I'M OBSESSED.

Okay so imagine you’re a merchant’s daughter with a killer dress collection, a heavy dose of wanderlust, and exactly zero survival skills, and then BAM. Bandits. Mayhem. Tragedy. And then out of the chaos appears a grumpy, sword-wielding half-orc who literally saves your life but also looks like he hasn’t smiled since birth.

This book gave me all the feels. Guinevere is the ultimate sheltered girlie ready to break free from her boring noble path and just live a little. And Oskar? He is every emotionally-repressed fantasy heartthrob I’ve ever fallen for. He’s got trauma. He’s got mystery. He probably has great shoulders under that cloak. I’m obsessed. Their road trip romance setup was an adorable chaos. You just know they’re going to bicker, protect each other from monsters, accidentally fall asleep under the stars, and deny their feelings with dramatic sighs. I live for it. Also the stakes, not just "they will they survive” but “will they give up the futures they’ve always been told they have to chase what they actually want” and I was internally screaming YES FOLLOW YOUR HEARTS!!!!!! like some kind of fairy godmother on espresso shot lmfao

calm down damn, anyway I loved it. Give me danger, banter, emotional growth, and soft little moments of unexpected tenderness on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere. This book already feels like a hug and a swordfight at the same time. 10/10 would trust Oskar to scowl his way through my enemies.

Thank you Thea Guanzon for the ARC & Random House Publishing Group! ❤️ this was so fun.

This was a cute cozy romance.
I was hoping for more “monster” romance but the MMC seems like a typical human in most aspects.
I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m not a huge cozy romance fan. I need more angst, thrills, etc. The cozy easy love is just not for me; but this is a decent read as a cozy.

Guinevere is traveling to her betrothed home with her dowry when she’s attacked by bandits. Along comes an half-orc names Oskar who saves her. She’s naive and knows nothing about the world and Oskar just wants to go to his mother’s homeland to grieve her. But Oskar can’t leave the defenseless girl all alone so he decides to travel with her. During the journey they are chased by mercenaries that want her dowry. Along the way they both realize that they have feelings for each other.

It has some cute spots, I really liked the goblin troop they traveled with. I did think the author made Guinevere a little too naive and literal bad guys were sweet on her. It dragged a little with no conflict. The spice was good.

But all in all if you are looking for a cute cozy read this is ideal for you.

Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for the arc.

I LOVED THIS, and I was SO excited to get an eARC for it through Netgalley and Del Rey. It made my whole year to get approved, so I read it right away in pretty much one sitting.

We follow beautiful, sheltered Guinevere, who is on her way to be married off to a rich lord. Her caravan is attacked by bandits, and she is assisted by a grumpy half-orc named Oskar, who reluctantly agrees to help her reach her destination.

Guinevere is not like a lot of popular female characters right now. She is not super snarky or knowledgeable about the world--she is very sweet and trusting and some people may find her a weak character. But she has a lot of strengths that are in her kindness, and she grows A LOT through the story while retaining that kindness, and I think that was such a wonderful thing to see. She also is aware of her beauty and takes pride in Oskar's attraction to her, and I liked that confidence she had.

Oskar was just the PERFECT amount of grumpiness and it was so endearing to see how he began to fall for Guinevere and see her innocence and sweetness as strength and helps her get past her insecurities that came from her parents always putting her down. He really helps her grow as a character.

ALSO the spice scenes were so good and meaningful, and there were a few of them! Just a wonderful read, and I pre-ordered a physical copy.

This was such an adorable, delightful read!!!

This book had everything -- romance, fantasy, and a mystery that kept me hooked right from Page 1.

As a Critical Role fan, I was curious to see what they did with what is almost an in-game joke, and I was slightly worried it would end up being gimmicky or fan-service-y, but this book was so delightfully far from that! It did justice to its D&D origins, the world of Exandria, and still managed to be a charming romantasy that can be enjoyed on its own. Made me want to read more from this author straight away -- already put her previous book on hold at the library. Also makes me want to read more books set in a D&D world and more monster(?) romances. So, so happy with this reading experience!!!

Fun, cozy, and entertaining read. I think it'll sell well and be a fan favorite within the genre.

