Tusk Love by Thea Guanzon completely stole my heart — and ticks every box on my personal reading compass!

This short novella gave me exactly what I crave in romantasy:
- Deep emotion,
- A believable and beautifully crafted romance,
- A vivid world I could slip into in just a few pages,
- And a plot that balances tension, humor, adventure, and intimacy.

I adored Oskar and Guinevere’s relationship — the way two souls from such different worlds find in each other a place to belong. Oskar, the half-orc from a poor mining town, is one of the most touching MMCs I’ve read lately: rough on the outside, deeply tender inside, still mourning his mother’s loss. One line he remembers from her broke me: “She said that life could get hard and mean, but I didn’t have to be.” That says everything about him. Opposite Oskar is Guinevere, a merchant's daughter, who is expected to save her family’s name by marrying for status and enter nobility — yet she finds her freedom and true love on the road with Oskar.

It was so refreshing to read a romance where the MMC is not a brute Alpha cliché, a prince or a magical creature — he wields no magic, no power, no hidden fortune — only his willingness to protect, to fight, and to love deeply. In contrast, Gwen has everything by birth but nothing that truly belongs to her — until Oskar.

The pacing is perfect: the story flows naturally through encounters with mercenaries, bandits, and unlikely friends (I’m still smiling at the tree hugger or a goblin musician!). The intimate scenes are spicy without overshadowing the emotion — I’d rate the spice 2.5 🌶️, perfectly woven into their bond. The moments in Oskar’s simple family home were especially moving — the details about him living in a house built for two, broke my heart in the sweetest way.

Thea Guanzon’s writing style is wonderfully clear and fluid — she makes every page easy to slip into. Her words are warm, tender, and sprinkled with humor that brings her characters to life. It’s the kind of prose that feels effortless and yet lingers long after you close the book.

Critical Role Context - which is totally new to me!
Tusk Love is inspired by a fictional in-universe book that appears in Critical Role, the popular Dungeons & Dragons live-stream campaign. In the show, Tusk Love is a running joke — an infamous ‘orc romance’ novel one of the characters reads for fun. Thea Guanzon turned this tiny, playful reference into a full, heartfelt novella, giving fans exactly what they imagined: a swoony, spicy orc-human romance full of heart.
No knowledge of Critical Role is needed to enjoy this story — but for fans, it’s an extra wink to the beloved world.

My Compass Rating:
⭐️ Emotion: 5/5 — I felt every heartbeat, every doubt, every soft promise.
⭐️ Romance/Chemistry: 5/5 — Natural, tender, and raw.
⭐️ Worldbuilding: 4/5 — Simple but immersive.
⭐️ Plot: 4.5/5 — Tight, balanced, with just the right suspense.
⭐️ Spice: 2.5/5 — A few scenes, beautifully done, never excessive.

Tusk Love is a warm, feel-good romantic adventure that stands alone beautifully. It leaves you with a smile — and the belief that true love really can be found in the unlikeliest places.

Thank you so much to Random House Del Rey, the author Thea Guanzon and NetGalley for this ARC — This was my first book from the author and definitely not the last one! I can’t wait to read The Hurricane Wars series next by Thea Guanzon!

I am a huge Critical Role girlie, so this I was super excited to get this ARC! I am *obsessed.* This book was everything I wanted and so much more. It was great to see new people playing in the world of Exandria, exploring new stories.

So, I found this book absolutely adorable. The characters are so cute and while there is real threat involved it felt light hearted and cute. I loved spending time with Guinevere and Oskar. While I don't know much about critical role, I am definitely more intrigued now. I would really recommend this to romantasy fans and those who like books like Legends & Lattes, You can't spell treason without tea etc. Such a lighthearted and romantic read. Thank you so much to NetGallery, Del Rey and Thea Gaunzon for the ARC in thoroughly enjoyed it.

A cozy romantasy equal parts spice and adventure!

“Tusk Love” follows Guinevere, a merchant’s daughter, whose dreams of adventure become a reality when her caravan is overtaken by bandits. Her only chance of survival is to travel alongside Oskar, the broodingly handsome half-orc who saved her during the attack. As the spark between them begins to sizzle, they realize that soon they’ll need to choose between their expected destinations or their blossoming romance.

“Tusk Love” is set in the high fantasy world of Exandria, the setting of the Critical Role tabletop campaigns. You don’t need to have prior knowledge of Critical Role or D&D to enjoy this book. Speaking from the perspective of someone who was not familiar with the show before picking this book up, I found myself fully immersed in the world thanks to Guanzon’s atmospheric writing, keen characterization, and detailed settings. Her charming storyline definitely has the power to convert you to the fandom if you aren’t already a part of it!

