The Rage of the Woodlands

by B.B. Aspen

Furious. Livid. Irate. None of those sentiments were strong enough. Everything was taken from Wisteria. Her Woodlands. Her family. Her lover. Anna. Sure, she was proficient in the healing craft and lethal with a blade, but neither meant much now that the hordes of wraiths claimed the salvageable lands and nearly all human lives. What did matter was Wisteria's relentless rage. It was both pathetic and productive for nothing could stop her from demanding answers and avenging Anna by bringing death to the duke who murdered her. Nothing except the Weaver of Fates. Two threads of fate bound Wisteria to immortal, magical males from other realms, with wars and agendas of their own. With them in it, her world got bigger. The problem is, Kinlyra may not be a world worth saving.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance

596 pages, Paperback

Published July 7, 2023

About the author

Having been immersed in fantasy realms since she was a child, B.B Aspen is a perpetual dreamer. She is a full time ER nurse, mother of three wildlings and Indie Author whose first published series is The Realm Weaver Trilogy, a why-choose fantasy romance series that is full of fate, magic and feminine rage.
When she is not writing her own fictional worlds she is exploring and traveling across ours. She is a proud globetrotter who collects lore, inspiration and passports stamps while she dreams of realms. She would love to retire in the woods, living under the moon with a garden and a village of unapologetic women raising dragons.
She is absolutely thrilled to share her epic fantasy stories of romance, rebellious women and defying fate with those of kindred spirits.
Stay Wild. Rage On.

Reviews

[Cathy Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book would highly recommend others to read this.

[Erin - TheQuantumBookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

This high fantasy romance had epic world building and lots of feminine rage!🗡️ I did find the verbiage a bit complex and not the easiest to follow. That being said it is a high fantasy world so that is understandable.

“You'd do well to remember that one person, deemed however small, can change the course of many”

[Bri · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

This book was a bit difficult to initially get into due to the world building. I think this series has a lot of potential and I genuinely enjoyed the FMC. There were some concepts that felt a little difficult to follow and I’m not sure if it wasn’t explained thoroughly or just because there were a lot of different things being explained at once in this world. I’m interested in seeing how this will continue as I feel quite invested and hope that the series will only continue to get better

[Alexis Nurkala-Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read a LOT of romantasy novels and I cannot put this one down! The attention to detail that B.B. Aspen put into every little thing - down to the map - completely had me hooked. I’ve taken notes on the characters, and can truly say that each is so different and truly captivating. Whether you’re more fond of Wisteria, Zander or even Gimly, you will grow to love each of them. The build up to the spicy scenes were just as enticing as the 🌶️ spicy scenes🥵 themselves. B.B Aspen has excellently executed a “slow burn” romance that has made me blush on more than one occasion.

As B.B. Aspen has dedicated this novel to women that the world calls “too wild, too headstrong and too much”, I have never felt so heard in my life! Nothing is more comforting than being able to see yourself in the characters you are reading about and the world around them. I used to think that Hogwarts would have been the world I wanted to live in, now I know I belong in The Woodlands.

B.B. Aspen has created a romantasy category of its own that hits a whole new realm of what a romantasy novel can be. I highly recommend picking up this novel before the second edition comes out. You’re gonna want to get caught up… there’s a whole world waiting for you. I’ll see you in the realms of Kinlyra 😉

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was gifted this book by its dedicated and talented author for an honest review.
This was an incredibly unique story of weaving human connection through a tale of well-earned rage.
Read the synopsis- I won’t write about the content here. What I will say is that there is an underlying theme of feminine irate ire because of loss and suffering, watching loved ones be murdered and a race of humans be picked off and threatened.
But there’s also a theme of healing which is quiet and softly woven throughout the story.
I think women can easily connect with Wisteria on a certain level of feminine rage and the power that comes with it.

[Tabytha Boozenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rated 3.5 started only because the chapters are so long and it took me a very long time to get into this book. There were parts that I would read and feel like, okay it's about to get good, and then it would slow down again. Once it really sucked my in though it was great.

At first I didn't really understand the dynamic between the MCs Ivy(Wisteria), Drift(Zander), and Fennick(Nick, Nikki, Fen, Nichole). As to book progressed it started making a little more sense, but I'm hoping the next book gives more details about their connection and what if means.

Overall once you make it through the world building, this is a good read. Long but good.

[Heather C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the slow burn and the characters and their relationships. Somethings fell a bit short for me. And the end felt a bit forced. I don't want to say spoilers but the ending with injuries present seems a bit rushed.

