A Monsoon Rising is the second book in The Hurricane Wars series and continues the story of Alaric and Talasyn's alliance. While I really enjoyed parts of this book, it was also very difficult to get through. The writing style was so complex that it took a lot for me to get though each paragraph.

~~What I liked~~
-The storyline was good, continuing what happened in The Hurricane Wars.
-We continue to learn more about Alaric's history, better helping to understand his thoughts and motives.
-The relationship between Alaric and Talasyn also continues to develop and I thought I was reading a YA novel, but those ❤️ scenes are NSFW.

~~What I didn't like~~
-The hardest part for me to process what the writing style. As an avid audiobook reader, I really struggle with books that are overly wordy, and this novel was overly wordy in spades. For example:
Obsidian energy from aetherspace twisted into eel-like bodies that unleashed the guttural shriek of the Shadowgate with lions’ maned heads and galloped through the air on antelopes’ hooves.
It was like this the WHOLE book.
-I also felt like the tension between Alaric and Talasyn was overdone. Already having one entire novel devoted to them fighting their feelings for each other, it was hard for me to stomach an entire other novel of the same vein.
-The pacing was pretty slow.
-The ending was a cliffhanger and left me pretty unsatisfied...😞

Overall, I liked the second installment, not as much as the first, but I will definitely be reading the last book to see what finally happens to (hopefully) end the war.

I can’t even. I devoured this book and absolutely loved it. The first book I struggled to get through at the start with all the world building but really enjoyed the last half. I will say this book was my favorite of the two. I enjoyed it from start to finish. One of my favorite parts of this series is that the relationship between Alaric and Talasyn seems really unique to other books I’ve seen. The romantic scenes are done so well for two people who are doing things for the first time. I truly enjoyed every moment they were together. But that ending… I need book 3 like now!!

I've recommended Hurricane Wars to all of the fantasy readers at the bookstore, and I can't wait to tell them that Monsoon Rising was even better! Thea Guanzon has done a remarkable job of building on this world and its lovable, frustrating characters. There are twists, turns, and romance in every chapter, and I'm dying to know what happens next.

Thank you NetGalley for access to this ARC!

Alright let's get started, first thank you to Net Galley and Harper for allowing me to read this ARC.

This book picks up where the first book left off, Talasyn and Alaric are married, enemies to almost lovers in the last book (their wedding night was uh awkward)
The world building in the first book sets the tone for this book, you need to know who the players are for this book to come together properly.

Down to the review of this one. This book was much more on the romance side than the fantasy side, of things, less politics, more storyline and character development. We get to see the two of them learning to navigate their pull towards one another, there's a lot of push pull, a lot of banter, and a lot more spice in this one. The two can't seem to be able to keep their hands off each other.

Talasyn has more character development in her becoming the Lachis'ka, she is coming into her own as a ruler, as a leader, and as a Lightweaver. After standing up to her grandmother, she took the reins in taking on her role and doing her best for her people.
Alaric seems to develop more in the sense of he is starting to push back against his father, and acknowledge his feelings. There's one line in the book that I felt really defined him as a character "be kind to me".

Between the. two of them, you're starting to realize that she is going to ruin him. While they are both involved in plots to dismantle the other, he seems to have fallen much harder and faster than she has. While I was reading, through the whole book, I was waiting for the Sardovians to come and the double cross to happen, the ending of this book threw me off. I was definitely surprised, I didnt see that coming,

The world ending, doomsday, moonless dark build up was kind of lack luster for me. I understand it, I get that it let the reader get to know the two characters and give them time to get to know each other. I don't quite understand the whole thing with it, was it surprising yes, but was it relevant to the story in any way, I am not sure yet. I hope that plot twist ties in some how later, otherwise it will feel like a waste.

I hope that the next book is Alaric burning the world down for a "you touched her you must die" set up because he's dreamy and I could totally see him going on a mass killing spree to get her back.

For what it’s worth I rated the Hurricane Wars three stars but the world building and setup in the first book is the price you pay for the perfection that is ‘A Monsoon Rising’

I could have devoured this book in a day like I did with the first, but I took my time. I savored it. I found myself wanting to save the next chapter to prolong the fun.