I fell head over heels for Guinevere and Oskar as an unlikely duo! Oskar is the grumpy, aloof half-orc of my dreams. His steadfast devotion to Guinevere despite his reservations about their difference in social class and the danger they encountered on the road was everything. Watching him melt during their every interaction had me squealing with delight!

Their relationship is spicy, yet sweet, empowering Guinevere to find her sense of self after being under her parents’ thumb for so long. So much of her personality and decisions at the beginning of the story revolved around her parents’ expectations of her. Watching her learn embrace her magic and transform from a timid lady to a confident adventurer brought me so much joy. The couple’s heartwarming dynamic and witty banter are truly what make this story shine!

Thank you to Netgalley and to Random House Worlds, Inklore for the gifted copy.

I saw a bunch of you lovely ladies raving about this book, and so of course, I had to see what the hype was about! It’s been a minute since I’ve lost myself in a romantasy/fantasy read, so I figured, why not? I requested an early copy through NetGalley (thank you Del Rey, Random House Worlds, and Inklore!) and dove in blindly. From what I'm hearing, it might be D&D inspired? With that said, I enjoyed it very much. It hit many of my favorite tropes: forbidden romance, forced proximity, opposites attract, cozy and adult romantasy vibes, and much more! If I had to nitpick, I'm not a huge fan of third-person, dual POV. It can get a bit messy for my little brain, but overall it's worth the read. I will say the spice in this book was spicing! Let's just say smut much? I liked Guinevere and Oskar's character development. I think they were written well, and their romance were perfectly meshed well.

This story is so entertaining that when I set it down after finishing it for the first time, I immediately picked it back up to start reading it again! Thea Guanzon has a clever writing style and the world building is very easy to follow and remember. The pacing is great and it held my attention throughout every chapter. I truly appreciate being able to pronounce the cities and character names with ease, and I was able to follow along despite having zero knowledge of what Critical Role is and zero experience with D&D.

Gwen and Oskar are in my top tier of favorite characters now that I've followed them along their journey. Oskar had me cracking up with his broody commentary (I especially loved how he got Lord Wensleydale's name wrong on every other page) while Gwen was just so sweet and lovable. Her journey toward self discovery had me rooting for her from the very start!

I binged this cozy romantasy in one weekend and I highly recommend it to anyone that loves grumpy/sunshine, one bed/one horse, he washes her hair, she comforts him tropes, as well as tension, chemistry and pining. The fairy tale vibes are high and had me giggling and kicking my feet more than once!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an ARC of this book!

(Rated 3.75/5 stars)
This is a cute fantasy romance. Truthfully I don't know a ton about Critical Role, but I know DND fairly well so I liked the imagery that made me feel like I was in a DND campaign. However, the pacing just isn't my personal favorite because I prefer slow burns, and this felt like more of an insta love trope. I also would have liked a bit more adventure and conflict, but l am aware that it's mainly supposed to be a love story. I did enjoy it, and I think others will as well!

Oh my GOD how I loved this. This is the embodiment of everything I love about fantasy and romantasy books: low stakes, romance, adventure, a bit of action, and fantastical beings.

I love Thea's books; she's such a talented writer. She balances romance, action and adventure, and fantasy elements so damn well. And Tusk Love is no exception. This is such an incredible book, and is THE perfect example of a good and well-written fantasy book.

What I loved the most about Tusk Love is the low stakes adventure aspect. The main plot is Guinevere being escorted on her journey by Oskar; it really is a low stakes and cosy adventure and romance book. And THAT'S what makes it so lovely. There is a bit of fighting every now and again for an injection of thrill, but really it's just cosy and romantic. Guinevere and Oskar's bond is so wholesome and lovely; they really do become friends first before they cave and act on each other's growing feelings. The romance was perfectly paced; it wasn't rushed into or too slow that it drags on. They fell for each other in a nice and natural way; you could see them realise their feelings for each other, and it was just so lovely and wholesome.

Thea has perfected fantasy characters right here; they're both such opposites but work incredibly well together. They both bring out the absolute best in each other and show each other a new way of viewing the world around them. Guinevere is such a wholesome, yet naive character. She's been raised almost in secret; she's been protected and shielded from the world by parents who, seemingly, care about her and her safety. And because of this, she has a rose-tinted view of the world; she doesn't see danger nor fear anything around her.

Oskar on the other hand is the complete opposite. He see danger everywhere and is much more calculated which how he views the world; he needs more light and laughter in his world, which Guinevere very much brings. He's gruff and grumpy on the outside, which is shielding his soft and caring inside. They just balance each other so well.

