Wonder Woman: Warbringer (DC Icons Series)

Thank you to Blogging for Books for a physical copy in exchange for my honest review.

Leigh Bardugo has done it again. I loved her Shadow and Bone Trilogy and I have now loved Wonder Woman!

If you've seen the movie just forget almost everything about it when it comes to this book. Well maybe besides how good Gal Gadot is an amazing Wonder Woman. Okay, Let's get to the actual book now.

Princess Diana is the underdog on the Island she's the Queens daughter and because she hasn't really proven herself like everyone else she feels like she really doesn't fit in. When an accident happens and she hears a human victim shouting for help she goes and helps, but this makes something bad happen on the island and they have to leave immediately which also leads to Diana learning that Alia happens to bring anger and fighting everywhere she goes and that she needs to take Alia to a certain place to stop the human world from going to War.
Thus begins the adventure and a whole cast of characters that bring a lot of feelings in. First, we have Jason who is Alia's brother and is full of secrets and control issues. Then we have Theo who is Jason's best friend and his dad is Jason and Alia's Godfather. Lastly and my most favorite side Character Nim, who is into fashion, Alia's best friend and is just amazing throughout the whole book.

Overall I could not get enough of this book and I am so so glad I read it. I don't know much about Greek Mythology (It's something I want to learn about, but it's also daunting to me, if you have any recommendations please tell me them.) so I did have to stop a few times and look things up just to know more about the story (you don't have to do this I just wanted to learn more while reading). The cross between mythology and the present day world worked wonderfully together and it still all made sense and wasn't confusing at all. I loved how Diana is still very no-nonsense and shuts everyone down who thinks she can't do something. (ex: Jason who is just wow) She is such a good influence on Alia and really helps her through this crazy journey and she also helps out the other side characters get confident as well. This book was just so heartwarming to me and I can't wait to continue to read the DC Icon's series.

I'm really hoping that Wonder Woman's story continues on in another book or she at least makes an appearance in the rest of the companion series.

(Also reviewed on For The Love of Fictional Worlds)

Princess Diana is an the store, 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 the store.

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!

WONDER WOMAN YASSSS. I might like Wonder Woman just a little bit. And the novel is written by Leigh Bardugo, the creator of the Grishaverse! (I reviewed her Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom, and REALLY need to get my hands on the other trilogy!)

So this is basically a slightly different origin story for Wonder Woman - or at least the reason she leaves Themyscira is a little different for this book's plot. One thing I've always enjoyed about DC, and superheroes in general, is that it's not so much about the specific details of what they've done, so much as who they really are and what they believe in. And in that, Diana is very much true to herself in Warbringer. Given a choice between two outcomes, she opts for a third. Not "do I save these people, or those people" but "how do I save EVERYONE?"

I also really liked that The Warbringer - the girl Diana is trying to save - is no shrinking violet herself. She absorbs the knowledge of what she is in a bit of a shock, but once over that, she displays courage and competence as well, and is a fitting companion for Diana. Her friends were also fun characters, and I especially liked Nim.

Again we have representation, too! The Warbringer and Nim are both women of color. Diana mentions that her skin is brown, as well. Coming from Bardugo, I shouldn't have been surprised that sexuality was also addressed in the book, but not as a plot point, which is lovely to see. It just is a facet of a character. I especially loved the shoutout to Diana's bisexuality.

Bardugo has quickly become one of my favorite authors. She tells great stories, with complex characters, and includes minority characters, both racial and GLBT. Her plots rocket right along, with well-thought-out action scenes that are easy to follow and emotionally impactful.

I'm not sure Warbringer quite makes my Best of 2017 list, but it was really good.

She will become one of the world's greatest heroes: WONDER WOMAN. But first she is Diana, Princess of the the stores. And her fight is just beginning. . . .

Diana longs to prove herself to her legendary warrior sisters. But when the opportunity finally comes, she throws away her chance at glory and breaks the store law—risking exile—to save a mere mortal. Even worse, Alia Keralis is no ordinary girl and with this single brave act, Diana may have doomed the world.
Alia just wanted to escape her overprotective brother with a semester at sea. She doesn't know she is being hunted. When a bomb detonates aboard her ship, Alia is rescued by a mysterious girl of extraordinary strength and forced to confront a horrible truth: Alia is a Warbringer—a direct descendant of the infamous Helen of Troy, fated to bring about an age of bloodshed and misery.
Together, Diana and Alia will face an army of enemies—mortal and divine—determined to either destroy or possess the Warbringer. If they have any hope of saving both their worlds, they will have to stand side by side against the tide of war.

Where do you go from the high that is the Wonder Woman movie? Warbringer almost seems like a step down. No less Leigh Bardugo doesn't quite reach the hope I had for a Wonder Woman Ya novel. I do think the Wonder Woman she created was wonderful. And that is unfortunately all I wanted to read about was Diana.

The story wasn't all that exciting. The story I felt wasn't quite as good as it could have been, I found myself bored. The story was almost predicable at times. A big part of the story is Diana being worried about being exiled from Themyscira. To me it never seemed plausible that it would happen. All of the other characters felt secondary. I didn't care about them like I probably should have.

Finally where this book definitely shines is Diana. The action scenes even though they were in short supply. It was exciting, it's unfortunate that these DC Icon books are only stand-alones, I believe. I wish would could have seen where else Leigh Bardugo would have taken Diana. I wish we could of seen her out of her teen years and into the Wonder Woman we know today.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

After loving the recent Wonder Woman movie and as a huge fan of Leigh Bardugo's writing I was really looking forward to this book and I'm happy to say it didn't disappoint. This is an alternative version of Wonder Woman where Diana is a teenager in the modern day so the plot was different to the movie and other versions of the story but there were a lot of things that were familiar so it still had the right feel to it.

Diana loses her chance to prove herself to the other the stores when throws a race to save the life of a mortal girl and bring her back to the island. Visitors have never been allowed but it turns out that Alia is more dangerous than most - she is the current incarnation of the Warbringer, a being who causes war and devastation wherever she goes, and who could destroy the world if she's allowed to live. Diana is desperate to fix the mistakes she has made but she can't let Alia die so when she finds out that there is one possible way to cure Alia's curse she knows she has to at least try to save her new friend.

This was such a fun story to read, with a wonderfully diverse cast of characters, a hint of romance and most importantly of all brilliant, strong female friendships. Diana and Alia are joined on their journey by Alia's brother Jason and their friends Nim and Theo. Each of them have their own skillset to bring to the quest and they all have a role to play in saving Alia and stopping the end of the world. I'll admit the beginning felt a little slow, mainly because it felt so familiar to the beginning of the movie, but once the story gets going the pace built up nicely and towards the end the action was nonstop. It wouldn't be a Leigh Bardugo book if she didn't throw a twist or two at you and I was definitely caught unaware by one of them. The story wrapped up really nicely but I can't help hoping that there will be more Wonder Woman stories to come, in the meantime I'm looking forward to reading other popular YA author's takes on their favourite superheroes - next up is Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu.

“I’m done being careful. I am done being quite. Let them see me angry. Let them hear me wail at the top of my lungs.”

I was super excited for the DC Icons series when it was announced, and I have to say, Wonder Woman: Warbringer did not disappoint. It was an action-filled story of friendship and becoming your own hero. We follow Diana Prince as she leaves Themyscira, after rescuing a would-be drowning victim - Alia Keralis, who has a past far more complicated than either girl realizes. Diana faces exile as she, Alia, and a few others embark on a journey to battle bloodlines and fate in a quest to save the world.

Things I Liked
I really loved seeing the worldbuilding of Themyscira and the heavy influence of Greek mythology. I love all things Greek mythology, so I loved talking about the god, goddesses, and heroes that are a part of the history. Though I would have liked to spend a bit more time on Themyscira with the the stores.

I’m always here for female friendships, and seeing Diana and Alia’s relationship develop was beautiful. I loved seeing the parallel journey that each girl was going through, and how that helped them grow closer as well. They fully trust in each other and want the best for each other. Nim, Alia’s best friend, makes this duo and trio with her sparkling personality. The three girls truly complimented each other, and I loved it.

There was some really great action scenes in this story, as one would expect in a superhero-inspired story. The action really showcased Diana’s power and strength, both physically and mentally.

This is so unimportant in the overall scheme of the story, but I loved that the chapter heading images were different for Diana’s POV and Alia’s POV. It really made it clear without having to label the chapters with the character’s name.

Things I Didn’t Like
Personal issue, but for me the chapters felt a bit long. Especially in the beginning, the story just seemed to drag a bit and that made it a little tough to get into. But once I got about 100 pages in, I was fully invested.

I thought the villain reveal was a little weak. The character took a bit of a fanatical turn which always frustrated me. I liked seeing the setup for the reveal in retrospect, but I feel like it could have been done better.

This was such a fun actiony book, that was filled with a lot of great characters. Even though the reveal was a bit of a let down, the compradore and hope in the story was beautiful. This was a great start to the DC Icons series and I can’t wait to see what comes next!

Wow! This was an incredible read. I loved every single page of this book! I was a little unsure about this, since I don’t read much YA and I thought I might feel too out of touch with it to enjoy. I was so wrong. As soon as I started reading, I couldn’t put this down. The writing was exquisite, the characters were fantastic, and the plot was thrilling. Diana “Wonder Woman” Prince was such an interesting head to be in. She was so noble and wise, but still learning. Her interactions with the other characters, as well as the general public, was hilarious. I often found myself laughing at the comments she made, as well as the banter between our main and secondary characters. This brings me to Alia. She was the “warbringer” and I loved her so much. She already had a tough life, and to realise you are destined to bring about terrible world wars isn’t an easy thing to swallow, but her bravery and courage was so inspiring to read. I also loved how diverse this cast of characters were, and how seamlessly they all fit in together. Nim was maybe my favourite character. So witty, so funny and so damn honest. The friendship between the girls was brilliant. There was no bitchiness or drama, just true friendship, support and love. Honestly, everyone had a role to play and nothing felt thrown in or dragged out. It was so good, and I really hope there might be another book to follow where we can see what happens next for these characters, even though the ending does give you enough closure that it doesn’t have to have a follow up.

Recommend to fans of Wonder Woman (obviously), but also fans of reading adventure, suspense, mystery, humour, girl power, Greek mythology, action, and anyone looking for an escape from the real world.

I used to want to save the world. To end war and bring peace to mankind. But then, I glimpsed the darkness that lives within their light. I learned that inside every one of them, there will always be both. The choice each must make for themselves - something no hero will ever defeat. I've touched the darkness that lives in between the light. Seen the worst of this world, and the best. Seen the terrible things men do to each other in the name of hatred, and the lengths they'll go to for love. Now I know. Only love can save this world. So I stay. I fight, and I give... for the world I know can be. This is my mission, now. Forever.

----Diana Prince, From the movie Wonder Woman by Patty Jenkins

Leigh Bardugo, the #1 New York Times bestselling and USA Today bestselling author, has penned an extremely riveting and exciting fantasy novel, Wonder Woman: Warbringer which is the very first book in the super hero series called, DC Icons . This is the story about two women, one a young untested the store warrior princess and the other a warbringer, who can destroy and bring bloodshed to the world, and when these two women's' paths cross, surprisingly, they quickly turn into best friends before escaping and fighting the enemies together with their power. A novel that cherishes loyal and true female friendships above superhero drama and fanatics that is one hell of an adventurous ride all throughout.

Synopsis:

She will become a legend but first she is Diana, Princess of the the stores. And her fight is just beginning...

Diana is desperate to prove herself to her warrior sisters. But when the opportunity comes, she throws away her chance at glory and breaks the store law to save a mere mortal, Alia Keralis. With this single heroic act, Diana may have just doomed the world.

Alia is a Warbringer - a descendant of the infamous Helen of Troy, fated to bring about an age of bloodshed and misery. Diana and Alia will face an army of enemies, mortal and divine, determined to destroy or possess the Warbringer.

To save the world, they must stand side by side against the tide of war.

Diana Prince, an the store princess of Themyscira, world away from ours, where women are worshiped and men are hated and not allowed, a world that is brimming with female power, saves the life of a teenager from New York named, Alia, who happens to be a human magnet of bringing destruction and catastrophy on the face of the world. And together they escape and run away from Diana's homeland, mostly Diana wanting to prove her worth to her the storeian sisters, to the hustle bustle city of New York. Diana is experiencing this majestic city for the very first time, but sadly there's not much to enjoy in Big Apple's charm, as Alia's enemies begin to crawl up from the dungeons and dark alleys to use her power for destruction and Diana must do her part to stop attacking Alia or rather must save the world from the wretched human beings. And when Diana meets Alia's friends and brothers. they all quickly embark on an adrenaline rushing journey to Greece to help save the world from being destroyed due to war.

After reading this book, I can confidently admit the fact that Leigh Bardugo has made a hero out of Wonder Woman. Well she was, is and will always be a hero, then how come Bardugo made her one? Well for that answer, you need to read this book, where you will find that this extraordinary the store princess dedication, loyalty, trust and her emotions run deeper than flaunting her super powers for no reason. Superheroes aren't those who are born with great powers but are those who make their own path using their heart, soul, and mind towards a cause that will benefit a greater mass. And Diana exactly does that in Bardugo's version of Wonder Woman: Warbringer.

