This was such a fun read!, perfect for fan of cozy wholesome low stakes fantasies. I absolutely loved our two characters, the grumpy x sunshine vibes (which is a personal favourite of mine) the orc who normally wouldn't even give you a friendly smile but would move mountains for his girl and our innocent yet fiery (pun intended) FMC who you can't help but love, oh and the one bed trope too (a second personal favourite). The writing was also beautiful, the way the surroundings were described and the way characters were written it managed to give you enough world building and character description in such a short book in a way that it didn't feel neither overwhelming or infodumpy nor lacking in information.

I have no idea what Critical Role is so I am definitely part of the wider audience who will pick this book up because it looks cute, not because of the fandom.

The FMC was naive and insufferable and acted about 14 - but she was meant to at the start because by the end her growth was very clear to see and very endearing. MMC was written with sympathy and plenty background to provide depth.

Lots of exactly the sorts of tropes that are crowd pleasers:
-only one bed
-unwashed two weeks on the road but being intimate anyway
-riches to rags (ish)
-grumpy sunshine

Overall, a quick and fun read!

Tusk Love by Thea Guanzon is a charming and cozy romantasy that perfectly blends humor, heart, and adventure without wasting a single page. The story moves briskly, pulling you into a world filled with magic, quirky characters, and undeniable chemistry.

The heroine, Guinevere, is refreshingly grounded—sheltered yet earnest in her attempts to be brave and kind beyond her sheltered upbringing. Opposite her is Oskar, the half-orc blacksmith with a gruff exterior but a genuinely sweet heart, making for an irresistible and tender dynamic.

Their journey together is filled with witty banter, moments of self-discovery, and that delightful push-and-pull of forbidden attraction. The story captures the spirit of classic fantasy romance with a modern, cozy twist, complete with memorable sidekicks (including some delightfully spirited horses) and a sense of whimsical magic reminiscent of a lively D&D session.

Whether you’re a fan of romantic adventures or just looking for a sweet, spicy, and utterly binge-worthy read, Tusk Love is an enchanting tale that hits all the right notes—heartfelt, funny, and deeply satisfying. Gwen and Oskar’s story stays with you long after the last page, proving that sometimes the best love stories come with a little chaos and a lot of charm.

I think this book could've been something I enjoyed because I found the premise fun, and the worldbuilding and the characters in and of themselves were interesting. Every place in the book and every character is described with so much detail, which allowed me to really picture them and yet it was never overwhelming. I also somewhat liked Guinevere's character development even if I often felt like it was fading a little too much in the background of the romance.

Which leads me to talking about what didn't work for me: the dynamic between Oskar and Guinevere. Right off the bat, there's insistence on certain things that I personally don't enjoy when I'm reading romance, like the fact that there are so many unnecessary reminders of size differences between them, Oskar's occasionally patronizing attitude towards Guinevere or the overemphasizing of Guinevere's naivete. While they kind of make sense within this story, it still felt too hammered in for me to feel comfortable with. I also really didn't like that third act drama because, putting myself in Guinevere's shoes, that felt really hurtful and it was hard for me to go from that to fully rooting for the couple again in such a short span of time.

In the end, it's all personal preference so I think that given to the right audience, this book could still have its enjoyers because it's also fun and well-written!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC.

d and d and romantasy? I was in from the start! This was a fun romp of a book and I absolutely liked the characters.

its just such a cute and cosy book. Its both sweet but spicy, has grumpy sunshine aspects, a touch of forced proximity and I loved it. Huge fan of thea guanzon since hurricane wars and just really enjoyed this one too. The world building, character development and pacing just hit the spot for me and I really loved both Guinevere and Oskar. Was rooting for them so much ♡ perfect if youre after a really cosy romantasy.

"The greatest love story of all time" – Jester was absolutely right.

As a huge Critical Role: Vox Machina fan, I had to read Tusk Love the moment I heard Thea Guazon was bringing Jester's infamous "smutty" romance novel to life and wow, it delivered everything I hoped for and more.

This story is funny, heartfelt, adventurous, and full of the kind of chaotic magic that feels like watching a one-shot session unfold in real time. You can almost guess what D&D spells are being cast as you go. It's a loving tribute to the fantasy-romance genre and to the spirit of storytelling that makes Critical Role so special.