The tropes featured are:

- Only one bed
- Grumpy x sunshine romance (which I LOVE)
- Found family (in a way)
- Forbidden love

Thank you Random House Worlds for the drc via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

First and foremost, I love Thea Guanzon's writing and will truly read anything she puts out there! The writing for this one is fantastic and I LOVE the cover, so the combination of the eye catching cover and then seeing Thea as the author is 100% the reason I requested this drc. I had no idea what Critical Role is and honestly didn't look into it before reading nor do I know anything about D&D so this was my first experience with these characters and plot. I don't know if that impacted my reading experience but I still enjoyed it with no background information!

It's a short and sweet romantasy adventure written in dual POV so we get inside both characters' heads which is the best, especially when the characters have a grumpy x sunshine relationship going on. It's very cozy with some steamy moments but nothing crazy as far as worldbuilding or intricate plots, so if you're looking for a quick easy read (especially if you know who Critical Role are and/or are a D&D fan lol) this one is a good choice. I would have loved some more information on Guinevere’s powers and more worldbuilding because I do love fantasy books but I was happy overall with the lightness. There are some difficult topics like grief, awful parents, classism, etc. though so consider looking up any content warnings if you feel you might need them.

Gwen comes off as a very innocent, sweet, sheltered princess --which leads her into many funny and somewhat dangerous situations-- and Oskar is a broody half-orc, who is grieving his mother, and is in turns exasperated with and protective of Gwen. Basically a recipe for a fun, low stakes, cozy adventure with some monster romance! The characters are easy to like and root for, the plot is simple but entertaining, the writing as mentioned above is great, the banter is fun and while I did find the pacing a little slow at first and there were some repetitive moments, it was overall an engaging read.

Highlights for me:
*only one bed/only one horse -- my fav
*the occasional awkwardness - I love an awkward encounter LOL and the characters were so lovable
*plenty of humor

This book is officially out tomorrow July 1st if you want to check it out!

I don't know if there are words that can convey how delightful I found this book. I could not stop reading it and I immediately wanted to read it again after finishing.

Tusk Love is a low stakes adventure with sweet romance and saucy banter. The world building is not super deep - but you learn what you need to know when you need to know it without being overwhelmed. I assume if you play D&D or have Critical Role knowledge that some of it may be things you already know (I know nothing about either so I can't speak to that). That being said, my lack of knowledge about those things did not hinder my experience at all.

Guinevere is a naive ray of sunshine and Oskar is a cinnamon roll disguised as a grumpy rain cloud. They meet by chance and end up needing to travel together because Oskar is begrudgingly a Very Good Guy and knows that Guin is just so clueless she would never make it on her own.

Speaking of Guin being clueless - normally that is an immediate red flag for me and honestly I usually DNF books like that because I cannot tolerate incompetence or ignorance. BUT, Guin is written so well that all of the things I would normally find fault with were just so incredibly endearing. I just wanted to give her a hug. She brings so much joy to situations and she is such a genuine character that I loved her despite any shortcomings. (It helps that she also WANTED to be better and actively worked on bettering herself)

The pacing was great, I never felt bored or rushed with any of the scenes or situations. Despite being "cozy" I always felt engaged and interested in everything that was happening, even if it was just something minor

Tropes: only one bed, only one horse (sort of), grumpy x sunshine, forbidden romance

I NEED another book about Guin and Oskar on their next journey

I know basically nothing about Critical Role, however I am a D&D girlie and Thea Guanzon is an auto-buy author for me. That said, you don't need to know anything about Critical Role to fall in love with this story.

Tusk love is a third person, dual POV, cozy adult fantasy perfect for lovers of Tangled, Ella Enchanted, Critical Role, and Dungeons and Dragons. Thea always delivers on vibes, angst and yearning, and lush writing that makes my brain feel nice and Tusk Love delivered on all of that and then some. Reading this felt whimsical and I simply couldn't put it down once I began. Guinevere and Oskar are lovable, but realistic, and 100% swoon-worthy from start to finish.

Check out Tusk Love if you like:
- Third Person, Dual POV
- Cozy Romantic Stories
- Only One Bed (and horse)
- Orcs
- Opposites/Forbidden Love
- Angst and yearning aplenty


Thank you thank you thank you to Thea Guanzon, Random House/Del Rey, and Netgalley for sharing an advanced reader copy of this story with me!

4.5⭐ rounded up to 5. This short and easy-to-read standalone was such a delight. The main and side characters were endearing (Gwen is the type of character that usually annoys me, but Guanzon made it work!), the vibes cozy (sometimes a girl needs some mild monster smut with adventure, but low stakes, right?), and the writing fun and sharp. The romance was front and centre, but themes like self-discovery, grief, and forgiveness were also addressed. I strongly recommend!

