I shamelessly loved the first book and the same can be said for this sequel. While not perfect, this romantasy is gripping and fast-paced, exactly what I need in a book. There's even more tension between Talasyn and Alaric in this installment and personally, I really enjoy them as a couple. The enemies-to-lovers trope gets me every time. I'm eager to continue with the series, and while the ending here was really unexpected, I'm hoping for more significant character development in the next book- specifically it'd be nice to see both of them grow a backbone and take charge of their fate. The lack of character growth in this one is why it got 4 and not 5 stars from me.

A wonderful second installment to this magical series. A lot of this book was Talasyn and Alaric doing the push and pull of being married along with being enemies.

I read this and it hasn't officially published yet, and now I need to wait a long time for the third installment. I'm crying on the inside.

In A Monsoon Rising, the second installment of The Hurricane Wars series, it felt like the focus was more on Alaric and Talasyn’s relationship growth than on advancing the overarching plot. While I enjoyed the character development and their evolving dynamic, I was left wanting more. At times, the story dragged, and there was room for deeper world-building or plot progression to balance the emphasis on character building—much of which revolved around court politics.

One of the highlights was the banter between Alaric and Talasyn, which added a lightness and charm to their evolving relationship. Their exchanges were sharp, playful, and brought some much-needed energy to the pacing. As their relationship grew, so did the spice level. However, it wasn’t nearly enough for my taste. With their physical relationship developing slowly, many of the spicy scenes left me wanting more—like, seriously, could these characters just get to the good stuff already?

The cliffhanger ending wasn’t something I expected, and it left me eager for answers in the next book. While the pacing wasn’t always ideal, the emotional beats, witty dialogue, the involvement of court politics, and almost-there spicy scenes kept me hooked, and I look forward to seeing where the story goes next.

A Monsoon Rising is a delicious blend of romance and fantasy, and it lived up to my high expectations. Picking up where The Hurricane Wars left off, it explores Talasyn and Alaric’s evolving relationship as they navigate their roles as leaders and lovers. The witty banter, vivid tropical setting, and spicy romance make this a standout read.

The fantasy elements, inspired by Filipino culture, and the addition of dragons are fantastic. The romance, a grumpy/sunshine delight, is much improved from the first book, with plenty of spicy scenes to enjoy.

However, the ending left me a bit puzzled. The twist involved a character who wasn’t well-established, and the resolution felt rushed after all the build-up. Despite this, I’m eagerly awaiting the next book and highly recommend this one to fans of romantic fantasy.

I really liked the flow of this plot! There was court politics and action sewn expertly together so the reader didn't get bored.
Most books suffer from 2nd book syndrome but I thought this was fantastic! From the get-go the reader is thrown back into the story of the world after The Hurricane Wars. I loved watching the interactions between Alaric and Talasyn grow more and more tense and heated.
Thea's writing is so easily digestible and as someone who has a hard time with e-books able to sit reading for hours! Also the cliffhanger!!! I am on the edge of my seat waiting for the 3rd instalment!

BRILLIANT. This sequel was everything I was hoping for and more! I usually despise the miscommunication trope but I’m all for it here. Ahhhh!!! This series is seriously one of my favorite reads this year.

“A Monsoon Rising,” by Thea Guanzon

I loved this book! I liked this book even more than the first one. This one was centered the entire time about the relationship/ arranged marriage and that was my favorite part. I loved the magic system and the technology aspect of the story with ships and planes. The MMC had everything I wanted for the shadow daddy characters that I’m drawn to. The FMC was filled with internal conflict and a backbone. I cannot wait to read more of this series, it was so good. 5 out of 5 stars.

-Enemies To Lovers
-Shadow Daddy
-Magic
-Arranged Marriage/ Marriage of Convenience

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

"A Monsoon Rising" is a captivating novel that immerses readers in a rich, vibrant world with its evocative storytelling and intricate plot. The book excels in creating a deeply atmospheric setting, transporting readers to a landscape where the monsoon rains are not just a backdrop but a pivotal element that drives the narrative. The author’s descriptive prowess is evident, painting vivid images of the environment and the culture that shapes the characters’ lives.

