✨ ARC Review ✨
Tusk Love by Thea Guanzon

5 ⭐️ 3🌶️

*SCREAMING*

Okay, first off, you do not have to have any idea what Critical Role is in order to read this book. It’s a wonderfully told cozy fantasy, of a sunshine girl and a grumpy boy.

Guinevere is a sheltered young woman, a daughter of merchant parents. She is on her way to the coast to her husband-to-be lord when her carriage is overrun by bandits. Oskar, a half-orc rescues her and then insists on being her escort to the coast. Just as Guinevere adventured through the world for the first time, as did our two MCs adventure straight into loving each other.

I’ve been a long-time fan of Critical Role and have wished for Tusk Love since Jester first made it a thing in campaign two. When I found out Thea Guanzon had written the book, I was ecstatic! All Critical Role lovers will certainly enjoy the expansive world-building of Matt’s Exandria, but as I mentioned - the story is equally enjoyable to anyone not familiar with CR!

If you like any type of cozy romantasy, set in a beautiful world with plenty of lovable side characters - I definitely recommend checking this one out! It’s available in all formats on July 1st!

Thank you to Del Rey, Netgalley, and Thea Guanzon for the ARC copy!

Honestly? I much prefer this over The Hurricane Wars! Tusk Love was such a fun read for me and some welcome escapism. I am not a DnD player, but I've heard that this is set in that world? So I'm sure DnD players will have strong opinions on this one (hopefully positive ones, because I found it so enjoyable!).

This book is what I would describe as a cozy romantasy, and it is perfect for CR fans and fans of the genre alike! I could see people picking up this book just from the stunning cover with little to no Critical Role knowledge and enjoying the fairytale-like romance just the same.

Our characters are Guinevere and Oskar, a merchant's daughter on her way to an arranged marriage and an orc that saves her from bandits along the way. After their paths cross, they travel together and unsurprisingly from the cover and title, fall for each other. The quote I chose above showcases their dymanic early on in the book, and it was so much fun to see their relationship grow. It is a fast-paced, lighthearted, and sweet romance that is built with such pretty prose. I can say with confidence that this book does the hype surrounding the book mentioned in CR justice.

Oskar baby!!!! I devoured Tusk Love by Thea Guanzon. This is the cutest most heartwarming swoony cozy romantasy I’ve ever read. Everything in this book is perfection from the world building, lovable characters, banter, found family, adventure and the romance.

We follow Guinevere who is a merchants daughter on her way to meet her parent and her betrothed when she gets stopped and attacked by bandits. she is rescued by Oskar who is a half Orc who is on his way to his mother land but decides to help Guinevere.

Guinevere is so adorable and I love how she finds her voice, and stands up for herself. Oskar the man that your are!!!! He’s so gentle and sweet with Guinevere and is a grump to everyone but her.

Lastly, Tusk Love is so easy to binge highly recommend for any one looming for a cozy romantasy this summer or if you want to dip your toes into monster romance. Can’t wait to see what else Thea has in store for us and I really hope it’s more monster romance

Thank you del Rey for the arc

This was so good! I don't know too much about DnD but this novel definitely had the adventure of what I assume Dnd has! I loved Gwen and how naive, funny (not on purpose lol), and prissy she was! she was such a fun FMC. Oskar was great, too. He was the grumpy to her sunshine, but I loved his dedication to her safety and the affinity he felt toward her from the beginning!

I saw the cover of TUSK LOVE posted on a Reddit fantasy romance sub and just had to know if the insides matched the bright, warm perfection of the outside. IT DOES.

This book is a delicious bite-sized snack. If, like me, you have no knowledge of Critical Role, that's no problem, as it comes across as a light fantasy world in the vein of LEGENDS & LATTES.
TUSK LOVE delivers on some classic tropes (grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, only one bed), but what surprised me was the character development, particularly for Guinevere, which lends a depth and unpredictability to the narrative that I was not expecting in such a short, tropey book.

An essential addition to anyone's cosy romance shelf!

Many thanks to Random House Worlds and NetGalley for letting me read an ARC!

I really loved this one. In Tusk Love we follow Gwen who after being attacked and accidentally causing a wild fire finds herself traveling with the seemingly surly orc Oskar. Oskar, whom stumbles across Gwen while traveling north to his mothers homeland in the wake of her death, upon helping Gwen to his hometown he resolves himself that he can’t allow a pampered rich girl to travel alone and decides to put his own plans aside to help bring her to south to reunite her with her parents.

This was such a fun time I honestly stayed up till about 3am because I lost track of time while reading. I adored both Gwen and Oskar, Gwen is naive, and spoiled but at the same time so cheery and sweet it’s hard not to fall in love with her, while Oskar who at first seems surly is shown to be trying his best in really awful situations. Their adventure is fun and their love story is sweet.

AS someone who knows little to nothign about critical roll, this was still such a fun and intriguing read! A good "starter monster romance" I would say, Thea Guanzon has one of my favorite writing styles and this is one of those books where you can feel how much the author has fun and cares about what she's writing. The world was easy to understand but interesting, the tension between this two was incredible, and Thea continues to be on my list of favorite authors <3

First! Thank you to Del Rey, Inkore, and Random House for giving me an e-arc of Tusk Love to read!

