I did not find this book shocking or triggering in the least.... It literally would be like normal life if the male characters were the main characters.... It was just the reversal of roles, which I found fun, funny, witty, STRONG.... I really enjoyed it. I was a little disappointed that there was not a lot of drama surrounding the kidnapping - would have been cool to see some kickass fight scenes and have Sanos watch the whole thing go down! As with all these books in the romantasy area I hate the annoying self sabatoge that goes on for too long...... Like we know you have insecurities, we know you can't allow yourself to trust blah, blah, blah, let's stop dragging it out people and give some other obstacle to overcome!

Overall, this was well written I was intrigued from the start - I liked who I was meant to like and loathed who I was expected to.... I was really rooting for the main characters and was happy with the pace and progression of the book, with that being said, I do feel the end was a tad rushed but the fight scene was wonderful!

I have received this eARC in exchange for an honest review, and all opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan / FEIWEL for the opportunity to review and provide my honest feedback

I’ll be honest, I struggled a little with this one. Not because Tricia can’t write (her books always grab my attention), but because of the sheer amount of rage packed into this story. This book is steeped in hate and feminine rage, which at times felt heavy, but also…real. If women were ever forced back into systemic servitude, I could honestly see a society spiraling into something like this. Hate breeds hate, and when you’re hurt over and over again, the scales rarely settle at “let’s be even.” It goes hand in hand with the idea that unhealed pain doesn’t disappear—it spills onto people who had nothing to do with your scars.

I know some readers were upset with the direction of the story, but to me, it reflects uncomfortable truths. History has proven this exact cycle, whether we’re talking about race, gender, or power—oppression twists people, and vengeance rarely looks noble. Whether we like it or not, women can be just as vicious as men. That awareness might be uncomfortable, but it’s necessary.

Now, I will say I thought this book was going to be more fun than it was. I went in expecting a sharp but entertaining ride, and instead it leaned darker, more thought-provoking. But the idea of “who’s the real villain here?” being left to reader bias? Brilliant. It makes you stop and really think about your own perspective while you’re reading.

Thematically, What Fury Brings feels especially timely. We’re living in a world where women are once again being made small, told what we can and cannot do with our own bodies. This book forces us to confront the dangers of swinging too far in either direction—because if we don’t actively seek balance and equality, the scales will inevitably tip, and someone will always end up crushed beneath them.

Dark, sharp, and thought-provoking, this wasn’t the easy, playful read I expected, but it still left me thinking long after I put it down. And that’s something I’ll always appreciate in Tricia Levenseller’s writing.

This book was unlike anything I have ever read before. The story is set in a country where women are the rulers and men are considered the lesser sex. I am so used to fantasy novels where women are the ones being captured, controlled, or treated harshly by men, so it was fascinating and eye opening to see the roles reversed. The author handled this theme in a way that was both thought provoking and unsettling, because it made me realize how naturalized it feels to read about women suffering in that way, yet it felt jarring and shocking when the same treatment was applied to men. That contrast stayed with me long after I finished the book.
The writing style flowed smoothly, and the overall plot was both engaging and easy to follow. I was especially drawn to Olerra as the main character. She is the general of the army, a role that demands strength, leadership, and determination, but what made her stand out to me was the secret she carries within her community. I loved the balance the author struck between showing Olerra’s power and her vulnerability. Her relationship with Sanos was another highlight for me. The way she is able to be open and honest with him about her feelings added such warmth and depth to her character.
Sanos himself had some of the most interesting development in the story. Watching his perspective shift as he spent time in Amarra gave the book an added layer of complexity. His experiences challenge not only his own understanding of his kingdom, but also invite the reader to reflect on their own assumptions about power and gender roles.
The pacing of the book felt spot on from start to finish. Every scene had purpose, and the story never dragged or felt rushed. By the time I reached the ending, I felt completely satisfied. It tied together the threads of the story in a way that was rewarding without being predictable.
Overall, this was a powerful and memorable read that gave me a fresh perspective on themes that are often overlooked in fantasy. It managed to combine thought provoking ideas with an enjoyable story and characters I genuinely cared about.

