ೃ⁀➷ 4.5 stars *ੈ✩‧₊˚

This is grumpy x sunshine done RIGHT. No bc the way it was so scrumptious I couldn’t get enoughhh!

I wish this book has a sequel or smth bc wdym I can’t read about them forever????

Guinevere my absolute best girl. I wanna put her in my pocket and travel the world. She’s my care bear. I love her so much 😭🤚 the sweetest most precious lovable woman ever. It’s the way I wanna dote on her forever.

Oskar 🫦🫦🫦 the grump of my dreams. Every time he’d speak I’d just crash out bc like if mean and dangerous why so hot? Ugh and he is THE BIGGEST SOFTY EVER 😫 like deep deep deeeeeep inside that heart is the softest most caring guy ever. And hes onlyyyy ever shown that adoration to two ppl in his life, his mother and HER. Gwen. I’m actually gna start sobbing goodbye.

And when he blushes 😋😋😋 got me biting my fingers and twirling my hair giggling like a schoolgirl.

They’re so soulmatery coded. She’s the fluttershy to his discord. The cheer bear to his grumpy bear.

I love them your honour 🤚

ೃ⁀➷ Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC! ♥︎

I have absolutely no idea what Critical was (still don’t) but this is the best fluffiest high-stakes fantasy romance I’ve ever read.

I adore Thea and her writing style is always 10/10.

Tusk Love had everything I adore - cinnamon roll but could kill you MMC, a shy, slightly naive FMC who has top tier character development, and the best smut I’ve read in a long time.

Absolute god tier book - and it’s SHORT!

I need my own Oskar, please and thank you.

I am so glad I stuck with this one!

I really did not gel with the first 40% of this book and all I could do was pray that Oskar was going to rub off on Gwen because I could not stand her at all which just shows how great the writing is in it.

This was the perfect cosy romantasy read with main characters I loved (you got there in the end Gwen, thank god), an action packed adventure, the sweetest blossoming love, and fabulous banter.

My first book by this author and I will absolutely be picking up more of their work. Thank you very much for the eARC, even if I'm a bit late to the party xo

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an eARC of Tusk Love by Thea Guanzon.

I’ll be the first to admit—this book completely surpassed my expectations! As a long-time Critical Role fan, Tusk Love has been a beloved in-joke for years, and I’ve always enjoyed revisiting its spontaneous creation within the campaign. Because of that, I went into this expecting a steamy, lighthearted romp through Exandria—fun, but not necessarily deep.

But I was so pleasantly surprised. While there is some heat, this story leans far more into rich character development, emotional depth, and a compelling plot than I ever anticipated. Even for readers (like me) who don’t usually go for spicy romance, there’s plenty here to enjoy—and honestly, it’s the emotional resonance that stands out most.

Oskar and Guinevere are both layered and flawed, shaped by their pasts, and their dynamic starts off as a tense clash of personalities due to their vastly different backgrounds. But watching that evolve into something tender and genuine was incredibly satisfying. I won’t spoil anything, but let’s just say there are a few characters I’d love to shout some choice words at!

All in all, this was an absolute joy to read. It’s such a treat that we now get to hold the real Tusk Love in our hands—something once purely fictional now made fully, wonderfully real. I’m thrilled it exists, and I know fans new and old will find something to love here.

genuinely now one of my all time favourite books!!

Is there a book 2!!?!??! PLEASE I NEED TO KNOW MORE

This book is honestly like a dream I never want to wake up from and I am overjoyed that it’s now officially published! 🥹✨

It’s light-hearted, a joy to read, full of swoon worthy romance, and it’s set in the beloved DnD world AND written by Thea Guanzon…. What more could I have asked for?!

I read this one over the weekend and honestly couldn’t stop myself smiling all the way through it, Oskar’s grumpy personality balanced with Guinevere’s heart of gold makes for a fantastic romance (both sweet and spicy!).

I loved the adventure in this one, it’s pretty low stakes and I loved learning about the magic within the book. As a particularly new fan of the Critical Role universe I ate this one up and will definitely be on the lookout for more!

If you love the one bed trope, a yearning MMC, and aren’t phased by a grumpy half orc as the love interest PLEASE add this one to your TBR!

