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Random House Books for Young Readers (2017), 384 pages
Description
Comic and Graphic Books. Young Adult Fiction. Young Adult Literature. HTML:AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER The award-winning DC Icons story of the world's greatest super hero: WONDER WOMAN by the # 1 New York Times bestselling author LEIGH BARDUGO. "Youâ??ll enjoy this book whether youâ??re a fan of Wonder Woman comics, the Wonder Woman movie, Leigh Bardugo, or just YA lit in general." â??Hypable She will become one of the world's greatest heroes: WONDER WOMAN. But first she is Diana, Princess of the Amazons. 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 Amazon lawâ??risking exileâ??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 Warbringerâ??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 enemiesâ??mortal and divineâ??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. "Feminism is the invisible jet powering this literary revamp of the Amazon princess." â??The New York Times Book Review "Warning: This novel about the young super hero crossing paths with a seemingly ordinaryâ??but seriously powerfulâ??girl may result in multiple fist pumps." â??Seventeen Don't miss the rest of the DC Icons series! Read them in any order you choose: â?˘ Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu â?˘ Catwoman: Soulstealer by Sarah J. Maas â?˘ Superman… (more)
Original publication date
2017-08-28
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User reviews
LibraryThing member jshillingford
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 Amazon Vine
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 Amazon - 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!
(Review based on Advanced Reader Copy)
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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 Amazon - 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!
(Review based on Advanced Reader Copy)
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LibraryThing member HeatherLINC
I quite enjoyed this version of Wonder Woman, but I did find it slow at times, although there was plenty of action in other places. I really liked Diana, and I wish the book had focused solely on her rather than her having to share the limelight with the Warbringer, Alia. There was nothing wrong
I did love how the book was seeped in Greek mythology and the Amazons who lived on the island of Themyscira were are group of very tough ladies. My biggest regret was that I didn't spend more time with them. I think the story would have been better had it stayed in this world.
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with Alia, it was just that Diana was far more interesting as she tried to save both the mortal and immortal world. I also appreciated how highly she valued family, friendship and duty.I did love how the book was seeped in Greek mythology and the Amazons who lived on the island of Themyscira were are group of very tough ladies. My biggest regret was that I didn't spend more time with them. I think the story would have been better had it stayed in this world.
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LibraryThing member sedelia
I can't even begin to describe how amazing I think this book is. It's the perfect Wonder Woman origin story, and Leigh Bardugo was the perfect author to write it. I was a little wary going in, because everyone was talking about how great it was going to be and I was afraid of being disappointed,
It starts off with Diana trying to prove herself on the island; she's tired of getting picked on and teased for who her mother is and how she was born. However, when she sees a boat explode in the distance, she is pulled to see if she can save anyone from the wreckage and ends up meeting Alia, a girl people are trying to kill, because she is a warbringer, something she inherited from her long-ago ancestor, Helen of Troy. With her alive in the world, war and bloodshed will ensue.
My favorite part of this book is how perfectly mythology is woven together with a typical YA book. Diana and Alia are just trying to find their place in the world and grow into the people they think they want to be. They're both stuck in a situation neither of them is prepared for (although, how prepared can you really be to fight off assassins and end a thousand-year-old family curse?), and have to learn how to work together and make hard decisions to get through it. At the same time, we get stuff about ancient Greece and Sparta, mythological gods, etc. I love how Bardugo makes it all come to life.
Another thing I like is how the relationships develop between Diana, Alia, and Alia's friends. They come from vastly different worlds, and yet are able to come together to support each other and form friendships with each other. There's a touch of "do they like each other" with various characters or "are they going to kiss?!" that added some nice levity and romantic touches without being over the top, which is great. I HATE it when books have characters focus on romance stuff when they should be worried about the assassins following them. Bardugo plays this perfectly and it's mostly just in the background in between running from assassins.
Some of the twists I thought were a little too coincidental, but overall, it all worked out and I enjoyed it a lot.
Definitely read this if you're a Wonder Woman fan, but I think any fans of YA and fantasy/mythology will greatly enjoy this book. There's so much to love about it!
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but it truly is a spectacular book.It starts off with Diana trying to prove herself on the island; she's tired of getting picked on and teased for who her mother is and how she was born. However, when she sees a boat explode in the distance, she is pulled to see if she can save anyone from the wreckage and ends up meeting Alia, a girl people are trying to kill, because she is a warbringer, something she inherited from her long-ago ancestor, Helen of Troy. With her alive in the world, war and bloodshed will ensue.
My favorite part of this book is how perfectly mythology is woven together with a typical YA book. Diana and Alia are just trying to find their place in the world and grow into the people they think they want to be. They're both stuck in a situation neither of them is prepared for (although, how prepared can you really be to fight off assassins and end a thousand-year-old family curse?), and have to learn how to work together and make hard decisions to get through it. At the same time, we get stuff about ancient Greece and Sparta, mythological gods, etc. I love how Bardugo makes it all come to life.
