I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it will come out in July. I really gotten into critical role clips lately (due to longcovid I can't watch entire videos as much so shorts are life), so I knew I had to read this and it did not disappoint. This was just so solid character building and I loved the world.

Oh my love 🤍

This is one of those instances where the inside of the book just matches the cover perfectly. It's cute, whimsical and adorable and that's exactly the vibe of the content of the book as well (I mean... there's a few spicy instances here and there, buuuut.. the rest is all cute vibes, okay, I promise).

While this is probably special to read if you've watched Critical Role, I feel like it could easily work for the Romantasy girlies out there who haven't as well. And also for the ones who love a good cozy fantasy!

“But they aren’t going to succeed. I won’t let them. And I won’t let you go anywhere without me, either. For as long as there is breath in my body, you will not face this world alone, Guinevere. Do you understand?”

Thea Guanzon. Tusk Love (Kindle Locations 2084-2086). Kindle Edition.

Read if you love:
- Cozy fantasy w. romance
- DnD maybe?
- Grumpy/sunshine
- She's rich, he's poor, BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER
- Forced proximity (there's only one horse.. except there's actually two)
- There's only one bed/one room (several times)

I have to ask a question though... does a human/orc romance = monster romance???

4.6⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Inklore, Del Rey, Random House Worlds, and Random House Publishing Group for this advanced copy! You can pick up Tusk Love on July 1, 2025.

You guys... THEA GUANZON NEVER MISSES. Tusk Love was EXACTLY what I needed when I picked it up, so maybe mood contributed, but I ate this up in one sitting. I'm obsessed.

You don't have to be familiar with DnD or Critical Role to read this (god knows I don't have a clue). It's one of those fantasy books where you just roll with the new info presented to you and VIBE. Perhaps the background from the show would've helped, but as it was, I IMMEDIATELY fell in love with these characters and their story.

Guinevere is traveling alone to meet her parents and betrothed when bandits ransack her wagon. Who should come in and rescue her but the hot and dangerous half-orc Oskar, a fierce warrior with a heart of gold? As the two continue to travel together, we learn more about their backgrounds and traumas, the good and bad that shaped them.

Guin is a literal ray of sunshine. Her kindness and belief in the goodness of people make her a tad naive at first, but her journey to stand up for and believe in herself is SO GOOD. And, of course, it helps that she has Oskar in her corner, reminding her how brave and strong she is (even tho she's not a fearsome warrior). He truly is a teddy bear behind all those muscles, and Guin helps him see that it's not a crime to show that softness every once in a while. The world isn't as bleak as it seems, and you can see joy everywhere, with the right person.

I just couldn't put this one down, y'all. The romance was ROMANCING, the spice was SPICING, and the tension was impeccable. If you need a reluctant allies to lovers or bodyguard trope story, PICK THIS UP! If you want grumpy x sunshine but make it monsters, RUN TO THE LIBRARY. If you want to kick your feet and giggle over some moments in a waterfall, GET YOUR ASS TO THE BOOKSTORE. Out July 1, preorder now!

Does this book break the mold? No. It's a pretty standard-fare romantasy. But Thea Guanzon is a great storyteller, and that makes this book so enjoyable.
I was fully burned out on romance/fantasy books. It felt to me like too many authors are preoccupied with fulfilling personal fantasies rather than sharing a story. I only picked this up because I liked Guanzon's other books.
I know what the Critical Roll franchise is, but I couldn't tell you anything about the world they've built, and I have very little DnD knowledge . I'm sure Critical Roll fans will appreciate this book more deeply than me, but I enjoyed the relationship built between Gwen and Oskar.
I would really rate this. 3.5. I feel like this book could have been longer with one more traveling scene or an additional something in the 30-40 page range.

A light read, not quite surface level, but not the most intensive either. Likeable characters in an interesting world. The fact that is a complete story in one book is a big plus as well. I would not be mad at Critical Roll putting out more standalone books like this one.

If you liked this book - check out The Hanging City by Charlie Holmgren. Very similar in relationship dynamic and cranked up a bit emotionally.

- Cozy Adult Romantasy
- Slow Burn
- Wealthy Merchants Daughter x Half Orc Blacksmith
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Forbidden Love
- Low Stake Adventure
- One Bed/One Horse
- BRAT TAMER

I have never played DnD before, but I've heard of it and of Critical Role, so I read this book knowing that I will have missed out on some context. Having said that, I still THOROUGHLY enjoyed the story and found it very easy to follow. Thea Guanzon did an amazing job at explaining the characters, magic and world building without info dumping on the reader.

