3.5/5
Book #2 of the Hurricane Wars series - the story returns to Alaric and Talasyn as they try to figure out their tension filled "marriage of convenience" amidst a whirlwind of new magic and old secrets. They don't even like each other... or do they. The have to decide what—and who—to fight for.

Some of the best parts of the book were the banter and tension between the two main characters. As with the first book, I struggled with the world building. I just can't envision the world they are in for some reason. There's light and dark magic. There are dragons, though they seem like an add on. The pacing of the book didn't help me. At times, the plot moved at a nice pace and then other times it dragged. While I enjoyed this book slightly more than the first, I found myself mildly disappointed as I realized this wasn't a duology and there was a cliffhanger ending.

Perhaps with a re-read or audio listen, I might follow the fantasty realm a bit better and like the story more as I do think this series has potential overall.

Welcome to my spoiler free review of my FAVORITE book of 2024, and what is surely going to be one of my favorite series of all time🥹

♾️⭐️s!!!

All the stars and love for this incredible sequel to The Hurricane Wars. Alaric and Talasyn are two of my favorite little idiots (said with the utmost love, respect, and adoration) of all time. I seriously adore them. I finished AMR Friday and have the mental capacity for nothing but this book.

A Monsoon Rising is the PERFECT follow up to The Hurricane Wars. Without spoilers, you get everything you want- continuing plot, magic, romance, PINING, developing relationships, fun side characters, the BEST banter, need I go on? I just love how these characters interact! I have laughed, I have cried, and I am now begging for the next book. Because that ending? We are about to go on a JOURNEY in the next book🔥

I cannot recommend this book enough. If you’re in the US, grab your copy TOMORROW when it releases! I will be dutifully showing up to Barnes and Noble first thing in the morning to snag my special edition copy🫡

Congratulations Thea, this was a beautiful masterpiece❤️‍🔥

Thank you to Thea, @harpervoyagerus, and @netgalley for the eARC!

📚A Monsoon Rising by Thea Guanzon
📖Pages: 336
📗 Genre: Fantasy
⭐5/5
🔥3.5/5
📝CAWPILE: 70/70
💥 Read Dates: 11/22/24 through 11/30/24


Synopsis: After a lifetime of war, Alaric and Talasyn were thrust into an alliance between their homelands that was supposed to end the fighting; however, being married to their sworn foe feels far from peaceful. Now Talasyn must play the part of Alaric’s willing empress while her allies secretly plot to overthrow his reign. But the longer the couple are forced together, the harder it becomes to deny the feelings crackling like lightning between them. When the time comes to act, can she trust him, or must she ignore her heart for the sake of so many others?

As the master of the Shadowforged Legion, Alaric has trained for battle all his life, but marrying a Lightweaver might be his most dangerous challenge yet. With tensions between nations churning, he needs to focus on the greater threat—the Moonless Dark, a cataclysmic magical event that could devour everything. Only he and Talasyn can stop it, with a powerful merging of light and shadow that they alone can create together. But saving their world from this disaster is a mere preface to his father’s more sinister schemes, and his wife is a burning flame in the darkness, tempting both his loyalties and his desires.

The Hurricane Wars aren’t over. It’s time to choose what—and who—to fight for. The world holds its breath amidst a whirlwind of new magic and old secrets that could change everything.


Review: First off! I would like to start with my disclaimer and thank you to Net galley for providing me with an ARC of my most anticipated 2024 release! All the thoughts and opinions are my own and boy howdy do I have some!

This book. Best thing since sliced bread. Am I being a wee bit silly? Yes. It's how I'm choosing to cope with the fact that I've been left on a horrible cliffhanger that I will have to wait a year to get answers to. This is devastating.

I cannot begin to describe how amazing this book is, it had me laughing, and tearing up, and swooning, and on the edge of my seat. This series is one I always recommend and will continue to do so because it's just that good. The writing, the world, the characters, the dynamics... And what I will say, is that I really was happy learning more about some of our supporting characters and their personalities, and I found myself giggling at things they said and did. I cannot wait for the next book to dive deeper into this world and take me with it.

A Monsoon Rising started out slow but drew me in around the middle! The tension between Talasyn and Alaric increases so much more in this novel, and they finally act on their build-up after the events of The Hurricane Wars. Much of this book deals with romance and politics, especially saving their world from the Moonless Dark.

