I knew I was gonna love this book purely based on the fact that it was based on a story in a critical role campaign, but holy heck, this took me by surprise.

I ended up loving this so much more and totally deserves a 5 star in my eyes!

First of all, if you're expecting a cutesy little romance going into this, don't assume like I did that there wasn't any spice. It was there and it was so hot 🥵

Our main characters, Guinevere and Oskar, have such amazing chemistry! The sweet, ray of sunshine daughter of a merchant meets an orc who is grumpy and worn down from his hard-working life. When they end up on a journey together, you can instantly tell that this is gonna be something spectacular.

I really enjoyed the plot of this story overall. It flowed really well, and even the quest line of the magic and what's in the trove was so intriguing. I've read Theas' previous work, The Hurricane Wars, and as always, her writing in this was similarly impeccable.

The way she describes the world and characters just sucks you into this beautiful light-hearted fantasy rom-com of sorts.

This was such a delight to read, and I hope we get more little projects like this from Thea or the Critical Role team in the future.

This book was super cute! Having not read/ played or listened to any of critical role I was able to understand this book just fine. It was super cute and I already preordered my hard copy. Thank you for letting me read this gem! I had a great time!

I really enjoyed this book. I’ve ready several books from this author before and this one did not disappoint.
This was the perfect blend of Cozy, Romance and Fantasy with Grumpy x Sunshine at its best.
Guinevere and Oskar are our main characters and they came across so well.
Guinevere is full of innocence of the world and I loved seeing her come to learn that she has worth.
Oskar our Grumpy Orc who you can’t help but love. Both characters journeys to discovering themselves was lovely.
The world building was beautiful and truly draws you into this magical fantasy world.
I loved all the characters we met along the journey to each location and whilst cute and cosy there was still action to be had.
I liked that this book had spice to it and it came across well.
It was really well written and the authors words just flowed together nicely. Plot wise this was a quick developing story and moved at a pretty good pace throughout the book. It did leave me wanting more!

I’ve never played DnD or heard of Critical Role but this didn’t hinder the readability of the book. I liked knowing it was inspired by something.

Overall I definitely recommend this Cute, Cozy and Romantasy read.

As someone who hasn’t played DnD and unfamiliar with Critical Role, this book was still a grand ole time.

Gaslamp, cozy, adventurous. It was a very quick fantasy romance read.

The grumpy sunshine trope was done so well. I found myself chuckling at their stark differences during their witty banter.

The adventurous journey to a faraway town was my favorite part of the whole book. The forced proximity was delicious. And despite knowing nothing about the DnD world(building) beforehand, I still enjoyed it immensely.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I am not a Critical Role fan, but I am a Thea Guanzon fan who casually enjoys the occasional monster romance, so I had high-ish hopes for Tusk Love. And while I don’t believe I missed anything specific by not having knowledge of Critical Role, I still couldn’t help but feel like this book was a bit lacking because I didn’t have that wider context.
The world building and atmosphere is not super-present, but I wasn’t super bothered, as it was fairly easy to get into nonetheless.
The characters were fine, if not super remarkable. I definitely preferred Guinevere, who had slight Disney Princess vibes, while Oskar was just broody and I wasn’t a huge fan of. Their romantic dynamic was fine, but I wasn’t blown away.
With it being fairly short (it’s listed as being 272 pages), I found both pros and cons. On the one hand, it makes for a quick read that sucked me in and kept me turning pages, aided by Guanzon’s engaging writing style. However, with the book promising some compelling romantasy themes, like forbidden love, I didn’t feel the stakes. It’s great for a cozy read, but it’s the epitome of “little plot, mostly vibes.” If that was the intent, then the length works in its favor, as it prevents the narrative from meandering. But I was very perplexed upon finishing, like “That’s it?!”
However, I clearly came into this with very different expectations as a fan of the author and the genre, hence my more lukewarm feelings. I imagine that this would be much more exciting if you’re at least somewhat familiar with Critical Role, as well as Thea Guanzon as an author and romantasy as a genre.

