I’m sorry in advance for being a hater. Tl;dr: not exactly bad, just super, super not for me.

I’ll be the first person to admit I really had no business reading this book. I didn’t read the Hurricane Wars because everything I heard about it indicated it would not be for me, I don’t tend to love either romantasy or cozy fantasy, and I know nothing about Critical Role. But I do like a monster romance from time to time, and I was in the mood for something light and fun, so I hoped this might work for me. It did not.

I’ll start with my most important critique, since this may get long and rant-y: I did not like the characters and their relationship dynamic. Like, at all. In a very real sense this is just the Disney movie Tangled, mashed together with Critical Role, and that is just simply not a dynamic that I tend to enjoy. We’ve got a gruff, worldly, competent man x a spunky but sheltered lady who makes flower crowns and naively befriends criminals. This CAN be an interesting pairing, if it’s thoroughly explored and well considered, but that’s not the case here. It just felt tropey, unoriginal, and pretty infantilizing of Guinevere.

Also, I HATE grumpy men. Free us from the grumpy male love interest. Why are they all grumpy. Let men have other personalities besides grumpy.

The longer, more nitpicky rant: okay, elements of this story are definitely fun. There were moments where I enjoyed myself, almost enough to start thinking that 2 stars is too harsh. The problem is, at the end of the day, I have issues with basically every single facet of this book. The pacing is terrible - it skips somewhat randomly over really important parts with just, like, a brief sentence or paragraph summary, then draaags through some excruciatingly drawn out sequences that I did not care about at all, which means it manages to FEEL long in spite of the fact that it is very short. The “plot” is very thin and predictable and wraps up way too easily, which - fine. It’s a cozy-ish fantasy romance. That’s to be expected. The writing is also… maybe not terrible, but not good. I almost think this book would have been better off keeping to plain, contemporary prose rather than trying to sound high-fantasy.

This was a super cute read. Everything I wanted. It was short, cozy vibes with a good dose of spice. Definitely a grumpy/sunshine dynamic and finding where you belong.

4.5⭐

Thank you Thea Guanzon and Del Rey for the ARC.

Tusk Love by Thea Guanzon is about a merchant’s daughter who yearns for adventure gets more than she bargained for when she falls for a broodingly handsome stranger.

This was a cosy take on romantasy. The cast of characters are endearing and a delight as they go on an impactful journey both physically and mentally.

Guinevere is a well-mannered, kind, compassionate and self-sacrificing charactr who the daughter or merchants to whom she was never a priority unless materialistic rewards could be reaped. Oskar is a grump but cinnamon-roll half-orc who is actually a very kind character and hides everything under his intimidating facade.

The world-building is amazing and the execution of the pacing ane character development was top notch. The overall writing style is flawless and I took my sweet time reading this book.

The initial meeting of the two MCs started with misunderstanding that led to tension brewing between them which slowly evolved to a beautiful talw of love as they discovered new parts of themselves and let go of the broken shards still left inside of them. They realised a lot of this and let go of things towards the end. , I truly believe Guinevere and Oskar found their equal within one another and I had the best time getting to see their love story develop.

𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒚 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒚 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘.

Thank you Thea Guanzon and Del Rey for the ARC!

This was my first book from this author and I was super intrigued by synopsis in the beginning. The cosy romantasy aspect of this book was what made me feel the magic of this book to be alive. Guanzon has done justice to these characters and the story and the way that the ending pulled together all trh strings perfectly made me love this book even more. My only problem was that I wished that the world building was established a bit better because at times I did not know what and where the story was taking place and the lack of a map was a part of it too.

‘Tusk Love’ is an enchanting, adventurous, and cozy fantasy romance that masterfully weaves together passion, destiny, and the freedom to choose one’s own path. Set in the world of the Dwendalian Empire, in the universe of Critical Roles The Mighty Nein, follows Guinevere, a young woman constrained by the expectations of her noble birth, and Oskar, a brooding half-orc with a past full of loss and uncertainty. When bandits attack her caravan, Guinevere is forced into an unexpected alliance with Oskar, and together they embark on a journey that will change both their lives forever.

The romance in this book was chefs kiss and truly Lucious. The world-building as rich and immersive as the campaign of the series, which draws readers into a landscape of danger, beauty, and untapped potential. The dynamic between Guinevere and Oskar is emotionally charged, and beautiful that you’ll think about them for days.