[Josie (thebookgoblin13) · Rating 5 out of 5]

To start out with I already knew I was going to love this series but you can tell the amount of thought went into this complex world. One thing I want to mention is if you've read fantasy and high fantasy there is a difference. This is labeled fantasy but feels far more high fantasy. I don't know if that makes sense but it does in my brain. Most fantasy even though I love it is a quick read and doesn't take a lot of thought to understand the world and magic systems. This was so much more than that. It was beautiful and made me so engulfed into this world. You have so many characters interweaved together to make this land feel so vast.

The characters are all wonderful. You have ivy who is not fragile as a flower but as a bomb (she describes herself in the book) that's so accurate. Not only is she a small badass of a woman but her mind is just as amazing. She's witty and dangerous. She cares for her people and deserves so many hugs. Zander who is such a large and loud presence but also soft and thoughtful to everyone's needs. Fennick is just the best fox boy. You don't get a lot fom him the first half of the book but when you do he is such a considerate and wonderful spirit. All the side characters had me falling in love with them and my favorite is the bestie Brock. I knew the minute I met him if anything happened to him I would riot.

My complaints and they really aren't bad because it's sheer genius and perfect but how dare you make a Gimly a piece of poop.

[Romantasy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The banter between this strong, wickedly smart female and the flirty, obnoxious horselord made for an engaging intro to Kinlyra. (Trying not to give spoilers away here!) Of course the murders, the wraiths, the mystery of the Woodlands and the history of the Eternal was riveting too!
As their dynamic shifts and their connection strengthen I fell in love with them both. Add that wild, tender, shadow of a foxy elemental Fennick into this already burning dynamic.... I swear my world exploded when Wisteria (and I) started to put the pieces together. And the puzzle isn't near complete yet!
I am ready to get my hands on book two to find out what this Weaver is up to as well as the Last God and Goddess!

Tropes: LGBTQ rep., Feminine Rage, Slowburn & Spice, 'Enemies' to <3, Fated Mates (Please be a Why-Choose!), Mixed Races, Cliffhanger, Tension and forbidden relations, Magic!, Possessive Immortal Males, Strong Relatable FMC, Mystery and amazing plot, Epic Worldbuilding, Healing, Adventure

TW: Miscarriage of side-character, Plenty of un-aliving (in detail: the author is a nurse!), Torture, Flogging, Prisons, battle scenes, mentions of SA and child abuse, bodily experimentation.

[Carriebooksandart · Rating 5 out of 5]

She had the talent to heal, better than those before her, but she couldn’t save the one she loved. Anna. Murdered by the duke, Anna was Wisteria’s world. Her breath, her soul. The duke will die by her hands, this is now her path… but is it? Perhaps the Weaver of Fates has woven a different path for Wisteria. There are two threads of fate bound to Wisteria. She is bound and determined to ignore the voice in her head… the voice of Drift… a giant of a man that is definitely full of himself, but has vowed to keep her safe. With Drift, and other close friends, Wisteria is on her vengeful streak. She will help those in need. Heal those that have been hurt, but will she allow others to heal her? Can she realize that Anna perhaps is not the only love of her life. Can she make it to the duke, or will the Wraiths consume her and her comrades? This is book one of The Realm Weaver Trilogy. I already have book two added to my TBR list, The Lies of the Eternals. If you like reads that have passion, revenge, plotted fates, world building, magic, and banter definitely add this book to your list.

[RH BookDragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, these characters, this fantasy world - IS EVERYTHING! I cannot wait to see how their threads manifest in book two and for their epic reunion in THE DREAMER REALM with Zander's incubus brothers and Nikki's elemental family!
Also, who is this Faceless Prince? What are these wraiths? And why did our Keenan punch our Nikki?
I love the slow burn, banter and the closet scene--> I am officially rooting for this Why-Choose romance to happen between these three!
The Worldbuilding: Perfection.
Possessive vibes, LGBTQ rep, Trauma Healing, Strong FMC, Two Immortal Males, Feminine Rage, Open door Spice, Fangs/Wings/Horns! and a whole pantheon of Gods and Goddesses (The Eleven Eternals!) Mystery! War! Romance! Relatable Characters! That cliffhanger... This is a must read for any and every romantasy lover! If you love Broadbent, Maas, and Armentrout -->B.B. Aspen is your new favorite author! And she is indie!

[Jennifer McAdams Gercak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved B.B. Aspen’s first novel. She built a very immersive world that pulled you in and never let go! I tend to do audio books, just simply due to busy life and long commute for work, but I was up all night finishing this book! I couldn’t put it down. Ready to dive into the next chapter (book 2 - The Lies of the Eternals) next!

