So this book has a lot of strengths: the magic system is a lot of fun and I foresee people loving it, even though it's not necessarily super creative or new. There's enough laid out in the novel, and yet still a lot of mystery left to keep readers interested. The worldbuilding is super interesting: I loved the airships, the promise of dragons, and the primary setting of this book in particular, which again, gives the reader a layered picture of the story while still leaving a lot left for the next books in the series.

Sometimes the writing is a bit toooo descriptive and overly reliant on metaphors/similes and purple prose in general. I can see some readers not loving this, as it can actually slow down or cut through interesting scenes with long descriptions that aren't always needed so much. However, this definitely didn't keep me from enjoying the story, and I think overall I can see this being refined in later books.

One thing to know going into this book is that it is heavy on romance, and yes it is enemies to lovers. While I have been critical of this trend in adult romantasy books recently (and in general, I'd argue that publishing is a bit too obsessed with adult fantasies centering romance completely, simply due to the success of certain authors, when truly it is NOT always needed), when it's done well, I'm excited for it, and I think this is an instance where it adds to the book.

I'm interested to see how these two characters continue to grow and what they continue to reveal about their backgrounds, as I feel that we actually have just a small part of the picture of who they are. I think those who love romance centered in fantasy will find this to be a satisfying story in the vein of ACOTAR, where the plot and magic are still quite interesting, but the romance often takes center stage. Those who don't love heavily romantic fantasies may not love it, but I don't think that's a mark against the book.

My biggest takeaway: I just think this was really REALLY fun. It takes on tropes that plenty of other authors and stories have, but the setting, the world, the cultural elements, and the character personalities really make this story shine. I'm not sure what the next books will bring, and what other secrets will be revealed, and that is also exciting and fun.

A fascinating SEA inspired setting and a broody, stormy love story that’s sure to hook readers immediately. I would have liked a little more character development but I’m excited to see how the series plays out.

This was a wonderful depiction of the horrors of war, the pain that lingers even when the fighting is over, and the sacrifices that are forcibly made to keep living. The scenery was stunning, the descriptions were lush, and the political intrigue was so intricately woven into a tapestry of subtle alliances and complicated maneuvers that were a delight to watch play out.

It is also a fantastic enemies-to-lovers romance with a heat level that evokes tingles. The banter is superb, the forced proximity is scream inducing, and the desperation to keep from pining is incredible.

Though, since these two elements intersect so closely, it made the book feel, slightly off to me? It was heavy. The horrors of war are not glossed over. What a war-torn country does to those that inhabit it is part of the main theme. So it felt slightly odd to have these romance happen as quickly as it did when these horrific acts are at the forefront. It didn't feel natural that they would be bantering when the male love interest had a hand in wiping out the main character's country. I dunno, it just did not fit for me! I loved both of these aspects, I just wished they had meshed differently than they did. A truly personal opinion, though!

The first installment of Thea Guanzon’s captivating fantasy romance series, The Hurricane Wars, is a great beginning that holds immense potential. Thea’s writing style is truly exquisite, and the world building impeccable. The author’s vivid descriptions of Sardovia and Nenavar Dominion brought these locations to life, with meticulous attention to detail that effectively captured the contrasting atmospheres of each place. Also, character creation in the the story is truly commendable.

The initial half of The Hurricane Wars set an exhilarating pace, immersing me in a thrilling narrative filled with suspense, captivating discoveries, and the introduction of intriguing characters. However, the latter half of the book fell short in comparison, as it primarily focused on the relationship between Alaric and Talasyn, neglecting any significant plot advancement. Consequently, this shift in focus was disappointing and hindered the overall progression of the story. Ultimately, my disappointment grew as I reached the end of the book, where three lengthy chapters were dedicated solely to the wedding ceremony. The inclusion of minute, overly detailed descriptions from Alaric’s perspective regarding Talasyn’s wedding gown felt peculiar and surreal, creating an out-of-place paragraph that detracted from the overall experience. It seemed like Alaric possessed not only renowned skills as a warrior but also an unexpectedly extensive knowledge of fashion as well. lol!