The setup for the forced marriage of Alaric and Talasyn is a driving force that keeps the banter and tension going for the whole book. Not even mentioning EVERYTHING else that is going on.

There was a perfect balance of a doomsday plot, steamy romance, political intrigue, fantasy, action, and character development. How it ended has me very excited for the next book. I’m only sad that I’m an ARC reader and since I’m one of the first will have an even longer wait than everyone else for the next installment in this series.

I went and immediately ordered a shelf trophy of this book. Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read it first.

Rating - 3.75 stars
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an early copy!

A Monsoon Rising follows the aftermath of The Hurricane Wars. Talasyn and Alaric are now married and they must navigate the court politics, learn to weave their magic together before the night of The World-Eater, all the while deceiving each other. Will they succumb to their feelings during this? I really liked the progression of their relationship and I appreciated how the author didn't downplay the effects of war. This is also a bit steamier than the previous book. I also found the writing to be easier to read as that was my main issue with the previous book, where it was very clunky. As for the negatives, I found that there were few interactions with other characters, which made them seem very one-dimensional. A lot of the time, we were told about them and what happened rather than being shown. I would have loved to get more depth in the interactions. I also found the great event anticlimactic, but that ending really left me curious.
All in all, this was a decent sequel to The Hurricane Wars.

This book is exactly what the Romantasy genre needs right now. The plot twists and turns and you’re never quite sure if enemies have made it to lovers. The world building and magic system are just as superb as the character building. And it’s full of humor and pining. I can’t wait to recommend this book! Series lovers rejoice!

This book was everything.... Definitely within my top 5, maybe even top 3 of this year.

The story continuation was amazing, I seriously love Alaric's character.

I feel like there is so many misunderstandings going on and I am so glad Talasyn is seeing them.

The ending is a huge cliff hanger, and having this as an ARC.... the amount of time I will be waiting is going to be rough.

Loved this book and the first one so much. I love the characters and the internal and external tensions. I love it being dual POV so you can understand both characters motivations, fears and secrets which makes it so much more interesting as they both try to navigate around each other and each other’s nations. I do wish we got to see Talasyn in Alaric’s home and arena more this book as I was kind of expecting and was excited to see how she would manage being there and what she would learn and how they would interact in the more “oppressive” environment. Great series and fun reads that keep you wanting to find out how all will play out!

THIS BOOK GOT ME OUT OF MY READING SLUMP. ALL HAIL THEA GUANZON. Seriously, she is writing a marvel of a series and I can't wait to see how this finishes. Shadow daddy Alaric has my heart already. Rhysand who? Xaden who? Draven Brothers who? I read this over the course of a day and was blown away by how good it is.

OMG this book was so swoony!

I liked it much better than the first. It has a softer magic system but the romance was chefs kiss right out the gate. While I do think the writing style is easy to read, I had trouble noticing when the POV changed which is a problem I had with the first book too.

And omg Alaric’s line “Be kind to me” crushed me in the best and worst way.

2🌶️

Holy cliff hanger. That ending was something else. The entire book was great, follows the first one, and wrapped up some questions. Then the last chapter decided to throw a curve ball at my face!! How am I going to survive until book three?

An excellent sequel to her best-selling "The Hurricane Wars," this novel dives right back into the wonderful world that Thea Guanzon created. Anyone who likes their romanasty 'sizzling' - look no further than this series. I really enjoyed this sequel and am so thankful to Netgalley and the Publisher for giving me access to the second book! I couldn't wait to see these characters again, as I became very fond of them in the first book. Highly recommended and I believe this will be another big hit of 2024!

Obsessed is not strong enough of a word for how I feel about this book.

Alaric and Talasyn are NOT soft people. They are prickly, and I love them for it. But occasionally, they are soft for each other. Like the light and dark that they wield, Alaric and Talasyn are opposites: opposing views and beliefs, not to mention that they fought on opposite sides of a war. However, throughout this book they are able to see similarities in each other that bring them closer.

The Big Issue in the book was interesting and kept me reading to see what would happen. Literal world ending magic that can only be saved by two people who “hate” each other? Sign me up. But the love story? Exquisite. These two idiots can act like they don’t love each other because I know the truth.

Spoilers ahead!