Another thing I like is how the relationships develop between Diana, Alia, and Alia's friends. They come from vastly different worlds, and yet are able to come together to support each other and form friendships with each other. There's a touch of "do they like each other" with various characters or "are they going to kiss?!" that added some nice levity and romantic touches without being over the top, which is great. I HATE it when books have characters focus on romance stuff when they should be worried about the assassins following them. Bardugo plays this perfectly and it's mostly just in the background in between running from assassins.
Some of the twists I thought were a little too coincidental, but overall, it all worked out and I enjoyed it a lot.
Definitely read this if you're a Wonder Woman fan, but I think any fans of YA and fantasy/mythology will greatly enjoy this book. There's so much to love about it!
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LibraryThing member norabelle414
Teenage Diana, daughter of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons, rescues a mortal girl from a shipwreck off the coast of Themyscira. Mortals are not allowed on the island, so Diana tells no one except the nearby Oracle. The Oracle tells Diana that the girl, Alia Keralis, is a Warbringer - female
An enjoyable read, but with all the imperfections of many similar YA books. Alia and her friends are really great characters, who felt real and I enjoyed spending time with them. However, they made really dumb decisions simply to make exciting things happen in the plot - like halting their trip to Greece to go to a black-tie gala likely attended by the people trying to kill Alia, who think she is dead. Yes, it's exciting to read about bad guys with grenade launchers destroying the Met, but it makes no sense that the group would go to the party and if they hadn't they likely would have made it to Greece unscathed.
But other than that I really liked it. Diana's motivations for doing something she did not really need to do were understandable. I enjoyed the incorporation of various gods, and the feminist view of Helen's story. Bardugo does a good job of incorporating non-white and non-straight characters where other Wonder Woman media has not. It is worth noting that this book absolutely does not fit into the chronology of last year's Wonder Woman movie, so don't expect anything here to end up in the DCCU (or vice versa).
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descendants of Helen of Troy who are born every few generations and throw the world into violent disarray. All of the outside world will be looking for Alia - half of them to keep her alive so they can take advantage of her chaos, the other half to kill her and ensure a few years' peace. All Diana has to do is nothing - Alia will die on Themyscira and the world will go back to normal. But Diana longs to prove herself the way all of her Amazon sisters have, and what better way than to take Alia to mainland Greece and end the Warbringer curse forever?An enjoyable read, but with all the imperfections of many similar YA books. Alia and her friends are really great characters, who felt real and I enjoyed spending time with them. However, they made really dumb decisions simply to make exciting things happen in the plot - like halting their trip to Greece to go to a black-tie gala likely attended by the people trying to kill Alia, who think she is dead. Yes, it's exciting to read about bad guys with grenade launchers destroying the Met, but it makes no sense that the group would go to the party and if they hadn't they likely would have made it to Greece unscathed.
But other than that I really liked it. Diana's motivations for doing something she did not really need to do were understandable. I enjoyed the incorporation of various gods, and the feminist view of Helen's story. Bardugo does a good job of incorporating non-white and non-straight characters where other Wonder Woman media has not. It is worth noting that this book absolutely does not fit into the chronology of last year's Wonder Woman movie, so don't expect anything here to end up in the DCCU (or vice versa).
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LibraryThing member jmoncton
This is the first of the DC Icons, a series of books about superheroes during their teenage years. The series is covering Wonder Woman, Batman, Cat Woman, and Superman.
This was amazing! Forget about the other superheroes, I want more stories about Wonder Woman! This is a Wonder Woman origin story
This was amazing! Forget about the other superheroes, I want more stories about Wonder Woman! This is a Wonder Woman origin story
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that is one of a kind. Filled with mythology and kick ass heroines, I LOVED this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member mamzel
Diana is drawn from the world of the Amazons to the human world when a boat explodes in sight of their island. She ventures outside of the sheltered and secluded world to rescue a young woman from the wreckage. Alia Keralis turns out to be more than just some girl. She is a Warbringer and as long
I enjoyed the references to mythological and historical figures and the different aspect this story brings to them. The action was exciting even with the villain's compulsory need to explain his motive and his plans to the tiniest detail.
The character of Diana brings a modern powerful woman to the page and I hope she will inspire girls to tap into their inner Amazon.
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as she lives there will be war. However, she can be purified in a certain stream and prevent war from breaking out. Of course, there are those who believe war is necessary and will try to stop them.I enjoyed the references to mythological and historical figures and the different aspect this story brings to them. The action was exciting even with the villain's compulsory need to explain his motive and his plans to the tiniest detail.
The character of Diana brings a modern powerful woman to the page and I hope she will inspire girls to tap into their inner Amazon.
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LibraryThing member Birdo82
It's more of a Bardugo YA book than a Wonder Woman book, but the discarding of Diana's comic book traditions and continuity, bolstered by genuinely exciting action sequences, makes this a rare fresh take, leading the DC Icons line with a strong start.
