Leigh BardugoWonder Woman: Warbringer

This review originally appeared on herestohappyendings.com.I'm somehow getting incredibly lucky with all of the great books that I've been reading lately. To be honest, I hadn't expected this one to become one of my favorite books, mostly because I really didn't know much about Wonder Woman going into this - then again, I've just recently started falling in love with superheros, plus with how amazingly well this book was written, how could I not love it, right?While I haven't read any other books by Leigh Bardugo (yes, I have all of her other books, but I haven't read them yet. I know, I must be crazy not to have), I saw nothing but really awesome reviews for this book and I wanted to read it. While I typically stay away from really hyped up books because I never really love them as much as I hope I will, this is one of those times where I kind of threw all caution to the wind and bought this one, and read it as soon as it came in.First off, that cover is freaking gorgeous.Second? The story is freaking amazing.This is probably one of the best books that I have ever read, and I loved it so much I actually started reading it again as soon as I finished the first time around.The origin story created for Wonder Woman in this book was so amazingly done that I honestly can't imagine not having read this, now."You dance differently when you know you won't live forever."Diana is an immortal from the island of Themyscira, where she is part of a women's only community known as the Amazons. They are secret from the outside world, and one of the biggest rules that Diana and her sisters and friends are to follow is that no matter what, they may not bring mortals onto the island. It is a big rule, and Diana is about to break it.During a race, Diana notices an explosion on a ship on the coast of her island, and finds herself dropping out of the race in order to help survivors - which it turns out, there is only one - Alia. Alia is a teenage girl who was on board an expedition with some of her peers and her teachers, and Diana brings her back to the island and hides her in a cave while she consults the Oracle about what to do. In that time, the island starts to suffer the effects of a human being brought onto it, and both Alia and the island (as well as some of the women on the island) begin to fall ill and feel the effects of what Diana has done, even though none of the others are sure what exactly it is that is happening.When Diana learns what Alia is thanks to the Oracle, she vows to get her off the island and to safety. Alia is a Warbringer - a powerful person who can cause anger, fighting, and wars to break out, especially if she isn't "cured" or killed by a certain time - in fact, she can bring about total destruction. While Alia doesn't believe this, she entertains the fact that she must accompany Diana to a special spring in Greece and bathe in its waters so that she can be cured. Yet, when Diana uses her Heartstone to imagine the two of them leaving the island and heading for Greece, she is surprised to find that Alia was thinking of her home in New York, which is where they end up.From New York, they must try and find their way to Greece in order to help Alia and cure her of the Warbringer destiny she was born with. When Alia's brother, Jason, shows up, he isn't interested in having Alia go to Greece at all, but with the girls' constant insistance that they go, he finally relents, and together with other friends Theo and Nim, the five of them start off on a trip that will take them to Greece."'We can't help the way we're born. We can't help what we are, only what life we choose to make for ourselves.'"When the five of them arrive in Greece, they work hard against outside forces to get to the spring, but eventually they discover inside forces and that there is evil among them that is trying to prevent getting Alia to the spring in time to stop all war.I fell in love with Diana's character from the very first chapter of this book. She was dedicated, she was an outcast on her island, and she was loyal to someone she made a promise to, even if there was a risk that she would be exiled from the island that was her home. Since she lives on an island where there are no outside forms of technology such as cell phones, and she doesn't understand the humorous meaning behind the term "kick their ass" and instead takes it literally, it's amazing watching her learn all of these things that we take for granted every single day. Leigh Bardugo really did a fantastic job writing her character. The amount of development that Diana goes through in this book is incredible. It's not just Diana, either - the other characters in this book change and grow and really make this stand out from other books in its genre for that fact alone, without even taking the amazing world building, story lines, or antagonists into question.The world building in this book is among the best that I have ever seen in a fantasy novel. The way the author describes the waves crashing up on the rocks on Diana's home island of Themyscira, to the way she describes the area in Greece and even how she talks about New York, I have honestly never seen such amazing world building in a novel like this before. I would recommend this book for the world building alone, if I am being totally sincere.Even Alia, Jason, Nim, and Theo were all fleshed out and had different personalities that brought so many new things to the story line. I never once felt bored reading about these characters, and over time, I felt like they became very dear to me as the reader.I loved the twist at the end - to be honest, I never would have seen that coming and I had no idea it was going to get so dark. It was a really great and fitting ending to the novel, and I can't think of a way it could have went any better.If you are a fan of fantasy, superheroes, or are looking to check out the new series of DC Icons, this is such a great start. While superhero novels aren't really my cup of tea (usually), I was so blown out of the water by Wonder Woman: Warbringer that as soon as I finished it, I wanted to pick it up and read it again. As someone who has never gotten into Wonder Woman, I feel like this novel was a total game changer for me.