Honestly, I can’t wait to see what happens in book 3. Because that cliffhanger?? Something tells me that Alaric is going to tear the world apart to find Talasyn and I am HERE. FOR. IT.

I loved this second book even more than the first. Considering how much I had adored the first one, this is saying something.
This second installment focused more on Talasyn and Alaric’s relationship and I WAS THERE FOR IT. The tension was exquisite, those two idiots pining for each other was the best sort of push and pull. Seriously, the angst, the swooning, the frustration, the BANTER, everything was there. And let’s not forget Sevraim and Tala’s father as the perfect comic relief.
Even though the politics were less heavy this time around, there was still a decent amount of scheming to prepare us for what will inevitably be an incredible showdown. The magic was explored further and I loved how Alaric’s and Talasyn’s magic keep mirroring each other but drawing them together.
I could honestly not find a single thing I didn’t like in this book; I can’t wait for the third one.

4.5 stars! This was a fantastic continuation to The Hurricane Wars series! It most certainly did not fall victim to the dreaded second book syndrome. I liked The Hurricane Wars, but I LOVED A Monsoon Rising!!! This book excelled the first book in all aspects. I really feel like Thea executed the storytelling in a much better way in this one.

In this next installment in the series, Talasyn and Alaric must learn to work together to stop the Moonless Dark, a magical event that risks destroying both their nations. However, teaming up with the person their nation sees as the enemy proves to have its challenges; especially when they start to develop feelings for said person. While the marriage alliance between Talasyn and Alaric was meant to bring peace between their nations, each side continues to have their own motives for the union. Political scheming, betrayal, and romance ensue as Talasyn and Alaric each grapple with the guilt they feel over their growing attraction to one another and the duty they feel towards their people. Each will have to decide whether to follow their hearts or to adhere to the expectations of their duty and their loyalty as rulers to their nations.

I love a book where you can so clearly see both sides to a story. I understood where both Talasyn and Alaric are coming from in their viewpoints of their nation’s past and present history, which makes the political intrigue so fascinating to read. I enjoy when there is good political scheming going on in the background amidst everything else. It makes the interactions feel particularly intense. I adored Talasyn’s and Alaric’s interactions with each other in this book. Their constant need to want to hate each other and fight each other on everything was so much fun to read. The antagonism between these two made for great tension. The spice in this book was also so good and so well done!

This book will leave you screaming. Literally. That ending was beyond maddening!!!! I kept swiping at my kindle like more pages were going to magically appear. It is going to be torture waiting to find out what happens next!

If you are a fan of arranged marriage or marriage of convenience tropes this for you. If you are obsessed with the enemies to lover’s trope like I am, the kind of enemies to lovers where the characters have legitimately tried to kill each other but also still want to kiss each other, you will love this series!

The only thing I would like to experience more of in book three is to feel like I am more in the character’s minds. I want to endure their feelings with them in a way that makes me feel like I am experiencing the book like I am living in it rather than reading it. However, I thought this was superb. I already have no doubt I am going to love book three even more. Thea Guanzon just keeps getting better and better.

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

The Hurricane Wars was one of my favorite books of 2023, A Monsoon Rising was one of my most anticipated books of 2024 so when I got approved to ARC read I lost my mind. Thea, man you blew this book out the water. Bravo. This book did not fall into second book syndrome

Leaving right off where Hurricane Wars ended we are right back into the story, it was so seamless you almost forgot the book had ended. A Monsoon Rising is actioned packed from cover to cover, it kept me engaged and I could not put the book down.

Talasyn and Alaric have the best enemies to lovers I have ever read and I have read so many books that are meant to be enemies to lovers. This one tops them all, the anger, the hate and the wanting to physically un-alive each other was real. And with this kind of hate you cannot just fall in love, no you cannot and Thea did the impossible of drawing out the slow burn romance to burn scolding hot. Really it’s too hot to handle. This book brings the spice, there is a few very detailed but well written screens that do not take away from the story. Honestly I don’t even think we have made it to lovers here maybe married with benefits? Either way I cannot wait to see how Thea continues this on into book 3. I feel like a lot of hurt and betrayal is heading our way.

