'What Fury Brings' had an interesting premise and it is likely to offend some people. Fortunately I am not one of those.

The story was original and didn't have a lot of dull moments, so I felt thoroughly entertained. The mix of political intrigue and romance was perfect and exactly what has been missing lately with other romantasy releases.

However, the political intrigue part was kept very simple (none of these people could lead nations IRL, they were just a little too dumb...). The resolution was entertaining, but very, again, simple, leading to a happy ending that felt way too easy.

A generous 3,75/5 because I was so entertained by it though

One of my favourite film critics, Mark Kermode always states that he'd rather creatives make a big, individual swing that doesn't quite work than tread the same overdone path. Whilst reading, What Fury Brings" I often thought of this sentiment. Not everything totally worked for me, but I appreciated what Tricia Levenseller was doing and really enjoyed the overall offering.
Olerra is fighting to become heir of her female dominant kingdom over her scheming and cruel cousin. She decides that the perfect boon to her campaign would be to take a Prince from a neighbouring dynasty. The story and Olerra's country subvert the usual gender roles, especially when she takes her unwilling betrothed. The ideas explored are interesting but not always comfortable to read. As with many of the best fantasy books, I enjoyed the story, whilst being challenged by the exploration of ethics and the morally grey of it all. I think that this worked more than it didn't for me, but I suspect that mileage will vary for others.

I really enjoyed What Fury Brings! Tricia Levenseller’s writing feels so natural and easy to get into, which made the whole book a fun, immersive experience. The story has this great mix of action, magic, and strong characters that kept me hooked.

I loved the main character’s fire and determination—she’s tough but also shows some real vulnerability, which made her feel super real. The romance wasn’t rushed or forced, which was a nice change, and the enemies-to-lovers vibes gave it a great spark.

The worldbuilding was solid without being overwhelming, and the stakes felt high throughout. Honestly, I found myself rooting for the characters even when things got messy.

Only thing I’d say is the pacing slowed a bit in the middle for me, but the payoff was definitely worth it. If you like fantasy with badass heroines and a bit of sass, this is a great pick!

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

This was an incredible breath of fresh air! I have so much to say! The way that not only is the “narrative” flipped, but every gender stereotype we attribute to male leads. It was fascinating, cathartic but also deeply thought provoking to see how something you might swoon over an MMC doing is not strictly fair! Brilliant.
I also laughed so much, I didn’t except so much humour, it was amazingly done and I devoured it. I really like it as a standalone as it comes full circle and delivers a powerful message. Perfect!!

The premise of the book is refreshing: an abused crown prince from a patriarchal realm is kidnapped by a general from Amarra—a matriarchal society where, due to a goddess’s ancient gift, women rule and men are considered the weaker sex. In Amarra, it is the men that are objectified, protected or mistreated much like women were in the prince’s homeland.

The story cleverly flips the traditional power dynamic, and the prince’s gradual development of Stockholm syndrome creates a psychologically tense relationship with his captor. She doesn’t question the core of her society’s structure, only expressing minor disapproval toward its more extreme expressions. Her control over the prince includes forcing him into revealing clothing, jewelry, and makeup—mirroring the objectification common in male-dominated systems.

While the initial concept is engaging, the binary view of gender dynamics begins to wear thin. One oppressive system is merely swapped for another. The novel lacks characters who advocate for equality—someone who recognizes that abuse is tied to power and morality, not gender. This moral flattening reduces the nuance and complexity the premise promises.

The writing is compelling, especially in the beginning, with strong worldbuilding and emotional tension. However, the ending feels rushed and doesn’t fully deliver on the setup’s potential.

If you value thought-provoking worldbuilding and bold role reversals, this is worth a read. But the lack of nuanced ethical exploration holds it back.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

I think this book is like marmite, you're, you're either going to absolutely devour it, or you're not going to like the taste of it at all. It's thought provoking, uncomfortable at times, and filled with fury just as the title promises. The setting of a dark, gender-flipped society isn't an example of how society should be if men and women swapped places, it's an idea that even if women took charge and claimed dominance, not all would be fixed or fair. I'd definitely recommend checking the TW's before reading, it's a somewhat toxic book to get into, and has a lot of uncomfortable yet eye opening topics.

