"One of my favourite YA books ever. The action! The world-building! The voice! This book kicks so much ass." — Cale Dietrich, author of The Love Interest
"Levenseller presents a fully rounded portrait of a girl whose strength in battle is tempered by her very human anxieties. Rasmira's quest is thrilling, her emotional journey compelling; this adventure sings." —Booklist
"Levenseller... presents a female warrior who refuses to believe that crying makes one weak and that strength is not feminine. Through Rasmira’s inner monologue, teens will learn that teamwork and friendship are important and that failure makes one strong. This high-octane novel is filled with mythical creatures and showcases a heroine who wants to be a warrior, a woman, and a leader." —School Library Journal
"Witty banter brings levity, and of course Rasmira finds romance with one of the boys, but the real gratification lies in Rasmira’s transformation from broken, betrayed, girl to resourceful, confident victor. Her final clash with the god is heart pounding, and her triumph in front of her village and father is satisfyingly righteous." — The Bulletin for the Center for Children's Books
Praise for Tricia Levenseller:
"Levenseller has created a formidable female character who can take care of herself as she makes some hard decisions.” —School Library Journal on Daughter of a Pirate King
“[Levenseller’s] words will pull you in, and there's no escaping them." —Charlie N. Holmberg, author of The Paper Magician Series, on Daughter of the Siren Queen
“With a cunning plot, robust writing, and complicated characters, any reader will enjoy being manipulated in Levenseller's capable hands.” —Anna Banks, author of the New York Times Bestseller Of Triton, on Daughter of the Pirate King
02/01/2019
Gr 8 Up—Rasmira is the daughter of a high-ranking village leader and is training to become a warrior to keep her small village safe from the monsters that lurk in the forest. During her trial, Rasmira realizes that she has been sabotaged, but when no one, including her father, believes her, she is banished from her village. Before she can return, Rasmira must kill Peruxolo, the village's oppressive god. As Rasmira goes through stages of betrayal and hopelessness, she meets two boys who have also been banished from a nearby village. Over time, Rasmira and the boys form a friendship, and she begins to understand that to complete her task and survive in the forest, she must learn to trust others. Levenseller's series opener presents a female warrior who refuses to believe that crying makes one weak and that strength is not feminine. Through Rasmira's inner monologue, teens will learn that teamwork and friendship are important and that failure makes one strong. This high-octane novel is filled with mythical creatures and showcases a heroine who wants to be a warrior, a woman, and a leader. These themes will resonate with many teens, even if the story line is familiar. VERDICT Recommended for all collections.—Dawn Abron, Zion-Benton Public Library, IL
