Tusk Love by Thea Guanzon: Book Review

Disclaimer: I received a free advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publisher, the author and NetGalley. This review will not contain spoilers.

Tusk Love by Thea Guanzon wasn’t even on my radar, to be honest. I tried reading this author’s previous series and just couldn’t get into it. But then I saw Tusk Love and it looked like the perfect place to give her work another shot. It was on NetGalley, the cover was stunning, and I was totally smitten. What’s a girl to do?

Some quick thoughts: Tusk Love is worth reading whether you know Critical Role or not, simply because it’s a charming orc romance with a sublime world (and who knows, maybe you grow to love DnD through it). I did have some issues with it, mainly because I read similar stuff before, but if you haven’t, I’m sure you’ll find this book enjoyable.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you buy through them at no extra cost to you.

• My rating: 3 ⭐
• Is it spicy? Yes.
• Standalone or series? A standalone.
• Read if: You want an orc romance done well, you care about Critical Role or DnD (or even BG3), or you just want a good romantasy standalone.

Thoughts and Feelings

Oh, and here’s a fun fact: Tusk Love didn’t just come out of nowhere—it’s a fictional romance novel from Critical Role’s second campaign, where it became this running joke thanks to Jester Lavorre’s obsession with it. Basically, what started as a joke book about a forbidden love between a human and a half-orc turned into something real for all of us to read. Which, honestly, is such a cool way to bring a fandom in-joke to life. Thea Guanzon took that little snippet of lore and expanded it into a whole novel, which is kind of amazing.

I went into this book really wanting to love it. Between my recent good experiences with monster romance and the newfound interest in DnD (courtesy of Baldur’s Gate 3, which I reviewed on PlayForge), I had high hopes. And I did have a good time with it! But there are a few reasons why this didn’t hit five-star territory for me, and why it’s probably not going to be a super memorable read overall.

First off, I’ve read something similar to this before — Halfling by S.E. Wendel. In both books, a pretty, privileged girl gets saved by a poor half-orc from another orc. He initially plans to escort her to a certain point but ends up falling for her along the way and decides to see her all the way home. Of course, there’s tension around her family not accepting their relationship, bandits attacking them, and the classic “this isn’t appropriate” drama.

I’m not accusing anyone of copying—it’s just one of those things where the plots are eerily similar. Maybe it’s a common trope in the orc romance subgenre. I’m not exactly well-read in that niche, so who knows? But I didn’t like Halfling all that much, and I’m not sure Tusk Love did enough to differentiate itself to win me over either. That said, I did enjoy Tusk Love more than Halfling because the world-building was more interesting and felt reminiscent of Baldur’s Gate 3. Especially the first part of the game, with all the beautiful meadows and scenery.

But while the world was charming, the heroine maybe not so much. She’s just so sheltered and naive about life that I couldn’t take her seriously. And look, I don’t mind feminine, softer heroines. I actually prefer them over the tough girl trope most of the time. But the thing is, there’s a difference between being soft or gentle and just being outright childish.

This heroine knows about sex and adult concepts but is somehow clueless about people and how the world works. She’s infantilized by the author and the love interest constantly—like, at one point, she literally sits on his lap while he feeds her. It’s giving “helpless child” energy, and I’m not here for it (especially in romance). I wish we could find a balance between “perfect little innocent princess” and “battle-hardened warrior who swears like a sailor and hates everyone.” The extremes are getting old.

Another reason I couldn’t fully love this book is the insta-love. From the moment these two meet, they’re borderline obsessed with each other. They’re already talking about how beautiful and amazing the other is, practically five seconds after locking eyes. They sleep in the same space, hug while he cries, and feel totally safe with each other, all within the first few chapters.

I get that this isn’t marketed as a slow burn, so it’s partly my own fault for expecting something else. But even so, it just didn’t feel organic. They don’t know each other at all, but they’re already acting like soulmates. 

But credit where it’s due—the world-building is fantastic. It’s hands-down the best part of the book. If you’ve played Baldur’s Gate 3, you’ll probably find a lot to love here. Even if you haven’t, the cities and various landscapes are beautifully described and genuinely charming. The side characters are also pretty great, especially the ones they meet in the forest and the gang members in the city where Oscar lives. The cover is also absolutely beautiful. It looks like a painting you’d want to hang on your wall.

Overall, Tusk Love had some fun moments and lovely world-building, but the predictable plot, irritating heroine, and rushed romance kept it from really landing for me. I’d still recommend it if you’re into fantasy romance with a whimsical world and don’t mind insta-love.