An excellent follow up to the first book in the series, A Monsoon Rising gave me everything I wanted: a unique magic system, descriptive world building, and romance. I couldn’t put the book down despite not wanting it to end. The end was a whirlwind of craziness and the fact that I now have to wait for the next book is likely to drive me crazy.

OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GODDDDDD. THIS BOOK WAS INSANE! Monsoon rising takes place immediately after the Hurricane Wars. You might have to reread the first book to remember everything going on to go into the 2nd. My god it was good andU can’t wait for the 3rd book. THERE BETTER BE A 3rd!

I am so glad to have read this! I really enjoyed the continuation from the first book. Writing ans characters are amazing.

I have been looking forward to reading this book for awhile now, and it absolutely delivered. I loved the romance and tension between Talasyn and Alaric. The cliffhanger has me needing the next book yesterday! I love this series that set in a world similar to Southeast Asia. The magic and the secrets are captivating. This series is a must read for fantasy/romantasy lovers!

A Monsoon Rising is the highly anticipated (by me) sequel to The Hurricane Wars, which I really enjoyed. While I did have one big problem with this one, overall I had a really good time with it and I’m looking forward to the conclusion of the series.

My biggest struggle was that I didn’t remember the little details about why the characters felt so strongly about their relationships, mainly the feelings between Talasyn & Alaric and Alaric & his father. I see so many reasons why they shouldn’t feel that way that it was difficult to be onboard with the paths they’ve chosen for their lives. I have a notoriously bad memory for details and just didn’t have that loyalty to the characters when I started reading this.

I decided to look past that though and just trust in the story. Once I did that, I enjoyed myself a lot more. I really liked watching Alaric and Talasyn’s relationship develop more and see the impact outside influences had on them. It felt like they grew into their roles a lot more, which was satisfying to see. Instead of things happening to them, they made things happen.

The plot was fun and I liked seeing the curveballs they were thrown throughout. While some things happened as expected, others were a fun surprise for me. Seeing their magical skills develop more and just learning more about the magic system in general was neat. The book ended on a high that has me excited for the last book.

Book 1 felt a lot more fantasy plot-focused, but book 2 put the romance in the foreground. How will the last book play out? There is a lot of action that could happen but the emotional groundwork that was done in this one promises a heavy impact as well. I have high expectations for the conclusion and will reread the first two books to be ready for it all without any doubts about the details in my mind.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to ARC read A monsoon rising.! While slow in the beginning, I enjoyed the ride. The spice was great and I enjoyed seeing the relationship build while trying to save the whole world. The ending was not what I expected to happen and the cliffhanger has me shook.

✨A Monsoon Rising✨

I am currently screaming into the void about this book because I was completely BLOWN AWAY!

A Monsoon Rising is the amazing sequel to the Hurricane Wars and it was PEAK romantasy!

Talasyn and Alaric were back in their political marriage and I was absolutely living for it! They try so hard to pretend that they hate each other but there were so many soft and sweet moments between them that I couldn’t help grinning 🥰

I loved the dual POV giving us both sides of the political scheming and secret keeping. Also we got to learn more about the dragons and the shadow/light magic.

I couldn’t have asked for anything more from a Monsoon Rising and couldn’t recommend the Hurricane Wars series enough!!!

Here are some of the best parts to convince you to read this series!
-political/fake marriage
-enemies to lovers
-shadow daddy
-one bed/forced proximity
-injury tending (I love this sub trope so much)
-slow burn tension
-banter banter banter!

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much @netgalley and @avonbooks and @harpervoyagerus for the arc!

A Monsoon Rising was one of my most anticipated reads, and it did not disappoint! Once I started reading I could not put this book down.

This book was more focused on the "romance" aspect between Alaric and Talasyn, and they really had undeniable chemistry. There was a lot of tension and angst, and I enjoyed the character development, especially from Alaric. The Moonless Dark and the preparations with Talasyn and Alaric were cool to read. I read the first book a while ago, and it was incredible, just like this one.

The cliffhanger is driving me crazy as I'm wondering what will happen next! It was quite rushed but I'm sure we will learn more in the third book. If anyone hasn't read this yet, I would recommend it to people who would want to read a novel filled with romance, action, and fantasy. I can't wait to read the next book! I will NOT be patiently waiting.

