Wonder Woman: Warbringer by #1 New York Times bestselling author Leigh Bardugo is FINALLY HERE and it’s every bit as epic as you hoped it would be.
It’s a coming-of-age novel about Diana, Wonder Woman to us mere mortals, daughter of the Amazon queen. Her idyllic life on the secret island of Themyscira is shattered when she rescues a human girl from drowning. And that is where our obsession with this book begins.
Here’s what you need to know about Wonder Woman: Warbringer before you read it:
1. It’s an untold story.
First things first, this story is totally new. It’s not a prequel or continuation of any other story, so it gives us a whole new and never-before-seen version of Diana’s story. That’s probably enough to get you interested, but there’s more.
2. There’s a Diverse Cast of Characters
The characters come from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds and sexual orientations. Plus, each of them is unique beyond the color of their skin or who they’re attracted to. Some are funny, some are serious, and all of them are strong in their own way.
3. Themyscira is the Magical Island Home to the Amazons
The secret and magical island of Themyscira is where Diana lives with her mother, Hippolyta, and the rest of the Amazons. These women are fierce warriors who died in battle during their mortal lives. As they died, they made a final plea to the goddesses, who granted them immortality on the beautiful island of Themyscira.
Amazons are fighters. They’re supernaturally strong, and they share a tight connection to one another. If one of them gets hurt, they all feel pain. So even though there are friendships and rivalries on the island, the women are motivated to keep the peace.
4. Diana Is Not a Battle Proven Amazon
Diana never had a mortal life. She’s not battle-tested and she didn’t die. Hippolyta formed Diana from clay and begged the goddesses to give her life. Because of her unusual beginning, Diana is an oddity on the island, and she longs for a chance to prove herself equal to her Amazon sisters.
Diana never had a mortal life. She’s not battle-tested and she didn’t die. Hippolyta formed Diana from clay and begged the goddesses to give her life. Because of her unusual beginning, Diana is an oddity on the island, and she longs for a chance to prove herself equal to her Amazon sisters.
5. Alia Is Not Your Average Mortal
Alia is the catalyst for Diana’s choice to leave the island and save the world. Alia is a Warbringer. She from a long line of teenage girls descended from Helen of Troy with destruction in their blood. She is destined to drive people to conflict and war and the world to Armageddon. While her brother, Jason, seems immune to her power, her best friend, Nim, and her crush, Theo, are constantly at each other’s throats, sometimes causing explosive arguments.
6. They Go to Some Pretty Rad Places
The book starts on the beautiful island of Themyscira, but it doesn’t take long before Diana and Alia are traipsing around the world.
Though their quest will lead them to Greece—land of the ancient gods, they have a few unexpected stops to make along the way.
7. Ancient Greek Lore Takes a Front Seat
Diana’s character is intricately tied to Greek lore, so it’s no surprise that this book is full of legends and ancient deities. The characters run into several Greek gods throughout the story—and not all of them are friendly. Let’s just say it all gets pretty legend…ary.
