Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC. I LOVED this book!!! The vengeance was satisfying, the friendships heart warming, and the romance was so cute! I enjoyed the dual timelines of the prison break and what happened before Dania was sentenced to prison. I really enjoyed her character, her sharpness and fighting spirit. The magic system was also fascinating, I loved how the journey for revenge and power was intertwined with the magic system and I think the conclusion was really satisfying. This was a really fun, fast, and thrilling read that was also very touching.

This book was everything! Epic, dramatic, tense, adventurous. I went through a roller coaster of emotions as I was reading. Would definitely recommend to friends :)

Going into a retelling it’s always interesting to see how the author will change it up and if they’ll do it in a way that keeps the story intriguing and the reader pulled in, Emily Varga successfully does both. Having read The Count of Monte Cristo I knew what to expect with the basic premise, but the rich story telling and the twists as you get further through the book definitely kept me glued to the pages. The descriptions of the color, clothing, bazaar, the homes, the city, and the characters were enough to clearly picture this beautiful backdrop in my mind. The use of magic was well done and I liked that it wasn’t how we traditionally see magic used and so it couldn’t be used to explain everything.
Thank you @netgalley and @wednesdaybooks for the ARC! ⚔️🔥

This is a book where the problem may be me more than anything else. This is a really solid YA fantasy. The worldbuilding is strong enough, and I did find the main character compelling.

For me, however, even though I understood the classic inspiration for the plot, The Count of Monte Cristo (a book I was weirdly obsessed with by the way), the plot here still felt a bit paint by numbers to me, which is something I’ve been feeling for a few years with YA fantasy.

That being said, I absolutely think this book will have a solid audience, and I think the author shows a lot of promise and will definitely read more from her in the future.

I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Alright I absolutely loved this book. I went into it knowing exactly what it is which is a gender bent Counte of Monte Christo retelling with magical elements and man did it deliver. The writing was beautiful, the emotions, the betrayal, the struggle of remembering what was and trying to piece together the aftermath. It gripped me and held my focus in a way few books have recently. This book is about the exchange of power and anger and how having more of it could lead you down the same path of those you hated the most.

There is a lot of love in this book as well, whether familial, romantic, friendship and all the ways it can get twisted and used against you. I loved the characters and their dimensions. The duality of characters as the story progresses really were dynamic as I had to change my pov of who they were and how I felt about them. I ended up feeling pity for some of the characters I thought were minor and could do no wrong and some that I hated and was supporting her revenge. I highly suggest everyone pick up this book!

Review: For She is Wrath by Emily Varga

For She is Wrath is a YA fantasy adventure that will appeal to those who like to read about revenge, dark magic, and second chances.

The story was interesting and the twists and turns could be surprising. However, I did find some of the story a bit predictable at first. That being said, the themes of second chances, friendship, and forgiveness were carefully cultivated to make this a YA story that will appeal to fantasy/dystopian readers but also help the reader consider consequences of revenge and anger.

I highly recommend For She is Wrath to readers who enjoyed Children of Blood and Bone or Hunted by the Sky.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

Dania, framed for a murder she didn’t commit, seeks revenge with the help of dangerous magic. This Pakistani-inspired retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo features a strong, sword-wielding female lead, intense fight scenes, and fiery romance. The chemistry between Dania and her childhood best friend, Mazin, is palpable. Overall, it’s a fast-paced, well-developed fantasy that I highly recommend!

For She Is Wrath by Emily Varga is a darkly immersive novel that delves into themes of vengeance and power with striking intensity. Varga’s vivid prose and complex characters create a compelling, if sometimes intense, narrative that grips readers from beginning to end. The book’s rich world-building and emotional depth make it a standout read for fans of dark fantasy and revenge-driven stories.

For She is Wrath by Emily Varga might be my new favorite book. I loved the characters, the world-building, the tension, the plot twists, and the overall atmosphere. This was a truly enjoyable book and I look forward to more from this author.

A fun fantastical adventure inspired by Pakistan and The Count of Monte Cristo! This was a quick read with a rich setting and empathetic characters. The pacing was a bit off at times, and sometimes I felt like things wrapped up in too tidy or convenient a manner. Overall though, I would recommend this to fans of the Dumas classic, YA readers, and fantasy fans. Great choice for readers who enjoy the style of Tasha Suri, Sanaa Tahir, and Roshani Chokshi.

*"For She Is Wrath" is a captivating novel that excels in both world-building and character development. Set in a richly imagined realm, the story follows a fierce heroine on a journey of vengeance and self-discovery. With its intricate plot, well-developed characters, and immersive setting, this book is a must-read for fantasy enthusiasts seeking an engaging and powerful tale.

“Now She Is Wrath” by Emily Varga is an absolutely gripping and intense read that left me breathless. From the very first page, I was hooked by the sheer power of the story and the depth of its characters. The novel follows Ava, a woman who has been through unimaginable trauma, and instead of breaking, she transforms into something fierce and unstoppable. Ava’s journey from victim to avenger is both heart-wrenching and empowering, and I couldn’t help but root for her as she sought justice in a world that had wronged her so deeply.

What I found most compelling about this book is how Vargas masterfully blends psychological tension with raw emotion. Ava is a complex and multi-faceted character, and watching her grapple with her inner demons while taking control of her fate was both harrowing and inspiring. Varga doesn’t shy away from exploring the darker aspects of Ava’s psyche, making her transformation all the more believable and impactful. The title, *Now She Is Wrath,* perfectly encapsulates the fury and determination that drives Ava, and I felt every ounce of her rage and pain as I read.

The pacing of the novel is relentless, with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. Just when I thought I had figured out where the story was going, Varga threw in a curveball that left me reeling. The tension is palpable, and the stakes are high, making it impossible to put the book down. But what really sets this novel apart is the writing itself—Varga's prose is sharp, evocative, and at times, almost lyrical, capturing the raw emotion of the story with precision and grace.

The themes of revenge, justice, and empowerment are explored with nuance and depth, and I appreciated how Vargas didn’t offer easy answers or tidy resolutions. Ava’s journey is messy, painful, and complicated, but it’s also incredibly powerful. By the end of the book, I was left in awe of her strength and resilience, and the story stayed with me long after I finished reading.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers with strong, complex characters. It’s a story of survival, revenge, and ultimately, reclaiming one’s power, and it’s executed to perfection. This is easily one of the best books I’ve read this year.

Thank you to n NetGalley and Wednesday books for this free eARC in exchange for my free opinion of this book.

I loved the concept of this as a retelling of "The Count of Monte Cristo." The opening scenes were compelling, action-packed, and full of tension. I do feel like the pacing could have been adjusted--maybe having one long flashback detailing the events that led to Dania's betrayal would have made the plot more cohesive and make more sense. I felt like I didn't have a good enough understanding of Dania's motivations to be so fixated on her revenge when I knew only pieces of past events. Also, even when the true sequence of events was "explained," I was still feeling confused about how everything happened the way it did.

The overall complexity and intrigue of the revenge plot was missing for me. There would be a lot of talk about "plans," but never any detail or explanation until the plan was actually happening. I was also disappointed that Noor, Dania's main ally, seemed to take a complete backseat and sort of abandon her own pursuit of revenge. I was hoping for more of a dark, disaster-duo partnership between the two, or at least more from Noor. I did enjoy their friendship and the differences in their personalities.

The overall messages about revenge and its costs was fine, but the examples from the characters and their actions were again too simplistic. A lot of information is randomly used as an explanation, but I had no context for why the character would think any of it would work. The big reveal at the end seemingly came out of nowhere, and if there had been more of a backstory built for some characters, it may not have seemed so sudden and out of place.

