For She Is Wrath

The story begins with a prison break attempt, then proceeds both backward and forward. The history is woven into the current action. Dania is the perfect underdog because she has a rich history and a plan for her future despite being imprisoned. Those close to her become real as they are seen through Dania's eyes and experiences. She has a mastery in blade use and enough fortitude to keep moving forward after continually being knocked down. The magical threads throughout the story tie all of the battles and hardships and victories together into an exciting adventure. The battles are bloody on both sides, and allegiances are questionable at best and like the tides at worst. This quest for vengeance will grab you quick and hold you until the last battle is won!

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

OH MY GOD! I AM OBSESSED!
this book is everything I have not slept all night I couldn't stop reading it! so so so worth it .oh my .I honestly have no words but just one.BRILLIANT. If you have not added this to your tbr you have to please .it's a must read if you are in need for an epic fantasy!
wish I could rate it more then 5 stars. 12/10.

From start to finish this book was FANTASTIC. I loved this story through and through, the characters are very well-developed and the plot is interesting as well. The magic elements of the zoraat are very interesting and well explained throughout the book. The characters are easy to get attached to and root for their success. This book will definitely be in my top 5 reads of this year and might even end up as a reread because it was so well written.

Take a popular story, do a gender swap, add some fantasy and make it even better, that is exactly what Emily Varga did in “For She Is Wrath”.

The first time I saw the GORGEOUS aesthetic photos posted by Emily Varga on BookTok, about this upcoming story, I knew IMMEDIATELY that I was going to read this book! So how excited was I, to be chosen as an ARC reader on Netgalley, to read this, after waiting over a YEAR and counting down the days for its release. And let me just say, it did NOT disappoint!

A sweeping, Pakistani romantic fantasy retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo, where one girl seeks revenge against those who betrayed her—including the boy she used to love.

That sentence says a lot about this story, but there is SO much more to this story.
This is NOT The Count of Monte Cristo’s story, this is Dania’s story and it is ALL its own. So do not go into this, thinking you are just reading a twist on The Count of Monte Cristo, because it is not, it is SO much more! This story has the added element of FANTASY, my favorite genre. Including some Jinn magic, that takes this story to a whole new level.

And talk about enemies to lovers. Well, this is lovers to enemies. He didn’t lift a finger to help her when she was arrested and she was imprisoned for over a year, and he never once visited her, or tried to help her escape, NOTHING! It was so sad, because she truly loved him. He was her first true love and throughout the entire book, you are just hoping that the man that betrayed her, the man she loved, wasn’t really bad, that he really didn’t betray her. (but you’ll have to read the book to find out)

We are also given glimpses of Dania’s past, giving us a bit of her back story and the reasons why she is seeking revenge on those she is so desperately trying to destroy, even at the cost of possibly, her very own humanity.

This book is also about friendship. Dania only escapes prison, with the help of someone, who later becomes a true friend to her. Someone who helps her in more ways than one. I absolutely love Dania and Noor’s relationship and how they were truly there for one another throughout the book.

And have I mentioned, that Dania’s dad was a swordsmith, and lets just say, her Daddy trained her VERY well, in the art of wielding many types of very sharp weapons.

I felt the entire book, just flowed right along, not too quickly and not too slowly, it was just right.
This book was so well written and I just loved it!! Easily 5 stars*****




Oh, and that TWIST!!! Ahhhhhhhhhh



Thank you to NetGalley
St. Martin’s Press
and
Wednesday Books
for allowing me to read the ARC of this truly WONDERFUL story!!

( I will be leaving my review on other sites, such as Amazon etc.., once the book has been released and we are then allowed to leave reviews, but I have left a review at Barnes and Noble and Books A Million as well. And of course, I will be posting on TikTok (BookTok) and Instagram as well)

This book was just *chefs kiss*. Emily Varga created an incredible world filled with characters I absolutely adored. From the romance to the friendships, this book had me swooning. It was a wild ride from start to finish, and I loved every second of it.

Women will not be stopped. A pawn. A don't see her coming. Two young women mistaken for harmless and powerless.
I inhaled this book. INHALED.
A year of torture and wrongful imprisonment. A year of chanting the names of those who wronged her. Desperate to see her father. Dania and Noor accidently meet - joining their revenge and plans for retribution.
Not romance heavy - focusing on honor, retribution, balancing the scales. And my personal favorite - angry women.
A joy to read - thank you, Netgalley and Tor, for my early ARC.

