This was so fun! I loved it! I loved Tricia's other book series as well and this one is definitely unique and interesting! I loved the characters, the world was so fun and fascinating, the stakes were high! I just couldn't get enough of this novel! The setting was just great! I loved the strong, smart female character of Rasmira! She experienced a lot of growth, and I honestly was just happy to see that for her, I also loved Soren because he was so sweet and loyal. I adored him so much and he was a favorite of mine just for being himself. And also Iric was great as well. He was smart, witty, and was gay! I thought the stuff about him and his boyfriend was so cute and I wished we saw more of it because I needed it....And since Rasmira got banished to the wilderness, there were tons of creatures out there that Tricia really detailed for you, and it was fun meeting all these creatures. I think Tricia is a great creator of worlds, and she gets detailed but not overly detail and its so uncomplicated you have no issues trying to picture the world these characters live in! Highly recommend this series! Its action packed, a fun adventure, and its a standalone!

I loved her Pirate series and knew when this book was announced that I had to give it ago. It was well written, entertaining and I want more from this author.

I really, really loved this author's first books, so I was immediately excited to hear that she'd be writing this one. As I'd hoped, it did not disappoint. It was fantastic, and I am so happy I got the privilege to read it.

First line: An ax swings for my head.

Summary: Rasmira has been training for years to be a warrior and gain her father’s approval. On the day of her trial she is sabotaged and sentenced to banishment in the wild until she completes a task set by the council. No one ever returns from the wild. However, Rasmira is determined to finish her mission and take revenge on the people who caused her downfall. But how do you kill a god?

My Thoughts: Tricia Levenseller can write a really fun novel! There is no big world building or complicated story lines. It is straight to the point and loads of fun to read. I immediately was hooked on Rasmira’s story. I liked how tough she was. I truly felt sorry for her when she is sent into the wild. Everything that she thought she knew was destroyed. I enjoyed her interactions and friendship with Iric and Soren. They are destined to be friends but it takes a lot for Rasmira to accept them due to past prejudices.

This book really reminded me of Hatchet by Gary Paulsen and The Valiant by Lesley Livingston. There was a lot of action and it was a quick read.

FYI: Check out Levenseller’s debut duology, The Daughter of the Pirate King.

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I enjoyed reading this. An interesting story with fun characters. Well written.

A great fantasy standalone about a girl that needs to find her place in the world. I really enjoyed this one.

Rasmira Bendrauggo is the village leader's daughter, a fierce warrior, and a loving sister. On the day of her trial, when she will officially be declared a woman and a warrior, the boy she thought was her friend (or maybe more), sabotages Rasmira and she is forced to leave her home and family to go out into the Wild, where many dangerous creatures await. The only way she can come back home is if she kills Peruxolo, the cruel god who takes supplies from each village as a tribute. At first, Rasmira is on her own, but soon she saves the life of a boy named Soren, who has also been exiled. He takes a liking to her, and eventually she joins forces with Soren and his friend Iric when they gain each other's trust. Together they decide to try their challenges so they can go home. Will they be able to complete their quest, or will they be stuck in the Wild for the rest of their lives?
I enjoyed this book overall, though it was a bit too gory for my taste. The characters were excellently portrayed and dynamic, the descriptions were realistic, and the plot moved along pretty well (though I did start getting impatient in the middle for a few chapters). I didn't agree with some of the views presented and I didn't care for some of the language, but I did enjoy reading the witty banter between the characters and the slow burning romance between Soren and Rasmira. Soren was my favorite character, as well as Irrenia. I admired Rasmira's courage and strength in the face of almost impossible circumstances and unkind parents, as well as her desire to do what was right in spite of powerful opposition. I enjoyed Tricia Levenseller's other two books very much, and this one was good as well. I'm looking forward to reading her next book! I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys adventure and can handle some gory details as they read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley and I purchased a copy from Amazon. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

Warrior of the Wild is a fun YA Fantasy standalone that reads fast and is sure to leave you with a smile on your face.

This is my first experience reading something by Tricia Levenseller, and I was pretty pleased by it. Her writing is effortless, giving it a light feel. It did seem a bit too young to me, but that happens sometimes because I’m a 34 year old reader of YA literature!