The author's writing style is exceptionally exquisite, articulate and laced thoroughly with deep emotions that will only move the readers by their heart and soul. The moment I began reading the book, that started off with Diana's narration about her world, I felt myself getting sucked into or rather pulled into this fictional and fantastical world that is not at all portrayed with heavy Greek or mythological jargon but is layered perfectly with back story in simple and short words so that the readers can easily adapt with Diana's universe. This make-believe world and history of Themyscira is extremely well depicted with honesty and reality that came alive right before my eyes while reading the book.

The narrative is engaging and the dialogues are intriguingly painted and delivered through the young protagonists' voices which the author have capture aptly. The pacing is really fast as the tightly-packed plot is laced with tension, suspense, edgy drama, unforeseeable twists and turns that come out of nowhere like a tight slap on to the readers' faces, and mystifying adventure through the dangerous unknown. The best part of this book would be the way the author have portrayed the female friendships is absolutely inspiring to its very core. Young female teenagers must be encouraged to read this book to prove their notion wrong on how female friendships are only meant for bitchy drama and Mean Girls-themed actions. So in one way, Bardugo's novel is here to break stereotypical attitude amongst female teenagers and also among the people who portray female friendships under negative light.

The character development is purely divine, or rather say, realistic, diverse and relatable to their very roots. In the beginning, Diana comes across as someone trying to prove herself towards her sisters, but later with the journey that she undertakes with Alia and her friends, she grows into a strong, independent, responsible, thoughtful and a humble young woman who is a perfect epitome to every young girls in the world. Alia too develops and grow throughout the story line. Another notable character would be Nim, who is gay, Indian and very funny and has an uplifting soul, and trust me, she is going to give major friendship goals. Rest of the characters are also developed with depth and honesty.

In a nutshell, this kickass book is a must read for every female individuals in the world as this book celebrates GIRL POWER is big, bold, capital letters.

Book Review:
Pre-reading Thoughts:

I have heard amazing things about both this book and Leigh Bardugo. I cannot wait to jump into this book! I absolutely adore Wonder Woman and remember watching the old cartoons years ago. I am so excited that it is making a huge comeback. This was the November Book of the Month for Topping the TBR.

Writing Thoughts:

The writing in this book wasn't bad. I expected a little more detail, but at the end of the day it was really easy to get into the story. The writing set up a really good pace and allowed me to get into the quite easily. Unfortunately, it was easy to get out of the story too. I loved the dialogue though. It was quite good and entertaining. Sometimes filled with wit and other times filled with emotions.

Plot Thoughts:

The plot started out a bit slow for me. I love how we got to read about Diana in her element. The plot was interesting, but sometimes it felt like I had read this all before. I loved how got to learn about some Ancient Greek history. It is probably one of my favourite periods. I love the myths and the legends. As always, I miss the small details that come with the original Wonder Woman comic. For example, the invisible plane. Whilst there was a version of it, I really wanted the original.

Character Thoughts:

I liked the characters just fine, but I didn't connect with them. They were nice and likeable and there were moments that I could find some commonality but they were small things.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, I liked this story. It was fun and full of action. The writing wasn't bad, the dialogue was inclusive and full of wit. The plot was slow but it built quite well. I didn't get to completely connect with the characters, but I enjoyed the small moments of commonality that I had with them.

Yours in Reading,

Melleny

No spoilers in this review of Wonder Woman: Warbringer. I liked it and give it 3.75 stars. If the name ‘Leigh Bardugo’ is on the cover, you better believe I’m going to read it! And if the book is about superheroes, then that’s another vote in its favor. Warbringer wasn’t without flaws, but it was a fun ride overall!

The book is about young Diana Prince. Long before her superhero days, teenage Diana feels like she can’t live up to her mother’s expectations or those of the the store warriors she lives among. She’s dying to prove herself and ends up making a big mistake: She has contact without the outside world by rescuing the lone survivor of a shipwreck near the coast of her remote island home.

Diana discovers Alia, the girl she saved, is a Warbringer, a descendant of Helen of Troy who unwittingly sows discord and violence wherever she goes. The girls discover there is one way besides death to avoid the culmination of Alia’s evil influence. She must bathe in the waters where Helen of Troy rests. So Diana and Alia, along with Alia’s best friend Nim, her brother Jason, and her brother’s best friend Theo, end up on a race against the clock to wash Alia’s powers away before a global war erupts in her wake.

Warbringer got off to a pretty good start. The opening scene was fun, setting up the world Diana grew up in and introducing her goal for the remainder of the book. The fun ramped up about a third of the way in when Diana made it to the modern world. Seeing Diana out and about in modern society was hilarious, just like in the recent movie. I couldn’t help but smile in chapter after chapter as I read about the way she sees things, the formal way she speaks, and the way she relates to everyone.

Then the story really hit its stride when the team was assembled. The banter and bickering among the five mains was great, easily my favorite part of the book! Bardugo’s writing is at its best when she has a cast of characters playing off each other. And even though we only see a small portion of their lives, all five characters were well developed. I quickly felt invested in and attached to each of them and enjoyed watching them bond as a group as they worked toward their goal.

Then the climax happened. Ugh! I was not happy about the surprise Bardugo dealt us. I’m not necessarily saying the twist wasn’t well executed. If I’m being honest, though, it could’ve used more foreshadowing. But more than anything, I just wasn’t fond of the turn the story took. I usually love being shocked as a reader, but it was not the case this time. Many readers might enjoy the twist; my displeasure could very well be a personal preference thing. It’s really hard to say much more without spoilers, so I’ll leave it at this.

Bardugo did a good job with the action throughout the book, both before and after the twist. And her prose was great, as always! So I recommend this story to superhero fans as well as Bardugo fans. I’m excited to read the other three YA superhero books coming out in the next couple years. Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu is coming next on January 2, 2018!

Search for 'Book Series Recaps' to read our other reviews as well as our full book recaps!

Book: Wonder Woman: Warbringer
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

Let me start out by saying that I am not into superheroes at all. However, I am a huge fan of Leigh Bardugo’s writing. I almost didn’t read this one, but at last minute decided to check it out from the library.

I was actually really surprised at how easy it was to get into Diana’s story. I was expecting this is be almost a rewrite of the movie, which I haven’t seen, but it’s not. It’s Wonder Woman as a teenager, which is actually really enjoyable. I was once again drawn in by Leigh’s amazing storyteller gifts and her ability to write about anything.

The story opens up in Diana’s home with the arrival of Alia, a girl New York City. As soon as Alia arrives on the island, things start going bad. Diana, however, refuses to let Alia die and instead attempts to save her life. I have been looking through the reviews and have noticed that people were disappointed that there wasn’t a gay couple in these two. However, I thought that Diana and Alia represented a much more important role in this story: the power and bond of female friendship.

Okay, so Alia is a Warbringer, which means that really bad things happen wherever she goes. This should send most people running through for the hills, but not Diana. Diana is really loyal and stands by Alia, no matter what. Alia does the same thing with Diana. These two are not the only bonds in the book. We have Jason, Nim (who is my favourite), and Theo. All of them form really tight bonds and you will find yourself wanting to be friends with them.

Now, the characters are not sidekicks for Diana. They are memorable and each serve a propose to the story. Also, get them all together and you can see how much fun they have-even when their very lives are being threatened.

The action scenes were great. You have a mixture of the superhero business, some Greek mythology, and modern day New York City. Plus, come on, we all know how awesome Leigh is at twists and turns. Um...think Six of Crows. I just loved the final 100 or so pages and found myself flying right through them.
Even if you are not a fan of superheroes, you need to read this! I know I am going to be reading Marie Lu’s Batman and Sarah J. Maas’s Catwoman. What a great opener for this brand new series!

With all the hype over everything Wonder Woman these past few months, I had high hopes for the book, Wonder Woman: Warbringer. As expected, author Leigh Bardugo created a gripping coming-of-age novel filled with diverse characters and an action-packed story line.

What I Liked:
Audio Production:
Mozhan Marno's performance brings the book to life. The narrator makes each character distinct with lively emotion, and humor. There are several male characters in the book, and she performs these equally as well.

the store Society:
I loved the complexity of the the store culture. The author does a great job of educating me (as a non- comic book collector) on the background of what the the store are and why it is so important for Diana to prove herself. As the daughter of the Queen, Diana is set apart from everyone else. She desperately wants to earn her spot and gain the respect of all the other warriors on the island.

While the island may seem ideal, there is still rivalries and jealousy, and possible plots to seize power away from Hippolyta, Diana's mother. Will Diana's actions aid the island, or place her mother in peril?

Characters:
Of course, the novel centers around Diana and her quest to prove herself worthy of being an the store. In this day and age of continued gender bias towards women (remember the Google guy's tirade?), her drive to justify her place could be any woman's story.

I liked that Diana was not too naive, or in awe of men, or the "real" world. It seemed as though the the stores kept close tabs on modern culture so Diana was not sheltered about most things.

Alia is the girl whom Diana rescues from a boat and disrupts the balance on the island of Themyscira, causing earthquakes and illnesses. When Diana realizes Alia is a Warbringer, she must decide to either help her, and put an end to the Warbringer's chaos, or let her die and risk another Warbringer being born.

I liked Alia toughness and jaded New York attitude towards Diana. She can't figure out whether or not Diana is crazy, or if she, herself, is suffering from a concussion. But as she begins to witness Diana's extraordinary abilities, she accepts what is happening.

She also brings diversity to the novel. The book doesn't shy away from presenting the realities of people of color from the distrust of other commuters on the subways, to being followed around by security in a drugstore. Alia's wealth doesn't shield her from these situations.

Action:
The perils that Diana and Alia must face are exciting and kept me on the edge of my seat. The situations start in the Mediterranean, and then on to New York and back. There is an urgency as Diana must get Alia to a sacred spring by a certain day in order for Alia to shed her legacy of being a Warbringer.

The author does a commendable job of keeping the action going while also creating a sense of realism. I loved that there were a variety of situations where characters did things badly. This may seem strange, but I hate it when people in books are instantly expert fighters, or just happen to have professional car racing skills. These characters were challenged.

What I Didn't Like:
Characters:
Jason is Alia's older brother, He is only about five years older, yet he seems on the brink of assuming control of their (dead) parents pharmaceutical empire. Really? He can't seem to fathom why the board of the company isn't thrilled to give up the reigns to a kid barely out of college...

He is also a typical romantic interest for Diana, tall, dark, and handsome with (surprise!) amazing fighting skills. I would have loved for Jason to be a little more complex or for him to challenge Diana in some different way. Instead, we get a rather conventional character (and story arc) with him.

I was also kind of hoping for Diana to have a romantic relationship with a female character. Maybe next time.

Missing Parents Syndrome:
My pet peeve is alive and well with the dead parents trope in this book. Now, this is par for the course in almost all comic books, but I really dislike this trope because without the parents around the teen characters seem to have no accountability. They can stay out late (or even leave the country), and no one is there to be alarmed. Jason does act as a substitute parent to Alia, but he never does more than yell at Alia for ditching her bodyguard and heading out on a ship where no one would find her.

Thank you @kidlitexchange for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

This book is full of non-stop action, shocking plot twist, Greek mythology, female empowerment and wonderful characters with witty dialogue. I loved the movie with Gal Gabot, but I have to admit that I loved this storyline even more!! Leigh Bardugo did an excellent job of kicking off this new series about these popular DC icons.

Diana is a fascinating character to follow. I love that Bardugo gently introduced us to the the stores through dialogue and interactions rather than just wordy descriptions. I also appreciate that this book didn’t focus on just Diana. The mortals introduced are truly a great and very diverse cast of characters. Nim is going up there with Iko as one of my all time favorite sidekicks!! They were believable and the chemistry between the entire group was spot on. I was surprised at how many times I found myself laughing at their banter. Observing Diana Prince experience our world for the first time was certainly entertaining. I loved the overall feeling of friendship and girl power. Bardugo gave us some great quotes on these topics.

Needless to say, there were some great action scenes that definitely left me shocked numerous times and plenty of fantasy. I really enjoyed all of the mythology that was included and even looked up a few God’s that I didn’t know much about.

This series is such a great idea with a different popular YA author writing each character. Batman will be by Marie Lu, Catwoman by Sarah J. Maas and Superman by Matt De La Pena. Definitely something to look out for.

I've said before in posts, I'm not a big Wonder Woman fan. But the cover of this book caught my attention so I thought, Why not? And it really is a nice looking hardbound book. With the recent movie and this novel, I'm liking the character more and more. I'm not sure why she wasn't a favorite before. Maybe because she always gave The Flash a hard time on JL:U?

Fans of DC comics, and especially of Wonder Woman, will enjoy this read. Due to Diana's choice to save a life, it's brought illness, earthquakes and more the Themyscira. If the life is extinguished, her island, her sisters, will be saved. If not... The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few? Not in Diana's case! She's bound and determined to save her family without sacrificing any more lives.

