Honest Book Review of A Monsoon Rising
First off, if you haven’t read The Hurricane Wars, I would highly recommend reading that before reading this review. You have been warned.
Monsoon Rising is an electrifying sequel to The Hurricane Wars, filled with political intrigue, heart-stopping magic, and a simmering enemies-to-lovers romance that takes center stage. Set in a Southeast Asian-inspired world, the story brings readers into a storm of emotions and conflict as Alaric and Talasyn navigate a tense alliance, forced marriage, and the shadow of a looming magical disaster.
The enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Alaric, the hardened master of the Shadowforged Legion, and Talasyn, the fierce Lightweaver, is brilliantly written. Their chemistry is undeniable, with the tension crackling between them like a live wire. Though they begin as political pawns trapped in an unwanted marriage, the emotional depth that grows between them feels authentic.
Talasyn’s internal struggle between her loyalty to her homeland and the growing desire for her sworn enemy really shows the conflict that she is facing internally. Alaric, caught between his loyalty to his father and his growing feelings for Talasyn, becomes an even more compelling character as he grapples with his own choices of his loyalty to his country.
What truly elevates A Monsoon Rising is its stunning world-building. The Southeast Asian-inspired setting adds richness to the narrative, with vibrant descriptions of landscapes, magic, and cultures. Schemes are ever-present, and the political maneuvering keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Talasyn’s allies, plotting to overthrow Alaric, introduce a sense of danger and urgency, while the looming threat of the Moonless Dark gives the story an epic scale.
As Alaric and Talasyn join forces to prevent a magical catastrophe, their power dynamic shifts from adversaries to something more romantic. The merging of light and shadow, both literally and metaphorically, creates a thrilling build-up to a climactic confrontation that leaves me breathless.
SPOILERS
Though I love this immensely to my whole heart. I would say there were a few things I wish were slightly different.
A Monsoon Rising certainly focused heavily on the romance on this one. Alric and Talasyn were painfully pining at each other at every moment that they got around each. The whole focus of the book was their relationship and finally ending the painful slow burn romance that I was put through in the first book. When they FINALLY ended up together, it was a little random on how it happened. Danger finally brought them together but I was wishing for more of the action fighting they had in the last one.
Now, I wish there was a little more time to focus on the background of the Moonless Dark. From what I remember from The Hurricane Wars, it was why the light and dark magic needed to work together to defeat it. But there wasn’t time spent rehashing what The Moonless Dark actually is. There were brief moments of Alaric and Talasyn “Training” to defeat this. But because you didn’t really understand why, it didn’t feel important. So it felt rushed and I didn’t truly understand why this was in the story.
Thank you Thea Guanzon and Harper Voyager for giving me a copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
