The story I didn't know I needed! Great read with a kick-ass protagonist. Adventure, betrayal, justice, and fabulous world building have me looking forward to the next part of this tale!

I was super excited about reading Warrior of the Wild. I had read Levenseller's previous books and had enjoyed them. I figured this one would be no different. I was kinda right and kinda wrong. I did infact enjoy it I just enjoyed it more than the Daughter of the Pirate King duology.

I had some suspicions and feelings pretty early on in this book. To be frank I was PISSED. I was the manor of which Rasmira was betrayed from a mile away. Ive been that victim before I was devasted for her.

I was kinda surprised at how much I liked Rasmira. See lately I've been having a major issue with YA and its heroines. They arent very well written lately a lot of what im reading leaves much to be desired. Im told what a strong, badass character they are only for their actions to show otherwise. I felt for Ras she showed us what a strong character she was but also told us that sometimes she just wants to be a lady and respected for both being a warrior and a woman.

The world building was really fun but im pretty sure what i pictured for all the monsters of the wild and what was actually described are 2 different things for some reason my mind fights those types of things. The story was very well written and kept me invested in the outcome.

4.5 stars

I really enjoyed this one. It was a good read, and I read it pretty quickly, which is also nice, considering that my reading was a bit slower over the last week.

The family dynamics in this were well done as well. Rasmira’s family wasn’t picture perfect or anything. Rasmira is the youngest of six daughters, and the only to follow in her father’s footsteps as a warrior. Most of her sisters are jewelers, though one is a healer. It is the lack of sons that causes quite a bit of tension.

Rasmira has been trained to be a warrior and a leader, but she is not treated that way by everyone. Her father and warrior trainer put her on a pedestal, and her fellow warriors taunt and sabotage her.

This is how the story starts, but the growth Raz shows in this book is fantastic.

Oh, and if you were worried that her banishment would mean a few hundred pages of Raz alone, I am happy to say that is not the case.

This book has great characters, fantastic beasts, good action scenes, and was such a fun read that I can absolutely say that I plan to read more by Levenseller soon.

Holy cow this was a wild ride! The action started on page one and continued all the way through the book. I was very satisfied with the pace of the book. Even when it was "slow" it wasn't truly. There was always some kind of action propelling the story forward. I'm not surprised at all considering it's coming from the brain that gave us Alosa. Rasmira was instantly likeable, with her strong willed attitude, but soft core. She was a well rounded character that really held her own.
The world was viking feeling, as Levenseller promised, and it worked. It worked so well that I felt as thought I was racing through the woods with an ax strapped to my back, bound in leather pants and leather straps adorning my wrists. It was such a wonderfully vivid world that I really didn't want to leave.
As promised, Rasmira is betrayed and tossed out on her ass -- into the world of monsters and scary things in the night. You know, all the things that we typically try to avoid. Her trek through the wilderness wouldn't be complete without a slow burning romance to keep them warm at night, and Levenseller did not disappoint!
I was THRILLED that Levenseller included a gay character, Iric. He was funny, witty, clever - all the things I love in a character anyways, to add that he resides in my reality made me love him even more.
My favorite part of the novel was the monsters. In the wilderness, the creatures were crazy and insane. I was almost afraid of what I would read next. God, monsters and scary things all rolled into one.
As this novel is a stand alone, I was very happy with how it was concluded. I really thought the ends justified the means, and that Rasmira showed how truly bad ass she was through out the entire novel. It's a very fast read, and the action makes it seem as though you've just started reading when you've reached the end.
This novel is a definite 5 stars! A must read for anyone who loves high fantasy, bad ass women, or just a wild ride of fun.

An exciting book with a strong female character. I liked all the characters and their problem solving was great.

I am absolutely blown away by the fantasy books coming out in 2019. Warrior of the Wild is another fantastic selection I've had the privilege of reading. The world that Rasmira lives in seems to me to be the Maze Runner but Vikings. The creepy and unique monsters of the land will haunt my nightmares, as I'm sure they do Rasmira's. We get to see a lush world and how their rules and traditions shape who they are and the mistakes they make.

I loved the struggle Rasmira went through how to be both a warrior and a woman. She was an extremely strong warrior, but she had a lot to learn. We get to see her learn and grow to be the leader she was meant to be, while also becoming more comfortable in being a woman. She's a strong female character that learns and grows from their flaws, which YA needs to see more of. I love the trend in fantasy of flawed but strong female characters. Role models are not perfect and neither are MCs in a book. It's okay to have things to learn or not be completely confident in yourself. That doesn't make you any less strong of a person.

