Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller is such an amazing book. This book is a viking inspired story. Our main character is Rasmira and she is a warrior in training. She is supposed to take over the tribe one day. All viking teenagers have a coming of age trial where they are tested and it is time for Rasmira to attend hers. Rasmira is sabotaged during her trial and because of this, she wasn't able to become successful in winning the test. So she ends up banished to the woods as a punishment with an impossible trial that no one thinks she can complete. The expectation is for her to die in the woods. Rasmira is tasked with killing the god that is terrorizing their village.

Rasmira has lost all hope. She doesn't 'think that she is going to be able to complete this task and she will have to live with the shame of losing her test. Then Rasmira meets Soren and Iric. Two men that were banished to the woods for failing their tests as well. Together they decide that they are going to work together in order to complete their tasks together. They take turns training each other so they can all complete the quests they were given.

I really enjoyed this story. I thought Levenseller did such a great job with it. I am actually sad that I waited so long to read this novel. Levenseller just has a way of sucking you into a good book. Rasmira is an absolute joy to get to know in Warrior of the Wild. Soren and Eric are such great characters as well. I could not have asked for a more enjoyable adventure. I really hope Levenseller decides to return to this world some day because I would love to get an update on these characters and see where they are at now.

DNF. Couldn't get into this book. I love this author but this book just wasn't for me, sadly. Thank you for approving me and I'm sorry I didn't enjoy the book.

There really aren't that many viking inspired reads and this one fits the bill perfectly. Levenseller's writing is engaging but I do kinda feel that it's similar to other reads. It does have a strong female lead and an seemingly unsurmountable task that ends predictably. I enjoyed the read and see my teens enjoying it as well.

I really enjoyed this book! I was pleased to see that it was different from the other viking centered books that also came out at the same time and this one dealt more with personal exploration rather than (what I felt) was strict world building in the others. This book allows you to get a firm sense of the character's inner worlds, even Soren and Irik.

DNF
I tried to get into this book several times, but the book wasn't for me. I'll still give Levenseller's books a try in the future as I did enjoy her debut.

This was such a fun book! After reading Sky in the Deep I was dying for more YA viking books, and that's when I looked towards Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller. Having read and enjoyed some of Levenseller's past books I was really looking forward to this, and it didn't disappoint.

While not being the most historically accurate book I've read. Warrior of the Wild managed to not make me care that much about the accuracy. Rasmira was a fun and interesting main character, her friendship with Irec was one of my high points of the novel, and the story kept me interested from start to finish. I did manage to guess the big twist, but that didn't hinder my enjoyment too much. Overall I give Warrior of the Wild four out of five stars for being an entertaining stand alone perfect for fans of Sky in the Deep.

I gave this one a 4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this book I loved the friendship between Rasmira, Soren, and Iric. I loved the relationship Rasmira had with her sisters. After I read the first part I had to put it down, i felt so bad for her. I enjoyed her relationship with Soren. I wouldn't mind seeing more on these characters and what they do next. I just didn't like that Rasmira was the only women warrior and that it was a big deal that she was. I didn't like how her parents treated her or the other trainers did. This is just might be a new favorite though.

I tried reading this book but sadly I didn't make it very far while reading this book. I think that the different point of views made it a bit difficult to understand . I usually love this author's books and I hoped that this one would work out for me.

My book club, Words & Whimsy had the privilege of hosting Tricia for an author chat in 2019 and she was a pleasure to speak with.

Warrior of the Wild was such a lush, descriptive and hair raising rush that focused on inner strength and feminism. It was a joy to read and have on my shelf.

Unfortunately, I did not get. the chance to read this ARC prior to its release--I'm hoping to work through my backlist now that we're home for the coming weeks!--but we did end up buying this book for the library collection.

Vikings, a kick-ass heroine, and romance!? Sign me up! At times a but predictable, but a fun read overall!

Rasmira has been training for the past ten years to become a full-fledged warrior in her village. At the end of the test, though, she is betrayed by a supposed friend and banished to live (and presumably die quickly) in the wild. She may return to the village if she impossibly kills the god Peruxolo (sp?? since I listened to the audiobook). Surprisingly, she comes across two young men, Soren and Irec, warriors from another village who had been banished a year ago after their tests. Together, they work together to battle extreme monsters, accomplish their banishment challenges, and pave the way for a new future for the villages previously under Peruxolo's thumb.

