This was a masterpiece I dont care what anyone says!! I fell in love with this story and its characters. I was so sad it ended! To say I was blown away is an understatement.

The world-building, magic system, and characters are nothing short of perfection. I ate this up and I'm so excited to read more of Emily Varga's stories!

Thanks to @macmillian.audio @wednesdaybooks and @netgalley for the #gifted copies of this book.

Rating: 4.5⭐️

Summary: A Pakistani romantic fantasy retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo. Dania has been in jail the last year for a crime she didn't commit. She is counting down the days until she can exact her revenge on the boy she used to love, the very one who framed her for the crime. When a fellow prisoner tells her of a treasure that could surely help with her revenge, they create a way to escape the prison together. Once free, they begin to exact their revenge despite many obstacles in their way, including the attraction still there between Mazin and Dania. Will she continue with her plans of revenge which will erase her very humanity or will she chose another path?

Thoughts: I went into this book completely blind, and I'm so happy I did. I was hooked immediately to Dania's story and the mystery surrounding the events that led to her being wrongly accused. I love the friendship that sprouted between Dania and Nora first on their want for escape from prison and revenge, but then evolving into so much more. I always love a stab first ask questions later fmc, and Dania lived this to a T. The dueling timelines were so helpful to understand how Dania came to be found her in the position she was as well as showing the love story

Read if you like:
💘Lovers to Enemies
🖤Revenge
🔥Fierce Female Friendships
👀Count of Monte Cristo Retelling
😊Swoony Moments
🗓️Dual Timelines

For She Is Wrath is a gender-bent Count of Monte Cristo retelling, but for anyone unfamiliar with the story, in this case Dania is in prison for a murder that she did not commit. She spends a year attempting to escape and take revenge Arya Stark style with a list of names including the boy she loved who betrayed her. In prison, she meets Noor, another young woman who wants to take revenge against the emperor who killed her father for stealing from him, and she tells Dania that there is buried treasure: gold, jewels, and magic djinn seeds that can give someone immense power. Together, the two escape, pose as wealthy foreigners, and plot their revenge.

The concept was intriguing, especially that Mazin, the boy Dania was friends with and then loved, seemingly betrayed her and she wants to take him down. But the payoff wasn't really there for me. This is a very long and slow book without much action, which is pretty much true to a Count of Monte Cristo retelling. But it was extremely repetitive from Dania's first-person perspective because it was constantly her thinking over and over again about the betrayal, about taking revenge, about destroying Mazin even more than the other people on her list. It became somewhat tiresome.

Actually 4.5 stars! Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday books for the ARC!

Listen, OBVIOUSLY you can write a Count of Monte Cristo retelling, throw in some fantasy elements, a touch of feminine rage, and give it a Pakastani flair. And OBVIOUSLY I'm going to like it. The feminine rage was A+++ and everything I could have ever wanted. Especially considering this is YA.

If you've read the Count of Monte Cristo--you know how this story is going to go, and how it ends. It's a very faithful retelling with a few element changes, but otherwise stays true to the story. If you haven't, you're still going to absolutely love this book if you're a fan of feminine rage because IT IS EVERYWHERE. And it's also one of my favorite things.

This is a fun and fast past story told on two timelines--Dania's present revenge arc, and the past that lead her here. I really loved the two timelines and felt that it definitely added a layer to the story. I think I wanted the past timeline to come in just a little bit earlier than it did, but that's just personal preference. It adds a nice extra element onto why she's so set on revenge (not that being in prison and tortured for a year isn't enough of a reason....) and what she has lost.

My literal only negative for this is just how often she brings up her father as her reason for revenge. It comes up virtually every other page for the first 50% of the book to the point it feels like overkill and was a little annoying. I don't know if we were beating the dead horse because it's YA and that's become part of the genre or if it was just a choice I personally didn't like, but it was a LOT--and the only reason I can't justify giving this 5 stars.

This is arguably the best YA fantasy read I've had all year, and I'm definitely looking forward to more from this author!

I received an early copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows Dani on a quest for revenge. The boy she loved allowed her arrest and she now sits in prison plotting. While in prison, she meets Noor, a like minded girl also looking for revenge but on the emperor. Together they escape and begin on a journey to destroy two people who took everything from them.

This book has a really cool magic system called zoraat, essentially little seeds that require dosing to allow certain powers. And of course djinn!! I am always here for a good bargain with a djinn.

I did enjoy this book. At times it felt rushed and Dani felt way too confident to carry out their revenge plans, but I think that is also part of the fun. Her confidence also worked out for her. And the twists and betrayals at the end! (I do wish we had more of this evil!)

Definitely read this is you want cool magic, sword fighting, lover’s spat, and revenge!!

