I, too, would love to be ravaged against a strong tree trunk by a brooding, half-orc archer with deeply complex mommy issues. But alas, as half-orc archers do not exist in our world, I must content myself with Thea Guanzon’s saucy fantasy novel, Tusk Love.
While the lore surrounding Tusk Love spans far and wide, especially for die-hard fans of the Dungeons & Dragons web series Critical Role, newcomers to the world of D&D need not feel frightened as they dip their toes into the steamy, delightful world of Guanzon’s creation.
The novel follows Guinevere, a merchant’s daughter who was raised to be a beautiful, well-mannered member of the upper-class, but yearns for adventure and harbors a dark, smoky secret. Her world is turned upside down when, after being attacked on the road by a group of savage bandits, she is saved by Oskar, an ill-tempered, broad-chested, and extremely handsome half-orc. The two go on a quest to deliver Guinevere safely to her parents (and her betrothed! Gasp!), but end up quickly falling in love with each other along the way.
From the get-go, Guanzon throws romance trope after romance trope at the reader, never letting our sense of desire and yearning falter. Her favorite tropes are perhaps the most timeless, the kind that any curious teenager who’s ever picked up a Harlequin paperback or fallen down a Fanfiction.net rabbit hole would instantly recognize. There’s the age-old trick of “there’s only one bed in this entire inn,” where our hero and heroine are “forced” to curl into each other in order to maximize the pitiful space that is their twin-size mattress. There’s the “someone gets drunk and confesses” trope, where Guinevere, after drinking too much ale, finds herself sitting on Oskar’s lap and telling him how gorgeous he is. There’s even the heartwrenching “push them away because they deserve better” trope, where Oskar tries to cut ties with Guinevere so that she can live her life with her rich, albeit snobbish, fiancé.
The pay-off of these tropes is delicious, as readers are treated to a lush array of spicy, detailed, but always well-deserved scenes of passion. From Oskar and Guinevere getting freaky underneath a very wet waterfall (after a sensual bathing session, mind you, that involved a tiny bar of soap finding the most hidden of crevices), to our favorite couple trying to muffle their voices while doing the deed in a camping bag, Guanzon plunges us into the enticing world of fantasy erotica.
What sets Tusk Love apart from the other top contenders of the romantasy genre (A Court of Thorns and Roses, Fourth Wing) is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s a light-hearted, easy read, and if we look past its more sensual moments, it offers a charming glimpse into the lives of two young lovers who are head-over-heels for each other, all while navigating the excitement and chaos of a classic quest.
Should you read Tusk Love out in public, surrounded by hundreds of people who may or may not see your cheeks turn red as you get to the sexier chapters of the novel? Perhaps not. I’d recommend saving it for a cozy night in, when you’re all alone and ready to devour Guanzon’s enchanting novel all in one go.