The author skillfully crafted engaging conversations and character interactions, particularly capturing the enjoyable dynamic of constant bickering between Alaric and Talasyn. However, one notable flaw emerged in the second half of the book, where the POVs frequently shifted between Alaric and Talasyn without clear transitions, leaving me disoriented. Unlike the first half of the book, where dedicated chapters allowed the story to flow smoothly by focusing on either Alaric or Talasyn, the handling of POVs in the latter half was a chaotic mess.

Another aspect of The Hurricane Wars that left me disappointed was the portrayal of its magic system. Initially, my expectations were high, as the author had boasted about the existence of various magic wielders who could tap into the aethersphere, such as Firedancers, Shadowforged, Windcallers, Thunderstruck, Enchanters, and Lightweavers. However, throughout the book, we only got a glimpse of Shadowforged magic. The absence of Lightweavers was understandable as Talasyn was the last of them but the absence of the other magic wielders left me perplexed and wondering why they were not explored further in the story.

Although I found great enjoyment in the court politics and political marriage negotiations within Nenavar Dominion, I must admit that I struggled to grasp the exact nature of Sardovia’s political structure. It remained unclear whether Sardovia operated as a stratocracy or followed a different system altogether. The role of Amirante, Vela, was particularly puzzling. It was unclear whether she held authority solely within the Sardovian military or if she also ruled over the entire country.

The plot of the story could be described as somewhat shaky and lacking solidity. The necessity of a marriage between Kesath and Nenavar Dominion for the advancement of their military campaign seemed questionable, particularly evident in the final chapter of the book. Additionally, the supposed looming danger of Voidfell failed to effectively instill a sense of imminent peril, leaving me unaffected by the anticipated threat.

I really appreciated Thea’s decision not to label the connection between Talasyn and Alaric as “love,” allowing their relationship the opportunity to develop organically. It was evident that their interactions didn’t fit into the traditional romantic category, as both characters were navigating the complexities of shedding their preconceived notions and truly seeing each other as individuals. Their uncertainty and back-and-forth in figuring out how to navigate their growing attraction demonstrated a realistic portrayal of their evolving bond, which I found to be a noteworthy aspect of the story.

All in all, I really enjoyed The Hurricane Wars for the most part. I believe that for future installments in the series to achieve greater success, it would be beneficial for Thea to strike a better balance between focusing on the story and plot progression, rather than dedicating a significant portion of the book solely to the relationship between Alaric and Talasyn. By enhancing the narrative’s momentum and maintaining a more harmonious blend of elements, subsequent entries in The Hurricane Wars series have the potential to captivate readers and achieve even greater acclaim.

I have a personal practice of refraining from reading book reviews prior to delving into a new read, as I believe in cultivating my own unbiased perspective. However, as I progressed through The Hurricane Wars, I couldn’t shake off the feeling of familiarity surrounding Alaric. As an ardent fan of Star Wars, when Thea initially described him and The Night Empire, I thought to myself “Oh, she’s describing Kylo Ren!” Subsequently, upon completing the book, I ventured onto Goodreads and discovered that my intuition had indeed been correct all along. lol!!!!

My sincere thanks to Netgally, Avon and Harper Voyager and Thea Guanzon for providing me this advance copy of The Hurricane Wars.

Rating: 3.5

The Hurricane Wars is a sweeping fantasy from debut author Thea Guanzon! After seeing such glowing reviews from other ARC readers, I had a feeling I was definitely going to enjoy this Southeast Asian inspired fantasy, and I was not wrong. As a huge fan of fantasy romance, I adored the tension between Talasyn and Alaric that carried from the prologue of this novel all the way to the very last chapter. Seeing these two enemies constantly be in each other's orbits over the course of this novel was so interesting. As an enemies to lovers fan, the fact that every time these two characters met, they were constantly at each other's throat with their weapons or their words was everything. I really love how even at the last chapter of this book, I had no idea whether Talasyn or Alaric would betray each other in a moment's notice. I'm definitely super curious to see where their relationship goes in the next two novels with some of the plot twists revealed in the last few chapters.

The other aspects of this novel that I enjoyed reading about were definitely the themes of war and colonization. Thea Guanzon did not shy away from describing the horrors of The Hurricane Wars. The devastation of The Night Empire rampaging across continents and forcing other civilizations to succumb to their power is so heavy and my heart hurt for Talasyn and the atrocities that she, her fellow soldiers, and her friends and family had to endure under The Night Empire's wrath. I think the politics of this world in this novel were written very well, and readers who enjoy political fantasies will definitely enjoy reading The Hurricane Wars.

