I think I need to accept that this series just wasn’t for me. I could barely keep up with the first book in the series and this one had me struggling even more. The world building continues to feel repetitive and disjointed. Not one for me sadly.

The Hurricane Wars was one of my favourite fantasy reads from early this year. Imagine my shick wjen I was accepted to read the second book. A Monsoon Rising picks up right where we left off at the end of The Hurricane Wars and straight away immerses you in the action and political and emotional plotlines. The development of the main character is amazing and I honestly could not eat this book up quickly enough. I absoltely devoured it and now have a massive book hangover.

I didn't think it was possible to love Thea Guanzon's writing and books more than I already did after The Hurricane Wars but I AM OBSESSED! I love Alaric, the banter, the tension, the doubts and even the secrets... did I mention I love Alaric?

I'm always hesitant going into the sequel of a book I love so much but Thea knocked it out the park with A Monsoon Rising!

The writing kept me immersed from the first page and long after I read the final word... I can't wait to see what Thea does with the final book. All the stars for this book!!

I only ask that Alaric and Talasyn get their happy ending because I'll die if they don't 😭



If anyone reads this far.... can I beg for a physical ARC so my collection of Thea's books is completed 😭🥹 🙏

The Hurricane Wars was one of my favourite fantasy reads from early this year so I was so excited to receive an advanced copy of the second book in the series. I did go back and listen to the audio book of The Hurricane Wars before picking this up to refresh my memory on the plot and specific details of the first book and I'm really glad I did as I feel it really helped to immerse me in the story development. A Monsoon Rising picks up right where we left off at the end of The Hurricane Wars and straight away immerses you in the action and political and emotional plotlines. I loved the development of Alaric and Talasyn's relationship in this book. There is still a decent amount of miscommunication between them but I felt it was done appropriately and contributes to the brilliant tension between the characters. There are loads of plot twists throughout the book which really kept me invested and quickly consuming the pages. Really looking forward to the next book in the series, cant wait to see how this story ends!

Two hearts circle each other in the eye of the storm. After a lifetime of war, these characters were thrust into an alliance between their homelands. Now one must play the role of a willing press while her allies secretly plot to overthrow his reign. But a greater threat is rising, a cataclysmic magical event that could devour everything.

Tensions rise, relationships are explored and a captivating world is within your grasp. There is something intriguing about learning more about each character, their past and their roles to their contrasting realms. A richly visualised plot and enough twists to keep you guessing that will leave readers eagerly wanting more.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐕𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐀 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐚 𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐳𝐨𝐧

i looooooved the hurricane wars so much, and a monsoon rising was such an incredible follow up.
however! i will be pressing charges based on the cliffhanger…….. the gasp i let out………

the main characters might have a level of communication issues that physically hurts me deep in my soul but BOY am i sucked in, i can’t look away??? i can’t be annoyed??? i have no choice but to ship, even when they are both secretly planning to cross the other??? the chemistry! the angst! i was locked in from the start😌

i have 1 single qualm and that is the relentless mention of each others “slim arm”, “slim leg”, “lean” figures was borderline giving fatphobic?? a few mentions and i probably wouldn’t have noticed, but it was becoming eye rollable at the end and taking me out of the book.

i still really thoroughly enjoyed this book, and i can’t wait to see where the series goes from here!

thank you to harper collins, thea guanzon and netgalley for the arc opportunity 🥰

Reviews posted 03 Nov 2024:
Shorter review posted on Instagram
Longer review posted on StoryGraph & Goodreads

I loved Hurricane Wars so much and was counting down the days until the next book came! Monsoon Rising did not disappoint! Well, the first book focused on world building, the second book let us focus more on the captivating relationship of Talasyn and Alaric. Their tension had me on the edge of my seat and I couldn’t wait to see where Thea would take us next with them. Definitely recommend!!

What a fantastic sequel!! I liked the hurricane wars but this was another level for me, I loved the character development and found the plot interesting, I devoured this in like two sittings Thea is definitely on my autobuy list now

5 stars

This book was hot, hot, hot 🔥 🥵
Considering the first book was alot of world being and heavy petting, I'm blown away how well this story has come together aswell as Alaric & Talasyn if you get my drift. It gets steamy and I loved it.