LibraryThing member rivkat
Not movieverse. This Diana has never left Themyscira, until (in our time) she rescues a young girl who turns out to be a Warbringer, destined to throw the world into full-scale war. She can be killed—or, maybe, she can be cured, if Diana is strong enough. There are charming and talented
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sidekicks, as well as a handsome older brother who Diana meets cute, which is to say she knocks him down. It’s fun. Show Less
LibraryThing member wrightja2000
I am not a super hero or comic book fan but I really liked the story, at least at the beginning. Wonder Woman's innocence and strength are fun to see in her interactions in the city. The violence and swearing picked up as the story progressed (of which I am not a fan), and the plot twist at the end
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with the bad guy woke me from my suspension of disbelief, but I did like how it ended. Show Less
LibraryThing member ShellyPYA
She will become one of the world's greatest heroes: WONDER WOMAN. But first she is Diana, Princess of the Amazons. 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
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breaks Amazon 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. Show Less
LibraryThing member acargile
DC Comics come to YA fiction.
Diana’s desire to win and show her skill and worthiness is pushed aside when she hears a girl. The race has begun; Diana isn’t supposed to run, as she is the Queen’s daughter. She’s determined to make a good showing, but something is wrong. She’s been raised
Survival means leaving. The island begins to crumble, the Amazon become sick. Only Diana knows what is wrong. She visits the Oracle and determines she must save everyone--the Amazons and Alia. She learns that Alia is the Warbringer. The Warbringer is a descendent of Helen of Troy. She brings death to the world. If Alia lives, where she goes, “there will be strife. With each breath, she draws us closer to Armageddon” (42). If Diana can get the Warbringer to Therapne on the first day of Hekatombaion, she may be able to save everyone. Diana leaves with Alia with the hopes of saving everyone.
Alia is from a wealthy family, but her parents are dead and her brother, Jason, is over-protective. She also has a best friend, Nim. When Diana explains the legend to her, Alia only believes her a little bit. There are always people arguing and fighting around her, so maybe it’s true. She does like that Diana is strong and is more than capable of protecting her. They leave the island, embarking on a fast-paced adventure to literally save the world.
I like Diana’s character; she’s always trying to do the right things--to use her strength for good and not for power or force. I found her character totally in line with the Wonder Woman movie. In this novel, however, Diana is an older teenager. I thought the reader (I listened to the book) did a tremendous job. If you like comic books and movies, this is a must read!
Diana’s desire to win and show her skill and worthiness is pushed aside when she hears a girl. The race has begun; Diana isn’t supposed to run, as she is the Queen’s daughter. She’s determined to make a good showing, but something is wrong. She’s been raised
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to protect their home at all costs, but she cannot let someone drown. Diana rescues the girl, determined to not tell. She’ll take her back out when she sees a ship. She comes in last in the race after getting Alia settled in a cave. She may be hidden from the Amazons, but the island knows she is there. Survival means leaving. The island begins to crumble, the Amazon become sick. Only Diana knows what is wrong. She visits the Oracle and determines she must save everyone--the Amazons and Alia. She learns that Alia is the Warbringer. The Warbringer is a descendent of Helen of Troy. She brings death to the world. If Alia lives, where she goes, “there will be strife. With each breath, she draws us closer to Armageddon” (42). If Diana can get the Warbringer to Therapne on the first day of Hekatombaion, she may be able to save everyone. Diana leaves with Alia with the hopes of saving everyone.
Alia is from a wealthy family, but her parents are dead and her brother, Jason, is over-protective. She also has a best friend, Nim. When Diana explains the legend to her, Alia only believes her a little bit. There are always people arguing and fighting around her, so maybe it’s true. She does like that Diana is strong and is more than capable of protecting her. They leave the island, embarking on a fast-paced adventure to literally save the world.
I like Diana’s character; she’s always trying to do the right things--to use her strength for good and not for power or force. I found her character totally in line with the Wonder Woman movie. In this novel, however, Diana is an older teenager. I thought the reader (I listened to the book) did a tremendous job. If you like comic books and movies, this is a must read!
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LibraryThing member amandacb
The cover of this book is gorgeous--the story less so, which is a shame since Leigh Bardugo is one of my favorite young adult authors. I felt the story was too contrived (I also felt the same way about the movie). There were also a lot of different characters and I had trouble keeping up with them.
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Anyway, it's a hard pass for me on re-reading this. Show Less
LibraryThing member regularguy5mb
I'll be honest, it took me a while to get into this one, but only because I wasn't clear what continuity the DC Icons stories were using. Once that was clear, though, I was fully invested.
This was such a great story! We meet Diana at the age of 17, still growing, still her mother's child and living
The fate of the world is in the balance, and Diana has to protect the life of a young girl who unknowingly controls that fate.
This was such a great story! We meet Diana at the age of 17, still growing, still her mother's child and living
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in the Queen's shadow. She's looking for a chance to finally prove herself, and her chance comes... from outside.The fate of the world is in the balance, and Diana has to protect the life of a young girl who unknowingly controls that fate.
