Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan/Feiwel, and Tricia Levenseller for the opportunity to review this book.

I Dnf'd as it was hard to continue with it being in 3rd person and the they/ them pronouns which made it hard for me to keep up. Im 45 and what taught English differently.. I also didn't like the way men were written before I finally put the book down. Im a mother of sons I will not bend on that.

The storyline was a refreshing take on dynamics between men and women. I was entrapped with this book and couldn’t stop reading. My only wish is that there was a continuation to the story. It ended far too soon for my liking!

5 stars and still not nearly enough for the absolute feral joy this book gave me

This story is raw, ruthless, and absolutely dripping with feminine rage. It doesn’t tiptoe around expectations or soften its edges to make anyone comfortable. It walks into the room bloodied, battle-worn, and smiling. What starts as a high-stakes political power play quickly morphs into a complex, slow-burning, emotionally layered romantasy that sunk its claws in and refused to let go.

The world is built on the remains of a shattered patriarchy. The women have taken power, but power in name isn’t always power in practice. Enter a warrior general who is out to prove she’s not just worthy of the throne, she is the throne. She doesn’t negotiate for her future. She hunts it down and takes it — starting with a kidnapped prince from an enemy kingdom. And not just any prince. One known for being docile, sweet, and beautiful. The perfect trophy. Or so it seems.

Except he’s anything but passive. Raised in a kingdom where masculinity is worshipped and control is expected, he finds himself ripped from his world and thrown into one where he’s the one being trained, shaped, and tested. The dynamic between them is intoxicating. You get gritted-teeth banter, blades pointed at throats, training scenes that blur the line between combat and chemistry, and a constant push-pull of two people raised on opposite sides of power struggling to understand each other.

This book does something really special. It doesn’t just flip the traditional gender script. It picks it up, sets it on fire, and dances in the ashes. The power struggles are delicious, the emotional stakes are intense, and the tension is hot enough to melt steel. But the deeper you go, the more you realize this isn’t just about lust or dominance. It’s about two people unlearning everything they’ve been told about strength, vulnerability, and love.

The writing is sharp and immersive. The world feels dangerous and alive. Every interaction crackles with energy. The rage that fuels the story never fades into the background. It’s part of every decision, every heartbeat, every look across the training yard. That fury is earned. That fury is holy.

I didn’t just read this. I felt it. In my bones. In my blood. In the place where I keep the kind of stories that change you a little. For anyone who’s ever been told to sit down and be quiet, this book grabs you by the chin and tells you to stand up and roar.

I was so excited for this adult debut because I loved The Shadows Between Us and Darkness Within Us. I read them in 48 hours each! I wasn’t a big fan of the Pirate series, but I was very much optimistic and looking forward to this book. Unfortunately, this one feels younger than her others. Whereas the others were older YA and felt well paced and the characters were believable, this book felt like someone trying to write an adult book, but missing the target a bit. Also, I always enjoyed the first person writing in her other books, and this being in third person definitely didn’t work for me. I will absolutely still keep an eye out for anything she writes in the future, as I loved the Shadows world so much, but this one…fell short.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan/Feiwel, and Tricia Levenseller for the opportunity to review this book.

I tried to like this one, but I did not make it very far before I had to DNF. This book is way to brutal for my liking. I was buddy reading with some friends and their opinions as they got farther into to the book really made me not want to continue on. I was looking for a book with feminine rage, but this took it a step too far. I was not looking for a book where men are brutalized and degraded.

I enjoyed reading this book. My favorite character was the FMC Olerra. I specifically loved how she did not agree with how men were treated in her kingdom and chose to fight for the crown so she could make the changes she wanted to see. Please read the trigger warnings before diving into this one, as there are some graphic scenes. If you are good with the trigger warnings, then I highly recommend adding this to your TBR.

This story was so different but I really enjoyed it! Loved that it had a strong fmc and the love story was great!

