vibes: arranged marriage--what now?, awkward super powerful virgins falling in love, falling in love with the one you're meant to betray

Heat Level: 7.5/5

The Basics:

Now that she's married to Alaric, the Night Emperor, Talasyn wants to keep it purely political--especially since she's secretly a part of a plot to overthrow him. Unfortunately, their attraction to each other has already caused problems. Now more than ever, they need to remain strict and remote, with the Moonless Dark, a catastrophic, potentially apocalyptic event approaching. But the encroaching doom could make their feelings even more apparent, even as outside forces pit them against each other.

The Review:

This was the best thing the second book in a trilogy can be: better than the first (and the first was already good). Though I enjoyed The Hurricane Wars, it did at points feel very much like a set up, both in terms of the fantasy plot and Alaric and Talasyn's relationship. In a lot of ways, you get payoff on both aspects in this installment... while at the same time leaving some tantalizing threads hanging.

Well, like. A lot of tantalizing threads. Remember--this is a trilogy. We're going to have to wait for that ending!

Really, the last book ended just as Alaric and Talasyn's relationship was beginning. Here, we find them in the midst of this alliance marriage that isn't supposed to be even vaguely real. Yet they've already--well--gotten each other off. And that should be it! No repeat performances! No feelings!

Sure, Jan.

What I loved about this is that both Alaric and Talasyn are incredibly powerful beings, skilled fighters, and even growing politicians. But when it comes to their emotions--and their sexual experience on both sides--they're really just a couple of babes in the woods. It gives a delicious vulnerability and awkwardness to their interactions. I mean, of course Alaric has mommy issues (and so does Talasyn, for that matter). Of course Talasyn has the ability to beat his ass in a fight while at the same time lacking the social experience to know how to flirt. They're basically a couple of gawky, traumatized losers together. Especially Alaric. And I love that!

Y'all, he's so obsessed with this girl. And sometimes it comes out in a "I want to write her name over and over in my notebook" kind of way, and sometimes it comes out in a "MINE MINE MINE OM NOM NOM" kind of way. Both ways are good.

I'll admit, sometimes the political stuff can still be A Lot for me, but I found it a lot easier to follow this time around. Additionally, the focus on the Moonless Dark itself really allowed me to sort of... zero in on this cataclysmic moment. It's a great way to amp up the pacing and push us towards as climax.

Speaking of climaxes...

The Sex:

WELL DAMN. There was very little sex in the last book, and I suspected that would change this time around. I don't think I suspected it would change this much. We have the build up with "I'm so aroused against my own will" shenanigans. We have actual consummation, and like... a lot of stuff after that.

Alaric is pretty dirty, y'all! I was proud of him! I had to reread one of those lines to be like "Well fuck, he sure did perk up." There's some good shit here. And it really does serve the relationship. You have a really fantastic progression of physical intimacy aligning with the increasing emotional intimacy.

Another thing I so appreciated--the sex isn't like, constant smooth sailing. There's some awkward stuff in the beginning, befitting a couple of virgins figuring it out. Hell yeah.

Anyway--I really enjoyed this, and I'm super excited to see what happens next. It ends on quite the Moment.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thea has done it again in my opinion. A Monsoon Rising was the perfect follow up to THW. I know a lot of people DNF’d THW because they felt it was slow to start and spent too much time on exposition, but I definitely feel that Thea world builds like no man’s business.

THW helps immerse readers into this beautiful world and set up the stage and AMR brings everything up front and center. The conflict between Talasyn and Alaric (both internal and external) is a lot more in depth and we get more character development as they both learn how to work together and keep their secrets from each other. The main conflict of this novel is easy to follow and you don’t feel like you have to backtrack to keep up or remind yourself what’s going on. The spice alone is a 5-star for me. The tension is *swoon*. Even having a general idea from reading back when it began as a fanfic, I was on the edge of my seat waiting for certain things to happen and not being disappointed.

Let me be clear, while there are certain plot points that have been carried over from that original story, The Hurricane Wars series is its own story with its own world and cast of beautifully written characters. Thea has such a way with words and keeps you hooked from start to finish, I don’t know how I’m going to survive until book three. Book one was more fantasy and this one is a true romantasy, blending fantasy and romance perfectly.