Found it a little tricky to get into at first and admittedly was shocked at how similar it is to another cozy monster book I read and loved that was published before this one. It was distracting that the two are so similar and I found myself comparing them often. Would've loved to have seen something more unique especially in the first 1/2 of the book, but also love the genre for its similarities and ease in that sense so my feelings are a little mixed.

This Critical Role cozy fantasy is a gem of a read! I’m a sucker for Grumpy/Sunshine and a road trip trope, and Guanzon delivered in spades. I fell in love with our two idiots in love as well as the friends they made along their way. Perfect if you like your fantasy on the spicier side!

Tusk Love follows Guinevere, a sheltered merchant’s daughter whose carefully planned future is upended when bandits attack her caravan. Stranded and alone on the treacherous Amber Road, she’s rescued by Oskar—a gruff, aloof half-orc with no patience for spoiled nobility. Forced to travel together, sparks fly as their tense partnership slowly transforms into something deeper.

The setup was intriguing and the road trip dynamic had its fun moments. While the characters weren’t quite for me overall, I have to admit: I do love a grumpy man, and Oskar definitely kept me engaged in the romance. I also don’t know anything about Critical Role, which may have affected how much I connected with the world. Still, this one had charm and will likely hit the mark for fans of fantasy romance with a dash of slow-burn tension.

Ok this book was not what I was expecting! It’s so cozy and the characters are so charming and lovable!

I enjoyed this way more than I thought I would and I truly believe it’s because I fell in love with the characters!
Just relax and enjoy this read!

Tusk Love was an absolute delight—cozy, sweet, and just the right amount of steamy. Thea Guanzon blends humor and heart so well that I found myself smiling through most of the story. The characters were lovable and full of personality, and the romance had that perfect mix of warmth and spice. It didn’t take itself too seriously, which made it all the more fun to read. If you’re looking for a feel-good romance with a little heat and a lot of heart, this is a great pick.

I am so obsessed with this! It was such a cute cosy fantasy set in the world of critical role which I didn’t know about before! I am now planning on learning more about critical role! But I hope more books like this are written!

I adored this book. The characters were so funny and sweet and quirky. The storyline was so much fun. I was always wondering what was going to happen next. It had me giggling and kicking my feet at time, I was emotional at time, and it really kept me sucked it. I adore anything Thea writes and this is no different. Thanks Del Rey for the arc! Will definitely be recommending this to everyone I know.

5 STARS

CW: mention of violence, blood, death, emotional abuse, classism, sexual content

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’ll get the obvious thing out of the way first: if you are into Critical Role, Tusk Love is infamous. It’s been so long since it was first conceived during Campaign 2 and it was a surreal experience to get to read Oskar and Guinevere’s story now. The fact that this is a fictional work in the equally fictional world of Exandria made the reading experience so special for me. If you’ve watched C2, you know all (or most) of these places; a lot of the setting is so familiar because we have spent hours upon hours in this world. There are quite a few references you may catch that made this totally worthwhile for fans, but it was very approachable for anyone unfamiliar with Exandria and Critical Role at the same time. In fact, I would wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone interested in the premise and I swear, you will have a good time.

Admittedly, this is not the type of book I usually pick up and had it not been Critical Role and Tusk Love specifically, I probably never would have touched this. As obvious from my rating, however, I had a grand time reading this book. It was fun, had an interesting storyline and really well-written spicy scenes. Of course, as a long-time Critter, I was going to enjoy this no matter what which leads me to a few things I need to mention as a fan.

It was crazy to read this because my thoughts were constantly revolving around “Would this be considered realism in Exandria? Besides obviously being a romance book”. Other than the less important genre question, I found myself continuously aware of how characters from C2 had read this book as well and thought about how they would have reacted and thought about what was going on in this book. First and foremost was naturally Jester. Especially regarding one particular detail which I will not mention now because the book is not out for another 1.5 months.