The bantering between her and the boys was everything. They were also stand out characters for me and I loved how we got to see their journeys to be better versions of themselves. We watched them all learn from and support each other, growing to be some sort of a family.

The ending of this book had me on the edge of my seat. If you want to be blown away in 2019, make sure you pick up this beauty.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Feiwel and Friends through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*

Come visit me at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/ for more bookish adventures

Rasmira has trained all her life to be given the status of warrior and future leader of her village, all that is left is the final test she knows she will pass. When unforeseen events are put in her path, Rasmira fails her test and is instead banished from her people. The only way she will be allowed back is if she can do the impossible and kill a god.

Full disclosure, I was ready to throw my copy of the book when I reach the end of Part 1 for REASONS! I'm gonna full disclosure and mention I had not read the synopsis before starting the book and I had no idea sabotage was coming for Rasmira. I feel a little like Tricia ripped out my heart (and Rasmira's too, but priorities!) and I was a little betrayed. But like the trooper I am, I powered through and was rewarded by the gods- or, ya know, the rest of an amazing action packed adventure story unlike any I have encountered before. Talk about girl power! Oh and it was terrifying too, with scary creatures and near death encounters, making it so hard for me to put the book down.

I loved that Rasmira was not a girly girl or the most gorgeous girl around, instead she is more plain (aka normal) and well muscled, allowing her to be the best warrior she can be. Instead of focusing on her flaws, she celebrates her strengths and talents and is so incredibly humble and fair. If you have read the Daughter of the Pirate King series you will know that Rasmira is basically the complete opposite of the gorgeous, braggy Alosa, but both main characters have the ability to feel like real people with depths and strengths- as well as the inability to quit. Tricia has the ability to create characters that I would want to get to know in real life and I can't help but connect to them and cheer them on.

I love that this is a standalone story, with a complete world built, complicated plot and well developed characters all bound in a single volume. That is not to say that I would not love another adventure in this dangerous Viking inspired world, but I like that there was no cliff hanger or loose ends to pick away at me, but instead a whole story.

WARRIOR OF THE WILD is about eighteen-year-old warrior Rasmira who fails her coming-of-age trial after being betrayed. Banished from her village by her father, the chieftain, she accepts an impossible task in order to redeem her honor: kill a god and survive the monster-riddled wilderness it lives in. Tricia Levenseller packs this Viking-inspired YA standalone fantasy with dangerous quests, foul creatures, friendship, and romance.

I've been a fan of Tricia Levenselle’s writing since reading her debut, Daughter of the Pirate King. I knew that I wanted to read her newest YA fantasy, and this time it is in a Viking flavored setting with the focus on our heroine’s coming-of-age trial, a betrayal, and her survival in a monster-filled wilderness where she must hunt down an enemy god.

Readers can lose themselves in the story with the wilderness setting filled with dangerous, mythic-styled creatures. I also enjoyed the three quests (the action-filled and stabby kind) our heroine ends up completing, along with her fellow warrior-friends, which really made for an adventuress read. I thought the vivid setting and descriptions were terrific, adding just the right amount of fantasy to the story. The fantastic-beasts and the details describing them were spectacular.

Rasmira is an easy protagonist to like with the right balance of a fierce, warrior-daughter with vulnerabilities. She has a wonderful kinship with her beloved sisters who love and look up to her, a troubled one with her mother who dislikes (and may be just a bit jealous) of her warrior-ways, and a complicated one with her father who has trouble seeing her beyond his future heir as a woman and daughter.

Trained all her life to be a warrior first-and-always, Rasmira has trouble expressing her emotions, something she worries will influence her skills as a warrior and future leader of her father’ clan. I loved seeing the growth and changes that occur in her characterization throughout the story, especially her interactions with Soren and Iric, two warriors also banished from their village, whom she must work with in order to survive and complete her quest.

Readers will want to root for Rasmira’s success and enjoy the sweet friendship she begins to build with both warriors. As a fan of romance, I did enjoy the sweet interactions between Soren and Rasmira. His admiration for her as a skilled warrior and her leadership skill are obvious and I thought his determination to win her over cute while being the perfect balance to lighten the more seriousness of the dangers they stilled faced.