I really liked this book to the 80/85% point and then after that I did not like where the ending went. I wanted revenge, not a lesson. It would have been fine to show the consequences of revenge and still have a happy ending, but not have it be so passive. I was really liking lover-enemy-lover, but he ended up being such a passive enemy. Two main things in the book I did guess right away. But they didn’t necessarily make me like it less. did like the characters minus the main female character getting all righteous at the end. I loved the idea of the plot and was enjoying it for most of it. The majority is a 4 with the ending being a 2 ago make it a 3

This gripping novel masterfully weaves together elements of fantasy, romance, and suspense, crafting a tale that's impossible to put down. The story follows Dania, a strong and determined protagonist, as she navigates the complexities of revenge, love, and self-discovery. The characters are well-developed, with Dania's transformation from a wronged prisoner to a powerful force seeking vengeance being particularly compelling. Overall, this book is a must-read for fans of fantasy, romance, and suspense.

I can't lie, I love a vengeful heroine!

Dania is wrongfully imprisoned after being betrayed by the one she loves the most. After a prison break with new friend and fellow prisoner, Noor, the girls seek out a magical seed called Zoraatt to seek revenge on the people that got them wrongfully imprisoned.

I loved seeing their plans come together as they took down one person after the next. I feel like Noor became pretty irrelevant though once they escaped, becoming more like the maid she was pretending to be instead of Dani’s best friend like we were told she was. Also, everything kind of conveniently came together time and time again for Dania.

The magic system sort of felt like a convenient way to just kill off people who consumed too much of the Zoraat seed (this happened two or three times in a row).

Dania is a better person than me, because there is just no way I’d forgive Mazin, despite their history. The forgiveness route Dani took at the end of the story after seeing her grandmother’s vengeful life felt a little random, since we’d only seen that character briefly ages ago, and she’d already gone through half of her revenge checklist lol. However, I liked the messaging and how she and her travel companions were able to inevitably take the high road.

I enjoyed this book, it was an easy fantasy read and a pretty good debut novel!

This is a 4.5 for me. This book was so good and if you love books filled with female rage this will be the book for you. When you think about it a gender swap of the Count of Monte Cristo retelling is the perfect book for a feminine rage book and then you use it within a Pakistani Fantasy made it such a gripping, fast paced and exciting tale I couldn't put it down.

This book had action, revenge, plots and schemes, betrayal and even romance. Now this is a YA book, so it is a close door clean book, but I honestly didn't notice as the story was still so gripping. I loved how so many of the female characters in this book were so strong, smart, resilient and not one dimensional. There was a lot of complexity to some of these characters because they were all betrayed or went through something terrible which of course affects them, so the question becomes how much do you let your rage and need for revenge consume you and how far are you willing to go to get it? This point is really driven home at the end when you see a twist when it comes to one of the betrayers and I loved it because it never occurred to me to suspect this person.

I really enjoyed this book and this author's writing, and I think it was her debut novel and I was so impressed. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

This book is about Dania who was betrayed by one of the few people she trusted completely. For that betrayal she is sent to a prison for a crime she didn't commit for 364 days plotting her revenge against the man she loved her betrayer. Trying to survive the prison and the torture she suffers under makes it nearly unbearable, that is until an accidental break in happens by another prisoner. An agreement is struck, and an unlikely friendship ensues as these two plan and execute a daring escape plan while also bonding over their need for vengeance and revenge. Eventually, they escape and using stolen Djinn treasure ripe with Dark magic they are able to use this gained wealth to obtain a new identity for Dania. They are now able to return home where they can set their plans into motion against those that did both them and their families wrong and to burn it all to the ground. But something to remember is that nothing is given for free, and this magic comes with a price so when the time comes to pay up will it have all been worth it?

I received an ARC copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: Dania is falsely accused of treason against the emperor, and not even her love, Mazin, will stand with her to clear her name. After a year in prison, being tortured and remembering the name of each person who betrayed her, Dania has an opportunity to escape. But more than that, it’s an opportunity to use djinn magic against the people who ruined her life. She Is Wrath is a stunning tale, full of adventure and sword fights. This retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo is a fast paced tale of vengeance, and the lengths some will go to get it.

Review: This author’s writing is phenomenal and the story pulls you right along into a story of revenge. I enjoyed the characters arcs, and how they changed over the course of enacting their revenge. This story is perfectly paced, and even knowing it was a retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo, I couldn’t guess what would happen in the end. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!


Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for the ARC of She Is Wrath by Emily Varga. This review reflects my honest opinion.

While this book was an interesting read, it felt very surface level. I kept hoping we would get more from Dania and Noor, but as I mentioned it was all very surface level, to the point where you could skim the lines and miss nothing.

Overall it was a quick and cute read, with interesting Djinn concepts.

This book had really strong moments, but overall, in my opinion, wasn’t that strong of a book.
I think the pacing of this book, especially in the first third, is really slow and that makes it really hard to get into it. This book also gives very little when it comes to the characters. It’s really hard to root for and fall in love with characters that are painted two dimensionally.

