ARC Review of 'What Fury Brings' by Tricia Levenseller

Okay, I don’t even know where to begin because Tricia Levenseller has been an auto-buy author for me since the Daughter of the Pirate King days. Every single one of her books has been an instant hit in my reading list. Whether it's the fierce heroines, the swoony romances or the gripping plots, she's always delivered. And now… "What Fury Brings".

Whew. This one’s different. Very, very different, but in a way that just made me love Tricia even more.

Let’s get this out of the way first: What Fury Brings is Tricia's adult romantasy debut, and you can tell right from the tone and themes that this isn’t your usual fantasy romance with a tidy HEA and morally grey lightweights. This book is brutal, dark and deeply feminist... and no, not in a hashtag way. It's rage turned to fire and shaped into a kingdom where women rule, literally.

Set in the matriarchal kingdom of Amarra, this story flips a lot of what we’re used to reading. There’s a shortage of men, and noblewomen must kidnap husbands from neighboring kingdoms. Yes, that sounds ridiculous at first, but Tricia pulls it off in a way that feels real and scary. This world is toxic, only it’s gender-flipped, and that’s exactly the point. She’s not painting a “what-if” utopia of female rule. She's showing what unbalanced power and systemic oppression look like, no matter who holds it.

Now about our main girl, Olerra. I LOVED her. She is a certified badass warrior princess, but she’s also incredibly smart and layered, hiding a secret that, when revealed, actually gave me chills. That moment changes how you view her entirely. It doesn’t make her weaker. It makes her even stronger. I won't spoil it, but if you like your heroines tough but emotionally rich, Olerra is it.

Then there’s Sanos, our kidnapped love interest (yes, really). He starts off exactly how you’d expect a prince from a misogynistic kingdom to act: arrogant, controlling, angry. But what I appreciated is how he evolves. He learns to see Olerra as her own person. He learns to listen. He’s angry, yes, but confused, vulnerable, and eventually respectful in a way that made me root for him.

That being said… their chemistry? 🔥🔥🔥

But also? A little inconsistent. There were moments where their connection just clicked—tension, banter, emotions, the whole thing. But other times, it felt a bit disconnected. Maybe that was intentional, given their circumstances, but it did pull me out of the story here and there.

As for the themes, they’re dark. Really dark. This is a book full of content warnings for a reason. Think: violence, gendered abuse, captivity, trauma. Tricia herself has said this book came from a place of female rage—from all the times girls have been told we’re “less than” simply because of our gender. And this book is what that fury brings out. That context honestly hit me hard. She's not glorifying the matriarchy in this world—she’s showing how deep the damage runs when power is used to oppress rather than uplift.

Also, the backstory why women can overpower men in Amarra?? Bone-chilling. I'm still not over that reveal. So well done and so horrifying.

All in all, this book made me think, squirm, cry, and yes, swoon a little too. It’s not like Tricia’s previous YA work in tone or style. But it carries her signature strengths: strong heroines, bold storytelling and a refusal to make things easy.

I’m giving What Fury Brings a solid 4 out of 5 stars. Not perfect, but unforgettable. I loved it, and I honestly can’t wait to see more from Tricia in the adult space.

Definitely check the content warnings, Tricia’s IG has the full list, and thank you to Macmillan | Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for the ARC!

ISBN: 9781250379375

Release Date: September 23, 2025