Thank you NetGalley, Harper Voyager and Avon books for this arc!!!

Where do I start? I struggled with the first half of the book. It was just a continuing of book 1 where Alaric and Talaysn can’t decide what they want to do with their feelings for each other. But the last 70% was good. They deal with the darkness, there is a plot twist that I did not see and just leaves you questioning your knowledge. The world building is great but I think there was a little too much for my taste and was getting bored in the beginning. There is more spice in this book however.

Well I definitely read this book much quicker than the first! And oh my god I thought this was a duology and not a trilogy!! Now I have to wait!

There were parts of this I really enjoyed, and there were parts that dragged for me a bit. I always struggle with the second book in a trilogy, because a lot of times it’s literally just filler to get to the final book, which results in a book where not a lot happens up until the final third. “A Monsoon Rising” only had that problem a little, but there was more action than I anticipated in the middle.

Talasyn is finally coming into her strengths with the Lighweave and Alaric is slowly learning to stand up to his father.

Definitely more of a slow burn story that picks up in book 2! And I hate reducing books to a trope, but it genuinely is enemies to lovers in that they fought on opposite sides of a war and are now in a political marriage…

I have to be honest, it wasn’t until we got to the Moonless Dark that I even understood the plan with the shield and the Voidfell. If I am being honest, I still can’t fully picture it.

I struggle with two characters who are clearly in love just straight up LYING to each other about something so major. Not a spoiler if you’ve read book 1, but Alaric is lying to Talasyn about his father’s plans to inevitably strike war on Nenavarene and basically hold Talasyn hostage by removing her magic. And Talasyn is lying to Alaric about no longer having allegiance to Sardovia and about shielding the rebels. So like, something that is clearly going to cause issues in their relationship and will undoubtedly play out in book 3. I just kind of hate this scenario as a reader because I always see the worst scenarios playing out in my head when this will all come to fruition.

I am just kind of…confused about the ending a little. It felt a little out of left field, and I’m sure it’ll be explained in the end but it was a little random.

Overall I am enjoying the world-building here and I am enjoying the authors writing! I noticed a big improvement in both from “Hurricane Wars” so I’m excited to read the conclusion!

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this ARC!

“I couldn’t kill that rebel.” It was a choked, bewildered rumble in her ear. “One word from you and I let my guard down. I couldn’t kill you, either, all those times before . . . What am I, if I’m not a weapon? What have you done to me?”

Oh my LORD. This book was everything I wanted and more from Guanzon. Faster paced than Hurricane Wars and I fell in love with Alaric all over again—he’s just so pitifully down bad for Talasyn it was making me clinically insane.

I also have a ridiculous amount of highlights from this book just from Part I. In comparison to the first book of this series, I feel that it was overall more organized and didn’t drag on and on.

Definitely was more focused on the romance—was thrilled about this. I loved the push and pull of Talasyn and Alaric in H.W but I was so supremely ready for some declarations of love and action. That being said, if you’re looking for a heavy focus on the fantasy and politics you might feel that it is lacking. I liked the balance between all of these aspects, but it is a true Romantasy,

I will be linking my more in depth review on Goodreads within the next few hours, but I couldn’t wait to put my feedback here I was too excited!

What a great sequel! We’re continuing with the enemies to lovers trope and both of our MCs are struggling. There is a ton of action and quite a few turns, so I felt like I was on my toes. This one leaves off on a cliffhanger, so just a heads up, but I’m waiting for the 3rd book. 🩵

I am speechless. Thea has done is yet again. The world building in the first book was spectacular and in this one, it just continued! And the character development! The immersive plot!

Gosh I read the original work years ago and was so excited for Thea to get a publishing deal. So much talent! Im dying for the next book and I’m so sad I have to wait so long 😭

Thea Guanzon is THE up and coming voice in romantasy. The sequel to "The Hurricane Wars" delves deeper into the relationship betwee Talasyn and Alarc, leaning heavy on the romance aspect of romantasy while letting the fantasy take a backseat at times. After the first book, I think it was needed—especially given the still-existing tension between the characters and the nations they come from. The book does an amazing job at keeping the stakes high throughout the story, all culminating in THAT ENDING! I definitely recommend this book and will be eagerly awaiting the third and final title in the series <3

I had a lot of fun reading this, as true enemies-to-lovers is rare! I struggled to remember the various world building elements. Ending was exciting. I wish Thea had come up with a way for them to have the force bond (to be called something else of course) in the book. The spice was spicing when we finally got there.