Along with the action, adventure, slow burn enemies to lovers romance there is a whole world we are still learning about. Oh and did I mention the dragons? Don’t forget to add in a little marriage of convenience, forced proximity and politics…The story is so refreshing to read, it sparks something new and unique.

Beware of the cliff, you are going to be hanging there for a while, but don’t worry! There is enough space for us all…

⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ♾️

“Let them know, beyond the Shadow and the turning of the stars, that you are mine.”



Following the stunning debut The Hurricane Wars , A Monsoon Rising begins with Alaric and Talasyn navigating both the political and emotional landscapes of their marriage. All of the immense world building Guanzon meticulously developed in The Hurricane Wars allows for this second installment to start off running, our characters deeply entrenched in the efforts to stop the Void Sever from devouring their world whole.

We get to spend much more time in Alaric’s head, learning more about his character and enjoying his often sardonic and sarcastic observations. His character deals with a lot of inner turmoil, not only due to his upbringing, but due to his desires to be more than his predecessor conditioned him to be. 
I found myself understanding his character and sympathizing with him much more than I expected.

“What am I, if I’m not a weapon? What have you done to me?”



Guanzon’s degree in international studies and politics is evident in the believable and diabolical political machinations developing between the Nenavar, Sardovian, and Kesath nations, but what was most enjoyable to me while reading was the relationship development between Alaric and Talasyn. The intricate plot was seamlessly woven into steamy 🔥 tension and witty banter that I ate up with a spoon. There were also sweet and sorrowful moments where each MC struggled with loneliness and confusion while their connection deepened, unknowingly mirrored by their counterpart.

" It would be so easy to love you in a different life."

If you enjoy:
✨ Top tier witty banter
✨ Political maneuvering and intrigue
✨ Marriage of convenience
✨ Forced proximity
✨ TRUE enemies-to-lovers romance
✨ Pining
✨ Unique magic systems
✨ Dragons!! 🐉

- then you will really enjoy this book. If you read the first book and weren’t sure if you wanted to continue the series, I BEG you to please give A Monsoon Rising a try. All of the intricate world building from The Hurricane Wars pays off in spades. Not to mention the slow burn from really ignites! I'd give this a 3/5 on the 🌶️ scale.

This is the height of romantasy for me. Guanzon creates an epic fantasy story alongside angsty enemies-to-lovers romance with beautiful prose and imagery that makes you want to keep reading page after page.

To say that A Monsoon Rising was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024 would be putting it mildly and it did NOT disappoint. Immense thanks to HarperVoyager/Avon, NetGalley, and most importantly, Thea Guanzon for providing me with an early copy to review. All opinions are my own.

ARC review (thank you NetGalley!): It has been almost 6 months to the day that I finished Hurricane Wars, and these characters have lived rent-free in my brain ever since. When we left off, Alaric and Talasyn had just entered into a political marriage for the sake of their two countries. But the two of them have a undeniable chemistry and, overtime, have started to soften toward each other without realizing it. I don't think I actually fully understood what it meant to soften toward someone until this book. Thea really did an amazing job of showing the characters' growth and how much they were at war with each other and themselves because of feelings neither one would admit to. Emperor Alaric isn't as dark and tough as he's convined the world he is—he's torn between loyalty to his father and falling for Talasyn. His inner battle and childhood trauma just had me wanting for him to just be okay. And Talasyn's definitely no pushover, but she's struggling to keep up with all the political traps while trying to decide if she can truly trust Alaric as more than just a political alliance. The world-building is top-notch, blending Shadowforged Legion and Lightweavers seamlessly into the story. Plus, the looming threat of the Moonless Dark kept me turning pages faster than ever. Not only does this sequel have all my favorite tropes (one bed, enemies to lovers, forced proximity), but you will NEVER see these plot twists coming. Apologies to my husband whom I kept waking up in the middle of the night every time I gasped. This book isn't even set to release until December, and I am already itching for the next one. Thea is the queen of cliffhangers, and she is quickly turning me into an addict. Absolutely 5 full stars.

Simply addicting and I can’t wait to see where this goes next! I will be recommending this and wanting to read more by the author.

The development, yearning, enemies to lovers… I- it was magical. The spice is also wonderful, it’s not the spiciest book I’ve ever read but it’s definitely a good time.