I am not surprised that I was completely enamored by this book. This was one of my most anticipated books of the year and I was not let down. Thea Guanzon does an incredible job of creating characters and illustrating worlds that suck the reader in and do not let go and Tusk Love is NO EXCEPTION. I was absolutely drawn in from my first meeting with Gwen and Oskar.

This story was such a great journey and felt like I was on my own adventure with Gwen and Oskar. I think it was great seeing a FMC that wasn't whipping out daggers and knew how to kick butt but rather a girl that was raised to be the complete opposite of that and is suddenly thrust into the world of thieves and bandits and the open road. Sometimes it's just great to have a damsel in distress and have a handsome burly MMC to save her and to empower her to just be herself.

Oskar.. yeah I was sold. His own heartfelt backstory and then his care for Gwen and her own journey just was heart wrenching. When he cried about his mother's death, I just absolutely loved it. I think it's so important for readers to see a soft side to MMCs as well as their tough, sword wielding sides too. I think it was great to have Oskar have a softer side for Gwen and for him to help her explore her own feelings after being sheltered for her entire life.

Overall, I loved this book. It was cozy and warm and yet a total adventure. I can already see myself reading this one again (and again and again) because I want to be on that adventure with them. I highly recommend this book if you want a spicy romance with a large helping of adventure and a sexy orc.

This was such an adorable and fun read!

Full transparency, everything I know about Critical Role is entirely third party and I do feel like to a certain extent this book will hit just a little harder if you’re a Critical Role fan and can appreciate the lore nods and Easter eggs. I’m sure there were definitely things that zipped over my head! But this book was still adventurous and cute, Oskar and Guinevere really embody the “grumpy x sunshine” vibe to full effect here and I enjoyed it. Also special shoutout to the cover because frankly I’m obsessed!

Recommended, most especially if you’re a Critical Role fan.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this in exchange for an honest review!

This is the cutest thing I have EVER READ!!! It's not long but oh boy is it packed with such an adorable romance!!!! Listen, I've never played D&D and Critical Role but I promise you don't need to to enjoy the story.

I adored Guinevere; she is such a wonderful sunshine to the grump dynamic we have going on. I can't imagine anyone not liking someone who is so dang kind and lovely. And of course, Oskar!! My baby!! He's such a fantastic MMC: emotionally guarded but honourable. Together, they're sizzling. I loved all the spice scenes and their banter from start to end was fantastically done. One thing I was slightly confused by was how they could kiss with his tusks but other than that, it was great. XD

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC!

I can't believe that i got to read with my own eyes a running joke from Critical Role Campaign 2 as a real actual novel. What a delight to visit Exandria and Wildemount in this way - i loved the experience of reading this and spotting things that were familiar, seeing places i knew through other stories felt like a shared joke between friends, like i was getting away with something somehow. I think Guanzon does a great job of building the world and the story in a way that those who aren't familiar with Critical Role at all will still be able to enjoy the story, but i think for those who have the added context theres a level of delight to be found in the book as well.
This is also the exact kind of romantasy i enjoy, it's structured and feels like a romance novel but the stakes and conflicts are all based in the fantasy world. I also think Guanzon must be a fan of historical romance because i felt a lot of resonance between this book and the histroms i love. Maybe it's Guinevere the uppercrust female main character who's forced to contend with the world outside of her gilded manor, or Oskar the gruff commoner male main character who's too afraid to sully the beautiful woman who has made him feel something for the first time and shaken his world up but add in some magic and murderous mercenaries and i was along for the ride.

I found this book absolutely adorable! As someone who enjoys reading manhwa (Korean-coloured comics) in a similar genre, this story was a delightful bonus for me. I could vividly picture the scenes, especially the fighting sequences, along with the main character, who is a spiritualist. The plot is charming and guaranteed to bring a smile to your face while keeping you entertained. I particularly loved the witty banter between the two main characters and the way the story unfolds—it's right up my alley! Overall, this book is a perfect blend of charm and excitement, making it a must-read for anyone who appreciates a good laugh and an engaging storyline.

I loved Guinevere and Oskar together. it's was so cute and funny reading about them going on this journey and all the things Guinevere learned and how she came to love herself and Oskar. Oskar even if he didn't want to admit it at first he was definitely interested in Gwen and I liked that it didn't just ended with the simple happy ever after we got it through hardship and Gwen coming to love herself, they just continued on traveling together.