So. If it has not become obvious, even though some scenes were somewhat ludicrous and over-the-top and cliché, I immensely enjoyed this and I will probably go back and reread this at one point or another. As with other Critical Role books, I now have the overwhelming desire to go back and rewatch all of campaign 2… Oskar and Guinevere were delightful to read about. I was also particularly fond of their horses Vindicator and Pudding (insane names for horses if you ask me but that makes them even more suitable). I do kind of wish this story could continue, maybe there can be a Tusk Love 2 at some point. I admit, if this book did not tie into Critical Role (a property I already love with all of my heart), this book probably would not have received 5 stars from me. But as that is not the case, I find myself unable to give it any less. I urge anyone interested to pick this up. If you love CR and do not enjoy romance as much, give it a try. And if you’re a well-versed romance reader and do not know about Critical Role, don’t let that hold you back.

Five stars? No, no—five constellations, because Tusk Love by Thea Guanzon absolutely shot me into a warm, cozy orbit of fantasy, romance, and heartfelt adventure. This book is like if your favorite D&D campaign ran off with a Jane Austen novel and sprinkled fae dust all over the place—it’s whimsical, questy, and just downright DELICIOUS.

Our girl Guinevere? Oh, she is a whole cinnamon roll drizzled with honey and sunshine. I wanted to scoop her up, wrap her in a blanket burrito, and tell her she’s doing amazing, sweetie. Her journey from sheltered merchant’s daughter to brave adventurer tugged at every heartstring I’ve got. And Oskar? Oskar is the grumpy, brooding, half-orc MMC of my wildest romantasy dreams. Watching this rugged, stoic man slowly crack open like a dragon’s egg to reveal pure softboy sunshine inside? SWOON. Their chemistry? Literal sparks. Sparks that could probably start a cozy campfire and roast all the s’mores.

The storyline flowed so seamlessly—just the right blend of action, tenderness, humor, and tension. It never dragged, never felt rushed, and every scene left me itching to turn the page. Honestly? I am beyond impressed. It’s like Thea Guanzon bottled “perfect romantasy balance” and poured it generously into every chapter.

Highly, highly recommend. If I could, I’d build a tiny shrine to this book in my reading nook.

Tropes you’ll devour like second breakfast:

Grumpy x Sunshine
Forced proximity / reluctant travel companions
Found family vibes
Slow burn to sweet, sweet swoon
Quest adventure with romantic tension simmering under the surface
Heroine steps into her power
Broody softie MMC learns to love again
Tender, cozy moments tucked into high fantasy stakes
A massive thank you to Random House Worlds, Thea Guanzon, and Critical Role for granting me early access to this gem. I’m so honored to have had the chance to journey with Guinevere and Oskar before release day. My romantasy-loving heart is so full.

* i will post on my social medias when I receive my copy of the book!

I’m just on a roll with mediocre books lately…However, this one kills me. Mainly because I’m a huge fan of Thea Guzmans “The Hurricane Wars” series so when I saw she was coming out with a quick monster romance. I immediately was giving grabby gimme fingers. What I didn’t know was that this book references Critical Role. Something that I have zero familiarity in and even after finishing the book I have zero desire to learn more. So sadly have to report this a no go for me.

Let’s start with the first big issue. The very freaking beginning. You are immediately thrown into the story and our two main characters meet immediately. So we have no backstory for either of them and are just expect to figure it out. I wish we had been given a few extra chapters to meet our two leads separately before they are drastically thrown together.

The next big glaring issue was the characters themselves I found them to be so stereotypical that they became unlikable. Guinevere is naive, spoiled “Princess” but everyone can’t help but love her because she has the intelligence of a toddler that’s overly sweet and trusting on everyone. Picture Rapunzel from Tangeled but much, much worse. Then we have Oskar our big strong grumpy male lead who has the personality of a doorknob. Then you want us to put them together a ship a romantic relationship between them. No, no, and no. These two go from zero chemistry to insta-love in the span of less than 2 days. Not to mention they are both awkward and horny from start to finish.

The rest of the book is just a series of riding horses from point A to point B. Meeting some bad guys, defeating some bad guys. Then back to riding horse again. Overall, this book just wasn’t for me. Sadly I can’t recommend it. If you are to read anything by Thea please go check out Hurricane Wars instead. Lastly big thank you NetGalley & Random House for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cozy fantasy romance - and an especially perfect gift for fans of Dungeons & Dragons and Ctitical Role!