[Christi Zapora · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me a little longer to read than normal which is typical of a good fantasy story! The last 100 pages had me gasping and cheering and yelling WHAT over and over. I am really excited to get to book 2!

“However, it was a bad idea on the Weaver’s part to link two immortals to a mortal who values revenge more than her own life.”

“The Weaver doesn’t make mistakes.”
😱😍can’t wait to see where this goes

[Dee | shhh.thisisalibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come

[Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually loved this book. The first half of the book is a slow burn❤️‍🔥 and the second half fucking amazing. The banter between the characters is so funny. It actually had me laughing out loud. I also really enjoyed the stubborn headedness of our FMC. One of things I loved the most was that none of the main objectives were left unthought of. There were reasons for everything. One thing that I think would've helped was maybe a little break down of the words spoken in other world language. Another thing I really enjoyed was that creeps got what they deserved. I had the biggest smile reading it. Made me giggle. My only bad note on this book was that it was a little hard to distinguish the time frame. I actually can't wait to get into book 2 and see where the journey is gonna take us.

-Side note Nikki will forever be my favorite. I don't care what anyone says. Chefs kiss 💋

[Allison Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this story! It’s unique and engaging and intellectually thought out! The characters are witty and complex, which I crave in my stories. The world building is insanely detailed and creative. Already started book 2! Can’t wait to see what happens next ❤️

[Lacee Kietzke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woooooo there is a LOT of plot and world building.
I definitely felt a lot of different emotions reading this.
It was a phenomenal read, I just had to be in the mood to read it? I’ve been in a massive slump and there was a lot of rage and heaviness and plot and sometimes I had to take a brain break.
I LOVE her woven, I loveeeee the side characters..
Ivy I had a lot of mixed feelings toward but in the end, I loved her too.

Bb Aspen is also sweet as pie! If you follow on instagram you get pictures 🌟🫶🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌

5/5 stars for me

[Tori Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, definitely a ROMantasy. If you catch my drift

[Claudia (DarlingDarlingreaders) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book absolutely enraptured me! I have been in such a fantasy slump lately, I'm so tired and brain foggy that every fantasy novel just felt too much. However the gorgeous B.B reached out after seeing my page and suggested her incredible series. I was absolutely honored and downloaded it immediately, it took a few days for me to start it but once I did, Boy oh boy was I hooked. Having an 8 hour flight to demolish it was a blessing because I couldn't put this book down.

It's an epic fantasy novel with some enemies to lovers, weaving of the fates, magic, gods, wraiths, forced proximity, incredible banter and what is shaping up to be a bit more MMF which I am so here for. It has an incredible LGBTQI representation, our beautiful MCs are queer presenting and their relationships are written to be real and not a novelty which fills my heart. I also love the way that women are written in this story. It's not sugar coated. They are authentic.

I found the world it is written in to be really unique with the lore of this book being extremely intricate, without it being overwhelming. Information is introduced in well thought-out, calculated and intelligent ways. These characters are layered and are neither black or white. They exist perfect grayscale. Zander and Nikki are the perfect opposites in our leading men. One is filled with bantering wit, possessive tendencies and a playboy swagger, while one is brooding, steady, and filled with fire. Both bring something crucial to the journey and I can't wait to see their arc. Ivy is exceptional. She's strong, dangerous, intelligent, fierce, funny and bold. Every challenge that Ivy faces is tackled with so much love and loyalty to her people that it's breathtaking. She is complex and flawed and unique in her rage and I adore her for it.

This story is one of epic battles, devastating loss, emotional turmoil, heart rendering romance and above all else true friendships

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an epic fantasy with a unique slow burn romance subplot.

The overall premise of the story is one of revenge. Wisteria lost her lover and her parents to an attack on her peaceful village and is now out to not only avenge their killer but also save her friend’s son.

I loved Wisteria so much! She is a healer by trade and a bad a$s one if I do say so myself! This woman doesn’t all. Female health? She’s got your tonics covered, bitten by a wraith and need an amputation? She will perform that surgery with precision and stave off your infection. Looking for a poisonous brew for a jack a$s womanizer? She’s your gal. She literally carried vials of narcotics that hand from her body piercings. AND she can fight better than the rest! She is defiantly someone you want in your corner.

Zander is our main male interest here. I think the reason behind his connection with Wisteria is interesting and I love the loyalty he has for her and the banter between them.

I can’t wait to see where things are going for Wisteria and Zander but I can’t wait even more to add in Nikki. Nikki is our fire wielding fox. He’s protective and intentionally mute for the first half of the book 😂. He truly would do anything for Zander and Wisteria and I can’t wait to see more of him in book 2!