This book is perfect for fans of cozy fantasy romances, along side with some spicy, heartfelt story full of adventure and romance, this is an absolute must-read.

I am completely and utterly in love. This is such a deeply, gently romantic book, about two people who find solace and understanding in each other as they travel the road.

Also, while I respect that everybody has their own opinions, anybody who does not like Guinevere is WRONG and is NOT allowed to talk about her.

This is so fricken cute!! I didn't have much knowledge of Critical Role or D&D prior to requesting this on Netgalley, but was intrigued regardless.

Tusk Love is a cozy romantasy, extremely well written and doesn't need any prior understanding of Critical Role to enjoy it.

Guinevere and Oskar find each other under less-than-ideal circumstances, and end up on a lengthy journey to meet up with Guinevere's parents in another city. Throughout the journey, they encounter enemies, make new friends and learn more about themselves. Guinevere's magic was of real interest to me, I enjoyed reading about her totem and what that means. Oskar seemed like a total badass but also a real sweetheart. I couldn't help but laugh at Guinevere's genuine nativity about everything and everyone, and the very entertaining situations she ended up in.

Fantastic book, and a new favourite. I am really hoping some more artwork for these characters surface!!

Thank you so much to @netgalley and @theaguanzon for the ARC because I SCREAMED at my phone when I got the email that I was approved 😅

It’s no secret that Thea is one of my god-tier authors. If she writes it, I read it-and to this day I’ve never been disappointed 🤩

Tusk Love is such a fun story. I’ve only played D&D once and seen a handful of episodes of Vox Machina. If you take anything away from this rec post, PLEASEEEE let it be that you don’t have to religiously DM your D&D campaign every single weekend in order to follow this story. This book is for ANYONE who likes fantasy, romance, banter, grumpy sunshine, plot twists, and a upper class lady tromping through the woods with a grumpy half-orc 😂

Again a huge thank you to the powers that be for the arc, you made this bookstagrammer incredibly happy!

#tusklove #dungeonsanddragons #fantasyromance #romantasy #istilldontknowthedifference #criticalrole #voxmachina

As a fan of Thea Guanzon and DND this was one of my more highly anticipated reads of 2025. I am newer to Critical Role and found this to be a great beginner fantasy/monster romance. You do not have to have a crazy understanding of the fandom to love this book, but I highly recommend you check their campaign out after!

Tusk Love is a wholesome, cozy, and sexy medium stakes adventure. Oskar is a Half-Orc blacksmith’s apprentice who offers to escort Guinevere, a naïve merchant’s daughter, to her betrothed on the Menagerie Coast after her traveling caravan is attacked by mercenaries. Over the course of their adventure, she begins to see the cracks in her high society life and is uncertain whether it’s the life she wants to live after all.

Oskar is the biggest green flag around. Thea did a wonderful job of addressing his underlying grief over his mother and helping Guinevere realize she deserves to be treated so much better by her parents. Guinevere nature reflects her entitled upbringing at times, but she never comes across as self-centered. She genuinely tries her best to adapt to her circumstances and see the good in everything. I really loved their relationship and would love to see more of them in the Critical Role universe!

Tropes:
Grumpy x Sunshine
Secretly a Cinnamon Roll MMC
Opposites Attract
Forced Proximity

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House publishing group Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for providing a digital review copy in exchange for my honest review.

I feel like I should preface this by saying I’m a huge D&D fan—so with that somewhat critical knowledge (and admitted bias), here’s my review:

First off, can Thea Guanzon do anything wrong? Because, so far, she has repeatedly knocked my socks off with her incredible skill as both a writer and storyteller. I’m continually blown away by her talent and creativity.

This book was no exception.

It’s something that will absolutely warm the hearts of anyone who loves D&D and the fascinating, expansive world it offers.

Honestly, if you love well-written, fun, and fantastical stories—you need to read Tusk Love.

It’s quirky, it’s clever, and it’s perfectly tailored to its target audience.

Bravo, Thea!

First of all thanks to Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This was good fun, it zipped along at an excellent pace and wasn't lacking in chemistry between the two leads. I think it's so fun critical role arranged for it to be turned into a real book, and I think the author did a great job!

This book was sweet, cozy, and undeniably sexy – I really enjoyed it! What stood out the most to me was Gwen’s character development, which I thought was fantastic. She evolved so much throughout the story, and I found myself loving her just as much as Oskar, the adorable grump, did. Their dynamic was truly wonderful!