This novel holds a diverse cast around Diana Prince. Nim is Indian, Alia and her brother Jason, are Greek and African-American, Theo is Brazilian. Did we check off all the boxes? Sorry, but it annoys me when that's a priority over the story. Thankfully that wasn't the case for this book. All of the characters belonged, fit well adding to the story and added their own value to the quest. Nim brings ingenuity, Theo resilience, and Alia bravery. This book was a pleasant surprise. The important theme in the novel was on friendship. And Diana was shown as intelligent, skilled and strong (physically, emotionally, mentally)...as she should be. Anything else and I would have thrown the book across the room.

Does it cover woman empowerment? Eh...would it be a true Wonder Woman story without that in it? Just don't make other characters stupid in the hopes of elevated a few female characters. Thankfully that wasn't the case in this book otherwise, yes, I would have thrown it across the room. Fans of WW and DC rejoice. This is a decent read with a little twist. I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Young Princess Diana, brought to life through clay and the longing of her mother, Queen Hippolyta, for a child, has always felt like an outsider, not a true the store. All the women warriors on the island of Themyscira had fallen in battle calling the names of their gods with their last breath. It isn't until Diana, against all the rules of the the stores, rescues a young woman whose boat explodes just outside the boundary between the peaceful island and the Man World, that she finds a quest to fulfill.

Alia Keralis is born of the same bloodline as Helen of Troy, who was herself sired by Nemesis. While Man is violent, the violence is increased by the women of this line who are Warbringers. Diana quickly realizes that she must get Alia off of Themyscira and to the place where Helen is buried to purify Alia before war breaks out all over the world in a final apocalypse.

A new series of DC Icons, such as Wonder Woman and Batman, Catwoman and Superman, are brought together with accomplished writers. I will admit that I had picked up this book every time I walked into the bookstore, only to put it back, afraid that I would be horribly disappointed. Then my library purchased it.

This is an exciting adventure, one filled with people you will come to love, to understand, to even feel sorry for their well-meaning if misguided actions. I sped through this book, eager to find out what happens next as Diana, Alia, Nim, Theo, and Jason race to save the world. Surprises abound, secrets are everywhere. And the gods are watching, if not always waiting, to see if war will be consuming the planet. I recommend this to EVERYONE! Seriously, a great read from start to finish. I so hope that Bardugo will revisit this universe again. 5 out of 5

Huge thanks to my friends from Penguin Random House International for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This did not, in any way, affect my overall opinion of the book and/or the story.

The phenomenal Wonder Woman film has proven to be one of the most powerful movies I have ever watched. It’s empowering, allowing it’s viewers to feel this newfound strength to face whatever challenges that might come their way. I’m not sure if I’m being too dramatic here, but it’s honestly what I felt when I watched the movie. And to be able to read and feature Wonder Woman: Warbringer at this point just adds to that elation. Read on for my review of the first DC Icons Series book from Leigh Bardugo.

As with the film, I fell undeniably in love with Diana’s story but this time, with Alia. Albeit this time around, it’s a friendship story, I grew fond of our beloved the store just the same. (I was actually lucky enough to be able to avoid the heartbreak with this book, though. If you watched the movie, you would completely understand my sentiment) Alia and Diana were “Sisters in Battle” and I loved the idea of having someone to call a friend, let alone a sister in battle. From start to finish, I found their bond to be strong and even if they only just met, they trusted each other with their lives. I am impressed at how Leigh managed to tell their exciting and very empowering story.

As with Leigh’s other books, the world building and setting development in this book were beautifully striking. From Themyscira, to New York, to Greece, Leigh once again takes her readers on an action-packed adventure giving them lush depictions of Diana’s homeland, as well as a vibrant view into the lives of the the stores. Readers would no doubt enjoy accompanying Diana, Alia, and their squad in their fight to end a “war to end all wars” as Steve Trevor calls it.

On a more technical note, I loved reading Leigh’s take on something new but just as magnificent like her previous stories. I found this novel refreshing to read because for years, I only knew Leigh as the lovely woman who introduced me to Alina, Mal, Kaz, Inej, Nina, Mathias, etc. all of which are from the Grisha world. To see her write something out of that universe and still feel delighted doesn’t come as a surprise to me, though. Her writing was very creative, and the amount of research and effort that went into this book certainly delivered well.

Lastly, I appreciated the added diversity and women empowerment aspect of this book. Making Alia, the Warbringer, a descendant of Helen of Troy, black, made the relevance of the story’s message all the more clear. The idea that even though she had great power just waiting to burst from within her, and yet, Alia was still bullied as a child, made such an impact on me. And to see her impressive character development, from being a passive New Yorker to becoming an empowered and passionate young woman who cares for not just her compatriots, but also for her country just made me love her more than I already do.

“Overall, Wonder Woman: Warbringer is definitely a novel from one of the queens of YA fantasies that’s worth anticipating and getting hyped up about. It subtly talks about feminism and all kinds of empowerment, and it has the power to inspire people to be the best versions of themselves. Definitely a great novel to introduce the rest of the DC Icons that is action-packed and intensely gripping in every way.”

Okay. So. Just wow! This was my first book by this author and I will most definitely be going back to read her other books because this one was amazing!

I'm not really very much into superheroes and I've never had an interest in Wonder Woman at all, but this book was insanely hyped so I decided to check it out and actually ended up winning it in a giveaway! I read this book in a buddy read with a few other ladies and it was incredibly hard not to read beyond our set chapters per day. I just had to know what was going to happen next. I was hooked from the very beginning. The action starts immediately and doesn't stop until the end. I enjoyed getting to know Diana and I loved the descriptions of her island Themyscira. I do wish we had gotten to know Diana's sisters a little better though. It was really funny sometimes to see Diana's reactions to things from the mortal world. It offered a nice dose of humor in between all the serious moments in the book.

I enjoyed Alia's character as well. Since Alia needed so much protection, it was hard to know who you could trust. I had my suspicious about different people throughout the book, but that betrayal plot twist got me like a smack to the face. I wasn't expecting that at all! I loved Alia's relationship with Nim. Their friendship was really inspiring and shows you that you can find someone out there that will accept you just the way you are, no matter what. Theo was enjoyable as well and brought out a lot of laughs.

I don't want to give away any spoilers so I'll just leave it at that. This book took me on a wonderful ride. I was on the edge of my seat in heart-pounding suspense, I laughed, I cried, I was angry and shocked, and some scenes even gave me chills. Diana has earned my respect and interest so I will definitely take time to learn more about her character. As for the author? I can see why people call her Queen Bardugo. This book was EPIC!

***REVIEW ORIGINALLY POSTED ON WHAT A NERD GIRL SAYS***

This is the first time that I’ve read something by Leigh that isn’t part of the Grisha world and I gotta say…this lady can write anything. I shouldn’t be surprised about that at this point but damn, she took one of the most iconic badass female characters to ever exist and made her badass at just sixteen years old.

I’ve never been a huge Wonder Woman fan, not because I didn’t like her, I just hadn’t really read or watch anything but as soon as that Wonder Woman movie came out, I had to see it. I had to! Female main character, female director. I want more movies like this made and I want more respect out there for women creators so I practically ran to the movie theater to see it. I spent the whole movie in tears, not because the movie was sad, but god it was so refreshing to see this kind of movie and to see it do so well. It made me feel so good to see a dynamic, badass, vulnerable, emotional, strong (I could go on with adjectives forever) woman on screen.

I’ve been used to these amazing characters in books; its sort of one of the best parts of young adult literature. Seeing it on screen was sort of magical and while reading this book, I felt like I experienced that magic once again.

Diana is an amazing character. She’s smart, witty, funny and strong as hell but she’s not perfect. She makes mistakes and she always believes the best in people, always believes in the truth, has a hard time believing that people can lie and it gets her into rough moments but I think that’s why I like her so much. She’s so perfect but also not. She’s smart but she can be kind of clueless and it cracks me up.

I loved that the movie put Diana in the past, but that this book put her in the present. It was fun to watch her navigate the modern world. She knew some things about it, but watching her struggle with technology and lingo and all of that was just fun.

I also just loved the story. It was so so good. It starts so fast, right away, which might be jolting for some people but I was so ready. Diana meets Alia almost immediately, saving her within the first pages of the novel, and the story jumps right in. Its immediately action and they’re on the move from the beginning all the way to the end and I loved every moment of it. There were twists and turns and surprises that I did NOT expect at all. I loved how Leigh intertwined modern day science with the fantasy and mythology of Greek goddesses and legends. She did it so well. I honestly could not have predicted the way the story went and that’s what made me love it so much. And even though the movie and book were done by two different people who never even spoke to each other, I could feel the magic that is Diana Prince in both of them.

Lastly, I loved, as always in a Leigh book, all the side characters! So many authors create these side characters that just feel like filler, not standing on their own, but not Leigh. Nim and Theo become two of my favorite characters. They’re so human, more human than any of the other main players in the novel, and they’re AMAZING. They are funny and stand out and strong and I love them as much if not more than Diana herself. I always appreciate some seriously great secondary character and having just finished the book a couple hours ago, I am still so attached and in love with Nim and Theo. Fantastic characters.

While this book was written with a purpose of extending the DC universe and to generate more buzz for the DC movies coming, like Justice League, and all that, it reads as its own fantastic, independent story. I don’t think for a moment that you need to be a DC or Wonder Woman fan to enjoy the novel but I do think you’ll enjoy it even more if you are. Another fantastic novel from Leigh and another shining win for Diana Prince.

Leigh Bardugo takes the fierce heroine you know and love - and makes her human. Warbringer is an origin story, taking Diana back to her roots and showing readers the less sure side of the the storeian Princess. Yes, Diana is strong, loyal, honest and hard-working but she is also prideful, ambitious and unsure. She hasn't yet made a name for herself in the world of man and isn't sure what she is capable of.

This story focuses on the relationship between Diana and Alia, a New Yorker who finds herself on the island of Themiscyra, rather than the romance most readers have come to expect. Sorry Steve, but this story is all about girl power and friendship. The two girls learn from each other and what it means to have a sister.

“Sister in battle,” murmured Diana, “I am shield and blade to you.”
“And friend.”
“And always your friend.”

I really enjoyed the characters in this book and the diversity that Leigh effortlessly brought to the story. Each character is able to shine without seeming like they were only an addition to hit some invisible quotient. Alia and her brother Jason are New Yorkers, but they're also Greek and African American. Jason's best friend, Theo is Brazilian and a total technogeek. Nim is self-described as Indian, fat and gay, and while none of those things define her or are the most important aspects of her (obviously that award goes to her killer fashion sense) they are very important additions. The characters represent our diverse world today and give each one of us someone or something to relate to.

I have always loved Wonder Woman, so as long as Leigh Bardugo's story felt like the character I've grown to know and love - I was going to be happy, but she managed to raise the bar. She brought me a tale of the Diana that I didn't even know that I wanted, her true origin story and took her readers on a journey with Diana as she learned what it meant to be a true hero, an the store.

This book isn't just for fans of superheroes, but those looking for a tale of friendship, maybe a little betrayal and some pure gold lines coming from the the storeian Princess Queen of comebacks.

Title: Wonder Woman: Warbringer
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Age Group: Teen/Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Series: DC Icons, book one
Star Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

I borrowed this book from my local library and reviewed it.

I've made no secret of my pure fan-girl obsession with Leigh Bardugo; it first started with her debut novel, Shadow and Bone, and then it was further cemented by her sophomore series, Six of Crows. So when I heard that DC was launching a young adult series featuring some of my favorite superheroes, I was so stoked. The first novel in the series focuses on a young Diana Prince before she took up the famed mantle of Wonder Woman. Honestly, I couldn't have asked for a better author to put a brand new spin on one of my favorites, and first, female heroes! Beautifully written, fierce, feminist, and thought-provoking, Warbringer is a fantastic addition to the DC canon, and the only real flaw with it was that there wasn't anymore! One of my favorite books of 2017, and probably ever! I loved the way that Bardugo took Diana's story and spun it in a whole new way for a younger audience!

Diana, Princess of the the stores and daughter of Hippolyta, born of earth and her mother's longing, wants nothing more than to be considered an equal to her queen and sisters. But she worries that she will be seen as nothing more than her mother's daughter. But her life changes forever when she saves a young woman, Alia, from drowning in the ocean. It turns out, though, that Alia is a Warbringer, a mortal girl with the blood of Helen of Troy (yes, that Helen of Troy) running through her veins. As the two young women's fates collide, they must become allies or risk the world plunging into another bloody age of war...

I really, really loved this book! Aside from Leigh Bardugo, I have a very special place in my heart for the all-around kickbutt woman that is Diana Prince, and this book was just amazing! It more than satisfied that comic-shaped hole in my heart, and it was fun to see her as a brave, headstrong teenager who kicks butt and takes no crap. Plus, I was really dying over the new spin on the familiar mythology of Diana, her mother, and the other the stores! I loved the way that Bardugo took the familiar, lesser-known elements of the heroine's folklore and gave them a fresh, fun spin. The pacing was breakneck, and I loved the way that Diana and Alia fought forces both divine and mortal to reach their goal. And the feminist slant of it all! I dig that, so hard! Plus, the twists and turns! Ugh, as per usual with Leigh Bardugo. (Not that I'm complaining!) And that ending. I'm still salty with that, woman! How could you do that to me?! Diana and Alia were my favorite characters, but I also absolutely loved Nim, Theo, and Jason. I absolutely adored this book, and it was worth waiting over a year for! One of the best books of 2017, and I can't wait until the next book from this fun, modern new series. Psst! It's Nightwalker by Marie Lu! Batman, and who better to write an origin story for the Bruce Wayne? Words cannot fully express my excitement! The bottom line: A fresh, brand new spin on a baby Diana Prince, the girl who becomes Wonder Woman, I loved Warbringer--one of my favorite books of 2017! Next on deck: The Rattled Bones by S.M. Parker!

