Tuesday Reviews: A Monsoon Rising by Thea Guanzon

 

Two hearts circle each other in the eye of the storm in this highly-anticipated follow-up to the New York Times bestseller, The Hurricane Wars—prepare for more enemies-to-lovers romance, magical adventures, and political schemes in this Southeast Asian-inspired world.

After a lifetime of war, Alaric and Talasyn were thrust into an alliance between their homelands that was supposed to end the fighting; however, being married to their sworn foe feels far from peaceful. Now Talasyn must play the part of Alaric’s willing empress while her allies secretly plot to overthrow his reign. But the longer the couple are forced together, the harder it becomes to deny the feelings crackling like lightning between them. When the time comes to act, can she trust him, or must she ignore her heart for the sake of so many others?

As the master of the Shadowforged Legion, Alaric has trained for battle all his life, but marrying a Lightweaver might be his most dangerous challenge yet. With tensions between nations churning, he needs to focus on the greater threat—the Moonless Dark, a cataclysmic magical event that could devour everything. Only he and Talasyn can stop it, with a powerful merging of light and shadow that they alone can create together. But saving their world from this disaster is a mere preface to his father’s more sinister schemes, and his wife is a burning flame in the darkness, tempting both his loyalties and his desires.

The Hurricane Wars aren’t over. It’s time to choose what—and who—to fight for. The world holds its breath amidst a whirlwind of new magic and old secrets that could change everything.

A Monsoon Rising is a delicious blend of romance and fantasy, and it lived up to my high expectations. Picking up where The Hurricane Wars left off, it explores Talasyn and Alaric’s evolving relationship as they navigate their roles as leaders and lovers. The witty banter, vivid tropical setting, and spicy romance make this a standout read.

The fantasy elements, inspired by Filipino culture, and the addition of dragons are fantastic. The romance, a grumpy/sunshine delight, is much improved from the first book, with plenty of spicy scenes to enjoy.

However, the ending left me a bit puzzled. The twist involved a character who wasn’t well-established, and the resolution felt rushed after all the build-up. Despite this, I’m eagerly awaiting the next book and highly recommend this one to fans of romantic fantasy.