Rating : 4.5 🌟

Tropes and Themes : Only One Horse & Only One Bed, Grumpy x Sunshine, Yearning, Opposites Attract, Touch Her and Die, Dual POV.

Plot : As a massive fan of Thea Guanzon, I knew this would absolutely hit home and I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest. Guinevere is the daughter of two highly ambitious merchants and her path has seemingly been pre-determined; marry into a good family, raise her families station and be an obedient, proper wife. Her dreams of being free, seeing the world and adventuring come true when journey to her new husband and home are attacked by bandits - leaving her stranded with Oskar, a half-orc who helped save her. Although both come from completely opposite backgrounds and standings in society; both Gen and Oskar find themselves unexpectedly drawn to one another as they travel and fight their way across the lands.

I absolutely ADORED this book, it was so easy to read and utterly fun - I couldn’t put it down once I’d started. It took me no time at all to fall in love with Thea’s writing in her characters - for such a short book it’s full of sweet yearning, self discovery and the added layer of danger hiding around every corner as Gen and Oskar travel towards their destinations. I have NEVER read or played Crirical Role, but immediately upon finishing this book it’s on the top of my to-do list! I need more of this world, more of the magic system and more of these characters! Although the plot was primarily romance focused, I still enjoyed the intrigue and mystery surrounding Gen and her magic.

Characters :

I don’t even know where to start with Gen, but I’d like to state that I would absolutely lay my life on the line for her if needed be. Genevere is such a soft yet determined woman, on her travels her perception of social standards and grace that has been drilled into her changes as she gets to know Oskar and experiences the real world. Her development in this manor is spectacular and I couldn’t get enough of it. I’d say that Gen also has an air of complete naivety but in the kindest possible way - she trusts people easily and due to her upbringing genuinely doesn’t know what to expect. It’s one of my favourite things about her, that and her unwavering determination to be cheerful and happy regardless of the circumstances. She also goes through the motions of being so terrified of her powers at the start of the book, then developing a determination to learn and understand her power to defend herself and Oskar.

Oskar is the perfect grumpy to match Gen’s sunshine - the dynamic between them was utterly perfect. My favourite things though is Oskar’s deep emotions and how comfortable he is with expressing them, on several occasions he allows himself to cry and express his sadness over his mother - while also being extremely tough when it comes to battle and hunting. I absolutely adored reading through his POV and how much he YEARNS for Gen, and the struggles he has with wanting her on a journey to take her to her betrothed. His over-protective nature was another cherry on top for me, not to mention his insistence that Gen be her own person and not live her life to appease her parents. Oskar deep down is a big, BIG softie and an absolute simp for the woman he adores - with all the strength and toughness that a Half-Orc has had to be and endure.

Romance : I ate up every single scene of romance - I’d definitely give this a 3/5 🌶️ rating. As much as the smut was delicious - it all wraps up perfectly with these two amazing characters and their adventure.

I would honestly read another 100 books like this, it was so ridiculously easy to read while being simple and intriguing at the same time. I’ve loved Thea’s writing from the Hurricane Wars and I LOVED seeing her branch into something different!

Guinevere, daughter of an ambitious merchant, is attacked on the road by bandits. She’s rescued by Oskar, a poor half-orc on pilgrimage to meet family he’s never met. Despite many hurdles and the friction of being from different worlds, Guinevere and Oskar start feeling something for one another…

So, if you’re reading this review, you probably already know about Critical Role. Or maybe, like me, you approached this with no knowledge! I think the book will probably please both groups, but knowing just a tiny bit about this situation really helps.

Critical Role is a long-running web series in which a cast of players roleplay with one another in a D&D-like setting. One of the player characters purchases a “spicy” novel called Tusk Love, and it’s referred to multiple times throughout the series. Critical Role commissioned Thea Guanzon, author of the Hurricane Wars (based on her Star Wars Kylo Ren/Rey fan fiction with the serial numbers filed off) to write Tusk Love, including the canonically spicy scenes. It’s a hilarious set-up, and I commend Critical Role for this madcap enterprise. Plus one star just for this.

