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.

This is the second book in The Hurricane Wars series. Unlike some series where the second book is lackluster, this one SHINES! Talasyn and Alaric have amazing banter and the tension is next level throughout. There are still political elements with some yummy spice that just made me fly through this book with my feet swinging. The book ended on a cliffhanger that has me bursting. I keep swearing to myself that I will stop reading incomplete series but alas, Thea Guanzon is just too good to delay reading.

Spoiler Free Arc Review: 4.5 ⭐️

This is the much anticipated sequel of The Hurricane Wars and it did not disappoint at all. Our favorite light weaver and shadow daddy are back!! I enjoyed this significantly more than the first installment for a few reasons. In A Monsoon Rising we are confronted with a totally new issue that forces the two to work together to save their world from the Moonless Night. Because of this central conflict and joint mission, we finally see Alaric and Talasyn’s “relationship” develop throughout the book. *there is also spice* We watch them each grow significantly together and individually way more this second time around. I felt like the first book was almost entirely world building and setting the stage for the main themes of conflict in this one.

My favorite part of this book was definitely Alaric’s storyline. He’s begun thinking outside of his duty to his father and leaning in to a softer side that we don’t see in the first book. This book is left off on a great cliff hanger and I can’t wait to see where book three takes us!

I would absolutely recommend starting The Hurricane Wars if you haven’t if you like shadow daddy romantasy!!!

First I want to thank NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Second, OH MY GOD. I have no words. I was worried this book would fall into the second book slump but I was very much mistaken. This books exceeded my expectations and more, I still don’t think I can put into words how amazing this book was. Talasyn and Alaric are two of my favorite characters and the true definition of enemies to lovers. THAT ENDING. I need the third book asap.

4.75⭐️ 3🌶️

Second book
High fantasy
Light/dark magic
War
Marriage of convenience
Enemies to lovers
Rebellion


A Monsoon Rising starts immediately after the ending of The Hurricane Wars. Basically, within the same conversation. I think that if it has been a little between reading the first and starting the second, it was a decent way to get back into the world and magic system.

I loved the development of the role of the dragons!

The character development was really well done. This is definitely a more romance focused sequel, solidifying the main couple and showing the push and pull of duty vs their confused feelings. I thoroughly enjoyed that it was paced as it was, making it easy to see how this will be a 3+ book series. Balancing of being each other’s consorts is such an interesting take on political relationships… I love it!

This was so much easier to get lost in, I think because book 1 did all the heavy lifting when it came to world-building.

I am HIGHLY anticipating the next book, if only to witness the soul wrecking devastation that is coming from that cliffhanger!

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Votager for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

If Thea Guanzon has no fans, I’m dead.
The way the series has become my entire personality is not to be underestimated. Alaric and Tala are my favorite knuckleheads and I will duel for their stupid dumb honor. This world is so lush and there are moments so cinematic that I can picture them days after finishing this book. I didn’t think it could get better than The Hurricane Wars but this took everything to a whole new level and I’m so grateful to have received an advance reader copy.
Banter ✔️
Spice ✔️
DRAGONS ✔️
Battle magic ✔️
Magic as science ✔️
Political machinations ✔️
LETS GOOOO!

This book was so good!!! It was such a fast read and I couldn’t put it down. There was so much to love with this book. The characters were amazing and there is so much conflict throughout the book. This author is so talented! I’m so happy to have found this book.

Thea Guanzon has taken the her Reylo fanfic and turned it into somehting completely better. For one, I like that Talasyn and Alaric are on equal footing, and secondly, you can clearly see how Alaric is corrupted by his father. This is also a very true enemies to lovers as you never know if they will betray each other. I also appreciate Talasyn's devotion to Sardovia. There was more political intrigue in this book than in The Hurricane Wars, but Guanzon maintains a fast pace that had me tearing through the virtual pages of my e-ARC. After the ending of this book, I will definitely be waiting excitedly for the finale.

However, the colonizer x colonized romance still irks me. I think Alaric is much more morally grey than Kylo Ren, but he is still complicit in the destruction of Sardovia. The worldbuilding and story are amazing though, other than this part I dislike.

A monsoon rising was the perfect second book to this reylo fantasy romance! I loved the second book even more than the first!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This book had everything I loved about the first one - the lush tropical setting, the fascinating magic system, and one determined girl trying to come to terms with her mysterious past, her stressful present, and an uncertain future.

Thea kept the tension high throughout without the shared burden between her and Alaric to keep their respective courts happy, fight their burgeoning attraction to each other (to varying degrees of success and ultimately failure as the book went on) and the doomsday clock of the Voidfell.

I will admit I find the politics, side characters etc the least interesting thing about the book and forgot most of that part of the plot and was grateful for and would have appreciated some more recaps/reminders. I am turning pages fastest when Tala and Alaric are exchanging barbs, staring longingly, and giving into their passions. When they have that annoying sense that they actually like the other person and are mad at themselves and do it anyway.

I still love Sevraim and Jie who tbh could use some more screen time and more meddling with the characters. It was nice to see Alaric start to open up to his bestie despite his fear.

It was also good to see more of Alaric's past, fears and vulnerability in addition to Talasyn's attempts to reconcile her duty with her desire to save Alaric. There was also so much delightful comedy between the two of them, and especially between Alaric and his tailor. Also, when he names the sariman Guava <3

I appreciated the tropey goodness of "there was only one rock shelf", wearing his clothes, and would love to see some fan art of that mirrored ceiling scene, just saying! Alaric's jealousy and possessiveness towards the end were an absolute treat! The smut was also chef's kiss fanfic-y goodness we've come to expect as devoted fans of her earlier works on AO3 dot com.

The descriptions of the clothing and settings are sumptuous and I love Thea's poetic writing style. There is pleasure in re-reading her prose several times to take in how beautifully she strings words together.

That final scene was a bit confusing and I was wracking my brain as to why the traitor would do that and I'm not sure if it's because I have a bad memory or if it simply is out of left field. The cliffhanger left my jaw hanging open for sure!

Excited for the third installment and for these two enemies to truly become lovers!

** thanks to the publisher for providing an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review**

Probably a 4.5/5

I really liked the Hurricane Wars, but this was even more my speed which is rare for a follow-up. I will say, depending on why you loved the Hurricane Wars, this will either blow you away or miss the mark a bit. Where Hurricane had almost too much plot and not enough romantic tension (in my opinion, mostly because Guanzon is SO good at the tension and I wanted more), this book leans HARD into the romantasy… which is exactly what I want. The pining is superb. Banter, on point and the smut is excellent. Excellent. The build up from book 1 in that regard is fully delivered upon.

The non-romance plot remains incredibly strong. Since less setup/introing is required in this book, Guanzon leans more heavily into character development. Some of the aspects of Talasyn and Alaric that really annoyed me in book 1 are starting to evolve. They’re both growing into their final forms and becoming protagonists whose motivations are understandable if sometimes still frustrating. Guanzon does a good balance of showing over telling why they do the things they do but also why they’re starting to question their own choices. She’s put them into such a sticky situation by the end of the book that I really struggled to read the last 10%, not because it was poor in any way but because I didn’t want to see them suffer from their own choices.

Since this is not the final book in the series, it does leave things a bit open. This is not a series I would recommend starting for people who can’t have cliffhangers. (By which I mean, wait till they’re all out and then read it.) Guanzon has a really impressive way with words that comes through in every type of scene. This book isn’t short but it’s SO bingeable. I would have happily read it in one sitting if life had allowed. This is another one of those examples of me being mad at getting an ARC because now I have to wait extra long to read the third one… but in the best way.