Thank you so much to Thea Guanzon, HarperVoyager, and NetGalley for the chance to read this book! Review posted on goodreads

My jaw was on the floor with that ending. A beautiful continuation to The Hurricane Wars. I'm looking forward to the next book. Thea - please go easy on us.

I cannot believe it ended like that! Where’s the rest?! Lol. This was a ride! I don’t even know how to fell about everything that happened in this book. But I do know this was a fun ride and i absolutely NEED more. lol

"A Monsoon Rising" by Thea Guanzon is a stunning sequel to The Hurricane Wars. I struggled a bit in the beginning, only because so much time has passed since I read book one, but the author's skillful storytelling and rich character development made it easy to jump back into the storyline.

The vivid descriptions of the creatures, dragons, and the Southeast Asian setting immerse the reader in a world of adventure and intrigue. The plot is expertly crafted, full of unexpected twists and turns of political plots, war, and a slow-burn love that kept me reading long after my bedtime!

The pacing is perfect, with just the right balance of action, emotion, suspense, and plenty of spice!
Talasyn and Alaric are complex, emotional, and compelling characters. I loved seeing their relationship develop with so many heated and spicy moments. I found myself deeply invested in their journeys, especially with the glimpse into their backgrounds and the court politics they must endure.

Guanzon's writing is beautifully poetic and evocative, and the cliffhanger ending made me excited for her next book!

Thank you, #NetGalley, #TheaGuanzon, and #HarperVoyager, for the opportunity to review this ARC in exchange for my honest review. #AMonsoonRising

This book was such a pleasant surprise! I wasn't a huge fan of the first book because it went really hard on the world building, the magic system, and setting up the political environment. All of that made it kind of a dry read that I had a hard time picking up and being interested in.

But that was not the case for this book! It was way more engaging and action packed and I really loved it!

Because the world and magic system was already established in the first book, this one was able to focus a lot more on the plot and the development of the relationship between Alaric and Talasyn. And not going to lie, I ate that up so hard! The romantic tension was so delicious and I absolutely loved that both characters were new to relationships and inexperienced, and had this discovery period when it came to intimacy.

The plot was also great! I'm really enjoying how the story is developing, and that there are still so many unanswered questions that make you instantly want to pick up the next book to see how things end.

I'm a big fan and am already so impatient for the 3rd book.

Spice: 4/5
Romance: 4/5
Enemies to lovers
Dual POV
One love interest

The beginning of this book was a little hard to get me back into it, I felt like I had to read a couple of chapters to get my interest back but once I got familiar with everything again and the story picked up, this was even better than the first book. If there could have been a small little section in the front of the book with a recap of what had happened in book 1 this probably would have helped with that issue.

As always, the tension from being enemies to lovers was done perfectly. Somehow it was even better this time around than the first. You got so much built up tease but ended up getting EXACTLY what you wanted from this book. And thankfully it was not overdone once it started. A lot of authors in fantasy will string you a long until they finally do it and then have every single chapter about the smut but this spice was placed evenly and perfectly throughout.

You got so much growth from both of them, they each had personal growth but they finally had growth together. I loved seeing both of them start to come to terms with their emotions and finally allowing themselves to have a little glimpse of the happiness they each deserve so much of.

I absolutely can not believe the way this book ended- SO GOOD but so frustrating knowing I have to wait so long to know what happens!!! Damn you for making this book so interesting!

The biggest thank you to Thea Guanzon, Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for letting me read this MASTERPIECE. This was my most wanted book of 2024 and I am so lucky to have read this.

This book I loved the first one so much and was so excited to continue on with the series this book did not disappoint at all.

*One of my top reads of the year*
I loved A Monsoon Rising even more than The Hurricane Wars, if that's even possible!

We get so much more of Alaric and Talasyn's personalities in this one, and we see their relationship develop into something adorable/grumpy/messy/spicy (all of the things). They have clearly both fallen HARD. We also get even more background information on both of their lives and personal relationships -- they're both starting to rebel against their elders which I loved.