I found the world to be fascinating! A large part of the intrigue with this book was the Viking inspiration. I enjoyed reading about the villages and how their politics and culture played a role.

The characters are not as complex as I would have liked, but I still enjoyed the cast. The star of this book, in my opinion, is the character growth of Rasmira. By finding true friendship and working together to complete the impossible quests, she developed into a stronger, more determined, independent woman that I found myself rooting for.

Overall, I enjoyed Warrior of the Wild and would recommend it to YA Fantasy fans who like quick reads with a unique adventure and a dash of romance.

Thank you to Netgalley and Feiwel & Friends for a free ebook ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

So. Let’s start with this. On the first page, Tricia thanks Johnny for introducing her to Overwatch. I am a HUGE Overwatch fan (Junkrat main whaaaaat?!) So I immediately knew I at least loved Tricia. Turns out, I felt the same about her book.

Ras has trained for ten years to become the only woman warrior. Talk about girl power. She’s fierce. She’s lethal. She’s backstabbed.

The first twist – the betrayal – caught me by surprise and broke. my. heart. I talked to some other friends who saw it coming, but again, I never see anything coming.

She’s banished to the wild because of this betrayal. There she meets two boys, and they tolerate each other. Then become friends. One may become something more.

I loved the story arc. I was hooked from the beginning and couldn’t put this novel down. Turns out I may have somewhat of a book hangover, because I haven’t been able to commit to a book since.

I loved the development of friendships. The learning to trust one another, then fighting for one another, no matter the cost. I love portrayals of true friendships like this.

The ending was satisfying and very girl power. Ras proved she could do anything she put her mind to. She’s strong, fierce, loyal, and lethal. And I love her.

The only disappointing thing about this book is it is a standalone. But the story wrapped up well, and I really don’t know where a sequel would go. I just didn’t want to leave Rasmira’s life!

This was my first Tricia Levenseller book, and I cannot wait to read her duology!

Vikings? ummm yes please! Gods?? yes please. omg! this book was everything and more. I love Tricia's writing style, kept you intrigued and the characters connected with you in a way you didn't want it to end! Cant wait to read more!

~~ I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion ~~

Having read Miss Levenseller's work before, I was definitely interested in picking up this book. A good standalone, Warrior of the Wild tells the story of Rasmira and her goal to kill a god. Rasmira is a tough cookie, and although she is a teen, the story thankfully avoids the melodrama of the usual YA book. The plot was pretty interesting however I feel like the ending was a little bit rushed. All together its a good book with a solid plot and complex characters.

This was such a good book and I'm really loving Tricia Levensellers writing. It's so easy to read and fast paced. It's so easy to get right into her book. Her writing gives enough character development, as well as world building without it being too much. The pace was fantastic an everything was really well written. I liked the characters in the book and would have loved more from them.

I recently listened to Warrior of the Wild on audiobook and it was so much fun to read! I also wish that I could give it to teenage me because there’s so many positive messages (from self-Discovery, to courage, to relationships)

I loved the characters and I am 1000% on board with the romance. Levensellar did a great job portraying a healthy romance and I loved the slow-burn. Plus this is one heck of an adventure story. I don’t want to spoil anything so I’m just going to say that I loved the quest aspect and how each character had to overcome their fears. I wanted to cheer a bit at the ending, it was perfect.

Anyway, if you’re in the mood for a YA fantasy, definitely consider checking this one out! Plus the audiobook narrator was fantastic.

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

3.5/5 Stars

Author: Tricia Levenseller

Publisher/Imprint: Feiwel & Friends

Edition: Hardcover, 336 Pages

Publication Date: February 26, 2019

A Spine that Shines? Partially

“But I also know that true strength comes from being willing to fail in order to progress.” -Rasmira

Initial Thoughts:

Unfortunately, I have mixed feelings about Warrior of the Wild. It didn’t appeal to me as much as I had hoped it would. I loved all the action scenes, but I didn’t love the characters. It does seem that Tricia’s world-building skills have grown since her previous books; the details about the different plants, monsters, and touch of mythology really add to a fuller picture of Rasmira’s world. Nevertheless, there were other aspects of this book that prevented me from giving it 5 stars. Since I truly enjoyed Daughter of the Pirate King, it pains me to rate a Levenseller book less than 4 stars. Sadly, this was more like a 3.5 rating.