The characters themselves are well-crafted and multi-dimensional, each with their own compelling arcs that unfold with surprising depth and nuance. The emotional resonance of their journeys is both powerful and authentic, allowing readers to form a strong connection with their struggles and triumphs.

While the pacing can occasionally feel a bit uneven, particularly in the middle sections, the overall structure of the story is engaging and well-paced. The final chapters bring a satisfying resolution, tying up various plot threads with a sense of closure.

Overall, "A Monsoon Rising" is a remarkable read that combines lyrical prose with a gripping narrative. It’s a novel that will linger in your thoughts long after the last page is turned. Highly recommended for those who appreciate richly detailed settings and complex characters.

The continuation of this series was great! "Monsoon Rising" by Thea Guanzon is a mesmerizing read, full of lush world-building and well-crafted characters. The plot is engaging and rich with emotion, while Guanzon's writing draws you in from the start. The vivid setting and strong character arcs make this book a truly enjoyable and immersive experience. Definitely a 4-star gem!

Excellent writing, incredible continuation of the first book. The story is captivating and politically informed with a fascinating magic system.

I feel like this is exactly what I look for in a romantasy book. Romance AND Fantasy. This book was my most anticipated read of the year and it did not disappoint. I felt like we got the continuation of the previous book that focused on Talasyn and Alaric. We could read how they interact with each other now post war. It was a great story to bridge onto the next book. I enjoyed seeing the characters going back and forth with each other and knowing that there’s an internal struggle for them. They’re trying to deal with their roles as leaders but also as two individuals who are falling for each other.

My only issue was the ending, which confused me a bit. I think technically this book was a 4.75/5 for me. The twist was from someone who was not mentioned a lot in the story where I could remember who they were. I had to look back and find when and where she showed up. Maybe I would be more surprised about the ending if I had a hint that’s where this was going. They kept mentioning having to turn on each other throughout the book, but no event big or small happened. The only thing that did make sense to me in the ending was the mention about Talasyn’s grandmother and what she possibly did to her mother.

Overall, I can’t wait for the possibility of this story continuing to another book. I really enjoyed this one and I want to read it again.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyage for the opportunity to read this book.

A Monsoon Rising was fabulous, a perfect slow tick to the top of the roller coaster and the ending puts you right at the top of the lift, ready to plummet down.

The story is primarily relationship development and I *loved* it. The writing is beautiful and eloquent, the world is fantastic (even though there’s not much continued development or new layers revealed) and the rising storm metaphor is gorgeous (and the title is so well named). Can’t wait for book three!

I loved reading this book. Talasyn and Alaric are such great characters because they are so strong apart from each other, but they also make each other better. I really enjoyed seeing their dynamic change throughout this book and how they are so honest with each other while also keeping massive secrets from the other.

If you were wanting more spice in the first book, then you will be so happy to read this book, because the spice was fantastic! There were a couple of times I was letdown by the plot, but all-in-all, it was a really fun read.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of A Monsoon Rising.

oh my GOD what an epic sequel

I really enjoyed The Hurricane Wars but wasn't quite obsessed with it, well after reading the sequel consider me OBSESSED. I am hooked, I am in it, I am READY for book 3 and book 2 hasn't even come out yet!! A Monsoon Rising exceeded my expectations and I'm so thrilled about it.

I FLEW through this book; I could not put it down and desperately needed to know what happened next. Just like the last book, the stakes were high so I was on the edge of my seat while reading. The tension between Alaric and Talasyn is top tier, I love their romance so much and definitely grew more attached to these characters through this book.

I wish I could say more but honestly this book left me speechless. I just loved it so much. The ending had me screaming. I need book 3 like immediately. I'll be rereading this when it's released so I can be back in this world again with everyone else :)

⭐️5/5 EASILY
🌶️1/5

I am actually flabbergasted by how good this sequel is. It's very rare to come across a sequel that can hold up to the first book, but Thea did it! I'm not going to go too much into the book as it is a sequel and I don't want to spoil anything, but what I will say is that this picks up where The Hurricane Wars left off and it has an INSANE cliffhanger! You get so much Alaric and Talasyn time and you get to see more of the side characters that we love. I had the absolute best time reading this. There were times that I had to hold my breath because it was so tense and others when I was squealing and acting like a school girl. I absolutely LOVED it and I love these characters so much! I cannot wait for the next one!

