I loved this book so much, it was everything I needed and wanted it to be. The tension between Talasyn and Alaric is crackling but they have the sweetest moments in between their bickering. The politics were great in this book and the extra world building we got. I’d love for some more Kesath continent because we know how Talasyn’s people handle being around Alaric but it would be nice to have more vice versa. Lastly, the dragons 💕

I loved the first book; it was refreshing, exciting and actually interesting. This book did live up to my year long dreams, but the love / hate went on just a little too long and the night of the moonless dark was very anticlimactic. After two books preparing for this event, it was clear that it was not the focal point of the plot, so it got lost.

This book was beautifully written in my eyes and I eagerly await book 3. I just hope that their love (finally) comes to fruition so that the story can develop into the full potential that I know it has.

Honestly, Thea smashed it again.

I was so excited to get my hands on this book! I could be more grateful for this arc, THANK YOU NETGALLEY.

This is one of my fave books of the year, I knew I would love it because I cannot get enough of Alaric and Talasyn anyway. But the plot was so thick and the tension was so realistic, it was just brilliant. The pain in Alarics life hurts me and the battle Talasyn is fighting in her head kills me.

I love it, I cannot wait to see where it goes

I absolutely loved it, it was even better than the first book, which was so so good. This story has lots of Alaric and Talasyn and I LIVE for them, I loved every single chapter where they discover each other, where they fight the attraction, where they get better at being with each other. The ending was URGGHHHH. This book isn’t even out yet and I already need the next one, pleaaaaase

A few days have passed since I finished this book, and I still find myself at a loss for words beyond simply: I loved it. The ending left me speechless, making it nearly impossible to gather my thoughts, let alone write a coherent review. How am I supposed to survive that cliffhanger?!

As I mentioned in my review of The Hurricane Wars, despite the mixed opinions on this series, it has become one of my favorite romantasy releases in recent years:
• Thea’s writing is expressive, painting a vivid, lush world that feels both unique and immersive. Whether we’re in the Continent or Nenevar—two strikingly distinct settings—I can picture everything clearly. Her world-building is beautifully done, and though it subtly echoes Star Wars, it stands apart in its own right. And the food descriptions? Absolutely mouthwatering. My senses are always fully engaged when I read her books.
• Enemies-to-lovers is a well-loved trope, but it’s often driven by miscommunication rather than genuine conflict. That’s not the case with Talasyn and Alaric. These two are true enemies, standing on opposite sides of a brutal war with vastly different perspectives. Their attraction, while quick, feels natural, deeply rooted in how they were raised and the things they have in common, which outweigh their divisions.

Monsoon Rising picks up immediately after the events of the previous book, and our beloved couple is now drowning in emotions they shouldn’t feel for each other, and that go against their families, allies, and their very worlds. While there’s some political intrigue in the background, the focus here is primarily on their evolving romance, their training, and the melding of their magic in preparation for the looming threat of the Moonless Dark.

The action scenes are intense, and the romance is beautifully developed. When they finally consummate their relationship (thank you, Thea!), it’s handled perfectly, and the intimacy feels right for their journey.

While I’m not usually a fan of long internal monologues, in this case, I found myself enjoying them. The internal struggles Talasyn and Alaric wrestle with add depth to their character development, and you can feel their growth with each chapter.

From start to finish, this book kept me on edge, anxiously wondering how everything would play out and how their fragile relationship could possibly survive, leaving me wholly unprepared for the ending.

The book only loses one star for me because the Moonless Dark didn’t fully meet my expectations, and I would’ve liked to see more political intrigue woven into the plot. Hopefully, the third book will dive deeper into some loose threads that need to be handled, and cannot be addressed if the story solely focuses on the romance. I am eagerly counting down the days until the next release (and this one is not officially out yet 😅), as I want to see confirmed one big revelation on the third book and the couple’s reaction to it.

<i>I would like to thank HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction | HarperVoyager and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.</i>

A Monsoon Rising picks up exactly where The Hurricanes Wars ended, with Alaric back in Kesath awaiting the arrival of Alunsina for her coronations as the Night Empress, and the undergoing preparations for the Night of the World-Eater.