Tusk Love is a cute and cozy romantasy read that follows Guinevere, a wealthy merchant's daughter, and Oskar, a grumpy half-orc blacksmith who becomes her unlikely companion after her caravan is attacked by bandits. She was set to travel to Nikodranis where she was to meet her betrothed but seeing how innocent and how little she knew of the world beyond her comforts; Oskar begrudgingly agrees to accompany her. Little did Oskar know that in rescuing Guinevere, he'd end up so tightly wrapped around her finger.
4.5/5 star read.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group and Netgalley for this ARC.

So this book just wasn't quite for me.

I do usually enjoy some cozy fantasies but this one felt too slow! I've never been a huge fan of books where the characters are just traveling a large majority of the time as it just feels boring. On top of that it felt repetitive at times as well. I also just really did not like Guinevere. She was spoiled and whiny and so needlessly stupid and I just could not get behind the damsel and distress-ness.

I did like the concept of the fire spirit and I was intrigued by what was happening with her and her parents and that chest so the ending was interesting but things were just taking too long to happen and get there and then it all wrapped up so fast!

All that being said the book is really written well and I can see this being a story many people could love I just didn't enjoy it.

This book is PERFECT. As a long term Critter and lover of romantasy I had high expectations which were exceeded tenfold. It's a sweet, funny, intriguing adventure with two incredibly loveable main characters. The tale is faithfully written, capturing the humour of the source and the depth of the setting.

Thank you Netgalley, the publishing team and the author for the ARC to review, I've pre-ordered my own physical copy and can't wait to read it all over again when it's released!

This was such a great standalone fantasy - fun and heartfelt. I wasn't expecting it be this spicy but oh my...
I loved the chemistry between Oskar and Guinevere, and I loved many of the characters we met along the road.

This was my first Thea Guanzon book, but won't be the last. Really recommend it if you are looking for a fun and easy read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Light-hearted, spicy romantasy with plenty of heart. Does exactly what it says on the tin…er…cover. A fun and undemanding read.

Thea Guanzon delivers exactly what the cover promises—big feelings, bigger tusks, and a romance that is both swoony and feral in the absolute best way. Whether you’re a already a fan or just here for the monster-loving, soft-hearted chaos, Tusk Love brings the heat and the heart. A perfect blend of tender pining, emotional stakes, and playful horn-grabbing (literally). Deliciously fun and delightfully self-aware—I devoured every page.

Unfortunately this book didn't totally work for me, but there was still a lot that I really enjoyed! Right from the start I really liked our protagonist Guinevere, she was different to the main characters that I usually read and I really liked that. I also really liked the fact we got dual POV, although by the end of the book I wasn't a huge fan of our love interest Oskar. The writing was occasionally a bit much, with heaps of adjectives and adverbs packed into each sentence, but there were conversely so many beautiful quotes that balanced it out. I loved reading about the world of Critical Role and thought the worldbuilding details were really nice, along with the background characters, although we didn't get to see much of them since our characters were constantly on the move. Overall the story was a mixed bag, but leaning more positive.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC copy of Tusk Love.

This book is 5 stars!! A fantastic fantasy romance. Oskar and Guinevere’s story is cute and addictive. I couldn’t put the book down and I cannot wait to purchase a physical copy!

Tusk Love was a super cute and quick read. I think Critical Role fans will probably(?) enjoy Tusk Love more than people who haven't seen it (me) but nonetheless I really liked it. It was a lighthearted story with minimal conflict and thus it was perfect for me, but I do think maximum enjoyment would have been had if I read this in two days instead of... Multiple.

Oskar was so swoon-worthy (though I will say I thought he was older due to him having a white streak of hair on the cover that is never mentioned *sad face* so I was very thrown off finding out he was TWENTY-THREE (23)). Anyway. All that aside, Guin was adorable and Oskar was hot and all the supporting characters made for a delightful little read.

Loved this romance along the rode with Oskar who is a orc and Guinevere who is merchant daughter and needs to get to a city and meet her fiancé. Loved that they slowly fell in love and that he a grump to her sunshine. She has some secrets and he doesn't really want to take her to the city and there meet her parents. Loved this couple and the spice. I stayed up late reading this book and would love to see more of this world . Thanks netGalley for letting me read this book .

