The Hurricane Wars

A Novel

By: Thea Guanzon

Narrated by: Jeanne Syquia

The New York Times bestselling debut sensation from the author of Tusk Love!

""My newest obsession.""— Kerri Maniscalco • ""I physically could not stop reading!” — Ali Hazelwood • “I’m obsessed.”— Hannah Whitten • “Simply unputdownable.” — Huffpost • “One of my favorite books!” — Katee Robert

A steamy enemies-to-lovers romance, magic, and destiny are swept together in The Hurricane Wars, the spellbinding debut in a fantasy romance trilogy set in a Southeast Asia–inspired world

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

Prince Alaric is his father’s weapon, sworn to obliterate any threats to the Night Empire’s rule with his mighty shadow magic. He and Talasyn lock into a deadly dance that neither can seem to truly win, until, in a clash of light and dark, their powers merge to create a strange new force—and a dangerous, forbidden attraction reveals itself.

This war can only end with them. But an even greater danger is coming, and Talasyn and Alaric must decide... can they work together to save their world, or will they end up destroying each other?

DNF...

I really tried to push through the beginning of this story but I couldn't make it past chapter seven. I could not connect with any of the characters which is a shame. The cover art is beautiful and the blurb intrigued me (even knowing it was rooted in Reylo fanfic), so I was excited to listen. I don't know what it is, it could be the writing or the melodramatic performance of the narrator, but I found each chapter too stomach churning to manage.

Maybe I'll pick up a physical copy of the book and try again sometime later. For now, I'll leave it where it's at.

**UPDATE**

I revisited this title before the end of the year to see if my opinion might change. I really wanted to like it. There was a lot about this book that I didn't mind--the magic system and world building, the midway point reveal about the MC's identity, even the arranged/political marriage subplot. This book shines the most when its attention is narrowed on external conflicts, lore, and magic.

The relationship dynamic between Tasalyn and Alaric, though...it's a no from me dawg. Both of them have the personality of a dried sharpie. Especially Alaric. Besides that, him leading the forces of an empire and being directly responsible for many of the deaths of her compatriots is, for me, irredeemable. I could not entertain their budding feelings which turned the latter half of this book into a slow, uphill battle. Way too much of the pacing is tied up in marriage negotiations and their whiplash and ultimately mind-boggling exchanges. At times, the leads learning to combine their magic to defeat the world ending threat that is drawing near feels pushed to the wayside. I hope it doesn't sound ignorant to say (not that everything concerning war has to be centered on the battles) but for a book with 'war' in the title I was surprised to find most of the action was loaded into the front half of the book. There's definitely potential here but if the sequel consists of an apology/redemption tour arc for Alaric I don't think the next book is for me.

It was fine

Everything was just okay imo. Sometimes the author would describe the setting in both peoples POV and it kinda felt repetitive. The story is relatively interesting but somewhat predictable, which isn’t too much of an issue. I’ll probably check out the next book when it comes out.

Loses momentum les than halfway through

I’m clearly not the target audience for this book—even though I thought I would be. But, this started its life as Reylo fanfic and I’m just not a huge fan of the dynamic. Stops being about the fantasy war and starts being just about interpersonal conflicts about 12 chapters in and I was expecting more external conflict. Not the worst book I’ve ever read, it’s not even actually bad. It’s just not for me.

so good

I already need to read the next one, I basically finished this in one go because I was so invested in the love story

Love and Hate It

First off, I will read the next book, but this book had me SO frustrated. The world building was great, I would say the author spent more time on it than anything else. The detail and description well done. The banter was okay, the narrator was good for the main characters but weird voices for others.

Overall it was worth it, but I wouldn’t compare this book to the romance/spicyness of fourth wing. The one spicy part is at the very end and they end up getting into a fight after and go back to their stubborn annoying ways of not communicating. And the book ends like that.
I would say the main characters relationship is more realistic to their situation but they constantly keep “missing” each other and it gets annoying. Their conversations almost sound like teenagers when they are supposed to be adults in their 20s. Also, neither of them have ever been kissed before and have never thought about touching another person?? And once again they’re supposed to be adults in their later 20s. Overall, glad I bought it but SO frustrated by it. Looking forward to what the second book will bring.