4.5 stars!

First, please read the Authors note at the beginning of the book. The author explains her purpose in writing this book and lists the trigger warnings. This is an adult dark romantsy book.

I was so excited to read this, I loved the premise of flipping our history where women are above men in status, strength, and power. While some scenes did make me feel uncomfortable, I genuinely feel like the author did a good job! It had a pretty fast pace, especially toward the end. I stayed up so late reading because I didn't want to put the book down.

Thank you, Netgalley and Macmillan/FIEWEL, for the EARC.

I’m a simple girl, who likes simple things: the necks of men underneath my boot.

𝕄𝕖𝕟 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕓𝕖 𝕤𝕖𝕖𝕟 𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕕 𝕦𝕟𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕤 𝕖𝕩𝕡𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕝𝕪 𝕥𝕠𝕝𝕕 𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕨𝕚𝕤𝕖.

I swear this book was written just for me. I cackled THE ENTIRE TIME. Humiliating men is my favorite past time, and while I don’t think I was supposed to take away a sick and twisted glee from women dominating men in this little fantasy kingdom, I’m not ashamed.

𝕄𝕖𝕟 𝕨𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕦𝕟𝕗𝕚𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝕣𝕦𝕝𝕖. 𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕪 𝕨𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕪 𝕥𝕠 𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕧𝕠𝕜𝕖, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕪 𝕒𝕝𝕨𝕒𝕪𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕔𝕠𝕔𝕜𝕤 𝕚𝕟𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕤, 𝕨𝕙𝕚𝕔𝕙 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕨𝕙𝕪 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕪 𝕨𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕤𝕦𝕚𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕕𝕣𝕠𝕠𝕞.

If you like books where the prince captures the princess and holds her captive (the entire ACOTAR series), but you don’t like it when the princess does it? * scratches head *

I do wish this would have been more than one book. I think the character arcs could have been SO STRONG if we’d had more time to let the enemies simmer (think Captive Prince levels of simmering), but I had a great time. Vibes alone this is a 5 star read for me. We’re cutting off the dingers of 🍇ists? Sign me up. Like I always say, “bed him, wed him, then behead him.” 💅🏻

𝕄𝕠𝕤𝕥 𝕚𝕟 𝕞𝕪 𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕥𝕣𝕪 𝕓𝕖𝕝𝕚𝕖𝕧𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕚𝕗 𝕨𝕖 𝕕𝕠𝕟’𝕥 𝕕𝕠𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕥𝕖 𝕞𝕖𝕟, 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕪 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕘𝕠 𝕣𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 𝕓𝕒𝕔𝕜 𝕥𝕠 𝕠𝕡𝕡𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕦𝕤. 𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕠𝕟 𝕚𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕒𝕪 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕖𝕟 𝕠𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕥𝕣𝕪 𝕥𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥 𝕨𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕟?

ℍ𝕖 𝕕𝕚𝕕𝕟’𝕥 𝕒𝕟𝕤𝕨𝕖𝕣.

3 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was an interesting exploration of patriarchy through a complete role reversal of power.

In the kingdom of Amarra, women hold absolute control, and men’s autonomy is stripped away. What struck me most was how the women had adopted the same brutal, dehumanizing behaviors toward men that men historically inflicted upon women. I understand the intent was to make the injustice impossible to ignore by flipping it on its head, and in that sense, it was effective. But rather than using their power to create a more just and equal society, the women of Amarra instead acted out of revenge, perpetuating cycles of cruelty. I couldn’t help but feel sad and frustrated that this “better world” wasn’t actually better at all.

The central plot revolves around Sanos being kidnapped by Olerra so she could take him as a husband. While this created an interesting dynamic and gave them plenty of forced proximity, I couldn’t understand how Olerra was so oblivious to the fact that someone taken from their home to a country with an entirely different way of life wouldn’t just submit and adapt to her expectations, simply because men in her own kingdom voluntarily submit to women. On the other hand, I did appreciate that Olerra was trying to win the battle for heir to enact change, and that she made Sanos aware of injustices in his own country.

