4.5 stars!!!

First of all I want to say what a sequel!!!! This is probably one of the best sequels I’ve read. I honestly enjoyed it more than The Hurricane Wars (because the world building has already been established). This book is action packed. There is so much drama and the banter between Alaric and Talasyn is *chefs kiss*! There is so much growth to their relationship and it’s been so great to see that. The one bed trope was everything! Don’t get me talking about the ending. This book is nonstop until the very last page! I highly recommend it!

A Moonsoon Rising by Thea Guanzon was one of my most anticipated books of the year. After finishing The Hurricane Wars I could not wait for the sequel. In book 2 we find out if Alaric and Talasyn can work together to save everyone from the Moonless Dark and also get to watch the progression of their forced political marriage. The banter between Alaric and Talasyn continues and temptations grow. Sevraim is one of my favorites. "Yes, your glittering majesty! At once, my shimmering master!"

Thea, I think I can safely speak for everyone, and we need the next book immediately after that ending!

Huge thank you to Harper Voyager, Avon Books, and Netgalley for the ARC.

Thank you Net Galley and Avon and Harper Voyager | Harper Voyager for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This one sucked me in just like book 1 did. You can't help but to root for the 2 Main characters! Their growth continues in book 2 and makes them both even better! They are really having to mature and are both being forced to face what they believe and decided if they are truly doing what is right.

The Cliff hanger at the end of this one is no joke!! ouch!

This is one the best and true enemies to lovers books I have read in a very very long time. I truly did love this book, book 2, A Monsoon Rising far more than I did book 1. The ending through me for a WHOLE loop because I was fully prepared for this to be a duology and then BAM just kidding its a trilogy!

This second book for me felt far more romance heavy than book 1. There is still the continuation of the enemies to lovers and then allies to lovers and then friend to lovers. I would say, that for those who are excited for that enemies to lovers build up and the slow burn and the "are they finally gonna get together" this is gonna be a heart book for you.

Book 1 was very very hard for me to follow. A lot of the name and cities and clans were all so difficult for me to read and understand so I HAD to use an audiobook because I was so lost 70% of the time. This was a lot less daunting for me because I was able to full immerse myself into the story and not have to focus on how to pronounce every thing.

I do also which that there was a little more politics in this series, because when I get told something is comparable to Star Wars which is mostly political, that is kind of what I expect but it is true to its gene as a romantasy. There is lots of romance.

Thea Guanzon has just a beautiful and dynamic way of writing all her action packed scenes. THEY WERE EPIC and I was on the edge of seat every single time with them!

This was by far a GREAT sequel!!!

4.5/5⭐️

The Hurricane Wars had me foaming at the mouth and begging on my knees for more and A Monsoon Rising delivered. Slow burn of all slow burns!! Banter that had me LOLing!! Secrets that shocked me to my core!! Thea Guanzon did👏🏼the👏🏼damn👏🏼thing👏🏼!!!!

Guanzon packed this book with her signature banter, pining, and badassery. The tension between Talasyn and Alaric was already on high, but somehow we see it get even higher as the two navigate their respective plans of betrayal. I had to pause multiple times just to vent about how nervous I was for each of them to find out what the other was hiding!! I lovedddd watching Alaric make a fool of himself and be all possessive and jealous. On top of that Thea gave us the spice we alllll knew Talasyn and Alaric would deliver.🫦

Without spoiling anything, I will say that when it reached the main plot point I was a little underwhelmed. It felt like a lot of rising anxiety and then it was over so quickly. But the events AFTER that point were full of action, leading to an ending that had my jaw dropping!! I was so wrapped up and furiously swiping through pages that when I reached the end I was yelling about needing more!!! And that’s exactly how I want a fantasy book to end. I need book three IMMEDIATELY.😭

4 stars. A Monsoon Rising picks up where The Hurricane Wars leaves off, and everything I loved about the first book still really holds true for this one. And that's the delicious banter and tension between Alaric and Talasyn. Except in Monsoon Rising, we also get spice ;). I think we can all agree that marriage of convenience is a superior trope, and the best bits are when things start feeling a little less convenient and a little more real. And Guanzon definitely delivered with those moments. There was a lot of world building in book one, so much so that the beginning of the book was a little slow and confusing for me. And if I'm honest, parts of the plot of A Monsoon Rising were also a little confusing. But as much as I enjoy the fantasy elements and political plot lines in this series, I'm honestly just here for the moments between Alaric and Talasyn, making this one really great for fans of romantasy (rather than pure fantasy). Truly, the chapters where they were on the same page together were pure platinum (and will they won't they torture) and will absolutely have be reaching for book 3.

Thank you so much to Harper Voyager, Guanzon, and netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I can confidently say that this book does NOT suffer from 2nd book syndrome. A Monsoon Rising is a great sequel, picks up right when the first one left off and is just as fun and romantic and exciting. More romance, more court politics, more dragons and more spice! I had such a fun time reading this book. Such a fantastic blend of fantasy and sci fi. Honestly think this series deserves the hype that an other certain dragon based series got. AND THAT ENDING??? Cinema. Cannot wait for book 3.

