4.5 ⭐️ 🌶 🌶 🌶

This is how you write a love story!! Oh my gosh, I am absolutely swooning over Alaric and Talasyn. They stay enemies and remain on opposite sides of a looming war but have to allie together during the moonless void, which sets us up for so much banter, tension, and delicious spice. I love how vibrant and full this world is. We learned more about Alaric, and I am raging for this man! He deserves so much more. Gaheris is the actual worst! On the other end of the spectrum, we have Talasyn and Elagbi's relationship, and it's so beautiful and pure. I really loved seeing them make up for lost time.

The banter between the main characters and even the side characters had me laughing. I love Sevraim and Jie.

Honestly, I don't see how they are going to make this work, and as a reader, I am so invested. The cliffhanger is brutal! I had to re read the last few pages because I couldn't believe it ended like that.

-forced proximity
-dragons
-light/shadow magic
-marriage of convenience
-banter/tension

I didn't give it the full 5 stars because there were parts that seemed to drag on too long. There's politics and strategizing, but nothing really happens because everything is centered on the moonless night. I am eagerly awaiting book 3, even though this book isn't out for another 2 weeks 😭

I had high hopes for A Monsoon Rising, as I really enjoyed the first of the series. While the battle scenes were action packed and exciting, and the romance scenes were spicy and fun, I felt this book lacked something. I was a little bored at times reading it and I couldn't quite put my finger on why that was. Overall it was a good read, but not quite as fun as the first.

I absolutely adored this second installment in the series. I started the book before I went to bed one night and then woke up at 3 am and finished it. I don't know what Thea puts in this book, but I was addicted! I definitely did not see the ending coming, and I really just enjoyed going along for the ride in this book.. I thought we got to see some character development and depth. I also enjoyed the romantic progress of the characters. I will be waiting on pins and needles for the next book.

ARC Review: A Monsoon Rising by Thea Guanzon

POTENTIAL SPOILERS FOR THE HURRICANE WARS

Read this book if you like:
🖤 Dragons
❤️ Political Intrigue
🖤 Open Door Spice
❤️ Possessive MMC
🖤 Banter
❤️ Tension
🖤 Inexperienced MCs
❤️ Hurt/Comfort

“So many things were up in the air. So many possible paths the future could take— most of them disastrous.” -Thea Guanzon, A Monsoon Rising

My reaction upon finishing this book was WTF?!?!?! Thea Guanzon has a way with words and an ability to pull on your heart strings and then tie them up in knots (but in a good way). This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and lived up to the hype. I’m so grateful to @theagwrites @harpervoyagerus @avonbooks and @netgalley for the digital ARC of this amazing book!

A Monsoon Rising picks up right where The Hurricane Wars left off. Talasyn and Alaric continue to learn how to navigate one another in their new political arrangement. Talasyn continuously battles her inner self with her budding feelings for Alaric and her sense of duty, because The Hurricane Wars are far from over. Reading about these two had me kicking my feet and giggling like no other. The banter was superior and Thea Guanzon has a way with emanating her characters feelings that was so tangible while reading. The spice was really kicked up in this book and it was 🥵! Additionally, I loved watching the relationship between Talasyn and Prince Elagbi grow and blossom. The political intrigue of this book adds so many layers to the plot. This story was very action packed but set at the perfect pace, and has a massive cliff hanger ending. This book is joining my top reads for the year!

I don’t want to give too much away as this is the second book in the series but I URGE you to read The Hurricane Wars so that you’re prepared for this book to drop on December 10th, 2024!

Wow wow wow. My eyes are getting a little teary thinking about how much I love this series and how much I adore Thea & this world she’s created!

First, thank you for the advanced copy of this. It made my year!

My initial thoughts:

I was a littler nervous that we were pulling a “second child syndrome/sequel falling short” for a minute there. I loved that we started off right where we left off in the first novel. But there was so much build up to the end of book one, that it took awhile for the buildup to manifest in book two. BUT ONCE IT DID, I was alllll in. The writing started to flow more naturally as the book went on. The characters naturally fell into their spaces that I missed so much in book one. I thought there was a bit missing until the actual Moonless night. But then I looked back and loved the character development and all that happened between our two main characters. That’s what we literally begged Thea for after book one! And I think she delivered with so much tension and angst between Tala & Alaric that it was perfection.