The romance between Olerra and Sanos fell flat for me. While it had the potential with enemies-to-lovers, hidden identity, and miscommunication tropes, they didn’t land strongly enough to pull me in or make me root for them.

Overall, the premise of contrasting societies had so much potential to shine, but the execution didn’t hit the mark for me. While there were creative aspects I enjoyed, such as the unique guillotine designed for specific crimes and the depiction of strong women in power, the negatives outweighed the positives. The romance was underwhelming, and the social commentary, while thought provoking, left me more disheartened than inspired.

If you’re looking for a story that’s lighter on spice and romance but heavy on political themes and role reversal dynamics, this might still be worth picking up. For me, though, it’s a solid 3 stars.

I have received this eARC in exchange for an honest review, and all opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan / FEIWEL for the opportunity to review and provide my honest feedback

What Fury Brings is a novel of female rage in a romantasy setting. In the kingdom of Amarra, women have been ruling for the last five hundred years, but it's not long enough for them to forget how their ancestors were treated at the hands of men. Now women provide and care for their men, with the ruling class often having harems of males at their disposals. Men have little no rights in Amarra, and that's how the current ruling class intends to keep it. Enter Olerra. A general of Amarra, princess, and possible heir to Amarra. Olerra dreams of a kingdom where everyone has more equal rights. However, if her cruel cousin inherits the throne, Olerra knows that the kingdom of Amarra will see more disparity between the classes and worse treatment of the men. In order to help secure her vote to the throne, Olerra decides to steal herself a husband from the neighboring country of Brutus to show her strength. What follows is a story that flips the script on the atrocities committed to women through the ages, and shows them affecting the male population instead. Sometimes romantic, sometimes horrifying, 'What the Fury Brings' is entirely thought provoking. A first foray into adult novels after publishing in the young adult category for years, I think 'What Fury Brings' builds a unique world that won't be easily forgotten after it's conclusion.

This novel had me legitimately laughing out loud at some of the condescending comments that Olerra made toward her intended, the Sanos disguised as Andrastus, in the effort to be sincere and 'court' him. The witty banter between characters helped cut some of the tension of a story that, at it's heart, still discusses the marginalization and mistreatment of a group of people. I did find myself liking the main character of Olerra much more than I did Sanos. I felt that he capitulated a bit too easily to Olerra's schemes of marriage for her crown. For him to be such a hard, seasoned warrior, he seemed crumble pretty quickly to his new arrangement. Even with the issues I had with Sanos, I still enjoyed the romance between him and Olerra. For her first adult novel, Tricia Levenseller is bringing the heat in the romance department. Overall, this book was enjoyable and I read it all in less than 24 hours. I hope that Tricia Levenseller continues to branch out into the adult genre.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan/FEIWEL, and Tricia Levenseller for an eARC of this novel to review.

What if women ruled the world? In the kingdom of Amarra, that question is reality. Women hold the power reigning over their households and their nation.

Olerra, a bold and ambitious warrior, is determined to prove herself worthy of Amarra’s throne. Her plan? Kidnap the second-born prince of the neighboring kingdom of Brutus as a political pawn. But a critical mistake changes everything—she accidentally and unknowingly captures Sanos, the firstborn and heir to Brutus’ throne.

In Amarra, many women are born with a rare gift that allows them to subtly influence and control men. Olerra, however, was not so fortunate. Without the gift, she must rely on her intelligence, charm, and sheer determination to manipulate her husband to be and use him to cement her claim to power.

But as tensions rise and kingdoms edge toward war, one question remains: Can Olerra tame a prince and secure her crown—or will her plan spark a conflict that could destroy them both?

This book was a captivating read. The storytelling and world-building strike a perfect balance—rich enough to fully immerse you in the world without overwhelming the plot. You’ll find yourself rooting for both Olerra and Sanos, even as the narrative challenges you to question power, control, and the flaws within any society, regardless of who holds the throne.

Ideal for fans of romantasy with a darker edge, this book delivers tension, intrigue, and emotional complexity. However, it may not be for everyone. I strongly recommend reviewing the content warnings at the beginning before diving in.