This book blew me away, which was no surprise considering Leigh Bardugo is on of my all time favorite authors. Honestly I’m not really into superheroes and villains (don’t leave lol), but I figured I would give this a try mainly based on the author. I am beyond glad that I did and I can’t wait to read the rest of the DC ICONS books when the come out. The world building throughout the story was unlike any I’ve ever read, I felt like if I took my eyes off the page I would be there.

I got so immersed in the lives of these two girls, Diana and Alia I felt like we were a team. I love Diana she was a breath of fresh air, knowing nothing about certain cultures but throwing herself into everything fully. Alia was an excellent character as well. She knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to go out an get it. The messes that these two got into were awful for them, but so wonderfully depicted for us. I literally felt like I was right there!

I would highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. If you love super hero books, here you go, if you are like me and a bit hesitant on them here you go as well. I think if you are a big fan of fantasy this will be a good one for you, but also if you are just stepping in the fantasy door, you will be able to follow easily. I enjoyed this whole book and never felt like there was anything extra, everything fit perfectly.

It's a sad Wonder Woman day for this book princess and now I need to go cry somewhere. I'm never having highly anticipated books again, but I must be the princess of too many high expectations, which make some of my most desperate to read books fall flat for me. Ugh, me.

I've never been a huge Wonder Woman fan before. I mean, I liked her well enough. She's my dad's favorite superhero (I think Lynda Carter might have something to do with that), so I've seen a few episodes, heard a few of her stories over the years. I saw the movie when it came out with my best friend, but I still didn't really get into the huge craze or anything. However, when I heard one of my favorite authors of all time was writing a book on her, I, of course, got super excited and Wonder Woman became a love. So, this book was put on a giant pedestal for me...and well, perhaps that's why it didn't go over as well for me.

So, what went wrong? For me, it was the characters. Odd, seeing as in Bardugo's last book, it was the characterization that made it for me. I loved each one of those characters with every fiber of a my book being. However, in this one, I only enjoyed Diana, and the rest were...so mehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. And then I especially disliked one of them.

Diana was easily the best part of this story. I loved her so much. She was AMAZING. She was so totally the perfect Wonder Woman and fit all the characterization I've seen of her. She's an the store girl that's different the rest, trying to prove herself to her those that matter - her family, her people, and those that she wishes their respect. Yet, she's filled with so much heart and soul. She just wants to save the day and be the hero, and when she does and it all goes wrong, she stays loyal, true, and so extremely fierce. She kicks some major butt, is hilarious in her own way, and lives for the sisterhood. She's simply amazing, and I just wanted a whole book focused solely on her, kicking butt and discovering the eccentricities of the World of Man.

Alia was okay. I liked her well enough, but I never felt anything for her. Whenever she was in peril, I was just like, oh, okay....which is not how I should have been feeling for a lead character. Nim? Theo? Mehhhhhhhhhhhhh. I didn't feel anything for them either. They were just kind of there, and no offense, but I forgot Theo was even there for a long time.

Then we have Jason. I detested Jason. I sat there sending -_- faces at him the entire time. He was too pushy, rubbed me the wrong way with a lot of what he did, and I did not like how he treated his sister at all. And the romance plot line he brought to the story? Nooooooooooooooo. I thought it was unnecessary and found him unnecessary as well. If we had just had Alia and Diana as our focus, I think this story would have been far stronger.

The plot was...well, I really, really enjoyed the first part of it, but I found the second part oddly not as entertaining to me - which is odd because it was where the most action was. I loved seeing Themyseria and the the stores. Gosh, I wish we had more time there. And Diana and Alia fighting to navigate the seas and NYC? Omigosh, so much love. When the actions picked up, I kind of faltered. Bardugo does bring some very interesting twists and turns, but I just felt disconnected. and with those twists and turns, I also just felt confused because I didn't fully understand the mythology and world building that was being introduced. I felt I needed something to bring it more because I didn't understand it.

What I did enjoy: the brilliant girl power, DIANA DIANA DIANA, and the the stores. This book showcases fierceness and strength from its leading ladies - whether it was emotional, mental, or physical strength. Diana - Wonder Woman - has been an icon for women for many years, and Bardugo's Diana embodies that strength as well. I did kind of expect a bit more of it, though.

This was one of my most highly anticipated books this year, but I don't know if it was the super high expectations I placed on it or the book itself. I wanted this book to focus on Diana and her epic fierce, girl power. However, I thought it got bogged down by boring characters, an unnecessary romance, and somewhat confusing world building at some points. However, there were still some good parts (the first half was amazing), and I sped through this novel so fast. But it wasn't what I expected and what I wanted from this novel. So glad I'm back to being princess of unpopular opinions. -_- Three sad crowns and a Belle rating!

4.5 Stars
This summer I’ve been all about Wonder Woman because I absolutely loved the movie. When I saw there would be a series about DC superheroes I may have gotten a little *too* excited and kicking that series off is WONDER WOMAN. This was my first Leigh Bardugo read, yeah I know, I’m late to the party.

From the moment I started listening to this story, I loved how Ms. Bardugo twisted the WW tale into her story. Diana Prince rescues a Greek/African-American girl from an exploding ship near her the storeian island. Little does she know at the time that Alia is a Warbringer, destined to bring death and destruction everywhere with her. Having her on the island means Diana has a choice to make to help break Alia’s curse because she can be the cause for the end of the human world, just as much as hers.

I think it’s best if you don’t know much about the plot and just dive in and experience it. It’s a twisty tale with a mix of Greek mythology and a strong message of female empowerment and friendships. Just when I thought I had things figured out I realized that I didn’t really know what was coming, but I’m definitely pleasantly surprised with how this story was handled in the end.

While this book has a bit of everything: action, drama, romance (just a tad)… what I think stands out from the majority of books out right now is the diversity in the main characters and how well fleshed out they were. And I say main characters because I feel that there were many important characters to this story, not just Diana and Alia. Cultures, ethnicities, sexual orientation, race, social standings, body types… These are not your cookie cutter characters we get to read about generally and I think Ms. Bardugo did a great job representing each one and making us connect.

The pacing could’ve been a little faster but the humor certainly made up for it. Witty dialogue and feminism drive this story forward and had me itching to get to the next book because this one was a hell of a lot of fun. WONDER WOMAN: WARBRINGER is a must read for superhero fans but even if you aren’t you won’t have any trouble following along with this well thought out story.

As always, Leigh Bardugo’s writing is so incredibly enjoyable! It was kind of weird not reading a strictly fantasy book from her — or rather, something not set in the Grishaverse — and also weird reading a stand-alone from her. I enjoyed my read of WONDER WOMAN but being an adaptation, it didn’t quiiiite have that Leigh Bardugo magic that I love so much when reading her original concepts, plots, and characters.

Mostly the reason I didn’t love it was the mythology aspect. I used to love mythology when I was a kid and I’ve sort of fallen out of love with it over the years and haven’t really enjoyed too many mythology adaptations or retellings as much as I had hoped. As we know, Diana (aka Wonder Woman) is an the storeian princess and of course has many ties to the gods and goddesses, and really the entire plot starts to delve a little deeper into some myths. It was really interesting how everything tied together BUT mythology just isn’t that much of a draw for me anymore. I also never got into Wonder Woman in the first place so I wasn’t as connected to the book as others who are already fans might be. I’m actually not a superhero/comic person much at all (aside from catching the occasional movie) so this is a little step outside of my comfort zone but in a great way!

I loved seeing Leigh Bardugo’s writing style still shine in a totally different book/genre/world! At first I was worried since Diana is a mostly serious person but there were some amazing supporting characters (and main characters) who livened things up, delivered that classic sass & snark, and got Diana to come out of her shell. Since Diana spent all of her time on the island with her mother and sisters, away from the mortal world, she was a little sheltered and the sheltered-person-gets-hit-with-modern-day-culture-shock concept is also super hit or miss with me. I loved it in things like Sleepy Hollow but sometimes it just makes a character seem more simple and I felt like it took something away from Diana. BUT I know that’s also my personal preference as I’ve noticed with several retellings. I much more enjoy adaptations that fit a classic already within a modern world (Cinder, Geekerella) rather than fitting an old myth into a new setting, or retelling that story in the original time period. (Did that even make sense?) So I guess TL;DR, I don’t like mixing worlds & vibes.

I loved all of the characters, but weirdly enough, I liked Diana the least and felt like she was the least developed character. She has a very straight-forward quest and very straight-forward values and I just looooove Leigh Bardugo’s complex and morally grey characters, so that’s what I’ve come to appreciate the most with her writing! The secondary characters (the supporting friends) were always there for some banter and sass and really had their own backstories that added to the base of main character Alia. I really liked Alia a lot and it was interesting to see her character growth throughout the book!

Naturally with any Leigh Bardugo book, there were some things that I just did not see coming… and I loved that I’m always surprised! The ending brought an interesting twist and a satisfying ending. I’m just a modern adaptation kind of person but I also liked that the book stayed true to Diana’s origins since that was the whole purpose of writing this book! My own personal preferences got in the way (who is surprised here) and I didn’t fall head over heels but WONDER WOMAN: WARBRINGER is a very solid novel and a quick and fun read! I loved the variation in tone from serious to sarcastic to romantic to intense and every other emotion in between.

Wonder Woman was a definite pocketful of feministic glory. I hadn't actually ever seen the Wonder Woman movie or read any WW comics, but that didn't hinder my enjoyment AT ALL. Leigh Bardugo is masterful! It was a bit slower than I expected, on a whole, but still so fun and full of empowerment to minorities and EXPLOSIONS. Which obviously every good superhero action sequence needs.

Okay but do you know what I'm freaking out over? IT FEATURES STRONG FEMALE FRIENDSHIPS!!!!! I shouldn't have to be this excited BUT I AM. Because holy heck, I can't even remember the last time I read a good solid female friendship in YA that didn't dissolve into jealousy or cattiness over a boy. But WW gives us not one but TWO solidly epic, uplifting and empowering female friendships. I adored Alia and Diana's bond. They were sisters of war by the end, even if Alia was a smol breakable human nerd and Diana is like the store EPIC. I'm so so impressed. Feminism FTW.

I also adored all the mythology of course! I didn't realise how steeped in Greek mythology this would be, so that was a pleasant surprise. Think Percy Jackson = but with epic girls.

It's also super diverse, with like ALL the characters being POC! Like how awesome is that?! Here is an action adventure story featuring POC in all the leading roles. (Except for Diana I think? But I'm not sure what her skin colour was. I was imagining her kind of Mediterranean complexion but she was made out of CLAY so like hello.)

It was so so funny! The dialogue and banter was like LAUGH OUT LOUD WORTHY!!! Diana experiencing the mortal world was HILARIOUS. That will never get old omg I laughed so much.

Diana and Alia take turns narrating, and then there's Alia's BFF, Nim, who is a designer and bi and entirely small and feisty. Then there's Theo who is like a gangly dork and super vain and hilarious and everyone kind of wants to kill him. #Nice. Also of course Jason, Alia's older brother, who is Mister Bossy Pants but loves his sister so much and just wants her safe. EPIC CAST IS EPIC.

Also shoutout to that line where Diana is called a "magnificent tree". I appreciate all the small humans in this book continually asking her why she is as tall as a mountain.

Look it was wonderful (HAR HAR I COULDN'T RESIST) and empowering and so delightfully feminist.

I did not grow up learning about Wonder Woman. Most likely because of my town in Norway not having any comics. But I have seen more and more of her lately, and so curious about this superhero. I also adore Leigh like crazy, and so I simply couldn't wait to try this book. So happy to say that I loved this.

The writing in this book was stunning. I loved it so. And had no issues at all connecting with everything. I loved that the book is told from the point of view of Diana and of Alia. They were both amazing to read about and I loved them so much. It's long and a bit slow to read, and I loved that lots. Didn't want this one to end.

Giving it four stars, though, because I felt like some things could have been a bit more. There could have maybe been a bit more plot and even more friendship, a bit more from the island, and a bit more romance too. But there wasn't a single thing about this book that I did not like. Because it was amazing. Eee. I have so many thoughts about it. So thrilled to have read this book. And I cannot wait to own all the editions of it. There is simply so much that I loved. I'm not sure where to begin. Or how to mention most of it. So will just start by saying that you really should read this book. No need to be a fan of Wonder Woman before you start, but I will promise that you'll be a fan of her when you finish. As I am. Oh, I wish there would be a sequel. Badly need more.

This book tells the story of Diana. She's almost seventeen years old, and she is the baby of their island. I'm not going to get into the whole backstory, with the the stores and such, just mentioning that I loved it so, so much. This island of amazing warrior women were so interesting and awesome to read about. I loved getting to know some of them a little bit; as this book doesn't take much place on the island. Aw. I wish there had been more about it all. But I did love this small part of Diana's life, her childhood. So good.