I liked the additional world-building in this novel and how Alaric was literally a cinnamon roll in some parts of the book. He also respects Talasyn and is utterly spellbound/enamoured by her. He literally thinks the world of her. Despite Alaric’s advances, Talasyn still struggles with her loyalty to the rebels and her attraction toward her husband.

In all, the story was climatic and also cinematic in the way clothes and fashion were described. I enjoyed how the magic system also showed some interesting effects and worked differently with Talasyn in terms of memories and reveals. I absolutely loved the part where brave Talasyn fought to save her world, and Alaric was right there beside her. (Alaric takes his vows seriously) 😆

As for the ending, I was shocked that it ended on such a cliffhanger. Then again, the foreshadowing was always there right from the beginning. The writing was fantastic and I can’t wait for the final book!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC to review!

A Monsoon Rising is book two in The Hurricane Wars series by Thea Guanzon.
And this book was beyond anything I’ve ever read before!
The writing immediately captivated me and the world building was so wonderful and lush. I really like that such an epic fantasy managed to stay very character-focused.
I absolutely adored the world building and the characters.
There were definitely some surprising twists and moments that had me on the edge of my seat.

This is an Angsty Romance with a capital A and a capital R. The writing is so vulnerable, with sweetness, pathos and humor, that even as you want to strangle these two idiots, you can’t help love them. Both Talasyn & Alaric are caught between what they *might* want, should want, deserve to want, while surrounded by powerful people they cannot trust - even those they thought they could.

Monsoon Rising picks up shortly after the ending of Hurricane Wars. Both Alaric & Talasyn are grappling with the agendas at play on each side - some they support, some they’re unwillingly tied into. The most immediate threat, however, is still the impending Voidfell eruption that it’s up to them to stop. As the two are forced to continue to work together, the more the walls come down between them…and the more dangerous the game becomes.

The subtle shifts and displays of power between all the various courts were complex but not confusing. I haven’t read an “enemies to lovers” romance where I thought to myself, “How the HELL are they really going to make this work?” since Bridge Kingdom.

All this angst, emotion and stress all serves to make the spice so, so earned - it hits on multiple levels. Alaric’s filthy talk will live in my brain rent free forever. And yes there is more spice than the first book! Yay!

The worldbuilding continues to be amazing - the Southeast Asia inspired food, clothing, places all GORGEOUS. Take me to Nenavar.

Justified or not, however, the tension and misconceptions between Alaric & Talasyn will make you want to scream - especially since the first book is also rife with the same dance. The relationship does progress emotionally but it’s SLOW. If that’s not your cup of tea I can see this getting frustrating. I was able to go with it, buoyed by the excellence of the writing and world, but I am definitely ready for them to lay it all on the table in book 3.

This was a great next book after the hurricane wars. I was nervous it wouldn't live up to the love I have for the first book but it really did. This is definitely a must read!!

Middle books in a trilogy are notoriously hard to write. But you wouldn’t know that from reading this one because Thea Guanzon absolutely killed it. Wow. WOW. What an utterly fantastic second book. As with the first book the descriptions are vivid and detailed, bringing everything to life off of the page. I am FERAL for Tala and Alaric. Getting to see their relationship grow and deepen while still holding on to their respective secrets? Chef’s kiss. THIS is how you write a true enemies to lovers. The supporting characters are also incredible, fully obsessed with all of them. The spice was well written and the perfect amount. The pacing was excellent and the story moved so well. There was not a single wasted minute or wasted word. And the end. THE END? How dare you. HOW DARE YOU?! Well deserving of a rare five stars. WOW.

A Monsoon Rising
by Thea Guanzon

I want to start by saying thank you to NetGalley & Avon/Harper Voyager for an eARC.

DNF at 25%

I was trying to remain hopeful for the 2nd book in this series. I thought Hurricane Wars was very weak overall, but I was giving the author some grace as it was their first novel. I hoped going into book 2 that the writing may have improved. Unfortunately, that was not the case. I think the story has a lot of potential but never delivered.

The author’s penchant for detail sometimes works against the narrative flow. While a rich setting can enhance a story, here, it often feels excessive, bogging down the reader with descriptions that do little to advance the plot or develop the characters. This overemphasis on detail leaves little room for more significant developments that could enrich the reading experience.