For many fans Guinevere and Oskar are already familiar friends, but this power couple are so delightfully written, every romance reader will find something to love.

Guinevere is the naive daughter of wealthy merchants; Oskar is the half-orc blacksmith who saves her. Captures her?

The story is a fun romp through a fantasy world, and the perfect escape from reality. And it's a quick read if you need a palate cleanser after doomscrolling.

"He looked dangerous. Like he belonged to this wilderness that had bested her."

But never fear - the girl with silver moonlight hair is also a firestarter.

And plenty of winks at tabletop gaming "...what is it with people never thinking they'll need rope..."

Oh my heart.

Even though I am not a romance fan, this was good. I read it because I am a fan of critical role, and as such I HAD to read it. The fantasy elements really work.

This was such an enjoyable read!! I have been a fan of not only D&D but the Critical Role team for years now and was so excited that a book that was spoken about in character during Campaign 2 was actually being written.

This book was so well written the prose were amazing, the characters so real and the world building was just outstanding! I loved the bits of lore thrown in from Critical Role and knowing the names of places being so familiar but I still think it would be easy for someone to follow that had no idea about this world.

I loved the development of both the MCs they both grew so much through such a fast, easy read but none of it felt rushed or forced. I also loved the path that their relationship took it had me giggling.

Definitely a book to check out if you enjoy;
Action & Adventure
Grumpy x Sunshine
One bed (multiple instances)
Self Discovery

Thanks to NetGalley, the team at Critical Role and the author for letting me read an early copy. My opinions and thoughts are all honest and my own.

This book was based on Critical roll which I’m not familiar with but I don’t think you need to be to enjoy this book.
I really loved Oskar. He’s a big grump but under all that scowling and disapproval he’s a big softy and the most loyal, kind person with a heart of gold. I really enjoyed how he sat and listened to everything Guinevere was saying and tried to learn and understand everything about her.
Guinevere herself grew on me as the book went on which was great because she didn’t have the biggest personality at first glance. I really liked how she embraced the travelling lifestyle and realised that life was so much more than pretty dresses and polite words.
The premise of this book is simple and easy to grasp and the story as a whole is a cozy romantasy. I found the beginning a little slow to get going but as Oskar and Gwen’s unlikely friendship bloomed I started to enjoy it a lot more. I think their relationship was really sweet, as were the friendships they made along the way. However, I do think the story lacked a little bit of excitement to really get me in its grasp.
Recommend to anyone who wants a cute grumpyxsunshine romantasy with a slight monster aspect and pretty low stakes.
Thankyou to Delrey and NetGalley for the arc.

This was such a fun, quick and delightful little read!! This is my first book in this universe, but I’m already hooked! I love this world, the eclectic character & the romance was so good!

Total cover trap — I saw it, clicked it, read the blurb, and next thing I knew, I was 5 chapters in. No regrets so far!

4.5 stars for me ♥︎

One word: adorable!!! I’ll be honest—I picked up Tusk Love because of its cover. It immediately caught my eye, and once I read the synopsis, I was hooked. And let me tell you, this book absolutely delivered in every way. It’s the perfect cozy romantasy—the kind of read that feels like comfort food for your soul.

The characters are what truly make this story shine, especially Oskar and Guinevere. Oskar is a grump, but oh my goodness, you can’t help but fall for him. He’s totally enamored with Guinevere, and his devotion to her is just heart-melting. It’s seriously too cute for words! Then there’s Guinevere—beautiful, but also incredibly kind and good-hearted. She’s a bit naïve, thanks to her sheltered upbringing, but her heart of gold shines through in everything she does. She treats everyone with such warmth and generosity, and it’s impossible not to love her.

Together, Oskar and Guinevere are an absolute match made in heaven. Their dynamic is one of the sweetest I’ve come across in a romantasy novel, and the grumpy-meets-sunshine trope? I devoured it like a pint of ice cream while curled up by the fire. There’s something so satisfying about seeing these two opposites come together in the most heartwarming way.

All in all, Tusk Love was a delightful read, and I adored every moment of it! Highly recommend for anyone looking for a feel-good, enchanting story.