Week 22 Reviews: The Hurricane Wars, A Monsoon Rising

From Goodreads:

The heart is a battlefield.

All Talasyn has ever known is the Hurricane Wars. Growing up an orphan in a nation under siege by the ruthless Night Emperor, Talasyn has found her family among the soldiers who fight for freedom. But she is hiding a deadly secret: light magic courses through her veins, a blazing power believed to have been wiped out years ago that can cut through the Night Empire's shadows.

Prince Alaric, the emperor's only son and heir, has been forged into a weapon by his father. Tasked with obliterating any threats to the Night Empire's rule with the strength of his armies and mighty Shadow magic, Alaric has never been bested. That is until he sees Talasyn burning brightly on the battlefield with the magic that killed his grandfather, turned his father into a monster, and ignited the Hurricane Wars. In a clash of light and dark, their powers merge and create a force the likes of which has never been seen.

Talasyn and Alaric both know this war can only end with them. But a greater threat is coming, and the strange new magic they can create together could be the only way to overcome it. Thrust into an uneasy alliance, they will confront the secrets at the heart of the war and find, in each other, a searing passion--one that could save their world...or destroy it.

An exquisite fantasy brimming with unforgettable characters, sizzling enemies-to-lovers romance, and richly drawn worlds, The Hurricane Wars marks the breathtaking debut of an extraordinary new writer.

From Goodreads:

Two hearts circle each other in the eye of the storm in this highly-anticipated follow-up to 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.

My Review:

These were just so fantastic to read! They sounded really good, and because of the author review bombing situation, I really had to pick up The Hurricane Wars, which I really enjoyed, so I had to then pick up A Monsoon Rising! 

This world and set up that was created here was really fantastic to read, I wanted to more how it worked, and why people were doing what they were doing! I was compelling to keep turning the pages, because I had to know what was going to happen next! 

Looking back after reading The Hurricane Wars, I can see the Reylo inspiration, the tension between these characters overlaid with the classic good vs. evil conflict, light vs. dark. Taking that inspiration and putting it in this fantasy world inspired by Southeast Asia, that was really wonderful to read!

What made A Monsoon Rising really fantastic for me, was the developing relationship between these two. They really are on opposite sides, but then there's this other threat, which makes things all the more complicated, and I was rooting for them to figure out a solution, preferably one where they're still together and happy by the end! 

Loved reading these books and I can't wait to read more by Thea Guanzon! 

Author: Thea Guanzon 
Series: The Hurricane Wars #1, 2
Read: May 26th, 26th, 2024
Source: Bought, Edelweiss 
Reason Why: Sounded really great, and they're Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2024 Books, and The Hurricane Wars is a DAC Book, and A Monsoon Rising is a Sophomore Challenge Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Harper Voyager 
Published: October 3rd 2023 

Expected Publication: December 10th 2024

The Hurricane Wars:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

A Monsoon Rising:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars