I absolutely LOVE Thea Guanzon's writing, I have yet to read anything by her I didn't like - and this book is no exception. This is the perfect book to take a break from those massive series with since it's a standalone. It's also a fast paced read, so of course I knocked it out in an afternoon because who could stop reading when things kept happening?!?! And the spice, yes please. I could not get enough of the relationship developing between our main characters - the banter, the spice, everything was fantastic. I also loved that our FMC had little moments where even the big, bad thugs do her bidding because she's that oblivious to the real world and asks them for help. Highly recommend this book to everyone!

💭 #QOTD What's your favourite trope?

Title: Tusk Love
Author: Thea Guanzon / Critical Roll
Pages: 272
Rating: 5/5
Spice/Romance level: 🩷🩷🩷

#Arc eCopy ( #gifted ) - review left voluntarily
UK publish date - 1st July 2025

Guinevere meets Oskar has he comes to her rescue after being attacked by a group of bandits. Travellers look out for each other. So with that in mind we join them in a funny, heart warming adventure as Oskar takes her to her final destination. Think Shrek with spice or the teller of small fortunes with spice.

I was drawn to the description of this book. It had everything I loved in a read, and it didn't disappoint. I hadn't known about the D&D references with @critical_role until after reading some of the reviews, which made me love it even more.

This made me laugh, so much. Gave me butterflies at the romance scenes. The world building was magical and the characters were perfection. I loved the bonecrushers and the butcher. (I wish I could read about their adventures!!)

Oscar's brooding was hilarious and Guinevere’s sunshine was so positive, trusting and kind it made me want to see everything through her eyes.

The writing was so good. I have hurricane wars by @theagwrites
So it's definitely been bumped up on my tbr.

Overall, this was a fun, cosy read. With tummy tingling romance, orcs. I'd love to read what happens next for them both.

I'm truly invested in this book and I need to get me a pretty book trophy for the shelf.

This is THE spicy cosy romantasy for July!!

You'll love this book if you like
- romantasy
- grumpy / sunshine
- adventure
- cosy/cozy fantasy
- spice and lots of it
- D&D / critical role
- feel good reads
- secret powers
- tough her and 💀
- only one bed
- rich girl / poor boy

Bookseller Review: Tusk Love by Thea Gaunzon

Let me begin by saying that I am neither a spicy-fiction fan, nor a fan of Romantasy more generally. Which seems like a bold claim, considering my current choice of book… I am however, a HUGE D&D fan and a Critter, my favourite season of which was absolutely Jester’s campaign (AKA The Mighty Nein). This book is referred to throughout the campaign and when I saw it was becoming a real-life novel, I couldn’t wait. I knew what I was getting myself into and loved every single second.

This book is everything you would expect: it’s not pretending to be anything other than exactly what it is and it’s so much fun! You can almost see a teenage Jester Lavorre in her bedroom reading this book as her Mother is… Working. You can also very clearly see her being attracted to young Fjord, based on Oskar: her own personal hunky half-orc.

For those of you who aren’t coming at this book through a Critical Role lens, but rather have read some of the author’s other work, it could either function really well as a stand-alone high-fantasy tale for those who do enjoy their reading on the spicier side, or as a gateway into the vast world of Critical Role - fiction, graphic novels or YouTube series.

Aside from the incredibly steamy scenes (of which there are a few), the book is simply wonderful in its own right. It’s very well-written and there is something for everyone, be it the stunning descriptions of the landscapes, the well-rounded characters, the deep lore or the classic romance tale of damsel in distress meets handsome saviour. With a twist.

I described this book to my husband (who gave me an over-the-glasses glare when he asked what I was reading) as ‘Shrek in D&D font’ and I stand by this - but it’s no less brilliant and I have since gone back and added Guanzon’s back-list to my TBR. I also immediately ordered the Waterstones exclusive edition, because it will then sit proudly with my other CR books.

Thank you so much to Thea Guanzon, Cornerstone publishing and the team at NetGalley for an advanced reading copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

Let me preface my review by saying that I had zero idea what *Critical Role* was prior to my reading. But the synopsis for this was so appealing that I requested it anyhow. I didn’t even discover what CR was until I was about 60% through the novel.