We follow Gwenoveve, a merchant's daughter trying to make her way down the Amber Road to rejoin her family and secure a politically advantageous marriage to restore their fortunes. Instead, she gets rescued (and thrown completely off-course) by Oskar, a half-orc mercenary with a gruff exterior and a cinnamon-roll heart.

Their journey is one of self-discovery, desire, and adventure with just the right amount of tension, banter, and classic romance tropes. Gwen’s openness and trusting nature pull you in immediately. And Oskar? The brooding protector who can’t quite stay away? Say no more.

Add in a pair of horses with big personalities and the soft ache of forbidden love, and you’ve got a romance that feels rich and lived-in, but never too heavy.

Tusk Love is passionate, whimsical, and deeply satisfying—just like Jester promised. It balances heat, heart, and high fantasy in a way that feels utterly magical. Whether you're a Critter or a romance fan (or both), you’ll fall hard for Gwen and Oskar.

💬 "If you haven’t read it yet you must!"
💘 Steam level: 🔥🔥
⚔️ Fantasy elements: Travel, magic, monsters, and one glorious half-orc

Thank you netgalley and Randomhouse for my ARC copy.
I can't quite explain it but i absolutely adored this book, it really had me in a chokehold, like I could not put it down. It 100% got me out of my 2 month long reading Slump and I will 100% be rereading this soon. Everyone needs an Oskar in their life!!
Ive already recommended this to so many of my friends!!

Things I don’t know:

— Anything about Critical Role

Things I do know:

— That I loved this book

This book was mega fun!! I love Guinevere and Oskar!! They were such a great pairing. Loved their arguments, their banter, their love for each other. I loved watching them get to know each other and fall in love. I loved seeing both of them realise their true worth.

Despite not knowing a lick about Critical Role, I found this super easy to get in to. The world building was neither too little or too much. There may have been hints and nods and Easter eggs to the game that I didn’t notice, but it didn’t matter because none of it impacted my enjoyment with this book. I’d happily read more!!

Thank you to Random House UK, Cornerstone | Del Rey for this e-arc!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ — Rounded up for fans of romantasy and Critical Role

While Tusk Love wasn’t quite in line with my current reading mood, I can see it resonating with those who enjoy romantasy, especially stories leaning into steamy, bodice-ripper territory. There's a certain flair to it that makes me wonder whether it's meant to be a tongue-in-cheek tribute to romance tropes or a fully sincere take — either way, it delivers plenty of drama, heat, and action.

As someone only half-familiar with Critical Role, I still appreciated the nods to familiar names and locations woven throughout the worldbuilding. It adds a layer of charm and context that fans will likely enjoy, though newcomers might need a moment to find their footing.

A small wish on my part: how fun would it have been to have the audiobook narrated by Laura Bailey?

All in all, I suspect Tusk Love will land best with readers who are looking for escapism, fantasy smut, and a world tinted with recognizable CR lore.

---

Would you like me to tweak the tone or add a tagline at the top? Something like “For fans of spicy fantasy set in familiar realms”?

3.5 stars

Headlines:
It’s cosy
It’s cutesy
They’re opposites

Oskar and Guinevere are from different sides of the track. Guinevere was naive, posh, polite, trusting and overly optimistic. Oskar was big, grumpy, wary and working class. These two shouldn’t have worked but did, in a saccharine cutesy way.

This was a character-driven read, lighter on plot than I’d like that romped across the country. Bandits, trolls and friendlies were encountered and added to the colourful picture that was this book.

The heat was steaming, the chemistry was instant and you just had to give it to these two characters that they were destined to be.

I had fun with this book but it wasn’t as complex as I’d expected. Overall, an easy and cosy romantasy where romance truly was the centre.

Thank you to DelRey UK for the review copy.

This was a very cute read. Gwen was sweet, sunshiny and kind hearted. She was open, curious and willing to learn and not tied down by her privilege. Oskar was a wonder lead with the right amount of grump that totally fell apart because of Of Guinevere and her loveliness. Lovely chemistry, adventure and magic and fun characters along the journey all made for an enjoyable read. 3.5 ⭐

This is a proper grumpy x sunshine trope book!

If you haven’t guessed it already, yes, this is a five-star read! It’s fast-paced, full of adventure, incredibly emotive, and packed with surprises that had me cackling. I loved the shopping scene (iykyk 😂), and this book was spicy!