I cannot even begin to tell you how much I love this series; I’ve loved it (and Thea’s writing in general) since the fanfic days. Would definitely recommend to anyone who is a fan of books that have it all- fantastical worlds, heart-pounding action, and a romance that will leave you breathless.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for giving me an EArc in exchange for my honest review. I cannot wait to have my physical copy when it comes out in December.

I think enough time has now passed since the publication of "The Hurricane Wars" that I can explain why that book was just short of a perfect 5-star read for me (4.75 ⭐️), and I swear it's related to why "A Monsoon Rising" IS a 5-star read. So bear with me... I promise it'll make sense.

I firmly stand by the fact that book 1 in The Hurricane Wars was mistakenly categorized as an (adult) fantasy romance. I think if you went into the first book thinking that to be true, you'd (probably, unfortunately) be disappointed... THW was a fantasy with a tantalizing romance subplot and it was a deliciously, excruciatingly slow, slow burn. Now, "A Monsoon Rising" has brought this subplot front and center. It's the STAR 🤩. Truly!! This "romance" plausibly contends with the main plot (this is probably subjective, btw). And I say romance loosely because it's still extremely angsty- you pretty much go through the whole book bracing for the inevitable shoe to drop. 🤕 Good things come to those who wait and all of that... I guess. The genesis and natural progression of their relationship is so fascinating to watch unfold and bloom. No spoilers but we're still very much in the trenches in the romance department by the end of this book. LOL sorry.

I may be incredibly biased but there's very little I didn't love about this book. I enjoyed the political intrigue, the vivid imagery, the lore, etc. I can go on... but the main thing, for me personally, will always be the representation. I wish I could go back in time and tell a younger version of me that our Filipino culture will one day be encapsulated in this beautiful story. I want every single person to be able to feel the serotonin boost of seeing the little nuances of your culture sprinkled in a novel (*think Leo Dicaprio pointing meme. lol)

"A Monsoon Rising" well-exceeded any expectations I may have had and wanted in a book 2, and it still has me in a chokehold until the next book. 😮‍💨 Btw If I've personally recommended that you wait to read THW until closer to book 2's pub date, it's not because I didn't love it. it's because I love YOU. lol thank you to William Morrow/Harper Collins for an early copy in exchange for an honest review! 💜

A Monsoon Rising
__________________________

The Monsoon comes in and it comes in HOT!

The Important Stuff:
Rating: 5 stars without a doubt but Thea has broke the scale, 10,000 out of 5 stars! Everything in this book was just perfect
Spice: 5 out of 5. Omygosh this book had me ON FIRE. The tension, the banter + the spice? And them fighting it every step of the way?? This is illegal bestie.
Romance:GOD TIER. Nuff said
Plot *chefs kiss* This world is so refreshing and beautiful, the characters are so intriguing, the relationships are PERFECT. I could read anything by Thea Guanzon just for the simple fact her plots are going to be plotting
Emotional Damage: WHAT WAS THAT ENDING. MISS MAAM. I am wrecked.. destroyed.. not that it was a bad ending of course but THE MOTHAFLIPPIN CLIFFHANGERS.

My Ramblings and Thoughts:
I genuinely did not think it could get this much better than The Hurricane Wars but gosh did it! The build up we experienced in book one exploded in book two. A Monsoon Rising has topped all of my reads this year and I can't picture anything topping this.

If there was a kingdom to enemies to lovers this would be on the throne. Everyone dreads reading those books that advertise "enemies to lovers" but you proceed to get five minutes of the enemies and nothing but the lovers. We need angst, tension, banter, and fighting in a true enemies to lovers book and this brought it all. Literally two books of enemies fighting an undeniable attraction for the other while also being so determined to follow the paths set out for them and hate the other. This right here is what I mean when I say I WANT enemies to lovers! Alaric and Talasyn are the blueprint!

A Monsoon Rising (THE MONSOON *swoon*) is an action packed romantasy that keeps you emerged from page 1 to the end. We get so much more background and growth in book two. It is so hard to see Alaric so locked into his ways throughout this series but we finally get to see him breaking out of this shell that his father encased him in. The same goes for Talasyn as she has done nothing but follow orders for some semblance of guidance of what to do in her life but now she has started wanting for herself and making her own choices. The way these characters BUILD onto each other and Grow together is just so beautiful to watch unfurl on these pages. I have never quite read of a relationship like this. This is how soulmates should feel like. They inspire each other and push each other to greater heights and I am just obsessed with this dynamic because they are so compelled to hate the other at the same time.

