HarperVoyager lands 'incredible' new fantasy trilogy by Filipino debut Guanzon

HarperVoyager has landed an “incredible” new fantasy trilogy by Filipina debut author Thea Guanzon. 

Natasha Bardon, publishing director, acquired world English rights to three books in The Hurricane Wars series from Thao Le at Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. The Hurricane Wars will be publishing in autumn 2023.  

The series will be set in a Southeast Asian-inspired world and features a wartime enemies-to-lovers romance with plenty of magic, airships, strange beasts and a marriage of political convenience between sworn foes.  

The trilogy will follow an orphan rebel as she finds out she can summon light and create weapons and then must defeat or align with a prince who can summon shadows. 

Guanzon said: “As a lifelong devotee of speculative fiction, I never dreamed that I’d one day have the opportunity to share an epic fantasy of my own with the world—and combine it with my other great love, romance, to boot. When I began envisioning this trilogy, I knew that I wanted to write a story about magic, about two people finding their way to each other against all odds—and I also wanted to write a story about my homeland, about our culture and all that we have overcome and what lies ahead of us still. 

“HarperVoyager has shown nothing but the utmost enthusiasm and support for this process and I am incredibly thrilled to be working with such a brilliant, passionate team. I know that my messy protagonists Alaric and Talasyn are in the best of hands. I am so excited to bring The Hurricane Wars to life with HarperVoyager and collaborate with them in making this storm unfold.” 

Bardon added: “I’m so thrilled that I get to work with Thea, Thao and Julia. Thea has built an incredible new world for fans to get lost in and The Hurricane Wars is everything I love about fantasy. I’m excited to watch this fresh, bold and exciting new talent make waves in a genre where HarperVoyager continues to break incredible debut voices.” 

Le said: “Thea Guanzon is a master at creating delectable tension and chemistry between her characters and I can’t wait for readers to swoon over this enemies-to-lovers star-crossed romance set against a fantastical Southeast Asian-inspired world. I’m so excited to be working with her and the Harper team whose enthusiasm radiates for Thea’s imaginative and cinematic storytelling.”