Book Review: Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller

Title: Warrior of the Wild
Author: Tricia Levenseller 
Publisher:  Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: February 26, 2019
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy

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.

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It saddens me that I did not love Warrior of the Wild as much as I hoped. I had very high expectations for this book because I loved the humor, smart wit, and female empowerment of the author’s first action-packed series, a pirate-themed duology called Daughter of the Pirate King. However, even though I know many readers will enjoy Warrior of the Wild, I personally found the character development very static and the story predictable at times.

In regards to the main character, I had a really hard time connecting with Rasmira because she stays very guarded and stasis throughout her journey in the book. She is very determined and goal-oriented, but I felt like she lacked the capabilities to learn and mature. It’s at the very end of the book that she finally opens up and allows herself to accept change, new friendships, and experiences. 

As for the predictability of the storyline, there were a few twists in the book and some epiphany scientific discoveries. But overall I seemed to pick up on the betrayals and surprises before they occurred, which unfortunately stilled the story for me. 

Although this book did not work for me, I can definitely see it being an amazing read for people who love slow-burn romances and Vikings. The main character Rasmira is a female warrior who physically guards herself and her emotions very well. She wants to make her father and her village proud. She is fierce and determined, which are not favorable attributes with her male peers so she makes enemies really quick. In the beginning, Rasmira has her life carefully planned out, but after experiencing betrayal on multiple fronts and then banishment, her main goals are survival and killing a god. 

Warrior of the Wild is a very well-written book sprinkled with action-packed scenes and complex friendships. Add in some ax fighting  with a dash of romance and you have a recipe for an engaging Viking-inspired novel.

Note: Thank you to Macmillan/Fierce Reads for providing me an e-arc of this book to read and review. I was not compensated for this review. All statements and opinions in this review are mine.

Waiting On Wednesday: Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme that highlights pre-publication/upcoming releases that readers cannot wait to get their hands on. It is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

I highly enjoyed Trica Levenseller’s Daughter of the Pirate King duology, so I cannot wait to dive into one of her books again. I love the cover of Warrior of the Wild and the synopsis sounds like we are in store for another fierce and badass female character (and hopefully some witty snark).

Title: Warrior of the Wild
Author: Tricia Levenseller
Publication date: February 26, 2019
Publisher: Feiwel Friends
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy

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.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

If It’s Not a Rant, It’s a Rave: Daughter of the Siren Queen by Tricia Levenseller

Title:  Daughter of the Siren Queen
Author: Tricia Levenseller
Publication date: February 27, 2018
Publisher:  Feiwel & Friends
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Adventure, Romance

 

Synopsis:

Alosa’s mission is finally complete. Not only has she recovered all three pieces of the map to a legendary hidden treasure, but the pirates who originally took her captive are now prisoners on her ship. Still unfairly attractive and unexpectedly loyal, first mate Riden is a constant distraction, but now he’s under her orders. And she takes great comfort in knowing that the villainous Vordan will soon be facing her father’s justice.

When Vordan exposes a secret her father has kept for years, Alosa and her crew find themselves in a deadly race with the feared Pirate King. Despite the danger, Alosa knows they will recover the treasure first . . . after all, she is the daughter of the Siren Queen.

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Sequels are always “iffy” for me, but wow, The Daughter of the Siren Queen blew me out of the water. The story starts off right where the last book ended. From the very beginning, this novel is off with a bang and the action doesn’t stop there. It felt great to be back in Alosa’s world filled with brave and fierce comrades, female pirates with spunk, courage, and a fondness for sisterhood.

The Daughter of the Siren Queen is Alosa’s life story of betrayal, sacrifice, and my favorite, a swoony romance. I really like that Alosa is a self-rescuing heroine. She is a badass, female pirate (captain) with so much wit, fierecness, and fight in her soul. Like in the previous book, Alosa highly values and praises her crew and her friends. She’s an exceptional leader and the perfect character to help you survive any enemy attack. 

Also, I continued to love Tricia’s writing style in this second book, because she makes her characters seem so lifelike; their stories are so engaging and worth following. The storyline flows so well with the perfect amount of action and pacing. The Daughter of the Siren Queen is such an enthralling story that I didn’t realize I was almost done with it until I sadly found myself with only 10 pages left to read. I love the adventure and pirate lore that is littered in the pages. And you all, I didn’t want this story to end. I know this series is just a duology, but I am so greedy for another book or a spinoff series. 

 

Note: Thank you Macmillan for providing me an arc/galley of this book to read and review for free in exchange for an honest review. All statements and opinions are my own.

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Books of 2017 (so far)

HOSTED by The Broke and the Bookish

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This week’s topic is…

Top Ten Favorite Books of 2017 (so far)

(CLICK ON THE BOOK COVER TO BE LINKED TO ITS GOODREADS’ PAGE or MY REVIEW)

What are some of your favorite books of 2017? Which books of 2017 would you highly recommend that I read?

 

 

 

If It’s Not A Rant, It’s A Rave: Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

Title:  Daughter of the Pirate King
Author: Tricia Levenseller 
Publication date: February 28, 2017
Publisher:  Feiwel & Friends
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Adventure, Romance

About the Book:

There will be plenty of time for me to beat him soundly once I’ve gotten what I came for.

Sent on a mission to retrieve an ancient hidden map—the key to a legendary treasure trove—seventeen-year-old pirate captain Alosa deliberately allows herself to be captured by her enemies, giving her the perfect opportunity to search their ship.

More than a match for the ruthless pirate crew, Alosa has only one thing standing between her and the map: her captor, the unexpectedly clever and unfairly attractive first mate, Riden. But not to worry, for Alosa has a few tricks up her sleeve, and no lone pirate can stop the Daughter of the Pirate King.

LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |  The Book Depository

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HOLY MOTHER OF PEARL…I can not get over how amazing Daughter of the Pirate King is. I am not a huge pirate-themed book reader (although, Cutthroat Island is one of my favorite pirate movies), but one weekend I decided to binge read three pirate-y books, and Daughter of the Pirate King was by far my favorite out of the three. AND OHMYGOD I WANT MORE! I loved how quick-paced but steady the book read. I adored the swashbuckling characters, the surprising twists and turns, and yes, I swooned over the romance that is filled with playful bickering, irresistible kissage, and sacrifice. 

I love books that turn the tables on stereotypes, so of course, I loved that Daughter of the Pirate King portrayed a well-developed female pirate that was not a “damsel in distress.”  What can I say about Alosa–one of the best female pirates I have ever read. She has all the best qualities that will make you laugh, cringe, and surprise you. She’s snarky, feisty, a badass, a crafty trickster, and ignites ever page with the fire of a thousand suns. And one of the best qualities about Alosa is that she is not stagnant–instead, as her journey throws her into a whirlwind on the sea, she rolls with the punches and allows herself to analyze every situation with a new perspective. Alosa is definitely a person I would want as a pirate captain and a friend. 

I do not want to give too much away, but The Daughter of the Pirate King is filled with mysteries, twists, disguises, secrets, and the best pirate fight scenes. From beginning to end, Tricia Levenseller’s book will have you enchanted and hooked. Every page is something new, something exciting, and a pure adrenaline rush of adventure, swoons, and quick-witted banter. The ending is a nail-biter, and trust me, after reading the last sentence, you will be begging for the sequel. (PLEASE, SOMEONE, GIVE ME THE SEQUEL NOW…). 

NOTE:  I was not provided a copy of this book by the author or the publisher in an exchange for a review. I bought this book with my own funds and reviewed it at my own discretion.  All statements and opinions in this review are mine.