✨𝓣𝓾𝓼𝓴 𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓫𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓮𝓪 𝓖𝓾𝓪𝓷𝔃𝓸𝓷 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀✨

Rating: 3.75 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

What drew me to read this book was definitely the cover and the blurb. I didn’t realise or am familiar with Critical Role but I don’t think that impacted on my reading experience of this book.

I really enjoyed it, I thought the story was whimsical and felt more on the cosy fantasy vibes (which I have never read a cosy fantasy before but I enjoyed it). I enjoyed the progression of the story and I liked the fact that the story started straight away.

I enjoyed the chemistry and the relationship development between Guinevere and Oskar, I ship them together and I wish them a happily ever after 💖💫 I felt their joy and chemistry throughout the book and I loved it.

The descriptions of the world were detailed and easy to visualise.

I found the tropes to be: insta love, forbidden romance, damsel in distress, cinnamon roll MMC, cosy fantasy read.

𝓫𝓵𝓾𝓻𝓫
A merchant’s daughter who yearns for adventure gets more than she bargained for when she falls for a broodingly handsome stranger

As the daughter of an ambitious merchant, Guinevere’s path has been predetermined: marry into a noble house of the Dwendalian Empire, raise her family’s station, and live quietly as a lordling’s obedient wife. But Guinevere longs for a life unbounded by expectations, for freedom and passion and adventure.

Those distant dreams become a sudden reality when her caravan is beset by bandits, leaving her guards slain and Guinevere stranded alone on the dangerous Amber Road. Her only chance of survival is to travel alongside Oskar, the aloof half-orc who saved her during the attack.

Unlike Guinevere, Oskar’s path is not so set in stone. With his mother dead and his apprenticeship abandoned, all that’s left is a long, lonely walk to a land he’s never seen to find family he’s never met. The last thing he needs is a spoiled waif like Guinevere slowing him down – even if the spark between them sizzles with promise.

Despite his cold exterior, Oskar is brave and thoughtful and unlike anyone Guinevere has ever met. And while Guinevere may be sheltered, she brings out a softness in him that he has never dared to feel before. As the flames of their passion grow, they realize that soon they’ll need to choose between their expected destinations or their blossoming romance.

*I received this arc from NetGalley & Del Rey in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley & Del Rey for a copy of this book.
**blurb taken from Penguin’s website.

This isn’t always my go-to vibe but I ate this up. I knew from the cover I had to give it a shot and it did not disappoint! The romance was swoon-worthy, the vibe was great, the setting was “cozy” without being totally low stakes. This was perfect for someone newer to monster romance. They ended up being perfect for each-other and I found myself super invested in their budding romance after a rocky start. I definitely want to read more from Thea. My attention was grabbed early on and the pacing kept me invested!

Read if: you love Critical Role and you want to feel like Jester reading this book while giggling to yourself or you've never watched Critical Role and just want a swoonworthy, fun, romance read.

This book was so much fun to read. Oskar and Gwen are so loveable as main characters and their relationship was so sweet and addictive to read about. Both characters were so well developed and I loved watching them grow alongside their relationship. This is the perfect blend of cozy fantasy, medium stakes adventure, and spicy romance.

The writing in this was so good and I think even if you weren't familiar with this setting you would be able to picture Oskar and Gwen's adventure and fall in love with this world. I read this within a day and could easily have read another book again about these characters and this story. I haven't read Thea Guanzon's other books before, but will definitely be putting them on the priority list to read now - so grateful to Critical Role and this book for introducing me to yet another talented writer whose books I'm excited to read!

I fully agree with Jester that "It's the most beautiful love story you've ever heard in your entire life, basically."

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Review posted on Goodreads and Twitter and rating posted on Storygraph

This was such a fun, sweet read and was perfect to get me out of a bit of a reading slump!

Tusk Love is a great low-stakes story that delivers both cozy and romantasy vibes. Both of the main characters were super lovable, despite their initial flaws, and I loved the character development that happened as MCs character development felt realistic and not forced simply for the storyline.

I really enjoyed the humor in the story and it helped make the story fly by (in a good way)! The story is full of tropes that I love starting with the obvious sunshine x grumpy to only one bed. While there were parts of the story that were super soft and sweet, other parts were deliciously spicy. The plot itself, though relatively low-stakes, was interesting and felt well-thought out and was well paced.

I had no experience prior to reading Tusk Love with Critical Role or D&D, but I felt completely immersed in the world from the jump and never felt like any aspects of the story were too niche. I would absolutely read any more books by Thea Guanzon that are similar to Tusk Love!