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LibraryThing member wagner.sarah35
This is very much a Wonder Woman story, even if the tale doesn't exactly match up with the story of the recent movie or the comics. I enjoyed the novel, which features a young Diana who rescues a teenage girl whose ship sinks just off the shore of the Amazon's secret island. Unfortunately, Diana
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has saved A Warbringer, a powerful descent of Helen of Troy whose existence is doomed to bring humanity into conflict. Of course, Diana must stop the outbreak of war and so she and the Warbringer Alia embark on journey that takes them from the Amazon's island to New York City to Greece with an eclectic group of companions to find a way to save the world from war. Show Less
LibraryThing member CarolynDenman
I really enjoyed this! Once again, Leigh has created characters that are interesting, believable, and way too easy to get attached to. She's drawn on some glorious mythology and the action scenes were practically colour-in-able. So classic comic book. And that ending, woah...
LibraryThing member BillieBook
I liked the parts on Themiscyra. Should have found a way for Diana to prove herself while not leaving the island.
LibraryThing member BingeReader87
This book was about Diana, Amazonian Princess (aka Wonder Woman) and her world being threatened by a Warbringer, someone who has a hidden ability to cause chaos and conflict where she should go. Unknowingly saving this person from certain death, Diana risks her life on the island she calls home to
This book was pretty cool to read. I was skeptical at first and not sure I would enjoy it, but I really loved it. It had everything you would love about reading the Wonder Woman comic books as well as the stuff you enjoy about reading YA novels. It was amazing and I can't wait to read more of the DC Icons series.
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eradicate the power within her new friend, Alia and earning her rightful place among her sisters.This book was pretty cool to read. I was skeptical at first and not sure I would enjoy it, but I really loved it. It had everything you would love about reading the Wonder Woman comic books as well as the stuff you enjoy about reading YA novels. It was amazing and I can't wait to read more of the DC Icons series.
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LibraryThing member tatere
I really enjoyed this. A fun and thoughtful look at Diana and her first interactions with crazy humans.
LibraryThing member nicolewbrown
Diana was made from the clay of the ground by Hippolyta on the island of Themyscira--the island of the Amazons. Her mother is the queen of the Amazons which makes things tougher on her in that she must work harder to be the best. Tek, her mother's top general, and best friend, is always picking on
Diana is in the lead and is guaranteed to win when she notices a crashed ship right at the boundary of the island's existence. She sees a woman floating in the water alive and knows she can save her. But it is forbidden to interfere in the affairs of man in this way and it is definitely forbidden to bring someone to the island. But Diana does it anyway and hides her in one of the caves along the beach telling her she will be back with help soon since Diana needed to be at the race's ceremony and the banquet afterward.
Soon, though, Diana's friend Maeve becomes the first to become sick and then the island begins to quake. Diana's mother is going to see the Oracle but Diana gets there first. She knows the reason for the all the trouble is the girl but she wants to save her. She has three questions to ask the Oracle and she asks her how to save Themyscira and the answer is to do nothing. The girl is sick too and will die and once she dies the island will be fine again. Her second question is how to save the girl, Alia's life. This is when she finds out that Alia is a Warbringer, a haptandra, or hand of war. She is a descendant of Helen of Troy who was the cause of the Trojan War. But Helen's descendants have caused many wars and much destruction over the years. Diana's third question is how does she save everybody and Oracle tells her that there is a river where Helen's is buried that the Warbringer can be bathed in and it will cleanse the girl stopping the war from coming.
Diana gets Alia onto a boat and uses her heartstone and tells her to think of the spring. Alia doesn't really believe in this spring and that isn't really where she wants to go and the heartstone works by taking the user with the most powerful desire to that destination. So they end up in New York City, Alia's home. Alia picks up one of her brother Jason's emergency packs from a car parked in a lot. Inside is cash, flashlights, and a phone. The phone has a tracer on it which Alia knows and hopes that Jason will track them because Diana says that it isn't wise for them to go straight to Jason. That it is wise that people think that she is dead since the ship was blown up. When Jason shows up and tries to pick the door open, Diana throws him to the ground.
Once his ego is dealt with and he realizes that Diana is there to protect Alia, Jason, who is strict on things he feels are obligations which are everything, insists that she attends a charity fundraiser before they leave for the spring which he buys into because he knows she is a Warbringer because their parents left data behind about it and how they were going to try to cure her. Their parents were scientists who worked on many things such as vaccines and genetic work. Alia insists on having her best friend Nim there who is a fashionista who finds them all outfits to wear and sent over. Nim is funny and sarcastic and the kind of best friend we all wish we could have. Nim and Theo Santos, Michael Santos son, who was a friend of Alia's parents and a member of the board of the company, argue constantly. Theo is cute, a smartass, and good with computers but also has to deal with being a disappointment to his father. Alia has had the biggest crush on him for years.
