HOLY CRAP A Monsoon Rising was an absolute banger. Thea Guazon nailed the follow-up, picking up perfectly where book one left off, and I was hooked from page one. No skips. No boredom. Just pure magic.

The death monsoon is coming, time’s running out, and Tal and Alaric are racing to save the world while juggling kingdoms, rebellions, and some serious unresolved tension. The stakes? Sky high. The political intrigue? Chef’s kiss. And Alaric’s backstory? Give me more, shadow daddy.

That slow burn? Finally ignites—and it’s spicy, emotional, and everything. I’m fully obsessed with these two and just want them to ditch the drama and rule the world together. Bring on Book 3 because I am so not ready to say goodbye.

THIS BOOK WAS MY FORAY INTO ROMANTASY AND DAMNNN!! Got me more hooked than the first where the worldbuilding overshadowed a bit of the relationship but in this sequel, they complement each other perfectly!

Thank you to Avon and LibroFM for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Somehow I loved this one even more than the first. The added tension, the complete denial of falling for your spouse, the end of the world of it all. The audiobook truly added to the experience. I am loving this series and can't wait for the next book.

A Monsoon Rising is the sequel to the Hurricane Wars, a sweeping fantasy about Alaric and Talaysn, two rulers forced into a marriage of convenience to *supposedly* unite both sides of the conflict. I really liked the Hurricane Wars and was super excited for the sequel!

I'm sad to say that I wasn't a huge fan of this book! I really wanted to like it since I really enjoyed the first one. But let's talk about the good first!

I really liked the world. To me, it read like a combination of Star Wars and South Asian countries like Thailand. I really liked learning about the cultures and customs! I also loved the detailed descriptions of clothing and environment. I feel like this can get missed, especially as series continue, but it's such a fun part of world building to me that I always love reading it.

Andddd I wasn't a huge fan of much else. It took me so long to read because it just draaagggggged so much. I read this for the vibes and not the plot since I'm terrible at following fantasy plots, but I truly didn't really know what was going on. When in doubt, I relied on plots within Star Wars to help me. Which isn't great. I didn't like Alaric or Talasyn or their romance. I couldn't bring myself to care about the conflict that I didn't even understand.

Overall, this was tragically a miss for me. I say read it if you liked the first one but temper your expectations. 3 stars from me. Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for an eARC of this book, my thoughts are my own!

Thea does it again with this incredible follown up to The Hurricane Wars. I couldn't put this down. The spicy tension was *chefs kiss*. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

A magnificent sequel to The Hurricane Wars. I received a physical ARC from the publisher before I was approved for this eARC, but the content is the same so I’ll leave a review here as well.

We pick up after Talasyn and Alaric’s wedding, with our rival warriors adjusting to domestic life. Or the closest they can get to it while navigating political hurdles, leading armies, covertly spying on each other, and trying desperately not to fall in love with their spouse.

I love it all. Don’t you? Thea built up so much delicious tension in THW, and while she indulged us in AMR, we are still left wanting more. I need book 3 in my hands now.

"A Monsoon Rising" was a great sequel to "The Hurricane Wars" by Thea Guanzon.

While I did not find myself as connected to "A Monsoon Rising" as much as book 1, I was still thoroughly engrossed in the story and could not put it down regardless.

One thing I did absolutely love was the way the romance progressed. Alaric and Talasyn have so much tension that really adds to those little will-they-won't they" moments that pepper the story.


Thank you to Avon/Harper Voyager for selecting me for the ARC. I enjoyed it.

I enjoyed this even more than the first book! It started off a little slow, and there's a lot of world building and politics which made it more difficult to read and absorb the information. Overall I loved the development of the romance and the major plot points and am very excited for the third to eventual come out. I do hope that it will be an easier read than these last two, but I hope it's just as filled with romance, adventure, and political intrigue!

OMG what a great sequel!
This book had me stressed in the best possible way.
I loved the magic, the romance, the political intrigue, the action, most especially the fight scenes.
I can't wait to see how this series concludes in the next installment.

Althought both books had enraptured and elegant (but not overdone) prose leagues beyond the expected bar for romantasy, I finally feel like this book has pushed itself beyond its influences and into the war saga it was meant to be. While I still desperately missed some of the initial rebel supporting cast, the ever increasing tension between the two leads and the awe inspiring and epic climax truly paid off big time: though part of me still wished for more follow up regarding certain plot threads left open in Hurricane Wars. Two thirds of the way through this epic canvas Guanzon has finely sewn, I'm left giddy with excitement and hope that she's able to bring to a satisfying close.