I had high expectations for this series (which I think I read is going to end up being a trilogy?) and, sadly, I think that those hopes were too high. I didn't really feel the connection between the FMC and MMC and I think that I needed more back story to really understand what all was going on with the aether system and the war going on. Overall, just felt like an average fantasy book with considerably more spice in the second book than the first.

I think this book was pretty good! I did receive an ARC in return for my honest review and I’m so happy I did!
The chemistry and the longing the characters had was really the shining point in this book. Their interactions were very believable and I enjoyed the chapters where they were together the most. There was spice but it was written well and not overdone-just the right amount!
The plot was a little muddy for me and the magic I am still just not quite clear on. That could be on me reading the first and second book so far apart but I feel that most magic systems you should be able to pick up on quicker even if you haven’t read a book in the series in a while.
I definitely think it’s worth the read and I will be reading the next one!

Thank you to the Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with a review copy of A Monsoon Rising (The Hurricane Wars #2) by Thea Guanzon in exchange for writing an honest review and promoting the novel. We are excited to be featuring an officially licensed collection based on the novel in the new year.

In A Moonsoon Rising, the author picks up where the story left of with Talasyn being seemingly betrayed by the Night Empire. We continue to learn about the past of Talasyn and Alaric. The tension between the characters continues through this o=novel in the best way possible. We continue to see Alaric's character arc play out even with a brutal cliffhanger. It will be tough to wait to return to this incredibly built world Thea created!

If you liked this, then you might like Fear of the Flames:
- The Force Awakens
- An Ember in the Ashes
- The Artefacts of Ouranos

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars - Please note exact ratings are not shared with our audience on social media. They are only used when considering whether a book will be one of our monthly picks.

Tropes/Elements:
- Slowburn
- Enemies to Lovers (and back again!)
- Political Intrigue & War
- South Eastern Asian Lore
- Light versus Dark
- Arranged Marriage

Let me tell you something right now.. I freaken LOVE Alaric and Talasyn. The whole damn world can go to hell in a hand basket so long as those two have a happily ever after.

I was sooo excited to get approved an ARC for this book as it was one of my most anticipated sequels of year, but I’m DEVASTATED that I will have to wait even longer for the next book 😩 (pls I’m still very grateful I love this book and the characters so much it’s just really painful right now)

“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?”

Thank you to netgalley and Harper Voyager for providing me an early copy in exchange for a honest review. A Monsoon Rising is the long awaited (by ME lol) second entry in the hurricane wars series. Before I say anything let me say I doubt there will ever come a day where Talasyn and Alaric don’t make me go absolutely feral. Those who complained about a lack of romance in the last book?? Look no further because we are eating a hearty meal of banter and tension and slowly sinking softness and even a little spice here and there in this book. In a some what typical fashion for series the second book flags a little bit in the plot department instead focusing more time on the characters and of course the romance. While some might feel this as a detriment, as a Alaric and Tala lover this was the perfect book for me. We still got enough plot, internal conflict with our two mcs, and some really wonderful fight sequences (I will never not love them fighting together with light and shadow magic) to keep things interesting and to keep me on my toes. Watching Talasyn and Alaric fight their attraction for each other in the first book pales in comparison to how we watch them fight their love for each other in this installment. Knowing all of the secrets they keep, the expectations on both their shoulders, while they both continue to imagine and yearn for a world in which they could’ve been is agonizing and squeal inducing all in one. They way Talasyn gets to be touched by love in a way she’s never known before and the way Alaric slowly softens for her until he’s too far gone is just chefs kiss I could read about their dynamic all day. And the way it ended?? Thea….Thea. I need book 3 in my hands YESTERDAY!!! But yea I will never be over Alaric and Talasyn I will never be over this world building and plot and I will never be over this series as a whole it has me in a chokehold I fear. 5⭐️ now I go and wait however long for the next book

I am speechless. Absolutely speechless. So good. The first book, The Hurricane Wars, took me a little bit to get used to with the unique magic system, blend of sci-fi and fantasy, and then the writing style, but once I got about 25% in, I was hooked. But, with book two, A Monsoon Rising, I didn't have to wait any to get pulled into the story. It was a struggle to want to put this book down because I easily could have read it in one sitting it was so good. I adore how Thea Guanzon can write just the most hilarious of banter and torturously good slow burn. Alaric and Talasyn are probably my favorite ship that I have read this year.

Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Collins, for an ARC. Pub Date: 12/10/2024

Very rarely does a sequel aim to surpass their predecessor and succeed. A Monsoon Rising succeeded where others have not.

Talaysn and Alaric become the characters you're desperate for and to watch them weave their ways through their journey is just magical. The world is so unique and so are any twists that may come along. Very refreshing in the genre.