In the End

WARRIOR OF THE WILD is an exciting read with a Viking inspired setting filled with fantastical-beasts, quests, friendship, and romance. Tricia Levenseller swept me away and did not disappoint in this YA standalone. If you are a fan of the Daughter of the Pirate King series or Viking flavored reads, then you just might want to grab this one up.

Warrior of the Wild was, not surprisingly, a terrific read. It is a story about Rasmira, the daughter of a Viking tribal leader, who fails her trial test and gets banished as punishment. Her only redemption is to complete an impossible “mattugr” – to kill a god that takes advantage of each tribal village. She sets out in the wicked wilderness only to befriend Iric and Soren, two banished boys from a nearby village. Together, they learn how to survive in the wilderness and its creatures, and, more importantly, the trio develops an unbreakable bond by learning about their past and coming to peace with it and with their own flaws. The story is filled with adventure, character-building, and beautiful world-building.

Levenseller does a great job at showing what it takes to be strong and how to ultimately come to terms with who one is and how take ownership of one’s life. The only critique is the lack of antagonist development. This god does seem cruel initially, but then he’s too oversimplified and does not have enough appearances in the book to make him horrifyingly scary. (Of course, there are more antagonists than the god, and some are more developed than the others). On the other hand, a big plus of the book is that it is a standalone and a quick read. Additionally, Levenseller normalizes the love between gay characters, and that is fantastic. Some of the more modern authors in the YA community make this love awkward and forced, as if it’s not the most normal human emotion. Levenseller, however, makes the reader appreciate the beauty of love in its entirety. (Thanks, Levenseller!)

Because of the overly simplistic (at times!) plot development, this would be a great read for high school students, especially lower classmen. Definitely a great addition to a school’s library.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for this eARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I’ve always enjoyed Tricia Levenseller’s books, so when I saw Warrior of the Wild for request I had to snatch it up!

Rasmira has trained her whole life to be a fierce warrior, protecting her home from evil beasts known as ziken, destined to one day become the village leader. Upon her coming-of-age trial, Rasmira is betrayed by someone she thought of as a friend and is therefore banished from her home and sent on an impossible quest in order to prove worthy enough to return to her village.

One of the things I enjoy most about Levenseller’s work is the consistently well developed characters. They all feel like real, flawed individuals who are still very likeable and experience some form of growth. I loved Rasmira. She’s so strong, in body and mind, but also vulnerable and wary of the people she meets along her journey because she’s been burned before by people she thought she could trust. And Soren and Iric are just the best. Soren is very sweet, loyal, and brilliant with an axe, while Iric is a genius and the perfect sarcastic addition to the trio. Levenseller has also always been spot on when it comes to witty banter, and the conversations between these three are no exception. The world is also well developed and things are explained without being info-dumpy.

I also quite appreciated the fact that this is a standalone fantasy novel. The story felt very complete, and I didn’t feel like there were any lingering questions or lack of detail. Overall, it reads like a fast paced thrill ride and I enjoyed every page!

*Thank you to Feiwel & Friends and Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Thanks to Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

Our heroine, Rasmira, is the only female warrior-in-training in her vaguely medieval-ish (I've seen the setting described different ways, but fantasy medievalish warrior society seems to cover it?) village. At 18, she is ready for the trial that will make her an official warrior and her dad's official heir as leader of the village, but she doesn't pass and is exiled to the very inhospitable wild. To return to her village and regain her position, she has to complete an impossible task - to kill Peruxolo, the god to which all of the villages around her must pay tributes each year.

I liked this book a lot, in part because it is standalone! I love a trilogy sometimes, but was excited to have a single book with a full arc. More of this, please!

Rasmira is also a great character - she is kind and smart and learns throughout the book what it means to be a leader instead of a ruler. She is also crazy resilient - she is betrayed multiple times by people close to her and bounces back.

I loved that this was a standalone, but by necessity, that made the world building thinner than in many fantasy historical novels. I think that's OK in this case - we got what we needed, but readers who love deep worldbuilding might not love this one.

I think there were more than a few shades of Leigh Bardugo's <i>Grisha</i> novels, and I'd recommend that trilogy to anyone who liked this. Overall, this is a satisfying novel about friendship and a true heroine.

Title: Warrior of the Wild
Author: Tricia Levenseller
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Rasmira is her father’s heir and has trained her whole life to be a warrior. She’s nothing like all her sisters, and her mother hates her, so she spends her days honing her skills. To become a warrior, she must pass a trial in front of the entire village. When an unthinkable betrayal results in her failing the trial, the only way to redeem herself is to go into the wild and kill the god that has plagued her village for generations.