The story is also epic with lots of twist and turns. I never knew what to expect and it definitely kept me guessing. Be warned this book does end on a cliffhanger and I'm probably going to be thinking about it for the next couple of weeks, wondering what will happen and who is the enemy.

I loved the world building in this book and how we get to see a bit of both our main characters world and backstories. Oh and not forgetting the dragons we see alot more of them in this book, which I absolutely loved.

Overall this is definitely worth the hype and in my opinion even better than the first book.

So excited to get the special edition from @fairyloot now.

Thank you @theaguanzon & @@harpercollinsuk for the ARC and the opportunity to review this amazing story early i very much appreciate it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Alaric and Talasyn deliver the most epic enemies to lovers romance in A Monsoon Rising, completely ruining us and our sanity. The Hurricane Wars was superb, and so is A Monsoon Rising. I love this world and these characters so much 😍😭😭😍😭😍😭😍😭😍

Talasyn has grown so much. She has embraced her royal and political role, and she continues outwitting so many characters. And yet, despite all the political turmoil and the lack of trustworthy allies, she is still the loyal and devoted Talasyn we all know from the first book. She is fair and clever and resourceful and accepts no nonsense from anybody. She is torn within herself, especially about Alaric. Her heart is in scrambles and she doesn't even realize she has feelings for him lmao.

Alaric is our favorite Talasyn-doormat, but even he recognizes that he has feelings for her. But they are so afraid of love, and it truly breaks my heart. They are so traumatized and so love-starved that they fear love more than war itself. Because they know war. They understand war. But love? That's foreign to them. And my dear Alaric, his father has scarred him both mentally and physically that his prism of worldview is still somewhat wrong, but he really shows in this book that he does have the best intentions, that he does strive for peace and prosper, that he does want a family with Talasyn. I must say, Alaric is such a unique character. He has a kind heart yet he can be ruthless in battle. He fears love and grew up in an abusive environment without even a hint of love, yet he adores Talasyn. He is so contradictory, which makes him so fascinating. I sincerely hope that he makes the right choices in the next book and put an end to bad-choice-making male love interests!

The plot is rich and twisty, but what I loved the most in A Monsoon Rising was that we had time with Alaric and Talasyn, and that they had time to grow and come closer to each other. Don't get me wrong! There's a lot of political court intrigue, a world to save from the Void magic, backstabbing, and even a creature to save, but I loved how much their romance got to evolve, too! We had the perfect balance of romance and fantasy, and I love Thea Guanzon's vision and direction in this series.

What more can I say? A Monsoon Rising is the perfect second book in a series that will forever be legendary and epic, touching and devastating romantasy lovers of all ages and backgrounds.

Sincerely,
*Alaric's Guava

*You will know what that means once you read the book.

This was my most anticipated release of the year and was thrilled the book gods (Netgalley) answered my prayers (ARC request).

Jumping straight into events everything gets more politically and emotionally complicated with the coronation in . Vows exchanged to be true to each other while both parties have secrets and plots to overthrow the other. But then actually falling in love with your arranged spouse?!
Its a mess and, like a toddler with their first paint set, I couldnt be happier.
Fav tropes done well we have the enemies to lovers TM, the forced proximity TM and the there's only one bed TM

The miscommunication trope common with POVs of both MCs isnt present here, my dislike of this is usually you end up reading basically the same thing twice. While there is slight overlap its always with extra layers of context or understanding, adding something worth while.

The only downside of being an advance reader is having to wait LONGER than most for the sequel! This exceeded my high expectations and cant wait for my physical copy.

I nearly DNF’d this at around 15% but decided to give it to 20 before I made my decision- next thing I knew I was at 60% and unable to keep my eyes open. So many unexpected moments with twists and turns. The story continues from the first guy has a little less court intrigue and more action and spice the the first. This definitely feels more NA than book one which was in a limbo between YA and NA, like the first one it ends of a significant cliffhanger, but was definitely worth it. I liked how the characters both grew and were more complex and interesting this time round.