Moreover, many of the characters lack depth and complexity, preventing readers from forming genuine connections with them. Characters come across as flat or clichéd, which detracts from the emotional stakes of the story. Without fully fleshed-out characters, it becomes difficult to care about their journeys or the outcomes of their conflicts, leaving the narrative feeling hollow.

I enjoyed the first book in the series, but I LOVED this book! It had me invested right from the beginning and kept me invested the entire time. This book is a great balance of romance and fantasy and I would definitely recommend!

A Monsoon Rising tracks Alaric and Talasyn's relationship as it goes from mostly-political to something far more intimate than either of them dare to name, all as secrets and allegiances shift on both sides of the war.

Guanzon always gets points for making her ETL banter funny without being cringe, balanced by the softness between our main couple in the quiet moments when they're vulnerable exclusively to each other. Does that stop them from being really bad at talking about their feelings? No. But bad communication doesn't stop them from getting things done with flying colors.

This is the book where they really crank up the raunchiness dial, so spice lovers rejoice! But it's also the book where the stakes have really mounted even higher, with dangerous secrets teetering closer to the edge of discovery, and I'm just a little bit stressed for the next book. I might know how the original fic ended, but Guanzon has really expanded upon her unique worldbuilding (i.e. she added lots of dragons, which I love) and the political stakes at play in the best way, so who knows?

Oh my gosh! What a whirlwind this story was. And that cliffhanger?! The next book can’t come soon enough. The Hurricane Wars established a complex magic system and world that did take me a bit to understand. And I did have to go back and skim through first book before diving into A Monsoon Rising. But once that was all settled, it was such a good burn seeing the relationship between Alaric and Talasyn develop while knowing they each had to betray the other after they first saved their lands from being destroyed. And in the end, the plot twist came completely out of nowhere. I will be anxiously awaiting the arrival of the next book because that ending caught me completely by surprise!

4/5 ⭐️

I loved loved loved this book.

The first book, not going to lie, I struggled to read. There was so much context and not a lot of dialogue in my opinion throughout the first one, but understandable because Guanzon had to set up this giant elaborate world.

But THIS BOOK, wow. It had me hooked from start to finish and in my opinion was definitely better than the first. Guanzon really found her stride in this book. Such a great second book and I already can’t wait for the third one 😭

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

I ate this book UP. Wasn't expecting to love this book more than The Hurricane Wars, but happy to report the sequel had everything I could want and more. It's faster paced, the quips are dialed up to a 10, and the romance is hot-hot-hot.

We get a second helping of that delicious enemies-to-lovers tension Thea is so good at writing, intoxicating LONGING, hilariously feisty banter, and numerous extremely well done steamy scenes. I freaking love Alaric and think he's perfect. He and Talasyn complement each other so beautifully!

The cultural depictions of Nenevar had me smiling and chuckling—I was overwhelmed with some familial nostalgia of my own.

And DRAGONS. I love the turn the series took with the gorgeous lore!

THIRD BOOK WHEN?? 😩

While I enjoyed The Hurricane Wars, I LOVED A Monsoon Rising. I’m a huge fan of political machination reads when they’re well done and Guanzon has nailed that in A Monsoon Rising. There’s so much as stake between the Moonless Dark and both Talasyn and Alaric having their own agendas. The plot pacing was well balanced in A Monsoon Rising, and it kept me thoroughly engaged where I did not want to put it down. I also loved the relationship development between Talsyn and Alaric. There was so much chemistry in the first book, and it further blossomed in A Monsoon Rising. We’re given the opportunity to really see their enemies to lovers romance in full force. They were delightfully awkward together, and it made for an entertaining read as they navigated what worked for them. Alaric also really shined in this book with his dry sense of humor. This book ends on a jaw dropping cliff hanger that will have readers including me desperate for the next book. I can’t wait to see where Guanzon takes us in the final installment.

<i><b>"Let them know, beyond the Shadow and the turning of the stars, that you are mine."</b></i>

That ending! This sequel did not disappoint & was unputdownable. Thea G. knows how to weave a beautiful world, all while giving us stunning prose. Everything from the political intrigue, secrets, tension, and new revelations had me on the edge of my seat. The secrets being kept from each other added another level of tension and impending doom.