I've read and own multiple Tricia Levenseller books, all in the YA genre. However, as I am over 35 years of age, I was excited for Levenseller's adult novel. I read the authors note and although my jaw literally dropped, with the warnings and content triggers, I was excited to read it anyway. It was interesting to read a world with complete roll reversal, where men are the ones suffering in a matriarchal world, but I found that while I understood it, I realized I am very uncomfortable with ANY ONE REGARDLESS OF GENDER being abused and misused. I have a 13 year old, and when one young man was sold to be groomed, I couldn't help but compare to my actual life- which is unfair, but this was where I really started to struggle. I felt uneasy and struggled with the power dynamics through out the book and wished that there had been more change by the end. I get that the FMC had dreams to change the aspects of the world, but it didn't feel like enough change was made? If that makes sense...

I will say I loved the amount of LGTBQ rep in this book, I loved that our FMC was not some tooth pick thin girl who has large breasts and suddenly knows how to fight after a training montage- her being a war general was really cool and I appreciated her strength and that she broke the cookie cutter mold. I also really enjoyed Sanos and his humor- I liked him from his first interaction and found him so endearing especailly how much he loved his family- minus his asshole of a father.

I will say I didn't necessarily buy the romance, but that may just be a me problem, instead of a book issue.

Anywho, long story short, THANK YOU Macmillian Children's pub group for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC.

The premise reminded me of an older movie, White Man's Burden and seeing how racism looked when you visually changed the roles. I didn't think this was to show how women would be better than men if in a male role but rather show how it looked if the roles had been reversed. Except once I read it I realized it was a step further.

With those thoughts going in I had a rough time getting a handle on the story. The writing was a little odd. Maybe a little rough because it was trying to be overly formal and it made the reading pace feel strange. I kept having to read sentences over and over again. There were also a lot of names and terms thrown out early that were challenging to remember.

The spice was weird. I don't know. I just didn’t quite get it. I dont think this one was for me. I thought based on the author note and premise I'd enjoy it but after halfway maybe I'm not in the right mood for it. There's a lot more sex and things centered around sex than I'd thought going in.

I could see the right audiences enjoying it and maybe in the right mindset and mood (mood reader) I'd have liked it more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan/Feiwel for this earc

No. No. No. I should have not read this book. I wish I didn’t read this book.

There are so many amazing reviews from reader that say what I felt much better than I did (please go read them)

Forget for a minute the terrible writing, completely underdeveloped world building and politics. Forget the immature characters. Forget the choppy pace. Forget about almost none of the emotional growth and most of “they are hot for each other”

If the author wanted to write a female empowerment story, why did she write the world when given power, women became just as bad as men??? Why after 500 years of having that power, the society did nothing to grow and change for better???
Writing women who put men down, doesn’t make them better women. Women are better than that.

Oh. And just to give you an idea, where some questions I will never get answers to
- Why is this society that thinks of men as worthless, getting a “husband” give you a better chance of becoming a queen???
- Why the king who is this big bad guy who kept everyone in fear of him for years, couldn’t figure out who took his son after MFC literally told him she’s gonna do it?

You want to write a fantasy standalone? Write one that can ACTUALLY stand alone.

I received an ARC of this book and it was absolutely incredible.

The premise is one I’ve never encountered before — imagine a world that is run by women who have been given special powers by their goddess to overcome their male oppressors. Not a perfect world or an ideal world — instead, it is a world built on their rage. A world built for their revenge.

The FMC was layered and complex…and deeply flawed. She is competing for the throne of a society she doesn’t fully agree with against her cousin. She does terrible things in the name of fighting for the throne, but I found myself rooting for the FMC in the end, despite being the “oppressor” in this story. I wanted her to find her way and find happiness. The MMC was just as complex — strong and resilient and evolving throughout the story as he is forced to confront the power dynamics between genders in his culture and the FMC’s, as well as his own masculinity and his own role in those dynamics.

The truth is that there were parts of this book that made me deeply uncomfortable, but I think that was the point. Men are treated horrifically in the FMC’s culture, including the MMC at the hands of the FMC. This book forced me to examine *why* I was so uncomfortable with this…if roles were reversed, would I feel the same? At her core, the FMC in this book is another version of “Beast” — good at her core, but doing terrible things for noble ends and, at times, taking actions that are deeply misguided — imprisoning and then falling in love with her “Beauty.”

