Monsoon Rising by Thea Guanzon completely swept me away, I seriously could not put this down. As someone who loves a well-executed enemies-to-lovers arc, I can confidently say this is one of the best portrayals of the trope I’ve ever read. The chemistry between Alaric and Talasyn is electric, equal parts tension and tenderness, and Guanzon strikes the perfect balance between emotional stakes and world-shattering consequences.
What truly sets this book apart is the depth of the world-building and the sheer intelligence of the writing. You can feel how much research and thought Guanzon poured into this novel. From the intricate political maneuverings to the layers of lore behind the Moonless Dark and the magic systems of light and shadow, everything feels vivid, purposeful, and carefully constructed. This is the kind of book that challenges you in the best way possible. I genuinely think my vocabulary has improved just by reading it.
The narrative is gripping, the stakes are sky-high, and yet the emotional heart of the story, two enemies forced into intimacy, grappling with loyalty, trust, and desire, never gets lost in the grander plot. Talasyn’s inner conflict and Alaric’s stoic vulnerability are masterfully done, making their eventual connection feel both earned and inevitable. I can’t wait to see where Guanzon takes us next, because one thing is certain, The Hurricane Wars are far from over, and I’ll be first in line to read the next installment.

I absolutely loved this book! Reads like these almost make me regret requesting ARCs because there's nothing worse than consuming an incredible book and realizing that the next one doesn't even have a release date because the one you finished reading isn't even released yet.

Everything about these books is perfect. The tension, the worldbuilding, the politics, the heat. I will read everything Thea Guanzon ever writes.

That ending? Like what! I need to process. My brain is going a million miles an hour.

First off, the world building was fantastic. It was a little intense at moments, but I really enjoyed it and thought it was laid out really well.

The characters were intriguing and captivating. I found myself invested quickly. The FMC was strong and fierce. The MMC was, what we all love. Dark and broody. Their chemistry was delicious.

I have about a million questions. The ending was insane! Gah. I cannot wait for the next book!

I liked the first book but this?? I loved this one and I am so excited for the third book. The romance definitely took center stage here and I am not complaining.

Thea Guanzon has quickly become my favorite author. Her writing style is so descriptive; her vivid environments, amazing character building, intense plot, it's all so wonderful.

This book picks up almost immediately after the first book ends, and it's the perfect way to continue the story. It had me turning page after page, constantly wanting to read more. The growth of the world and the characters are simply beautiful. Also, the cliffhanger ending was chef's kiss. I cannot wait for the next installment of this story!

A Monsoon Rising showcases Thea Guanzon's talent for vivid, immersive worldbuilding, blending political intrigue, elemental magic, and romantic tension in a Southeast Asian–inspired fantasy setting. The atmosphere is rich, the prose often lyrical, and the premise has the makings of a sweeping epic.

That said, the pacing can be uneven—some parts rush through important developments, while others linger too long without advancing the plot. The central romance, though passionate, occasionally overshadows the broader stakes of the story. Secondary characters and subplots show promise but aren’t always fully fleshed out.

While A Monsoon Rising doesn't quite deliver a thunderclap, it’s a solid first entry that may appeal to fans of romantasy looking for a fresh cultural perspective. A promising start, even if the forecast isn't entirely clear.

The romantic development in this sequel was such a good follow-up to book one! Talasyn and Alaric were written with so much chemistry, and I really enjoyed their growing connection. The action sequences and spicy scenes were all very engaging, and I feel like this book was faster paced and easier to dive into than The Hurricane Wars.

I do feel like the plot line with Talasyn’s missing friend was kind of dropped in this book, but all in all I had a fun time with this and am looking forward to book three!

I definitely enjoyed this book more than the first. You don’t have as much of an issue with pacing like the first book had. We also had a lot more time with all the characters in order to really get to know them and just them for yourself. I still think the fmc and mmc are immature for how old they are suppose to be, but it’s definitely not as bad as the first book.
Overall, it’s very fun and flirty and I will be buying the next book!

Sexy, scintillating, and 100% original. I've been a fan of Thea's since her early days in fanfic. This follow-up installment will certainly not disappoint fans of The Hurricane Wars. Sign me up for anything Thea writes, period!

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.