I requested this ARC looking for a cure to my “An Ember in the Ashes” slump— and this did not disappoint! This is the story of one woman’s revenge on the corrupt empire that took everything from her, and the traitorous lover who helped. Frankly, it was a fantastic read; a fresh and innovative take on the Count of Monte Cristo story. .The prose was solid and well balanced, like good sword I would say. 😉 I will be recommending this book without a doubt.

Though this is a retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo, I did not need to have read that to like this book. A rich Pakistani retelling of that famous story, For She Is Wrath brings complex characters, rich world building, epic fantasy, and white-hot female rage to bear on a revenge tale both as large as an empire and as small as one girl. Not that that means the girl is weak, though; Dania proves herself to be a fierce and formidable protagonist from page one. Her intelligence and grit were traits I deeply admired, and I found her survival against all odds, under circumstances that would have broken most others, heartening, Though I definitely didn’t agree with some of her decisions, I still understood and sympathized with where she was coming from.

Noor, too, is incredible in her own right, possessing knowledge and skills complimentary to Dania’s, enabling both to seek the revenge they desperately crave. Dania’s cunning very well could have come to nought if it weren’t for her. Going from purely co-conspirator to also a friend, she serves as a more measured voice to Dania’s worst impulses at times. Her importance to the story cannot be understated, and I would definitely be interested in seeing her get her own story someday.

Now, the magic. What little of djinn lore I knew was of course about the fact that one should never make a bargain with a djinn because of all of the dire consequences that could result from it. For She Is Wrath takes this and runs with it in a darkly incredible way, making hoarding power literal and bringing to mind the maxim about absolute power corrupting absolutely. It becomes an actual drug, zoraat, that, if not outright fatal, slowly consumes the very essence of those who become addicted, something Dania and others must contend with throughout the story, and which draws any number of real-world parallels. All told, zoraat and the magic system surrounding it serve to paint the true price of revenge in stark relief.

With all of this and more to enjoy and contend with, it is no wonder that the end result is a richly detailed and layered story to sink one’s teeth into. Come for the revenge quest; stay for that and so much more.

I forgot to give feedback for this one, but I really love the cover, and I can't wait to read it when my TBR gets less unwieldy!

In turns thrilling and heartbreaking, this Pakistani fantasy take on the ultimate revenge story of The Count of Monte Cristo kept me glued. I devoured the first 70% on a plane ride where I really needed some sleep but decided I was better served going one more chapter...

I just think we should all have some more bloody revenge stories for the girls 😌

I literally cannot find words. This had me in a chokehold from the first chapter. Dania's story is so gripping and compelling. She's the exact type of independent lady I love to read about. Plus, who doesn't love love a good old fashioned revenge plot?

NO SPOILER REVIEW

Themes/Tropes
• Count of Monte Cristo Retelling
• Lovers/enemies
• Female rage/vengeance
• Stabby FMC
• Secret identity
• Djinn magic

First of all let me say happy release day!!!!

So, this book hooked me from the first page. I just love an angry FMC, and boy is Dania (justifiably) mad! I flew through this in two days. It was difficult to put down because the action is constant. I was never bored or skimming thought certain sections. In all honesty, I probably could have read it in one day, but I decided I needed to sleep, so I could focus and take it all in. I am afraid to say anything else because of spoilers. Just read it lol. I will definitely be recommending this for purchase at the library where I work! It will be a great addition to our growing YA section.

That you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for an eARC of this book! It was so fun to read!

For She is Wrath sounded like something I should love, a Pakistani romantic fantasy featuring female rage and revenge. While it does feature all of those things, everything just felt a little flat to me. If you are looking for a quick read with themes of female strength, you may still enjoy this.

In full disclosure, besides the name, I was not familiar with the story of The Count of Monte Cristo to start with to compare this retelling to. Dania is wrongfully imprisoned after being betrayed by the boy she loved and is out for revenge. The story doesn't develop much from there. The friend she meets and breaks out of prison with, Noor, was my favorite character, and I kept wishing her storyline would have been expanded a little further.

Overall, it’s an okay book with an interesting idea, but it doesn’t quite deliver the emotional impact I was hoping to get from the story. The plot is straightforward, and while there are a few twists, they’re somewhat predictable.

An extra star for the narrator of the audiobook, Safiyya Ingar. I enjoyed her narration and am looking forward to hearing more from her in the future.

Thank you NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for this honest review.

Rating: 4.5 ⭐️

"The ones closest to you will betray you the most,”

This is a Pakistani romantic fantasy reimagining of The Count of Monte Cristo and as someone unfamiliar with the story of The Count of Monte Cristo, I was very uncertain and nervous to start this BUT I enjoyed every moment of this!!

This is an incredibly well done rendition of a fierce FMC full of rage and the need for vengeance. The story is packed with betrayal, tension, magic, unexpected friendship and the longing of hope and love. There was never a moment I was bored reading this - this story pulled me in from the beginning and had me on the edge of my seat until the end.

The characters were complex, multi-dimensional and easy to love. Noor is the best friend we all need! (I am going to need another book where she is the FMC. I NEED MORE!)

Oof. The writing is seriously not great. My editing brain is on fire, so I can’t enjoy the story. Sentences don’t make sense.

For She Is Wrath is a captivating fantasy standalone novel that comes out today!