Note: I have *very* limited knowledge of D&D, and I’m not at all familiar with Critical Role, and I still enjoyed it, so I’d say it’s accessible for any person who simply likes the genre.

Tropes to expect: grumpy vs. sunshine, bodyguard crush, only one bed / horse, social gap romance, hurt/comfort, hair washing, secret superpowers

❤️ Main and side characters
❤️ The chemistry and tension
❤️ Cozy vibes
❤️ Banter and humour
❤️ Writing style
❤️ Stunning cover
❌ Slightly awkward spicy scenes
❌ Some repetitions and dragging

Trigger warnings: violence, blood and gore, classism, emotional abuse, death (including of a parent) and grief, child abuse, injury and injury detail, fire and fire injury, gaslighting, toxic relationship

I absolutely adored this book! This was also my first successful email request for an ARC, and I’m so glad begging Del Rey worked, because I had a blast reading this!

Thea has a special way of writing that grabs your attention from the first page and keeps you engaged throughout the story. Oskar and Guinevere are opposites in every way and yet it works so perfectly. Guinevere is an extroverted, rich, spoiled brat from the capital and Oskar is a grumpy, blacksmith’s apprentice who recently lost his mother. As they travel the Amber Road to deliver her and her dowry to her betrothed, they share their stories and learn so much from each other.

Now we all know Thea can write some top tier spice, but this was exceptional! The chemistry between Oskar and Guinevere was off the charts! The yearning for something (or someone) you know you can’t have, the gentleness between them, the need for each other, it was all so perfect. Oskar and Guinevere have flown to the top of my favorite couples list and will likely be there for the foreseeable future.

Tusk Love is a must read, cozy fantasy that releases on July 1st! I promise, you do not want to miss this one!

I am so thankful to Del Rey for hearing my pleas and allowing my early access to this book! I loved it and can’t wait for more of Thea’s books in the future!

Tusk Love is Dungeons and Dragons meets Disney’s Tangled and honestly I couldn’t be happier. We have an incredibly naïve, sheltered FMC, Guinevere, who also happens to have a super secret magic that she is terrified to use. We also have our MMC, the handsome, half-orc, Oskar. Oskar is our grumpy to our Guinevere’s sunshine - begrudgingly happy and trying not to let it show.

Tusk Love follows our main characters as they attempt to get Gwen to her betrothed without falling to mercenaries or feelings on the way. It’s more of a cozy romantasy, we have some small battle scenes but it’s very focused on the travel and building romance, and the standard tropes that come with that - we have only one bed, only one horse, misunderstanding, virgin FMC and grumpy/sunshine - and I liked that; a break from the normal higher stakes fantasy romance.

Tusk Love drew me in from the start, I really enjoyed it. I liked how the characters were written in you could see their growth and acceptance as it developed. While there was very little world building, what was there was easy to understand and described well. I want to swim in a turquoise lake (iykyk). There were so many moments that I laughed out loud at and that’s always a good sign in a book for me.

Thank you to the author, critical role and Penguin Random House Worlds/Del Rey publishing for an early review copy.

When I saw a couple of months back that Filipino author Thea Guanzon was offering an ARC on Netgalley, I didn’t think twice about requesting a copy. And oooh, boy, I’m glad I did.

I didn’t know an orc with tusks could be tender, but Oscar delivered on that despite his initial gruffness. And Gwen might be sweet and kind, but she’s resilient and so willing to make up for her shortcomings. I loved how she can charm the socks of even the most hardened crimimals. I will never forget that scene at the market….but as I don’t wish to give out any spoilers, let me leave it at that.

Now, despite the muddy terrains and cold caves, you will blush, laugh, and feel with Gwen and Oscar. You will be fascinated by the tusks (did I say tusks again?) and feel the heart and teeth of the story.

Without a doubt, Thea knows how to deliver chemistry and tension with biting banter and real characters, whom you will have no choice but love. You will also appreciate the elements of longing, acceptance, and chosen family (and despise some people along the way).

This book is whimsical, witty, and delightfully spicy yet it will leave you tender and aching in ways you wouldn’t expect. If you will get and read an ecopy of this book when it comes out on July 1, I swear you’re still gonna go out and get yourself a trophy copy after. And it doesn’t help that it has such a gorgeous cover!😍

4.5 ⭐️ I don't watch Critical Role so I'm not familiar with the lore behind this story but I absolutely adored it. It reminded me of Shrek and Ella Enchanted in the best way but with spice! I was pulled into it from the first page. The world building is vivid and our two main characters, Guinevere and Oskar, are both incredibly charming. It was so easy to fall in love with the both of them. The story was simple and cosy, a journey turned adventure, with some ambushes and friends met along the way. The spice in this book is also the best spice I've ever read. I love how it is described through both Guinevere and Oskar's perspectives. It's sexy and romantic but never feels like too much. I loved this book so much.