This was such a fun read! Shrek with some spice and great writing! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more by this author, I have Hurricane Wars on my TBR!

I am such a huge fan of Thea Guanzon. The Hurricane Wars is one of my favorite series, so I was beyond thrilled about Tusk Love. It is so different than her previous books in the best way and goes to show how skilled she is as a writer and the variety she's capable of.

Tusk Love is a quick, fun, and lighthearted read. At a very surface level it gave similar vibes to Radiance, by Grace Draven. The main character Guinevere is human, the daughter of a merchant with strict life and marriage expectations laid out for her. Oskar is half-orc, though the orc genes certainly seem...stronger in places. He is outwardly guarded and hostile, but a complete softie underneath and simply adorable.

The two of them are thrust together when Guinevere is captured and raided by bandits; of course, Oskar steps in to save the day. I just adored their romance - it was tender and warm and downright hilarious. The plot wasn't anything crazy or overly ambitious - it was perfect for a lower-stakes standalone romantasy. Reading this felt like a breath of fresh air.

Guinevere and Oskar were such lovable characters, and I also have to mention the fascinating magic system. From the beginning, we see that Guinevere (both literally and figuratively) has a little spark to her. I don't want to give away too much, so I'll just say that I was so intrigued by her inner fire ... and who exactly that fiery entity living inside her was.

This book is just the epitome of a cozy fantasy romance, which I feel like I need to start reading more of now! The writing itself is beautiful and lush, and there's a perfect blend of romance with a dash of adventure added in.

Thank you so much to Random House and NetGalley for this ARC!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing an e-arc of Tusk Love, in exchange for an honest review!

My partner is a big fan of Critical Role and when he told me a few months ago about this book coming out, I knew I had to get my hands on it. I don't usually read standalones but this book was a breath of fresh air! The pacing was perfect and the plot was easy to follow, while still being exciting. I couldn't put it down! I loved the romance between Guinevere and Oskar. Their banter was everything I wanted and more.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story and highly recommend to all lovers of romance, fantasy and Critical Role.

Shrek + Spice = a fantastic time GOD

SHES A PRINCESS, AND YOU’RE AN OGRE. THATS SOMETHING NO AMOUNT OF POTION IS EVER GOING TO CHANGE.
BUT I LOVE HER.
IF YOU REALLY LOVE GER YOU’LL LET HER GO

Thank you Del Rey, Random House Worlds, and NetGalley for the advanced galley! As a huge fan of Critical Role, it was so amazing to see Tusk Love come to life in Thea Guanzon's hands. Part of me always wanted Tusk Love to be a real thing, and now here it is! I love finally getting to experience Oskar and Guinevere's romance for real, but it was also an interesting story with a lot of substance and I loved how their characters changed over the course of the book. Jester would LOVE this book. I recommend it to anyone who doesn't know what Critical Role is - it's such a beautiful story with just enough ~spice~. This book has made its way to my top five favorites of all time.

Guess who loved this with every fibre of my being? Now, I’ll say that this is a goofy time so if you’re expecting the seriousness that is The Hurricane Wars, you’ll be disappointed. Think more Kimberly Lemmings on this one and you’ll be gold.

I love Gwen and Oskar and the entire way they came together to overcome who (and what) they are. Give me more on the road adventures where she learns to be more useful for that lifestyle and he learns to relax because I ate that shit up so fast. It took me about 6 hours to read this, and that included actively spending time with the dogs where a kindle wasn’t feasible to hold and cooking dinner- I was a woman obsessed

Guinevere and Oscar have no idea the danger that awaits them when the savvy half-orc agrees to escort the naïve merchant’s daughter to the Coast, where her parents and betrothed await. Volatile magic, steamy attraction, and dark mysteries make this novel a charming addition to the Critical Role world and an engrossing romance in its own right!

This is way more than a gimmick based on a bit; it’s exploded into a heartfelt tale anchored on well developed characters. Both leads are given a chance to grow and change throughout the story, and it satisfies the promises Critical Role made about it before it was written without being stereotypical or sacrificing plot. The tale feels classic fantasy, with steam peppered throughout the second act. A must for Critical Role fans, and a strong suggest for those new to CR.

This is a really cute, cozy, funny, surprisingly spicy, sweet and short read.

I had to educate myself about Critical Role first (and now love the concept), but would have enjoyed this book without the background just the same.