4 stars
Content warning: kidnapping, attempted murder, death, blood, injury detail, grief from parental loss, emotional neglect from parents

This was such a delightfully cosy adventure, full of self-discovery and acceptance, humour, found-family, and a romantic tale that's really rather spicy 👀 I enjoyed the dual pov from Oskar and Guinevere, and watching these two soft babies become bolder in areas they once saw as weaknesses. The magical system was interesting, and the world felt vibrant and full, something I've come to respect from Thea Guanzon's works. It was easy to imagine myself along on this journey with the main characters.

I had absolutely no prior understanding of D&D, and applied for this book simply because I enjoyed the author's last book release. Whilst I still don't have a lot of knowledge, from the bits I picked up researching it a little as I read Tusk Love, I can see how this storyline Guanzon has brought to life could effortlessly fit into the established world and game, and bring a lot of enjoyment to fans.

Whilst a lot of the plotlines were quite predictable, the journey towards them was lighthearted and relatable, and I enjoyed how wholesome the majority of this book felt. Whilst the spicy scenes were well-written, I did drop a star simply because I felt like some of them were a bit of a stalemate and time could have been better spent on other aspects of building their romantic connection emotionally or on other parts of the story. Fans of romantasy with multiple spicy scenes will better appreciate this than I did, however!

Thank you to the author and publisher via NetGalley for a digital copy to review. All thoughts are my own.

Something a little different today as I got an e-arc of - Tusk Love by Thea Guanzon which comes out today. It is a spicy romantasy novel from the D&D actual play show Critical Role. 

Thanks to @netgalley for the e-arc

I confess Romantasy is a bit of a divergence for me and not something I usually read but I enjoy Critical Role and especially Campaign 2 with the Mighty Nein from whence this novel has its origins when the Mighty Nein visit a smutty bookshop and the DM Matthew had to come up with some titles on the fly. Thus the smutty novel Tusk Love was born and when I heard it was going to be an actual novel I knew I wanted to read it.

Guinevere an ambitious merchant’s daughter who has lived a privileged life is tasked by her parents to bring a precious cargo to them in a distant city, however things go awry as her caravan is ambushed, coming to her rescue is the gruff handsome world weary half-orc Oskar who justs want to do his own thing. 

I really enjoyed this book. It was just lovely and cosy albeit with a healthy dose of action and spice. The characters were fun to read both Guinevere (Gwen) and Oskar were interesting to read as they go from strangers to lovers. While not a connoisseur of Romantasy, this book was loaded with some of the traditional tropes of the genre such as one bed in the inn, one horse, grumpy/sunshine pairing and class difference to mention but a few. It was also really heartfelt and fun. The story was fun and light-hearted with some medium-stakes and danger at moments and enough mystery to keep the pages turning.

Overall I would recommend to fans of Critical Role and fans of Romantasy. This was such a delightfully fun and spicy novel. An easy enjoyable read and lots to enjoy for anyone who watches Critical Role.

This fantasy romance was so much fun to read. Guinevere is

I laughed out loud at Guinevere’s charm and ability to guilelessly convince everyone to help her. - there's a particularly brilliant scene in the market of Oskar's home village featuring bloodthirsty gang leaders and some important shopping. Oskar and Guinevere's relationship was sweet and spicy, and they were both impossible not to warm to.

I went into Tusk Love eagerly looking forward to a standard adventure fantasy romance, and it was even better than I thought! It was a fast read, easy to devour in one sitting (which I did). I've never watched Critical Role, but seeing as this is an in-universe book, I thought it might be a good intro to the world and setting, and now I'm looking forward to watching the show.

Guinevere is a great female main character who goes through a real tranformation. She’s not a typical spoiled rich girl; she genuinely wants to both do her best and grow as a person. Learning her family history/dynamics and watching how she learns to stand up for herself was a great story.

Oskar the grumpy half-orc was her perfect counterpoint. He has his own family problems, as well as being somewhat adrift in his own life, looking for his path forward. I loved how the author showed his softer side without making him less strong. He was everything you want in a hero: strong, honourable, and even vulnerable.

I really appreciated how these characters communicate. Most of the time, they talk openly about their feelings and work through their problems together. The back-and-forth between them was good, not too cutesey and not petulant either. The handful of spicy scenes are just enough to make you blush.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for facilitating me with a review copy of this book at no cost and with no obligation. I reviewed this book voluntarily, and all opinions are my own.
The story touches on some important themes like the weight of family expectations (for both characters), carving your own path in life, and being brave enough to show your true feelings.