Thanks Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Tusk Love was so fun! It’s like if you took a traditional fairy tale and mixed it with a little Dungeons & Dragons with a dash of spice! Guinevere and Oskar were so cute throughout the whole book. I instantly fell in love with their chemistry and witty banter. The side characters were fun additions to the main characters’ journey. The spice was mild in comparison to a lot of the books I’ve read lately, but was a fun addition to their storyline. The pacing in this book was also great. I was new to this author, and this book makes me want to run out and read more by Thea Guanzon! I will definitely be buying my shelf trophy of this book when it comes out!

I want to express my gratitude to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore, Random House Worlds, for providing this book for review consideration through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

I honestly have no idea what Critical Role is or anything about D&D, but I loved this anyway! It’s the perfect romantasy if you’re looking for something lighthearted & spicy that you can read in a day. The contrast between Gwen, a spoiled little rich girl, and Oskar, a slightly terrifying half-orc, was perfect and made for a lot of fun banter. I was chuckling throughout the whole book.

I also loved traveling/adventure aspect and the characters they met along the way. The romance was very sweet, the steamy scenes were great, and the character development was well done. I know this is a standalone but I would love to read more of this kind of thing from Thea Guanzon.

Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The daughter of a merchant who is sent off to be married off finds herself on an adventure she never expected when she's rescued by a grumpy half-orc who is as handsome as he is aloof... and she's beginning to realize that maybe she has the chance to finally follow her heart and go on the greatest adventure of her life. Guinevere has lived an extremely sheltered life, one in which her parents control her every movement. She's also lived in fear of her powers.. magic she has no control over. Yet when her parents marry her off she is tasked with taking her dowry to her betroth, someone she's never met, but being as unlucky as she is, she is attacked by dangerous thieves and rescued by Oskar, the aloof half-orc. Oskar is on a journey to fulfill his mother's dying last wish and now he finds himself helping a spoiled naive girl who he just can't help but want to protect. Guinevere begins to understand and learn more about the world from Oskar while also beginning to question whether she's doing this all to fulfill her parent's wish or if this is what she truly wants... because she's beginning to realize that her heart really does want to fall for the grumpy half orc who adores her. This was a cute and fun read that gave me Tangled vibes! I had fun with it and the romance was cute plus the spice was unexpectedly spicier than I imagined. I loved how everything wrapped up and the characters grew as well. It's a cute read and one I'd definitely recommend for my fantasy romance lovers out there.

Release Date: July 1, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Random House Worlds for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

The FMC, Guinevere, is the obedient and sheltered daughter of struggling merchants who are trying to improve their station by marrying her off to a nobleman. She’s spent her entire life under the weight of having parents who care more about social standing than their own daughter. In an effort to please the only family she’s ever known, she stays meek and quiet, smothering the fire that secretly burns inside of her.

On the long road to meet up with her parents and her betrothed on the Menagerie Coast, her caravan is attacked by bandits. Left facing the bandits alone after her guards are killed, she’s rescued by a grumpy half-orc named Oskar who was camped nearby.

The MMC, Oskar, is feeling lost and adrift after losing his mother and subsequently leaving his blacksmith apprenticeship. His plans to make the long trek to visit his mother’s homeland after her passing are put on hold when he offers to escort Guinevere to the Menagerie Coast after rescuing her from the bandits.

Both characters evolve slowly as they grow closer to each other on their journey. Guinevere helps Oskar soften and learn to hope and in turn he helps her find her voice, her confidence, and her sense of adventure. We get some great tropes while things start to heat up between them, lots of forced proximity and a few only one bed at the inn situations.

This book really had it all… humor, adventure, yearning, mystery, and romance. It was absolutely a five star read for me. Oskar and Guinevere’s story was so sweet, the devotion between the two of them before they could even fully accept and admit their feelings was such a joy to read.

While I’m not super familiar with Critical Role, I do play Dungeons & Dragons, I’m also a huge fan of the Romantasy genre and orc romance specifically, AND I’m a fan of Thea Guanzon. So to say this was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 would be an understatement. I’m so incredibly grateful to NetGalley and Random House Worlds to have been given me the opportunity to read this as an ARC.

If you haven’t before, I beg you to GIVE AN ORC MMC A TRY!