There is so much to love about Diana. She's brave and fierce and loving. And just so much fun to read about too. She's the weakest of all her sisters, and she has wanted to prove herself to them for a long time. She wishes to be strong like them all. But I would say that she already is. And she's just so sweet and I loved reading about her so much. Sigh. Leigh wrote her so well. This book tells the story about how she rescues a girl from drowning. A girl from the outside world, who should not be at this island. Loved it.

Because she saved Alia, bad things are happening to Diana's home. And she's trying her very best to fix it. And I loved that lots. I loved how she decided not to simply let Alia die, to save her island, but instead decided to be brave and leave the island with her. To save her and to save the world. And gosh, how I adored and loved Alia. She's so fierce and kind and just so amazing. Getting to know her was the best. She's an awesome friend and I couldn't have loved her more. Enjoyed learning about her parents too.

Alia has a few friends. Like Nim. Whom was the most awesome girl and I loved her fiercely. Adored her friendship with Alia. They are such amazing friends. And I loved how she accepted Diana as well. Was sweet. And then there was Theo, a boy that Alia has a crush on. No romance in this book, but still, I can see it happening, and oh, they are adorable. Theo was pretty brave and pretty awesome too. Enjoyed reading about him too. And oh, reading about all of these characters together was simply so much fun.

Then there was Jason. Alia's brother. I'm unsure how I felt about him. He was a bit too controlling, yet fun to read about as well, and I couldn't help but enjoy reading about him and Diana fighting a little. It was fun. And I sort of shipped them. But again, no romance, because this book is not about romance. And I loved that too. I do wish there had been more romance, always, but loved how it focused on friendships instead. And the growing friendship between Diana and Alia was amazing. I loved it beyond words. Yess.

There is so much happening in this book. I'm not going to talk about most of it. Just that I loved the plot oh so much. Diana and the the stores live on their island, mostly in the past. But Alia live in our time, so most of this book is modern, though Diana is not. And I enjoyed that so so much. Because while Diana knows some things, there are so much she doesn't know, and so there were a lot of funny scenes. But not all was fun. There is a lot of fighting too, and some heartbreaking scenes. I loved reading all of them.

This story tells of the Warbringer. A person who will make the whole world go into war. Diana makes it her mission to stop this. And I enjoyed this story so much. Diana and Alia was an amazing team. The ending was awesome, just wish it had been longer, and wish there would be more. Wonder Woman: Warbringer was a stunning story. Full of fierce and strong and brave girls. Amazing friendships. I'm so glad I read and enjoyed it tons. Thank you so, so much to Penguin Random House International for the ARC copy. Love.

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This review was first posted on my blog, Carina's Books. Read in early July.

Oh, how I loved this book!!

Diana, Princess of the the stores longs to prove herself to her mother and their people.  She knows she is capable and worthy of being an the store, even though others might disagree with that assessment.  When she saves the life of the girl Alia, Diana realizes she’s set in motion a chain of events that could destroy Themyscira and the modern world.  For Alia is a Warbringer–a descendent of Helen of Troy–destined to be the catalyst to start a great world war.  Now, Diana and Alia are in a race against time to reach a mythical spring to end the curse of the Warbringers for good. But with enemies closing in, they might not make it out with their lives.

I just.  Wow.  I—SO GOOD!!

This book was everything you wanted Wonder Woman to be–just, courageous, kind, beautiful, strong, and kick ass. I loved this version of Wonder Woman before she became Wonder Woman.  Leigh did such a great job of balancing the character that we know and love while still adding her own personal touch to her as well.  In fact, all the characters were great.  This is no surprise since Leigh is Queen of writing strong, complex characters.  Alia was really dynamic and I loved that the story is told in her point of view as well.  Her interactions with Diana were great and they’re able to bring out the best in one another, while still learning about themselves in the process.

The secondary characters were just as interesting in Theo, Jason, and Nim.  They all brought something different to the table and were diverse, but not for the sake of being diverse (which is not an easy thing to accomplish).  It just made sense with who they were.  I feel like everybody can identify with parts of all of them at least once throughout the novel.  Each one was strong in itself and could hold their own when put next to Diana, who is such a monumental character.

The plot was filled with action, romance, Greek history, twists, drama, death, and retribution.  I loved every minute of it.  What I loved the best were the action sequences.  Leigh is able to write in a way where I could picture the scene in my head playing out like a movie.  Now I’m just waiting for the announcement that they’re making a film adaptation of this because I want to see Diana kicking ass in real time with some of these scenes.

The book also focuses a lot on friendship, especially female friendship, and doing the right thing even when it’s not the easy decision.  Which is what Wonder Woman is ALL ABOUT.  The ending was perfect and not necessarily what you expected.  We see a glimpse of what is in store for Diana and what she’ll become, but nothing spoilery.

Pick this one up.  Like, the day it comes out.  I promise you, it’ll inspire you to go and kick some ass (in the best possible way).

We’ve all heard of Wonder Woman and I was really excited that there was a young adult novel coming out that featured Wonder Woman as the main character. Not only that, but it’s Diana as a teenager! The beginning held a lot of promise as we are with Diana as she makes the extremely difficult decision to save a young human female’s life and anger the Gods, or forfeit that human’s life and save her people from peril. Little does she know that the young girl she saved in the shipwreck is the warbringer.

While the story immediately grabbed my interest, I didn’t feel any connection to the extra characters the author brought in. I mean, Alia’s brother, Jason, is apparently the love interest (sort of) for Diana, but I don’t fully grasp the attraction there. Theo (Jason’s bff) just seems so blasé about everything and just goes with the flow. He’s always drinking and just shrugging things off. Nim seemed like she was there to be the snarky best friend. I just never felt a connection to them and I’m not overly sure why. I was really excited when the author brought them in because I knew it was going to make the story more interesting but I never fully embraced them for some reason.

While I may not have necessarily loved the extra characters, I did love that this book has quite a bit of mythology to it. Apparently, there are Gods and Goddesses that do not want to see the warbringer harmed. They want the war and destruction to happen. So they do all that they can to interfere with Diana’s plans to get Alia to the location that will free her from the curse. Between Alia’s warbringer power causing chaos around her, the Gods interfering, and some crazy militia group out to kill the warbringer, there was a lot happening.

Warbringer was a fun young adult look at Wonder Woman before she became a legend. I’m not overly familiar with her story so I can’t way whether or not this jives with her history, but it was entertaining all the same. It was great getting to see such an iconic character as a teenager and watching them as they try to discover who they are inside and follow their dreams.

I was really excited to read Warbringer but I also not sure what to expect. I loved Wonder Woman since I was a kid and watched the Linda Carter series so I wasn’t sure if I could wrap my head around Wonder Woman being a young adult. Of course as always, Leigh Bardugo delivered an awesome novel.

I love Leigh’s writing in her fantasy series and the Grishaverse she created. I was really curious about how it would be to have her write something a little more contemporary. Although Wonder Woman is obviously Superhero realm, it still occurs in the real world. I felt like she did not miss a beat. Her writing was flawless and I love the way that she can keep a story moving. The continuity and pacing flowed very easily.

I thought the way this story was slipped into the Wonder Woman cannon was extremely clever. It fit into the universe but also managed to be it’s own standalone story. I loved the plot and the inclusion of the character of Warbringer. I felt invested in the cast of characters, which of course caused more emotional damage to me when anything happened to them. It definitely had the action and adventure you would expect from something involving a Superhero. I don’t want to give anything away on it because I loved going into it not knowing what to expect and coming out the other side completely in love with the book.

We also had some great settings and lore to add to my overall image of the world. It was great to spend some time on Themyscira. Getting to know other the stores besides Diana. Also having a little bit of her own origin story. It gave so much more to knowing about Diana and her character.

So as a Wonder Woman fan, I loved the book. I would definitely recommend it to other Wonder Woman fans. It doesn’t matter if you have been following her from the beginning or just recently fell into her story. I think this is a book to be enjoyed by everyone.

Though I'm a huge fan of superhero films, and have been reading comic collections for many years, I only started reading novels based in these worlds a couple years ago. Last year, I decided to try YA superhero fiction and ordered Black Widow Forever Red. I enjoyed it a lot. When the store Vine offered this advanced review copy, I didn't hesitate because I loved the recent film.

I enjoyed this much more than Black Widow for one main reason - teenage Diana is the protagonist. A new character, Alia, is introduced, but the story is told from Diana's perspective. Forever Red introduced a new YA protagonist, whose life is impacted by Black Widow, and the book focuses on her. I liked the character, but had wanted Natasha to tell her story. Diana grew up among warriors, training from an early age. But, she is not technically an the store - yet. Everyone else died in battle and was reborn an immortal. Though she is much loved, she also feels like an outsider and wants to prove herself to her sisters. Feelings that are universal and make her instantly relatable.

The story is original, and fits well into Diana's mythology. Helen of Troy was the focal point of a great war, a curse within her blood that flows in her descendants. When one of those Warbringers comes to her home, Diana makes a choice to try and save her, but the world and her sisters will pay the price if she fails. The two young women embark on a quest to end the curse, and discover their own strength.

Overall, I loved this story. It has plenty of action, but also all the heart that makes Wonder Woman such a great hero. Bardugo perfectly captures Diana's "voice" and expands on the character so well-known yet with so many untold stories. I've already ordered the hardcover so I can add this to my collection, and really hope a sequel is not far on the horizon. This is the first in the DC Icons series of YA novels, and I will not hesitate to try the next one (Batman: Nightwalker). Highly recommended!

3.5/5 Stars

I’ve never been a huge superhero fan, but I’ve been curious about Bardugo for a long time, so when I (accidentally) ended up in line to pick up this book at ALA, I decided it was a sign that I was meant to read it.

The book started out perfect for me. Bardugo’s amazing writing skills were highlighted, and the beginning of the book read just like a fantasy since it took place among the the stores in their mythical world. I was immediately pulled into the plot. Once the story moved into the “real” world, it lost a little bit of the magic for me—I just wasn’t always feeling compelled to pick the book back up—but I still enjoyed it overall. I especially appreciated the focus on mythology and diversity and the feminist leanings of the book. Plus, I really liked Alia, who was a completely unknown character (at least for me) going in. I wasn’t as excited about the twist, which felt like it came a bit out of nowhere. Still, if you’re a fan of Wonder Woman, then you’ll definitely enjoy this book, and I recommend it. I give it 3.5/5 Stars.

***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via ALA Annual in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

I'm a huge fan of Leigh Bardugo's novels. She's expertly crafted a world I would love to explore in her Grisha trilogy and her Six of Crows duology. With the announcement of WONDER WOMAN: WARBRINGER, I was ready to see what this new foray offered. I'm happy to say that WARBRINGER is a blast from page one. It's an action-packed origin story, but it's also a well-crafted look at a friendship between two young women.

We meet Diana as a teenager, living on the secluded island of Themyscira with her mother, Hippolyta, queen of the legendary the stores. It's a tight knit sisterhood, but there is conflict. When Diana saves a girl off the island's coast, she sets a complex set of events in motion. The girl, Alia, is constantly fighting her own battles--with her brother over her independence, with a legacy she doesn't want, and a bloodline that brings violence wherever she goes. As a Warbringer, Alia's a sought after person. Good thing Diana's on her side.

As with her previous novels, Bardugo's world building is phenomenal. She paints a portrait of Themyscira that breathes with life. From the glittering beaches to the grassy valleys, I was there. When we travel to modern day New York and Greece, they're described with enough detail to feel like a tours of the cities. And of course, there is banter and sarcasm between friends that makes me smile.

The action sequences are fun. There were times when I was literally on the edge of my seat while reading as Diana punched, kicked, and disarmed her way through attackers. This girl knows how to hold her own, even when the odds look stacked against her. But really at the center of the book is the friendship that grows between Diana and Alia. Both girls find similar their upbringings and desire to prove themselves to others brings them together, but they also realize that even with their strengths, they can also have vulnerabilities (which can be strengths as well). We need more books with friendships like this, please!

For a prequel, Bardugo has set the stage for more of Diana's teenaged years, and I hope there are more books planned.

“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.”

Diana, created daughter of Hippolyta, Queen of Themyscira, Home of the the stores, makes a choice to save a human from a sinking ship and, in doing so gets caught up in a life or death situation that places both her and the human race in tremendous danger. Will she choose wisely?

Without any doubt I can tell you that in a fight, I’d want Diana Prince in my corner! I am old enough to remember- and am reminded still should I choose each week - of Linda Carter and comic books portrayals of THE only woman crime fighter. And the recent Gal Godot portrayal promises much more to come. One of the cool things about Bardugo’s Diana is.... she different than any other, and totally believable. Each character here is flesh and blood. I cried with them. I understood their neediness. I celebrated their wins and cried with their losses. And, with that,...hey, Ms. Bardugo, when will we see the next book? Highly recommended for young adults and older with a (violence warning). 5/5

I think I am just in the minority on this one. I just had such a hard time getting through this book. I really enjoyed the first chapter a lot. I wish we could have actually explored more of Themyscira because that was the most intriguing part of this story for me. I almost stopped reading so many times because the whole plot was just so predictable. They had about a week to make it to their intended destination. Well of course that was just too much time so you know problems are just going to be thrown in at every turn so that the deadline would get shorter and shorter until they barely can make it in time. They go somewhere, get attacked, rinse and repeat. I also felt that the reason for their journey was repeated way too much. I understood the first time, I didn’t need to have it explained ten more times. Although I did enjoy the twist at the end, but that was just the only surprise and sadly it just didn’t make up for the rest. I really wanted to like this so much, but I just found myself unfortunately disappointed.