We get some closure at the end of the book but the story is far from over! I’ll be downloading book 2 in the near future!

[Breathe.dont.panic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rage of the Woodlands
Author: B.B. Aspen
⭐️ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️ Rating: 🌶️🌶️

This book does contain some darker themes, be sure to check trigger and content warning before reading.
This might need to be a part of your life if you are needing to thrive on epic world building, feminine rage, delicious slow burn and tension, and fate all of that weaving of fate.

“You’d do well to remember that one person, deemed however small, can change the course of many.”

“I was fragile like a bomb, not fragile like a flower,”

I planned on starting this book and taking it nice and slow, getting all cozy with the world building, taking my time getting through it, and BAM it’s 3am, I’m 40% through a 600 page book, my husband has been sleeping beside me for hours, the FMC is epically sassing the MMCs and now that I’m finished I’m ready to pull Zander and Nikki straight from the pages and keep them as my own. Is that allowed?

This book is an epic world building fantasy, there’s so many interesting pieces to it that I’m glad I got to read and I definitely binged my way through it in two days - someone should probably be monitoring me from now on.

[Bri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadow Daddy, Fated Mates, and Epic Battles are all things you’ll find in this book!

I have a lot of thoughts on this book, but I’ll try to keep it short!😊

I loved this book, as I’m sure you could tell from the five star rating.
I LOVED seeing a bada$$ female main character who KNEW she was a force to be reckoned with and never doubted her strength or worth. She was definitely not a damsel in distress and I’m here for it!

I also sincerely loved discovering the world alongside our heroine as she realizes that what she was taught and her beliefs may be wrong.

To be completely transparent, I did think that the beginning was a bit confusing, but I also don’t think that’s necessarily uncommon for a new fantasy world.
I also got a bit confused a few times when too much time would pass between first meeting a character and when they would come back into the story. All that might just be me being dumb though.😂

Overall, I think this book was incredible, and I really think it’ll be one of those that will stay with me for a long time. I’m not exactly sure what it is about the book, but I think there’s something in there that I needed in this moment in my life.

[Samantha Peirce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am hooked!!! B.B. Aspen has such a unique voice, and I absolutely adore the cast of characters in this story.

Wisteria is both strong yet fragile at the same time. As a woman I resonate with walking that line and sometimes struggling with emotions and expectations. And I love nothing more than when a woman kicks the ass of a man who underestimates her!

Zander is a giant Demi God incubus who you might not be able to take seriously once you witness his heart of gold. I love a man who is obsessed with his girl and unashamed to shower her with the appreciation she deserves.

And my sweet Nikki. Our fox shifter elemental made me fall in love with him before he even spoke. I want to curl up in his nest of blankets with him.

This story is complex, but the world building and magic are super interesting. The action keeps you hooked, the banter is hilarious, and you feel all the emotions of the characters alongside them.

I love the focus on feminine rage and the sacredness of women in our lives. I cannot wait to see what B.B. has in store for the rest of this series! On to book two now!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars! This book had me asking myself how a person/author can create an imaginary world that is most complex to include gods and goddess, wraiths, magic, different realms, immortals, humans, and an intense plot that keeps my attention!?! I admit, the world building is intense and extensive in the beginning of the book. I admit that I was confused at many points, however, my interest never waned. I love the names Wisteria and Zander!

There were a few minor typos, but I don’t think that they distract from the story. If this is her debut book, I’m excited to see what her imagination thinks of next!

Read this book now if you like:
☑️ Bonded soulmates
☑️ Touch her and die vibes
☑️ Brave, fierce heroine
☑️ LGBTQ rep
☑️ Immortals & Shifters
☑️ Witty banter
☑️ Incubi
☑️ Immersive, Detailed Worlds
☑️ Love triangle
☑️ Plot twists
☑️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Spicy
☑️ Memorable tent scene

[Marhen DeNoble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely captivating from start to the cliffhanger at the end!!

I could not put it down. I was so invested in this book I fell asleep reading it. I held me the entire way. My heart was pounding. My emotions fell through every single emotion the characters experienced. There is so much rich detail in even the smallest things that made this world feel actually tangible and realistic despite being Epic fantasy.

This is the epitome of slow burn but it is worth everything for it. Because when those threads finally force those three together it is scorching hot. Melt off the pages typhoon. I love this why choose fate bound subplot so much.

I absolutely cannot gush enough about this book. It is a definite add to your list. Dont just add it. Make it a point to read it this summer. Book two is being edited as I type this.

