Thea Guanzon holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies, with a specialization in international Politics and Peace Studies. When she's not writing, she can be found traveling, running a Dungeons & Dragons campaign, or fangirling over villains. She currently resides in Metro Manila, Philippines.
The Hurricane Wars is her first novel.
Today she tells us about her Six Books.
1. What book are you currently reading?
Unbound by Christy Healy, a gorgeously written fairytale steeped in Irish folklore that's slated for a January 2024 release under Blackstone. This the kind of fairytale that's more Brothers Grimm than Disney princess; I've just been having the best time with it and I would die for Rozlyn O Conchuir, our beautiful, monstrous protagonist.
2. What upcoming book are you really excited about?To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods by Molly X. Chang, a debut fantasy set in a Chinese-inspired world publishing April 2024 from Del Rey, wherein a girl with the power of Death enters into a dark bargain with the enemy prince. I adore Molly's writing style and I can't wait for everyone else to read it!
3. Is there a book you're currently itching to re-read?
Tehanu by Ursula K. Le Guin. What happens to the heroes after the adventure is over? What happens when the heroine chooses an ordinary life? This book dares to ask that, and it's such a quiet yet stirring conclusion to Le Guin's
Earthsea Cycle, as well as a culmination of a love story decades in the making. I'm very curious to see how I'll interpret it through the lens of an adult who has experienced more of the world and been more worn down by the cares of life, as Ged and Tenar have.
4. A book that you love and wish that you yourself had written. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. It was the first urban fantasy novel that I ever read and to this day I'm still blown away by how imaginative and compelling it is. I really want to try my hand at urban fantasy one day and this book will definitely serve as the standard that I'll aspire to. There's still a sense of wonder despite the gritty tone that I hope I can manage to emulate even just a little bit of.
5. What's one book, which you read as a child or a young adult, that has had a lasting influence on your writing? Gregory Maguire's twists on beloved classics - Wicked Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, and Mirror Mirror - all fall under this category for me. His morally gray protagonists encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and his atmospheric, opulently descriptive, and poetic writing style really inspired me to experiment with my prose until I found my own voice.
6. And speaking of that, what's your latest book, and why is it awesome? The Hurricane Wars is my debut novel and the first book in a romantic fantasy trilogy that came out on October 3rd. It's set in a world that's inspired by my beloved home region of Southeast Asia, borrowing heavily from Philippine culture and mythology, and it's full of my favorite tropes that I've always loved in media and I'm so excited to share my own take on them with the world.
Thank you, Thea!
POSTED BY: Paul Weimer. Ubiquitous in Shadow, but I’m just this guy, you know? @princejvstin.
1. What book are you currently reading?