This is my first time reading a Leigh Bardugo's book. For the first book, I'm glad it's Wonder Woman: Warbringer. I absolutely love Wonder Woman! She is definitely my favorite female superhero. Actually, she might be my favorite superhero/heroine of all time. The book is no disappointment. It is full of excitement, humor, action, romance, and an array of characters. I enjoyed the book and the storyline about how Diana risks her life to save a young girl, Alia, who enters Themyscira. There is a rule in Themyscira that no humans are allowed on the island. Diana's compassion and her sense of justice causes her to save Alia and thus gets exiled from Themyscira. Both Alia and Diana's journey begins when they both end up in New York, hometown of Alia. Wonder Woman: Warbringer is a wonderful and exciting book for any Wonder Woman or superhero fan. I highly recommend it!

Disclaimer: I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

Leigh Bardugo + Wonder Woman sounds pretty great right?? Well, believe me when I say, it’s even better than it sounds. This was easily one of the best books I’ve read this year. In fact, I think it’s my favorite Bardugo book yet. The characterization is incredible, the story is addictive from the kick-off, and the writing is exquisite. If you’ve read Six Of Crows or Crooked Kingdom, you won’t be surprised to hear that this book features a kick ass group dynamic. The relationships between the characters and their love for each other instantly creates a seamless and thorough insight to the characters as individuals.

In the beginning of the book, Diana finds herself drawn to save Alia, depite the consequences. But, as is life, the consequences still come and they might mean the end of the world. Diana and Alia are thrown together in a whirlwind journey of peril as they fight to save the world. Immediately the audience is invested in their mission and immersed in the story of Wonder Woman and the Warbringer. The book is absolutely thrilling- from the beginning, when we’re introduced to Diana and her island of bad-ass superwoman, to the end, where we find ourselves attached to this eclectic group of teenagers and their mission to save the world.

Leigh Bardugo initiates a series of DC Icons books with a Wonder Woman story. My first caveat is that if you're looking for the story to connect with the recent movies and comics, it doesn't. In Wonder Woman: Warbringer, Diana is a teenage-ish (since her age is never mentioned and aging seems different for the the stores, but she comes across as peer to other teens) the storeian princess living on the island of Themyscira. Her adventure takes her into the world which seems to be set in current times. She is not Diana Prince nor is she truly yet Wonder Woman. And perhaps because of this discontinuity with other Wonder Woman stories, it took me a while to get into this one.

Still, once I did, the story was compelling and hard to put down. It's not perfect, but it's enjoyable. There is a little language and violence, so you may want to preview it before giving the book to young readers, but for teenagers and older it is suitable.

I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

After watching the Wonder Woman movie, I was intrigued to read this book. Now, don’t get me wrong, it is nothing like the movie. I simply thought it would be cool to read a book about Wonder Woman. The plot, the characters, the setting are all different—except for the main island of the stores.

I honestly don’t know what to think of the book. It was okay. Well, how about I say this? It was not as good as the movie. To me, the book was kind of slow. It took a while for me to get into the plot.

This was me throughout the entire book: “Hmm…” “Oh intriguing!” “What?” “Cool!” “Seriously?” “Awesome!” “Come on.” So, yeah, I have mixed feeling about this book. Sometimes I really liked it, but sometimes I didn’t.

The cover was pretty cool! I will give it 4 stars.

Unfortunately, I have to give this book 3 stars. However, I would recommend to those who like fantasy and mythology. For me, it simply wasn’t my type of book.

That ending was wwwhhhhaattt?

I know many people say this doesn't read like Leigh Bardugo but it absolutely does.

SOC is known for its brilliantly crafted twists and turns and Leigh's adaptation delivered the same effects and the same humor.

It started off slow but when it picks up it's really bloody good.

I think what I love most was how different it was from WW the movie.

I don't know anything about WW than from what I gathered from the on screen adaptation. I absolutely loved the movie but this did something different.

The movie to me was about WW and her strength and how much ass she kicked and therefore empowered women across the world.

This felt different. This felt more empowering on a personal level because of Diana's and Alia's personal stories and their developments along with her side kicks Theo and Nim.

It's about finding strength when everyone else in your life questions your ability, assume you're fragile and assumes your identity for you.

And I connected to it more than simply a demi God female who kicked butt

I was disappointed. The first 140 pages were interesting, but weren't gripping me. I seriously was debating not finishing the book (too many other books to read), but powered through. I'm GLAD that I did! It picked up and flew through the last 160 pages. 

The story follows a young Diana (pre-Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman movies), who saves the life of a teenage girl from our time. Having done so results in a series of cataclysmic events occurring that Diana and the young girl must prevent.
I really enjoyed the overall story line; how the characters and plot were developed over the course of the book. There were some plot twists that I wasn't expecting, which were a nice surprise. By the end of the book I was cheering for the characters and fully invested in their survival. 

Don't get me wrong. This was not a life changing work of fiction, but it was an enjoyable read, that I wanted to pick back up.

Being a huge fan of Six Of Crows, and only liking the Grisha Trilogy, I ordered this with some trepidation. But I found it was very enjoyable!
Diana is a relatable heroine, despite most mortals having nothing in common with her. Well, I'm sure we've all felt the need to prove our selves, and for Diana and Alia, this is most of the book. Even through the pitfalls you never for a moment think they're pathetic, or unsympathetic, which tends to be my biggest issue with these kinds of stories. These girls give their all (which for some means a lot of fighting)-as Hippolyta advises, they didn't enter this race to lose.
The plot had a few good twists, which I found predictable and just didn't care because they were well written. There certainly were times where I caught myself thinking, "Will they actually make it out of this?". I suppose we know they will, but it was questionable at the time, and the fact that Bardugo made me question is fantastic writing on her part.
Without really noticing, this book tackles huge issues of the times, such as feminism, racism, etc. And never once did these topics come off as preachy. It really felt as though a modern person just had to explain them to somebody without a concept of them-stuff happens, and we move on. I appreciated this matter-of-fact approach, as it not only kept the books flow, but also in a way made me look at humanity as Diana does. Capable of good and evil in equal shares.
This is very much a fast-paced, powerful woman sort of hero's quest, and I enjoyed it from the very first sentance on.

This was even better than I thought it would be, not than I expected something less than incredible from Leigh Bardugo. She's one of my favorites, but there are so many superhero remakes, that it often worries me.

I guess I feel like sometimes there's a limit when it comes to superhero stories, a point at which they start to seem repetitive or like there's too much of the same, which is why I liked this so much. This entire story is pre-Wonder Woman. It's just about Diana when she's young, and it includes some fascinating characters and enjoyable friendships.

There's plenty of intrigue and action scenes to keep things exciting, and the side characters are quirky, diverse, and lovable. The villain is well-developed. I listened to the audiobook, which was very good and narrated by Mozhan Marno.

This story only increased my fascination with Wonder Woman, and I continue to feel very sorry for myself that I can't live on Themyscira.

I received an ARC through the KidLitExchange on Instagram.

I enjoyed this one! While it didn't exceed expectations like I had hoped, and was my least favorite of the Bardugo books I've read, I still enjoyed this one. Reminding me of the Marvel movies, I felt this one was for the mainstream crowds. For a quick pleasure read, this one is fun and exciting. I do feel that it was for a younger crowd, and with all the potential in the comic books, I feel this one could have been much better, and while I highly recommend reading it, this isn't Bardugo's best book, and I suggest you try her other works before deciding if you like her style or not. I did love all the the stores and the woman power going on, but the main characters got on my nerves, and I don't feel Diana was as central a character as I expected. Yes she's important, and a main character, but I feel Alia stole some of the spotlight, and had her own two cents to add.

I find it amazing that, when I was younger, I had no interest in Wonder Woman. She didn't seem that interesting, and her powers didn't really stand out. As an adult, however, I've come to see Diana's strength, honor, and importance.

This book was just fantastic, between the character dynamics, the action, the twists, the representation. It was a story that I wanted to finish and not to finish at the same time. Leigh Bardugo's name has been hyped up in the YA genre for a good reason, as her writing and pacing make the story shine. The inner conflicts Diana faces makes her plight so much nobler and her arc all the more interesting.

If I have any gripes it may just be that one element of the story just drops out of it entirely and isn't really resolved, though that could just come from me reading a tad too quickly. Either way, this book brings a wonderful new dimension to Diana. I really hope Bardugo isn't finished with her just yet.

What is it about?

This story is a re-imagining of Wonder Woman. I had initially expected it to be very similar to the movie, but I was pleasantly surprised by how different it was. 

Diana is a young the store on the Island of Themyscira. Only, she's not really an the store, is she? Her mother sculpted her from clay and she's not as fast or as strong as her sisters, and she doesn't quite feel like she belongs. On an island where warriors were given a chance at new life, Diana is the only one who wasn't "Battle Born". She longs to earn her place among her sisters.

Was it good?

This story was brilliant. I really enjoyed reading it, and found myself obsessing over it even in my dreams.

I really don't know what I can say, other than Leigh Bardugo did an the store job. (Haha.)

Loved it.  A terrific superhero story that I have ordered for my niece. Full of action, battles and self doubt, this is a great YA story about believing in your own worth. Despite Alia's destiny, Diana is positive that together they can change it. Alia is marked, her DNA marks her a Warbringer - either she will bring death or will face her own. Diana refuses to let this happen, seeing another way out - to save Alia from her curse. There is trust, betrayal, anger, strength, love and truth. Diana wants to prove herself... as does Alia and her friends.

Leigh Bardugo creates a fabulous world, deep characters and gives us an insight into the young Diana and what makes her the fighter she is. A wonderful read.

When I started reading this version of Wonder Woman, I thought it was the movie. Then the rescued person turned out to be the girl, Alia. As to the book, I appreciated how well-crafted it was. I especially loved the lgbt character with fashion flare and "guts." The last twists and turns kept me reading, but toward the end I was screaming, "Enough already." I'd had it with divine intervention, even if a lot of the themes in the story were being more clearly defined.

Jason was flat even with his many faces and the end not as satisfying as I would have liked. I did enjoy the touches of humor and the snappy dialogue exchanges. These were welcome in the midst of all the super-human violence.

A quick read.

A really fun, breezy story with one of the best superheroes ever written in the lead. This is exactly the book I needed the last couple days––exciting, funny, charming, and filled with brilliant action. The story moved at a quick pace that complimented the terrific fight scenes. I loved the dialogue and banter between the characters, and definitely did not expect the twist at the end. The ideas Bardugo brought to life interwoven with Greek mythology and ancient stories was the cherry on top of a fantastic cake that I would recommend to all lovers of the DC legend, strong women, and any reader who wants a fun book to unwind with after a stressful day. Speaking from experience, I can promise this is the book you want. This is a promising start to the DC ICONS series, and I can't wait for it to continue.

I won't lie, I was a little nervous going into this book. Leigh Bardugo is an amazing writer, but I wasn't sure how she would tackle Wonder Woman and it scared me. Well I can say I should have had more faith because she totally hit it out of the park for me!

This was such a cool story! I fell right into Diana's character and I loved each and every page of this book. Leigh did an amazing job at making Wonder Woman her own while keeping the integrity of the original. Which I can imagine was very hard to do.

I think my favorite part was Diana. She was completely kick you know what and she was fierce! If you look deeper in the story you will see several issues being tackled and I enjoyed that as well, but I really just enjoyed reading a story about a fierce woman that saved the day. It was glorious!

I really enjoyed this take on the Wonder Woman story. It was much different than what I had originally expected, which was both a positive and a negative. It was definitely hyped to a point that I think my expectations were just a tad too high.

From what I had heard about it prior to picking it up myself, it was supposed to be a prequel to the movie. However, there is no possible way for that to be true. It takes place in our time which is contrary to the movie due to the movie taking place mostly during World War II. Honestly, that had me questioning the book for a while, but eventually I was able to think of the two as completely separate and unrelated versions of the story. After that, this book was a really fun ride with a good amount of action and great relationships between characters.

This was the first book I've ever picked up by Leigh Bardugo, and I'm excited to try her Grisha series soon!

