Thank you to NetGalley, Thea Guanzon, Critical Role, and Del Rey for the E-ARC!

As a fan of Thea Guanzon's "The Hurricane Wars" I was very excited to read the advanced copy of her upcoming release! I will be candid that I don't consume any of Critical Role's content, but that didn't stop me from enjoying this story to the fullest!

This is a book filled with adventure, a mysterious wooden box, and two characters from opposing worlds. Guinevere is a merchants daughter who's been extremely sheltered. She's never had to do anything for herself, only learning how to be a prim and proper daughter. Oskar on the other hand as lived his life in poverty. He's had to work for everything he's gotten and even then that hasn't been enough. Together, they must traverse through dangerous terrain, all while being hunted by mercenaries, all in the hope of bringing Guinevere home safe.

I absolutely adored both Guinevere and Oskar as characters. Thea Guanzon is a master at character development, giving both of her MC's realistic personal journey's throughout this book. That's not even mentioning how well-written their romance is! I was invested in their stories, enjoying every moment of yearning between the two.

If you're looking for a cozy romantasy with spice, I would highly recommend you go pick this up on release!

Confession: Romantasy isn’t usually my go-to genre, but after hearing so much about this book and falling for its adorable cover, I decided to be adventurous and give it a try—thankfully, one of my best decisions, as I enjoyed it far more than I expected.

The book’s greatest strength lies in its lovable characters, particularly Guinevere—a kind, well-mannered, and self-sacrificing merchant’s daughter who always prioritizes others’ needs while hiding a powerful secret—and Oskar, a gentle, cinnamon-roll half-orc who masks his kindness behind a gruff, intimidating facade. Their fates intertwine when bandits ambush Guinevere’s caravan, triggering her hidden fire-wielding abilities just as Oskar steps in to save her.

Oskar, initially en route to honor his late mother’s wishes in the North, postpones his plans upon realizing that Guinevere—so trusting and pure-hearted—is in grave danger, especially given the valuable dowry she carries. Determined to protect her, he joins her journey to wed an older, wealthy nobleman handpicked by her parents. But as they travel together, the growing attraction between them complicates everything. Oskar longs for a future with her but fears he cannot provide the luxury she’s accustomed to, while Guinevere dreams of a life by his side yet remains bound by duty and afraid of her own burgeoning powers.

However, what if she’s been kept in the dark? What if her parents are hiding secrets that could change the course of her life forever?

Overall: The pacing, character development, world-building, and execution of the grumpy-meets-sunshine trope are all flawless. I devoured this book in one sitting, fell in love with the romantasy genre, and added the author to my auto-read list. You cannot miss this gem—five blazing stars for this adventurous, action-packed, and steamy read!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Del Rey/Inklore/Random House Worlds for providing a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.