The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon

Key Characters:

• Talasyn: The protagonist, an orphan with light magic—an ability thought to have been eradicated by the Night Empire. She finds a sense of family among the rebel soldiers. Her magic can cut through the shadows of night, making her both a powerful asset and a dangerous target.

• Prince Alaric: Crown prince of the Night Empire and heir to the throne. He wields shadow magic, a powerful ability passed down from his father, the Night Emperor.

• Khaede: Talasyn’s best friend and confidant.

• Vela: A defector from the Kethese forces who joins the rebel army.

• Gahiers: The Night Emperor, Alaric’s father, and the force behind the empire’s conquests.

The Story:Talasyn, an orphan, is recruited by the rebels after they discover she possesses light magic—a power the Night Emperor eradicated from the continent years ago. Trained in secret, Talasyn waits for the perfect moment to wield her abilities against the empire’s forces.

During a brutal battle, Talasyn is forced to reveal her magic to save herself. Her powers catch the attention of Prince Alaric, who finds her burning on the battlefield. Though she survives their encounter, she knows she must remain vigilant now that the emperor’s son is aware of her abilities.

Soon after, Talasyn is sent on a mission to a neutral island nation, a place shrouded in mystery and rumored to harbor dragons and unique magic. There, she makes a life-changing discovery: her father, believed dead, is actually alive, and she is a lost heir to a forgotten legacy. This revelation forces her into an uneasy alliance with the one person she despises most after the emperor—Prince Alaric.

In a shocking turn of events, Talasyn and Alaric are forced into a political marriage to broker peace between their warring nations. Although they seal the union, Talasyn struggles with conflicting emotions. She begins to develop feelings for Alaric, but her loyalty to her country makes her feel as though she’s betraying her people. Determined to protect her own claim to the crown, she distances herself from Alaric, even as tensions between them remain unresolved.

The story concludes with the coronation still pending and the fate of their nations—and their relationship—hanging in the balance.