appreciated to better set the scene. I did read book 1 in the series first, which I would recommend doing before reading this book.

"Monsoon Rising" by Thea Guanzon transports readers into a captivating world where magic and romance intertwine seamlessly. Set against the backdrop of a fantastical realm inspired by Southeast Asia, the novel weaves a tale of adventure, love, and destiny.

Guanzon's storytelling prowess shines through in her creation of a richly imagined world filled with mythical creatures, ancient prophecies, and enchanting landscapes. The protagonists, navigating their way through trials and tribulations, are drawn together by fate and bound by a powerful, forbidden love.

The chemistry between the characters sizzles with tension, complemented by Guanzon's skillful depiction of their emotional depth and growth. As they unravel mysteries and confront adversaries, readers are treated to a journey that is both thrilling and deeply romantic.

"Monsoon Rising" is a must-read for fans of fantasy romance. Thea Guanzon blends magical elements with a compelling love story, offering a mesmerizing escape into a world where the forces of nature and the power of love collide in unforgettable ways.

the epic sequel to “the hurricane wars”, monsoon rising is literally a blockbuster book. reading it feels like watching the best romantasy movie, and i was obsessed from beginning to end!

being back with Talasyn and Alaric as they navigate their political marriage is a wild ride of emotions that i never want to get off of. both characters must face the reality of their growing feelings for the other while remaining loyal to their people/political agendas, making the dual pov just 🤌🏼

when i say monsoon rising is cinematic, i mean PUT IT ON AN IMAX SCREEN. this book has dragons, catastrophic magical disasters, and quite possibly the end of the world as they know it. the romance was turned up to the highest level and i was kicking my feet & blushing basically every chapter. talasyn and alaric have my heart 🥹❤️‍🩹

here are some final highlights!!
-political marriage
-who did this to you (she says it!!!)
-touch him/ her you die
-wound tending
-ONE BED FORCED PROXIMITY
-banter is bantering
-slow burn tension JUST KISS

& as always, thank you @harpervoyagerus @theagwrites for the ARC copy! 🫶🏼

I don't even know where to begin. Often times in a fantasy trilogy/series; I feel let down by the second book as it is usually slower and feels like set up for the third. That could not be further from the case in A Monsoon Rising. Thea Guanzon has already set the political stage in the first book and the second book picks up right where the first ended and continues hurling you through this world at a breakneck speed. Watching Talasyn and Alaric muddle through their political roles and their own feelings had me in a CHOKEHOLD. My only sadness is that I have to wait to find out where this story is going in the next book!!! The moment I finished, I preordered it as well so if you're looking for your sign to do so, look no further!

I received this book as an ARC and have several conflicting feelings about it. If I could have given it an extra star, I would have because I tossed and turned on whether I consider it a 3-star or 4-star book.

I want to clarify that I did not realize The Hurricane Wars was based off of fan fiction until I had almost completed the book. I did not love the first book, but was very intrigued to see where the story could go. I think that this is a much stronger and compelling book than the first. However, my biggest grievance is that it seems to be mostly filler romance chapters than actual story. I like seeing the character development, but wish that there was more depth to it beyond the hate-love romance trope over and over.

My other major issue is the main crux of both books: the moonless dark. I felt like I was watching season 8 of game of thrones again in which the fight with the white walkers was over in an instant. I understand that you don’t want to drag a scene out extensively, but I felt underwhelmed by it and felt like it could have had more of a wow moment.

I really enjoyed seeing how both the FMC and MMC matured through their situations and grew mentally and emotionally as individuals and together.

I will definitely be picking up book 3 to see what happens after the cliffhanger as I see the potential in this story!

This book is essentially a Taylor Swift “Down Bad”, “Stop, You’re Losing Me”, and “But Daddy I Love Him” mashup of emotions. I was kicking my feet and giggling like a schoolgirl. I absolutely loved the YEARNING. It broke my heart how badly Talasyn and Alaric want to give themselves over to love, but the horrors of war always get in the way. The spicy scenes were some of the hottest, and most tender, I have ever read in my life. Their relationship is so complex and I can’t help but feel like they are somehow doomed, even as I am rooting for everything to turn out ok (be kind to us in book 3, Thea, I beg you). Rarely does a second book live up to the first for me, but I daresay I loved this one even more. Alaric is a damaged boy who is in love with his wife, and his “crawl to her” vibes are delicious! Also, we got a closer look at the dragons in this book! The book ends on a devastating cliffhanger that caught me so by surprise I screamed “WAIT WHAT!”