In the wild she meets Iric and Soren, banished from their own village for failing their trials; Iric because he was never meant to be a warrior and Soren so he could protect Iric. Rasmira has never trusted anyone in her life—except her betrayer and look how that turned out—so she tries to avoid the two, but soon finds herself working with them as all three seek to accomplish their impossible tasks.

But killing a god is no laughing matter, and Rasmira will need every trick at her disposal if she’s to win.
This was an excellent read! Rasmira was a character I connected with immediately, and I took her betrayal so personally. She’s tough and doesn’t want to trust anyone, but Iric and Soren slowly worm their way past her defenses. I loved the character growth of all three and enjoyed watching their different relationships mature and shift.

Tricia Levenseller is from Oregon. Warrior of the Wild is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Feiwel & Friends via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Rating: 5/5

Publication Date: February

Genre: YA Fantasy

Recommended Age: 14+ (gore, monsters, gods, Vikings, axe throwing, and badass girl power)

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Pages: 336

Amazon Link

Synopsis: How do you kill a god?

As her father's chosen heir, eighteen-year-old Rasmira has trained her whole life to become a warrior and lead her village. But when her coming-of-age trial is sabotaged and she fails the test, her father banishes her to the monster-filled wilderness with an impossible quest: to win back her honour, she must kill the oppressive god who claims tribute from the villages each year or die trying.

Review: Holy crap! Let’s talk about this amazing book. It was fast paced and fun. It was easy to follow and easy to melt into. This book had amazing character growth for more than one person and this book spoke volumes about a lot of issues, like discrimination and not taking things at face value. The book is utterly fantastic in every way.

The only issue I had was that I felt that the book was a bit too fast paced for some people. A lot of things happened in this standalone and while it was perfect for me, it might not be for some people.

Verdict: READ THIS BOOK!

Tricia Levenseller stole my heart with Daughter of the Pirate King, and I will read anything she puts out. Warrior of the Wild touches on a lot of the same themes as her Pirate book (tough lady in a man's world, difficult father in need of an heir, a heroine thrust out of her element and forced to find her strength).

I didn't fall for Rasmira the same way I loved Alosa. I think I missed her sense of humor. Rasmira was far more cautious and thoughtful though and I appreciated that. I didn't quite understand why Soren was so taken with her. I felt similarly about Soren and their chemistry. Soren, apart from being hot and noble, lacked some of Riden's depth. I liked Raz and Soren, but they lacked some of the heat.

All that being said, this was a great story I didn't want to put down! I loved Iric. A good contrary, flawed character goes a long way. I spotted the big reveal from a long ways out, but that didn't really diminish my enjoyment of watching the characters put together the pieces. I will say that there was a pet right before the final battle that felt very rushed. A couple of pages covered some big stuff. The end was great though.

I will continue to read everything Tricia Levenseller puts out. It's good, enjoyable reading every time.

THIS BOOK!! Wow! I absolutely LOVED IT! And I have to say I'm very happy to see a fantastic fantasy novel that's a STANDALONE!! We NEVER see this. And the fact that she could get so much story into just one book (and without it being 500+ pages) is incredible. Such a fantastic read. I can't recommend this one enough!

As a big fan of Daughter of the Pirate King I could not pass up the opportunity to read Tricia’s newest title. Warrior of the Wild was just what I was hoping it would be. Fast paced, exciting moments, and characters that I love. I would see a lot of people liking this title and would recommend it to a lot of patrons

I really enjoyed Tricia Levenseller’s Daughter of the Pirate King duology and I had no doubt that I would at least like Warrior of the Wild. And I did! But overall Warrior of the Wild doesn’t hold a candle to the Daughter of the Pirate King books. It’s a fast, entertaining read but it is the kind of book that if you looked at it too closely, it kind of just falls apart. Everything about the plot line almost feels too easy. I love a fast paced book but this might have just been a LITTLE too fast.

Warrior of the Wild follows a privileged village leader’s daughter as she is exiled from her village and has to embark on a quest that involves killing an oppressive, abusive God to redeem herself to her people. Once exiled, she is left to fend for herself in the wild with no almost no resources but somehow, she makes friends anyway. Friends who were also exiled from their village and also given impossible tasks to redeem their honor. Alone, there is no way they could accomplish their tasks, but together they just might be able to find a way back home.