The DC Icons series is obviously all about ignoring the well known and beloved origins of DC heroes and reinventing them to serve modern social 'justice' and PC agendas, but 'Wonder Woman - Warbringer' takes this egregious theft of DC history to an unprecedented level. Only Cold War era Soviet propaganda equals this book's level of complete revisionism and fabrication in the service of an ideology. In the first chapter alone, the Greek origin and ideal of Wonder Woman's the store race (as well as preserving the unique cultural values of that race for the modern reader) is completely decimated in favor of a retooled origin that, not only opens the door to racial and cultural inclusiveness and diversity among the the stores, but also hammers home the relativistic point that all religions and belief systems are equally valid. Any female who honors a 'goddess' (including Mary from the Bible's New Testament), regardless of message or ideology, can be reincarnated as an the store on Themyscira. Aimed at teens and young adults who are defining their own values (and often looking to heroes for inspiration),they are being encouraged to embrace this illogically offensive syncretism thus deterring them from accepting any kind of truth (or Truth)...because if ALL belief systems are equally valid then there is no basis for any idea of personal or cultural 'right' or 'wrong' - and certainly no basis for any hero being 'right' or 'just' or 'good'. This book is NOT the Wonder Woman story, and is not worthy to bear her logo. Unless you love spending hours mired in mindless. modern propaganda, choose something else to do other than reading this book.

Wonder Woman: Warbringer was definitely among my top 5 on the books that came out this year that I was most excited for. I had never read anything by Leigh Bardugo before, so I was a bit worried her style might be not be my taste, but I had nothing to worry about – I loved the book so much! So I decided to go for a mini-review, so as not to bore you guys too much with all my drooling over it.

Diana is such a fantastic character, I loved her distinct, unique and badass voice. Reading Wonder Woman felt like a breath of air, a book so glorious in its unapologetic feminist tone that will actually make you happy.

‘‘Sister in battle, I am shield and blade to you. As I breathe, your enemies will know no sanctuary. While I live, your cause is mine.’’

I was pretty excited for this book! I was stoked when I saw some of my favorite YA authors are banding together to tell tales of Wonder Woman, Catwoman, Batman, and Superman. This book is the first in the series of these tales that are being published. Bardugo has been one of my favorite authors for a while now and I fell in love with this book. She shows the power of female friendships, and what it means to stand up and fight! The characters in this book are strong and well written. Each one is very memorable and brings something to the story. No one is forgotten and you learn to love each character. The ending is left open to the potential of there being more books in the Wonder Woman series, which i’m looking forward to!

I have never really been drawn to Wonder Woman, but I will read anything from Leigh, so that's why I picked it up. And I'm so happy I did.

I love love loved Diana. She's more than just strong. She's smart and blunt and a serious BAMF. I loved seeing her navigate the modern world. Alia was awesome, but it was really Nim and Theo who stole the show.

The action pretty much starts at page one and doesn't let go until the end. There are fights and banter and cars getting thrown and gods and myths and some things I didn't expect. The imagery is creepy and fantastic and I'm sort of hoping we'll get more.

**Huge thanks to Random House for handing these out at YallWest**

This is my first but will not be my last dip into the world of Wonder Woman.

I know the basics about her and who she is and what she stands for but I never really got into the comics, which shame on me, but when I heard about this book and that it would be the start of something bigger well I said why not.
Bardugo has written a fantastic book where Diana, the person, is at the attention. This is a Diana before she becomes Wonder Woman so she's young, vulnerable, courageous, and a teenager herself.
I do love this different take on her Organ Story which varies from the film, so if you were hoping to read a film adaptation with Steve Trevor, this is not it.

My Highly Caffeinated Thought: An action packed story steeped in mythology that has strong female characters kicking butt.

WONDER WOMAN: WARBRINGER is more than just a tale of superhero saving the day. By weaving together the action and adventure with the mythology and real-life issues seamlessly, the author opens the book up to a much wider audience. In this book we not only meet Diana as a younger version of herself, but there is also a full cast of other characters that balance out the story. At the end of it, I thought that Leigh Bardugo brought another dimension to Diana. She honored the character that we have all known while still keeping it fresh and entertaining.

A fantastic take on a young, pre-Wonder-Woman, Diana Prince and her first foray into the World of Man.

Great (and diverse) characters! A different sort of story that I didn’t see coming - especially after seeing the title of the book (Warbringer). I thought it was a great YA book, too. There are other twists and turns you don’t see coming, and the audio narrator doesn’t disappoint.

A great addition to Wonder Woman’s rich past - but one that you don’t really need to know anything about Wonder Woman to try.

I don’t think there was one thing that I didn’t love about this book! From the strong friendships to the powerful women, this action packed, thrill seeking, read will leave you on the edge of your seat until the last page.

I love Wonder Woman. I’ve always looked up to her since I was a little girl. When I seen that Leigh Bardugo wrote a version of her story I couldn’t pass it up. What I didn’t expect was how powerful this book was going to be. The message behind female empowerment is strong and I can’t wait for my daughter to read it when she’s old enough!

What a great read! And one that, I'm happy to report, doesn't require a reader to know anything about Wonder Woman or the greater DC Comics canon to enjoy. This is an alternate version of the heroine's origin story, where a teenaged Diana leaves her island home to enter our modern world on a quest. There are fierce female friendships, a diverse cast whose different backgrounds inform their characters nicely, and some quality action and adventure. It's the start of a new line of DC superhero novels, and author Leigh Bardugo launches the series on a perfect note.

DC has been a major part of my life. We're huge fans of everything DC and being the only girl among the boys in my family and friends, I was always Wonder Woman! She was a light to me. So to say I was nervous when I heard about this release is an understatement! I should have known that Bardugo would not disappoint! She is a writer that I am already a huge fan of, she would do it justice for sure! I was so happy to get my hands on this piece! Let's see if I can give you the idea of it without any spoilers!

Warbringer. Before all of the stories you know of Wonder Woman, there was Warbringer. A teenage Diana is trying to find her place on the Island of the the stores (Themyscira). Where women warriors have proven themselves in battle and earned their place as an the store, Diana was molded from clay by her mothers own hands. She has never known the struggles of the mortal world, but longed to prove herself worthy as the Daughter of Hippolyta, the Queen of the the stores.

That is all Diana was trying to accomplish when she struck out to win a race and the favor of her fellow the stores. Fate had something else in store for Diana. Saving a mortal girl (Alia) from a doomed Shipwreck, Diana has brought trouble to the shores of Themyscira that she could have never foreseen. Now she has to fix it and it's up to her to find out how! With legends of old and Gods of Greece mixed in throughout the pages, you enjoy a tale of twists and turns to right the wrongs.

Warbringer transported me back. Back to being a teenage girl curled up with a blanket, refusing to close the book for fear of missing what Diana and her friends would get into next! The characters blend so well together. It reminded me of the group in the Fallen Series by Lauren Kate ( @laurenkatebooks ). I found myself laughing at their banter and sniffling at their sorrows. I found it refreshing to see the girl that was to become Wonder Woman and Bardugo ( @lbardugo ) weaved the tale so brilliantly! Here's to hoping for more to come!

I've never paid much attention to superheroes. Sure, I knew their names and stuff, but I'd never read their comics, or watched their movies. To me, they were unrealistic and egotistical, a tall tale blown out of proportion. Their struggles weren't relatable or suspenseful, because we knew that everything will always turn out ok. After all, they're heroes, right?

This book made me rethink most of my previous opinions. Diana is portrayed as human, with doubts, fears, and insecurities beneath the exterior. She's an outsider with the the stores, as she never earned the right to the island. Her struggle to belong with her the store sisters was relatable with situations we've felt belittled for reasons outside of our control. As the story progresses and Diana is led away from the island and into the human realm, she proves herself again and again through her actions and courage. Her friendships with other characters were balanced and respected. Bardugo does a great job shaping her into someone powerful, but believable.

There are other notable characters to mention. Alia, the Warbringer, provides a much-needed perspective where monsters and prophecies aren't supposed to be the norm. Unlike Diana, who starts off strong, Alia is more uncertain and coddled. It's only at the end of the story does she truly become her own hero, instead of relying on someone else. Characters like Nim, Theo, or Jason were fleshed out instead of glossed over, and we get a good sense of their fears, desires, and secrets. It was clear that this wasn't just Diana's story, it was their story as well.

As the gang travel from New York to Greece, chased by a mysterious army and monsters, the plot and pacing was perfect. There was enough action to keep me on my toes and enough time for me to process what's happened. I also loved the Greek mythology involved, with mentions of various gods and goddesses, as well as ancient heroes and villains. Warning: there is a twist at the end, so be prepared to have your mind blown.

Overall, this book was fantastic. Bardugo weaves a story full of adventure, danger, and friendship. The characters are realistic and the plot is gripping. The author's take on this classic character was brilliant. Honestly, I want more of Diana and Alia's story. 10/10 recommend this book, especially if you've never been a fan of superheroes. This may change your opinion. I know it did for me.

Immediately you know this isn’t a story about a boy being washed up on the beach and a girl gazing at him then risking everything for him. This is a story about bravery, supporting women and finding your place in the world.

“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.”

I was really worried about how this book would play out. As a big comic nerd, seeing Diana as a 17-year-old in a young adult novel freaked me out, took a little getting used to, but made so much sense in the end. We find out so much about how she grows into the “hero” she is, the hard choices she makes and the people who have shaped her. What I enjoyed about this was the fact you could read this book and then read other comics or watch the recent Wonder Woman film and know it’s the same Diana. Her character is undeniable in any story setting.

Leigh Bardugo is incredible at describing settings. I could picture Themyscira flawlessly and I only wished we could have had a bit more story there with the the stores, but everywhere they went, I followed along with a perfect picture in my head thanks to her carefully chosen words and the way she strung along her thoughts. What I loved more than anything was how full of Greek Mythology this was. I just wish we could have learned more about her the store sisters and their history.

Now this story is about Wonder Woman, sure, but it’s also equally about Alia, the Warbrigner. I liked her character, but since the story was about her, I wish there was something that completely stood out to me about her character. She was fine, and her friends were a little annoying but still lovable. I feel like Diana and Alia’s relationship could have flourished into a really strong sisterhood, such an unbreakable bond that she might not have returned to Themyscira, yet something held this back. This book was feminist and powerful. Leigh Bardugo prioritized friendships over romance, and the takeaway message here was bravery. These characters went through hell, and an epic plot twist that I truly did not see coming. I felt as though the ending was rushed, but it didn’t ruin the beautiful story.

This was a unique take on one of the most loved and well-known superheroes, and I’m very excited to read more from this DC Icons series. I give this 4 stars because I did truly enjoy it, but it fell short somewhere… I can’t even figure out where, but there was something missing.

MAN OH MAN Did I want to love this book. Really, I did. I loved Bardugo's Grisha trilogy and had high hopes for her good writing paired with my love of Wonder Woman. Unfortunately, I just couldn't get into the book. I don't know if Wonder Woman is TOO familiar, or if my hopes were TOO high...but I only read about 50 pages before I gave up. :(

I just bought this book, being I love mythology and I had not read the authors other series, BUT you need to understand this is Different from the usual Books, If you Don't want to read this interruption of Wonder Woman's Life, Do Not Buy it and just library rent it If you are unsure. But I Loved it. Great characters and action and world building and she just makes you feel and think Wonder Woman is a Heroine that you Want to know how She came to Be Wonder Woman The Hero. Great story and I will definitely be reading this author Again and see what her other series are like since I enjoyed this book! ?. Recommended!

Closer to 4.5.

Wonder Woman started a bit slow and I wasn't sure how it would pan out, but by page 130 or so the pace had really picked up with action.

Without giving spoilers, I will say that the author did a great job of weaving gods and goddesses into the plot, some in terrifying ways.

The ending was satisfying, though I would have liked a bit more of an epilogue.

Overall, a solid 4.5 read.

this book was so, so amazing. it had messages for young girls that i do not see often enough in books - about body positivity, about being lgbt, about race and how being dark skinned in a white world shapes your behavior, about how the world pushes young girls, still children, to be grown before they're ready (i cried so hard at that last part) - let alone in a book about a wildly popular dc ICON.

and to top it off, the dialogue read realistically and the writing was snappy and funny, while treating serious situations appropriately.

i am so eternally grateful for ww: warbringer.

Diana lives on Themyscira with her mother and her sister the stores. Formed from clay, she isn't really considered a full fledged the store and looks for ways to prove herself. During a race she is sure to win due to her practice and alternate route, a boat explodes off the coast of the island, so Diana has to decide to the leave the lone survivor to die and finish the race or save the girl and throw the race. She finally decides to save the girl Alia, but after leaving her in a remote cave, earthquakes wrack the island and sickness comes for the the stores for the first time since they settled there. Diana suspects that Alia's presence on the island is the reason, so she goes to the Oracle with an offering to see how she can fix her mistake. It leads to a quest to the modern human world where Diana can prove herself, protect her charge, and save the world if she succeeds.

The beginning of the novel establishes Themyscira, the the stores, and Diana plus her origins. Themyscira is a utopian society populated by only women of all different nationalities and sexual preferences who have chosen to live there after rejecting the wartorn, violent world of man. Some of them a resentful of Diana because she doesn't have the experience and hasn't proven herself as an the store, yet receives preferential treatment as Queen Hippolyta's daughter. Although Tek, the most vocal about this subject, has a point, she resorts to pathetically insulting teenage Diana overtly and covertly at every turn. As a result, Diana has to hide her true feelings, brush off the poor treatment, feel like she doesn't belong, and strive to prove herself as capable as much as she can. When Alia lands on the island, the storms, disease, and earthquakes are shocking on such an idyllic island and fill Diana with guilt. The Oracle brings the timbre of ancient myths as a powerful, dangerous mystic who gives useful information if approached correctly.