While there were a few moments that felt a bit silly, they didn’t detract from the overall enjoyment of the story. In fact, they only added to the fun and charm of the book, perfectly complementing the lighthearted vibe. Now that I’ve finished it, I already find myself missing these characters.

This book is absolutely delightful. Sweet, funny, and spicy, Tusk Love is a lovely and fun story that is sure to be a hit with Romantasy readers looking for a light, happy read.

Guinevere is a merchant’s daughter on her way to meet her betrothed like the obedient daughter she has always been. But when she is attacked by bandits, then rescued by a handsome half-orc named Oskar, her perfectly ordered life falls apart. As they journey across the wilds together, sparks fly in more ways than one, and eventually Guinevere will have to decide between her duty and her heart.

This book is so much fun; I literally smiled through 90% of it, and the other 10% I was either laughing or internally cheering on the characters. The banter is 10/10, and the yearning and tension is beautiful with wonderful fireworks throughout the story. It feels hard sometimes for a book to be both spicy, and incredibly sweet; and this story nails it. I had very high hopes going into Tusk Love, and this book was exactly what I was hoping it would be. If you are a fan of fun and spicy fantasy romance, this book absolutely needs to be on your TBR.

I will say that I am not familiar with the world of Critical Role, but that didn’t hinder my understanding of the story; so if you like me don’t know anything about Critical Role, don’t let that stop you from reading this book. I can promise that you will enjoy it.

I would recommend Tusk Love to readers who love fun monster / fantasy romance books, sweet romance, and wonderful characters finding their happily-ever-afters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the arc! All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

I wasn't too thrilled with this. It seemed really uneventful and there really wasn't anything to hold your attention.

As a Critical Role fan and a romance reader, I have been endlessly excited for Tusk Love. It gave cosy fantasy romance vibes without being too over-the-top in its lore drops about the world for those unfamiliar with Critical Role.

Gwen and Oskar are such fun characters whose two very different worlds colliding was amusing and almost whimsical in places. While I wouldn't call it a smut heavy rom-com, there were definitely some steamy moments, and while their relationship did feel like it was rushed in some points, it overall felt genuine enough in their personal struggles with their evolving feelings that I enjoyed it unfolding.

I would have love a little more plot as the middle of the book took me a longer than usual time to read through and seemed to drag its feet a little but overall, I enjoyed this read as a light palate cleanser.

Tusk Love
spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Campaign 2 of Critical Role for me through the pandemic, and I would always be cry laughing while Jester was reading Tusk Love and sharing the story with her friends. When I saw this arc on NetGalley, I KNEW I had to request it. (A special thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for Accepting my ARC request)

And let me tell you…. I can see why Jester was obsessed with this book.

Thea Guanzon wrote such a lovely novel that really immerses you in the lore of the worlds used in Critical Role. However, if you are not familiar with critical role, it will not matter in the slightest.

Thea constructed such a lovely story about a merchants daughter and her escort as they travel together to her arranged wedding. What they did not anticipate was the fun they’d have along the way. If you like romance novels with a sense of adventure and cool lore, this is the book for you!

A cute, cozy read.

I did enjoy this, but I did feel the romance lacked so spark for me, especially at the beginning.

Writing style, there’s some stylistic choices and repetition that I found a bit grating but didn’t take away from the overall story.

The biggest thing bringing this lower for me is the lack of exploration into Gwen’s magic. The end felt very rushed in this instance for me, and left me a little disappointed.

Still Adoreable and easy to get through! So I am content.

Shout out Random House for the eARC.

Thank you NetGalley & and Random House Publishing Group/Del Rey/Inklore/Random House Worlds for providing a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Publishing Date: 7/1/2025

Tusk Love is exactly what you’d hope for from a book with such a legendary in-universe reputation—it’s romantic, fun, full of familiar fantasy flavor, and surprisingly heartfelt.

The story follows Guinevere, the sheltered daughter of struggling merchants, and Oskar, a gruff half-orc blacksmith’s apprentice with a secret soft side. When Guinevere’s caravan is attacked, Oskar reluctantly rescues her, kicking off a magical road trip filled with peril, emotional growth, and a slow-burn romance that’s equal parts sweet and swoony.

