The Hurricane Wars
A Novel
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4.4 • 132 Ratings
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- $15.99
Publisher Description
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?
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Epic fantasy fans should rush to this first of a trilogy that blends elemental magic, a devastating war, and a volatile romance in which literal sparks fly. Talasyn, an orphaned soldier who’s one of the last surviving Lightweavers, and Alaric, heir to the throne of the invading Night Empire and possessor of uncanny abilities, are on opposite sides of the Hurricane Wars, both their magics and loyalties seemingly antithetical to each other. But when Talasyn’s powers—and long-lost heritage—are revealed, these two enemies will be forced to ally against an even greater foe…and to submit to an undeniable attraction. Is desire enough to bind these two together, or will passion sour to betrayal? This enemies-to-lovers epic romantasy thrilled us in more ways than one and had us breathless for the sequel. It’s a battle of wits and magic that you won’t want to miss.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Two powerful royals are entangled in a war in Guanzon's trope-heavy, Southeast Asian–inflected romantasy debut. Orphaned Talasyn of Sardovia harbors a deadly secret: she's one of the last remaining Lightweavers, capable of wielding magic that can combat the brutal Night Empire's own shadow magic. When the Night Empire attacks and its alluring Prince Alaric Ossinast corners Talasyn, she must expose her powers to escape. Sardovia's leadership sends her to the Nenavar Dominion to amplify her powers, and, upon arrival, she discovers that she's the lost heir to Nenavar's Dragon Throne, making her an unwilling but vital player in diplomatic relations—especially after her grandmother, the matriarch, strikes a treaty with the Night Empire betrothing her to Alaric. After the expansive worldbuilding of the opening, the back half of the novel is devoted to Talasyn and Alaric's dynamic, which draws clear inspiration from Star Wars' Rey and Kylo Ren. Guanzon relies on flowery descriptions to convey the characters' chemistry ("Orange blossoms and the creamy floral note of promise jasmines wafted from her hair, tempered by cool green attar of lotus and the barest hint of cinnamon bark. Alaric's mouth watered"), occasionally leaning into cliché. The result doesn't bring anything new to the tropes it deploys, but it will scratch the itch for fantasy readers seeking slow-burning, enemies-to-lovers romance.
Customer Reviews
Enjoyable new series
I enjoyed this book, looking forward to the next one. Good chemistry between the two main characters. My main complaint for taking off a star is that it feels like a knockoff of the Grishaverse series (shadow & bone) with the main heroine being the last known person with light magic and also a soldier, the morally gray male love interest with shadow magic, the elemental magic, the voids, etc. I liked the steampunk vibes with the aether ships though.
Save your money…
Poorly paced; slow and boring. A lot of filler descriptions and very little action. The author appears to have liberally borrowed from Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse.
Amazing!
Thea has written a fascinating fantasy and I can’t wait to read the next book!