I was not overly impressed with The Hurricane Wars, but I was curious if this book would end up being better as the second book is usually either my favorite in a trilogy, or my least favorite. Unfortunately, this book ended up being a dud.

It felt like the romance took the main seat, and while I am not opposed to romance, it felt like all world-building and political intrigue was just minor fluff. I just cannot bring myself to sit through all this and hope to get back to the plot. More spicy scenes (yay for people who enjoy them! but not for me) but it just was not enough to keep me interested.

All I see in this is ReyLo and maybe it is me but it feels like the world-building sometimes struggles because it has the independent magic system but also dealing with integrating Star Wars elements.

Talasyn is once again just as annoying to me in this, and I could not care less about her. Alaric is okay, he has some issues, but overall he isn't terrible.

Will I continue this series? No, I could not even bring myself to finish this (time of DNF: 79%). It does have pretty covers at least.
If you are a romantasy fan, and can get past ReyLo (or a work derived from a pretty decent FanFic), then you'll probably like this.

I give this book 5 stars!! I loved it just as much as Hurricane Wars!!! The world building is top shelf and the food descriptions alone are enough to make your mouth water!! The banter between Tala and Alaric is laugh out loud funny and enough to cover my mouth and blush with butterflies! I loved experiencing the evolution of their relationship now that they are married! And let’s just say I had to read the spice scenes a few times because they were so good!! And lastly the cliffhanger!!!! I am already chomping at the bit for the third book!!! Thea, thank you a millions times for sharing your work with us!!! 10/10 recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Content Warning: death, violence, war

I enjoyed the first book in this series called The Hurricane Wars. I wasn’t sure what would happen in book two but here are my thoughts:

Likes:

*All my stars for this book is for the romance. Oh my, their marriage of convenience has them bickering, and then the slow burn turns into an actual inferno that ignites between them. It’s my favorite part of the whole book, Talasyn and Alaric and their spicy scenes! I think I love them so much because even when their in the throes of passion, Talasyn tries to still take the upper-hand and I think it’s so funny to see how Alaric reacts. They are definitely falling for one another but fighting it so hard.

*As for the story around the romance, it is such a tricky situation for both. It’s truly an enemies to lovers romance because they both are in it for their own country but they will have to make a choice – they can’t always be enemies, can they? This fighting can’t keep going on especially since what’s happening to Talasyn and Alaric is going to complicate things.

*It’s such a mix of fantasy and sci-fi but so far I think it works to make it a very unique world.

*We get to see more of Alaric’s relationship with his evil father. His father is a horrible man so it will be interesting to see how Alaric breaks free of him.

Dislikes:

*Honestly, I was so invested in Talasyn and Alaric’s romance that I felt like everything else took a back seat, which I didn’t mind but I can’t tell you much about what’s happening plot-wise to the story. I was always rushing a chapter to see if Talasyn and Alaric were in it. But there is a choice the both of them have to make.

My Thoughts:

I didn’t expect all the spice in this book but I loved it! Talasyn and Alaric together are so fun because she’s a spitfire and he calls her on it but adores that about her. They are such opposites. Now we just have to see them accept that they are falling for one another. As for the story, it will be interesting to see how Alaric deals with his father’s influence on his life. I’m so looking forward to book three!

OHMYGOSH!!

HOLY SHIT. That was an absolutely phenomenal follow up to The Hurricane Wars.

I absolutely loved The Hurricane Wars when it came out and I devoured that ARC and couldn't wait for more. Knowing that it was a trilogy I was partially expecting the "second book" syndrome because this series is slated as a trilogy.

BOY WAS I PROVEN WRONG

I think I might have even enjoyed this sequel more than the first book...

I have throughly enjoyed that this Enemies to Lovers situation was NOT just fully Lovers by the end of the first book and it certainly is closer in this book, but there is still a lot of nuance in their relationship. The characters now see that they do care for each other, but they still have their original goals. Now they are trying to achieve those goals, but now trying to figure out if they can save the other in the process.

The development we got of both the relationship and the characters was phenomenal ✨️ Getting into Alaric's background definitely hurt my feelings and this boy deserves much good in his life.

ALSO THAT ENDING?!? I would commit various war crimes for Talasyn so gimme back my comfort character.

Miss Thea Guanzon, I'm going to need to have these characters taken away from you because I need you to stop hurting them 😭

Thanks for coming to coming to my non-coherant TED Talk.

This is going to be one of my top series. I LOVE the plot and world building in this book. It is so detailed, I felt like I was in the world with the characters. Every character in the book had enough depth for you to feel connected to them. The tension and steam was absolutely perfect!