Special thank you to Feiwel/Macmillan and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I honestly loved this! It was a really fun read and I ended up loving the characters.
Olerra is a badass and Sanos development through the story had me liking him more and more. The story is really kind of crazy which makes it easy to get into.

I wish I could rate this higher. I truly do.

At their core, both Olerra and Sanos possess genuine care for those closest to them. That, combined with their deep ties to the traditions of their people, created space for meaningful growth as the story progressed. Olerra is also a certified badass. Her sharp tongue shines in her interactions with the King. Those moments were brilliant and commanding, and honestly made me believe she was meant to be queen.

That said, I expected greater growth and certain character trails felt inconsistent or unbelievable at times. For example, Sanos, a battle-hardened warrior who had endured torture and humiliation, was reduced to blushing at a simple innuendo regarding stamina.

Which leads me to my biggest concern: the tone of the narrative. While it aimed to explore difficult and devastating themes, the writing and character interactions often felt juvenile, which undercut the impact. It continually shifted from heavy subject matter to repeated mentions of her "kit" and sex scenes that read more like anatomy lessons than moments of intimacy, robbing the story of both gravity and allure.

In the end, the story seemed unsure of its identity. It didn't read as romantasy, nor did it deliver on its fantasy elements, and that left me confused. I thoroughly enjoyed The Shadows Between Us, but this one just didn't hit the mark for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan, and FEIWEL for providing this ARC. I’m grateful for the opportunity to read it early and share my honest thoughts.

Thank you for the arc copy!

I think this book has such a cool concept and its fun to read at times. There are times where things slow down or there's too much miscommunication, but overall its still addictive. I do feel like the romance could've had a bit stronger build up but I liked both characters still!

on goodreads

This review was posted on 8/19/25
goodreads.com/liv7788
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7461808134

A big thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this work. This is an unbiased review of Levenseller’s brand new Adult book.
I am rating this book 4 stars. A very very slow burn with a unique take on a society some fantasize about daily, especially these days. Levenseller has made it clear that this is a world she imagined for entertainment purposes, not because she thinks the world should be this way. Spice is 3/5. Adult Fantasy
The story follows Olerra as she tries to gain a throne she has worked tirelessly for. To claim her throne, she must prove her strength by kidnapping a prince from a different land to show her strength. In doing so, she plots to topple her cousin for the crown and become Queen. Olerra, commander of Amarra’s legion, has thrived in the matriarchal society of Amarra without the power given to the rest of the women in her kingdom. Sanos, heir to the crown of Brutus, has been mistakenly kidnapped and must plot his way to escape to save his family from a brutal ruler. Brutus, used to the patriarchal society, sees Amarra as abhorrent at first, not understanding how women can take on the typical male roles of fighters and defenders, conquerors. What ensues is a story packed with twists and character driven plots and miscommunication. It was very entertaining!
I was under the impression that I would fly through this book. The first line snared me into the story: “Given the extreme size of the king’s sword, Olerra felt certain the man was compensating for something.” But as I continued to read, I found that I had a bit of trouble engaging with the main characters at first. Olerra is straightforward, but I found myself having trouble relating to her, it was almost like she was completely black and white initially. I felt more interested in Sanos’s story, but his backstory seemed to be mainly that he tries to protect his siblings and mother. He didn’t have much depth, but I still felt more connected to him.
There is some brutality and mention of S.A. What I liked about the setting was that justice is brought about swiftly. It was intriguing to see this picture Levenseller painted of this society. Though this is one imagining of a matriarchal society, it was clear that the Amarrans have trouble being flexible in their thinking regarding males, but not much else. They were very accepting of all types of things, but not the foundation of protecting women.
I had a hard time with how slow the burn was in this story, but I believe that is part of her writing style and it pays off in this work. She typically has things start to come together 75% of the way through in her YA books. For her first foray into Adult books, this was delightfully open about sex and all the process entailed for them to warm up to one another in that department. I believe she had to do the slower route for this couple because it is such a polarizing situation. I believe the reader really relates to Sanos, so having him warm up too fast takes away part of the motion of the story.
I feel like there are a ton of opportunities created in this world to have some other books in the series, as she does with her YA books. She was masterful at creating interesting side characters, so I feel as if she could do more as time goes on with them.
I rated this book a 4 because I felt like the beginning was kind of hard to get wrapped up in. I will continue to read her other works, but all of them so far have been pretty good. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed her other works, just be prepared that this is not a YA book!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

I could tell early on in the book that this was going to be a 5 stars for me. I really enjoyed reading a book where roles were reversed and the women were in charge of the armies. I thought it was a unique twist.