Holy smokes, this is one hell of a follow up! For those who have not read the hurricane wars, please do yourself a favor and look it up!

I was taken back into this beautiful world, where we were faced with the main characters and their own struggles as well as a developing the relationship between Talasyn and Alaric. This was a true enemies to lovers trope, I was torn between hating them together and needing them together. That exactly how a true enemies to lovers trope should be!

You get the plot build up and the slow burn throughout the story, it’s definitely a peak storytelling plot. I couldn’t have been happier and this didn’t fail as a follow up to the first one. I devoured the entire book within a day!

For some reason I just love Talasyn and Alaric more than most other characters I've come across in similar books. I also just really enjoy the world that the author has built here. It's so well realized and complete. I'm already looking forward to the next book in this series.

Let me get this out of the way first- the ballroom scene!? 😮‍💨🥵 OKAY. 👏🏼

The slow burn was simmering and I was here for it. TBH, it took me a bit to get back in the world with all of the names and people, but once I was there, it flowed pretty well.

There was a lot of building relationships and setting the scene for book 3, so I’ll be excited to see where the story goes from here. Especially with that ending!

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy!

This book picks up right where The Hurricane Wars left off. Talasyn and Alaric have been tasked, through their arranged marriage, to save the Dominion Islands and much of the continent by combining their light and shadow magic to shield the eruption of the Voidfell sever that kills and destroys everything in its path. Only thing, Talasyn, Lachis’ka and Night Empress, is still new to her lightweaver magic. Alaric is now training her every eclipse leading up to the Moonless Night. Small touches, shared secrets and intimate conversations start to produce strong feelings from them both.

“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?”

In the end they both want things to end differently. They can save each other together. Can they save The Dominion? Who will betray who? Is love strong enough to make it through?

She would be his undoing. Light and shadow couldn’t exist together without one destroying the other.

I was so excited when I was approved for this ARC. The Hurricane Wars had been on my TBR for a while and this gave me the kick to finally read it. I have to say book 2, this book, did not disappoint. Book one had much slower pacing, but THIS ONE, I couldn’t put it down. Both Alaric and Talasyn are morally grey, so at different times you’re rooting for a different person. Personally, I’m team Alaric, but that’s beside the point. The tug and pull of the feelings and agendas is what makes this book so excellent!

Thank you NetGalley, Avon Books, Harper Voyager and Thea Guanzon for allowing me to read an advanced complimentary copy of the book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This was one of my most anticipated reads this year, and it did not disappoint.

The pacing is perfect, the romance is incredible, the writing is amazing, I truly have no notes.

And the ending??? I fear I may never recover from this series.

5 stars.
No notes.

Picks up right where the last book left off. More romance and it's SO. GOOD. Lots of mutual pining with plenty of "okay but does he/she LIKE ME LIKE ME?" Longing glances. Lingering touches. "Write to me again. I'll write back. I promise." KICKING MY FEET OVER THESE TWO. There is a lot more spice in this one those of you who were missing that in the hurricane wars.

Plot and pacing greatly improved, I flew through this book and the increase in romance did not take away from moving the plot along. It even had something I wasn't expecting and it's nice to know I can still be surprised by books.

The ending? I am desperate for the next book!

This was excellent and I am eternally greatful to harper voyager for the arc and netgalley!

If you like: star wars, idiots in love but pretending not to be, forced proximity, war and politics, so much scheming, and dragons

Oh my gosh, I loved the first book and I loved the second.
I appreciate a good slow burn. This is the slowest of all slow burns and I’m absolutely here for it.
The conflict between Alaric and Talasyn is low key stressing me out and I feel like this series needs to be long because at some point, they’re both going to feel betrayed and both will need time to get over it. Always a rough time reading conflicts like that, but I’m so invested and just bracing for it at this point.

I really hope this series surprises me and Gaheris dies well before the end, but that’s a little off topic.

I’m ready for this series to receive the recognition it deserves because Talasyn and Alaric’s dynamic is so complex.
The ending absolutely murdered me so that wasn’t fun, but I’ll still come back because I can’t help it.
I will be recommending this to everyone.