Okay so for starters, the god that our dear MC Rasmira has to kill? He is a joke. I really wished he was better developed as a villain instead of just reading as straight up comical. After their first interaction, he “sweeps his cape behind him before disappearing into the mountain” like some sort of Disney villain.

Soren, the love interest, is also incredibly annoying. He is indebted to Rasmira for saving his life so he follows her around relentlessly even when she tells him not to. When she tells him she isn’t really interested, he continues pushing at her even going so far as to kiss her. Of course, all of this is eventually brushed under the rug when Rasmira decides she likes him back but HONESTLY, it didn’t make him any less creepy/irritating to me. Rasmira is stubborn and does need help even when she thinks she doesn’t but there were ways Soren could have done that without being a total stalker.

Clearly, I wasn’t a fan of the romance. Aside from Soren being a creep, the romance was also very underdeveloped with Rasmira not being interested for more than half of the book and then suddenly realizing she was in love with Soren. It felt like insta-love even though the book took place over the course of three months.

With all the negative stuff I’ve said so far, I am starting to wonder if my rating is even justified but the truth is that even though all these things bugged me a LOT while I was reading the book, I didn’t even dislike the book as I read it? It was quick and entertaining. Plus, I love a good survival story (and would love to read more of them, please & thnx.)

Overall, Warrior of the Wild is unlikely to blow your mind but, as I say somewhat often, sometimes a book doesn’t need to blow your mind to be worth the read?? Sometimes you want something that is entertaining and a quick read as a palate cleanser. For those times, Warrior of the Wild is a perfect fit.

I'm not going to lie. I had high expectations for this book. I am a huge fan of her other two books <em>Daughter of the Pirate King</em> and <em>Daughter of the Siren Queen. </em>This one sounded different and intriguing, with a warrior having been betrayed and banished to conquer an impossible task.

There are so many reasons to enjoy this book. Strong female heroine who actually grows and becomes a better person. Not in a superficial way, but in a real meaningful way where she realizes she wants to be a better person and therefore, a better leader. We read about how our circumstances change us for the better and how even the things that are the most hurtful can eventually make us stronger. There are handsome warrior boys who are both respectful and supportive. Along with complicated family relationships including raw glimpses at pride, honor and love

And of course, a god to kill
I love it.
It's different than anything else out there right now. I like how fast the story moves. Every chapter ended with me talking myself into reading the next one. I devoured this book in only a couple of sittings. The writing is perfect, fast paced and easy to read. As Rasmira grows, the reader is transported to this strange world where not everything is as it seems. The monsters lurking in the wild are just as scary as the monsters in man. There are some dark sub plots lingering just beneath the surface making the story deeper and more horrible.
Overall, this third book does not disappoint. She's an auto buy author for me now.

And can we just comment on the detail and beauty of this book cover??? Swoooon.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review in return.

I almost want to apologize for selecting this book as an early read. I was honestly excited for over a year now I've been working on an exhibit that focuses on the Viking Age. The exhibit is going to close in a few months yet I still wanted to find books to help engage young guests. Adults have the show Vikings. A handful of people have Marvel's Thor.

Fantasy is an incredible way to engage people with history, cultures, and folklore. I received an email about this upcoming Viking book from FierceReads or one of those newsletters. Yet that is misleading. Even with reminding myself it is fiction, it is fantasy. I could not immerse myself in the world. I felt a disconnect with the character and was unable to finish it because right from the start there was nothing too Viking or Norse influenced for the narrative.

But that is just me. I look forward to seeing how other people feel about this novel before talking about it to people. I could also be too engaged academically with the Viking Age. I do look forward to an increase in YA revolving around Viking and Norse Mythology since both are close to my heart.

If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would! Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller is the story of Rasmira Bendrauggo, the youngest daughter of the village leader. She's raised as the male heir, training in fighting. She's the best ax fighter in her village but is looked down upon by the young men her age. When things go drastically wrong, Rasmira is banned from her village, and the only way she can return is by killing a god. While in the wilderness, she also stumbles upon a pair of young men who are outcasts like herself. Can Rasmira complete her impossible task and return home? Read to find out more!

I personally LOVED this book! I've read other books by Tricia Levenseller before and really enjoyed them, but this is by far my favorite of her work. The relationship between Rasmira and Soren gave me all the feels and I loved the three main characters! Please, please, please read this book!