Member Reviews

Oh boy was this book intense and everything I hoped it would be. It is different from the first one in terms of being more character driven and progressing slower, but it was so enjoyable.

The poor communication was KILLING me but these two have so much chemistry and it was hard not to be on the edge of my seat and eating it up. I am shattered😭 Why would you do this to me????? Literally cried my eyes out. And it's not even out yet, I have to wait so long for the next book. Literal tears.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperVoyager US for this ARC!

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Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the ARC! I was so excited when I got this, and I still cannot believe I got approved for this title!

Upon starting it, I realized I must've forgotten everything about The Hurricane Wars - it was a bit of a slog for me to get through with an exciting ending, an intriguing world, and an addictive character dynamic, but I stuck with it because my best friend absolutely LOVED it. I felt like it dragged with a lot of unnecessary info-dumping, over-the-top descriptions, and too much detail just to lengthen the story and appeal to readers of wordy, vocab-heavy prose. I did enjoy Alaric and Talasyn, so I was looking forward to the sequel.

I was hoping A Monsoon Rising would leave some of that behind, but I felt the same exact way about the beginning of this book, and I'm very intimidated to force myself through this one right now. I DNF'd early on, and I think I'll let this sit on my bookshelf to give it another go when I'm in the mood for it!

If you loved the world, writing, and characters in The Hurricane Wars, then you're sure to enjoy this book!

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Let me start off by saying that this book is better than the first. I really loved how Guanzon brought in even more aspects of Filipino culture into this world. I thought that there was great movement of the characters across the map, and beautifully diverse scenery. And the last 20% of the book definitely helped to increase its rating. It had epic action and plot moved!

But… I hate to say this, Guanzon’s excessively elaborate writing style, though not as often seen here as with the first book, just kills my reading mood. I was at a steady 3-3.5 star for most of the book… her writing style still feels awkward, while also not adding value/better imagery for the reader.

She developed the characters more, but there are too many for me to care about. The vocabulary of the ships and magic is large-scale, and Guanzon is 75% of the way there to helping me actually imagine this world better.

I also don’t like our FMC, Talasyn, and like Alaric, our MMC, a little better. Talasyn has extreme thoughts and emotions, which is supposed to be her appeal, but doesn’t appeal to me much at all. We end up seeing a very real vulnerability from Alaric, that just imprints him onto your heart.

The dialogue between characters is not too believable. But I did enjoy that there is effortless recap of book one in this story! Overall, it’s a good book to continue the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for giving me the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 ⭐️ 3.5 🌶️

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This book hit ALL of my boxes EVEN THOUGH it ends on a dreaded cliffhanger! That being said this second installment was thrilling! I liked the first one a lot but this one picks up even more. The book is generally about Alaric and Talasyn in the beginning of their marriage as they are forced to reckon with mortal peril. It’s beautifully written with details that really paint a picture! The two are constantly struggling with who they owe their loyalty to in the aftermath in the hurricane wars and their burgeoning feelings and the reader is pulled through a rollercoaster of highs and lows.

We have the following:
- arranged marriage
- exasperated man
- high stakes
- secrets
- steam

A plus plus! I can’t believe it’s going to be so long until the next one!!

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I really enjoyed the this second book and this series. I am loving all things romantasy this year, so this fit the vibe. I also really enjoy star wars, so this really hit for me. I recommend!

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I found it difficult to immerse myself in the story due to the complex world-building and intricate situational explanations. The Southeast Asian-inspired setting is rich in detail, but it took time to fully grasp the political and magical landscape that surrounds Alaric and Talasyn.

The novel continues to explore the enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Alaric, the master of the Shadowforged Legion, and Talasyn, a Lightweaver. Their forced marriage in the name of peace adds layers of tension and intrigue as they navigate political plots and personal desires. The chemistry between the two characters crackles with intensity, yet the emotional stakes are often overshadowed by the dense explanations of magic systems and political alliances.

The novel excels in the way it builds suspense around the unfolding political schemes and magical conflicts, but I found myself wishing for more balance between the intricate world-building and character development. Those who enjoyed The Hurricane Wars will likely appreciate the continuation of the story, though it may require patience for those who struggle with detailed fantasy settings.