The Characters:

I didn’t love the characters, but here’s a brief overview of the three main people involved:

Rasmira is the daughter of a village leader. She is extremely skilled with an ax! After failing her warrior trial, she is banished to the wild. In order to return home, she must complete a mattugr, a challenge that is supposed to be impossible to overcome. Rasmira’s challenge is to kill the “god” who has been terrorizing her family’s village. It is interesting to see how she plots to destroy him. However, there are moments when Rasmira puts herself in dire danger, but she could have been more cautious; there is one scene in which she gets caught rather easily. I also felt that her relationship with her parents could have been explored a bit further; they seem very cold-hearted toward each other.

Soren is a banished warrior from a different village. He is a very good guy. Rasmira’s feelings for him are slow to develop, which I liked. Soren is also pretty good with an ax. His loyalty to Rasmira and his other friend is admirable. Together, they get into some pretty sticky situations!

Iric is another warrior who was banished with Soren. He longs to return home, where his male lover awaits him. Iric sometimes has a fierce temper, but he also excels at creating things out of metal. His inventions help Rasmira and Soren succeed.

Final Thoughts:

There are a few more things that lowered my rating of the book. For one thing, a large chunk of the book is actually NOT about killing the god. The middle chunk of the book is more like a wilderness survival story and a romance story blended together. I think I had expected to learn more about the god, and I was a little disappointed when the focus kind of shifted away from him. The beginning had made it seem he would play a larger role in the story. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the romance between Soren and Rasmira.

Another thing was the moments of crude humor. In my opinion, it made things awkward. I think there may have been too many comments about peeing and wet, see-through shirts. The first time, it might have been funny. But if an author does it too much, I tend to find it a little off-putting. I mean, TMI?

Overall, the theme regarding becoming a good leader is a positive one, and I appreciated that aspect of the story. Warrior of the Wild is a fun adventure to read, and perhaps other readers would enjoy it more than I did.

Now, let’s conclude with the opening quote that Tricia borrowed from Gimli in The Lord of the Rings: “Bring your pretty face to my ax.” Rasmira certainly did plenty of ax swinging!

*This honest review is based on the finished hardcover edition. However, I would still like to thank the publisher for sending me an e-ARC via NetGalley. (Unfortunately, the e-ARC font was much too small for me to read, and the text re-sizing tool was not working.)*

I loved this book! Tricia Levenseller always makes the best female protagonists; Rasmira learns who she is and her strengths while fighting her life against the wild and a god. Rasmira is strong, capable and so lovable. I loved the supporting cast and the themes of friendship and feminism. A must read! Rasmira reminded me a lot of Alanna from the Tortall series, so if you like Tamora Pierce, you’ll like this book.

This book broke my heart and then put it back together! Rasmira needs to win back her honor after failing her coming-of-age trial (even though she only lost because of sabotage). She is banished to the wilderness with an impossible quest, but she is determined to complete it so that she can return home.

This book is an amazing journey with a fabulous ending! I will definitely be recommending this book because it does not disappoint!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan for giving me the chance to read and review this book early!

I adored The Daughter of the Pirate King books from Levenseller and couldn't wait to dive into her new book. Sadly, I was left feeling somewhat underwhelmed. I don't mean to sound condescending, but this felt like a "Fantasy for Beginners" book. There is little to no world building and everything is easily resolved/solved by the snowflake warrior princess. Even with the Viking themed background, it isn't complex. I liked the storyline, but it is underwhelming. For those who enjoy easy read fantasy, this is one to try, but I wouldn't recommend it to seasoned readers of the genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for my advanced review copy.

Thanks to the publisher for access to this title in return for a fair review.

Rasmira is a wonderful warrior. And not just for a woman. She is the best of her group, and is set to be her father's heir and the next leader of their village. When she is betrayed during her final test, she is banished and sent into the wilderness with an impossible task.

Luckily for Ras, she discovers that not everyone wants to betray her, and she slowly learns to trust again. She also learns that being a great warrior doesn't mean that she is a great leader. She learns a lot of life lessons during her fight for survival in the wild, but she still must complete her task before she can hope to regain her place and show everyone just how strong she really is.

I really enjoyed the Daughter of the Pirate King books, so I was excited to see a new work from Levenseller, and she did not disappoint. A great choice for those who are looking for strong female characters.