This book satisfies my definition of book magic: an unforgettable setting, characters I can empathize with, and those magnificent heart flutters. It’s a book that will find a special place on my bookshelf, and I look forward to rereading it again someday.

This was a great count of Monti Cristo retelling. The world building was very well done and I loved the romance and banter. I would highly recommend this book.

Omggggg

Omggggg

Omgggggggggg

BIG BIG THANKS to whichever book gods I pleased cause I honestly don’t even remember requesting this one.

THIS WAS GOOD. LIKE SO SO SO GOOD.

Djinn

Count of Monte Cristo retelling with big big vibes.

Rivals to friends to lovers to enemies to lovers

BE STILL MY FUCKING HEART

And MAZ.

FUCKING SWOON

Exhibit A

"Did you think I wouldn't know you? I'd know you with any face. Any skin. Any hair. A thousand djinn could disguise you from me and I'd still be able to find you just by the sound of your breath."

Exhibit B

"Because unless you tell me that, my foolish heart hopes and dreams and imagines. I can't make right what I did, I can't change it. But I can beg. I can promise that in all things, in all ways, I belong to you. And I will never let you feel as though I didn't fight for you again."

Exhibit fucking C

"Either like you want to kiss me or stab me. I can't always tell with you, but for some reason they are both equally as exciting."

I MEAN SERIOUSLY. CAN HE GET ANY BETTER?!?!

I’m so thankful for the eARC and I IMPLORE you to go read this book come its birthday.

Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Emily Varga's "For She Is Wrath" is a YA book that travels through the depths of revenge, friendship, and the relentless pursuit of justice. Set against a backdrop of betrayal and imprisonment, the story follows Dania, a young woman wronged by those she once trusted, as she embarks on a quest for retribution. If you’re looking for a YA retelling of “The Count of Monte Cristo,” then you will definitely enjoy this book! I even see this book working as a pair with the classic in the high school English classroom; students might enjoy comparing/contrasting the two novels.

From the outset, “For She is Wrath” grabs you with its fast-paced plot and raw emotional depth. Dania's quest for vengeance is driven by a sense of betrayal and injustice, yet Varga manages to avoid the cliché revenge route that is standard of YA revenge stories. Instead, she infuses the story with nuance and complexity, exploring the psychological toll of seeking retribution while navigating themes of loyalty, friendship, and self-discovery. I really enjoyed the fast pace of the book as I found it difficult to put down because I just wanted to know what would happen next with Davia.

The dynamic between Dania and Mazin, her former love turned betrayer, is another highlight of the novel. Varga does a wonderful job at developing their relationship in a realistic way, infusing it with genuine emotion and tension. The romance never got in the way of the actual plot/revenge, which I appreciated. While Dania mainly grapples with feelings of betrayal and mistrust, her characterization then becomes a compelling exploration of the human heart's capacity for forgiveness and redemption. Equally compelling is the friendship between Dania and Noor, a fellow prisoner and steadfast ally. Their bond adds depth and warmth to the story; I really like how Varga was able to flesh out Noor’s character; side characters are often undeveloped compared to the plot or the MC, but I thoroughly enjoyed that through their shared experiences, Dania and Noor navigate their own feelings of revenge and redemption, ultimately finding solace in each other's company.

Varga's prose is rich and evocative, immersing you in a vividly imagined world teeming with magic and intrigue. The worldbuilding was excellent in this book with the blend of fantasy and adventure. Overall, "For She Is Wrath" is a well-written story of vengeance and redemption. With its well-developed characters, richly textured world-building, and plot twists, this book is one that I recommend for fans of fast-paced fantasies as well as those who enjoy well-written revenge stories.

What a gorgeous story with intriguing magic! I was absolutely obsessed with the lovers to enemies trope in this story and I can’t wait to purchase a physical copy!!

I have been provided with a review copy of this title from NetGalley for an impartial review. Ahhhhh this was just such a great read. I just didn't want this book to end and I was sad to turn the last page. I'm so excited to see what's next from this author.