Thank you to @harpervoyagerus for sending me the arc. I can't even begin to tell you how appreciative I am. This is a prized possession of mine.

3.75 stars rounded up! I feel like I say this about every book, but "A Monsoon Rising" is sooo hard to rate. I love a lot about this series: the fantasy world inspired by Filipino culture, the witty banter between the characters, and the unique magic system (plus, this book has dragons!). And while the character relationships are better developed in this book, I still think the plot could benefit from tighter pacing. That's the only reason I'm not rating it 4+ stars.

I love how this book picks up where the first one leaves off. I read "The Hurricane Wars" and "A Monsoon Rising" back-to-back, which is perfect for this series' immersive setting. If you like the concept of castles nestled amongst rainforests and scrumptious descriptions of tropical cuisine, I highly recommend you read this series! I also like how the tropical islands and the shadowy mainland complement both of the MCs' personalities. This book has the epitome of a grumpy/sunshine romance, and I like how their native countries reflect that.

And speaking of romance, it's sooo much better (and spicier!) than in the first book. Personally, I thought the constant "will they/won't they" part of the first book's romance was overdone. And this is coming from someone whose favorite trope is enemies-to-lovers! Thankfully, the characters are more accepting of their feelings and each other in this book. And it shows! Some of the spicy scenes had me blushing. I'm so happy this book embraces its place in the new adult genre.

The only reason I'm not giving it 4+ stars is because of the pacing in the last 25%. I feel like so much of this series leads up to one crucial event, only for it to resolve in the span of two chapters. After so much build-up, the resolution feels too easy. Additionally, this central plot point wraps up around the 85% mark, and the story continues for another six chapters. I can see why the author extended the story (it sets up a major cliffhanger!), but I think the ending would benefit from tighter pacing.

Overall, I definitely recommend this book! I think it's perfect for readers who love a grumpy/sunshine relationship, a Southeast Asian-inspired setting, and a book that's equal parts romance and fantasy. 3.75 stars, and kudos to the author for this series!

I received an ARC courtesy of the publisher and Netgalley; all opinions are my own.

This book was so addicting. I loved the first book in this series, but this one brought the spice and fire! Every time I had to put the book down, I was counting down the seconds until I could pick it back up again. Our two main characters Alaric and Talasyn are back with even more tension than before. When a potential apocalypse is brewing in the horizon, the two have to overcome their differences and work together to save their countries. Add in the already tense political climate between the Night Empire and the Dominion court, the stakes are higher than ever. This book has everything from training montages to banter and bickering. Truly on my list for book of the year, I enjoyed it so much! This book was so addicting. I loved the first book in this series, but this one brought the spice and fire! Every time I had to put the book down, I was counting down the seconds until I could pick it back up again. Our two main characters Alaric and Talasyn are back with even more tension than before. When a potential apocalypse is brewing in the horizon, the two have to overcome their differences and work together to save their countries. Add in the already tense political climate between the Night Empire and the Dominion court, the stakes are higher than ever. This book has everything from training montages to banter and bickering. Truly on my list for book of the year, I enjoyed it so much!

This book was so good! I love the South Asian and steampunk inspiration in this series and the enemies-to-lovers between Alaric and Talasyn is so well done! And the cover of the book? Beautiful.

Picking up right where The Hurricane Wars left off, Talasyn and Alaric continue to struggle to combine their magic to save the world. The first part of this book felt very slow, and I was worried it wouldn't live up to the first. However, the last 75% had me on the edge of my seat and staying up way past my bed time. I'm pretty sure I said "one more chapter" to myself about 20 times one night.

The spice REALLY picks up in this one, and I am here for it! This book is really all about their relationship development, so tensions and libido are consistently high.

Honestly, just as good as book 1. And I CANNOT wait for number 3.

I am an “Alaric stop pissing off your wife” advocate.
The ending was not what I was expecting I need book 3 asap but also the way the tension built between the two throughout the book!! Wow