I can't believe this is only the first book in a trrilogy, because it feels like so much happened already in Book 1! I can't wait to see where the story goes in the next two sequels, and I hope we get even more angst and badass-ery from Talasyn and Alaric.

I don’t even have words for how incredible that was. What amazing worldbuilding and heartfelt characters. The plot was entertaining and kept up the whole night desperate to see how it ended. I’m so happy I listened to all the recommendations by my friends about how good this was because they were not wrong.

I’m only sad that it’s over now and I just want to read it all over again.

Some of my favorite authors got together to provide blurbs for this book and I trust them implicitly. They weren't wrong either. This book is engrossing and I could not put it down. You tell me you have a fantasy book that features enemies to lovers and you compare it to R.F. Kuang? I am there, you don't even need to finish your sentence. If you're aching for a new fantasy, this is absolutely the book for you.

UMMMMMM!!! Can I please have the next one in this series???? It took a little for me to get into the beginning because it’s heavy on the world building but man, it paid off. I got this ARC and I am somehow sad it was an ARC because that means I have to wait even longer for the second one.

It’s enemies-to-sorta lovers, forced proximity, politics, magical worlds! I just really loved it and CANT WAIT to read more.

Thanks to @netgalley for the ARC!

I’m giving this book 3.75 stars but rounding up for Goodreads.

This book took me quite a while to get into and I think the reason for that was all the new words/places/titles. A bit of an info dump at the beginning. Plus I felt like a lot of them were 3 syllables so it was very confusing for the first bit. When we get to the part where Alaric and Talasyn are together a lot more is, I really started to enjoy it.

It had a Star Wars type feel which I’m not mad about. I feel like we’re starting to see some good character growth from both Talasyn and Alaric. The plot was kinda slow at the beginning but well paced from about 40% on. The magic system was creative.

I don’t know if I’m invested enough to read the next instalment but I’m not mad I read this one! A nice debut novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon & Harper Voyager for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love giving new authors a read, and this debut novel from Guanzon is a great reason why. She builds a sprawling world that has been scarred by a war for the last ten years. For the young main characters, this means their lives have essentially been defined by this conflict, each on the opposing side. This romantasy has a definite enemies-to-lovers vibe as they struggle to deal with the fact they’ve been enemies for so long and yet have this connection they don’t understand. Romance is certainly there, but it isn’t the only defining feature. The novel also explores the scars of war, abandonment, family dynamics, and cultural differences as they struggle to survive in a world full of dangerous magic and violence.

I certainly enjoyed reading it and found myself reading past when I should have put it down for the night. The reason it wasn’t “perfect” for me may be a reason you love it. I personally wanted more mature main characters. It read a bit more like a YA fantasy with how they acted and that just wasn’t what I was in the headspace for that when I dove into it. That was by no means a deal breaker, it was still a great read, that was just the one facet that didn’t completely work for me.

I don't actually go into books not wanting to like them, but sadly some of my most scathing reviews end up going towards my 'most anticipated' books of the year...and that's how this will pan out. My actual rating is two stars, but a better and more objective rating is three, so I'll land there for y'all. I know this one will ruffle some feathers, given that it's one of the most anticipated SFF books of the year for many.

That said, I will talk about what didn't work for me, and then go into why I think it's going to be some folk's favorite book of 2023.

So let's just get this out of the way first- this is a Reylo fanfiction with the serial numbers filed off. Fanfiction getting published is starting to be quite a trend, and it's fantastic news for fanfic folks. I am beginning to realize that these books do not work for me.

The problem with fanfiction is that you are walking into a fic with all of the background of the characters and the world they inhabit. The goal of MOST fanfiction is to see the two characters you like get together. It's wish fulfillment. It's creative exercising with existing material; it's transformative and beautiful. But fanfics are not novels. They are often written without the patience and context that novels have, even if they are AUs. Because you are walking into a fic knowing the end goal and have a full understanding of the characters, details are often skipped in favor of putting the two characters together. This becomes paramount above all else.