I happen to fall in the camp where I know absolutely nothing about Critical Role and haven't participated in a D&D campaign (but it's something my husband loves very much, so I often attempt to be as invested in it in proximity). Thea Guanzon is one of my favorite authors so I would probably pick up a cook book written by her if she released one, to be honest. I thoroughly enjoyed Tusk Love- it was a cozy, STEAMY romantasy that hooked its tusks (lol) into me instantly. Thea has a way of writing dual POV's that are funny and charming, whether it's the male or female POV. Anyways, thank you to Thea and Random House Worlds for the gateway drug to Monster Romance I guess?? I'm a big fan. 😂

[4.5/5] Guinevere is on her way to her parents with her marriage dowry. But bandits easily dispose of what few guards her caravan has and she unleashes magic out of fear to save herself. Half-orc Oskar happens to be nearby and saves her from the lead bandit. Alone and lost, Guinevere implores Oskar to travel with her to meet up with her parents. TUSK LOVE follows these two traveling companions as they drop their preconceptions about each other and find a growing attraction between them.

This standalone novel is one hundred percent a romantasy. It's not mismarketed as a romantasy that is really more like a fantasy with some romance. So, if romantasy is what you're looking for, then buckle up, because the reading is good. TUSK LOVE is part of the Critical Role world, which is a group of voice actors who play Dungeons & Dragons in a web series. As someone who knew nothing about Critical Role prior to reading this book, I can tell you it's not necessary to be familiar with all of the various storylines of the series to enjoy the tale. However, if there are various Easter eggs throughout the story, then those went right over my head for obvious reasons. If it has spoilers for other Critical Role stories, I can't attest to that either.

Regardless, Guanzon pens an engaging story about Guinevere's and Oskar's journey together. Guinevere comes from a middle or upper-middle class background and is oblivious to how the world really works. However, she's not unfeeling and deals with self doubt thanks to some less-than-stellar parents. Oskar is lower class, just lost his mother, and has no exciting future to look forward to. They're an unlikely pair, but Guinevere's natural curiosity and naivete allow her to see the good in everyone. So she starts to win Oskar over, begrudgingly at first.

Even though it's just under 300 pages, this romantasy feels perfectly paced. There isn't a ton of worldbuilding, but with the focus on the relationship, that's not entirely necessary. The journey trope doesn't feel like a slog. And they encounter just enough surprises to keep things lively and moving. The shorter length doesn't detract from the character development and connection. Guinevere and Oskar learn about each other through dialogue, both serious and comical, that feels natural and easy.

It was lovely to see Guinevere realize she doesn't have the best parents and to then learn to love herself. And Oskar is right there helping her realize this and building up her confidence. The only thing I wish there was more of is the magic system. Specifically, I would have liked to read more inner struggle about Guinevere learning to control her element.

Overall, though, I really enjoyed TUSK LOVE. It's a slice-of-life romantasy set during a literal and metaphorical journey of self-discovery. The characters both experience growth in this light-hearted adventure that turns them into more well-rounded people.

*Thank you to Random House Worlds and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review and to PRH Audio for the gifted ALC*

I was feral for this the second it was announced, but that also meant it had a LOT to live up to. And oh boy, did it ever. It's a saucy adventure across Wildemount full of mischief, magic, and mayhem, which is exactly what I've come to expect from Critical Role. I loved getting to see Thea Guanzon stretch her creative muscles in a cozier series. This girl's got JOKES!

My only complaint is that Teddy Hamilton went with a more New England accent than something more reminiscent of Fjord (i.e. southern or British), because it didn't give me that sexy swashbuckly Oskar feeling. Brittany Pressley absolutely KILLED IT though as Guinevere and a variety of other side characters. (Jimmy the Butcher, my heart)

I'd recommend this to fans of Critical Role, bodice rippers, and cozy fantasies!

Let me preface this by saying: I’m not into Dungeons & Dragons and was thus unfamiliar with the DnD-based web show Critical Role, which originated the premise of this book. However, that didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the story at all!

Guinevere, the heroine, was just so sweet! She’s a woman longing for freedom in a world where her future is already set. The story opens with her running into trouble on her journey to meet the fiancé she’s been promised to — and that’s when she crosses paths with the MMC, Oskar, a grumpy half-Orc. From the start, there’s a really cute chemistry between them. As circumstances throw them together, they open up to each other quickly, with an instant understanding (and attraction!) that feels natural and only deepens as the story progresses.

There’s a lot of tension and pining between them, and as someone who hasn’t read many romances with more “monstrous” type of MMCs, I thought this was a great, approachable introduction to the trope.

I also thought that the steamy scenes were well-written. I really appreciated how gentle and considerate the two leads were with each other throughout. That softness made their connection feel even more genuine.

With its shorter length, the book felt like the perfect little escape - a warm story with some fun, smutty scenes, and an interesting fantasy world that’s easy enough to get lost in without having to contend with overly complex word building.



Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

this was the coziest romantic fantasy! Thea's writing never fails to draw me and entertain me thoroughly. i'm always so impressed!

This is a really quick read, and I was expecting it to be a bit of a throwaway joke, but it's actually a really entertaining little romance! I haven't watched the campaign that this book appears in as an in-world text, so I didn't have any particular expectations of what scenes would appear, but even reading cold it's still entertaining and has enough substance to stand alone. It does feel short, in part due to the frantic pace, and I'm not sure it's quite as satisfying as a more substantial story, but as a bitesized fantasy romance read, it's pretty great!