[Melissa van Kalken · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Rage of the Woodlands is B.B. Aspen’s debut novel and the first book in the Realm Weaver Trilogy and it kicks off with a bang! Aspen’s lush world-building and immersive settings are a standout, and Wisteria, our FMC, is a true badass. Her journey from grieving girl to an unstoppable force of nature is compelling, and I felt myself falling in love with her more with every chapter.

That said, some plot points felt rushed, and I wished for more depth-especially between Wisteria and Anna. I so desperately wanted more of their story. Their relationship felt more like a backstory tool than a true driving force. Still, the action and intrigue kept me locked in!!

I’m eager to get my hands on the next book in this series and see where this story goes!

You will love this book if you love:
⛺️LGBTQ+ Representation
⛺️Slow Burn
⛺️Fate vs Freewill
⛺️Mates
⛺️Love Triangles

[Kerin Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

holy mother!!!! 5:5 stars hands down…. I was consumed, emotional, sucked into a world hanging on every word as I turned each page! The fire fox…. Yes please!!! The FMC human and a bad B literally she never gives up. The courage and strength depicted in this character is astonishing and so well written. It’s a SLOW burn and the build up is so intense. But it does not let you down! The 2 MMC’s (chefs kiss) Gods, magical creatures. Evil humans. And evil lurking. Can they protect the humans and turn their world around? Grab your snacks and a drink and step into a wild fantastical world! -Kerin

[Colleen Ochab · Rating 5 out of 5]

B.B. Aspen has set the groundwork for a fiery trilogy that only leaves you wanting more. From plucky, engaging characters to a world that is clearly much bigger and much more developed than our protagonist knows (or is letting us in on), this is a great read! Complex knowledge of healing, curious magic, and interesting races and bonds! Every character has a humanity about them that makes them easy to connect with and feel drawn to. And we are pulled ever deeper into the complex webs of this society! Can't recommend enough.

[Shelby Bush · Rating 4 out of 5]

"To all the women this world calls too wild, too headstrong, too much. Rage on."

The Rage of the Woodlands is a story of a strong, brave, female human with skills to heal and mend who is on a journey to find vengeance for a duke who killed her family and her lover, Anna. This book has everything you could want from a Fantasy; world building, your usual varieties of fantasy beings (immortals, elementals, mortal humans, incubi) and a horde of wraiths threatening to destroy humanity and humans playing a political game that also threatens to destroy humanity.

It is a BIG book and it took me a little bit to get into the flow and understand the world and characters at the beginning. Sometimes I couldn't distinguish which character was speaking.

HOWEVER, the story is INCREDIBLE and I couldn't put the book down. I love that it was NOT predictable and I was frequently surprised. The sass and banter between Ivy and Drift was very entertaining and the slow burn was brutal, but also excellent. Despite being a BIG book, the pace was still good and there wasn't a ton of filler or fluff. There are SO MANY questions I am excited to discover the answers to in the next book. B.B. Aspen definitely leaves you on the edge of your seat; a mysterious prince, political scheming, a God and Goddess in a distant land who are probably going to make a big appearance, bonds/threads that I anticipate will further develop into a "why choose" situation ;-)...

Spice... 3... it was a SLOW burn, but done quite well.

Some great quotes:
"You'd do well to remember that one person, deemed however small, can change the course of many. All it takes is one choice. One Spark."

"Fear not the path beneath your feet for the courage of your heart can overcome even the most impossible of tasks."

"The 2 nearest riders chuckled and slowed to DROP MORE EAVES." lol, I thought that was a funny way to say 'eaves dropped'.

"I will search until there is no notion of time, until the world stops turning and the stars stop burning. I chose you before the Weaver even intervened. You gave me your name and I vowed my life to you before she ever tied us together for a lifetime. Even without the Weaver binding us, I would have chosen you and you would have been stuck with me pursuing you."

[JoAnna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rage of the Woodlands was phenomenal.

I’ve read some wonderful series, and many of them have a slow start. You get pieces of story while the author builds the world around you and slowly immerses you before you get the interesting bits - not this book.
I was interested right away.

The world building was fantastic, but she also manages to get you roped into the story from page one.

I laughed, I cried, I did that thing where you have to cover the rest of the page so your eyes don’t skip ahead without permission because you are absolutely devouring every word to find out what happens next.

I genuinely cared about the characters and their outcomes.

Also: I don’t think any character in any book I’ve read (or even from a movie or tv show) has ever made my skin crawl like Gimlian Monte.
At one point I had to put the book down and said, out loud, “eugh, what a CREEP”.

This book is fantastic, and I will forever be recommending it to people.
I’m so excited to dive into book 2.