The plot was so well executed, with Tricia's simple, straightforward and easy writing style guiding readers through action packed fight scenes and some super steamy spicy scenes too. It felt like a bug adult mix of her previous books The Shadows Between Us and Warrior of the Wild- both of which are my favourites! I did feel like there were some plot holes and things skimmed over until the end, but with the main focus being on Ollera and Sanos' relationship and them both trying to better society together, I didn't mind.

I freaking loved Ollera, she's the typical strong and determined heroine like all of Tricia's other books, but this time she's also deeply flawed and isn't exactly 'good'. Her actions are questionable, and her methods may not be right, but her reasoning is just. She doesn't progress much development wise, but she does help Sanos, the crown Prince from male dominated country Brutos, gain a new perspective. I also loved that Ollera is plus sized too, the rep was good and could've been mentioned more, but still was there. Sanos was a great character too, he matched Ollera perfectly and I liked that his trauma was dealt with well. They both got closure, and I enjoyed that.

The romance was for sure a main focus, which I did like, and for Tricia's first adult debut, this was perfectly steamy and the tension was so great. I did, however, find the focus on sex and sexualising a lot a bit much. Everything was objectified, and whilst I know it's an attempted twin flame of our current society and outlooks, it almost overulled a lot of the plot and emotion. I did root for Ollera and Sanos, but I'd personally say the romance leant towards the darker side instead of the typical fantasy romance.

The ending was good, the last third wrapped up well, but the last few chapters did feel a little rushed. All of a sudden, everything is revealed, even the mystery behind Ollera's mothers death (which is kind of a big deal that felt pushed aside), and the two kingdoms are suddenly expected to unite and play fair. It felt too Disney, but considering the length of the book and the writing style, it was also on the mark and suited the book? I liked the epilogue and hint at a posable sequel following different characters, I lowkey kind of want a book from Glenaery's POV...

Overall, What Fury Brings is another hit from Tricia Levenseller, but this time with a much more packed punch that'll leave you breathless and possibly bruised from the tradegies of the imitations of our society. Fury was definitely felt.

4/5 🌟

4.5⭐️
Omg, i don’t even know how to put into words what I just read, at first I was like « ohhh a world where women rules, where she needs to kidnappe her future husband (a prince nonetheless) for power, please I am reading it» but it’s so much more, in way it reminded me a lot of the captive prince by C.S. Pacat and I just loved ! The relationship between the characters are well developed and I really appreciate the notion of consent in the book.
I think what I dislike the most about a book is the end, I just don’t like leaving the characters behind and the feeling of not knowing their life after the book. But here, I simply loved it, I cried, I was happy, they are happy. And I just felt ready to left them going on with their life by themselves, without me by their side.🥹
I did not expect the book to turn out like that but, it already have a place on my bookshelf until it’s published 😌

Firstly I want to say please please check the trigger warnings and the authors not as this is a dark romantasy and does cover some rather dark themes where in this world woman behave just as badly as men if not worse.

I was so intrigued by What The Fury Brings and once I started I just couldn't put it down. The premise is extremely unique and especially having a dark romantasy where the female/male roles are swapped and here you find a world ruled by women and the men are deemed the weaker sex and are used by the woman for their entertainment and pleasure. Was some of it hard to read and were there moments that made me uncomfortable? Of course but I loved that it was a world where people are diverse and accepted and the world building was refreshing to read about.

I would have liked the relationship between the two main characters more of slow burn but in the end it really worked and the spice was very well written. I do like that this is a standalone but the ending leaves it open to maybe have more books written in this world.

Thank you so much to Publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book before publication, these are my honest thoughts and opinions.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book. A gorgeous 4 star read book from me. What an exciting plot, vivid storytelling and relatable, rich characters. I couldn't put this book down – absolutely loved it

Thank you to pushkin press and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What Fury Brings is a dark romantasy set in a matriarchal kingdom where women rule, and it's everything I want in a romantasy.
Political tension? Check. Unique worldbuilding? Absolutely. A romance that simmers with sexual tension from the start? Say no more.

I've just finished reading the book, and I'm obsessed.

Warrior Princess Olerra must kidnap a husband to prove she’s fit to rule. She accidentally takes the wrong prince, but the tension between them is undeniable. With political rivals closing in, Olerra has to decide what matters more... her crown or her heart.

The world-building is so good! It feels layered and rich, and I love how it explores female power and control without holding back. It’s bold, it’s sharp, and it’s absolutely filled with fury. And yes, there’s literally a penis guillotine.

The dynamic between the main characters is so fun! They’re on opposite sides, constantly clashing, but the chemistry is undeniable. I do wish there would be more of a slow burn as the sexual attraction feels a little too instant for enemies-to-lovers, but that's my only caveat.

Some of the political stuff could have gone a little deeper, but honestly, I didn’t mind too much. The story hooked me, I've practically devoured it, and I’m still thinking about it.

Strong female characters, morally grey choices, and a romance that simmers until it burns? I’m in.
And if you're into fierce heroines, power plays, and undeniable sexual tension, then you should be too!

Please read this review at you own risk as it may contain some spoilers.
This book was a bit of a shock. We are introduced into a world where the world is under a matriarchy and the tortures and injustice that is imposed upon women in our universe are imposed on the men here. Basically, every role is reversed.
It was an eye opener. I loved that it was the women's role to provide and protect for the family. The storyline was so perfectly developed and narrated that you won't find any plot holes even if you try.
{Also, one particular sex scene was harrowing (in a good way). I didn't even realize the possibility.}
The development of both the characters and their gradual progress of understanding and acceptance of other's cultures and learning that their countries needed change was beautifully brought about.
This book is a hope we all carry that someday the world we see us as their equal and treat us with respect. I loved how the author drew inspiration about the brutality and mistreatment of the people considered as the "lesser sex" from our world and showed us different options of how human kind could learn to treat others with kindness and respect rather than violence and abuse.
This book has so many positives that I cannot write them all out. I'll just say that this book is a fresh view of the harsh reality a woman or a lgbtqia+ person has to face. It is a kind fuck you to every person who has mistreated others to make themselves feel superior. Please read this book. I recommend it full heartedly.
**Thank you Pushkin Press and Netgalley for the ARC**

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, it’s unshockingly 5 stars.

I stayed awake to finish this book in one sitting, I had the best time.

Now, I want to start by saying the core concept is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea because it tackles some uncomfortable subjects. The trigger warnings deserve a good read before getting stuck in. I thoroughly enjoyed the role reversal and play on archaic themes with women at the helm of power, but it stays true to real life history with the origins of why women came to strive for autonomy and a life they have chosen for themselves, it’s a fresh and unique story.

The FMC is brilliant and she is so compassionate, we really get to see her grow in to a leader figure during this story and the lengths she will go to for her people and to defend equality. I giggled a lot at her early interactions with the MMC, I didn’t think I’d like the dynamic and the power struggles, but because of the FMC’s true nature it didn’t bother me. We really get to see an enemies to lover type arranged marriage situation play out, it’s outrageous and funny while delving into the harsh realities of their differing kingdoms.

I recommend this for an open minded fantasy read which includes some wild moments, political warfare and some unexpected spice.

A bold, unflinching story set in a female-dominated kingdom, a society shaped by the men who came before. This is not a book that strives for balance or equality. It is a book about rage and fury of women who have inherited a broken world.

You can feel Tricia Levenseller’s fury burning through the pages—not just in her characters, but in the narrative voice itself.

It’s provocative, and at times, uncomfortable. But that discomfort is the point. By flipping gender roles so completely, Levenseller forces the reader to reckon with how we view dominance, control, and historical injustice.

Revenge fiction with sharp teeth!

“Men had to be controlled or else they would seek to control women.” - words of fiction, but actually… the truth of the real world we’re living in.

This book was very interesting and I am so happy I got the chance to read an early copy of it thanks to NetGalley and the publishers.

We’re thrown inside the kingdom of Amarra where, listen to me, the WOMEN rule. They’re sacred. The men serve them, they are treated like the weaker sex, the roles are reversed here and I loved every single second of it as a woman who knows how it feels to be considered weak just because you were born a woman. Our main character is a very strong female called Olerra. I didn’t love her, but I respected her. She is brave and fierce and strong and she fights for her kingdom, she wants to make it the best version it can be. I truly loved reading her story and learning more and more about the ways of Amarra, the kingdom that feels like a dream. Men serving women, men who know their place? Love that.