Rasmira has been training to become her father’s successor as leader of their village. First, she must pass her warrior test which will signal her move from childhood into adulthood. However, after her test is sabotaged, Rasmira is banished from her village, and sent out into the Wild, until she can complete her mattugr (like a challenge): kill the oppressive god that the villages are forced to pay tribute to every year – or die trying.

At first I couldn’t help but make comparisons between Warrior of the Wild and Adrienne Young’s Sky in the Deep. Both stories deal with warrior women who are thrown into unknown and / or enemy territory and have to rely on themselves for survival. There’s also a very Viking vibe about them. However, the similarities end there as I couldn’t help noticing that, despite how much of an affinity Rasmira has for wielding the axe, there’s a separateness between herself and the other warriors. This is, of course, due to the fact that with her father as village leader, she’s held to a different standard than others. You can tell right away that this is not an association Rasmira wants.

Regardless of who her father is, however, Rasmira is a good person. She doesn’t lord her seemingly blessed life over others, but she’s also young and doesn’t yet understand the finesse it takes to lead.

Rasmira goes through such growth from the beginning of the book to the end and Tricia Levenseller was wonderful in showing the progression.

When in the Wild, Rasmira comes across two men who were banished the previous year after their trials. At first it’s all about being on your own; singular. It slowly becomes about helping each other and utilizing the team in order to succeed at beating each other’s mattugr.

Besides learning how to work successfully with others, Rasmira also has to overcome the betrayal she felt when her trial was sabotaged. The comparisons between that circumstance and the one Rasmira finds herself in with the two men she encounters is clear, but I liked seeing how Rasmira reacts differently. Maybe not so quick to trust, but also learning to see sincerity when it’s given as opposed to deception.

Warrior of the Wild is, without a doubt, Rasmira’s story through and through. Everyone else, I feel, exists in the pages in order to serve as part of Rasmira’s growth throughout the story. I honestly don’t think this is a bad thing as I don’t really find anything lacking from the story itself. It’s a great standalone about conquering your fears and bringing about your own destiny / change in lieu of what has been predisposed for you. Plus, it’s just an enjoyable read.

Tricia Levenseller's Warrior of the Wild is an engaging standalone tale of a fierce female warrior named Rasmira Bendrauggo who is betrayed by someone close to her and now must fight to redeem herself. On the day 18-year old Rasmira is set to prove her warrior abilities, be acknowledged as a full-grown woman, and publicly take her place as her father’s heir as the next village leader, she is betrayed by those closest to her.

The betrayal costs Rasmira everything that she's worked hard to accomplish since choosing her path 10 years ago. Her only saving grace is her relationship with her older sister Irrenia. Banished to the wild where few survive, she faces the daunting task of killing the god Peruxolo who has been terrorizing the local villages for years. Rasmira must figure out not only how to survive and kill an immortal, but also how to grieve, how to heal, and how to trust again.

She's not alone in the wild. She encounters two others, Soren and Iric, who have also been exiled from their own villages after failing their challenges. Soren and Iric have been in the wild for a year. They have made a home for themselves, they know the fauna and the dangerous creatures that inhabit the wild, and Iric has the opportunity to prove his genius by created all sorts of weapons that are not only used to catch their food, but to also save their lives, and to complete their Mattugr's.

Iric is understandably angry at being in the wild since he left someone behind who he loves unconditionally. Soren made the choice to follow Iric to order to protect him. The three must find a way to put away the hurt, the anger, and the jealously, and work together to pass near impossible tasks in order to return home. The best part of this story was the growth and changes that occur in Rasmira's characterization throughout the story, especially her interactions with Soren and Iric. Readers will want to root for Rasmira’s success and enjoy the sweet friendship she begins to build with both warriors.

Author Tricia Levenseller packs this Viking-inspired YA standalone fantasy with dangerous quests, foul creatures, friendship, and romance. I would have liked this story a whole lot better, but I've read this sort of story before. It is predictably filled with a hate, then turns into love story about Rasmira and Soren. It is predictable in its ending since it would make zero sense for the author to write what happens any other way. Will I did have minor issues with this story, I was impressed with how awesome Rasmira is as a warrior, her strength, and her independence.