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Del Ray, Random House Worlds and Inklore for eArc in exchange for an honest review!

Guys... I think this might be one of my favourite books of the year so far, and I cannot believe I got the opportunity to read this a little early. I have The Hurricane Wars on my shelf unread, but now?? I think I might have to bump it up the tbr priority list if Thea Guanzon is this AMAZING!!!!

This is basically a DnD campaign of a novel (when I saw this was with Critical Roll I knew I had to read this) focused on Guinevere, a maiden on her way to her merchant parent's, and Oskar, a half orc who's on a journey to fulfil his mother's wish. It's very grumpy x sunshine except the grump is actually not grumpy at all and he YEARNS FOR HER SO MUCH OH MY GODDDDDD I LOVE OSKAR WOULD DIE FOR HIM anyway.

This was fucking divine and no part of this had me bored. I just ate this shit up in one go and honestly I just want to reread this immediately because their relationship was so cute and all I want is a half orc tbh.

Read this if you want a lovely whimsical fantasy book with a spicy romance and beautiful world building. 😭😭 (I'm feeling a lot of emotions right now and I'm just sad I finished it)

I love an on-the-road adventure story!!! This is a great standalone fantasy, I loved the story and the characters, and the LOVE. Perfect standalone book to read if you want a fun easy story with lots of mini adventures along that way that also makes you swoon!

If you love opposites attract, one bed tropes, Dungeons and Dragons vibes x Cozy Ghibli vibes, adventure, and a good romance, this book is for you! Tusk love has it all! It's a cute, quick read that will have you excited and rooting for the characters. This book is genius! It has to be on your TBR!

This story is the perfect grumpy-sunshine slow burn.
Guinevere is everything I love in a heroine: strong, clever, curious, and determined to figure out who she is and wants. And Oskar (our grumpy orc)? He's got all the brooding baggage you want in a reluctant travel companion with a heart of gold hidden under that scowl.

If romance isn't your thing it also has adventure, magic and a stunning world!
tropes included:

~grumpyxsunshine
~forbidden romance
~only one bed
~he washes her hair 🥰🫶

This book was so much fun—like a spicy fairytale roadtrip with swords, banter, and emotional damage. I had no idea about the Critical Role backstory when I started (and still haven’t watched it), but that didn’t matter one bit. Guanzon writes a romance that stands entirely on its own—funny, swoony, and full of heart.

Oskar and Guinevere are absolute opposites (grumpy/sunshine perfection), and watching them fall for each other was pure serotonin. The banter was chef's kiss, the tension was delicious, and yes, the spice? Surprisingly high heat and very well done

There were a few pacing lulls in the middle, but nothing that stopped me from flying through it. Overall, this felt like wrapping yourself in a cozy, slightly chaotic blanket and yelling “JUST KISS ALREADY” every few pages.

If you love a romantasy with heart, heat, and a half-orc love interest? This is your jam.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️( +♾️ every star in the sky)
🌶️🌶️
Tusk Love
The way this had me squealing- made me wanna eat my hand out of anticipation and pure feral excitement. I don’t know a whole lot about D&D and Critical Role, so I did go into this a bit blind in that regard, but it was incredibly easy to catch onto the world and different characters’ aspects.
I found this to have an absolutely perfect amount of danger, raw passion and tension between the mains mixed with the sweetest moments, my teeth hurt!

This was just chock full of beautiful lyrical phrases that had me highlighting so much of the book. The writing and dialogue is incredibly funny and I was definitely cackling so hard. I for sure will be rereading as a comfort read.

I love a dual POV and having Oskar’s thoughts (and how hilarious they are ) was a delectable treat! (I also really always wondered about the tusks in a monster romance lol) I love him! How could you not fall in love with him?!

These characters just feel so realistic. Gwen’s personality and character in her own thought vs how Oskar sees and hears her, and vise versa. The narrative changes for how the characters see eachother, and while some are in negative light- they find a way to come together. I just loved how beautiful and rich this story was!! The themes and important elements were there and that message was satisfying to read.

If you love :
Grumpy X Sunshine 🌞❤️‍🔥
One Bed 🛏️ at the Inn
D&D Vibes ⚔️
Adventure/Travel 🏔️
Passion and Tension 💋
Dual POV 😈

Thanks so much to NetGalley, Critical Role and the author for the gifted copy! Thoughts and opinions are my own.