3.5/5 stars

At first, I was frustrated because Rasmira and Warrior of the Wild seemed immature-- especially in regards to how Rasmira refuses to lie just because of feared retribution from the goddess. However, as I continued, I reminded myself that <a href="https://bookriot.com/2019/03/29/ya-is-not-a-genre/"> this is YA, and it truly is written for teenagers </a> (plus the whole, Viking-esque culture that had a different outlook on deities than we do today). Keeping that in mind, I didn't dislike it as much as I was in the first 1/3 or so.

Pros:
- The friendship that Irec and Rasmira develop.
- The relationship that Soren and Rasmira develop (even though, before we/Rasmira learn about Soren and Irec's past, I totally shipped Soren and Irec)
- The struggle Rasmira has with her father with being a warrior AND being a girl. It's possible to be both!
- How Rasmira discovers Peruxolo's secrets.

Cons:
- It drags in the beginning.
- Rasmira is immature at times and very stubborn (which is annoying for adult readers, but many teens will really identify with this).
- I totally guessed the Peruxolo reveal (teens probably won't, though).

Rasmira is the best warrior of her age group and her father's heir. At her warrior trial she is sabotaged and cast out. The only way to reverse her status and come home is to kill the deity who demands more and more from the villages each year. With the help of some unlikely allies Rasmira must kill the unkillable and survive the wild.

I liked this book. Rasmira is in a tough situation, torn between her parents and her duty as heir. I liked the dangers of the wild and the interesting creatures. I liked the boys and Iric was a nice addition of a character who didn't immediately warm up to our protagonist. I do wish that there had been more Irriena.

This is a good stand alone.

Tricia Levenseller is a wonderful author. Her latest novel, Warrior of the Wild, is a great combination of Vikings and Romance. The heroine is a young warrior who wants to lead like her father! It is fascinating to see how the exiled warrior fights a god to earn her place.

I was provided an arc by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have mixed feelings about this book, I enjoyed it but I didn’t love it.

I seen the multiple twist coming from a mile away and completely agreed with Iric, they were inevitable.

But I did love the incredibly epic fights, the axe throwing, the creatures, and the banter.

I would still recommend it to anyone looking for a Viking inspired story and an easy romance.

I started out this with this book being very worried. It was only a little over 300 pages, a stand alone, and from an author that although I did enjoy her other books they were not OMG AMAZING if you know what I mean. But I am happy to say that this one blew me away. The setting of Viking like villages ruled over by a god was one I won't soon forget. My only issue with this title was all the swoony romance. Although I got over that aspect I think this one would have been better if that would have been toned down a bit.

Ras was amazing, she had wit, great comebacks, and determination. She never wavered on what she set out to do and she had a brain!! I loved her so much!! The romance in this one was a little over done. It wasn't forced but I think overall it could have been done a little less. At times it overpowers the story and kind of makes Ras sound like a love sick puppy, which she isn't.

I do kind of hope that down the road we get a follow up story to this one. I would love to see what happens to the two other people that are banished and how that all turns out and how Ras changes her world.



Go Into This One Knowing: A little to much romance, Great stand alone, no cliffhangers

Okay so, Tricia Levenseller is one of my autobuy authors, I've read all of her books out so far and I've already pre-ordered her next book, THE SHADOWS BETWEEN US out in February of 2020! She's just the most down to earth and humble author I've ever had the pleasure of meeting, and her books are always so fun and full of just all around female bad-assery. Plus. I've met her twice, and tweet at her often and she always remembers who I am. Literally when I become a famous author we're gonna be best friends. Haha!