I was not anticipating the ending of the book?! I had a little bit of a hard time keeping track of the royals from book one. I think there could’ve been a better “reintroduction” for the small side characters in book two. Because I had no idea who and where the girl who (kidnapped?!) took out Tala was!

Besides that, FIVE STARS!!!!!!!

Will return closer to pub date to link my review on my pages! THANK YOU AGAIN.

4⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishing for the ARC of Monsoon Rising.

If you love a true enemies to lovers fantasy then get ready to feast. These two are enemies in every sense of the word and the angst and journey they take feels so realistic- even if they both have the emotional intelligence of children. This is a slow slow burn, y'all.

And poor baby Alaric and his creepy, Sith Lord father just deserves all the love so if that is taken from him I will riot.

The magic system in this book is still super neat but the political maneuvering in this one was a lot less as the relationship took center stage. Book 3 is set up to be a banger and I wager that the plot is really going to take off.

Also, physically these books are gorgeous so I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy!

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

I really liked this one. It had way more romance, where the first was a lot of world building and fantasy plot. It had a very different feel than the first, in a good way. I love romantasy, but I'm mostly in it for the romance, so this book was itttt. Very worth getting through THW for.

There was a lot of build up to stopping the moonless dark, and while that scene was pretty intense and unexpected, it felt over quickly. Hence the stronger romance than plot in this book.

I was slightly disappointed that while this book had much more romance, Alaric and Talasyn were still "enemies" at the end, obviously still in denial. But Alaric has started showing his protective and posessive side with Talasyn (more of that please 🥵). I cannot wait to see what he does in the next book after the way this one ended. BIG cliffhanger. 😭 and I'm dying to see how they work out not betraying each other when their sides both have that planned.

I maybe enjoyed this one so much because it was so different and so much better than the first, but does it matter?! It was still a great book!

Oh, and I freaking loooove Sevraim and the humor he brings to every moment of tension. Hoping for more of him in the last book!

I was extremely excited to read this book, and it definitely did not disappoint! Alaric has become one of my favorite main male characters. There's so much to appreciate about his personality that I could talk about it for a long time. Talasyn is also fantastic; she truly embodies a strong and compassionate main female character. Throughout the story, you can see their struggles with trust in each other, while also trying to reconcile that with their love and honor for others. The ending was unexpected but also intriguing. Overall, I would give this a 5-star rating!

I was really excited about this book after loving The Hurricane Wars, but it really felt like it dragged. I was impatient for the FMC and MMC to get together finally and was surprised by how much time they spent apart. I thought the writing was well done and it picked up near the end.

♾️/5⭐ 4/5🌶️

After a few weeks of letting it marinate, I have officially decided that “A Monsoon Rising” is officially my favorite romantasy of the year. This series is a work of art. It was such a freaking emotional rollercoaster: The cost of war. Politics. Betrayal. Ever-shifting alliances. Angst. Pining. Political Marriage. Forbidden love/lust. Dragons. Ancient magic.

I mean this so sincerely, I am still in shock that I was selected to read this eARC. The scream that I hollered when I read the email was not natural. 😂 “A Monsoon Rising”was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024 and I DEVOURED it. The cliffhanger is BRUTAL and honestly I can't wait to start my reread of the series when my physical copy comes in on Pub Day.

More often than not, I find that if I love the first book in a trilogy, the next book tends to have a bad case of second-book syndrome. “A Monsoon Rising” seamlessly continues the plotlines of “The Hurricane Wars” and elevates the deliciously complicated relationships of the characters. The lush, beautiful world building and the complicated politics extend beyond just Alaric and Talasyn; festering old wounds and political conflicts heavily influence the story development and leave the reader with a sense of betrayal lurking in the background.

I really enjoyed the banter and interpersonal relationship building that happened in this novel. Sevraim and Elagbi are the comedic heroes of the book. It was a treat to be able to get to know the characters in a more intimate, humorous way. The chicken scene had me cackling. 😂

There are a ton of nods to the Reylo source material and the microtropes throughout are delightful. The "my wife" was "my wife"ing. The spice was exponentially heavier in this novel and the buildup/tension was perfect. They want each other. They want to fight each other. They want to fight while they explore each other. It is deliciously angsty and a lot of "two-idiots-in-love-but-we-aren't-addressing-it" kinda vibes. Alsooo, Alaric has a filthy mouth and I am here for it.

The angst is amplified by the imminent danger of the Voidfell, they are sworn enemies now political spouses, working together to save the world as they know it. While hopeful to succeed, they both have this looming anxiety about betraying the other after the Voidfell is defeated. It is this battle of duty against desire. It is so very Reylo-coded in the best way.