A Monsoon Rising was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it did not disappoint!

We follow Talasyn and Alaric trying to navigate through married life, a world broken by an ongoing war and a catastrophic event on the horizon that could end them all. I must say this book very much focuses on character development and the romance of it all. The political part almost felt like an afterthought in this second installment. I did not mind this at all, because I am a romance girly at heart and I loved to see these two dorks get more time on the pages, but some people that are more into the political and strategic aspects of this story might miss this part!

With that being said, THE TENSION!!! THE ANGST!! THE DENIAL!! I was so furious with them and annoyed and outright FRUSTRATED, which tells you that the author did a fantastic job writing this slow burn kind of enemies to lovers story. I giggled and swooned at their tender moments and I have the biggest soft spot for Alaric. We must protect this man at all costs.

I do have to say the big resolution for the "catastrophic" event I mentioned earlier fell a little flat for me. It does feel like Thea has more for us in store in the following book, so I'll let it slide FOR NOW, because everything else was such a delight.

The cliffhanger at the end was a real surprise for me and I did not see that coming at all. I am (im)patiently waiting for book 3 and can't wait to see what happens next.

Ok. Read, This. Book. Now.

This is book 2 in a series, so make sure you read the Hurricane Wars first but when you do... you will have a physical need for this one.

This book is so well written it will keep you glued to it until you're done.

The chemistry between the main characters is unbelievable, if you're into romantic fantasy you will not be disappointed, this is just the book for you. I guess we all expected more political development following the first book and that was a bit of a letdown at first, but considering the romance in this book I was actually very happy to not have this political development.

The only one thing that's not great is... now we need to wait for part 3!

Honestly, I can't recommend this book enough. Thank you so much for giving the chance to read this ahead of publication!

A Monsoon Rising picks up soon after Talasyn’s and Alaric’s wedding, with her traveling for her coronation as Empress, as promised by the marriage contract, so if you, like me, are in this for the drama and the romance and the tension… I have good news, because we get to go right back in!

Our two favourite fools in denial are still fools, still in denial, and still giving us the tension we want and need, spending their time daydreaming of their wedding night, when they should be focusing on the political issues at hand - and I am absolutely here for it!

– No outright spoilers ahead, but some mentions might get close! –


I might need to start with a disclaimer: I am here for the romance, ok? (wait, have I mentioned that already?)

As a Romantasy, the novel focuses on the evolving relationship between Talasyn and Alaric (as it should!) rather than on the political intricacies teased throughout the story. The political elements serve primarily as obstacles that keep the love interests apart, acting as a narrative device to fuel the tension between them. Both Talasyn and Alaric despise court life, which gives them more reasons to empathize with each other, argue, and, of course, banter. Both main characters are struggling more than ever to accept their mutual attraction and to confront their feelings, as their respective roles in this world of deception and betrayal make it nearly impossible to imagine a future together (but you can bet I giggled and kicked my feet at the very brief mention of that possible future!).

The angst! The banter! The pining! They are everything a true enemies to lovers story should be, and the book hits all the right notes, and oh, sooooo many of the right tropes! Tala’s and Alaric’s dynamic is engaging, their bickering never too far from the surface and becoming a love language that develops beautifully over the course of the story. Their stubbornness and reluctance to admit and navigate their feelings provide both entertainment and emotional depth, making this the heart of the novel.


However, this second installment does not add much in terms of world-building, as most of the groundwork was well established in The Hurricane Wars, and while we don’t get significant development beyond what we already know, the magic system does get a bit of focus—especially regarding the scale of powers, with a few very cool reveals that tie into the lore of the world!
The political intrigue gets a little bit of screentime, though not as much as you would expect when there is a full war going on, double crossings being plotted left and right, and everyone (and their relatives) is hiding secrets from the other side.