The romance and banter was upped even more in this sequel. Talasyn & Alaric's dynamic is electric and I was loving every moment between them. Also, the twists and a few revelations towards the end had my jaw on the floor. I cannot wait to see what unfolds in book 3, especially after that brutal cliffhanger!

Thank you NetGalley & Avon/Harper Voyager for an eARC.

A thrilling second installment to the series! As usual Thea's writing sparkles with rich, immersive imagery, and the enemies-to-lovers tension continues to be exquisite. The worldbuilding is fantastic and unique. And the cliffhanger, ahhhh! I can't wait for the third book!

A MONSOON RISING was a perfect follow up to the world that Thea Guanzon created. I enjoyed The Hurricane Wars, but I really enjoyed this book. With its tensions, increased world building, character development, and trope heavy romance, I thought this was a perfect romantasy book.

I loved how in this book, we finally get to see more of the world that the author is creating and how it is a fun blend of magic mixed with technology. It almost felt steampunk, but in a fantasy world. It felt more fleshed out and complex. The world finally started opening up more and we get to see how it functions.

And the stakes are high in this novel. As the story progresses, so does the tension and the character development. We see these characters start to come into their own and they begin to evolve and change, question themselves and their ideals. Its a refreshing take from the last book where the characters were dominated by their own opinions. It created great tension, but in this book, it was more about their evolution into their own people. And I enjoyed that immensely.

And because this is such a romance centered novel, it was great to see these characters develop in the context of their relationship. The largest issue I had with the first book was that it was a slow burn romance in the extreme. Nothing moved forward in their relationship. This was not the case here. There were multiple times where I was kicking my feet in anticipation. And, to me, their interactions were some of the best parts of the novel.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and there were several times where I stayed up late to read it. if you love enemies to lovers, arranged marriage, one bed, force proximity, "my wife," touch them and die, slow burn romances, and world building, this book should be for you!

Thank you to Harper Avon and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I gave The Hurricane Wars a generous 3/5 stars because I was frustrated with the slow burn, immaturity of the characters, and singular jarring chapter of spice. THIS BOOK somehow took the same characters and elements and made me love it.

Following the events of book 1, including Talasyn and Alaric's wedding and wedding night (don't get me started on that), they have to begin preparing for the Moonless Dark which threatens to destroy everything. They reluctantly work together even though they both have their plans and vision for life if they succeed while navigating their marriage of convenience.

I loved how the yearning and tension really amped up and even though I may have cringed at just how virgin they both were, their intimacy was developed really well. I was also happy that they had time both together and separately to explore their feelings for each other.

My last fave thing that that the Moonless Dark is the conflict in this book and is fully resolved(ish) before the end. I won't spoil what it is or how it happens but I'm glad they can focus on other conflicts like Alaric's father, the rebellion, and if Talasyn is going to stick to her promise to herself that she will kill Alaric now that they are done.

Book 2 immediately starts off from book 1. A Monsoon Rising focuses more on the new political marriage alliance and puts Tala and Alaric’s romance in the foreground. We get to watch the development of their relationship and their own personal struggles with their chemistry and attraction towards each other. These two are both in denial 😂. They get to experience the impact of outside influences on their relationship as well. Also get to dive a little deeper and learn more about the MCs which helped me connect with them more.

I would’ve liked to see the voidfell plot played out more. As both books lead up to that point, it was slightly underwhelming when it came to stopping it from destroying the world. I felt that the stakes were too high but were not taken too seriously. I also would’ve liked to have spent more time at The Night Empire.

Overall this ᴠ ᴇ ʀ ʏ slow burn, enemies to lovers is my cup of tea and I had a fun time reading it. I felt like I understood the world better than the first one. It has tension, romance, good pacing, political intrigue and a 𝙢𝙖𝙟𝙤𝙧 cliffhanger. Will Tala and Alarics secrets finally spill? Will there be a big sacrifice? I also have a couple of theories. Hoping book 3 delivers.

𝙥𝙪𝙗 𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚 12/10/24

*𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙃𝙖𝙧𝙥𝙚𝙧 𝙑𝙤𝙮𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝘼𝙍𝘾*