'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*