The politics and magic system are built upon even further. The world Thea Guanzon has created is incredible and I could easily picture every scene. (also the dragons and other animals!!!!)

This ends on a cliffhanger and I am now dying to have the next books in my hands.

What a sequel!!! I love the characters and the world this author has built and I enjoined this sequel.

Married to your “enemy” but also wanting to kiss them? YES! they have to work together or it’s everyone’s doom. I like the stakes that the author has put in.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC.

After a rough start for me in book one, this one was so much better. There's so much happening and I cannot wait to see what happens with the characters next!

Monsoon Rising is an electrifying sequel to The Hurricane Wars, filled with political intrigue, heart-stopping magic, and a simmering enemies-to-lovers romance that takes center stage. Set in a Southeast Asian-inspired world, the story brings readers into a storm of emotions and conflict as Alaric and Talasyn navigate a tense alliance, forced marriage, and the shadow of a looming magical disaster.

The enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Alaric, the hardened master of the Shadowforged Legion, and Talasyn, the fierce Lightweaver, is brilliantly written. Their chemistry is undeniable, with the tension crackling between them like a live wire. Though they begin as political pawns trapped in an unwanted marriage, the emotional depth that grows between them feels authentic. Talasyn’s internal struggle between her loyalty to her homeland and the growing desire for her sworn enemy really shows the conflict that she is facing internally. Alaric, caught between his loyalty to his father and his growing feelings for Talasyn, becomes an even more compelling character as he grapples with his own choices of his loyalty to his country.

What truly elevates A Monsoon Rising is its stunning world-building. The Southeast Asian-inspired setting adds richness to the narrative, with vibrant descriptions of landscapes, magic, and cultures. Schemes are ever-present, and the political maneuvering keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Talasyn’s allies, plotting to overthrow Alaric, introduce a sense of danger and urgency, while the looming threat of the Moonless Dark gives the story an epic scale.

As Alaric and Talasyn join forces to prevent a magical catastrophe, their power dynamic shifts from adversaries to something more romantic. The merging of light and shadow, both literally and metaphorically, creates a thrilling build-up to a climactic confrontation that leaves me breathless.

For fans of:
- Throne of Glass
- Zutara
- Reylo

The second installment of the best-selling series, "The Hurricane Wars," "A Monsoon Rising" starts right where book one ended with a world at war, genocide, and two very broken individuals doing everything in their power to try and do the right thing. Stuck in their tempestuous political marriage, Alaric and Talasyn continue to be at odds politically while also being tempted to find refuge in the odd intimacy they have built.


This book includes:
- cataclysmic climate event
- the world's slowest burn
- ethnic cleansing and political warfare
- fish-out-of-water
- scenic Southeast Asian imagery
- a world at war
- dragons
- cliffhanger

When I opened NetGalley and saw that my request for "A Monsoon Rising" was approved I squealed with joy. This is a fantastic book series and this book, specifically, is phenomenal. I haven't read a book that consumed me to this degree in a long time and I inhaled the entire thing in just two days. I love the dynamic between Alaric and Talasyn. Their constant emotional push and pull reminds me of the infinite push and pull of the tides. They're both so isolated by their senses of duty and it is so deliciously excruciating to watch them resist the emotional bond they continue to inadvertently build. I specifically love Alaric and find myself relating to the way he always feels out of place, even in his own home. I can't wait for the final book in the trilogy to be released, especially after such a cliffhanger of an ending.

I love this series dearly and will be recommending it to everyone.

I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Thea Guanzon for the opportunity to review this book. This review is also available on my Goodreads; check it out https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863-gigi

I just finished and that ending!!! Ugh I hate I’m stuck waiting for the next book and wish I could dive into it asap! This book was really enjoyable and I wasn’t wanting it to end.

This definitely got alot better than book one in my opinion. It’s still wordy but you get more backstory and relationship and I really loved that! We also get more banter which I’m a huge fan of.
Learning more about Alaric and Talasyn helped me connect with them more. I’m a big fan of Alaric and love any scenes with him in them.

I still don’t love the back and forth in the relationship though and at this point want them to just admit their feelings and be on the same page but I’m excited to continue this series and see where it goes and who comes out on top.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this arc.