What I loved most is how accessible this book is. Hardcore Dungeons & Dragons fans will appreciate the magical flourishes and genre tropes, but the story is told in a way that even casual fantasy readers or romance lovers new to fantasy can enjoy without missing a beat. The pacing is light and steady, never bogged down by exposition or lore dumps, and the romance takes center stage in a very satisfying way.

I wasn’t immediately sold on Guinevere—she starts off as your classic damsel-in-distress, clinging to her parents’ expectations. But she grows into someone much more compelling. Her evolution from naive and passive to bold and self-assured was one of the highlights for me. Oskar, too, is a gem. I’m not usually one for orc love interests, but his grumpy-exterior/cinnamon-roll-interior dynamic totally won me over. His protective instincts, quiet sacrifices, and emotional vulnerability made him easy to root for.

The tropes—grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract, forced proximity—are used with love and executed well. It’s a cozy, tropey romance wrapped in a fantasy cloak, and it just works. I only wish the story had gone a bit deeper in places—some moments could’ve hit even harder with more emotional exploration or richer worldbuilding.

Highly recommended for fans of romantic fantasy, especially if you enjoy a good grumpy/sunshine pairing, a sprinkle of magic, and the thrill of falling in love on the road.

Thank you Net Gallley, Random House Worlds and Del Rey for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

First of all, wow, I knew this book was going to be good, but I wasn't prepared for how good it is! While I haven't engaged in anything by Critical Role, being a D&D fan I'm familiar with their works. There are a lot of names for different locations and races, but the author does a great job at laying everything out in a way that isn't confusing.

Guinevere and Oskar are both well written characters with great growth. One, learning to exercise her freedom, other, to open up to ones around him. They had great chemistry from the moment they met and I was rooting for them throughout book!

The story itself is well paced. I never felt like things were going too fast or too slow. I have to admit this book was much smuttier than I anticipated, which was a surprise to me! I really can't complain about it though, the scenes were written wonderfully.

Thank you so much to Del Rey and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review!

-

4,5 stars - the sweet and adventurous meeting of two of my favourite things in the entire world, my heart is so full of love and joy and I can’t shut up about it

“There was a whole world out there, and she had only so recently found it. What a waste, to let go so soon.”

I have loved reading love stories for as long as I can remember, and I have been a fan of the world of Critical Role (a Critter, as they say) since May 7th 2018. Those two things have gotten me through a lot of the worst and best moments of my life, so to now get to read a book that combines the two (and written by an author I already knew I would enjoy the writing of)? When I tell you I was shaking with excitement!

And I’m so happy to say the book delivered! The story is a fun and romantic road trip adventure through familiar land, presented and explored through new eyes. Critters and players of Dungeons & Dragons can recognise both magic and story tropes, but it is written in a way where also the casual fantasy fan (or romance reader new to fantasy) can easily keep up. The story is exciting and magical without ever feeling heavy or slow, and the romance and emotional aspects take centre stage through it all.

“Oskar couldn’t believe that he’d gotten into this mess. But he’d be damned if he didn’t see Guinevere through it.”

Guinevere is wonderful, and I saw so much of myself in her. She’s naive, sheltered, has lived a privileged life, cries easily, always tries to see the best in people, and wants to learn more about the world and the people she meets in it.
(I’m also pretty sure she’s bi, so the similarities are really stacking up for me and I love to see it.)
She’s friendly and sweet, with a stubborn streak once she sets her mind to something. Seeing her relax, open up and become comfortable enough to joke around and take charge of her life was heartwarming and fun.
Oskar is swoony, grumpy, protective and has a heart of gold. He’s also capable of realising when he’s in the wrong. Guinevere and Oskar were made for each other, grow through each other, and are one of those couples you know will continue to last long past the end of the story.

“He was freedom and adventure, the open road that would lead her to the ocean.”

I was gasping, laughing, crying, and melting through the whole book. I loved it, and I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy for my shelf. This story has such a special place in my heart, and I cannot recommend it enough to lovers of romance and fantasy. I anticipate rereading it will feel like coming home, and I can’t wait.

Vibes and (some) tropes:
- Break out the map, we’re going on a road trip
- Grumpy man with a flower crown
- Only one horse
- Romantic romps in autumn landscapes
- Horses with cartoon horse personalities (I love them so much)
- Serious topics, warm and lighthearted vibes
- Finding family on the road
- A man who (mostly) knows how to communicate in a healthy-ish way