The party is interrupted by men with guns trying to kill Alia. But Diana and Jason get them out of there and to a waiting plane heading toward Greece. They've got people out to kill Alia because keeping her alive is causing the world to go to war. Also, there are gods and goddesses who are out to keep them from getting to the spring because they live off of the chaos of war. But not everyone is being completely honest with the group. Diana has her magic lasso. Does she use it to compel the truth from someone? I loved this book. Greek mythology has long been a favorite of mine and while the author has made up a myth there are still plenty of real myths and gods and goddesses in this book to make me very happy. Besides, the myth she made up is very interesting and cool and decidedly possible. Also, Wonder Woman has long been a hero of mine and this book portrays her very well. I adored the character of Nim who just sparkled with life and wit and Theo with whom she sparred that gave as good as he got. Theo was also a sweet guy with a tender heart. Alia was a good character too. She was tough but buckled under the pressure of living as a black girl in a white world and having to be careful of what she did. That's how her mother raised her that no amount of money could change the fact that she was still black. Her father, who was Greek, never understood this. Alia was also sometimes ashamed of the science geek label she wore as it didn't get her the attention of guys. Or the one guy she was interested in. But she begins to question her thinking on these ideas. This was a fabulous book that keeps you turning the pages as fast as you can to find out what happens next. I give it my highest possible rating a five out of five stars.
Quotes
Because the whole world loves to tell us what we can’t do, that we aren’t good enough. The people in your own house should be on your side. It’s the people who never learn the word impossible who make history, because they’re the ones who keep trying.
-Leigh Bardugo (Wonder Woman: Warbringer p 168)
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her and calling her names. There's a race that Diana has entered, her first competition and she has worked with one of the other Amazons with a plan on how to win the race by mapping out a winning course.Diana is in the lead and is guaranteed to win when she notices a crashed ship right at the boundary of the island's existence. She sees a woman floating in the water alive and knows she can save her. But it is forbidden to interfere in the affairs of man in this way and it is definitely forbidden to bring someone to the island. But Diana does it anyway and hides her in one of the caves along the beach telling her she will be back with help soon since Diana needed to be at the race's ceremony and the banquet afterward.
Soon, though, Diana's friend Maeve becomes the first to become sick and then the island begins to quake. Diana's mother is going to see the Oracle but Diana gets there first. She knows the reason for the all the trouble is the girl but she wants to save her. She has three questions to ask the Oracle and she asks her how to save Themyscira and the answer is to do nothing. The girl is sick too and will die and once she dies the island will be fine again. Her second question is how to save the girl, Alia's life. This is when she finds out that Alia is a Warbringer, a haptandra, or hand of war. She is a descendant of Helen of Troy who was the cause of the Trojan War. But Helen's descendants have caused many wars and much destruction over the years. Diana's third question is how does she save everybody and Oracle tells her that there is a river where Helen's is buried that the Warbringer can be bathed in and it will cleanse the girl stopping the war from coming.
Diana gets Alia onto a boat and uses her heartstone and tells her to think of the spring. Alia doesn't really believe in this spring and that isn't really where she wants to go and the heartstone works by taking the user with the most powerful desire to that destination. So they end up in New York City, Alia's home. Alia picks up one of her brother Jason's emergency packs from a car parked in a lot. Inside is cash, flashlights, and a phone. The phone has a tracer on it which Alia knows and hopes that Jason will track them because Diana says that it isn't wise for them to go straight to Jason. That it is wise that people think that she is dead since the ship was blown up. When Jason shows up and tries to pick the door open, Diana throws him to the ground.
Once his ego is dealt with and he realizes that Diana is there to protect Alia, Jason, who is strict on things he feels are obligations which are everything, insists that she attends a charity fundraiser before they leave for the spring which he buys into because he knows she is a Warbringer because their parents left data behind about it and how they were going to try to cure her. Their parents were scientists who worked on many things such as vaccines and genetic work. Alia insists on having her best friend Nim there who is a fashionista who finds them all outfits to wear and sent over. Nim is funny and sarcastic and the kind of best friend we all wish we could have. Nim and Theo Santos, Michael Santos son, who was a friend of Alia's parents and a member of the board of the company, argue constantly. Theo is cute, a smartass, and good with computers but also has to deal with being a disappointment to his father. Alia has had the biggest crush on him for years.
The party is interrupted by men with guns trying to kill Alia. But Diana and Jason get them out of there and to a waiting plane heading toward Greece. They've got people out to kill Alia because keeping her alive is causing the world to go to war. Also, there are gods and goddesses who are out to keep them from getting to the spring because they live off of the chaos of war. But not everyone is being completely honest with the group. Diana has her magic lasso. Does she use it to compel the truth from someone? I loved this book. Greek mythology has long been a favorite of mine and while the author has made up a myth there are still plenty of real myths and gods and goddesses in this book to make me very happy. Besides, the myth she made up is very interesting and cool and decidedly possible. Also, Wonder Woman has long been a hero of mine and this book portrays her very well. I adored the character of Nim who just sparkled with life and wit and Theo with whom she sparred that gave as good as he got. Theo was also a sweet guy with a tender heart. Alia was a good character too. She was tough but buckled under the pressure of living as a black girl in a white world and having to be careful of what she did. That's how her mother raised her that no amount of money could change the fact that she was still black. Her father, who was Greek, never understood this. Alia was also sometimes ashamed of the science geek label she wore as it didn't get her the attention of guys. Or the one guy she was interested in. But she begins to question her thinking on these ideas. This was a fabulous book that keeps you turning the pages as fast as you can to find out what happens next. I give it my highest possible rating a five out of five stars.
