This book combines intense character drama with a beautifully crafted world full of political intrigue, elemental magic, and cultural depth. The setting, a vibrant land on the brink of upheaval, is rich with history and magic tied to the fierce monsoons that shape both the land and its people.

The characters are just as compelling:

• Talasyn: A determined and fierce heroine, Talasyn has endured hardship but carries an inner strength that drives her forward. Her connection to elemental magic makes her not just a key player in the conflict but also a symbol of hope and defiance.
• Alaric: The charismatic yet enigmatic commander who comes from a world of privilege but is torn between his sense of duty and his growing connection to Talasyn. Their relationship is full of tension—both emotional and political—and the way it unfolds is one of the book’s highlights.

Thea Guanzon’s world-building is spectacular, with vivid descriptions of stormy landscapes and intricate political systems that shape the lives of its characters. The magic system, tied to the natural elements, especially the monsoons, feels fresh and integral to the story’s stakes. Every element of the world feels alive, from the bustling cities to the windswept plains, creating an immersive backdrop to the characters’ struggles.

If you love fantasy with rich character development, layered world-building, and a plot full of twists and high stakes, A Monsoon Rising is a must-read!

Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an ARC and allowing me to provide my honest review

Unfortunately life has been chaotic as all and I was unable to sit down and devour this book as soon as I had hope but once I was able to I could not put it down! I was ridiculously excited for this sequel and it did not let me down. This series really shines when our two main characters interact with each other and this book really came through on that front. I had been predicting/saying that I expected this to be like ACOTAR in which a lot of readers will say you’ve gotta get through the first book and it picks up in the second since the world building in book one was a little difficult to get through and this has proved me right. I can not wait for the third and final installment.

I absolutely loved this book ! While it did take me a little bit to jump back into the world (since I read the first book so long ago) and acquaint myself with the writing style, once I was in, I was really hooked. I love the world, the magic, the characters, the politics, the love, and the heartbreak. fantastic work 5/5.

A Monsoon Rising did 3 things that many sequels miss:
Consistency. It always felt like the same story and the same voice, the characters read the same and the writing style flowed well from the first book.
Character Development. These characters felt like the same people, but they were also growing and evolving through the story. By the end they were clearly new and different people, but it wasn’t due to a drastic shift in writing style.
Story Flow. One of the biggest faults of second books is they often feel like an overall story line slump. Because of how long story arcs flow the second or middle books often feel underwhelming, but in this case the story line felt just as strong as the first book and ended in a nice lead up to the third book.
Overall this was an excellent next step from Hurricane Wars. The relationship and characters continued to evolve and the author didn’t try anything extra like throwing a whole new person’s perspective in there. I can’t wait to see what’s coming next!

Read this if you like:
➡️ Unique Magic System
➡️ Arranged Marriage
➡️ Political Alliances
➡️ Dragons
➡️ Simmering Heat
➡️ They’re Both Falling
➡️ 2nd in Series

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🔥🔥🔥

#AMonsoonRising #TheaGuanzon #Romantasy #Sequel #Dragons #ForcedProximity #NetGalley

Thea Guanzon brings another AMAZING installment in this virbrant world she has created. The stakes of war, pending betrayal, and beautiful pining between the leads …. Leads to rapid page turning and late nights to finish. Highly recommend, and cannot wait for the next installment! This is a Romantasy EPIC that everyone should read.

aaaand we’re back with the two people who are very much in love with each other even though they don’t want to admit it:. yet.

i love a good marriage of convenience and guanzon really delivers in her sequel. admittedly this one is more romance than politics and so it made sense to give us these scenes with alaric and talasyn but!!! are you really gonna tell me that they just knew what to do despite the fact their both quite inexperienced in that department? hmmm HMM okay.

while i did like a monsoon rising better than the hurricane wars, the plot felt overshadowed by all of the romance throughout. it seemed more like an afterthought than anything and hopefully this will all get better with the third book (i beg!!!!). i mean, i can’t really complain here. 9 times out of 10, i read for fun and this is what the book is. fun! all i want is for alaric and talasyn to go back to cuddling forever and ever!

ty to netgalley & harper voyager for the arc -

Insanely addictive. Are you kidding me?!?! I am OBSESSED with this series. The world building, the plot, the angst?!?!? I NEED THE NEXT ONE ASAP

thea has done it again!!!!! the masquerade ....so good...chef's kiss....the writing as usual, the twists and turns...love!!!

A MONSOON RISING picks up around where we left off in the first book in the series. Guanzon instantly thrusts her readers into the action, the tension, and the wonderfully crafted world she has created.

What I love so much about Guanzon’s series is not only the complexities in the political and familial dynamics but the way those relationships feed off the landscape of the countries, the magic, and the lore. All of the background and descriptions of the traditions of each land inform the people that we encounter. Not to mention, the characters are so three-dimensional, and the facets of their personalities are brilliantly conceived. You can’t help but feel like a fly on the wall.

I am not giving any spoilers or getting too in-depth about the tale because you need to read this if you are as addicted to THE HURRICANE WARS as I was. There were ups and downs, more intimate moments, heightened and conflicted emotions, duplicity, and shocking twists. And yes, all I will tell you is that there is a cliffhanger of all cliffhangers at the end. It will be leaving you clamoring for more. Trust me.