Warrior of the Wild is no exception to that, and I absolutely loved the concept for this Viking-inspired YA stand alone. I was slightly nervous how reading this would go since before picking this up I had just finished reading another Viking YA (Sky in the Deep) and was afraid I was going to be Viking-ed out. Luckily, I ended up loving this novel more than anticipated and for all the best reasons! Not only was Rasmira a total bad ass, but there was also some LGBT representation which was done so well and IT WASN'T A BIG DEAL TO THE CHARACTERS. The books the often most impress me with LGBT rep are the ones where it's totally normal and not a big deal to have gay, lesbian, trans, characters etc. I just loved how tastefully it was done in this book.

The story was interesting from beginning to end and I loved how each of the characters developed and showed their own vulnerability. The concept that people could be outcast from their villages and have to complete these crazy tasks that are near impossible in order to come back is so interesting to me and had Tricia not been on my autobuy list, would have enticed me to pick up this book anyway.

I would definitely recommend anyone who loves bad-ass women, enthralling plot, and a viking-esque setting, this book is definitely for you. An easy, fun read from beginning to end. Happy reading!

Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller is an amazing standalone fantasy novel. It is set in a crazy, horrifying world where just about everything can kill you and ruled by a terrifying god that can kill with a flick of his wrist. Rasmira undergoes an intense transformation of character and I believe she is one of the strongest, toughest female characters that I have encountered in a while. Especially from a young adult novel. I just really thrilled with this story overall.

The Wilds are not a place suitable for humans to live. People are confined to their villages while hunting parties will occasionally go out to hunt but they don’t go far. Every year, each child of age must pass a test in their given trade, if they pass, life goes on, but if they fail they are given an impossible task in the Wilds. They are never meant to survive. Rasmira is the best of the best so when she fails her test, she is determined to survive her impossible quest and return to the village.

Against all odds, Rasmira runs into two people who have survived the Wild for one year. Soren and Iric have learned some of the secrets of the strange world that they live in and for some reason decide to trust Rasmira with their secrets right away even though Rasmira wants nothing to do with them. She wants to pass her test and go back home. As time goes by Rasmira finds that her shields are breaking down when it comes to her new friends. She also begins to learn even more secrets of the world around her that may just help her pass her test.

I was really engrossed in this story. I loved Rasmira’s character and the transformation that she went through by the end of the story. I did feel she was a bit stupid in the beginning but I felt her reactions were genuine to the situation she was put in. Rasmira relies on herself to figure out her situation but as time passes she realizes that she can be a part of a team.

The world has a dark, bleak atmosphere. It also felt very isolated. There were a few villages that all had to deal with the god and give him gifts but otherwise, it really felt like most of the villages just relied on themselves. The creatures of this world are insane and deadly. The elemental/scientific nature of this world is so much different than our own. I wouldn’t want to live there but it made for an engaging read.

There is a romantic love interest with Rasmira and Soren. There is a gay character, Iric. I really liked the fact that this wasn’t a love triangle so it was nice. Plus, I loved the interaction between Iric and Rasmira.

Overall, I really enjoyed Warrior of the Wild and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good fantasy with a strong female lead.

I've been loving the amount of great Viking and Norse literature that's been coming out in the world the past couple of years. Warrior of the Wild is an exhilarating story about finding your place in the world.

Actual Rating: Did Not Finish
Recommend: Probably not
Review:
I loved Tricia Levenseller's Daughter of the Pirate King duology, so when this book was announced, I was super excited for it. I mean, who wouldn't be excited for a kick-butt Viking inspired book?
However, this book just wasn't doing it for me. I'm not sure why, but I just couldn't get into it or excited about reading it or anything. Rasmira just felt...predictable and flat to me. I understand she is only like 17-18, but considering how she's been raised almost her entire life, some things just seemed out of character to me. I also didn't really understand why her mother was so jealous of her? Like, she's your daughter? I don't know, it felt like just a plot tool to me that didn't really make sense.
Another thing that really got to me was how easily Rasmira fell for Torrin and his drastic change of personality towards her. It just didn't feel like a well-thought-out tension setter for the plot. I didn't make it to the romance part of the book, just to what I assume is their first meeting, but it definitely felt like immediate insta-love to me.
Still, even considering all of that, I don't think this book has done anything wrong or that it's bad. Really, I think it's fairly short and is probably a fun, quick read, so I may pick it up again one day. I'm just not in the mood for it right now.