Thanks for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book! I will say I was happy to continue right where we left off
in The Hurricane Wars. Talasyn and Alaric are finally starting to understand their feeling about one another and how to live with that in their agendas. The spice level in this book raises significantly after the first half of the book, so if explicit spice isn’t your thing then I would maybe suggest you don’t pick up this book.

The main characters still feel very juvenile to me, their dialogue felt cliché for the majority of the book. I do appreciate how much they have grown from the first book yet I’m really holding out for the next book to have both of our leads be mature. With all that has happened to them in their lives and the events in this book, I would’ve liked to seen a bit more growth from our characters.

Overall, I almost didn’t finish this book but I’m glad I stuck it out. It was a mostly me problem due to the pacing of the book. The world building was more in this book than the first which I appreciated! The plot was pretty mundane for the majority of this book. I would read the next book and I am curious to see where the plot goes!

I feel like this might be one of the rare cases where book two was even better than book one. More action. More romance. More plot twists. An ending that left me with more questions than answers. I was enthralled, and I cannot wait for the next one.

Bear with me because as a strictly romance girly who doesn’t dabble TOO MUCH into fantasy, Hurricane Wars was a challenge at first, however, I remember liking it enough to be excited about the sequel. So apologizes in advance for sucking at remembering the names of people and places LOL but OH! Was I grateful to receive an ARC for Monsoon Rising because I ate this shit up!!! 😂 I think because a lot of the world building was done in the first book, diving into this book was easier than expected. One thing I absolutely loved about this book was the perfect balance of detailed dialogue and action-packed scenes. Whenever I thought, “ok, that’s enough reading for tonight,” the next chapter would be more or just as equally exciting as the last. I literally couldn’t put it down.
Alaric and Talasyn are actually perfect. Their hatred for each other finally hitting a breaking point and I KNOW!! The whole plot between them puts them at odds because they’re still keeping secrets from each other but ultimately, that’s going to flood out too and it’ll make for good storytelling I’m sure. UGH but their tension!!! The fighting against their feelings, and the angst and the little hidden moments of joy between them is so fun to watch!🤍🤍
When it comes to the plot as a whole, I feel bad that Talasyn is just being used left and right and I don’t think anyone has her best interests at heart. The same with Alaric, and I think that’s what bonds them together even more. BUT THAT CLIFFHANGER??? I’m actually dead and worried about how that’s going to play out lol I just hope I don’t have to wait TOO long to find out. 😭😭

This books comes out tomorrow!!! December 10!!! I can’t wait to get my physical copy🥰🥰
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. My first romantasy ARC, I’m so honored

A Monsoon Rising will rock you like a hurricane (hehe see what I did there)

This is the perfect example of enemies to lovers. So many times when you read a book that is marketed enemies to lovers, it’s really just “people who don’t particularly like each other to lovers”. But not with this! Talasyn and Alaric are on opposite sides of a war, lives have been lost, and the propaganda is strong with the Night Empire, but circumstances have thrown them together. A Monsoon Rising continues their journey from The Hurricane Wars, and I loved this second installment just as much as the first. While book one focused more on world building and the war, book two focuses on character and relationship development. Talasyn and Alaric really struggle with their growing feelings in this book. The slow burn continues from book one, but in a different way. Book one is more will they/won’t they, and book two is more like anytime you think they’ve taken a step forward in their relationship, they remember their enemies with their own agendas.

If you have not picked up the first book, The Hurricane Wars, do it now if you want a series with
- A unique magical system
- Enemies to lovers
- Slow burn romance
- Political and wartime action
- And a lush, fantastical world to imagine and dive into

There is a cliffhanger ending that is very, very evil! Thea why?!

But I will forgive you because you love cats, and one of your fur babies is named Darth Pancakes 😌

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Avon for an arc of this book! It was fantastic.

This is hands down one of the best books I’ve read this year, and I am reeling from that last sentence. What a cliffhanger! How am I supposed to wait for book three?