If you want a cosy, lowstakes romantic fantasy with great characters and just the right touch of spice, put Tusk Love on your TBR.

This was honestly so fun!! Don’t expect anything. Groundbreaking but super fun spicy and romantic!! Defo recommend as a palette cleanser

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As a fan of Critical Role, I was excited to see that the in-world book created by the players was getting an actual adaptation. Despite being connected to the Critical Role franchise, rest assured that there is no need to have any knowledge of the show.

Tusk Love follows the wonderful adventure of Guinevere and Oskar. They give off perfect grumpy/sunshine vibes with Oskar the brooding mercenary and Guinevere the naive merchant's daughter. The characters are endearing and It was wonderful seeing their growth and development across the book as they journey together.

This is the first book I have read from Thea Guanzon but I really enjoyed her style and it fit the tone of the book perfectly.

It's a bit of a shame this is a standalone but the fact that they fleshed out a fictional book from a game into a fully fledged story is amazing.

📔Book of the Month: 🐘Tusk Love 💖

📆Publish Date: July 1st

Tropes:
🏵 Grumpy x Sunshine

🏵 Only One Bed

🏵 Instant Attraction

🏵 Dual POV

🏵 Romantasy

An in universe book from the world of @critical_role, Tusk Love follows Guinevere, a merchants daughter and Oscar, a half orc after an ambush brings them together.

📖 This is my first @theagwrites book, and frankly, I'm impressed! A spicy romantasy set in the universe of Critical Role, it offers lush description, hidden magic and more than enough pining between the main characters.

Overall, it's an easy read, that would be ideal for any bookish individual who likes DnD and romantasy ✨️

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Spice level: 🌶🌶🌶/5

Art by: @erion.makuo

Thank you @penguinrandomhouse for the E-ARC I received!

#romantasy #tusklove #criticalrole #arcreview #theaguanzon #dungeonsanddragonsbooks #netgalley

Tusk Love is the perfect blend of cozy fantasy, steamy romance, and adventurous magic, a true gem for romantasy fans. This book swept me off my feet from the first page, delivering everything I never knew I needed in a fantasy romance.

The grumpy-sunshine dynamic between Oskar and Guinevere is absolute perfection. Oskar, a brooding, cinnamon-roll half-orc, hides his kind heart behind a tough exterior, while Guinevere, a selfless merchant’s daughter, is all warmth and light despite the duty that weighs her down. Their chemistry is electric, and the forbidden love element only adds to the tension. I found myself rooting for them every step of the way, caught up in their slow-burn, swoon-worthy romance.

The book’s world-building is fantastic, with a vibrant setting that includes magic, mercenaries, and peril. I loved how the horses even had their own personalities—such a fun and unexpected touch! The plot is action-packed with plenty of twists and turns, keeping you on the edge of your seat, but it’s the character development that really shines. Guinevere’s journey of self-discovery, from a duty-bound girl to someone brave enough to follow her heart, was deeply satisfying to watch. Oskar’s growth as he learns to embrace love and his own worth added so much emotional depth to the story.

While the last 20% slowed down a bit with more descriptions than I’d have liked, the pacing overall was spot-on. The tropes; grumpy/sunshine, forbidden romance, only one bed - were executed beautifully and felt fresh and natural, rather than predictable.

Tusk Love has it all: swoon-worthy romance, engaging world-building, laugh-out-loud moments, and characters you can’t help but love. The chemistry between Oskar and Guinevere alone makes this book unmissable. It’s the kind of story that wraps you in warmth, making you want to stay in its world long after you turn the last page.

If you're looking for a cozy, enchanting, and steamy fantasy romance, this is the book for you. I’m officially obsessed, and I can’t wait to see more from this world. Highly recommend!

A Cosy fantasy romance at its finest!

“Fear was a natural state, neither gift nor curse. But everyone possessed the ability to overcome it. It was just a matter of when and how.”

This was sooo, so good! When I got the ARC, I abandoned everything, started reading immediately, and didn’t stop until I finished the book!

