Via Justine De fant

The Hurricane Wars (Book 1)

3.5/5 Stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Spiciness: 🌶️🌶️

A Monsoon Rising (Book 2)

4.5/5 Stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Spiciness: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Note: This is a review on the first two novels in the Hurricane Wars trilogy.

On the Continent, the Sardovian Allfold and the Night Empire are at constant war, and in the midst of the never-ending battle lies Talasyn, an headstrong soldier who is fighting for Sardovia’s freedom against the Kesathese.

But Tala has a secret: in her veins lies light magic, a rare power eradicated by the current Night emperor who fears its power.

In a series of unfavorable events, Talasyn enters into an arranged marriage with Alaric, a Kesathese prince and heir to the Night Empire, in order to save both their countries and their peoples.

What a fun story! While the beginning chapters aren’t heavy with exposition, it did take me some time to orient myself and understand the mechanics of this fantasy world that’s based on Philippine/South East Asian (SEA) mythology and folklore—though I would say this acts more like a backdrop rather than a driving force in the novel.

On a structural level, I did find some parts of the first novel to drag a bit, and the writing, while rhythmic, did feel cumbersome to parse through as I was familiarizing myself with the world. In some areas, the dialogue also feels a bit jilted when it sacrifices simplicity for more formal/expository language, especially during the political court scenes.

There is also a lot going on at once: aether hearts (???) power ships, dragons that were once thought to be dormant show up, shadow magic and light magic amplify one another, the political history of Talasyn’s mother’s death is still unexplored, etc. I sometimes wondered if these elements will all work together to tie the loose ends still present in the novel or if some of them will inevitably become insignificant or irrelevant due to pacing/timing constraints.

And for a story based on Filipino folklore, I found the naming system of the different cities and subcultures of the Continent to be more reminiscent of… como si dice… Western fantasy? Nenavar, Frostplum, Hornbills Head. And of course the male MC name, Alaric. Although, I see more of the SEA elements come into play in AMR more than HW.

This is definitely a slow burn romance and it’s in the final quarter of the first novel that we get the spicier scenes, but I’ll never complain about a slow burn if the yearning is good—it’s good (and only gets better, and spicier, in A Monsoon Rising). Their attraction toward one another is palpable.

We switch between Talasyn and Alaric’s point of view in both novels, which allows us to gain better insight into them as characters. Ultimately, they are good people who still have a lot of growing to do—Tala is 22 and Alaric is 26.

I like Talasyn as a protagonist. She’s headstrong and hard working, and grapples with a sense of loneliness that brings out her humanity. She isn’t without her flaws, but that endears me to her more. My only gripe is that Guanzon writes her so that anger is her primary/default reaction, which becomes annoying. Her emotional range begins to vary as the story progresses, but not by much.

Alaric is also a charming character. He, too, is headstrong and skilled at war, but inside also yearns for someone who understands him. But while he is groomed to become the next Night Emperor, I sometimes find that he lacks the conviction to stand up for himself when it comes to his father. It is only in those instances when I doubt him, but I imagine this is purposefully done.

It’s giving, “This isn’t my dream, dad. It’s yours.”

Both MCs know what it’s like to carry out a mission that their hearts are not in (i.e. to betray others for the greater good of their country). They are both instruments and pawns to their superiors despite holding the highest position in their respective courts. The irony is that they are experiencing the same struggle yet both feel alone because they don’t yet trust one another.

I think this sets up a good character arc for them to discover their own inner powers and grow into the leaders they’re destined to become.

I’m excited to see how their story will conclude and how Talasyn and Alaric will navigate their differing geopolitical landscapes in the midst of their blooming (already blossomed?) attraction (love?) toward one another.

While the world is intricate, the plot isn’t overly complex nor is the narrative deeply layered, which allows the romance to take center stage. I’d suggest this book if you’re looking more for yearning and romance rather than tense political discord and high-stakes conflict.