Oh my goodness, I cannot explain how excited I was when I saw that I got access to an ARC for Monsoon Rising! I put in the request and was like “no way but whatever I’ll try” and HERE WE ARE!

I read book one of this trilogy earlier this year, but there is a fair amount of world-building that really required me to dig into my memory to remember what’s what. One of my critiques of the first book was that it moved a bit too slowly, something that I said was perhaps a byproduct of it being a three-part series from the get-go. This book focuses mainly on the “B Plot” I would say, which is not a negative and the author does a good job of keeping the overall plot not too far from mind, but the fact that the whole book is dedicated to expanding this secondary plot I think speaks to how drawn out it is and that it tells a complete story.

The plot was a lot more engaging this time around, and I was actively making time to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. Also, I know when the book comes out the fan art is going to go absolutely because the author was really indulgent in describing the world-building and the characters. I mean just look at the amazing cover.

The ending did have me a little thrown, just because it left so out of left field. While I didn’t necessarily hate it, I think it might have been just a tad too much out there that I was sort of like “what?” as opposed to “oh my god!!” I think it sets up the final book nicely, but I wish it was integrated into the story a bit more.

So so happy I got to read this, and I’m really excited for the final book of this series + beyond from Thea Guanzon.

Oh my goodness this was sooooo good. The longing! I died. In all seriousness, this was wonderful. As leadup to the main political reason for their marriage, Talasyn and Alaric juggle their relationship with each other and their duties to their families. It's so torturous as they work through inconvenient feelings and that ever-present duty. Highly recommend.

3.75 stars.

Huge thanks to NetGalley & Harper Voyager for an e-Arc copy of A Monsoon Rising by Thea Guanzon.

Short Summary:
Two rats in love who are going to stab each other in the back but neither can let go of the other. In addition, they suck at communicating and I wanted to bang their heads together and make them talk!
—————————————————————————————
We have a slow burn, enemies to lovers with lots of angst. Talasyn & Alaric are two very lonely souls, even when surrounded by people they are alone. I enjoyed how different they are from each other. Where Talasyn acts without thinking most of time, Alaric is more calculated and slow to act. I did want to smack Talasyn in the face because she really didn’t use her brain. Alaric grew on me here, I didn’t care much for him in the first book but I really enjoyed his POV on this one and how much he’s changes (still has a long way to go).

As a rat myself, this was super enjoyable. I have to say that this was more focused on Talasyn & Alaric’s relationship than anything else, the plot took a backseat and it made the book predictable at times, but the end was still twisty with things I did not see coming.

I love the side characters, especially Sevraim & Jie 🤍

This does end on a massive cliffhanger and I’m going to need book 3 asap.

I love a good plot-driven story and while this one was a little slower than the last book, I enjoyed diving into the complicated relationship between Talasyn and Alaric. It makes my Reylo heart very happy and I can't wait to go buy the book when it comes out.

A Monsoon Rising
4.25 ⭐️

If you’ve read Hurricane Wars, this second books has just as much action packed into it as the first!

Told from both Talasyn’s and Alaric’s perspectives, they must work together to stop the devastation scheduled to hit Talasyn’s land after a thousand year wait. And of course— more dragons! 🐉

The back and forth is still here from the first book, but relieved a lot in this one! It had been a while since I read the first and I kind of wished I had read a recap. It took me a bit of slogging through the first part of the story to remember where everything was at 😅. Of course the cliffhanger ending means I’m eager to pick the next one up — when it eventually comes out!

Thanks to @netgalley for this ARC!

A Monsoon Rising
by Thea Guanzon
3.5 ⭐️

I went into this with mixed feelings because The Hurricane Wars did not live up to my expectations. With that being said, this was a bit more of the same. The magic system is still something that I don’t fully understand, most of the time with fantasy books you just need to keep reading and eventually everything clicks but 2 books later and no click. The first chunk was a little slow for me and it didn’t really pick up until the 80% mark. All the action that happened towards the end had me hooked! I kept checking how much was left in the book bc there was just so much happening.

The main highlight for me was the relationship between Tala and Alaric! The slow burn was excruciatingly slow and felt a little dragged out but all was forgiven when it finally happened 🫶🏼 the spice was pretty well done too! I am obsessed with jealous and down bad Alaric!! Also I feel like it needs to be said that a good romantasy or fantasy book can have more romance without losing the actual plot. In this case tho I feel like the romance saves it bc the plot was pushed off until the next book.

I’m still interested in reading book 3 bc I have many theories and I am really want to know what will happen plot-wise.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon & Harper Voyager for this gifted arc!


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6956142590
*will post on IG in 2 weeks*

Thank you so much to Thea Guanzon and Harper Voyager for letting me read and review this as an ARC! I was SO stoked when my request got accepted, as I loved the Hurricane Wars from start to finish.

The second entry into this series is beautiful. We follow Talasyn and Alaric through their mission to stop the Voidfell from destroying the continent, and effectively all the magic severs that come with it. Their arranged marriage begins to toe the line of something more serious, especially due to the ending of THW. My actual rating is more like a 4.5, because I did have some thoughts about it, but I'm rounding up on this one.

Spoilers from here on:

[ I think A Monsoon Rising suffers just a bit from "middle child" syndrome, in that often I find that the second book in a trilogy ends up having a pacing issue. The book is split between the politics and the growing romance, and there were times where I thought I could use a little more politicking and a little less romance.

However, it needs to be said that the scene of Talasyn and Alaric inside the monsoon is one of the most romantic, exceptional pieces of fiction that I've read in months.

I reread, "Just him and me in the monsoon." Multiple times. I'm still reeling. That was very good.

The underlying current of the book is that Everything has it's consequences, specifically regarding Talasyn and Alaric consummating their marriage and accidentally falling for one another, despite knowing that both of their masters want the opposing side dead. I was really hoping to see those consequences, after seeing both Tala and Alaric worry about it for about 300 pages. The ending of the book, which I'll keep vague, was very good in hindsight, but I admit I was disappointed when I saw where it ended. I just wanted more! Which isn't a bad thing, but I felt it worth mentioning.

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!

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!

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 🌶️

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!!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.