Scan barcode
A review by ps_stillreading
The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
I was excited to get my hands on The Hurricane Wars because this book felt like it checked all the boxes for me as a fantasy girlie. Cool magic? High stakes? Enemies to lovers? Set in a fantasy version of the Philippines??? Yes please. And yes, I treated myself to a signed copy during a massive sale because that’s just what you do.
When I started reading The Hurricane Wars I was torn between taking my time savoring the story or going down a reading rabbit hole and letting the book consume me. To be honest, I read this book twice in eleven days, so I guess you could say I let the book devour me. Twice.
Clearly, I enjoyed this book a lot.
The first part of the book drops you right into the action. Talasyn is fighting in a war where the odds are against her. There is so much going on, and you feel right away how high the stakes are. Somehow she ends up facing Alaric, the crown prince of the enemy nation. She’s known about the crown prince, but meeting on the battlefield and fighting each other one-on-one is something she never expected would happen. Alaric could have ended her right then and there, but for some reason, he doesn’t.
In the second part of the book, the pace calms down, allowing you to take in the rich world that Guanzon has written. Talasyn is engaged in a different type of battle this time. Without spoiling anything, Talasyn learns a lot about herself in the second part. She is thrust into an unexpected situation, and she manages to land on her feet and hold her own. Of course, this is also the part of the book where the romance slowly comes in.
My god the romance. The reason I absolutely love slow burn enemies to lovers is the tension. There is just something so juicy about reading two characters who are continuously feeling (and fighting) the pull of attraction. The back and forth, giving in a little before pulling back again, the banter, then slowly getting to know each other better and seeing the other person in a different light, then thinking “wtf??? I can’t like this person!!” Like yeah, they are one hot mess. But as a spectator, I am loving every second of it.
Another thing I loved about the book is how it is set in a fantasy version of the Philippines. And, as a Filipino, it felt so wonderful to have this bit of representation in fantasy. The world felt familiar, as did the names, titles, animals, food, and even references to mythology. I swear anytime I caught a reference to Filipino culture, I do that Leonardo DiCaprio pointing meme. It was also refreshing to see a version of the Philippines that is considered a global power and a hub of technological innovation. A nation untouched by war and colonization, free to grow and flourish and reach its full potential.
Another theme that is present throughout the book is this deep desire for belonging and connection. Finding a place you call home. People you call home. Talasyn has lived a hard and lonely life, and that affected how she views relationships. When you’ve lived your life thinking that you’re better off alone, it can be difficult to open up and allow others into your life, even when you are desperate for an end to the loneliness.
The Hurricane Wars is also filled with strong women. Women who are respected, women who lead, women with rich lives who can do anything. No one questions their right to be in the room where everything goes down. They are respected as the competent individuals that they are, and we love to see that.
Special shout-out to some of my favorite characters! Queen Urduja is a force to be reckoned with. She is the matriarch keeping your family going. She is strict and has a shrewd mind, but she does what is best for her queendom. I also love Sevraim?? I can clearly picture his humor and personality while reading and I want more of him. I agree with Talasyn’s assessment that Sevraim and Khaede would hit it off. I also love his chemistry with Alaric, bringing him back down to earth and making him feel less intimidating.
In the next books, I hope that we get to see more of the world. I’m interested to see what Kesath and the rest of The Dominion looks like. Give me more of the culture and the people. I want to get to know the other characters too. And pleaaase I also want more of Sevraim! 😂
When I started reading The Hurricane Wars I was torn between taking my time savoring the story or going down a reading rabbit hole and letting the book consume me. To be honest, I read this book twice in eleven days, so I guess you could say I let the book devour me. Twice.
Clearly, I enjoyed this book a lot.
The first part of the book drops you right into the action. Talasyn is fighting in a war where the odds are against her. There is so much going on, and you feel right away how high the stakes are. Somehow she ends up facing Alaric, the crown prince of the enemy nation. She’s known about the crown prince, but meeting on the battlefield and fighting each other one-on-one is something she never expected would happen. Alaric could have ended her right then and there, but for some reason, he doesn’t.
In the second part of the book, the pace calms down, allowing you to take in the rich world that Guanzon has written. Talasyn is engaged in a different type of battle this time. Without spoiling anything, Talasyn learns a lot about herself in the second part. She is thrust into an unexpected situation, and she manages to land on her feet and hold her own. Of course, this is also the part of the book where the romance slowly comes in.
My god the romance. The reason I absolutely love slow burn enemies to lovers is the tension. There is just something so juicy about reading two characters who are continuously feeling (and fighting) the pull of attraction. The back and forth, giving in a little before pulling back again, the banter, then slowly getting to know each other better and seeing the other person in a different light, then thinking “wtf??? I can’t like this person!!” Like yeah, they are one hot mess. But as a spectator, I am loving every second of it.
Another thing I loved about the book is how it is set in a fantasy version of the Philippines. And, as a Filipino, it felt so wonderful to have this bit of representation in fantasy. The world felt familiar, as did the names, titles, animals, food, and even references to mythology. I swear anytime I caught a reference to Filipino culture, I do that Leonardo DiCaprio pointing meme. It was also refreshing to see a version of the Philippines that is considered a global power and a hub of technological innovation. A nation untouched by war and colonization, free to grow and flourish and reach its full potential.
Another theme that is present throughout the book is this deep desire for belonging and connection. Finding a place you call home. People you call home. Talasyn has lived a hard and lonely life, and that affected how she views relationships. When you’ve lived your life thinking that you’re better off alone, it can be difficult to open up and allow others into your life, even when you are desperate for an end to the loneliness.
The Hurricane Wars is also filled with strong women. Women who are respected, women who lead, women with rich lives who can do anything. No one questions their right to be in the room where everything goes down. They are respected as the competent individuals that they are, and we love to see that.
Special shout-out to some of my favorite characters! Queen Urduja is a force to be reckoned with. She is the matriarch keeping your family going. She is strict and has a shrewd mind, but she does what is best for her queendom. I also love Sevraim?? I can clearly picture his humor and personality while reading and I want more of him. I agree with Talasyn’s assessment that Sevraim and Khaede would hit it off. I also love his chemistry with Alaric, bringing him back down to earth and making him feel less intimidating.
In the next books, I hope that we get to see more of the world. I’m interested to see what Kesath and the rest of The Dominion looks like. Give me more of the culture and the people. I want to get to know the other characters too. And pleaaase I also want more of Sevraim! 😂