And while putting all other aspects of the book on the back burner definitely makes it better for me, and a much easier read, I have a feeling some readers will be left longing for a deeper exploration of the world and the ongoing war.

The book does end on a massive cliff hanger… and I will very (im)patiently wait for the next installment. I can’t wait to see how Talasyn and Alaric will find their way to each other, considering how much they still have to admit to one another (and to themselves), all the trauma, and plotting, and lies. I expect we will have a lot more angst and arguing before the end of their story - I’ll make sure I bring my popcorn (and my tissues!)


– Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an early copy of this book. All opinions are my own and reflect my honest reactions. –


PS: Can we all please REALLY look at that UK cover?? <3

My god I had been waiting for this book and it DELIVERED. Thea wrote this as if the rent was due! I had high hopes and they were all exceeded. The tension, the lies, the passion, the stress, the camaraderie, the feelings!!! THE ENDING?! Girl I’m gonna need book 3 asap, pleaseeeeee

I loved the first book but felt it was a lot of world building this sequel however was fullllll of character development and tension, that cliff hanger though? Need book three like yesterday!

I loved it, dived right back in to where we left the characters. Really enjoyed Alaric pining for her more than she was for him. Perfect pacing, though I’d convinced myself it was a duology so was looking at the percentage thinking how will this wrap up.

I’m hoping that the regent gets his comeuppance and hopefully Alaric will come around with his way of thinking.

Excitedly awaiting the next book!

When I read Hurricane Wars, I knew that Thea Guanzon would become a firm favourite and auto-buy author because their wiring was simply that good. Creating not only a new fantasy world but the mechanisms that go along with it is no mean feat.

When I read Hurricane Wars, I knew that Thea Guanzon would become a firm favourite and auto-buy author because their wiring was simply that good. Creating not only a new fantasy world but the mechanisms that go along with it is no mean feat.


A Monsoon Rising is the second electrifying book in the series and is another masterpiece. This is a tale filled with political intrigue, breathtaking magic and the romantic tension between our dark prince and master of the Shadowforged Legion in Alaric and our wary princess, and Lightweaver, Talasyn.


The way we are brought back to the world is so organically done that you are thrust back into the political turmoil and aftermath of Talasyn and Alaric’s alliance with their forced marriage and the long-lasting hatred and distrust between their respective nations all against the backdrop of an impending magical catastrophe.


☆☆☆


“Will you stand with me against my enemies and help me build my empire?” “I will,” Talasyn said over a racing heartbeat, through the chill of the knowledge that she was lying.


He placed the crown upon her head.


☆☆☆


Until I was lost to the book, I had forgotten just how much I had loved the way Alaric and Talasyn. They're both struggling with the weight upon their shoulders from their respective families and nations, alongside the way the two attempt to fight the chemistry that was there in The Hurricane Wars. From pawns to two dynasties to them finding a connection and chemistry that compliments their growing respect feels so real and I loved watching the two develop a natural, strong partnership.


What shines throughout A Monsoon Rising is not only the characters and their many stories but the phenomenal world-building and attention to detail that Thea Guanzon brings to the page. The love that the author has for her country of the Philippines and South Asia is evident from the vibrant description of the world we're in throughout the series, but also how the mythology and culture from her heritage play a part in A Monsoon Rising. The storytelling would falter greatly without this attention to detail and obvious love for the story.

This is a sequel that adds to The Hurricane Wars, it has drama and tension rippling throughout the pages and I loved every moment of it. Even those that stole my breath.. I haven't loved a book as much as I have A Monsoon Rising in a while and it had me wondering as each page came to an end what else Alaric and Talasyn could experience and endure. I really enjoyed how much character development there is - especially Talasyn who is the resident sceptic. Thea Guanzon has given us a book that will be loved, and have us craving the third because just like a Monsoon and a Hurricane? Devastation comes out of nowhere and recovery takes time to be completed properly.

I absolutely loved reading the book 1 and was so excited to read this sequal too. This was as impressive as the book 1 plus the writing was amazing as usual.
I had a great time reading this as they characters and plotline was amazingly penned down right from the starting till the very ending.