This starts off very slow but omg does it end in such a powerful and exciting way. I loved this maybe more than the first one! I am patiently waiting for the next one and by patiently I mean not even a lil bit..

The fantasy elements we got were so fascinating. I loved the info we got about the magic severs. I loved the relationship that is continuing to be built between Alaric and Talasyn. When this guy calls her Tala in private omg. The smut was very heavy but a healthy amount of plot as well.
That ending though....chefs kiss. I'm so Sat for the next book because I need to know what's happening and what the hell happened and who the fuccccccckkkk is behind this new development.

My main critique is the pacing. The first part of the book focuses heavily on the romance, which, while beautifully written, slows down the plot. Readers hoping for more political intrigue may find this installment less gripping than the first. However, once the story gains momentum, it becomes an exhilarating ride.

Overall, A Monsoon Rising is a beautifully written sequel that leans heavily into romance while still delivering on the high-stakes fantasy elements. If you loved the dynamic between Talasyn and Alaric in the first book, you’ll be completely hooked. I can’t wait to see how the final installment unfolds!

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

My true rating for this one would be a 3.5/5. Honestly, I believe I enjoyed the first book more but that's also because I was mostly oblivious to the Star Wars influence before I read the second one. I sort of felt like this book was a bit slower but the last part picked up a lot and the cliffhanger?? I think I just wish it was more high-stakes but there were still moments that gagged me and wow the writing!! I will definitely still be seated for the third book though and for Alaric and Talasyn!

A Monsoon Rising is the sequel to The Hurricane Wars which is a book I enjoyed. I think I enjoyed this second book more since I was already familiar with the world and characters but this is not an all-time favorite series for me. I still had a fun time when I read it though and would recommend it is the premise sounds good to you!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a review!

So to be honest, I did not pay attention to the fact this was the second book in a series when I requested it. I decided to read the first title so I wouldn't be completely lost and to say I was not a big fan of the first book is a bit of an understatement. If not for the fact that I'm trying to read all of the books I'm approved for, I probably would have skipped this book. Which would have been a shame because I feel like the second book majorly outshines the first. The author has learned a lot since her debut book was released and it shows. The characters are done so much better in this book, the pacing for the story is better, and overall I enjoyed it immensely more than the first. Whereas I found myself not caring at all about where the story would be going after finishing the Hurricane Wars, Monsoon Rising has me disappointed I can't pick up the third book and read it now. If the author continues at the pace she is going, the third book in the series could be one of my favorite books of all time.

Holy wow, what a follow up. A Monsoon Rising took everything I loved about The Hurricane Wars and leveled it up. The action, the tension, the spice. It’s all there and then some. Alaric and Talasyn are beautifully written, both as individual characters and as a couple. The cliffhanger ending left me with a massive book hangover, but it was well worth it.

4 Stars

A Monsoon Rising is an intense, romance-driven sequel that raises the stakes in The Hurricane Wars trilogy. Thea Guanzon delivers an action-packed, tension-filled continuation of Alaric and Talasyn’s story, filled with pining, political intrigue, and undeniable chemistry.

Picking up immediately after the events of the first book, we follow Alaric and Talasyn as they navigate their new marriage of convenience while secretly plotting against one another. With the looming threat of the Moonless Dark and the fragile political balance of their world, they are forced to work together—even as their feelings grow more complicated. The forced proximity, slow-burn tension, and emotional depth of their relationship make this book a compelling read.

The romance truly takes center stage in this installment, and while the slow burn from The Hurricane Wars evolves into full-fledged tension and passion, at times, it overshadows the larger political stakes. There are moments where the plot slows in favor of focusing on the romantic dynamic, which, while enjoyable, sometimes leaves the world-building and larger narrative feeling slightly underdeveloped. However, the action scenes and the final act of the book more than make up for the slower moments, delivering shocking twists and a heart-stopping cliffhanger.

Overall, A Monsoon Rising is an emotionally charged, beautifully written sequel that leans heavily into its romantasy elements. Fans of the first book will love the angst, longing, and explosive chemistry between the leads, and the ending will leave readers desperate for the next installment.

Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Oh. My. God.

I LOVED THIS.

The Hurricane Wars was incredible and I was expecting this to have second book syndrome a little bit.

Nope. Miss Thea SERVED. And it was piping hot.

The pining. The sexual tension. And then the adult fun times. This was the perfect romantasy. Plot for days, amazing pacing, great character development, and of course it ends with our hearts ripped out ravenous for more.

Mother please deliver us the next book ASAP.

If you are here for the romance with a touch of denial, you came to the right place!✨ It was pretty steamy, but I was definitely expecting more than a few fade-to-black moments. 👀 Talasyn and Alaric are LOVE birds, but the politics prevent them from being able to fully give in to each other. I’m dying to see how their story plays out… like, will there be a huge sacrifice coming? Cause that’s how it sounds to me and I’m not ready to get my heart broken 😭.

The action scenes were AMAZING. 🔥 I loved when Talasyn and Alaric teamed up, it was one of my favorite parts. The world-building is also great; I felt like I was actually there, it was playing in my head like a movie. But here’s the thing, I was kinda expecting more politics! The first book had all these cool scheming moments, but this one barely touched on that. It’s a romance-heavy book, but I was hoping for some juicy political drama to keep me on my toes.🧐

In the end, I’m really invested and can’t wait for the next one! I just hope we get a little more of the political twists I was craving this time around.✨

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!