Tusk Love by Thea Guanzon was such a delightful read! I am a huge Thea fan and absolutely adore The Hurricane Wars. (Really, HW is my comfort read. I’ve read each book like four times, if not more.) And after reading this one, I can confidently say that Thea can do it all!
If someone asks me what I expect from perfect cosy fantasy, I will say this! This is exactly what I want my cosy, low-stakes fantasy romance to look like: the perfect mix of action, romance, and drama!
Thea’s signature hilarious banter shines throughout! And the tension, the pining!?!? Amazing! The book is packed with action from the very first page. The pacing was fantastic, and it kept me engaged and entertained the whole time. Even though it’s only 270 pages, nothing felt rushed. Neither the plot nor the romance. The story was very well developed, and even though I knew nothing about Critical Role or the inspiration behind the story, I didn’t feel like I was missing anything.

Guinevere, at the beginning of the story, comes across as a kind and well-mannered but spoiled young woman. She grew up in luxury and wealth. She starts her journey as a very sheltered and naive girl, so it was very satisfying to watch her grow into a self-assured and confident young woman with each chapter!

Then there’s Oskar. He’s the grump to our sunshine Gwen, but despite his cold exterior, he is brave and thoughtful and very unlike anyone Guinevere has ever met before! 
Watching their relationship build slowly, page by page, until the tension turned into love? Perfection. And you know I love nothing more than a man who yearns, right? and oh boy, Oskar might be the master of pining from afar! All the romantic scenes made me giggle and swoon though I really should have expected that. That’s, after all, what Thea Guanzon does best: writes books that have you screaming into your pillow at 3 in the morning!

Thank you to both Netgalley and the publisher Randomhouse/Del Ray for the opportunity to read and review Tusk Love by Thea Guanzon

Tusk Love follows Guinevere, the daughter of merchants who was raised to be their ticket into high society by marrying her off into a noble household without thought for what she may wish for her own life. Guinevere years for a life of adventure on the open road instead of the house her parents confined her to for her entire life but she gets more than she wishes for when her caravan escorting her across the country to meet her parents on the coast is suddenly attacked by bandits wishing to steal the wares her parents aim to sell who kill the guards leaving Guinevere to fend for herself until she is rescued by Oskar, a half orc travelling to visit his mother's clan in the north. Despite his rough exterior Oskar takes it upon himself to see Guinevere down the amber road to her destination no matter what.... or who... the amber road has in store for the two of them.

Tusk Love is a firey romance that I quickly burned through and really enjoyed, especially Oskar himself and his whole tough like a grizzly bear but soft like a teddy bear demeanor. I was really hooked from start to finish and im so glad that I got the opportunity to read this book. The only thing I found myself getting annoyed with was Guinevere specifically how she is portrayed at times throughout the book. Don't get me wrong I loved her as a character and her personal journey throughout the book I also get why she is also a very naive character being raised the way she was but that naivety combined with many of the descriptive language around her using words like "dainty" it felt a little infantalising at times like she was a character younger than 20. Despite this the book was still really enjoyable and overall I had a good time reading it and think any romantasy reader would also enjoy it especially those who usually enjoy "monster" romances including creatures such as orcs

I had such a fabulous time reading Tusk Love, it is a spellbinding, romantic and fun adventure, that (as a Critical Role fan myself) I think does a perfect job at being accessible for newcomers to Exandria, while also being a delightful expansion of the world for fans like myself.

The romance here is a perfect blend of slow burn, angst, and enemies to lovers. The connection between Oskar and Guinevere felt real and enticing, and I was absolutely rooting for them the whole way through. I really enjoyed that you could absolutely see why Jester was a fan of Oskar and Guinevere, especially Guinevere. The character choices and voice felt true to Jester and while I'm confident this will not lead to the average reader missing anything, it was a pleasant little nod that I thought was very well achieved by the author.

I liked the nature of the conflict within the book too, the mystery was one I was anxious to see a resolution to and felt satisfied with by the end of the book. I truly didn't see some of the resolutions coming before they happened.

Thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Random House & Thea Guanzon for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review, here we go:

You ever pick up a book expecting cinnamon rolls and soft sweaters, and instead it offers you a shirtless half-orc with emotional depth and thighs that could crush your moral compass? Yeah, that’s Tusk Love.

This book gets marketed as cozy fantasy, but let me be clear: this is cozy fantasy that sneaks you into the tavern’s back room and locks the door. You’re not getting Legends & Lattes vibes or Kiki’s Delivery Service wholesomeness here: this is more like if the Critical Role gang decided to write spicy fanfiction after a couple of pints and zero adult supervision. And honestly? I respect that!