This is the second installment in Guanzon’s The Hurricane Wars series, and it absolutely delivers. If you haven’t read the first book yet—what are you even waiting for? This series is enemies-to-lovers romantasy with a touch of sci-fi flair. (Think Star Wars… but with dragons. Yes, Adam Driver vibes included.)

What sets this series apart is that the main characters are truly enemies. So many books in this trope make it feel one-sided (usually from the FMC’s perspective), but here, both characters are genuinely grappling with their intense, conflicting feelings. It’s messy, raw, and so satisfying to watch unfold.

The writing is vivid and stunning, and the world Guanzon has created is so richly imagined that leaving it feels like a loss. This second book avoids the “middle book slump” entirely—there’s constant tension, action, and stakes to keep you hooked. And that ending? Absolutely explosive.

I need the next book immediately. This series is a must-read!

If there's one thing I love, it's when a sequel takes a series to the next level. After feeling somewhat lukewarm about the first book, it was okay but felt a bit slow, But this is a rare instance where the sequel is a major step up and improvement from the first book.
The sequel continues right where the first book ended. I like that the plot is definitely starting to pick up, the side characters got more page time and development which was great.
And let’s talk about Talasyn and Alaric, the growth in their relationship was one of my favourite aspects of the book. Their banter? Perfection. The tension? Off the charts. And the slow burn with added spice? Absolutely *chef’s kiss*. Alaric’s devotion to Talasyn, his wife had me swooning. There’s just something about a MMC who is unapologetically head over heels for his wife that gets me every time.
With that ending, I’m officially counting down the days until the third book.

Thank you so much @HarperVoyager for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

🤍Thank you so much @harpervoyagerus for the gifted arc of A Monsoon Rising🤍

If you are a Reylo fan, than The Hurricane War series is for you!

These books have been such a great blend of fantasy and the sci-fi feeling of Star Wars.

It’s fast-paced with epic battles, political drama, and a romance that is just too good!

I will be eagerly awaiting book three to see what happens next with Talasyn and Alaric.

For the reader who loves:
• enemies to lovers
• Kylo Ren and Rey vibes
• opposite sides of a war
• light and dark magic

5 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


"Ever since we met, I have lived in a dream of what could be."

A Monsoon Rising is the second novel in the adult fantasy romance series, The Hurricane Wars. The story follows Talasyn and Alaric after they are thrust into a marriage to ally the two nations that secretly plan the others' undoing. Yet a more immediate threat looms, the Moonless Dark, a cataclysmic event only Talasyn and Alaric can stop (hopefully) with their abilities. As they work together to prepare for the big fight their connections grow and the struggle to deny the feelings between them becomes harder. A plot to overthrow an emperor and a father's sinister ploy makes these two have to decide where their loyalties lie...and if they can trust the other…

Holy crap, this book upped the tension between Talasyn and Alaric up in ways I absolutely adored!

Talasyn is definitely trying to grapple with her new status in life. Her family and country see her marriage as a tool to take down Alaric. At the same time she sees parts of Alaric that show him to be much more and her empathy sticks with her. I enjoyed the strength she shows in being involved with the running of her people. She supports and loves them with all she has and I can see how much struggles with that while also caring for Alaric. She doesn't let him walk all over her and stands as her own separate power which I felt helped even things about between them.

Now Alaric continues to be our brooding male protagonist. I don't feel he has fully been swayed away from the dark side yet but it is definitely crumbling. He cares for Talasyn and he initially struggles with this before becoming resigned. We also see he does care for his people and is against his father's view of them. I loved seeing him fall harder for Talasyn and the ways it changed him bit by bit, even when he refused to fully acknowledge what his feelings mean.

In terms of spice I would place this around 2 spicy peppers out of 5 spicy peppers. Alaric and Talasyn have a very angsty relationship and it takes time for them to find their groove. There are these delightful almost moments and step forwards with then immediate step backs that tease readers and the characters as they try to unravel what they are. Full spice is seen in the second half of the book and it was incredibly worth it. It is detailed and, boy, does Alaric get into it. I loved the push and pull between them that led to this very passionate spice as they work through the feelings. By the end I would say they have a quasi relationship but trust is still not fully there.

"There was never anyone before you - and much to my dismay you have provoked me so much that you've worked your way into my dreams. You are the only one who plagues them..."