In summary, this book was provocative and thought-provoking and I will need to sit with this one for a while.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

What Fury Brings by Tricia Levenseller immerses readers in a world where ancient powers awaken and reshape the fate of two sisters. Odelle and Reine belong to a forgotten line whose Fury magic was once feared by all. When Reine’s actions reignite old conflicts, Odelle must navigate dangerous alliances, hidden temples, and her own fears to prevent her world from descending into chaos. The novel’s rich setting ranges from the frozen halls of the Icebound Keep to the lush sanctuaries of the old gods, making each location feel vivid and alive.

One of the greatest strengths of this story is the emotional bond between the sisters. The tension of love mixed with resentment drives every decision and fuels a sense of urgency that carries the plot forward. Odelle’s internal struggle to master her power while remaining true to her values creates a compelling hero’s journey. Readers will find themselves invested in her growth, from a reluctant guardian to someone who must embrace her destiny and face the heavy responsibility that comes with great power.

The pacing remains engaging throughout, balancing moments of quiet reflection with breathtaking confrontations. Levenseller knows how to build suspense and deliver action in a way that never feels overwhelming or rushed. The political intrigue woven into the narrative adds depth, as courtly schemes and personal betrayals reveal the darker side of ambition and trust.

A few of the secondary characters could benefit from additional development, as their motivations sometimes feel unclear. The rules governing Fury magic are intriguing but occasionally vague during the most intense scenes, leaving readers wishing for more concrete explanations earlier in the story. Despite these minor issues, What Fury Brings offers a memorable adventure filled with family drama, epic magic, and heart pounding stakes that will remain with you long after you turn the final page.

Not going to lie. I was a little nervous with this one. I went into it thinking that it would be a female dominated world where men were the weaker sex. Come to find out that is only in their country. Then realized oh snap she is going to steal a prince and was left intrigued. Like how is she going to get him to adjust if he’s from a patriarchal society? For the most part this book kept my interest and flowed well. I feel it had good world building and I could see it like a movie in my head. There were some parts that made me cringe a bit but then I realized I also cringe at those things in real life. Def read the author note and trigger warnings because I felt like I needed them for this book.

I know there are plenty of books out there where when are held to high regard but this one is probably the best in this arena. A shortage of men? No problem, we just capture them.

I enjoyed this book and really don’t want to give anything away, just know, you should read it! It was well written and is worth read!

Happy reading!

thank you netgalley for the arc
I knew this book would be divisive, and it absolutely is. I picked it up out of curiosity and wanting to challenge myself—and I couldn’t put it down. It’s bold, spicy, and unapologetically about revenge, not feminism. The gender-flipped world is both fascinating and disturbing, with moments that feel more shock-driven than meaningful.

While the plot is thin and the romance leans into Stockholm syndrome, I appreciated the normalization of kink, diverse sexualities, and a badass, curvy FMC. It’s not a love story or a deep societal critique—it’s provocative escapism. If that sounds like your vibe, give it a shot.

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220908944-what-fury-brings" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="What Fury Brings" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1739245996l/220908944._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220908944-what-fury-brings">What Fury Brings</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14358948.Tricia_Levenseller">Tricia Levenseller</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7514517034">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This is my first ever Tricia Levenseller book and I absolutely loved it. The idea of a world where women rule and the men are the ones to stay home and raise the family was very intriguing. The whole plot was very interesting to me. Stealing a husband because there aren’t enough men and stealing the spare heir of the enemy was such a cool twist. The story is great, court politics, betrayals, the magic is such a minuscule part of the story, the story is mostly falling in love with the humanity of the main characters and fighting for those you love. I devoured this book and the main characters. For the first adult book from the author she did great, I enjoyed the spice but it was not the main selling point, important and enjoyable but needed. Thank you to NetGally and Tricia Levenseller for allowing me to ARC this story, I’m so excited to tell people about it when it comes out. Definitely a 5 star read for me.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/163387896-sandra-rodriguez">View all my reviews</a>

As soon as I read the premise for this book, I knew it was going to be divisive amongst readers. I requested it because I wanted to get out of my comfort zone, and I was genuinely curious about it. (Thank you to MacMillan and NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest review!) If you’re also curious about reading this story, PLEASE read the authors note - this book isn’t going to be for everyone, and it’s not trying to be!