The plot is delightfully simple: Gwen needs to travel from A to B, Oskar swoops in to help (as her personal bodyguard, emotional support orc, and general smolder dispenser), and together they face peril, magic, and an alarming amount of unresolved tension. Do they fall in love with the speed of a D&D player rolling a nat 20 on charisma? Yes. So what if the plot was a bit insta-lovey? Did I care? Absolutely not, because Gwen and Oskar are adorable and I will not tolerate any slander.

Now. The tension with Lord Wensleydale? Chef’s kiss. Peak Moulin Rouge energy. Gwen is basically Satine, Oskar is Christian (but greener and grumpier), and Lord Wensleydale is the slimy Duke trying to own things he has no business touching. Bonus points for Oskar repeatedly mispronouncing his name out of pure, petty jealousy. I laughed every single time. Petty men with big swords (IYKYK 😏)? We love to see it!

But I must talk about the “Big Bad”… I won’t spoil anything, but the moment they stepped onto the scene, my brain screamed JARNATHAN?!—yes, the bird guy from Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. And once that image took root? I could NOT take him seriously. Like, I know he’s meant to be menacing, but all I could picture was Jarnathan as his clumsy behavior. Sorry to this villain, but his intimidation check failed so hard for me 😂

That said, I had a great time with this book. The Critical Role vibes are strong (no campaign knowledge required), the character banter is top tier, and the romance brings both heat and heart. It’s not flawless, but I was fully entertained. If you like your fantasy a little chaotic, a lot lusty, and served with a wink? Tusk Love knows exactly what it’s doing!

Guinevere, daughter of an ambitious merchant, whose predetermined path is to marry well, wishes for adventure. She is more than meets the eye, Teinedh being her dangerous secret. When her caravan is attacked by bandits, she is saved by half-orc Oskar. Oskar has recently lost his mother and is on the way to an unknown land to be with the family he has never met. They end up traveling together and as the feelings between them grow, the spark ever so brighter, they realize they must decide between each other or what has been chosen for them.

From the first page, it jumps right into the action which is so well-detailed, giving us a 380 picture of what is going on. Companionable, easy to get into and attention-seizing, it is often lyrical in its emotional expression, making you feel as if you've experienced what the protagonists have. Wordings that conjure impressively creative images color the descriptions. The narrative has laser focus on what it wants to say and does it handsomely. The intrigue is palpable, with the danger following them. Secrets & mysteries unfurl in a gradual 'drop a clue here and there" manner. The mythology and worldbuilding, which are both enticing and accented with whimsical details, are shared beautifully in the storyline.

The distinctly voiced POVs make you feel like you're in the story but also confidants of the respective speaker. Their musings, their gestures exhibit fierceness or softness or both. There is a wonderful humor accompanying the story, making me laugh quite often. Their butting of heads and fraying of nerves (more Oskar's, Guinevere is mostly bewildered by him) cast a chuckle-worthy glow.

Their antithesis complements the plot — Lady and the Half-Orc, Grumpy and Hesitant Sunshine. Guinevere's naivete of the world outside her somewhat pampered existence rings endearing, though it does land them in some sticky situations. My cheeks hurt from smiling so much as they fell in love — as they become comfortable with each other and themselves, always evolving. And my heart jolted due to their circumstance.

There are a lot of the usual romance staples and a few might present a little too convenient or not really sensible at that part of the story, but they are staples for a reason. The book actually pokes fun at some of them. Also, there was a goldmine in the form of Teinidh and Guinevere's magic that was unfortunately underused. But you cannot deny how entertaining it is.

This story is about giving yourself the chance to be your true and complete self, accepting all the parts of your individuality. It is a charming road movie of a book, properly adventurous, with characters you will adore. A huggable, spicy romantasy with a love that transcends worlds.

I absolutely loved this romantasy I couldn’t put it down! I live both Oskar & Guinevere , total polar opposites drawn together by an invisible force called Fate 🥰 The world building was written really well that I could easily imagine places, the characters were well written too. Both MC’s are my favourite in a while.
There was heroics, vulnerability, empathy, anger, stubbornness, growth,love and adventure. What more could you want for a romantasy. It was easy to follow and left me feeling warm & fuzzy . I will be definitely buying the hardback as a trophy book 🩷
I can’t do half’s on here but it’s a 4.5 for me ☺️