Overall, Monsoon Rising offers a rich tapestry of magic, romance, and political intrigue, but it may take some effort to navigate the complexity of its world. Fans of slow-burn romance and high-stakes drama will likely find it rewarding, even if the initial pace feels slow.

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I absolutely loved this book! It kept the same fantastic pace as the second one, and honestly, it was just as good. The world-building continues to enchant me, drawing me deeper into this captivating universe. The romance between Alaric and Talasyn is even better here—oh my god, their chemistry is off the charts! 🔥

From their cute moments to the sizzling tension, I couldn’t help but root for them. Watching them evolve from enemies to lovers while navigating their complex history is such a thrill.

Alaric has officially become my new book boyfriend! I loved seeing him discover more about himself and how far he’s willing to go for his people and Talasyn.

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They may have poor communication skills but BY GOD do they have chemistry.

Rating: 3.5 ⭐️

This book was constant blue balls. It was will-they-won't-they hell. One second they are going at it, no holds barred, and then stop, we just can't do this. It was a mistake.... what about my family/friends/nation? Well, what about me?? What about what I want??

Alaric and Tala had so many cute moments. And by god, were they hot as hell 🔥🔥🔥 This book had chemistry to spare. Not once did I doubt that these characters wanted to ravage each other at all times.

Honestly, where this book lost me was in the plot. It felt dragging at points, like, let's just get past this page filler and unnecessary miscommunication and let Alaric and Tala cuddle again. There was plotting with none of the payoff. They might talk about doing something, but they don't actually do anything.

I don't really know what happened in this book and I just finished it 20 minutes ago. There was a lot of sex and internal panic with a couple training sessions shoehorned in there for good measure... and that was about it. There was the overarching Voidfell threat and then... what else really happened in this book?

Overall, in some ways I was disappointed, in some ways not. I will say I didn't love the The Hurricane Wars because of it's intricate plot, but because of the connection between Alaric and Talasyn. And A Monsoon Rising had that in spades even if they frustrated me at times. Like, come on, Alaric just needs to be loved! Just love each other, I'm begging you! You can figure out all the world-ending war and violence later.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for providing me early access to A Monsoon Rising in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Pre-reading:
Alright alright guys I’ve been waiting for this all year!!

NETGALLEY APPROVED ME!!! AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

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While the first book took me a little while to get into it, this one had me hardly able to put it down! I love the growth that Alaric and Talysn go through, both individually and in their romance. The world felt more lush, the spice was wonderful, and the end has me dying for the next book. I love a fantasy that focuses on the romance, so it's right up my alley.

Alaric's calm and cool demeanor is so perfect for the fiery Talasin, and they're mirrors of each other. I was swooning at nearly every interaction, and was kicking my feet during their spice scenes. This is very focused on their romance, but the plot had me hooked as well and dying to know what happens. I loved it.

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I have love Thea Guanzon's writing for a long time, and I am so damn excited to see a wider world fall in love with her, too!

Thea brings it in this second installment in her Hurricane Wars saga. Talasyn and Alaric continue to be delightfully infuriating, and their burgeoning relationship is fantastic and instantly binge-able, like a bowl of fresh popcorn.

But what do I love even more? Thea's world building. What a world! What a magic system! Fuckin' DRAGONS?!? She had me by the throat from the get-go. Sure, it's a lot of names, a lot of world-specific lingo, a lot of buy-in, but every good fantasy series has that. This one rewards you for the effort ten-fold.

Obviously, I'm a fan. This one isn't even officially out yet and I'm salivating for the next one. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the early read!

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A monsoon is moving in while Prince Alaric, the Night Emperor’s son, and Talasyn, his new bride, frantically try to merge their magic to protect their world from an advancing enemy. This fantasy romance, set in Southeast Asia, is the second book in The Hurricane Wars series. I liked A Monsoon Rising even better than the first, because it has more romance, more dragons, and less political intrigue. Plus, it weaves monsoons, volcanoes, and eclipses seamlessly into the story!

In the first book, The Hurricane Wars, Talasyn, a warrior, is fighting for her country, which is under siege by the ruthless Night Emperor. The Emperor’s greatest warrior is Prince Alaric, his son and heir, and Talasyn has been raised to see them both as utterly evil. In book one, Alaric and Talasyn try to kill each other more than once (luckily, they don’t succeed!), but each encounter pulls them closer.