The cliffhanger was a SHOCK. Out of left field and I very nearly always guess the plot twist. I don't know what to do with myself until the third installation of the series comes out. It is almost cruel. I need it like yesterday. 🐀🐀🐀

Anticipated Publication Day: December 10, 2024

A HUMONGOUS thank you to Thea Guanzon, NetGalley, and Avon & Harper Voyager for this eARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

Title: A Monsoon Rising    
Author:  Thea Guanzon
Genre: Fantasy, romance      
Rating: 5 out of 5

After a lifetime of war, Alaric and Talasyn were thrust into an alliance between their homelands that was supposed to end the fighting; however, being married to their sworn foe feels far from peaceful. Now Talasyn must play the part of Alaric’s willing empress while her allies secretly plot to overthrow his reign. But the longer the couple are forced together, the harder it becomes to deny the feelings crackling like lightning between them. When the time comes to act, can she trust him, or must she ignore her heart for the sake of so many others?

As the master of the Shadowforged Legion, Alaric has trained for battle all his life, but marrying a Lightweaver might be his most dangerous challenge yet. With tensions between nations churning, he needs to focus on the greater threat—the Moonless Dark, a cataclysmic magical event that could devour everything. Only he and Talasyn can stop it, with a powerful merging of light and shadow that they alone can create together. But saving their world from this disaster is a mere preface to his father’s more sinister schemes, and his wife is a burning flame in the darkness, tempting both his loyalties and his desires.

The Hurricane Wars aren’t over. It’s time to choose what—and who—to fight for. The world holds its breath amidst a whirlwind of new magic and old secrets that could change everything.

I’m still loving these books! The world and mythology are fascinating to me, and I really like the two main characters. They actually start trusting each other a little bit here, but there are so many obstacles! And they can’t really trust anyone around them, adding another level of conflict. I found it very hard to put this book down!

Thea Guanzon is a bestselling author. A Monsoon Rising is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Avon and Harper Voyager in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 12/11.).

DNF at 60%

I feel like this series went from a fantasy story with good romance to a romantasy. The plot just feels like it was lost almost entirely and the story is only about the relationship, which made me lose interest in what was going on. And on top of that, it is a relationship of denied feelings almost the whole time, so you don't even get the satisfaction of watching two people grow together.

The Hurricane Wars was my favorite read of 2023, and I’m so excited to say that Monsoon Rising is set to be a strong contender for my top book of 2024! It’s quite uncommon for a sequel to surpass the first book for me, but that’s exactly how I feel about AMR!

Similar to the previous installment, this story features a Dual POV Narrative between Talasyn and Alaric as they navigate their alliance and growing feelings for one another while pursuing their individual goals for their respective nations. Unlike the first book, which focused heavily on world-building and political intrigue, this sequel places a significant emphasis on Talasyn and Alaric’s romance. Did this impact my rating? Absolutely not! It worked perfectly for me, and I felt that nothing was lacking in the overall narrative (could this be biased because I adore these two characters more than life itself? Possibly). A notable aspect of this book that was less prominent in the first is the overall character development. In Monsoon Rising, we finally gain insight into Alaric’s upbringing with his father, which greatly illuminates his thoughts and actions. We also delve deeper into Talasyn’s past as she uncovers more about her enigmatic mother and her own upbringing in the Orphanage.

The buildup to what I anticipated would be the book's climax left me in intense suspense, especially since there were still a few chapters left after a major 'event' unfolded. To my surprise, Thea Guanzon delivers an unexpected ending that left me emotionally raw, damaged and feral for book three.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book, and I am incredibly grateful for the chance to read it early. If it had just a bit more political intrigue and court dynamics, it would have easily earned a six-star rating from me!

ARC REVIEW

A Monsoon Rising
Rating: 🌟⭐️🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Alaric and Talasyn are married and a month’s separation brings them back together. As they prepare for the upcoming moment of truth which may determine the Dominion’s survival of the voidfell, the pair becomes increasingly attached. Whether or not they will survive long enough to discern their own feelings is unclear and so many questions scatter both minds.