Watching these two fall in love and choose between their kingdoms and the person the love is almost heart breaking. I loved Talasyn and Alaric’s relationship from start to finish.

Beautiful story!

Thank you for the early copy of Moonsoon Rising. I am so excited to read the second book of this series. I enjoyed the last book, and I liked this book too. There is so much action packed in the second one.

THE TENSION!!!

This was such a solid sequel. It didn't let up for a minute with the action, the politics, the back and forth and the tension and the heat between Alaric and Talasyn. Who can really be trusted and can they trust each other?

The cliffhanger was perfectly aggravating and I can't wait for the next one!

I absolutely loved this book. It was such a great continuation of the series. The romance was so much better in this book!

4.5 ⭐️. 3🌶️


Thing I know after finishing this book:

1. I love love Alaric😍❤️❤️❤️❤️
2. The book is full of sexy times 🔥🥵
4. I can’t stop imagining Alaric in a feathered outfit 😂
3. WTF was that ending!!!!! 😨

I was so pantiently inpatiently waiting for this ARC and I’m so happy that I got approved for it. After the ending in book one I couldn’t wait to see what were going to happen with their relationship.

The book did not disappoint it was more that I was expecting. Alaric and Talasyn’s relationship had a major development they left all of their worries behind and succumbed to their mutual attraction and the end result was 🔥🔥🔥.

I just love Alaric and want to protect him at all cost I do hate the father 😡 but he will get what’s coming for him in the next book ( I hope). I loved to see the sense of humor of Alaric when he was with Talasyn and I loved the scene where he turned green of jealousy I was not prepared for the after scene.

The world and magic system still really awesome. The only thing why I didn’t give 5 stars is because I felt that I was missing a part in the ending like everything ended so sudden that it didn’t give me time to process that the ending was in the next page.

I just want to have the next book in my hands like now but I know is not possible 🥹.

This was one of my most anticipated sequels for 2024. I am always a bit nervous for sequels when I loved the first book. My main takeaways: the romance takes center stage, the politics took a bit of a back seat, the banter between Talasyn and Alaric was off the charts, and we get a closer look at dragons! I did find the pacing a bit off a times, as the main “event” seemed to be built up and then end quickly, but… I loved watching Talasyn and Alaric as they orbit each other and try to fight the very obvious (to us) feelings they have for each other. I loved watching Talasyn grow into her powers and watching Alaric fight against his upbringing to allow Talasyn in. I think if you loved The Hurricane Wars, you will love A Monsoon Rising. This books ends on the most cliffhanger of cliffhangers, so the wait for Book 3 will be somewhat torturous. Book 3 has been set up to be an epic conclusion!

This was a highly anticipated sequel and just as exciting as the first book! The plot is intriguing and the romance absolutely delivers.

This was such a great sequel! Love to see it!

And this really sped by for me (it probably helped that I read this back to back with The Hurricane Wars, the first book). This book picks immediately after the events of The Hurricane Wars.

I was so invested in what was going on. This world's politics - amazing! And, to me, it feels like the fantasy elements heighten in this book because of the incoming war. More things in this world get explained and shown to the reader (and I really liked that). I could see some people getting confused by it, but I really appreciate a world opening up as a series goes on.

Talasyn has to get married to Alaric (for strategic political reasons, of course) and they're trying to navigate that AND the politics of the world AND their actual feelings for each other AND what that all means for them and the world. And yes, they have fantastic banter. Their arguments are so good which makes their relationship very exciting (and sometimes frustrating to the reader, but it feels like it's supposed to do that). So they are very very slow-burn! And who doesn't love a slow-burn! But honestly, Alaric is smitten since day one, so he's pathetic in the best way (if you know, you know).

I am fascinated with the whole void situation and need to know more. I need more of the magic explained and shown to me (which means I need the next book!!). AND THE ENDING! This is a cliffhanger (in my opinion), so you have been warned.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My review on Goodreads is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly wrap-up.

WOW. I am speechless. It's SO rare for me to love a sequel more than the first book, but Thea Guanzon just said CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. And holy $h!t did she deliver!!! This book absolutely consumed me and it continues to live rent free in my head.

I thought The Hurricane Wars was such an interesting and well built world and I absolutely loved the influence of Philippine mythology. Thea did an incredible job of using the first book to create this world, develop the two main characters (and their enemies to lovers relationship) and really set things up perfectly for A Monsoon Rising.