Talasyn wields a rare and special kind of magic—she’s a Lightweaver. This is the same kind of magic that killed Alaric’s grandfather and led his father to start the devastating Hurricane Wars. Alaric, who commands Night Shadow magic, is not his father, though. The more he sees Talasyn, the stronger his attraction grows. They find each other almost irresistible—especially after discovering that, together, their magic creates a force greater than anything anyone has ever seen. By the end of book one, they are married in an alliance of convenience.

In A Monsoon Rising, Alaric and Talasyn have gone from enemies to lovers and are learning to work their magic together to fend off attacks from their enemy, the Voidfell, a death-dealing machine deployed by Alaric’s father. Both reflect on their wedding night, longing to kiss again, yet they hesitate, afraid of getting too close. Their countries have been at war for years, and neither of them trusts easily after being raised to see the other as the ultimate enemy.

Alaric’s father is almost comically evil and beats him, thinking Alaric is weak. He doesn’t trust Talasyn either and schemes against her—fearing she will cause his son to fall in love. When Talasyn finds Alaric after one of these beatings, she tends to his wounds with tenderness. He’s soothed by her care, both of them starved for affection. But Talasyn is unsettled by her growing feelings and visits the Lightweaver shrine on an island, hoping for answers about her mother, who abandoned her at a harsh orphanage when she was young.

Alaric feels hurt that Talasyn left for the shrine without telling him—stirring his own painful memories of being abandoned by his mother. To regain his strength, he sets off alone to a Shadow Sever. When a messenger eagle delivers a note informing Talasyn of Alaric’s journey and the approaching storm, she scrambles to rescue him. She finds him just as the monsoon hits, and the floodwaters begin to rise.

As the storm rages, the attraction and tension between them reach a breaking point. It’s a beautiful, sensual scene as they make love, the monsoon lashing around them. They insist they aren't in love, but they agree to enjoy the physical side of their marriage while they can. Both worry about their allies’ schemes to seize each other’s territories—neither wants to betray the other, yet both remain tethered to the causes they were raised to serve.

The second half of the story flies by with action, and I couldn't put the book down. I won’t spoil the ending, but it leaves off on a major cliffhanger, and now I can’t wait to read the final book. I’m curious if Talasyn’s grandmother, Urduja, will turn out to be as evil as Alaric’s father—and if so, how they’ll manage to defeat them both.

I’d like to see Alaric and Talasyn learn to trust each other more in the next book. I’m not a fan of cliffhangers, especially when it means waiting a whole year for the next installment! Still, despite that frustration, this book is a DIK (Desert Island Keeper) for me. The way the author wove the monsoon into Alaric and Talasyn’s love story was pure magic, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

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I really enjoyed this! Alaric and Talasyn’s relationship moves forward in a really satisfying, earned way. I also really enjoyed the political machinations that we see happening. I’m excited for book 3!

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A Monsoon Rising is a fantastical action packed, enemies to actual lover (finally) perfect for the fall and winter seasons read. Picking up fairly near the end of hurricane wars you see Talasyn starting to try to embrace her new roles of Night Empress, but also staying true to her people. You see Alaric learning new things about himself and how far he is willing to go for himself his people his father and Talasyn. The relationship between Talasyn and Alaric progressives a lot more naturally than I expected and I loved every minute. You really see the conflict they both have for having feelings for their *enemies*. With tropes such as enemies to lovers, touch her and i'll kill you, and more this book should be at the top of the list for all Romantasy readers. This story is a little slower than Hurricane Wars was with a lot of small time jumps, but that did not slow my love for this world what an exceptional read. My only drawback of this book was that I wanted more to happen. I feel like it was a little short and certain aspects of the story I haven't mentioned is being drawn out a little more than I would have hoped for. However, Thea Guanzon has an innate power to just draw you into this world and not let you go. Ps. I really thought nothing could top the ending to Hurricane Wars, but this one is just unfair and what a cliff hanger. Will be anxiously and not super patiently awaiting Book 3.

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This is book 2 of the Hurricane Wars series—such a great romatasy read! I think it is hard to stretch an enemies-to-lovers story line into the second book, but it was well done here, and the slow burn was great. I laughed out loud multiple times, and I can't wait to see how this trilogy ends. (Also, I have definitely already pre-ordered this and the sprayed edges are beautiful.)