The story itself is a fairly low-stakes, cozy-ish fantasy about a sunshine-grumpy romance. It’s predictable, but in this world right now, some of us welcome the predictable. While longtime fans of Critical Role (again, I am not one) will probably find plenty of Easter eggs, it’s still a charming read without this knowledge.

Whether you are a Critical Role fan or not, Tusk Love will be a fantastic read for smutty fantasy romance readers!

Guinevere and Oskar are brought together by the whims of fate when he rescues her from bandits on the Amber Road. A sheltered woman now left helpless to the wilderness, Oskar puts aside his own travel plans in order to escort her to the port city of Nicodranus...and her betrothed. But Guinevere enjoys her newfound freedom on the road far more than the prospect of a marriage to a man she's never met, for a future her parents are desperate to claim. And as the rugged but chivalrous half-orc begins warming up to her, feelings are kindled that neither can resist for long.

This book feels like a classic bodice ripper for a new generation. Not just the fantasy setting, but the personalities of our leads reflects what readers prefer today: Guinevere, while sheltered, has a steely determination to survive and pull her own weight on the road. She is adaptive and sharp in certain situations, kind, and takes the initiative in plenty of the spicy scenes. Oskar certainly comes off as an old-fashioned "vagabond with a heart of gold" at first, but he has emotional depth and an endless wellspring of patience and respect for Guinevere.

The smut scenes have a nice diversity of setting, acts, and length. I point this out because some of the most popular "spicy romantasy" books suffer from their smut scenes being fairly repetitive in one or more of these categories.

For the CR fans, there are some nice little Easter eggs. Remember that this is a fictional story that exists IN Tal'Dorei, not just another book about the world and characters of Critical Role. Just like a contemporary romance, Tusk Love uses real locations in Wildemount, but the characters are made up. There is one minor character that makes a brief appearance near the end that is a big "wink wink" to fans, but it doesn't feel gratuitous and I liked that.

I had so much fun with this one! For someone who is not that well familiar with the world created by Critical Role but is a DnD fan, this book really felt like a side quest on a campaign and can totally see why Jester loves it so much. Oskar and Guinevere's attraction to each other does seem a bit quick in the beginning but as we follow their journey I could not stop myself from rooting for them and feel how much they cared about each other. A lovely romantansy that stands on their own and you absolutely do not need to know the source material to enjoy this book, but it might just make you want to know more about its world!

4.5*

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

A perfect media tie in! As someone who has watched Critical Role for years, seeing this in game story come to fruition has been a joy. Tusk Love also stands enough on its own to be recommended to romantasy enjoyers who have no prior knowledge of the source material,

I rated this on GR, and forgot to rate it here. Thea has done it again - she's created a world I'm sucked into, and a relationship that is just so beautiful.

This is my review from GR, "I can't. I just. Ugh this book was so good, I finished it in one sitting, and I couldn't put it down. Thea you did it again 😭😭😭 I loved every second and I need it to release now so I can talk to everyone about it.

Thank you to Penguin for sending me the ARC for my honest review because IT WAS AMAZING.

I post this review as someone who DOES NOT watch Critical Role, but likely will try it out now because of this book. Beautiful, silly, adorable, steamy, everything I wanted from a book.

Thank you"

Thank you Del Rey and Netgalley for the ARC.

Omg. This book is adorable. If you are a fan of romantasy or DnD this book will satisfy both of those. Thea Guanzon takes this already pre established world and is able to make a beautiful love story between Guinevere and Oskar. Both on their own journeys but once their paths cross this book just grabs the Reins and runs with it. I love it. I cannot wait to see more stories similar to this.

I loved the book so much! It’s a great jumping off point for new fans of critical role and to be enjoyed by non fans alike.