I *soft* dnf’d this book at 67%

This book was an absolute ride from start to finish—intense, action-packed, and deeply emotional. The story follows Dania, who’s been framed for a crime she didn’t commit, thrown into a brutal prison, and hell-bent on revenge. Her escape, alongside her clever prison mate Noor, sets off a chain of events that is nothing short of thrilling. Armed with djinn magic, hidden identities, and seething with rage, these women are a force to be reckoned with. The plot was full of sword fights, strategic plotting, and the pursuit of justice that kept me hooked the entire way through.

The pacing was excellent, with the perfect balance between heart-pounding action and moments of raw emotional depth. Dania's journey for revenge was so well-written, and the rage she carried was palpable, making her character all the more relatable and compelling. The Pakistani-inspired setting brought the world to life with its rich cultural details—the smells, the food, the politics, and the power dynamics all woven in seamlessly.

The friendships, particularly between Dania and Noor, were beautifully done, adding layers of trust and camaraderie to the narrative. The enemies-to-lovers romance with Mazin was the perfect slow burn, full of sizzling chemistry and palpable tension. It kept me frustrated in the best way possible, wanting more with every interaction.

The understated magic system, centered around djinn, was unique and easy to follow, adding just the right amount of mystique and cultural richness. As a reimagining of The Count of Monte Cristo, this Pakistani retelling hit all the right notes with its revenge-driven plot and character growth. It’s a beautifully executed debut, packed with adventure, complex emotions, and cultural depth. An unforgettable read!

Occasionally I hit a book where I love the premise and have no issues at all with the characters or prose, but something about it just doesn't click with me. Unfortunately, this is one of those books. There's nothing I didn't like--I just couldn't get into the story for reasons I can't identify.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

This highly anticipated book is being marketed as a gender-reversed Pakistani romantasy retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo, and for the most part, that's exactly what it is. Who wouldn't want to read about a girl dead-set on revenge against everyone who's ever wronged her?! YES bring it on!!

And for the first 80% of the book it was pretty good! I would have given it 4 stars, (although I did have to look up all of the Pakistani terms and references because I'm not familiar with the culture at all.) but then, unfortunately, it took a pretty big left turn and kind of went off the rails.

For most of the book, when I was thinking of a djinn, I was thinking of a genie from Aladdin, or from the Wishmaster movies or something... but then later I realized it was being portrayed more like one of the gods, like how the Greek gods are portrayed? A bit more explanation into the Pakistani culture would have been helpful.

I did like the main character, Dania. I liked her fierceness, determination, emotional strength, and of course her light banter. But she also seemed to care very little for what her friend Noor wanted. Noor seemed to just follow her around like some kind of servant, when she was supposed to be an equal partner in this revenge plot, I thought? It seemed a little unbalanced.

Overall, I enjoyed the beginning half of the book, but the end left me with confused feelings, because I was happy, yet unsatisfied.

I really enjoyed this gender-swapped, Palestinian, young adult version of Count of Monte Cristo—it was a fun, fast-paced story. The romance was excellent, packed with rage and longing, and the Arya revenge-list nod was also amusing. I loved especially how the djinn whose magic she used became a symbol for vengeance possessing her and how she had to break free of it—that was really well-done. Overall, it was just everything you wanted it to be, and a really good time.

This book is amazing. We meet the protagonist in the bottom of a jailcell, trying to fight her way through and escape. She then meets a friend and escapes prison but then becomes set on revenge after the death of her father by the empire. This book was amazing to say the least. This book has found famiy, revenge, and magical elements that made this an easy read and immediately had me hooked. I am so glad I got a chance to read it. It was amazing.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. I am OBSESSED with revenge stories, and For She is Wrath is no exception. I didn't even realize until a good chunk into the story that this was a Monte Cristo retelling. It was fresh, and had just the right dash of romance. A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.

For She Is Wrath was such a good read! I’m always down for a badass female character out for revenge! This was such a fast paced read and I highly recommend!

'For She Is Wrath' is undoubtedly a 5 star read for me! One of my top reads of this year! This book is a Pakistani-inspired fantasy twist on The Count of Monte Christo. I loved the romance, the revenge, the tension, and the friendship! The world-building was fantastic and the mystery of the revenge plot made this book a hook from the start.

Dania and Maz have my whole heart. I love them both so much and I greatly enjoyed the way their arcs played out. The revenge was so delicious but more than anything I loved getting to see the moments from their past. I mourned their relationship the same way Dania did.

Emily Varga is an incredible writer and I can't believe this is her debut novel! I'm so excited for this book to be released into the world this month. I'm also looking forward to seeing what else Emily has in store for the future!

The cat and mouse of it all made it more fun. I had a general idea of how the story would play out because of the Count of Monte Christo inspiration, but I was on the edge of my seat the entire time with all the differences and the added tension. There are so many high stakes moments that I couldn't put this book down at all! I finished it two sittings overall and I can't wait to read it again soon.

Thank you SO MUCH Wednesday Books for providing me with an eARC to read and review!