If you’re after a fun and cosy read that’ll make you feel, you’ve got to pick up Tusk Love!

Big thanks to Del Rey UK for the e-ARC via NetGalley. Now I just need to track down a physical copy in Thailand to keep on my shelf like a trophy.

This was silly goofy but hit ALL the feels for a releatively new critter like me, currently catching up on campaign 2.

I'm already a fan of this kind of 'light romantasy' genre, but having watched the majority of the series that inspired this, seeing the characters that Jester was self-inserting her and Fjord into and adventuring through places I'm familiar with, this really hit the spot for me. The combat was fun, the romance was silly but sweet, and the world building was of course next level because this world is already so fleshed out it's hard to believe it's *not* real. Reading this was literally like reading a mini DnD one shot, with sex.

This book has been my first real foray into the romantasy genre - I picked it up based mainly on my love for Critical Role and partly because I have heard good things about the author. I am happy to say that my gamble paid off and I really enjoyed this book!

If you haven't heard of Critical Role before, or you're not a fan of D&D, please don't let that put you off! There's no context required and the story is totally self-contained. The chapters are short and alternate between the POVs of the two main characters, Guinevere and Oskar, who meet by chance when Guinevere's caravan is attacked by bandits.

It's grumpy x sunshine done incredibly well, with lots of emotional depth and character development throughout. Their social backgrounds and family dynamics couldn't be more different from one another, and it was lovely to see them grow together as they learn more about each other.

There's a bit of something for everyone in this book - it feels generally cosy, with a sweet romance a the centre which never felt too over-the-top cutesy, but there is also a solid adventure plot involving mercenaries, magic, and mysterious items. On top of that, there are some spicy scenes! I wasn't totally sure what to expect (this is my first spicy read!) and I was a bit worried it would just make me cringe - but I was pleasantly surprised! The spice wasn't my favourite aspect of the book, but I wasn't bored or grossed out by it either and I felt that those moments fit quite naturally into the story.

Overall I would recommend this book to any romantasy fan who likes a bit of spice and any Critical Role fan who might want to explore a more romance-forward book. It felt like a good introduction to the genre to me and I'll be looking out for more of Thea Guanzon's work!

I'm a girl who loves her monster/human romances. I've read a fair share of Orc x Human, etc.
This started with a lot of promise, but sadly, I couldn't connect with either main character.
The storyline in itself was good and promising. It intrigued me enough to finish the book, but the rest just didn't click for me.
The spice was spicing, though. Props to the author for that one.

Although just because I didn't click with it, doesn't mean you won't. If characters based on D&D, grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity, Orc x human, is your thing, please give this a read.

Really really loved this fantasy romance novel. Bags of humour and plenty of spice! I need to read Thea Gurzon’s other novels now I enjoyed Tusk Love that much!!!

I adore critical role and who doesn’t critical role level of genius!

This book was sweet funny and very packed with fantasy .A tiny dash of spice.

Definitely what more authors should be doing is writing books from within books are tv shows it’s what all fans would love . Sure fan fic is good but sometimes it’s nice to hold a physical copy .

The cover art is beautiful, I can’t stop looking at it . Where is my half orc handsome tusks and silvering at the edges .

I’m on the orc train and it has left the station!

This was an absolute hoot. The whimsy, the adventure, the romance!

As Guinevere journeyed to the coast with Oskar weighed down with the dowry for her arranged marriage and fell in love, I fell in love with this story. I think it was properly cemented around the time Gwen endeared two rival gang leaders to her & went on a shopping spree wherein they carried her bags for her. Just a little bit silly in the best way.

Oskar was the ultimate (immediately protective) guide for Gwen on her fraught expedition and this was grumpy sunshine on crack, he only smiled for her - eeeee. Their connection was lovely, despite being thrown together so haphazardly they fell into an easy rhythm and made quite the pair. There were so many points in the story where they proved their unwavering loyalty to each other and moments where it was crystal clear they only wanted the best for the other person. They also broke class barriers and chose to follow their hearts. I was melting for them.

Cutesy-ness aside some scenes in here were simply white hot. I mean WOAH 🔥

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this revelation of an ARC. I’ll be reading more “monster” romance and more from Thea asap.

4.5

Brilliant and cosy and just a true fantasy romance! We should all give the ‘monsters’ more love! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.