This book, like the first, is packed full of action, intriguing magic, delicious bickering, gorgeous pining, and a swoon-worthy amount of fighting and/or flirting and I thoroughly enjoyed it. There was no second book syndrome here, it wasn’t merely a filler, but a continuation and development of everything that was set up in The Hurricane Wars. The union of two strong nations hinging on enemies who are reluctantly softening towards each other while still holding a world of secrets between them, along with a brewing rebellion that threatens to shatter the fragile trust that Alaric and Talasyn have managed to scrape together.

Everything in this book is setting up to rip this unlikely couple apart, with betrayal forming on every side, new enemies unfolding from the shadows and old ones holding strong. With the number of things building up between the two, I’m aching to know if Alaric and Talasyn can withstand all that’s coming for them and if they can finally be true and embrace the feelings that have slowly grown between them. I can’t wait to find out what happens in the next instalment.

WELL. This has just cemented this series as one of my all-time favourites! Tasalyn and Alaric have to deal with the fall out from book 1 and face the looming threats ahead. The stakes are high, the conflict (internal and otherwise) feels very real, and this world is *absolutely*, one of my favourites to get lost in. The dynamic between Tala and Alaric is doubly delicious in this one, and I adore them. The plot is so gripping that I could not put this down.

That cliffhanger was viscious. This one isn't even published until December, and already I NEED the third book. Incredible sequel.

I was super excited for this sequel, as book 1 had almost been a highlight for me - had it not been for the very slow start.
In Hurricane Wars it took me almost a third of the book to get hooked, in Monsoon Rising it feels like Talasyn and Alaric use up about a third of the book to ... hook up (#VeryBadPuns).
Probably perfect for romantasy fans, for me it's always a bit disappointing because I'm in it for the plot and twists and turns and character arcs.

That said, it's a really good middle book of a trilogy. The MCs have to deal with the repercussions of part one, while there's a deadly threat looming over Nenevar.
Talasyn is struggling to come to terms with being in bed with the enemy, thinking herself a traitor. And Alaric keeps trying to do the right thing, despite his abusive father and the politics restraining him.

I still love these two kids with all my heart, and their chemistry of being both hot and stupid with each other is tugging at my heartstrings.
Ultimately, they will have to bring together the light and the dark to survive.

I thought I'd land on four stars, but one long scene about 85% in, plus the ending really got me excited.

4,5/5 stars

Thank you @netgalley and @harpervoyager_uk for the eARC!

#AMonsoonRising #HurricaneWars #KeyloRen #Netgalley #Bookstagram

My two little idiots were so hot and dumb in this second book too. I love them so much!
The plot: amazing
The romance: amazing (I’m screaming)
The cliffhanger: amazing (I’m dying inside)
The tension: amazing (I’m kicking my feet)
The worldbuilding: amazing

TEN TEN TEN ACROSS THE BOARD.

Thanks to HarperVoyager UK, HarperVoyager US, Netgalley and the author for providing me with this ARC!
Full review to come.

Thank you, Harper Voyager UK and Thea Guanzon, for allowing me to review the hottest Netgalley Arc of the year, A Monsoon Rising. Truly honoured and giddy, I got to read before the release on 5th December 2024! I devoured it in under 6 hours. I couldn’t stop myself from reading!
How do you improve on perfection? Up the stakes and make it sexier! A Monsoon Rising is another 5-star read from the creative genius of Thea Guazon, building the fabulous storytelling of the Hurricane Wars with new dangerous political scheming, betrayal lurking in every corner, a cataclysmically magical event threatening to end the world, and an earth-shattering attraction testing Alaric and Talasyn’s loyalties to their marriage, thrones, nations and rebel causes.

Continuing her captivating writing style and entrancing storytelling pull us back to the story with the same flare and quality as The Hurricane Wars with a plot twister with heart-wrenching betrayals, raw charged character journeys testing loyalties and intense emotions, and sizzling chemistry dripping off the pages. Her talent for breathing life into her stunning world with gorgeous descriptions allows a world brimming with magic, mythical creatures, intricately designed cultures and societies, mouth-watering food, and a vast world of vibrant landscapes and distinctive cities to haunt your imagination.

I loved getting more opportunities to see the cast of incredible characters grow and see more heartbreaking insights into their souls. She’s magically plunged the reader deeper into her richly planned characters with more compelling details, new struggles, and intrigues as their eyes open to see the full spectrum of each other’s souls as lines blur and they tiptoe dangerously close to falling off the knife edge.

