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!

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager for this ARC Copy!

I have been looking forward to this book for so long and was so happy to get an advanced copy. Watching the dynamics of Alaric and Talasyn grow from the first book was absolutely mesmerizing. I absolutely love how we were able to really get to know Alaric in this story and grow to to love each of them so much more. I absolutely can not wait for the next book and I will be thinking about this one for a long time.

Oh boy was this book a major blue ball with whether or not those two would finally accept one another. I definitely enjoyed this more book than the first. The pacing was better, the plot was stronger, and it felt like each scene had purpose that the first was missing. These two lovebirds are absolutely horrible at communicating but it was the good type that made sense about why there was so much miscommunication. They still are enemies at the end of the day. I am very excited for want the author has in store for these two lovebirds and the world around them.

“Stay with me,” she whispered. His breath hitched. “You know I will.”

A perfect second installment to this series. I normally find the second books in trilogies boring and just filler but I’m so happy this was not the case here.

The developments in Alaric and Talasyn’s relationship was beautifully done and kept me wanting to keep reading for more.

I do wish there would’ve been some further developments with a certain missing character from the first book but I’m hopeful that will be a more prominent story line in the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publishers for the e-arc…I’ll be anxiously awaiting the next book to see what comes after that cliffhanger!

This book was SO GOOD!!!
If you've read The Hurricane Wars, you know that Thea Guanzon is the master of lush world building. A Monsoon Rising continues that beautiful world building tapestry while incorporating political turmoil and swoon-worthy tension.
I loved how this book really dove into the characters and their pasts. We learn what happened to Talasyn and Alaric in their early lives and how their pasts influence their present and future decisions. Their relationship is nothing short of frustratingly perfect tension, making the end result so much more sweet.
If you enjoyed the first book, you will absolutely devour this one!

i wanna throw up. I feel too much!!!

The second book in The Hurricane war series picks up where we last left Talasyn and Alaric. Both are trying to find the balance between what their superiors want, what THEY want and What they think is right. on top of the complicated political chess match in which they are stuck, Talasyn and Alaric are months away from the Moonless Dark, an event that happens once ever 1,000 years and is an extinction level event. And Talasyn and Alaric are somehow the only oher who can stop the void force through a combination of their light and shadow magics.

While book 1 did a lot of world building and introduction of characters, book 2 Slows down a little to focus more on our two main characters and their internal struggles , which are quite plentiful unfortunately.

The story moves quickly enough to keep you from wanting to put the book down but also spends enough time filling out our characters so we don't get whiplash from the fast- moving plot at the expense of the characters.

Be prepared , if you're into spicy scenes - this book has quite a few. HOWEVER, there weren't so many that someone who doesn't like such scenes (me) felt overwhelmed of uncomfortable. To be honest, what made me most uncomfortable is the fact that I have to wait at least a year to find out what happens next!

This sequel was everything I wanted it to be. All of the world-building from the first book truly set the stage for A Monsoon Rising to avoid the second book slump. There are so many layers of character depth and all of the emotional twists do a really good job of keeping you glued to the edge of your seat. The Hurricane Wars is one of my favorite books and its sequel truly lived up to all of my expectations! I can't wait to get my hands on the 3rd book!

while I enjoyed the first book, this sequel did not live up to the Political fantasy intrigue built in the first one. This book seemed to focus strongly on the romance and therefore lost a lot of the plot along the way. Many readers might appreciate this but I found it drifting away from my usual tastes. Dnf-ed at 30%

I should’ve read the first book first! But, this was such a beautiful book. The characters were so strongly defined as they continued their lives after the wedding. And that ending!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
I have been looking forward to this book since the moment I finished The Hurricane Wars. I was not disappointed! I loved the sassy interactions between Alaric and Tala and their inner struggles to be with each other. Where the first book was highly focused on explaining the political aspects and way the magic worked, this one was more focused on their relationship. I loved it and will be patiently awaiting the next one!

Read This Book If…you think books aren’t political at all.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
A Monsoon Rising by Thea Guanzon

Genre: romantasy
Series: The Hurricane Wars # 2
Spice Level: 4/5🌶, 3-4 open door scenes
Setting: fantasy world
POV: dual, 3rd person, past tense
Tropes: arranged marriage

My Thoughts:
What could be less political about a rebelling against a ruler clinging to scraps of power?!

I enjoyed this book more than the first in the series! The first book felt like straightforward fanfiction, while the story really came into its own in this book. There is a lot more court politics, but there’s plenty of romance to balance things out.

I loved getting to see more of their relationship and how they can’t deny the chemistry between these two. I can’t wait to see where the series goes next!!