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The Hurricane Wars was the first book and five star read of 2024 for me and I thought I would have to wait until the end of the year for the next installment. Getting this ARC was so exciting. I have been looking forward to A Monsoon Rising since it was announced.

This is one of the slowest burns I have ever encountered and when things ignited, it absolutely delivered. I was just a giddy little girl who was kicking her feet reading this. The banter and the chemistry is spot on. I have not read a story that was originally Reylo fanfiction that I have not loved.

Strong female lead, grumpy MMC who wants to be a teddy bear, court politics, marriage of convenience, enemies to lovers, incredible magic system, war tech…

Also, DRAGONS. But not dragons just for the sake of having them in a book.

I felt very heavy The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom vibes towards the end. Anyone else?

Also, how could you end it like that??? What am I going to do until the next book??? It is a crime, I tell you.

If you are looking for a new fantasy series to get into, look no further.

A Monsoon Rising comes out on December 10th, 2024. Thank you NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Publishing for this eARC in exchange for a review.

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This series has some of my favorite characters of all time. Objectively, this book might suffer just a little bit from middle-book-syndrome, but Guanzon's writing and characters are so great that it doesn't even matter. I liked Alaric's perspective a lot in this book. We learn a little bit more about the world, too. I have no idea where this series is going to go next, and I can't wait to find out.

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Thank you to Net Galley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC.

Admittedly, I wasn't a huge fan of The Hurricane Wars, but I was intrigued enough to continue the series. While it didn't rock me like a hurricane (er... monsoon), I did enjoy this one a lot more. I would classify this one as a true romantasy story (romance first, plot second)-- which I think is going to appeal to a lot of people. The tension, the angst, it's all there. If you’ve been waiting for this couple to hook up repeatedly, you’re in luck my friend.

That being said, I felt like the plot needed to be stronger. Outside of the relationship progression, not a lot happened in this book. The plot took a major back seat in this book. The ending’s plot twist almost felt diminished and unearned.

One random gripe I have to voice because this has now happened in The Hurricane Wars and Monsoon Rising: the phrase “par for the course” is used in both books. This term comes from golf— a sport that does not exist in this fantasy universe. I understand that this term is figurative and is used outside of the sport, but without golf as its origin, it doesn’t make sense.

I will definitely continue reading this series. While I’m not the biggest romantasy fan, the author has created a really interesting, unique world and I would love to see more of the court politics aspect of this story moving forward.

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First of all special thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Going into this book I had hopes that this book would be better than the first. I didn't dislike the first but felt it could have been better. I am here to say that this book has exceeded my expectations! I loved it. The writing I found more concise than the first book and easier to read. Definitely a great follow up to a good first book!

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I’m honestly at a loss for words. I tore through A Monsoon Rising in just one day, and it was absolutely amazing. Thea Guanzon crafted a star-crossed romance filled with intense battles, high risks, and courtly intrigue. The pacing was perfect, and as I neared the last few pages, I was practically holding my breath, desperate for more. She seamlessly tied all the conflicts together, just wow.

The enemies-to-lovers dynamic is really well done, with just the right balance of push and pull as Alaric and Talasyn grow closer while keeping their defenses up. Alaric’s devotion to Talasyn is truly touching—he’d do anything for her. Their bond is strong, understanding each other in ways no one else can, yet still holding something back. They bring a blend of heartache and intensity to their relationship, and I’m really hoping for a happy ending for them!

This book places a strong emphasis on the romance—there’s plenty of angst and tension, but it’s also filled with tender, heartwarming moments. And those plot twists at the end? Plus, the cliffhanger? Wow! The story really heightens the tension and raises the stakes, making it hard to put down, and the ending left me eager for the next installment.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager, Thea Guanzon, the author, and NetGalley for the ARC opportunity.

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A Monsoon Rising by Thea Guanzon was one of my most anticipated reads of this year and I want to take Netgalley and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read an e-ARC. This was such a great follow up to The Hurricane Wars and kept me entertained the entire time while reading it. THE TENSION! It was so good. It was really good. This is how you do it, people. I was hooked and I couldn't get enough. I loved the character development that we got to see in this book. I also found the action scenes to be well done and I was actually able to follow along with what was happening. It was great. Overall, a fantastic follow up and I cannot wait to read the next book in this wonderful series!

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