*world building
*wonderful characters
*laugh out loud funny
*banter
*longing
*slow burn
*just one bed
*character development
*swoooony
*so cozy

I will be checking out Critical Role since this book was so fun, and I would really love to see this be the beginning of a series.

Recommended for fans of Critical Role, D&D, and/or romantasy.



Thank you to Random House Worlds and NetGalley for the DRC

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.

I really enjoyed this! It’s a cozy, cottage core fantasy with some spice. Having never seen anything on Critical Role before, I was skeptical on how I would like it, but it was really good!

Oskar was one of my favorites, the grumpy attitude but overly protectiveness was fun to read. I warmed to Guinevere, she’s very aloof and shocked my everything in the beginning but she learns throughout with Oskar’s help.

I liked the dual povs, getting into both heads and seeing their feelings towards one another. It helped throughout the journey they were on and I had a lot of fun.

5/5 stars

This was so much fun! Cozy, romantic, sweet, and I really liked the two main characters. The plot didn't bite off any more than it could chew, and everything played out nicely. The tension, the romance development, everything, I have no complaints.

I loved it!!! It was so good!!
The characters are incredible, and both of them evolve throughout the book. She understands what she wants and learns to have her voice, and he learns to be patient with her!!! Their personalities are complex,and I loved that both of them are not afraid to be vulnerable and show their feelings.
It's so good!!!!
I also loved to see the two of them together, is a contrast that complements each other and we see the love between them. But I also loved the characters individually. Each one had their own story and their desires and wishes, but they ended up adjusting them based on the new circumstances. And more important, the characters talk, they say what they feel and want, of course, they keep for themself a little bit, but when they are ready to share, they do it.
The story combines a bit of historical romance with a world full of magic and fantasy. The writing was wonderful, making the spaces immersive and captivating.
The story takes place almost entirely on the road, walking towards her destination, and we see so much of the world, and it brings the characters together in various situations along the way, in which they get to know and discover each other!!!
Seriously!!! I recommend it!!

Thea is the queen of it all, and I will die on that hill every time. I know very little about DND and zero about Critical Role, and still ate this book up. The masterful world-building, the character development, the sizzle between Oskar and Gwen. Ready for more.

Oskar and Gwen are so enjoyable together - the arguing, the banter, the pining. All of it. And the two horses were possibly my favorite sidekicks. I so appreciated the balance between Gwen's vulnerability, but also her determination and refusal to give in. And Oskar, spending most of his time as a strong and gruff escort, but showing such emotion too. I could picture myself side-by-side with them on this journey, and was engrossed the entire time.

Guinevere was raised to be the perfect noble’s bride. Oskar is a rough-around-the-edges blacksmith’s apprentice. When Oskar saves Guinevere from bandits, he commits to seeing her safely to her destination. Along the way action, adventure, magic, and the quiet moments shared along the road begin to blossom into romance.
Tusk Love was everything I hoped for from the delightful chaos that was Critical Role’s Mighty Nein. All of the typical romance tropes and flowery language are spooled into an adventure worthy of Jester’s swoons. And, of course, the story wouldn’t be complete without just the right amount of spice.

To be fair I'm not a fan of romantasy but s a fan of Critical Role, I could'nt pass the opportunity to read Tusk Love - I couldn't believe that someone made that book real. And it kept all its promises. It was funny, entertaining and lovely, and the blooming relationship between Oskar and Guinevere was a delight to watch. I think Thea Guanzon did a very good job here and I could feel in her writing her love for the Critical Role fandom.

This book was everything I wanted it to be and so much more. Perfect for both fans of Critical Role/D&D and just general Romantasy, Tusk Love hits all the sweetest spots and is such a fun read.

This book strikes a balance of cozy romantasy and action and intrigue, delivering a heartfelt romance and perseverance despite every obstacle possible trying to tear you down. Our main characters are loveable and relatable, and probably some of my most favourite characters I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Guinevere, a kind and selfless merchant's daughter, is hiding a closely guarded secret about her abilities. After being attacked by bandits trying to ambush her caravan, she comes across Oskar, a half-orc who acts gruff and tough on the outside but is really a cinnamon-roll teddy bear underneath all that muscle. Guinevere manages to save herself, but thankfully Oskar is there to help when she loses control of her powers.