Listen, I’m not a girl who hates men or even dislikes men enough to enjoy reading about humiliating and hurting them. To be fair, the author makes her intentions very clear as to what this book is about. Tricia Levenseller said it herself: This is not a feminist book. Feminism is about equality among the sexes. This book is about revenge. It’s probably my fault for hoping for more nuance. Also, this is SPICY. Sex and nudity are baked into the foundations of the culture and world building.

This book is for the girls (and anyone else) who might find it cathartic/arousing to read about dominating men in every single way you can imagine. This is also for the girlies who fantasize about submissive men. To give What Fury Brings some credit - the premise really is unique. This book is truly not like anything I’ve read before. It is an interesting flipping of the script of how women are treated in modern patriarchal society. This change in dynamic ranged from funny and entertaining (the ladies wanting their men to be hairless) to sensual (lots of naked, oiled up men in body jewelry tending to their female masters’ every whim and desire), to straight up disturbing (men need to be “seen but not heard,” and much worse). Every time I thought that some of the more upsetting elements were going to lead to some kind of meaningful revelation/connection to how the reverse is true in our current society, it never went deeper than a surface-level “gotcha” moment, designed for shock value.

All of that being said, I couldn’t put this book down. Whether it was because I was curious or unsettled, I had to know what happened next. I also liked that it was refreshing not to get cookie-cutter romantasy spice. Characters of all kinds of sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as less talked about kinks and sexual practices were normalized and treated with respect. I also loved the tall strong, curvy FMC. As in, she actually has a belly but still kicks ass.

The story/plot itself is just fine. It’s barely there and more of a vehicle to shove in more shock value moments. Also, the romantic relationship that eventually developed wasn’t that believable, and felt more like Stockholm syndrome than anything real and mutually respectful.

I want to give the book some grace because clearly I’m not the target audience. But overall, to me this book is equal parts intriguing, arousing, and disturbing. If you’re curious about it, you should give it a chance!

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Such a fun twist on the fantasy romance genre! In Amarra, women rule. Enter Olerra, a fierce warrior princess trying to claim the throne, and Sanos, the heir of a rival kingdom who accidentally gets himself abducted. Their dynamic is everything: enemies-to-lovers, culture clash, power struggle, and so much tension.The premise is wild in the best way, and the slow-burn romance had me rooting for them even as they butted heads. A few pacing hiccups here and there, but overall a super entertaining read with great banter and a fresh take on gender roles. Would absolutely read more in this world! Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan for the eARC.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Tricia Levenseller's "The Shadows Between Us" and I was excited to read "What Fury Brings." However, the book did not live up to my expectations. It was difficult to connect to the characters and there was disjointment with the plot, especially as the story progressed along. Finally, there were some parts that made me uncomfortable as a reader.

*Please read content warnings*

When thinking about the current state of the world (if you know, you know), I cannot imagine this book coming at a better time. Tricia Levenseller has jumped out of her comfort zone of YA and has broken out into adult romantasy; which I think she did smashingly well.

What Fury Brings flips the script of the male and female dynamic. It starts in the heat of a battle between two different countries, one a predominantly female country where women rule over men and the other more like the mainstream world we see in real life; with ruling men. In Amarra it is a tradition for the women to kidnap men from other countries to be their husbands. The powerful female general has her sights on the royal line of their enemy; the kingdom of Brutus. However, things go awry, and she does not kidnap the correct prince, but unknowingly the heir.

Does she manage to tame the brute? Does he ever stop trying to fight and flee back to his country? Is he willing to accept many of the actions his gender commits against women as atrocities? Will the general’s grave mistake of kidnapping the heir bring war and devastation to her country of Amarra? Will the world one day become a better place?

What Fury Brings is the perfect title for this book, as it embodies feminine rage brought by the atrocities of men in a society that fails many because “yes, for that is what fury brings.”.