I loved the journey between Santos and Olerra. The friendship between Olerra and Ydra was also nice.

I couldn’t finish this book. I made it 30% in and couldn’t force myself to go on. Which is so disappointing because I love Tricia other books. Daughter of a pirate king is one of my favorites. This was just too much and not enough that the same time. Too much dealing with sex and objectifying the men and not enough substance and plot. I get that she’s trying to show the opposite of what she thinks the work is like and how women are treated but I don’t think this is the way to make it better. Again just so disappointed, I was looking forward to her book since I love her other series but I won’t be finishing this.

Olera is a badass warrior that lives in a matriarchal society. And by that, I mean complete roll reversal. Men are sex worker slaves, take the traditional wives role in a household, slave markets are men not women, no men in the army etc. I have to say, it was off putting to me at first, but the storyline skewed to Olera wanting to change things when she would become Queen. It did make me think about society as a whole, where women were in these roles, and men treated them this way. Thought provoking.

The story had an interesting plot but I'm not sure i enjoyed how it was executed. I was questioning a lot of the character choices and actions and scratching my head at times over sudden changes or decisions made they had went against the characters personality or thought process. Overall it was fine but not my favorite and not a book I think I would need a physical copy of on my shelves.

I enjoyed it and it wasn't like anything I had read before. It shows the good, the bad, and the ugly if society was a *brutal* matriarchy. This wasn't just about women being in powrr but getting revenge for wrongs done in the past. It was an interesting read with many plot twist.

First thoughts:

Way better than I thought it would be. I didn’t know I’d be giving it 5 stars until the very end, honestly. The story was honestly great. I HATED the revenge gender swap, but it was a creative choice. And things were made well in the end. So yeah, 5 stars. Hesitantly, 5 stars. I’m not mad I’m getting the book box editions.

Final Thoughts:

I started reading What Fury Brings to decide if the book box editions would be worth it, and, unfortunately for my wallet, it is. I was originally hesitant to give it 5 stars, but as I wrote this review I realized I didn’t have a bad thing to say about it. So that’s an easy 5 stars in my opinion. The only thing I would change is for there to be a book two! But regardless, I’m so happy I read it. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Macmillan for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this ARC! Highly recommend!

Read my full review on RoseUponRows.com

A woman from a matriarchal society steals a prince from a patriarchal society to be her husband. Talk about flipping the table. This book I will have to say challenged me to think so much in regards to patriarchal societies, inequality and the fight to belong even within our own groups. Finding our own strength and remembering to know our own worth.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and what questions it presented to me along with its romance.

Check the triggers! The author is very clear on what’s in this book, so go in prepared.

That being said I’m not sure how I feel about this book. I both enjoyed it and didn’t. I can certainly see what the author was going for with this book - it’s about women’s fury and rage. It’s not about feminism.

What I keep going back to in my mind is that we’ve all read this book before. Loved books like this. Raved about books like this…But the genders are swapped. A lot of what is done to men in this book is what’s done to the FMCs/women in dark romances, and yet that’s okay? Now I’m not big of dark romance to begin with as I don’t like reading about women being treated in these ways, so reading about it being done to men didn’t feel great either (at least I’m consistent??). And the whole kidnap a prince/princess and get them to fall in love with you - hello, basic romantasy plot. We love it when it’s the FMC experiencing essentially Stockholm syndrome yet it feels yucky when it’s the MMC?? Really made me think about what we find acceptable and why.

If we take out all the triggering things, we still have a decent story, which I think is important. Was it a great story? I’m not sure; however, I couldn’t put it down and finished in just over 24hrs. If nothing else, this book really made me think - and maybe that was the whole point?