Quotes
Because the whole world loves to tell us what we can’t do, that we aren’t good enough. The people in your own house should be on your side. It’s the people who never learn the word impossible who make history, because they’re the ones who keep trying.
-Leigh Bardugo (Wonder Woman: Warbringer p 168)
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LibraryThing member smorton11
I love Leigh Bardugo’s books and I love Wonder Woman. So this should have been the perfect combination of the two, right? Well, mostly right. Wonder Woman: Warbringer is the first of four books in the new DC: Icons series, and also the first book Leigh Bardugo has written that has not been
Comic book stories and superhero adaptations are infamous for having multiple timelines – i.e. Wonder Woman is originally set during WWII, the movie is set during WWI, and in Warbringer, Diana doesn’t leave her home, Themyscira, for the outside world until the 21st century. While many comic book and superhero fans accept multiple timelines, it does get confusing and a little frustrating to accept time and time again. I’m a fan of continuity and linear time lines, it can be difficult to accept three different timelines for the start of Diana’s story.
However, from the start of the publicity push for Warbringer, it has been made clear that this is a different, stand alone book that can be read both by existing and new Wonder Woman fans and I fully support that approach to promoting the book – it is absolutely true – if you know nothing about Wonder Woman, you will love it, and if you already love Wonder Woman, you will at least mostly enjoy it like myself.
The characters are textbook Leigh Bardugo – funny, beautifully diverse, and thick and well-rounded with details and unique qualities. Alia’s friends Theo and Nim are great supporting characters, her brother Jason has his own unique destiny to fulfill and Diana, well, she is a fully realized Wonder Woman. Despite the sense of feeling like we are going back to the beginning, there is nothing lacking in Diana’s character development. Her confidence and charisma are evident, as is her desire to protect human life, despite risks to her own self. The plot is fun and well paced, I flew through Warbringer in 2 days, it definitely kept my attention, despite my occasional frustration.
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published by the same publisher who did her last 5 books, all set her self-created Grisha-verse. These two facts lead me to wonder, is Wonder Woman: Warbringer truly all Leigh? Anytime one is adapting an already existing character and world, it never feels truly like it is fully the author’s own creation and having read all of Leigh’s previous books, Warbringer left me disappointed.Comic book stories and superhero adaptations are infamous for having multiple timelines – i.e. Wonder Woman is originally set during WWII, the movie is set during WWI, and in Warbringer, Diana doesn’t leave her home, Themyscira, for the outside world until the 21st century. While many comic book and superhero fans accept multiple timelines, it does get confusing and a little frustrating to accept time and time again. I’m a fan of continuity and linear time lines, it can be difficult to accept three different timelines for the start of Diana’s story.
However, from the start of the publicity push for Warbringer, it has been made clear that this is a different, stand alone book that can be read both by existing and new Wonder Woman fans and I fully support that approach to promoting the book – it is absolutely true – if you know nothing about Wonder Woman, you will love it, and if you already love Wonder Woman, you will at least mostly enjoy it like myself.
The characters are textbook Leigh Bardugo – funny, beautifully diverse, and thick and well-rounded with details and unique qualities. Alia’s friends Theo and Nim are great supporting characters, her brother Jason has his own unique destiny to fulfill and Diana, well, she is a fully realized Wonder Woman. Despite the sense of feeling like we are going back to the beginning, there is nothing lacking in Diana’s character development. Her confidence and charisma are evident, as is her desire to protect human life, despite risks to her own self. The plot is fun and well paced, I flew through Warbringer in 2 days, it definitely kept my attention, despite my occasional frustration.
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LibraryThing member David_Brown
This is the first of a new series by DC Comics called Icons. I became interested when I saw the advertisement inside of a comic book, and decided to give the first book a try. I'm truly sorry that I did.
I'm working hard to move past the fact that I wasn't expecting a YA novel, and YA really just
I managed to finish this through sheer determination, but I won't be reading the rest of the series, and can't recommend that anyone read this one. There are few books that I can think of with no redeeming qualities at all. This was a waste of time.
I'm working hard to move past the fact that I wasn't expecting a YA novel, and YA really just
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isn't my genre. Objectively, though, there is absolutely no substance to this novel. The narrative is filled with token characters without substance, trying really hard to take a "hero through the eyes of the rest of us" approach that ultimately becomes a lot of teen relationship angst and searches for belonging with Wonder Woman sprinkled in for effect. Worse, this a re-write of an established character's origin, doing violence to the original backstory and, by extension, the character. I'm not sure who the Diana in this novel is, but it isn't Wonder Woman.I managed to finish this through sheer determination, but I won't be reading the rest of the series, and can't recommend that anyone read this one. There are few books that I can think of with no redeeming qualities at all. This was a waste of time.
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LibraryThing member Familiar_Diversions
Princess Diana is keenly aware that, unlike the other Amazons on the island of Themyscira, she was born an Amazon and has never really had to prove herself. She's so desperate to show that she's worthy that she joins a race even her own mother doesn't think she can win. But she has trained in
Unfortunately, the girl, Alia Keralis, turns out to be a Warbringer, a descendant of Helen of Troy. She's unknowingly a catalyst for conflict, and her power has only gotten stronger as she's gotten older. Unless she's killed, she's doomed to plunge the world into war by her very existence. However, there's another solution: the Warbringer can be purified and her curse kept from being passed on if she makes it to a spring at Therapne before the sun sets on the first day of Hekatombaion, which is happening in about a week.