As a whole, I wanted more complexity, darkness, character development, and worldbuilding. The story as it is right now has a lot of potential, but feels very scattered in the telling and the timeline.

It was an interesting experience to read this book alongside the original The Count of Monte Cristo. I hadn’t really set out to do that on purpose but I wanted to finally finish the original text before I read a retelling. They are obviously very different books so I will not compare them, but it was interesting to see how Emily Varga adapted different parts of the story into her version. From the first few pages when Dania first attempts to escape from prison, I was hooked. The pacing and stakes were excellent, and even though I found Dania frustrating at times, it was entertaining to watch her plan and enact her revenge. Her character also goes through a dramatic transformation by the end of the book in a way that surprised me and I really enjoyed. Some of the plot points and character choices did not make sense to me, and the writing sometimes over explained a little too much for my taste. Even though this was not one of my favorite reads I was still highly entertained and thought it was a well written action adventure story of love and revenge.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The star I docked from this book is mostly to do with the pacing of this story. It felt like things were happening so fast, and not just plot points but changes in attitude and major decisions. Honestly, it felt like this book was supposed to be 2 books with how quickly Dani was having revelations and character growth.

The other thing with this book: I would not call it a romantasy, which to me means that it’s basically a romance book in a fantasy world. This is not that at all. This is fantasy and plot FIRST and romance second. Once I had that expectation set in my brain, I enjoyed this book a lot more.

As I said, the romance in this book isn’t front and center, so my favorite relationship is the one between Dani and Noor. I loved seeing their friendship grow and the bond they formed to where they were there for each other no matter what. And Noor was a very grounding presence to foil with the wild uncontrolled fire that was Dani’s character.

I loved seeing Dani and Noor get their revenge and the growth the girls had.

The romance wasn’t it for me though. The potential was there and I ended up liking Maz but she spent 75% of this book hating him and then forgave him so fast.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from the author as her writing grows and develops.

2.5 is a more accurate rating -

In the barest sense, I can understand how people are rating and talking about this quite tightly but unfortunately, there were many elements that didn't work for me. It starts with action, the protagonist is hellbent on revenge (though she did come across as "Strong Female Character (tm) at times), and the worldbuilding is quite immersive (though admittedly a tad underdeveloped.) Mostly, as someone who reads a lot, I don't feel this YA fantasy did anything new, and will ultimately be forgettable when it comes to some of the other YA fantasy already in the recent market.

This was a typical YA fantasy. A retelling of Monte Cristo with a focus on the feminine pov. There is a lot of chemistry between the MC's which amps up some tension in great places. Would recommend to fans of The crimson Moth

A Pakistani retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo featuring a romance and Djinn magic is something I didn’t know I needed. The food descriptions made my mouth water, the desperate need for revenge made me tense up, and the romance made me smile silly. I loved the story and the world building, and most of all I loved Noor, our side character.

I will say that I was not the biggest fan of the pacing. It felt a bit rushed to wrap up the story and I could’ve easily read 100 more pages! However, I am greatly looking forward to reading more from this author, and crossing all my fingers in hopes for a story from Noor’s perspective.

This book was a riveting escape into an intricate and magical world that kept me captivated. As a single mom, I crave stories that transport me to new and exciting places, and Emily Varga delivered just that with this book. The protagonist, Dania, is a force to be reckoned with as she navigates betrayal and seeks revenge. The blend of romance, fantasy, and complex relationships had me hooked from the very first page. Varga's storytelling skillfully weaves together elements of fantasy with real-world emotions in a way that resonated deeply with me. If you're looking for an engrossing read to lose yourself in after long days of mom duties, "For She Is Wrath" is just the ticket. It offers an immersive experience filled with intrigue and magic that will keep you turning pages late into the night.

I was very close to not finishing this novel. However, the story came together in the third act. I loved Noor and Dania. Their friendahip is everything. Four stars because I didn't care for the relationship between Dania and Maz.