Oskar was originally on his way to honour his late mother's wishes, but agrees to accompany Guinevere on her journey to wed a nobleman, protecting her and her dowry along the way. Filled with disdain originally at being slowed by what he believes is a spoiled brat, he begins to see Guinevere's true self - a beautiful, loving and kind woman who looks at the world with rose-coloured glasses. As they begin to feel sparks, Guinevere is afraid to let go, bound by duty to her parents and fear of her true abilities, while Oskar is afraid that he cannot give her the life she may be accustomed to, and the life he feels she deserves.

This book has real slow burn, and it is absolutely delicious. I read this from start to finish in 24 hours, and only put it down to eat and sleep. The world-building, pacing, and character development were executed perfectly. The characters didn't feel over the top or overdone, and were entirely relatable, which is incredible for a fantasy romance featuring all manners of species.

You don't need to be aware of Critical Role, the context for this novel, or the lore of Dungeons and Dragons, to enjoy this story. It is beautifully executed no matter your level of experience with these worlds. There are a few scenes where the names of different races and backgrounds of minor characters are mentioned with minimal description of what they look like. This is the one point in the story where I feel it might be beneficial to have this context, but you can easily Google if you want to know what these characters look like.

Thank you so much to Random House Publishing/Del Rey/Inklore/Random House Worlds for the eARC of this book. I enjoyed it so much and it's definitely one of my favourite reads of the year.

I am a huge fan of Critical Role. I waited all through campaign two, Mighty Nein, to hear bits of Tusk Love. I have been a fan of Oskar for ages. I couldn’t wait to read the REAL Tusk Love! The Guanzon did not disappoint fans.

Oskar and fair Guinevere do not meet under the best circumstances. She is traveling with her merchant parents good on the way to meet her future husband. Her wagon is attacked one night by bandits, her guards are killed and all seemed lost when a forest fire started. Luckily for Guinevere, Oskar was camped nearby and saved her from herself. She was trying to save the goods instead of herself. However Oskar is not a fan of nobles and Guinevere presents as a noble because that is how her parents brought her up.

Guinevere is very charming though and does her best to keep up her spirits, not complain and win over Oskar. Oskar was brought up by a single mom to be a gentleman and kind to those in need, so feels the need to escort the naive lass to her parents. When it become evident that someone has hired mercenaries to kidnap Guinevere and her trunk, Oskar becomes even more motivated to get Guin to safety as quickly as possible.

While reading I kept hearing Laura Bailey’s voice as Jester narrating the “good” bits. This book is so much fun for romance readers and fans of Critical Role.

thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC copy of this for my honest review!

3🌶️ this was everything i’ve wanted in previously read cozy fantasies! the romance was SO sweet, and the plot kept my interest the entire way. it felt like i was right there with these characters on the journey they were taking. it was refreshing reading such big words being used and the vocabulary was complex in a good way! there were some cringey parts but i give grace due to the fmc being raised to be a “proper lady”, but other parts were enough to have had me dnfing if i wasn’t as far into this as i was. the writing was beautiful and it truly felt like i was reading a dungeons and dragons game being played out! this was actually spicier than i was expecting for a cozy fantasy (no complaints here though lol). the end felt a bit rushed but all in all i had a fun time reading this and it felt like a true palette cleanser to the usual dark content that i read. this was also HILARIOUS, had me laughing out loud many times.

As a Romantasy fan the idea of an orc love interest piqued my interest! This is a good choice for those who like fast paced reads and enjoy a dual perspective. Both Oskar and Guinevere are likeable characters and were easy to sympathize with despite their clear differences, and they were both funny in their respective ways. This is a great recommendation for folks that enjoy the grumpy-sunshine trope-and those who like the ‘there’s only one bed’ trope. Those who like open-door romance have a definite contender with this pick. I did not know going into this book that it was a notorious piece of literature in the Critical Role universe, but that didn’t inhibit my reading experience at all. Definitely a great pick for those who know and enjoy Critical Role but also a good pick for those who don’t!

Thank you for this advanced reader copy. I love dungeons and dragons and I love cozy romantasy. This was a perfect book for me..

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wow. I mean, WOW!