The overall story I felt was primarily focused on Talasyn and Alaric figuring out what they mean to each other. We do get some plot elements around Alaric's father's plan (hints and nudges) as well as the expectations of Talasyn's family but there are lulls in the story as they prepare for the big battle. I enjoyed these lulls and honestly didn't really notice them until the end because we spent so much time with Talasyn and Alaric and their relationship that I was having a blast reading about these two trying to figure the other out. Their banter was amazing and we got some slices of life with them in a way we did not before. Then, we hit with an excellent climatic scene that punctuates the story and introduces cool lore. I felt the bid up for this moment paid off very well. That said I was not prepared for that cliffhanger and I demand an extra chapter to make up for it.

Overall, this book exceeded my expectations and I need book 3 ASAP!

Thank you Harper Voyager for this arc!

Wow, what an absolute smash of a sophomore novel! I was nervous that the main characters left off in book 1 in different places, but it was so well handled in this book. When they were apart, I felt the angst and it made sense. When they were together, I was always on the edge of my seat and so looking forward to their interactions. What a pitiful angsty tormented little duo. Obsessed. The cliffhanger though? Straight to jail!!!!

The world building within these books are incredible! The politics, relationship, and environment entwine so seamlessly you feel like you stepped into a whole new realm! A Monsoon Rising picks up exactly where The Hurricane Wars left off. Talasyn and Alaric try to figure out how to maintain their allegiance to their causes as their feelings for eachother grow into something more than a political alliance. The banter between the two of them is incredible, and it is amazing to watch their relationship grow. The growth of the characters in this book is also amazing to see. Tensions rise and keep you on the edge of you seat, and the ending leaves you yearning for more in the best way!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- I was beyond thrilled to receive an advanced copy of this book as I absolutely loved the first book in the series. I’m noticing that I like almost any book with a connection to Kyle Ren (looking at you The Love Hypothesis). A Monsoon Rising really built on the action from the first and felt more cohesive than the first book. I can’t say I remembered all of the side characters but almost everything else snapped right back into place for me. This book has great banter and I loved having more of Alaric’s POV. The world building and spice were done in perfect proportions for me. I also like that both characters have their secrets and are fighting against what that means for the future (hopefully it will be easier for them not to hate each other if they were both doing the same thing behind the other’s back?!) I wholeheartedly record this series!!

3.5/5 ⭐️

I’m absolutely obsessed with a slow burn. Give me one that takes several books to get juicy and I will eat it up. But… there was just way too much miscommunication here for me. I was ready to punch a hole in the wall, begging Alaric and Talasyn to just have a semi-real conversation with each other 😭

I do like the direction the story is moving in (nothing I was too shocked by because I’ve read what these books are based on already). However, this book also felt very anticlimactic as well. The first half revolves so much around the Voidfell, the big eclipse, stopping certain death, etc. then it happens and it’s over and you’re left wondering what the rest of the book is going to be about. We get a big political intrigue moment at the end, but I don’t know.. the story just isn’t feeling very well rounded and evenly paced as I would like it to be 🤷‍♀️

With all of that being said, I loved the banter between our two main characters, all the funny bits involving Elagbi or Sevraim, and the numerous training/action sequences!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WE NEED MORE STARS FOR THIS ONE!!!

I am UNWELL.
I loved book every bit as much as Hurricane Wars, and it had me falling even harder for Talasyn & Alaric (which I didn't think was possible.) Every single interaction, every look, every quip, every heated exchange… It was all perfection. I want to live in this world with these two. 😭

This installment definitely focuses more on character development, and the relationship between Alaric and Talasyn. Which I LOVED. Their dynamic is the heart and soul of the story, so having it front and center was a balm to my soul. There’s still plenty of the action, political intrigue, and Sci-fi goodness that we loved from book 1, so don’t you worry. But there’s definitely a deeper dive into the characters, so the pacing was a bit slower.

That. Freaking. Ending. No you did not, Thea! How I can I possibly wait for the next book??!! 😭 Damn- if you haven’t picked up the series yet, I highly advise that you do. The enemies to lovers arc is executed PERFECTLY, and the the beautiful prose and effortless dialogue will have you in your feels. Cannot recommend this enough.

Thank you to Avon & Harper Voyager and NetGalley for my review copy. 🙏🏼