How’s the romance treating these two enemies-to-lovers since The Hurricane Wars finale? Alaric and Talasyn are still riding those rapids of the river of Denial through tender moments, scorching sexy times, snarling clashes, and biting banter. Toe-curling is good stuff! I loved that one minute; we had revelations of deepening feelings and fell out two chapters later. This troublesome royal duo is progressing through their emotional baggage and trust issues. Deep down, love is taking seed in their uneasy alliance. Alaric’s already a goner – he’s so far gone that he’d burn the world for Talasyn.

A thrilling second chapter of the Hurricane Wars series that doubles down to keep the quality high with immersive storytelling, scorching chemistry, and keeping us on tenterhooks with the tension of divided loyalties dilemmas and the political chaos afoot. I need to give Thea Guarzon the title of queen of cliffhangers. You love to torture us, don’t you? The ending made me scream and cry, wanting to throw up, and my Kindle learned how to fly across the room.

A very important date for your diaries is 5th December 2024 for the UK – heads up warning - this is a must-buy book!

4.5 STARS

This series is shaping up to be one of my favourites!

I felt the pace really picked up in this book, now that Talasyn and Alaric have entered their political marriage. I would still describe the romance as slow-burn although the spice level is definitely turned up a few notches.

I absolutely adore the world Thea Guanzon has created. The cities still feel like they give a subtle nod to Star Wars, and the contrast between Alaric's home and Nenavarene is quite stark which only serves to make Talasyn's home feel that much more warm and inviting.

I hope we get to spend a lot more time with Sevraim and the twins in the next book, I'm eager to explore their relationship and get more of a glimpse into the personalities we have glimpsed so far.

I loved this book! It follows on from The Hurricane Wars and it just keeps getting better and better. The characterisations, the world building, the political intrigue and the slow burn between Alaric and Talasyn is just perfect.

Thea has created the most beautiful and vivid world which is so tangible. I could see the descriptions in my head. I could almost taste the food, feel the water and I was completely immersed in this world.

I loved seeing the Filipino mythology and elements that are perfectly interwoven into the story. It makes for a more unique fantasy world and magic system.

Alaric and Talasyn have both shown immense character growth and seeing their relationship slowly change throughout the books has been one of my favourite things to see. They both have their specific agendas, however, they are finding it more difficult to follow their respective paths. The slow burn was still slow but when it broke, it was just electric. They have the most amazing chemistry and you know they will just keep denying their charging feelings for each other.

The cliffhanger had me screaming and I can't wait until the last book. I just know it will be worth the wait.

4.5 stars.

This was wonderful. The perfect amount of serious, sexy and at some parts silly (Sevarim), Thea Guanzon has beaten the second-book slump in my eyes. I loved learning more about Talasyn and Alaric and see their loyalties be put to the test as they got closer and closer still... and also! There are more dragons in this book, which was one of my gripes with the original. The ending was very intense, and the cliffhanger is sure to make people scream, cry, throw up, etc., but I for one, loved it. It was a great way to show that you can never trust everyone, and the political machinations run deep. I can't wait for book 3.

Ooooooh boy.
Here goes nothing.

Thank you so much NetGalley and the publisher for accepting my request to read and review this one early 🩷

The Hurricane wars was my absolute favourite book of last year and it managed to skyrocket into my top favourite books of all time too.

I decided to give it a reread and still really enjoyed it but my rating was reduced down to a 4 star and I found it remarkably more average (in terms of Romantasy expectations) than I did the first time. This meant that my expectations were already lower for book 2 going in.

I was a little scared going into it knowing it was a middle book in the series and knowing that my tastes in books have changed since last year.

I really did enjoy a lot of parts of this book, certain scenes like the training sequences where they had to create the barrier things and the part were Talasyn follows Alaric to the cave.

But majority of this book was a repetitive pattern of them hating each other, then having a sweet or spicy moment, then going back to hating each other as they feel guilty. By the end it was so painfully frustrating seeing how neither of them can communicate, how they both can’t make up their minds, and how they both keep holding huuggeeee life changing secrets form each other that are bound to blow up any minute.

The big climactic event that happens was super underwhelming in my opinion too - especially with how much it was being hyped up. But also the risk factor was never there since we knew the main characters must come out of it alive.