I'm guessing I bought this not long after seeing the 2017 Wonder Woman movie, which I really enjoyed. I thought it might be a related sidestory or possibly some kind of prequel, but instead it had zero relation to the movie. I'm not sure if its events tie in to the comics in any way, but it read like it was its own thing. I mean that in the best possible way - unlike some tie-ins, which struggle against the confines of the movie/series/etc. that they're based on, this didn't come across as stiff or flat. It felt like Bardugo had room to play around and make the world and characters more her own.
The way Bardugo incorporated Helen of Troy and other aspects of Greek mythology was interesting, although I'm not sure all the details held together in the end. I also generally really liked the characters. Bardugo's Diana was just as awesome and capable as you'd expect from an Amazon, but she also had an edge of vulnerability and uncertainty that reminded you she was technically still a teen.
I was prepared for Alia to be annoying and useless by comparison, but I ended up liking her and appreciating her POV sections quite a bit, even if her crush on Theo made me wince and had me instantly wondering if we were going to be entering "surprise" betrayal territory. It was fun seeing the disconnect between Diana's perception of herself (desperately wanting to measure up to older and more experienced Amazons) and Alia's perception of her (an awesome cross between a supermodel and an action hero). I was glad, though, that this didn't devolve into Alia negatively comparing herself to Diana - Alia and her friend Nim could appreciate Diana without it dragging down their own perceptions of themselves. It probably helped that Diana appreciated them and their strengths right back.
After a while, I got a bit impatient with the book's pacing - it was a good thing the characters generally appealed to me, because the story itself was pretty simple, just "journey to the spring and deal with occasional obstacles in the way." About a third of the book was devoted to the characters either flying or driving to their destination as they were occasionally interrupted by either enemies trying to kill Alia or gods and goddesses causing trouble with Alia's friends.
The last 60 or so pages didn't really work for me for various reasons. The one big revelation didn't exactly come out of nowhere but still didn't seem to fit (only one person ever noticed anything was off?). Also, Bardugo resorted to something that, while technically not a violation of this world's rules, still kind of felt like cheating.
Still, this was overall a good reading experience, and it definitely made me want to try Bardugo's other books.
Extras:
A short author's note in which Bardugo lays out some of the areas where she took artistic liberties. Also, a folded poster that can be torn out (perforated edge), featuring Wonder Woman art by Afua Richardson.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
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secret and knows she'll manage it...until she spots a shipwreck and sees a human girl drowning. Although it'll cost her the race and there are strict rules against bringing mortals to Themyscira, Diana can't bring herself to just let the girl die.Unfortunately, the girl, Alia Keralis, turns out to be a Warbringer, a descendant of Helen of Troy. She's unknowingly a catalyst for conflict, and her power has only gotten stronger as she's gotten older. Unless she's killed, she's doomed to plunge the world into war by her very existence. However, there's another solution: the Warbringer can be purified and her curse kept from being passed on if she makes it to a spring at Therapne before the sun sets on the first day of Hekatombaion, which is happening in about a week.
I'm guessing I bought this not long after seeing the 2017 Wonder Woman movie, which I really enjoyed. I thought it might be a related sidestory or possibly some kind of prequel, but instead it had zero relation to the movie. I'm not sure if its events tie in to the comics in any way, but it read like it was its own thing. I mean that in the best possible way - unlike some tie-ins, which struggle against the confines of the movie/series/etc. that they're based on, this didn't come across as stiff or flat. It felt like Bardugo had room to play around and make the world and characters more her own.
The way Bardugo incorporated Helen of Troy and other aspects of Greek mythology was interesting, although I'm not sure all the details held together in the end. I also generally really liked the characters. Bardugo's Diana was just as awesome and capable as you'd expect from an Amazon, but she also had an edge of vulnerability and uncertainty that reminded you she was technically still a teen.
I was prepared for Alia to be annoying and useless by comparison, but I ended up liking her and appreciating her POV sections quite a bit, even if her crush on Theo made me wince and had me instantly wondering if we were going to be entering "surprise" betrayal territory. It was fun seeing the disconnect between Diana's perception of herself (desperately wanting to measure up to older and more experienced Amazons) and Alia's perception of her (an awesome cross between a supermodel and an action hero). I was glad, though, that this didn't devolve into Alia negatively comparing herself to Diana - Alia and her friend Nim could appreciate Diana without it dragging down their own perceptions of themselves. It probably helped that Diana appreciated them and their strengths right back.
After a while, I got a bit impatient with the book's pacing - it was a good thing the characters generally appealed to me, because the story itself was pretty simple, just "journey to the spring and deal with occasional obstacles in the way." About a third of the book was devoted to the characters either flying or driving to their destination as they were occasionally interrupted by either enemies trying to kill Alia or gods and goddesses causing trouble with Alia's friends.