I’m not entirely sure why this is labeled fantasy. The only connection this story has to fantasy is dragons, which are a minor reference at best. The context of this “romance” could literally take place in any time or place, and honestly this work comes across as a cheap way to slip into the “romantasy” genre while keeping the Star Wars fans happy. I love Alaric, but can’t stand how Talasyn treats him and both’s utter lack of communication skill. Simple conversations would remove 95% of the drama in this story. The world building was also severely lacking in my opinion for a story claiming to be fantasy.
If you’re looking for a drama drenched romance that is frustrating at best and toxic at worst then this is totally for you. I’m sure that appeals to someone but it isn’t me.

This cliffhanger on this book is absolutely amazing! This will be on my mind forever! I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was better than the first book. There is a slow burn that continues from the first book. The monsoon scene was epic. We get to see more romance and the intimacy scenes that enhances the story. I really liked it! The author is doing such a good job about character building and sympathizes with them. I ate this book up. I need the next book now! lol

Highlights
- political marriage
- Who did this to you
- Touch him/her and you die
- Wound tending
- One bed
- Forced proximity
- Banter
- Slow burn
- Dragons

I want to thank NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

I had a fun time with this book! I think this is definitely an improvement from The Hurricane Wars. I was also surprised that I found myself laughing out loud a few times. I'm a sucker for a book that makes me laugh!

We follow Talasyn and Alaric as they navigate their political marriage and attraction to each other. The romantic tension is high, and even though they are married, there is still that enemies to lovers feeling! They are both keeping huge parts of themselves a secret from the other which is horrible for their relationship, but worked for me as a reader. I usually hate a miscommunication trope, but I could understand the "why" behind their behavior, so it didn't bug me too much. They both are pretty immature, which was slightly annoying at times, but if all I knew was war growing up, I might not be the most mature person.

While I was interested in the story of The Hurricane Wars, some parts felt a bit rough, especially in the first half. The second book isn't without its faults, but they didn't pull me away from the story like book one and I was pretty invested throughout the whole thing! This book leans more heavily into romantasy and I think the title is perfect to describe Talasyn and Alaric's relationship. While it wasn't the best book I've ever read, I did finish it in one day because I couldn't put it down! Be prepared for a cliffhanger at the end!! I'm excited to see how Thea Guanzon wraps it all up in the final book!

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager for an early copy in exchange for this honest review.

The Shadow Daddy won me over in this one.

I actually…. Had a good time. It has a perfect ratio of romance to action! Watching them go from enemies to lovers had me giggling and kicking my feet throughout the entire book.

Pros: The pacing is phenomenal and I’m fully invested in the characters. I felt like I understood the world a lot better after this book vs the first one. I also LOVE the dual POVs.

Cons: Some of the dialogue is cringy and took me out of the moment, but I was able to recover from it quickly enough.

If there were other issues, I was having too much fun to notice. Thank you to Harper and Voyager and NetGalley for the arc!

I said The Hurricane Wars was my favorite book of the year, but its sequel is even better!!!!

This book is an absolute ♾️/5 and I just can’t wait to receive the two copies I’ve already pre-ordered 🤭

The banter, the mutual pining, the way they’re having feelings while still being enemies!!!

And the cliffhanger at the end!!! This should be illegal😭 I just need book 3 now!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the e-arc 🥹💞

"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?"


Rating: 5 ⭐️

Read if you like:
enemies to lovers
arranged marriage
political intrigue
romantasy heavy on the romance


Can we please talk about the chemistry between Alaric and Tala. There was not a moment when I wasn't sold on these two together, but sheesh the constant mis or lack of communication drove me crazy (not in a bad way) but damnit someone needs to stick these two in a room and force them to talk it out.


Book 2 felt like it was less world building and politics and more focused on the characters, and for book 2 that was fine with me. There were certainly some lags and filler, but if you're used to reading multiple book series then this will seem pretty normal.

Can we talk about that cliff hanger?!? I'm just hoping Thea is working on book 3 now!!!

All in all, I'm still 100% sold on this series.


Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for providing me early access to A Monsoon Rising in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

UM THE ENDING EXCUSE ME HOW CAN I WAIT??

I honestly enjoyed this even more than The Hurricane Wars. this was fun to read, the world building was super interesting, dragons are featured a lot more here than in the first book and lowkey I really like the dragon lore that Thea has come up with! also, while this sequel certainly has its fair share of action and plot heavy scenes, a lot of this book delved into the relationship between Alaric and Talasyn and I really enjoyed reading about them following in love. I’m soft.

THE ENDING THOUGH??? HOW AM I GOING TO WAIT?? I need that third book pronto!

thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this in exchange for an honest review! highly recommend!