When it came to plot this book absolutely served it. Book one was definitely a lot slower when compared to this. This book had a lot less of them trying to kill each other and more of everything else trying to kill them which forces them to work together in more ways than one which makes it so much harder for my favorite married couple to stay apart.

The romance is what I am here for. What I live for. I have been following this story since its fan fiction format and this has surpassed even that. If you are looking for angst, tension, steam, and spice? *smacks book* This right here is for you.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for giving me the opportunity to read this E-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Honestly I know people will have their problems with this book - the plot, the dialogue - but I loved the worldbuilding and I love the relationship between Alaric and Talasyn. It's been a while since I've obsessed over a book like this and it made me remember why reading is escapism for me.

For anyone who wanted more action in The Hurricane Wars, for those wanting more spice in the romance, more magic, more dragons, and a bigger cliff-hanger...A Monsoon Rising gives, gives, gives. and keeps on giving. Alaric and Talasyn, now married prepare to face the cataclysmic magical event that they have been training for. Their feelings for each other intensify and they grow together, but their respective past pacts mean that they are plotting against each other as well. The narration continues in the third person giving both points of view as in the prior book. The action level increases and I found the book more engaging. There is distinctive growth in the two main characters, both as individuals and together in their relationship. However, like the previous book, there was little depth to any of the other characters. The supporting cast remains little more than set dressing through most of the book. The story was a satisfying continuation and the ending left me eager for the next book of this series. Any fans of the first book should be excited to read .A Monsoon Rising and fans of enemies to lovers romance with court politics and magic that haven't read The Hurricane Wars yet should start with the first book. (3.5/5)
I received advanced access to this book thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Avon and Harper Voyager) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

Book 1 was already one of my favorite new fantasy books, and book 2 did NOT disappoint. A perfect continuation of the plot and the pacing was a work of art. I am dying to know how many books are going to be in this series because I already feel so anxious about where this story could go. Thea is a mastermind! I cannot wait to see where she takes us in book 3.

A thrilling sequel to The Hurricane Wars. It picks up the story and continues Talasyn and Alaric’s quest to hone their magic system and save their world. The internal and external conflicts for Talasyn and Alaric are more deeply explored in a third person, dual POV. We go on quite the journey exploring the complexities of their emotions that neither have been equipped to deal with. I really enjoyed the evolution of our characters relationship with each other and diving into the world building in more detail. As the story unfolds, I could not put this down! It was incredibly enjoyable and I look forward to the finale of this trilogy.

I’m loving this series. It’s such a gripping romantasy that blends romance and fantasy elements seamlessly. The characters are well-developed, the plot is full of twists and turns, and the magical elements add an extra layer of excitement. An absolute delight!

This book was an amazing read, that took you places you didn't know you were going to go. I was fully absorbed in this book right off the bat and flew through it in one day. The author did an amazing job with the plot and making the characters unique but relatable. I will be recommending this book to all of my patrons, family, and friends. Great read!

The story centers on Alaric, master of the Shadowforged Legion, and Talasyn, a Lightweaver and the newly crowned empress of a sworn enemy nation. Thrust into an uneasy alliance, Alaric and Talasyn must navigate the treacherous waters of political intrigue and their own forbidden attraction. As tensions rise and the looming threat of the Moonless Dark approaches, their destinies become intertwined in a battle that will test their loyalties and challenge their very souls. Guanzon's writing is both lyrical and immersive, transporting readers into a realm where magic and ancient traditions collide. The world she creates is richly detailed, with intricate political systems, unique magical abilities, and characters who are both compelling and relatable. Alaric and Talasyn's romance is at the heart of the story, and it is both passionate and believable. Their initial animosity slowly transforms into a deep understanding and unwavering support, making their love story both heartwarming and swoon-worthy. Guanzon also explores complex themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the true nature of power. The characters are not mere pawns in a larger game but are driven by their own motivations and desires, which adds depth and nuance to the narrative. Overall, this book is an exceptional fantasy novel that offers a compelling blend of epic romance, high-stakes action, and thought-provoking themes, which I highly recommend reading!