The last 60 or so pages didn't really work for me for various reasons. The one big revelation didn't exactly come out of nowhere but still didn't seem to fit (only one person ever noticed anything was off?). Also, Bardugo resorted to something that, while technically not a violation of this world's rules, still kind of felt like cheating.
Still, this was overall a good reading experience, and it definitely made me want to try Bardugo's other books.
Extras:
A short author's note in which Bardugo lays out some of the areas where she took artistic liberties. Also, a folded poster that can be torn out (perforated edge), featuring Wonder Woman art by Afua Richardson.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
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LibraryThing member Sarah220
Bardugo's version of Wonder Woman works nicely with the DC movie which I love so I quite enjoyed this book. It had a bit of a slow start with Diana fretting about the burdens of being the princess and not quite an Amazon. But over all there was a fair amount of action, some nice fish out of water
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humor, and interesting diverse characters. It also had a lot of Greek Mythology woven in. Sort of a female Percy Jackson. Show Less
LibraryThing member Fence
DC Icons ; 1
Pretty much everyone is familiar with Wonder Woman, right? Diana Princess of Themyscira, amazon and superhero. Well, count me as one of those who is familiar with the name, but I know nothing really about the mythology surrounding the character. I watched, and loved, the recent film. It
And into the mix comes Alia Keralis, bringing discord and destruction with her, for Alia is a Warbringer. A descendant of Helen of Troy, and having inherited her warbringer blood, her presence is enough to cause people to bicker and fights to break out, and if Alia lives to be seventeen then she will usher in an age of warfare and horror.
But maybe Diana can help Alia prevent this from happening, although in doing so she will be breaking the laws of Themyscira, risking exile at least, and possible death.
I wasn't too sure about this book when I first started reading it. Having it set in the modern day threw me a little, maybe I was expecting it to fit in with the film timeline... Also, I'm not to sure about Diana's relationship with the other amazons, especially her mother. Part of me understands why the relationship here is a distant one, but it did feel the same as the film, and I loved the Amazon society of the film. Still, those are issues I brought to the book, not problems inherent in the story itself.
Once I got into the story though they no longer bothered me and I was able to enjoy the story of Diana finding out just what a hero she is, and whether or not she is really worthy of being called an Amazon. It is a coming of age story for her in a way, or at least, of her finding her feet.
I've never read any of Bardugo's other works, but she seems to be quite popular, and they look like the sort of book I'd be interested in reading, so maybe I'll find the time to investigate them. Warbringer is a solid read, entertaining and enjoyable, but it isn't one that'd make me want to devour all by the author. However I have read that her own books are very different, and it cannot be easy to take a character like Diana and remake her anew.
Pretty much everyone is familiar with Wonder Woman, right? Diana Princess of Themyscira, amazon and superhero. Well, count me as one of those who is familiar with the name, but I know nothing really about the mythology surrounding the character. I watched, and loved, the recent film. It
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was awesome. And I know I watched some of the old tv episodes, but that is the extent of my knowledge. But if you are in the same boat then this is the book for you. Because this is a brand new origin story for Diana. Here she is a teenager, out to prove herself as worthy of her place among her amazon sisters and mother, constantly having to face the fact that she never earned her life on Themyscira and wondering does she really deserve her life? And into the mix comes Alia Keralis, bringing discord and destruction with her, for Alia is a Warbringer. A descendant of Helen of Troy, and having inherited her warbringer blood, her presence is enough to cause people to bicker and fights to break out, and if Alia lives to be seventeen then she will usher in an age of warfare and horror.
But maybe Diana can help Alia prevent this from happening, although in doing so she will be breaking the laws of Themyscira, risking exile at least, and possible death.
I wasn't too sure about this book when I first started reading it. Having it set in the modern day threw me a little, maybe I was expecting it to fit in with the film timeline... Also, I'm not to sure about Diana's relationship with the other amazons, especially her mother. Part of me understands why the relationship here is a distant one, but it did feel the same as the film, and I loved the Amazon society of the film. Still, those are issues I brought to the book, not problems inherent in the story itself.
Once I got into the story though they no longer bothered me and I was able to enjoy the story of Diana finding out just what a hero she is, and whether or not she is really worthy of being called an Amazon. It is a coming of age story for her in a way, or at least, of her finding her feet.
I've never read any of Bardugo's other works, but she seems to be quite popular, and they look like the sort of book I'd be interested in reading, so maybe I'll find the time to investigate them. Warbringer is a solid read, entertaining and enjoyable, but it isn't one that'd make me want to devour all by the author. However I have read that her own books are very different, and it cannot be easy to take a character like Diana and remake her anew.
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LibraryThing member readingbeader
I started this book listening. I liked the reader, but had a hard time with the way she said Themyscira. To me it sounded like "the mascara," ugh! I switched to reading at the tenth chapter as much because I needed to read faster as not hear mascara anymore. :) The story was great. The friendship
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of girls is very important and treated here beautifully. As a life long Wonder Woman fan, I was thrilled with the way Ms. Bardugo handled the myth and character of Diana. Show Less
Pages
384