Series Note: So far I have adored this series. However, it did take me a minute to get back into the swing of things with the characters and the lay of the land. And it is important to note, I do not suggest reading this book without having read THE HURRICANE WARS. Also, if you are a reader who wants to know the whole story, you may want to wait until Guanzon finishes her series or until after the next book. But if you are like me and want to read each as they come out, you can pick things up relatively quickly and continue down Alaric and Talasyn’s journey.

Audiobook Note: This audiobook brings back narrator Jeanne Syquia and adds Kaleo Griffith to Alaric’s voice. The back and forth between the characters add much more interaction than the previous audiobook for THE HURRICANE WARS. The pace was wonderful and a delightful listening experience. I highly recommend getting both in the series because you may want a refresher with book 3. Trust me…there has to be a book three.

I loved the first book and loved this one just as much! The romance in this was so much better in this book and overall so much better than many other romantasy books that are currently coming out. This book has the best slow burn. The plot definitely took a backseat to the romance though which is okay but something to point out. What plot there is was very good and there was incredible world building throughout this which made it that much more enjoyable. I cannot wait for the third book especially after that cliffhanger!

All fans of Book one you’re not prepared for book 2. I love this world watching it expand into something bigger. It was amazing. The romance also developed beautifully. I can’t wait for the final book.

This was such a miss for me. I did not and cannot understand why is it that our main character became so different from what she originally set out to be. This gave me such a bad vibes of toxicity and unfortunately I will not be coming back to this world since the only thing keeping me set is flimsy story.

I have not stopped thinking about A Monsoon Rising for weeks! I have purchased not only the US hardcover of this book but also the UK hardcover and I have no regrets. These books are STUNNING.

Thea Guanzon throws us right back into the story without missing a beat, and I was completely captivated from page one. Talasyn and Alaric are still trapped in their cycle of longing and miscommunication, and I couldn’t get enough of it. The tension between them is everything—I was absolutely swooning!

Alaric’s vulnerability around Talasyn melted my entire soul. He is SMITTEN, and the moments between them were gave me air. I am not okay. The forced proximity of their arranged marriage only made want more and the desire and longing they have took center stage in the best way possible. The chemistry between these two are undeniable.

I am also so wrapped up in wanting to know more about Talasyn and her lineage. I have so many questions..

And that cliffhanger?! I am in shambles. I need the next book immediately! I loved this even more than The Hurricane Wars, and I already know this story is going to live rent-free in my mind forever.

I’m beyond grateful to have had the chance to read this early—thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to experience this masterpiece!

I cannot WAIT for the general public to get their hands on this book because I NEED to talk about it with all of my Goodreads friends!

The action, the romance, the suspense, the witty dialogue. UGH, I could not get enough!!!

Hurry up release date, hurry up!

This was such a great continuation of the series! There’s definitely a lot more romance in this one and it is definitely giving in the spice department. I loved the slow burn, enemies to lovers and political marriage tropes when it came to Alaric and Talasyn.

The world building continues in this sequel, but it didn’t feel like it slowed down the book at all. Not like how slow the first one felt. I really liked the pacing throughout, I was never bored. There was a great blend of action, romance and politics to keep me interested. I finished in just two days. It does end on a cliffhanger though, so prepare yourself for that. I was not ready and I’ll be holding my breath waiting for the next one.

Thank you so much to Avon and Harper Voyager, along with NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Monsoon Rising by Thea Guanzon

Thea Guanzon delivers an electrifying sequel with Monsoon Rising, a novel filled with tension, intricate world-building, and an achingly slow-burn romance. Picking up right where The Hurricane Wars left off, this book is filled with political intrigue and magic intertwine in an ever-tightening web.

At the heart of the novel is the forced marriage between Alaric and Talasyn—a fragile truce between two enemies who still don’t fully trust each other, yet find themselves drawn together in ways they can’t ignore. Their relationship remains a battle of wills, their every interaction laced with unspoken longing and simmering attraction. The back and forth tension between them is exquisite, with stolen moments of vulnerability, charged banter, and an undeniable chemistry.

Guanzon’s prose is lush and deliberate, painting a vivid world. The pacing may be a bit slow, but serves to deepen the stakes—both for the fate of their world and for the fragile, love growing between them. And when the romance finally ignites, it is really good.

With higher stakes, deeper emotions, and an ending that leaves you gasping, Monsoon Rising solidifies The Hurricane Wars series as a must-read for fans of epic fantasy. If you love arranged marriages, enemies-to-lovers tension, political intrigue, and characters who would burn the world down for each other—this book is for you. I highly recommended.

Thank you Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the gifted ARC.

This is a captivating read for fans of epic fantasy romance, particularly those who enjoy complex, slow-burn relationships, magical adventures, and stories of forbidden love, loyalty, and self-discovery in a richly detailed, Southeast Asian-inspired world.

3.5 ⭐️ I definitely liked this more than the first book. I felt like in general, the writing was better. I liked the relationship growth between Talasyn and Alaric, but found that I preferred them wanting (but also not wanting) each other over actually being together. I enjoyed their continued banter.

I think I struggled with the last quarter of the book because so much happened at the end rather than happening throughout the book. So with that being said, I think the pacing could have been improved.

I definitely plan on reading the next book.

Thanks for tbe eARC NetGalley.

I wanted to be pulled into the world crafted in this story, but I wasn’t really connecting with the story or characters. Very well written but just not the story for me!!

A Monsoon Rising is an incredible follow-up to one of my all-time favorite books: The Hurricane Wars. One of, if not the best, romantasy couples! Talasyn and Alaric's relationship had me giggling and kicking my feet. I also love the world building and I can't wait to see where this series goes next.