I wanted to throw this book across the room in desperation when I read the last words on the page. I searched the book for the next chapter. How dare you leave me hanging on for dear life knowing full well I can't open the next installment yet! I went in believing this was a duology and was sent on a spiral of rollercoaster proportions when I continued to see my pages dwindle and the story continue. This is a trilogy and I have to sit in the fetal position until I receive book 3.

Thank you to netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review

Thank you Netgally for this ARC!

Hurricane Wars was one of my favorite fantasy reads last year and I was so excited to get more of Talasyn and Alaric. I will not add any major spoilers, but I will mentioning feelings I had while reading.

I felt like this book focused more on the relationship between Talasyn and Alaric, which is something I enjoyed very much. The first book had a lot more world building and this book we get to see the relationship expand as they figure out married life. The dynamic between them doesn't feel repetitive (which sometimes happens with the "enemy to lovers" trope) and the banter had me laughing. Talasyn always stands her ground and she continued to grow into being a queen who leads, not only a soldier. It was also entertaining following Alaric trying to deny his feelings for her, like you little in denial simp lover boy. SPOILER!... He carries a chicken for her, like come on!!

This story also doesn't shy away or ignore what war actually does to people and the effects it has. While I don't feel like the war was as big as a plot this book, you could still feel the heaviness it has on the characters.

Such a great series and I can't wait for book three (hello ANOTHER cliff hanger booooo).

A Monsoon Rising begins with a reminder of the world and war Talasyn and Alaric are in, grabbing the reader back into the lore. From a confusing marriage where both of our main characters are refusing to accept their attraction toward each other for guilt of their political betrayals on the horizon. Talasyn and Alaric must work together despite all odds to keep the Moonless Dark from destroying their world, while also playing the political games of the Dominion and the Night Empire. As they train together, they go through obstacles that bring an understanding between them. The banter between these two makes for amazingly lighthearted moments in this book, to rival the tender and intense moments. This is a true slow burn of will they/wont they that will keep readers on their toes as they progress their relationship. To its core, this is a political drama and the fine details of power plays happening between Regent Gaheris, the Zahiya-lachis, and the Sardovian Remnant remind you that our main characters are pawns to a bigger plan. Alaric and Talasyn are two people in positions they never really wanted to be in, thrown into a middle of a conflict they didn’t ask for finding solace in each other.
The pacing of the book kept me hooked the entire time, the act three climax was beautifully written and makes me want to reread the scene over and over again. The lore was a lot more digestible in this book than the previous. My only critique is some dialogue felt too casual for certain characters, but it was an amazing and enjoyable read that makes me crave the next!

This sequel to The Hurricane Wars continues following Alaric and Talasyn into their new marriage as they work on an alliance and against external threats.

The tension between the two built over this book and I just wanted them to communicate with each other and acknowledge their feelings. As if being inexperienced newlyweds wasn’t enough, these two are dealing with politics and family influences and tasked with saving their own people. The story ramps up in pace at the end and leaves it at a cliffhanger for the next book in the series.

A solid sequel to the first book, I am excited to see where the series goes next. The pacing was a bit off for me, which is why I lowered it a star.

Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy; all opinions are my own.

This was phenomenally written and incredibly descriptive. There are many books within the “romantasy” genre but this book stands out. I think not only for the beautifully and respectfully woven cultural aspects; the incredible vocabulary, but also the ability of Thea artfully describing the landscape of each land, the environment, the creatures and dragons, the magic - it was all so well done.

A couple of aspects that gave me pause: at times the shift between the points of view confused me and I found myself backtracking to get clarity, it wasn’t too bad but a point that was consistent throughout; also along the same lines, there were a couple of scenes that I was lost in the descriptions and unsure of what was happening. Maybe I wasn’t following enough but maybe some of the descriptions had too much going on.

Lastly, the relationship dynamics were tasteful and felt believable, so much of their dialogue and banter had me laughing! And many of the side characters were such a delight to see interwoven into the story. All in all, absolute amazing read and eagerly awaiting what’s next!

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

4/5 ⭐️
*spoiler free*

The beginning of the book was a little slower, and felt like some parts could have been elaborated on more. However, after the crowning wedding ceremony in Kesath it felt like the plot picked up substantially.

My loathing for Gaheris has only increased. Gosh that man is HORRID. But, his horrid-ness did lead to a really tender moment between Alaric and Talasyn 🥺. The tender moments between them tugged at my heart, but couldn’t stamp out the rising stress I felt towards how their situation would end…and that stress was NOT put to ease at the end of this book 😫🙈

I was not expecting the Voidfell and Moonless Dark to result in THAT?! So cool, but also, again, SO STRESSFUL. To sum it up, the last 15% of the book had me stressing (especially with the way it ended on a cliffhanger) 😱

Thank you HarperVoyager US and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC! Keep a look out for it on shelves December 10th! ☺️

What a book! This is not what I expected, but absolutely loved it! Everything I wanted after book one, came true, and I am so happy! Thank you netgalley for the ARC!

I have so many more thoughts but am still processing, I’ll come back soon!