Hi everyone! I hope you’ve had a great week! Is there a type of setting you gravitate towards? I am always intrigued by Viking-inspired stories, so when I saw the cover of Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller, it immediately caught my eye. And the synopsis sounded great as well! But did this book live up to my high expectations? Here’s my review!
Rasmira is her father’s chosen heir, trained to become a warrior and destined to lead her village. But her coming-of-age trial is sabotaged and she is banished to the wilderness. She gets an impossible quest from her father: to win back her honour, she must kill the oppressive god who claims tributes from the villages each year.
Wait, what were the characters’ names again?
As you might guess from the axe on the cover, this book is set in a vaguely Viking-inspired world. But these Viking influences are not very strong. So don’t expect Norse mythology or raiding.
The story itself was fast-paced and there was always something happening. Some new danger from the wilderness to conquer, or a new discovery about the mysterious god. Rasmira is a strong protagonist, while Soren and Iric are good side characters. Although I have to admit that, while I enjoyed reading about these three, I also couldn’t remember any of their names a few days after finishing Warrior of the Wild.
I did love how clever the ending was! I can’t go into detail of course, because it would take away from the fun for future readers of this book. But it was really well done!
Too short
However, Warrior of the Wild is quite a short book. It clocks in at about 320 pages. This made some things feel rushed and not developed enough. I definitely would have preferred more world building, backstory, and exploration of Rasmira’s inner dialogue.
I prefer three-dimensional worlds that feel fully developed. Settings that make you feel like there is a world outside of the town or part of the forest where the story takes place. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case here, making the world feel flat and very limited.
So my overall rating for Warrior of the Wild is 3 stars out of 5. It is enjoyable, but not very memorable.
Young Adult Fiction
Feiwel & Friends
February 26, 2019
352
An eighteen-year-old chieftain's daughter must find a way to kill her village’s oppressive deity if she ever wants to return home in Warrior of the Wild, the Viking-inspired YA standalone fantasy from Tricia Levenseller, author of Daughter of the Pirate King. 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 honor, she must kill the oppressive god who claims tribute from the villages each year or die trying.
