"Tusk Love" is a Critical Role fan's dream. This is a short, simple romance story, but it was so much fun to read!

The chapters are short and the story flows quick and well. There was a magical element that I wasn't expecting (but obviously should have). Guinevere starts off naive, but I think she progresses well in the short time that we're with her. Oskar is the hero that Jester would have been proud of.

As a fan, this book is a treasure, but I will absolutely be sneakily recommending this to normal romance readers.

Rated 4 stars. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC ebook.

I went into this book not knowing a damn thing about D&D and thought this was just another monster romance! I asked a friend to explain to me what Critical Role was and the concept of this story and my god that is adorable! You definitely don’t need any other knowledge, the world building is fairly easy to follow. Of course if you are familiar with Critical Role, I’m sure you will enjoy this even more.

This book made me laugh out loud and smile so big. Both Oskar and Guinevere are great characters. Oskar is the half orc that saves Gwen when bandits attack her carriage and try to steal this mysterious chest. Gwen, who Oskar believes is a spoiled merchant daughter has some secrets of her own. The story has an opposite attract vibe, as well as, never judging someone based on what you think they are! The story has a good mixture of plot and romance! And let me tell you it has some fun swoony spicy romance! There was also an air of mystery throughout as well!

This was definitely a fun read and I would definitely recommend it to my monster romance friends!

4.25 ⭐️

4.5. I’ve never explored anything within Critical Role, but the idea of a story within a story intrigued me enough to pick up this book (and let’s be honest, the cover is fantastic). I’m happy to report that I had a really fun time with this read! It’s the perfect blend of monster romance and cozy fantasy, and you should definitely check it out if you’re looking for something heartwarming and funny.

Tusk Love is a high-fantasy romance between Guinevere, a wealthy merchant’s daughter who has lived a sheltered life, and Oskar, a half-orc blacksmith with a painful past. Despite their stark differences in social class, upbringing, and life circumstances, the pining between them is evident from the very first pages. I really loved the romantic dynamic between Guinevere and Oskar—though I’m weak for broody cinnamon-roll heroes, so who can blame me?

This novel is great if you enjoy the tropes featured in it, such as grumpy-sunshine, forbidden romance, and a sprinkle of insta-love. The characters are heavily shaped by these tropes, and while some readers might find certain traits frustrating, I personally really liked both the heroine and the hero. Their character development is rooted in these tropes as well, but it’s still well-executed and adds depth to the story.

All in all, this book does exactly what it promises—and it does so well. It’s not a very long novel, and the pacing is excellent, making it an easy and enjoyable read. Even if it’s not a groundbreaking piece of fantasy, it remains pure joy.

♾️ stars for Tusk Love 💞

I devoured this book in less than two days and fell for Oskar so hard 🥹

I just love Thea’s writing! She made me giggle, laugh out loud, gasp and also blush quite a few times!

This book was my most anticipated read of the year and I’m so happy it’s my best read too 💞

Thank you so much NetGalley and DelRey for a copy of this book 🥰

I wasn’t aware of Critical Roles Content but that didn’t stop me from wanting to read this story and dive into this adventure book about our naive maiden and her half-orc protector. While I enjoyed the concise writing style, short chapters, and overall story-arc, I think I’m personally just not the biggest fan of naive female main characters, Guinevere, that are very sheltered. I can appreciate her character development into independence tho.
Our male main character, Oskar, felt despite his background a little flat for me. Where are his dreams, his ambitions, his plans?
Additionally this books is pretty short and unfortunately I didn’t connect to their romantic journey. For everyone wanting spice tho; you’re good to pick it up!
This is definitely cozy, spicy and has the idea of a dnd campaign with an adventure story as its heart. I fear it just wasn’t completely for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thea Guanzon, Critical Role, and Del Rey for the E-ARC!

As a fan of Thea Guanzon's "The Hurricane Wars" I was very excited to read the advanced copy of her upcoming release! I will be candid that I don't consume any of Critical Role's content, but that didn't stop me from enjoying this story to the fullest!

This is a book filled with adventure, a mysterious wooden box, and two characters from opposing worlds. Guinevere is a merchants daughter who's been extremely sheltered. She's never had to do anything for herself, only learning how to be a prim and proper daughter. Oskar on the other hand as lived his life in poverty. He's had to work for everything he's gotten and even then that hasn't been enough. Together, they must traverse through dangerous terrain, all while being hunted by mercenaries, all in the hope of bringing Guinevere home safe.

I absolutely adored both Guinevere and Oskar as characters. Thea Guanzon is a master at character development, giving both of her MC's realistic personal journey's throughout this book. That's not even mentioning how well-written their romance is! I was invested in their stories, enjoying every moment of yearning between the two.

If you're looking for a cozy romantasy with spice, I would highly recommend you go pick this up on release!

Confession: Romantasy isn’t usually my go-to genre, but after hearing so much about this book and falling for its adorable cover, I decided to be adventurous and give it a try—thankfully, one of my best decisions, as I enjoyed it far more than I expected.

The book’s greatest strength lies in its lovable characters, particularly Guinevere—a kind, well-mannered, and self-sacrificing merchant’s daughter who always prioritizes others’ needs while hiding a powerful secret—and Oskar, a gentle, cinnamon-roll half-orc who masks his kindness behind a gruff, intimidating facade. Their fates intertwine when bandits ambush Guinevere’s caravan, triggering her hidden fire-wielding abilities just as Oskar steps in to save her.

Oskar, initially en route to honor his late mother’s wishes in the North, postpones his plans upon realizing that Guinevere—so trusting and pure-hearted—is in grave danger, especially given the valuable dowry she carries. Determined to protect her, he joins her journey to wed an older, wealthy nobleman handpicked by her parents. But as they travel together, the growing attraction between them complicates everything. Oskar longs for a future with her but fears he cannot provide the luxury she’s accustomed to, while Guinevere dreams of a life by his side yet remains bound by duty and afraid of her own burgeoning powers.

However, what if she’s been kept in the dark? What if her parents are hiding secrets that could change the course of her life forever?

Overall: The pacing, character development, world-building, and execution of the grumpy-meets-sunshine trope are all flawless. I devoured this book in one sitting, fell in love with the romantasy genre, and added the author to my auto-read list. You cannot miss this gem—five blazing stars for this adventurous, action-packed, and steamy read!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Del Rey/Inklore/Random House Worlds for providing a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.