It has been years since I have read a book in the Young Adult genre. I am reading it now because I am participating in a TBR Lottery Challenge and Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo was chosen. Wanting to read more from this author, I noticed that her next release was WONDER WOMAN: WARBRINGER. This book is part of a four book series in partnership with Random House and DC Entertainment. It is a new take on familiar heroes (future books include a retelling of Batman by Marie Lu, Superman by Matt de la Pena, and Catwoman by Sarah J. Maas). With a title like Warbringer, of course, I wanted to pick it up. The movie, Wonder Woman, was my favorite of the year and I was curious to see how it measured up. Good news, folks, you will not be disappointed.WARBRINGER is steeped in mythology starting with the creation of the Amazons and the island of Themyscira. All the Amazon are female warriors were killed in battle and prayed to the gods, are given immortal life on the island. Diana is not battle-born, but rather birthed on the island. She does not have the history of the other women. In fact, it is still unclear to me how she was conceived and how she was born. However, because of her unique status as both the daughter of Hippolyta and the only one born on the island, she seeks to find her own identity. She feels inadequate because she has not been battle-tested and is unsure if the other Amazons will follow her when it comes times to rule. Seeking identity is familiar them in Young Adult books and Ms. Bardugo takes her time to create the proper world for Diana emerge.During a Olympic-type celebration, Diana observes a ship exploding in the ocean. She veers off the race course to see if there are any survivors. She rescues Alia Keralis from drowning but breaks the cardinal rule by bringing a non-Amazon onto the island. This infraction is punishable by banishment from Themyscira. After stashing her in a cave, Diana strategizes on how she can get Alia off the island and not get caught. Diana does not know that Alia is a Warbringer. Her ancestors come from the line of Helen of Troy sired by Nemesis, the goddess of retribution. A Warbringer’s powers reaches her peak at seventeen years old. A Warbringer has been the catalyst for every great conflict in the History of Man. Unfortunately, Alia’s presence sets off a series of catastrophic quakes that threatens to destroy the island. There is only one way to stop a Warbringer and Diana is determined to help Alia and the world by stopping the next world war.Diana manages to get Alia home to New York, but Alia’s homecoming is mixed. Alia’s comes from a very prominent and wealthy family. However, she has always been the quiet one, the one who stays out of the limelight. She does not engage much in the family business. However, upon discovering her destiny, she now has to take charge of her own life. She is pursued by a group who know her identity and are trying to kill her so that she does not start Armageddon. What is interesting is how through her struggles to avoid the kidnappers and her predestined fate, she forges her own identity. She struggles with disillusionment and a loss of innocence, familiar themes in YA literature, but does not accept that she will bring death and destruction to the world. She knows that she can claim power in other ways.In addition to all the action and intrigue, this is also a story about sisterhood and friendship. The two main characters forge a bond as strong as any on Themyscira. Their relationship is tested through battles with both mortal enemies and with the gods. Like any good heroic story, our characters prevail, but not without a cost. There are some twists and turns that surprised me and keeps the pace of the narrative moving. Like the movie, this is a more empowering version of Wonder Woman’s story.

Relató que te atrapa desde la primera oagina

This was a very good read and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The book is well written and a lot of fun. I'm now going to have to look at the other books this author has written.

Leigh writing a Wonder Woman YA novel? This is almost too good to be true. Except it isn't, and what you get is a well-written, fast-paced, fun novel full of memorable characters and plot twists. I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait for Bardugo's next book.

(Also reviewed on For The Love of Fictional Worlds)Princess Diana is an Amazon, but one who is born on the island of Themyscira – and longs to prove herself to her sisters in arms that she is worth to be called an Amazon.Alia is a teenager protected and longs to leave the protection that her brother believes to be one keeping her alive. She, in an overdue rebellions boards a ship to Istanbul, just for a scientific exploration until it all goes horribly wrong!This book plunges reader right into the heart of adventure from the first chapter itself – and ends up personifying action, adventure and heart pounding quest undertaken by first Diana and then with Alia to save the World of Man from plunging into war!If Diana was my goddess; I swear Alia was my queen.They are strong, willful and courageous female role models, who I hope every young girl (and even adults) suffering from self – doubt would look up to! They take the obstacles thrown in their path and even with their doubts, they move along, believing in each other and themselves!But the foundation of the book lay in bonds of friendship that took time to lay; but when laid had these two spirited and independent girls had me reminiscing the friendship that I read in another series that defined my childhood! (Virtual cookies to who guesses this series!:P)The plot runs along at a steady pace; with good character buildup of not only Diana and Alia but also the secondary characters of Nim, Jason and Theo – but it’s the last 90% of the book that had me biting my nails and sniping at my husband who dared to disturb my reading time!Although, honestly I do wish the book hadn’t ended a bit abruptly (could have used an epilogue, tbh!); it did make me a fan of Leigh Bardugo who I think I am gonna binge read next!

Article reçu deux jours avant la sortie officielle, en très bon état et bien emballé. (oui, mon commentaire est assez tardif, désolée)Ce livre est une très bonne surprise. Bien que j'ai eu un petit peu de mal à commencer la lecture, assez lente, l'histoire se met très vite en place et on prend plaisir à suivre les aventures de Diana, adolescente et princesse des Amazones, et celles d'Alia Keralis, jeune fille dont le bateau s'est échoué su Themyscira.Bravant les interdictions, Diana sauve Alia. Et petit à petit, elle se rend compte que leurs histoires sont mélées. Débute alors une aventure prenante, haletante, entrecoupée de moments légers et de découvertes pour Diana, qui n'a jamais connu le monde des hommes.Leigh Bardugo, dont je ne connaissais pas les écrits avant ce livre, réussi brillamment à décrire le monde des hommes et Themyscira, à la fois du point de vue d'Alia mais également de celui de Diana, dont les émotions et sa vision des choses entrent en collision avec un monde froid, gris et hostile. Ce qui est d'autant plus intéressant, c'est la façon dont l'auteure met en avant la force et le courage de deux jeunes femmes que tout semble opposer, mais également l'importance et le pouvoir de l'amitié entre ces deux jeunes filles.C'est une lecture que je conseille vivement. Pour l'avoir lu en version originale, c'était une lecture assez facile. Et en cas de doute, le dictionnaire reste le meilleur ami.Si je devais le noter, il serait à 4,5/5.