I was very excited to read this novel and had been anxiously awaiting its arrival since I read the last page of The Hurricane Wars. This book did not disappoint!

A Monsoon Rising picks right back after the events of The Hurricane Wars and follows a newly married Alaric and Talasyn as they navigate not only marriage but the upcoming Moonless Dark in a bid to save both of their countries. This had all of the fast paced action, witty banter and fantastic world building of the first novel.

A lot of the problems that I had with the first novel were taken care of early on in the story and it was so much easier to enjoy than the first book. I loved that we got to see more of the Nenavar Dominion and what remains of the Continent. As Talasyn learns to control her magic we are also given more insight on the magic system of this world and the politics that come with it.

Overall cannot wait for the next novel! I think this is going to be a series that only gets better with each book.

This book is for the romantasy and Reylo fanfic fans! It had pining, tension, banter, and chemistry that was off the charts! I can’t wait to dive into the next installment 😍

The only reason this isn’t a 5 star read for me is because the pacing could be slow at times but I recommend this book to anyone who loved The Hurricane Wars and this series to anyone who loves Romantasy.

THEA YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME ON A CLIFFHANGER AGAIN 😭😭😭

On a side note, I loved the progression of this book!!! Hurricane Wars provided all the needed world-building (and tension) that really shined in Monsoon Rising. This book took me on such a rollercoaster ride and I DID NOT want to put it down at all. Praying to see the extra content from the other editions soon!

Thank you so much to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book! Now I'll be counting the days until book 3 😭

What a great second book! Liked the relationship between the main character’s but the did become frustrating sometimes. Enjoy the story

This book! I’m not really sure what I can say other than I enjoyed it tremendously! If you’re looking for something good to read I would pick it up.

First off, thank yous are owed to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for sharing the ARC! Thea Guanzon does it again.

The Hurricane Wars was focused on the political and historical imagery of the lands, while the current book builds the relation and delves into the characters of the Night Emperor and the Lachiska, herself.

While working together to overcome the Moonless dark, the Lachiska and the night emperor face their demons, overcome childhood drama and build a tentative truce based on their budding romance. Whilst each kingdom vies to keep them disconnected, they invariably fall into step with each other, learning their traits and protecting each other, without quarters.

Thea does a beautiful job in the sparring, flirting and combustive manner of their relationship which keeps the tale from stagnating. Alaric is trying to defy his father, Talasyn builds her bond with hers, and navigates the costumes and mores of the courtly life. In the space between machinations, they find themselves longing to share their fervent loyalty, while staying true to their respective roots.

The book ends on a cliff hanger and I am eagerly waiting for the next installation to drop. Alaric has grown from a cold prince to a full blooded male and is blazing his way to make his dream of a united kingdom come true, Talasyn searches for peace and to what end the tale leads them to is unfathomable...

Hello yes I continue to be feral for this series! Picking up where we left off, our MCs are now married and have to continue to collaborate to try and save the world. But of course, they are both secretly planning to betray each other and that is GUT WRENCHING! The internal POV work in the book is as strong if not stronger than the external conflict, but also the TWISTS! I spend the last 10% of this book waiting for either Alaric or Talasyn to discover the other one's plans, but then a totally different thing happens now I am going to slowly go insane until the next book is released. Drink this Book: Enjoy with a Blanc de Noir Champagne and celebrate not being eaten by a dragon.

I really enjoyed this. Both Alaric and Talasyn lowkey frustrated me with their stubbornness but their chemistry made it worth it. I loved seeing them battle with their feelings throughout this. The moonless dark is threatening to destroy everything and they must work together to protect everyone. Everything was really well written and this kept me captivated and on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happens next.

“I’ll see you on the other side of this, or in the Sky Above the Sky where our ancestors sail”

I loved this book. Couldn’t put it down. Book 1 was a lot of lead up and world building. This one felt even stronger. Our two MCs felt more realized and the atmospheric world was one I loved spending time in and felt myself getting pulled into the story. There were many points I couldn’t stop reading or was finding extra time in my day to pick it up for a few extra minutes so I could get just a little further. I love these MCs, love this world, and I cannot WAIT for the next installment.
Thank you so so so much to @theagwrites and @harpervoyager for the chance to read this ARC!! ☀️ 🖤

A Monsoon Rising picks up right after the ending of The Hurricane Wars and continues with the world building and romance between Talasyn & Alaric. I absolutely loved getting to read more of the romance aspect of the series.

I can't wait to read the next book!

That ending!!! OMG…what am I supposed to do now while waiting for the next book?!

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

A Monsoon Rising picks up right after the ending of The Hurricane Wars and continues with the tension, political rivalry and building romance and passion between Talasyn & Alaric. This book was more dedicated to the romance and the plot took a bit of a backseat but I felt that was necessary after it was plot heavy in book one and we are being set up for a solid mix of romance & plot for the third book!

I simply cannot wait to continue this story!

Some of the tropes in this book:
✨Enemies to Lovers
✨Slow burn
✨Forbidden love
✨Tension/banter
✨Marriage of convenience
✨Forced Proximity
✨One bed
✨Political intrigue
✨Sizzling chemistry