Memorable Quote: “Ruin looks good on you, my lord.”

Thank you to the publisher for my advance copy!

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

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What to Expect:
🖤Enemies to Lovers
❤️One Bed🛏️
🖤Touch Him/Her and 💀💀
❤️Who Did This to You?
🖤Forbidden Love
❤️Political Intrigue
🖤Light VS. Dark
❤️Slow BURNNNN

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I’m still recovering from the emotional rollercoaster that is A MONSOON RISING. This sequel somehow exceeded my already sky-high expectations and delivered on every front. Picking up right where THE HURRICANE WARS ended, Talasyn and Alaric are thrown into a whirlwind of political turmoil, rebel attacks, and the looming MOONLESS DARK. Add their sizzling chemistry (spiceeee was SPICINNNNNN) and the weight of their secrets, and you’ve got a book that’s impossible to put down. The blend of action, lush world-building, and raw emotional depth kept me hooked from start to finish.

And don’t EVENNN get me started on Talasyn and Alaric—they are EVERYTHINGGGG you could possibly want. The tension, the vulnerability, the push-and-pull of their enemies-to-lovers dynamic had me swooning, kicking my feet, and smiling like a little school girl. Alaric’s devotion made my heart ache, while Talasyn’s transformation into a powerful leader inspired me. Every scene between them was pure magic, and yes, I annotated/highlighted EVERYTHINGGG (Yes, I am THAT GIRL). Thea Guanzon’s work is absolutely stunning, and while this book leans more towards being character-driven than the first, the payoff is immense. That cliffhanger, though? I’m not okay. If you’re craving epic fantasy with unforgettable characters and a romance that will leave you breathless, this series is a must-read. Please, someone tell me book three is coming soon!

The ending OH MY GOSH. this ending was what I was looking for at the end of the first book. still just as fast-paced, i can still feel the rey-lo inspired love story that has us all falling for these characters. I am glad that we are now crossing that barrier from enemies to lovers, though I savored every second of the slow burn.

I am enjoyed the more develop plot, finally diving more into the politics that are in this world and have been the guiding force of this storyline. Yes, this book is way more romance dominated, but at least we have a better understanding of the politics, just missing the scheming that was consuming half of the narrative of the first book.

There was action, there was love, there was pining, and there magic. Oh and did I mention the CHEMISTRY WAS PHENOMENAL BECAUSE PHEW THOSE SCENES WERE ROMANTASY AT ITS FINEST

I truly cannot wait to see how the final book concludes, considering there are still plenty of questions that need answered!

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t think this one could be better than the first, but holy wow was I wrong!!

I’m once again blown away at the depth of the world that Talasyn and Alaric are a part of. I can see the details of their clothing, the scales of dragons and the landscape of this incredible story.

The tension in this one was such a perfect step up from the first book. There were moments where I was kicking my feet, squealing and then places where I was yelling at the both of them in my head. I love how the relationship between them has grown and how their powers have made them admit they are different sides of the same coin. The scenes where they finally (finally!) give in to the tension and just let themselves “be” with the other are incredibly beautiful but also just super real.

And now, the ending. I am not well. Like, I finished and just sat for a moment and then reread to make sure I actually understood. I LOVE how it went and what we learned but also, HOW COULD THEY. Those closing words were perfect as we head into the darkness waiting for the next book!!!

Thank you to the team at Harper Voyager and Thea Guanzon for the e-book!

As a mostly trendy fantasy reader I read a lot of enemies to lovers. I’ve never been so obsessed with a pairing before tho. Talasyn and Alaric are my children and they can do no wrong and they deserve their happy endings damnit.
That being said, let’s get into this book 😂
Book two was 100% character driven, but I was living for it truly. I remember feeling like Hurricane Wars was so plot heavy that you didn’t really get to know the characters on a deep level and A Monsoon Rising was a perfect balance to that.
The smut was smutting, the enemies were falling, the stakes were high, and the last 80 ish pages gave me a run for my money. This is where the plot came in and said hold my beer real quick and I was not expecting the layers that were revealed at the close of this book.
I will take book three immediately, thank you.

I LOVED Monsoon Rising, it's even better than the first. It really explores Alaric and Talasyn's complicated relationship and their feelings and fears. It was very well written with excellent tension, world building, action, amd romance. I wasn't bored at any moment and the cliffhanger leaves me wanting more. This is a must read for all enemies to lovers readers.

A Monsoon Rising is an exciting sequel to The Hurricane Wars. I loved the angst. Talasyn and Alaric are both such sweet souls in a difficult station. The ending was omg. I need the next book. Please read this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future