Oh man! Vikings, monsters, LGBT themes and more. This book had so many reasons I so desperately wanted to read it. I was SO thrilled when I was granted an eGalley from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I had high hopes for Rasmira's story, and boy did they pan out!
A Warrior of the Wild
Rating: ★★★★★
Author: Tricia Levenseller
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Format/Source: Netgalley ARC
From GoodReads: 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.
HERE'S WHAT I THINK...
How do you kill a god?
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!
"Each scar marks me as a survivor.
A Warrior of the Wild."
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.
TL;DR
This is a fast paced novel that will keep you engaged from page one. It includes a variety of characters that are endearing and daring, loyal and bold! I recommend this stand alone to anyone that loves high fantasies with a brilliant female lead!
5/5 stars!
About the Author: Initially from a small town in Oregon, Tricia now lives next to the Rocky Mountains with her bossy dog, Rosy. She received her degree in English Language and editing and is thrilled that she never has to read a textbook again. When she’s not writing or reading, Tricia enjoys putting together jigsaw puzzles, playing volleyball, playing OVERWATCH, and watching shows while eating extra-buttered popcorn.
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