Diana is thrown into the modern human world without being totally ignorant of their technology or modern sensibilities. The island is somehow aware of all the technological advances and human history, so Diana's gaps are in actual interactions in this unfamiliar world. She has knowledge of cars, helecopters, war, disease, etc, but it's completely different to hear the noise of the city, sit in a moving car, and dodge lethal bullets. What I love so much about her character, especially compared to the cinematic version of her, is that she defends herself physically and verbally. She throws clever barbs when needed and translates modern sensibilities through the lens of her experiences instead of looking at everything cluelessly. The biggest adjustment to our world is the ease with which we lie. She's so used to people being genuine that it shocks her and makes her cautious in the future. Her abilities are a mystery to her since she's never had to use them to actually protect herself before and she pushes her limits time and time again. Her journey to prove herself is understandable and blossoms into a genuine desire to protect humanity and their world.

Alia comes from an affluent family with a Greek father and a Louisianan mother. She tries to escape notice and keep to herself as a way to avoid how she's inevitably treated due to her skin color. She also somehow always finds conflict surrounding but not including her. Her status as Warbringer brings violence and chaos wherever she goes, completely involuntarily. Her very presence will cause the next worldwide war if she doesn't either die or bathe in the waters of Helen of Troy's resting place. Alia thinks Diana is insane and part of a cult before Diana's proved right, but they find common ground in both of their disparate experiences. Both want to be judged for their actions rather than things they have no control over like origins, money, family, or bloodline. Alia is much more sarcastic and funny than Diana and has a point of view more relatable to the reader. She doesn't have physical strength, but strength of will and interesting ways of thinking through situations with her science background. By the end of the book, she develops into someone unafraid of attention, willing to fight for her friends and what she believes in.

After seeing the Wonder Woman film, I was curious to see how this book fits into that lore. They prove to be in completely different universes and most of the changes are ones I would have liked to see in the movie. So much of this book is amazing from the natural character interactions to the crazy awesome minor characters like Alia's best friend Nim, eccentric clothign designer. I especially loved her unique point of view seeing the world's patterns and finding meaning in visual art plus her killer sense of humor. Some plot points didn't feel right to me even though it fit the theme. The villain in particular seemed to come out of nowhere, but the ending is satisfying. Wonder Woman: Warbringer is an action packed book with friendship, heart, and characters struggling to find their place in the world. I would love to see another Wonder Woman book by Leigh Bardugo because she fundamentally understands Diana and creates a fantastical world grounded in reality.

I am in love with this book. The start is a little slow but hang in there. It's completely worth it! I absolutely love Wonder Woman and Leigh Bardugo captured her so well. There is a lot to learn about all of the characters ... and yourself. Bardugo captured woman empowerment and amplified it. Just yes. <3

One of my favorite quotes;
"A wise warrior learns from her mistakes,"
- Leigh Bardugo, Wonder Woman: Warbringer.

I really liked this. This version of Wonder Woman is sure a whole lot different than the one Linda Carter played. And she is tough and improved and even though she is an the store she is very human. I can't be sure but I think this book might be based on the new movie (but I haven't seen the movie so I don't know for sure). It read like I was watching a movie. There are a lot surprises. I like the Oracle. It is well written. Her lasso is so much cooler than the lasso from the TV show (and so are her bracelets).

I Love Wonder Woman and I Love Leigh Bardugo so put them together and it's a lot of love. However it wasn't exactly what I was hoping for which is why this isn't a five star read. I loved the beginning and seeing Diana discover New York. It was laugh out loud funny but then the middle and end just didn't compare. It was still entertaining and enjoyable but not memorable.

I've tried to read this book three times now and I just can't get into it. I like Wonder Woman. I like Leigh Bardugo's writing. But for some reason I just cannot get into this story. Eventually I may give it a run on audio but for now I'm going to consider this a DNF for me. That said, I think a lot of Bardugo's fans will enjoy it while WW fans might not like it as much.

I'm pretty impressed by this novel. I feared this would be a mailed-in cash-grab, and I hoped it would be a decent novel. But instead I got an insightful feminist tale that came together with just enough comic book over-the-top thrills to really tie all the iterations of Wonder Woman together into this new format (YA novels specifically). Also, the new characters are really excellent. Happy to add this to my collection!

I always hate reading a Leigh Bardugo book because they always end too damned early. I was so, so happy going through this adventure with Diana and seeing the bonds formed by truth and justice. This is the feminist book we YA nerds need. The shocking twists and turns, the amazing one liners. Watching Diana try to assimilate into the World of Man was HILARIOUS. So, so in love with this story. I wish there was more forever

Y'all know how big of a fan of Wonder Woman I am, so when I heard that Leigh Bardugo was writing a book about my girl Diana, I was PUMPED. I loved the set of characters in the novel, especially the leading ladies, Diana and Alia. If you're a fan of adventure-type stories, this one is definitely for you.

I have loved every one of Bardugo's books, so when I saw she was tackling Wonder Woman, I knew we were in for a treat! I'm honestly not sure which I liked more, the movie or this book. Different storylines, but equal awesome! Bardugo absolutely delivers!

I love Leigh Bardugo and she did not disappoint in this book! I actually listened to it and listened to it every chance I got because I was so drawn in by the story and characters. Origin stories are the best, and this one is awesome. I loved all the characters, the world building, the action, everything. Check this one out!

It is a superhero novel, and I liked the action and unbelievable nature of it. What I dislike is when an author goes out of his or her way to push a specific agenda. So, I liked the book, but I am more than thankful that I did not buy the hardback edition but rather the kindle on on a major sale.

Was a bit skeptical about it since it's a "young adult" book but turned out to be pretty decent. Started out very interesting but then dragged a bit at the middle and was considering giving up when things picked up again. And it was worth it since the ending was very spectacular and satisfying.

“Wonder Woman: Warbringer” (Random House, $18.99, 369 pages) reads like an action movie – that is, you need to keep turning the pages so you don’t realize how ludicrous the plot is – and would be much better realized as a comic book.

Instead, Leigh Bardugo slogs through nearly 400 pages of a young adult effort that requires visualizing CGI special effects and “WHAM!”, “THUNK!” and other large-font additions to the otherwise pedestrian text. In short, “Wonder Woman: Warbringer” is exploitation, pure and simple, of the DC heroes, and will be followed up by three more such efforts in the near future.

You have been warned …

I have not seen the WW movie, but based on film clips, this is NOT a write up of the movie or a rehash of the script. It is, however, a pretty good "origin tale" which may take some liberties with the "original" origin story, but is itself compelling.

Bardugo keeps the plot moving, the action scenes are excellently done, and the plot twists are always surprising. The character development is well done, and there is also the slight bit of humor (especially at WW's reaction to the world of mere mortals) which serves well as a palate cleanser for more action.

Here's hoping for a sequal or three or five.

I enjoyed this book. It is well-written, a fun new twist on the Wonder Woman classic. The pacing and the shoot'em-up plot does read a lot like a Batman movie if you're comparing it to, say, the Grisha Trilogy, but that's to be expected with this subject. Overall I liked it and would recommend it as a fun light read.

I've loved Wonder Woman from childhood so this was a must-read for me. I loved the diversity of the characters in this book especially Alia! However, the story was just pretty good. I was expecting a little more but it overall it was enjoyable.

GUYS. Warbringer was SO SO good! It was a love letter to women and friendship and sisterhood. I can't talk about my favorite parts because spoilers, but SERIOUSLY. READ IT!! You will NOT regret it! Diana was an amazing heroine, and the support casting were all phenomenal and owned who they were and what they were good at even when it wasn't "cool", and I just loved every single word of it. EVERY WORD. <3

I haven't watched the Wonder Woman movie yet - I know, right - but I've heard and read so much about it that I almost feel like I already have. When I found out that YA fantasy author, Leigh Bardugo, was writing a Wonder Woman novel, I assumed it was going to be a tie-in to the film that would expand on that universe. You can imagine my shock, then, when the film has Wonder Woman as a fully grown (but still young) woman during WWI, whereas this book has Wonder Woman as a teenager now.

Um, what?

DC timelines, you're harder to follow than a private Twitter user.

Once I got over that funhouse mirror-style discrepancy in the space-time continuum and other wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey matters, it was a matter of figuring out the "canon" of this universe. Themyscira is thrown into chaos when a mortal girl named Alia washes up upon the shores. Rather than let her die, Diana decides to save her. But saving her is no simple matter, because as it turns out...like every other fantasy heroine ever, Alia is no ordinary mortal girl.

Their journey takes them into New York City, where Diana meets Alia's friends, Theo and Nim, and her billionaire older brother, Jason. From there, it's a matter of figuring out the secrets of the titular "Warbringer" and attempting to stop a prophecy before it can be carried into motion and doom the world (and result in Diana's being ostracized from the people she holds dear).

I won't lie to you - the beginning of this book is bad. The pace is gruelingly slow, and Diana comes off as a total Mary Sue, one minute sounding wise beyond her years, the next acting painfully naive. It suits her character, but it had me clenching my teeth because of how twee it felt. I didn't really care for the other the stores, either. They were all a bunch of jerks. Oh, I'm sorry, your island is in danger? Well, so sorry about that, don't let the ocean hit you on the way out, ya bunch of jerks. They treat Diana the way Rudolph the Red-Nose reindeer was treated, pre-saving Christmas.*

The book doesn't really pick up until p.150 or so. The introduction of secondary teenager characters had me clutching my pearls in horror - MILLENNIALS!!!! - but these characters are actually pretty great. They're all people of color, one of them is LGBT+, they all have distinct personalities, and they act like the teenagers they are, only with some of the best oneliners ever. Sometimes the oneliners are a little too heavy-handed, like you can tell the author is winking at you because of how clever it all is, but most of the time it works. Nim is probably my favorite, but Alia was a close second. Female friendships are bomb, and you really don't see enough of those in YA fiction, sadly.

Also - the twist with the villain? Did not see that coming. The climax had a total cinematic feel. It was like watching a movie play out in book form.

So, one star deducted for turning Diana into a Mary Sue and being too cute with the 80s action hero lines. One star deducted for being boring AF in the beginning and almost having me DNF and miss out on the redeeming second half. WARBRINGER earned those last remaining three stars fair and square, though. Those last two lines in the book were pure perfection.

*And she doesn't even get credit for saving the world at the end. WTF.

3 out of 5 stars

This read like a book written by teen who was trying to prove to her literature teacher that she did her multicultural cardboard character homework. The characters were very stilted and difficult to relate to. And sadly they are all new characters without any tangible connection to the wonder woman continuities (not TV nor movie and not comic). The story was sort of an interesting idea and just wasn't really well thought out in terms of execution. The writer works too hard to include everyone's pc views on Paradise Island. This should have been an epic story about an island of Grecian the stores not Wiccan teens' version of "the Goddess". One star firm. The best she can do is kill off the main character? Readers are directed to John Byrne's novel Wonder Woman Gods & Goddesses instead. A much better read.

Leigh Bardugo took a well known character and wrote an amazing new story without taking anything away from it! I would recommend this book to anyone who has read her before , and all Wonder Woman fans.

I wanted something different and something better.

Not being a big DC superhero fan, I had ordered this book hoping Leigh Bardugo would offer a new and unique spin on Wonder Woman canon. But as I started reading, I was disappointed to find out that Warbringer was basically a YA book version of the same thing that is being shown in the movie theaters. Plots are fairly similar and I just don't care to read another variation of the same that I wasn't wild about in the first place.

I suspect a Wonder Woman fan might find this novel more satisfying. But what can I say, I am sad I didn't get The Dark Night-like version of Wonder Woman. Or a version with more emphasis on Diana's life in Greece. This story is just too stock superhero for me.

I love Leigh Bardugo, I love Wonder Woman, this was a match made in heaven for me, and I loved every moment of it. I can't wait to read the rest of the dc icons series, and Leigh's new book! King of scars!

Maybe this is only a good read for WW fans. I, well, i'm pro-Wonder Woman, but i never got around to seeing the movie in theaters and i don't read the comics and yeah, i'm not a Fan, just a fan.

This book reads at the lower-teen level, both in writing and in story. I can't figure out why i'm supposed to care that Diana is a princess just because she is the daughter of the queen when they're all immortal so succession doesn't matter and why is there a queen anyway?

Maybe if i'd made it past the first third of the book, it would start to make sense why there was royalty and succession drama on an island with a small population of immortal warriors, but ugh, a third of a book about a teenage girl angsting about everyone judging her harshly because her mom's the queen and she didn't 'earn' her place on the island? Pass.

This book is the most amazing thing I’ve read in a while. I felt invigorated after reading it, which is something I can usually only say after a good action movie. My favorite author did not disappoint.

Not as gay as it could have been, but still a great read. Dialog was great, characters were vibrant and surprising, and the action scenes were breathtaking. I've come to nothing less from Leigh Bardugo!

This is the Audio book and I can not say enough bad things about it. the Ms. Bardugo, as narrator of the story has never seen any of the TV or movies about "WONDER WOMAN". She just drags the story on and on with her mono-tone voice. this is a book females that have no life. I wish I had not bought it.