When you are reading The Hurricane Wars, you can feel the 'fanfic-ness' of it all. Thea Guanzon does an amazing job at the beginning providing some details on the world and the war that is going on around it, but after a blast of 1-2 chapters, things start to drop off very fast.

While the early chapters attempt to expand outward for a brief moment, the book only begins to shrink inward. Side characters that seemed like they had the potential to become interesting turn into pawns to move the main characters (Alaric and Tasmyn) where they need to go to fall in love, or sounding boards for the main characters to outwardly express how they feel. Plot points start to feel contrived and hard to believe. Conflict becomes muddied and rushed in service of seeing our protagonists fall in love.

The farther you move in the plot the harder it is to believe- and the more those 'fanfiction' cracks set in. Guanzon makes some small attempts to build the world, but that world will shift and bend awkwardly to ensure that our leads are pushed together into a fun romantic setting. The book basically is set in two halves: an epic war and chosen one adventure- and then a heavily tropey rom-drom. The whiplash I got from this was astounding, and it required a lot of the story's characters to make absolutely bonkers choices to get them there. The shift does not feel organic and it's hard to connect with if you were not expecting it.

The romance is 'enemies to lovers' they absolutely DO try to kill each other as advertised, but the shift from murder to 'wow, I can't stop thinking about them' is instant. Alaric and Talasyn start to make highly unbelievable decisions and go from wanting each other to die to have heart palpitations when they are near each other with absolutely no reason for them to do so. Alaric becomes obsessed with Tasmyn in a romantic way pretty quickly and she responds similarly- the two are actually sitting there worrying about each other despite having like 2 conservations. This isn't the fascination and understanding that Reylo had- they don't even get to a point where they can relate on anything before they start to develop an affection for each other.

The characters change their opinion of each other as soon as it becomes convenient, but those feelings are far from earned.

I probably would not be so hard on the romance if this book was not advertised heavily as THE enemies to lovers book. I think this will please romantasy fans who are used to a certain pace and plot structure (SJM books, A Broken Blade, From Blood and Ash, etc) but is not really suitable for anyone looking for a quality fantasy story OR a well-paced 'Zutara' 'Delena' style E2l romance.

And that's where the second half of this review comes in. The Hurricane Wars is checking all of the boxes for a solid romantasy. Just enough plot to move things along and keep you guessing, a medium to fast burn with a ton of pining and EXTREMELY trope-heavy elements. If A Court of Thorns and Roses was your Count of Monte Cristo, this book is for YOU, and you are going to be obsessed over it.

I also want to give the author props for making Tasmyn and Alaric their own characters. I did not read the original fanfic so she may have already made those changes, but they do not resemble Rey or Ben too much, there was clear effort in separating the two despite them both having some elements of the original characters ingrained in them.

I think I went in with the expectation that this book was going to match my interests, but ultimately this is a trope heavy romantasy that is marketed a little awkwardly (I feel like the publishers are trying to push it to a She Who Became The Sun, The FoxGlove King, One Dark Window fanbase VS a From Blood and Ash fanbase). I am not that audience. I found myself going from overjoyed and ready to give THW 5 stars to feeling like it was a genuine chore to read.

I also learned to just stop trying with fanfiction books. You can file the serial numbers off of them, but they will always have that hint of episodic nature that will typically sacrifice a coherent story for the sake of getting your faves together. And that's fine. Just not for me.

I’ve been looking forward to “The Hurricane Wars” and was so excited to receive an ARC of it. I loved the Filipino influence and was eager for the enemies-to-lovers plotline. The world felt like “Shadow and Bone” meets Reylo fanfiction, with a Southeast Asian steampunk vibe.

Unfortunately, the book just wasn’t for me. The writing was convoluted. There was so much infodumping at the beginning, with lots of new words and not enough clear explanation, that left me reeling. In a jarring contrast, you have the use of very modern language in the dialogue. I also did not have a strong connection to the main character.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving this ARC, and this doesn’t influence my review. This was an okay read, but I did love the cover!
This is a spellbinding debut in a fantasy romance trilogy set in a South-east Asia-inspired world ravaged by storms. Ngl, the intro was hella confusing, we had places and names and words flung at us. The writing style was very wordy, there was a lot of word vomit, which made it hard to read.
Tropes: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, tasked to kill, hidden identity, fighting 😳, knife to throat,

This is fantastic! The cover *chef's kiss*. Characters are amazing.