This was such a fun, cute and cozy read. I will admit, I’ve never played Dungeons & Dragons, nor had I heard of Critical Role before this. But I heard about the book, and saw the cover, thought both looked cute…and I’m a fantasy girlie, who even dabbles occasionally in monster romance, so I had to give this one a try. And I’m so glad I did! Oskar and Guinevere were just too cute for words! I absolutely loved Guinevere with her sweet, clueless naïveté. I adored the image of her shopping with criminals, that was one of my favorite scenes, made me laugh. I read another review that compared it to Tangled, and I had to laugh at that too, because as soon as I read that, I could see it! But I loved Tangled too, so that’s ok.
It was just a really fun read, a bit of a break from my normal books, and I highly enjoyed it! It’s ok if you’re not familiar with the world of D&D…I wasn’t either but I still enjoyed every minute of this book!

One of my favorite quotes was this one, probably uttered by most men at some point in relationships! LOL “You,” he breathed out against her lips, “are so much work, sweetheart. So why is it that I’m having the time of my life?”
See what I mean? It’s just cute and sweet!! 🤷🏼‍♀️😂

This book is my platonic ideal of a romantasy. It's got a prim but heart-of-gold heroine with a magical secret. It's got a rough and tumble looking hero who also has a heart of gold. It's got bonds forged through danger and travel and trials and tribulations and main characters who are all in for each other. It's got humor. It's got horses. It's got sword fights, regal manors and sandwiches.

It's simple, straightforward, and knows what its readers want. There's enough sexy-times to make most readers happy but it's not just about that. And fortunately there isn't a lot of playing around with "should I or shouldn't I." They should.

If you want to escape to a simpler place with characters you want to spend time with and that won't take too long to read, this is for you. I did wonder how their HEA would go but I didn't worry about it. I can totally see why Jester would be into Fjord if she loves this book.

A bold and steamy fantasy romance brought to life from an in-universe joke, Tusk Love surprises with real emotional depth and clever writing. Thea Guanzon delivers passion, humor, and heart in equal measure, turning what began as a running gag in Critical Role into a fully realized, delightfully dramatic love story. Fans of the show will appreciate the nods to campaign lore, but even newcomers can enjoy the compelling dynamic between its orc and elven leads. It's fun, fiery, and unapologetically romantic—a love letter to fantasy tropes with a modern twist.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Worlds for this arc of Tusk Love.

Unfortunately, this ended up not being the read for me. The setting and the adventure part are what was intriguing to me and some parts of the relationship, but once I hit the %45 mark, something switched and just kind of turned me off from the book.

Overall, I think if you’re into cozy, spice and adventure, this is definitely the read for you! It’s one I may come back to in the future but right now it’s just not sitting well with me.

3/5 ⭐️

Tusk Love by Thea Guanzon is an epic adventure with a spicy twist. I fell in love with the main characters, Guinevere and Oskar, from the start. Guanzon did a wonderful job to give these character flaws, hopes, dreams, backstories, and individual personalities that shined through throughout the entire novel. Dungeons & Dragons lovers will love the tie-ins to the notorious roleplaying game and romance readers will love it for the beautiful love story with great character development.

Guinevere is expected to do her duty: marry a wealthy man that she doesn’t know, listen to her parents, and protect the trunk she was entrusted with even if she doesn’t know what’s in it. However, things don’t exactly go according to plan when her caravan is raided by bandits. Oskar saves her after the attack and she asks to travel with him for safety since the Amber Road is notoriously unsafe for lonely travelers. Along the way, the two quickly realize they will have to choose between their set destinations or their blossoming romance.

So. Tusk Love just happened to be my first Orc romance, and I have to say that I'm not upset about that. Turns out that this book was exactly what I needed. It was sweet. It was fun. It was spicy! I really appreciated the character development of Guinevere. It was a natural progression of learning to love herself and learn her worth. Oskar was the perfect MMC to counterbalance her. Grumpy sunshine at its finest.

This book was everything I’ve been wanting in a romantic fantasy. I was hooked from the first page. The world building is wonderful, especially for any critical roll fans!