The writing is right on point, and makes the characters sneak right into your heart, all the way to the finale.

Albeit it being quite short and not overcomplicated, it still gives us a great message about love, class and choices.

I can full-heartedly recommend this.

4,5/5 stars

Thank you @netgalley @randomhouse and @delreybooks for the eARC !

#TuskLove #Netgalley #Bookstagram

Thank you to Del Rey / Random House Worlds / Inklore and Netgalley for the eARC! I always appreciate the opportunity to read and review ahead of release, and my reviews are always my honest opinion.

I have been waiting for this story to hit the ARC stage since it was announced - as a Critical Role fan of 10 years, a D&D player for around the same, and a lover of romance and fantasy books, this was the perfect intersection of interests for me. Jester in particular is my favorite Critical Role character, and the role this book played in her growth from a starry-eyed sheltered rich girl to a wise, skilled adventurer made me so excited to see how they would craft a story that could be her favorite book. Even as biased and excited as I was going into it, Thea Guanzon truly exceeded my expectations and my wildest dreams with this story!

While we've been told this is a tale between a naive rich girl and a hardened half-orc worker, a grumpy/sunshine trope, etc the true story went so far beyond the surface of an "opposites attract" dynamic. The familiar markers of Matt's influence on the world-building created a wonderful background for Thea to then play around with these themes of class consciousness, of what we need vs what we want, and making sacrifices for our ultimate happiness. I wasn't sure if I would be a fan of the dual POV but once we were in it and we could see Oskar's soft side, his fears, the way his feelings went beyond attraction and lust and into admiration and adoration, I felt like it added to the romantic atmosphere. I loved seeing his home and his life contrasted with Guinevere’s future in Nicodranas, It felt like his fears were very realistic when it came to asking this rich girl to give up everything for him AND to not resent him for it later. The story had an edge of a historical romance in this way - the stakes were high, because once she gave up high society, she likely could not return.

I loved the trademark D&D one-shot vibes of starting out on a journey together via an encounter, and then traveling, with more battles along the way, getting stronger and leveling up your gear until you finally reach the final boss. This adventure paired with the romance development was so much fun, and I was SO invested in the mystery of Guinevere's family drama along the way. I do wish we could have had a bit more time with Oskar's background, maybe a glimpse at their visit to his family later on, but it didn't detract from the story we did get (I'm just greedy!)

Overall I rated this 5 stars, I absolutely adored this story and Thea Guanzon did such an amazing job writing a story that Jester would love. My critical role fan heart is so full! I would recommend this story to any Romantasy lover, no prior CR knowledge needed, as long as you aren't getting hung up on needing to know the ins and outs of geography and larger world lore. If you are well-versed in Critical Role, you'll appreciate the way this story fits into the larger lore and worldbuilding for sure.

Guinevere is the daughter of down-on-their-luck merchants. She yearns for freedom and adventure, not the future her parents planned out. When her caravan is attacked, Guinevere is rescued by a grumpy half-orc. Her journey is fraught with obstacles and enemies. Guinevere never anticipated falling for her sullen travel companion. What path would she choose? A vagabond life with Oskar? Or the privileged life Guinevere’s parents arranged?

Oskar is a blacksmith’s apprentice. He intends to visit his deceased mother’s clan in the north. However, Oskar encounters Guinevere when her caravan is set upon by bandits. The woman is sheltered, helpless, and annoying, yet Oskar agrees to escort her to her destination. Something about Guinevere awakens his soft and protective side. Oskar knows he has nothing to offer her. Can he walk away once they reach their journey’s end?

Guinevere is not the usual heroine type that I enjoy. In the beginning, she comes across as the typical, cliché damsel-in-distress – one who feels the need to please her parents. However, Guin starts to change as the story progresses. Her demeanor and personality remind me of an old role-playing character that I used to play years ago. Perhaps that is why I clicked with her so easily. And I also liked how her naivete and kindness charmed even the most hardened souls.

Orcs are not my favorite fantasy creatures. I have noticed a rise in their popularity in both anime and books (there is even an author who writes orc romances). Oskar grew on me. He behaves sullen and grumpy, but that is all an act to hide his cinnamon roll-y insides. What I adore the most about Oskar is his persistence in protecting Guinevere. He even put his vow of visiting his mother’s people on hold to help Guin on her journey. Oskar even got angry for her sake, especially after learning how her parents treat her.