From the instant I started this book I was hooked. I couldn't get enough of Alaric and Talasyn and I was an absolute sucker for every single one of their interactions. They just made my little heart so happy and I was LIVING for their banter and ALL the sexual tension!!! And the ending of the book had me in utter shock!

Honestly this book is a 1,000/10 for me and is without a doubt one of my top reads this year!!! My only complaint is that I need book three immediately. Like I would sell a kidney to read book three as Thea was writing it lol. BUT until I can get my hands on the third book, you can find me staring longingly out the window...or crying in the corner until Thea takes pity on me and gives us more Talasyn and Alaric!!!!

Good grief, this novel was absolutely outstanding! As much as I loved The Hurricane Wars — which I truly, deeply did — A Monsoon Rising has surpassed it in every way.

The world-building, character development, and intricate lore drew me in completely. The journey this story took me on was nothing short of captivating, and I’m on the edge of my seat, dying to know what comes next.

I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically recommend this series to anyone who loves immersive and compelling fantasy fiction.

First, I received and arc from Net Galley!

This has been a tough book for me to get through. The action is mild and the politics are a bit much for my liking. However, it is well written. If you can get through the first few chapters, it’s gets better.

I love this series!! I would recommend it for any Reylo lover out there. It has fantasy, drama, romance. They perfect bundle of everything.

4.5 ⭐️

Ok so, I loved The Hurricane Wars and I was hoping I’d love the sequel, A Monsoon Rising, just as much and I’m so glad that I did! I loved the storyline in this one and how it progressed from the first book. The plot of this sequel brought our 2 main characters together more than in the first, which was so fun, stressful, interesting, and frustrating and all in the best way 😂

A Monsoon Rising is definitely more romance leaning than politics leaning, which I didn’t mind at all. I definitely think that the next book (the third in the trilogy!) was set up to be more politics heavy, based on how this one ended, and I’m super excited for that! The tension between Talasyn and Alaric was sooooo good. There was so much will they/won’t they, should they/shouldn’t they.

If you liked The Hurricane Wars then I think you’ll love this sequel because I think it totally holds up!

Thank you Harper Voyager and Harper Collins for my copy of this!

A fantasy and romance spun in just as compelling and beautiful a way as its introduction, A Monsoon Rising is the perfect follow up to The Hurricane Wars. It is sure to be as large a hit as the first one. While it is difficult to review this book without giving too much away it picks up as though nothing else had happened after the first book, making the flow effortless and even more compelling. As someone who didn't read the first book until receiving access to the second (I heard terrifying things about a cliffhanger and they were not wrong) I was grateful for the way the books were divided up. I was easily sucked into the world and the characters and the second book kept that immersion feeling just as enjoyable as the first book. I cannot wait for A Monsoon Rising to publish so I can talk about it with everyone else!!

The way I begged for this ARC… Totally worth it!! Thank you so much, Avon and Harper Voyager!

This was a thrilling sequel to The Hurricane Wars. Packed with action, delicious tension, bickering turned banter, are we fighting or flirting vibes, and DRAGONS.

Thea really FED us with this book. It’s so good. The balance of the action you want from a fantasy book and the action you want from a romance was done really well, if you ask me. I loved watching these two go from enemies, to reluctant temporary allies, to all of a sudden not wanting to kill each other anymore.

And that ending?! My jaw is still on the floor. How soon can we get the next book??

Lastly, I just want to say I am one proud Filipina reading this book. I feel like I get to appreciate little details at a deeper level because I know what they are, but at the same time I don’t feel like it takes away anything at all if you don’t. Thea does such an incredible job incorporating our— and other SE Asian—culture into her stories and it’s just wonderful.

Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thea expect an itemized bill from my therapist because the ending of this book is CRIMINAL!!! 😭😫 How am I supposed to wait until next year for the final installment? I am SICK with worry!!!!

Y’all - this book doesn’t come out until the end of the year, and I am BEGGING you to read it. Omg. It was SO GOOD. Every moment between Talasyn and Alaric had me clutching my chest while simultaneously kicking my feet and giggling. We really get to see in this book them agreeing and working towards a better future together as they begin to lean in toward their feelings and trust each other.

Guanzon has me itching for more. I need to know what happens !! I need everyone to be okay !! GAHHH. Buddy reading this ARC helped me to sit and appreciate each section after reading and I know the final book will have me screeching like a pterodactyl the moment I set eyes on it.

If you enjoy enemies to lovers, Reylo fanfics, magic, dragons, forbidden love, constantly being stressed as you turn every single page, then this is the book series for you!!

CW: violence, sexual content, war, child abuse, torture, blood