This was an awesome follow up to the first book. The plot and political intrigue were on point and I enjoyed reading about Alaric absolutely simping over his WIFE (as hard as he tried to deny it). Thea does an amazing job at world building and setting a political scene. I really liked seeing the relationship between Alaric and Gaheris and almost wish there was more of it. It helped me better understand their dynamic, Alaric's trauma, and connect to Alaric as well. I was absolutely swooing at the scene following Gaheris' punishment.

I really liked The Hurricane Wars, so I was excited to continue the story—but for some reason, A Monsoon Rising just didn’t hold my attention in the same way. Maybe it’s a classic #MoodReaderProblem, but I struggled to stay engaged and it took me forever to finish.

This sequel leans harder into the slow-burn romance, and while I do love seeing Talasyn and Alaric open up more emotionally, their dynamic is starting to drive me a little bit nuts. They obviously care about each other, but they keep running in circles—kiss, guilt, dramatic exit, repeat. At this point, I just want to lock them in a room and force them to have one honest conversation.

Plot-wise, not a lot felt like it progressed. The stakes are supposedly high, but the pacing didn’t always reflect that, and by the end, I wasn’t totally sure what had actually changed. It kind of felt like the same conflicts were still in play from book one—rebels attacking, kingdoms posturing, secrets being kept—and I needed a little more forward motion to stay invested.

That said, I’m not giving up on the series. I still really like the world and the overall setup, and I’m definitely planning to read the third book. I’m just hoping the payoff starts to match the build-up.

As usual, Thea Guanzon's writing is captivating and emotional. You absolutely cannot put this down for a second. This is the kind of book you stay up until 4AM reading. It was so easy to get swept away in this high stakes romantasy and it was the perfect sequel! Anyone who reads this will be intrigued to what happens next; what a shocking cliffhanger!

4.2/5

A Monsoon Rising is a thrilling, emotional, and magical sequel that takes everything we loved about The Hurricane Wars and intensifies it. The tension between Talasyn and Alaric continues to escalate, and their relationship grows in fascinating and complex ways. The political stakes are high, their magical powers are even more intriguing, and the plot twists leave you breathless.

The pacing is perfect, with the slow burn from the first book finally igniting into passionate, heart-pounding moments. Alaric and Talasyn’s banter is so engaging, and their chemistry is undeniable. The romance isn’t just about the attraction between them—it’s about trust, power, and finding common ground in the midst of a war-torn world.

One of the book’s biggest strengths is how it deepens our understanding of both Talasyn and Alaric. We learn more about their backgrounds, their pain, and their growing reliance on one another. Their emotional growth is what makes their relationship so satisfying to read. I also loved how the magical elements continued to evolve, especially with Talasyn’s lineage and the dragon reveal—such an unexpected and exciting twist!

The political intrigue continues to play a major role, and while there were moments I wished for more political strategy or conflict, I understand this book is setting the stage for even bigger events in the next one.

The cliffhanger left me reeling, and I can’t wait to see how everything plays out. While I loved the book overall, there were some moments where the pacing felt a bit uneven, and I wished we could have explored the consequences of the world’s impending destruction in a bit more detail. But the romance, character development, and high-stakes drama kept me hooked from start to finish.

Tropes: Political marriage, dragons, slow-burn romance, forced proximity, banter, magical disasters, and an ending that will leave you craving more.

I’m eagerly awaiting book three—this series is one wild ride, and I’m here for it!

Okay going into this review ( which isn’t a good one) I can’t clarify enough that;
This is MY opinion, you don’t have to agree and can keep on scrolling. Go along with your day.
If you wanna read this book and series, please go for it. You could have a completely different opinion than me.
Without a further ado let’s get into why this book was a huge let down.
When I read Hurricane Wars I had high expectations. I went into it thinking that it was going to be this phenomenal ground shattering book, but all it did was just fall flat.
I honestly regret buying the sequel. I went in hoping that in this next installment, this story would get better and it didn’t.
The two main characters were honestly so annoying. I didn’t care for either of them. And the side characters kind of just fell to the wayside and really made no impact whatsoever for me.
The storyline was really boring and very repetitive to the point that I was skipping huge chunks just to progress in the story.
And when the spice finally came in, it was more annoying than anything. It was like the author was like, let me just overload the spice just to make up for the lack of spice earlier.
And the ending was so basic that I saw coming a mile away.
I’m pretty sure there’s a third installment and I will not be reading it. This book and its predecessor are probably one of the most disappointing books I’ve ever read.