This is definitely a book I would recommend if you’re looking for a nice and quick fantasy that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It has lots of political intrigue, action, fighting for the throne between two cousins turned enemies, some spicy scenes, a funny MMC.

3.75 rounded up for goodreads and netgalley.
It was quite the anticipated read for me thanks to its premise and the things I’ve heard about it. And it did not disappoint. I feel like it could have gone further in the exploration of the setting and the universe but it was still quite satisfying to read. We need more books like this one, honestly. It’s utterly refreshing. The plot itself was well-rounded and its pace was great. I was not a fan of the main male character but the female main character? I did like her. Obviously I did. She was exhilarating.
I would highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.

2.5 ⭐️

Firstly let me say that the authors note at the start of the book is brilliant. It's funny and it gives insight into the ideas behind the story. There's something we can all resonate with in today's society. It's different from everything else I have read.

I enjoyed the plot. I thought the story being a patriarchal society flipped on its axis was a brilliant concept. Men are treated as the lesser sex. Women rule, being female is important in society and they are goddess-blessed with the power to overpower men. Men have no positions of power - they are trophies.

The FMC Olerra is someone who you really root for. She's strong, she's smart, and she's brave. Not just in the physical sense but in the way she bares her emotions. She sees what's wrong in her realm and wants to change things for the better. She also educates and challenges Sanos to consider what is right and what is wrong.

The MMC Sanos is a Prince, next in line to the throne and physically and emotionally abused by his father the king. In his realm Brutus women are nothing, his father constantly threatens the safety of his mother and sister due to their lack of worth to him. He's also physically abusive to them too. A set of circumstances means he's thrown into a realm which is the complete opposite of his own. Forced to face the injustices in not just this realm but his own, he starts to question the kind of king he will be.

One of my favourite parts of this book is when Olerra really challenges Sanos on why he's so appalled by the treatment of men in her realm when he's absolutely fine to let it happen to women in his realm. The lightning bolt moment when he realises that he's only outraged because it's happening to people of his own gender is powerful. He never really understood the injustice before he saw it happening to males. It quickly unravels for him then and it makes him look at things differently.

Amarra is by no means a perfect place and we see the abuse and degradation of men by women. What I found let the book down for me is that actually I wanted to see more people challenging this and challenging the awful system that has been in place for hundreds of years. It's almost excused as just how it's always been. We see Olerra challenging how the realm of Brutus treats women but not much of her challenging her own people about the systemic sexism and abuse in her realm. She sees it, it makes her uncomfortable but she turns a blind eye because she doesn't want to lose votes for the throne. It's frustrating that we don't get to see her or Sanos enact the changes they say they want to make. The focus becomes more about their relationship towards the end than righting the injustice and inequality, which for me was disappointing. I really hoped for more justice and more healing for both realms.

I did think at times the romance was a bit like Stockholm Syndrome and there are things that happen in their interactions which made me feel uncomfortable. I see her as a perpetrator of abuse in some scenes.

This isn't your average fluffy romantasy / adult fantasy. There are dark themes so check the TW's and the authors note before embarking. I didn't actually realise before requesting that some of the topics covered in this book would be so dark so I was a bit surprised.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the arc. This is my own honest review of the book.

4.5 stars

WHAT FURY BRINGS is a dark fantasy romance in a matriarchal society that flips the gender power imbalance to examine unjust dynamics in our own.

This is a lot darker and spicier than her previous YA - and the note at the start makes that very clear. If you liked THE SHADOWS BETWEEN US and the darker dynamic of that relationship, then you'll probably enjoy this one as it's very much in the dark fantasy genre and deliberately pushing the boundaries of socially acceptable at times (for starters, it's a captor/captive romance.)

The chemistry between the two is sizzling. There's very much a physical lust dimension to it and then the romance comes in once they start being able to see past their national stereotypes to the people underneath. I liked that there was some fear on both sides, even though the power is firmly on Olerra's side - it helped even the scales a little that she needed something from him and was worried she wouldn't get it. And that she didn't have the magic the rest of her people had that makes women instantly stronger than women. It gave the fights she got into some peril.