TUSK LOVE is a standalone, romance fantasy set in the Critical Role world. Fans of Dungeons & Dragon type stories will enjoy this book. I am a fan of Vox Machina – thanks to the animation on Prime. When I noticed TUSK LOVE’s title matched the one Pike read in the show, I just HAD to read it too. It did not disappoint.

Tropes in the story: grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract, forced proximity.

I would be interested to read more stories set in the Critical Role world. High fantasy (like D&D’s Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance) is one of my favorite genres. Romance is another. I have a difficult time finding fantasy-romance stories with this level of fantasy. Most of the ones I find center around The Fey or the commonly, overly used fantasy creatures.

This was everything I ever wanted and more. Smuttier than expected but in the best way possible. As a critical role fan, I’ve been hyped about this and was so honored to get an arc to review. I literally devoured this book. Forced proximity, grumpyxsunshine, forbidden romace, what’s not to love!?

“Oh Oskar”

A low-stakes (but enthralling) romantasy following the tale of Gwen and Oskar as they travel the familiar world of Wildemount. Perfect for seasoned Critters and new fans alike, Guanzon perfectly balances paying homage to a fandom beloved by many and weaving her own signature spin into this book. The tropes just scratched the right itches: sunshine x grumpy, bodyguard romance, only one bed, bodice-ripping… I can see how this was a favourite of the Mighty Nein and I know many will enjoy it as well.

Critical Role was there for me when the world was bracing for COVID and I was at my lowest of lows. To think that 5 years later I would be graced with this book is such an honour. Thank you Random House and NetGalley for the privilege to read this.

Tusk Love by Thea Guanzon is such a good book. I couldn't stop reading this book for a bit. I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good.

Going into this book, I had incredibly high expectations. As a longtime fan of Critical Role—especially The Mighty Nein campaign—I was ecstatic to see this infamous novel brought to life. I fully expected to enjoy it, but I also feared that my anticipation would set me up for disappointment. However, I was so wrong. This book exceeded every expectation, delivering a story that was not only captivating but also downright addictive.

One of the biggest surprises? Just how spicy this book turned out to be. Fans of Critical Role often joked about the nature of this fictional in-universe romance novel, but I never imagined it would lean so heavily into the smut. And yet, it absolutely did. The intensity of the romance was breathtaking, and Oskar's filthy mouth? Let’s just say, I actually blushed. I saw a TikTok where Matthew Mercer mentioned that readers would blush, and I scoffed—until I read the book. He was absolutely right.

Beyond the romance, the writing itself is stellar. Thea Guanzon has crafted a novel that can stand entirely on its own. Even if you’ve never watched a single episode of Critical Role, you can dive into this book and become fully immersed in its world without missing a beat. The storytelling, the world-building, and the emotional depth of the characters all contribute to an experience that is unforgettable.

Whether you're a devoted Critter or just someone looking for an enthralling romance, this book delivers on every level. I adored every page and cannot recommend it enough.

This was SUCH a fun book!

My ideal cozy fantasy has the following…
1. swoon-y romance
2. medium stakes adventure
3. laugh out loud funnies
4. fairytale vibes

Tusk Love, has all that and more!

It is cozy romantasy at its finest!

I went into this knowing only that Critical Role was something to do with Dungeons & Dragons and nothing more. I can confirm this is a absolute blast to read if you have no experience or knowledge with the topic.

What’s to love…
- (beginner friendly) monster romance
- the TENSION!
- the PINING
- medium-stakes adventure (a mini quest)
- well-executed tropes
- interesting world + magic
- less than 300 pages + easy to binge

Never has a book had so many tropes and yet felt so NOT-trophy! These were executed flawlessly and felt natural and well placed within the story.

Tropes…
- grumpy/sunshine
- forbidden romance (class differences)
- only one bed
- only one horse
- he washes her hair
- she comforts him
- and i’m sure I’m missing some…

What not to love…
- overall this had great pacing and I felt like the story grabbed my attention and held on tight, but the last 20% got a little slow and a bit overly descriptive.


Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey (Inklore) for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

Thea Guanzon is a master of her craft. Reading every word was pure joy and fun and I could just tell Guanzon had so much fun writing this story. As a fan of Critical Role I was so excited to get my hands on this book. No notes, this is how you do a romantic fantasy adventures. There were moments that were scorching hot to read, a bodice ripping scene, and hilarious moments, all with this believable romance. Who know I'd like a half Orc love interest but Oskar is hot and I stand by it. I wish we could get more of these set in Exandria, please!