Thea Guanzon returns with the second book of her debut series, The Hurricane Wars!
After the events of The Hurricane Wars, Talasyn and Alaric find themselves having to play the role of husband and wife for the greater good of their countries. Neither one of them is interested in this alliance, but they both understand the duty that is required to save their respective countries.
Still, this alliance is more than just marriage; both sides are plotting against each other to gain more than just a hand in marriage, but an advantage after the events of a greater threat that is forcing this alliance, Moonless Dark.
In this second book, Guanzon focused on properly developing the two main characters, which was a significant issue in the first book, where the characters lacked depth, and we relied on their romantic relationship to learn anything about them.
Regarding character development, the author accomplished two key things. First, Alaric’s POV added a different dimension to the story, while also contributing to the plot's progress. Alaric’s upbringing was an example of how to bring him closer to the readers, and it was much easier to sympathize with him every time his father belittled him.
Secondly, Talyson’s POV got a much-needed upgrade. In the first book, we spent a lot of time in her head fighting her internal conflicts, from whether she’s the right person to lead this fight to how she feels about Alaric. In A Monsoon Rising, more attention was given to the scenes and dialogues, and the author's brilliant writing shifts.
The development of their relationship was another major factor that was well written. The author did not just rely on the romantic aspects, but also on forming communion between the two. There were moments where each one of them had to suppress their ego and compromise for the other person.
The worldbuilding mainly remained unexplored. I thought that as we moved along the continent, we would learn about other countries and not just the Nenavar Dominion, especially when other events took place in those countries.
Some significant events took place at The Night Empire and Sardovian Allford, and our characters kept on traveling. It was an excellent opportunity to let the right know about those countries and why they are considered significant.
Another disappointment was the lack of information provided about Aethermancers. With the foundation laid in the first book about lightwavers and shadow forges, it would have been much more interesting had the author built upon that to explore and discuss the other five orders of the Aethermancers.
Overall, A Monsoon Rising was a solid comeback from the first book, especially in terms of characters and plot. The characters are more coherent, and the plot is progressing. Despite the inconsistent pace at times, the story progressed gradually.
The ending made the anticipation for the last book a priority on the list; I loved how the author kept this card close to their chest and only played it towards the final pages, leaving us hanging and hungry for more —a perfect time for a cliffhanger.
Awaiting the final book eagerly!