In Olerra's country, men have few rights - they cannot own property or money, etc. The punishments are severe for them if they are unfaithful to their spouses, and so on. This sharp contrast with the patriarchal society of Sanos' home (and our own) is used not only to make Sanos think about his privilege but also to ask us to consider how it is equality rather than dominance that our own society needs. There are hints across the book that a more equal society is what Olerra and Sanos will be working for in the future for both their homes.

There is a companion book coming I believe. I hope it follows Olerra's best friend, Ydra, as she was so much fun - and there were hints that she has some very interesting layers to explore.

4.5 stars.

I had SO much fun reading this! I was literally laughing the whole way through!

In a world where men and women’s roles and history are reversed, our fmc Olerra decides to kidnap herself a husband to increase her chances of beating her cousin Glen to the throne. This doesn’t go to plan when she kidnaps the wrong prince by accident without knowing!

I loved the twist on men and women’s roles reversed, it provided many opportunities for comical moments in the story, especially as it was quite crude but in a funny way. It was something different and I loved our fmc Olerra, she was strong and confident and very witty! It was clever to use the mmc Sanos in a way which his eyes were opened to how men treated women back in his own homeland by what he experienced in Olerras homeland. There was also the enemies to lovers which is always a popular trope and I thought this story was a good example!

I was so entertained reading this I just had to give it a 4.5 stars as it was such fun.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for proving me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was intense, thought-provoking and absolutely amazing.

In a land where the gender stereotypes are flipped – women rule, and men are subservient – Olerra must steal a husband to further her claim to the throne. However, her plan goes awry when she accidentally kidnaps the wrong prince from Brutus – a neighboring kingdom and one still under the control of men. Sparks fly as she attempts to master her prince, who categorically does not want to be mastered – and as he tries to fight his attraction to his captor.

This book is full of food for thought – The gender roles are truly flipped here, and it came as a surprise to me so see so many behaviors that are accepted in men portrayed by women. It left a bad taste in my mouth - why do we allow things from one gender and not the other? Men are considered the weaker sex, and treated accordingly – they are decorative, with little power, and exist merely to entertain women. Women hold the true power, and they abuse it by objectifying the men and mistreating them – very much like the world we live in today.

This story is unique and fresh, bold and provocative. It is designed to make you think, and it works perfectly. But at the same time, the characters are well rounded, and their development throughout the story is perfectly portrayed. The story itself is both dark – it is after all a tale of feminine rage – but also funny and lighthearted in places.

Special note - as a plus sized woman, Olerra being described as plus sized yet still healthy and desirable was a huge draw for me. I loved that she was described as being beautiful and strong, something very much missing for plus sized folks in the real world.

I loved this book, and I hope that we will have ‘spin off’ books as Tricia has created a world I want to see more of.

Please be sure to check trigger warnings and the authors note before reading – this story has a lot to offer and most of it is uncomfortable!

This book was everything I wanted and more.

I flew through this and honestly didn’t want it to end. Dark, emotional, spicy, and just so good. Olerra is one of my favourite heroines I’ve read in ages - she’s fierce, blunt, unapologetically herself, and I can’t tell you how much I loved seeing a plus-size FMC written as powerful and desirable without it being her whole personality. That meant so much to me.

The romance? Absolutely nailed it. I love a good enemies-to-lovers slow burn and this was chef’s kiss. The tension, the bickering, the way you can tell they care long before they admit it… just perfect. And the spice? Let’s just say I wasn’t expecting it to be quite so open-door, but it worked so well and fit the characters and the story perfectly.

I also really liked the matriarchal world and how it flips power on its head - it’s brutal and thought-provoking, and the little bits of found family in the crew were such a nice balance.

It’s dark in places, it doesn’t shy away from the heavy stuff, but it’s also empowering and addictive. I loved every second of it, and it’s already on my Waterstones preorder list because I need a finished copy on my shelf.

If you love a fierce plus-size heroine, enemies-to-lovers tension that delivers, a bit of spice, and a morally grey fantasy world you can really sink into, this is 100% worth picking up.