It has everything. You want some magic. BOOM have some magic. Gritty war descriptions, boom. Lost family, boom. Enemies to lovers boom. Peasant to royalty, boom. Take it all. And the best part is that none of it feels rushed. It's all melded together in a gorgeous story.

I will be eagerly awaiting the next one.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

5/5 stars

Wow! I couldn’t put this book down and devoured it! The author did a great job building a rich detailed world. I felt transported to Nenavar and enjoyed the different areas Talasyn explored.

The conflict in this book was intense right from the beginning. It didn’t let up throughout the book either. You could feel the frustrations from Talasyn and Alaric with the war and differing views. They definitely had different ideas and never were really on the same page.

Talasyn was a strong outspoken character and she often had me laughing out loud at her quips. I appreciated her passion and how she didn’t give up!

Alaric was the morally grey misunderstood male. I do wish in the end he fought more for Talasyn. I think the next book will have a big redemption arc for him. I am looking forward to seeing that!

Talasyn and Alaric are enemies to lovers. And at the end of the book still somewhat enemies? I am hoping that book 2 we see their relationship improve more!

Overall I greatly enjoyed this story about war and love and the sacrifices people make for others. I can’t wait to see what Talasyn and Alaric do together to mend the hurt the generations before have caused!

An amazing and well written fantasy with strong overtones of Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha Saga. I loved the descriptions of the costumes even though I’m sure magic would be needed to create and wear some of them.

Thea Guanzon’s THE HURRICANE WARS is the book I didn’t know I’d been waiting for. It’s one that blasts past your defenses, unapologetically wrecking you, leaving you changed for good.

Everything works — the characters are sensational, the writing stunning and the plot a thing of perfection. Guanzon’s flawless style shines through in simple but powerful ways. We see it emerge regularly in the vivid scenery that makes THE HURRICANE WARS a real treat to read, setting the backdrop for consistently effortless dialogue that hooks you from start to finish.

In many ways, it’s easy to draw comparisons from her work to the caliber of storytelling produced by some of YA’s most beloved modern authors — namely Tahereh Mafi, Hafsah Faizal and Chloe Gong. All are celebrated for their gorgeous craftsmanship, non-Western representation, nail-biting romance and so-good-it’s-almost-unbelievable world-building — all of which Guanzon delivers with ease in her debut.

THE HURRICANE WARS is a hell of a story. Nothing short of riveting, with a conclusion that leaves you breathlessly wanting more, Guanzon is soaring onto the literary scene with it, demonstrating that she — just like Talasyn, the book’s fierce protagonist — is a force to be reckoned with. I am anxiously in need of a sequel.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.*

Actual rating: 3.5/5 stars

Hmm. This one has me a touch perplexed in terms of rating.

On the one hand, exquisite writing. Truly incredible vocabulary immersive description. The world built between the pages was enthralling and captivating. And the beginning of the story! I was hooked at the first page. The book starts by thrusting it's readers directly into the story through excitment and high stakes and intrigue.

But sadly, this did not last. The plot fell completely flat in a way that felt like we were left with no plot at all. It all felt like a big build up for something cataclysmic, only for absolutely nothing to happen. I was also very disappointed by how few characters and relationships were given depth. I feel like I know absolutely no one except our MC's and a certain cantankerous queen, and the only relationship given any depth or meaning was between the the MCs. But ever their's was left feeling unfulfilling due to nature of their relationship being a never-ending merry-go-round of hatred and lust. After the exciting beginning (about 100 pages or so), the entire rest of the book really just felt like never-ending dialogue of them arguing with each other. All other friendships, familial ties, comradery, allies, etc felt hollow, unimportant, or just non-existent in general.

All that being said, I REALLY wanted to love this book. It started out so promising and the writing style truly is superb. I have hope that the sequel will make up in plot and characterization/relationships that this one lacked.

Star Wars mixed with Shadow and bone and a touch of Throne of Glass

The perfect mix of magic, politics and romance!

The Hurricane wars by Thea Guanzon, a fun read that makes you want the sequel NOW! I really enjoyed the magic system and think this book will do well.