I also found the spicy scenes a little underwhelming and rushed, esp after the greatness of the spicy scene in book 1. I wanted MORE.

I also was constantly confused by the sheer number of characters we were introduced to and then were brought up again 100 pages later. I struggled to remember who was who.

I was ALSO confused by the ending, in fact I have no idea what’s going on, and at that point I kind of gave up and skip read the last 5% just to have it done.

Even though I’m mostly stating the negatives, I actually did enjoy majority of the book, I had fun and was rooting for Alaric and Talasyn. I love their relationship, I hope that book 3 breaks the repetitive cycle and we get some more character development.

Alright, so I literally shrieked with joy when I woke up to an email with an ARC for A Monsoon Rising. This was definitely one of my most anticipated reads for the year and for once, a sequel didn’t disappoint.

A Monsoon Rising was so freaking good. I usually devour books in a day, but I forced myself to slow down with this; I simply didn’t want it to end, and that’s truly saying something for me.

In all honesty, I think AMS was better than The Hurricane Wars. I loved the continued character development and I loved the emotional depth we got to see in both main characters. I think trauma and its aftereffects were really well written, and I liked the honesty and rawness behind some of the more emotionally charged scenes. I also really loved seeing Talasyn come into her own as a person and as a leader instead.

I am so thankful to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Well, mostly thankful, anyway… now I have to wait an eternity for the final installation in the series, and I don’t know if my heart can make it that long AFTER READING THAT ENDING.

Please tell me Book 3 is mostly already written? Please?

If anyone needs me, I’ll be off in my denial-bubble re-reading The Hurricane Wars and A Monsoon Rising in preparation for the 3rd book. Which is obviously releasing very soon. 👀

I literally jumped up and down when I got approved for an ARC of this book. Thank you so much. We start where The Hurricane Wars end Talaysn and Alaric are now married with a binding political contract and trade agreement between The Night Empire on the continent and the Nenavar Islands.

They are both aligned to stop the Moonless Dark, a phenomenon that happens once every 1000 years that wipes out all life within its path during an eclipse. Can the merging of Talaysn and Alarics powers be strong enough a shield to push back this threat?
And what happens to the alliance after, when both sides plot betrayal against the other?
I really loved watching Talaysn and Alarics marriage grow, as they try to not fall for each other. They did have some really tender moments, in between the snarls, clashes and banter they usually have. I was really rooting for them, deep down I think they are being used by both sides in this war. And both of them can't see a way out peacefully.

"Little hellcat"... "Claws out even when you purr".

"Ruin looks good on you, my lord"

What to expect:
Light and dark magic
Political deals and backstabbing
Dragons
Enemies to Lovers
Betrayal
Some very good spice 👌
Some Forced Proximity
Philippine Mythology

There's a great deal amount of plot compared to spice in this book, so it's definitely not a typical romantasy. I do recommend rereading The Hurricane Wars before starting this one as for about 50% of the book I was very confused with who was who and I'd forgotten most of the names. The story definitely picks up also about 50% in, and I was so so hooked.

Thea creates a world that you can almost taste, her description of Nenavar makes me want to sip on a coconut on a sandy beach with the salty sea air whipping around me, watching dragons rise from the sea!

I can't wait to see where the next book goes, after this one ending on a cliffhanger (of course), I'm going to be so impatient waiting for the next one. You bet I'll be rereading both of these books in the future to prepare myself.

I'll be posting my review on all retail sites near release and GR and my Instagram too.

A Monsoon Rising is the follow-up to The Hurricane Wars, and it’s just as captivating. I devoured this book in under 24hrs!

The US and UK covers/sprayed edges are just as gorgeous as The Hurricane Wars covers. Thea's design team did not let down with the sequels designs. I have both on pre-order.

The story picks up with Alaric and Talasyn, who are now in an uneasy alliance and a marriage that’s supposed to end years of conflict. They’re up against a magical disaster called the Moonless Dark, and their relationship is full of tension and sparks.

The book dives into themes like loyalty, trust, and the messy nature of love during political chaos. The interplay between light and shadow adds a great layer to the story, making it more than just a fantasy romance.

Thea Guanzon’s writing is vivid and immersive, painting a world brimming with magic, conflict, culture, and tension. She masterfully blends intricate plots with deep emotions, making this book a standout in the fantasy genre.
If you loved the first book, you’ll be thrilled with this one.