The Hurricane Wars is a Must Read!!

Hey book lovers! I am so excited to share my most anticipated novel of the year-The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon. This debut novel is the first installment in an epic romance fantasy trilogy. And after devouring this novel, I can say it’s a treat for enemies to lovers, and fans of arranged marriages. If you’re interested in this novel well you can now purchase your own copy because it is officially out!

Disclaimer: A big thank you to Netgalley for the Arc of the Hurricane Wars! All opinions are my own.

Summary:

Talasyn and Alaric are on opposing sides of the Hurricane Wars. Alaric, a prince of the Night empire, aspires to rule, and with his mastery in shadow wielding he might do it. Meanwhile, Talasyn fights against the Night Empire, believing the nations should remain independent. She’s also the last living Light weaver, and her mere existence puts a dent in the Night Empire’s plans.

When Talasyn and Alaric finally clash on the battlefield, a new kind of magic forms between them. Something which the world has never seen before. While Alaric and Talasyn hate each other, they can’t help but be intrigued by the potential their power could create together.

And when Talasyn goes on a secret mission to the Nenavar Dominion, a country known for its isolationist policy, she never expects to unravel the truth about her family.

He heard the girl before he saw her, a high and golden hum that cut through the chaos of battle like the first flare of sunrise.

The Hurricane Wars
Thea Guanzon

Thoughts:

This novel hooked me from the start. Not only were the vibes impeccable and the story very much reminiscent of Star Wars, but the characters were delightful! Alaric and Talasyn have an incredible dynamic-they hate each other.

But what sets Alaric and Talasyn apart from other enemies to lovers couples? Their seven-year age gap? No. The fact that their magic balances out? No. If I had to narrow it down, I’d say it’s their banter. Their arguments are very juvenile despite both protagonists being adults, but coupled with their arguing is their need to fight each other! They reminded me of puppies wrestling. And I ate up this dynamic.

If we manage to get out of this alive, I’m going to wring your neck, she promised him.
“If,” he emphasized crisply.

The Hurricane Wars
Thea Guanzon

But besides the happy couple I really enjoyed the plot of this novel. It did remind me a lot of Star Wars, but it also reminded me of The Bridge Kingdom novels; we later discover that Talasyn and Alaric have an arranged marriage. And given that both our protagonists hate each other, the tension and dynamic is entertaining to read.

In the addition to the romantic plot between Alaric and Talasyn, which takes up most of this novel, this book also explores other subplots, for example Talasyn’s dynamic with her found family and her biological family, Alaric’s own dynamic with his family and his friends, Talasyn learning to maneuver politics, and both protagonists learn to work together. These plots made the overall novel much more enjoyable and interesting.

This novel is a wonderful debut for the first installment in a fantasy series because it sets up the world of these novels well. Readers are introduced to politics, culture, romance, and the allies early on. And I can only see Guanzon building on these things in future novels.

Something else I wanted to note about the world of this novel is that Nenavar has a tropical climate. I love this detail because it has set this book apart from the other fantasy novels I have read. Most of the fantasy novels I’ve read featuring rainy and woodsy environments, and I’ve noticed the climate does not have an ill effect on characters. But in the Hurricane Wars, Talasyn notes Alaric discomfort and how ill prepared he is for the weather. Additionally, I love that Guanzon sets her novel in a world inspired by Southeast Asia’s culture.

Despite this, there are things I am curious about and can’t wait for the answers to come. Really, I am curious about Talasyn’s bestie, Sol, who disappears in the first arc. Sol’s a pregnant widow when she vanishes. Talasyn suspects her bff could have been captured and given the events of this novel that’s a possibility. And because Talasyn’s unable to track Sol down, she feels some guilt about it. I really wish Sol returns as a bigger baddie in the sequel because I can only imagine the drama when she discovers Talasyn married their worst enemy.

Speaking of more answers I desperately need; I need to know what role the dragons will play in the future. The dragons make a brief appearance, and their presence in Nenavar is one of the reasons the people there have been able to live their lives away from the war, but I am curious what bigger role they will play and how this will aid Talasyn.

Thank you to Thea Guazon for writing this masterpiece! Here are some Content Warnings to consider before diving into this fantasy series: War, Violence, Colonization, and Sexual Content.

If any of that hasn’t convinced you to read the Hurricane Wars yet, I will simply leave some fun fan art images here.

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A post shared by Crumbs (@artofcrumbs)

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A post shared by — Lya ʚɞ ⁺˖ ⸝⸝. (@yong.bokkiss)

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Thank you for reading my blog and living in libros with me,

Gabriela

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