Let's start off with the tropes, shall we?
- cozy fantasy
- monster romance (very mild)
- only one bed
- only one horse
- forbidden love
- hurt/comfort
- yearning/pining/tension oh my!!

I'm a new-ish Critical Role fan. I started watching Campaign three regularly (fun-scary Laudna is my fave), but I've had exposure to the other two campaigns through the Legends of Vox Machina show and context from a close friend about the Mighty Nein, which is his favorite campaign. Because I was interested in this story and had a connection to the story's source, I was beyond thrilled when I received an ARC to read in exchange for a review.

I've had The Hurricane Wars and A Monsoon Rising on my TBR for a bit now and just hadn't had the chance to get to them. Well, now I want to push those higher up the list because I ADORED the writing in this book.

This story combines some of my favorite story-telling abilities like the whimsical world-building of Stephanie Garber and the cozy fantasy of Travis Baldree, albeit with a bit higher stakes.

I enjoyed how seamlessly bits and pieces of Exandrian Lore as well as Dungeons and Dragons gameplay mechanics were incorporated into the story. I've watched and played for long enough now that I was able to see when there was a failed Insight check or a successful Perception check, but it never interrupted the story or broke the fourth wall. Someone who had no concept of these things may not pick up on them as it doesn't negatively impact their experience, but those of us who do understand get to have a little "aha!" moment.

This book is genuinely so swoony. Guinevere's personality and tenacity were inspiring, and Oskar's loyalty and dedication made him so loveable. Plus, the things Oskar said to her? I was blushing, kicking my feet, giggling, and twirling my hair. No wonder Jester was so obsessed with this story!

Whether you are a fan of Critical Role, have played Dungeons and Dragons, or are interested in dipping your toes into a cozy fantasy with non-human characters, Tusk Love is worth your time (and gold pieces).

Big thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

Is it Thursday, yet?

I somehow entirely missed that this book had anything to do with Critical Role before I started reading it, and clumsily described it to my husband as "this books feels like if you could somehow roll up reading a cozy romantasy novel and playing Baldur's Gate 3" and clearly I wasn't far off.

I DEVOURED this book. I haven't read anything quite like this and whilst that made me slightly hesitant going, that hesitation lasted approximately one chapter before I realised I was having a great time. The pacing is brilliant, keeping things going at an engaging rate without rushing over anything. This is the first of Thea's books I've read (thought it won't be the last), so I'm not sure if this is typical of her writing, but it had this fantastic, lyrical-but-snappy high fantasy quality to it that was essential in grounding this tale in the world she has created.

The stakes are high enough to create some tension but it's very much still a romantasy and I absolutely loved that that remained central throughout the whole book. Both Oskar and Gwen are so endearing in their own ways and I loved the dual POV to get a look inside their heads - particularly Oskar who is nowhere near as talkative as Gwen, but is incredibly sweet and complex behind his gruff exterior. The journey they went on together and the way they naturally ended up encouraging the other to blossom was a joy to ride along on.

The fact that, at about 75%, I started complaining that I didn't want to continue reading because then it would be over, but that I couldn't NOT continue reading really speaks to how much I enjoyed this. If you love that classic tankards-of-ale-in-a-tavern fantasy vibes, with a plethora of creatures and a one-horse-journey for good measure, I'm fairly certain you'll adore Tusk Love.

***SPOILER BELOW***


My only tiny preference-based complaint is that I wish we had gotten a little bit more of the eventual declaration of love (maybe even an elopement epilogue??) but that is purely because I'm greedy and loved Oskar and Gwen too much to accept that the book had ended. Just saying, Thea, if there's ever a special edition with a bonus chapter in the future - take my money..

Tusk Love is a cozy romance adventure. It has favorite fantasy reader elements entwined with all the angst ridden excitement of a romance. This would be the perfect read for someone new to the genre. It touches on classical fantasy and popular tropes within the romance genre. The humorous banter between the characters will be very engaging for readers looking for a fun book club pick in their organization. Dual points of view allow readers to immerse themselves in this road trip adventure with unlikely allies, and even more unlikely lovers.

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it will come out in July. I really gotten into critical role clips lately (due to longcovid I can't watch entire videos as much so shorts are life), so I knew I had to read this and it did not disappoint. This was just so solid character building and I loved the world.