I ADDORREDDD THIS BOOK!!!!!!! The relationship building that occurred… watching Alaric and Talasyn begrudgingly start to trust one another… chef’s kiss! I loved the setting of getting to be on Iantas and I love Jie. The Hurricane Wars was a 5 star read for me and I thought A Monsoon Rising was even better! I loved watching Alaric and Talasyn grow into their respective roles and I CANNOT wait for the conclusion of this series!!! I need more Alaric forever!
A non-spoilery quote that I’m dying over: “His heart lurched inside his chest. “I promised, didn’t I?”” PLEEEEAAAASSEEEEE

This series continues to impress with a blend of passion, political intrigue and beautiful writing. The overarching plot unfolds at a steady pace while focusing on the deep, tension-filled connection between Talasyn and Alaric.

The character development was definitely one of my favorite parts. Talasyn begins the novel settling into her new role, while secretly trying to uncover her past. I enjoyed watching her come into her power both politically and magically and assert herself more confidently. She’s still torn between her loyalty to her homeland, and the undeniable pull she feels toward Alaric, adding depth and complexity to her character. Alaric remains as brooding and dangerous as ever, but is even more emotionally conflicted in this instalment. His transformation from a stoic, disciplined leader to a man caught between duty and desire makes me love him that much more. His growing feelings for Talasyn make him confront his own vulnerability and it adds layers to his already angsty character.

The romance between Talasyn and Alaric is the perfect balance of forbidden love and slow burning tension. Now married, their forced proximity creates countless opportunities for stolen glances, sharp exchanges, and fleeting moments of vulnerability, each charged with emotion. Their bond is agonizing, yet so captivating I could not stop flipping the pages. I especially loved how their connection is strengthened through their arguments and training, with their banter always on point. Despite being opposites in temperament and magic, they share a profound loneliness and a longing to be understood, making their dynamic all the more compelling.

The world-building continues to impress, with lush descriptions of landscapes and intricate cultural details. I only wish we had spent more time in Kesath, seeing Talasyn’s political talents in action against the shadowforged, but it’s hopefully something we’ll get in the future. There's not much in the way of plot as we are slowly working our way towards the looming threat of the Moonless Dark, but it effectively reinforces their reluctant collaboration and mirrors their intertwined fates. The stakes are higher than ever, as every decision carries dire consequences, not just for Alaric and Talasyn, but for the people they’ve sworn to protect.

The lyrical prose elevates the story without slowing it down, perfectly capturing the emotional weight of the characters and the intensity of their world. This instalment and wonderfully builds upon the foundation in book 1 and sets the stage for an unforgettable conclusion. I cannot wait to see where this story goes next!

This book kicks it up a notch! Loved it more than the first book. The characters were a lot more flushed out. The setup/stage is ready to go. Can't wait for the next!

I read The Hurricane Wars last year and had mixed feelings on it. Ultimately I wanted to give the series some more time and a chance to tighten up the world building/magic system. Though I do think that the magic system was constructed more clearly, I really struggled through this. I didn't love the pacing of the enemies to lovers arc in the first book, and continued to struggle to understand the compatibility between our main characters in the second installment. The storyline seemed to suffer from being stuck in a cycle of we are from opposing kingdoms and our marriage is a farce to stripping down and getting busy with little to no growth in the relationship between Talasyn and Alaric. I continuously had to remind myself that these characters were in fact adults and not young adults because their interactions seemed immature and lacking depth. I think I had too high of expectations from this series and it let me down.

Thank you to Harper Voyager and Netgalley for my copy; all opinions are my own.

Oh! My! WORD!
I know this book just recently released so i need to cool my tits… I NEED THE NEXT BOOK NOW!
This series is on track to be a favorite. Reminds at moments of the Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen (a goddess tier book for me)
You should read this if you like: to read
Romantasy
Enemies to lovers done SO well!!! (Like better than Feysand… because let’s be honest she was down bad for him day one like the rest of us…)
Thanks for listening to my Ted talk.