You know a book is going to be good when it opens with a murder, and this one quickly continued the adventure with an escape from prison and revenge plots

For She Is Wrath is a compelling story of revenge, betrayal, and how far a person is willing to go for retribution. As the main character Dani seeks her vengeance, she must confront whether her quest will turn her into the villains she is trying to take down

Throughout this story, we experience unbreakable female friendship and the power of found family

Overall, I found For She Is Wrath to be a compelling story and I was completely shocked by the plot twist at the end

This book is a perfect fit for fans of The City of Brass and The Poppy War

Now for the goodies:

🗡️ Beautiful blades

🗡️ Stabby female main characters

🗡️ Djinn-fueled magic

🗡️ Found family

🗡️ First love

🗡️ Prison breaks

🗡️ Revenge plots

Sincerely,

Your friendly neighborhood raccoon

Content warning (not a complete list): murder, violence, mention of nudity, fire and mention of burnt flesh. 

S3xual content: low spice and fade to black.

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How far would you go for revenge?

For She Is Wrath is a romantasy about the journey a young woman takes to get her revenge against all those involved in her incarceration. This book is a Pakistani, YA retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo.

I was quite interested in Dani's revenge, at first. I felt her anger and was curious to see how she would go about her revenge. However, I lost interest after a while. I wasn't a fan of the pacing. Most of the characters felt a bit flat to me. I needed more from them: more depth and more page time. I also wasn't invested in Maz or the romance. 

I felt the book had the potential to be better. It had a good foundation, but the execution wasn't the best. This story could have benefited from being more fleshed out. And the twist at the end was unexpected, I didn't like it. For She Is Wrath missed the mark for me. It was easy to read though and had an interesting world. 

This was an ARC read and review. I'm grateful to NetGalley for the opportunity I had to read this book.

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

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?

I had no idea what to expect with this one after glancing at the summary, and author Emily Varga exceeded all expectations. There was no time to slow down during this story. From the very beginning, it dug its hooks in me. I couldn't stop reading or listening often times bouncing back and forth between the audiobook and eARC to stay engrossed in the story. I loved how fierce and determined Dania was, which bled into her relationships. The comedic first meeting between Dania and Nora I just knew they were going to be friends through and through. I loved how we got glimpses of the past as we continued to follow Dania on her path of vengeance. It was so hard to put this one down when real life came calling.

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

For She Is Wrath follows Dania, who was framed and imprisoned for a crime she didn't commit. After a daring break-out from prison with her fellow prisoner, Noor, Dania is hellbent on revenge on those who did her wrong, and she'll do anything to get it. When the effects of the magic she is using begin to erode who she really is, will her last remaining loved ones bring her back to herself, or will she be lost to the djinn magic and her need for revenge forever?

This was a very fun, fast-paced novel with very cool magic- and world-building and fantastic character development.

I absolutely oved the main character, Dania, and the friendship she had with her accomplice/friend, Noor. The short time they spent together really brought them together, and I love that they became family to each other. I also loved the sizzling romantic tension between Dania and Mazin. The character development really was top-notch, and I absolutely loved following Dania's journey through her emotions and grief and rage. This novel really had quite an emotional impact.

The setting was elaborate and immersive, and I loved the Pakistani cultural inclusions. I really appreciated the new-to-me language, and it made the setting that much more immersive.

The conclusion was exactly what I wanted it to be and more. I will definitely be looking out for more from Emily Varga.

*I received this eARC from NetGalley and am providing an honest review.*

It is a story about a powerful, strong FMC who will do whatever it takes to get revenge for all the hurt her family has been put through. I loved the friendship between Dani and Noor. They worked together so well. This book shows that sometimes we must step away from the darkness before it consumes us to a point of no return. I recommend this book if you want to read a book with strong FMC who can hold her own and is not afraid to fight for what is right.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

First....if you've not read The Count of Monte Cristo....add it to your TBR now. It's a fantastic tale no matter what genre you enjoy. Now....for Emily Varga's retelling.......it's absolutely great. The story stands on it's own as Dania loses her dreams to the one person she thought she's never doubt. The lies keep her locked up as her rage grows. All she can think of is how to make them pay. Then, she gets the chance, and the story evolvess into a contrast of her feelings and her need for justice. I wasn't sure how her ethnicity would change or affect the story but it enriches it as she must weigh her upbringing against her circumstances. For a debut, this sets a high bar for her future titles.

If you are looking for your next fantasy read, look no further. This book has everything you could want, magic, betrayal, revenge, and romance. Dania was framed for a crime she didn't commit by the person she loved and looks forward to the day she can exact her revenge. She teams up with fellow convict Noor and with the help of Noor's magic knowledge, they become unstoppable. Dania creates a new identity and weasels her way in to Mazin, her former lovers, life. Soon, she realizes it may be harder than it seems because there is still a spark between them, even when she isn't herself.

I loved the inclusion of the Pakistani culture. It was so unique and I loved seeing glimpses into the culture. It was a fantastic blend of magic, romance, betrayal, adventure, and revenge. I honestly did not want to stop reading. Emily Varga is one author that I will continue to read.

Thank you to the author and St. Martin's Press for an ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review,

It's been a whileeee i watched the count of monte cristo, so i could say i went into this fresh, which was great for me because i like to be surprised. I was grippedddddd by this book, So first off, i'm a lover of romance, then throw in tropes like enemies to lovers, one bed etc and i'm sold. But the BANTERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR, geez, these tension filled romance and the things they said made me clutch my shirt and squeal. Thank you very much to the Author, lol. I loved it and lived for it. Dania's an angry fireball on the revenge path and gosh sometimes i wanted to just hug her and tell her all will be well if you just calm down a tincy bit. loved her. The female friendship in this book made me think of my sisters and I and some friends... i love female friendships in books and we need more of them. This book felt like boom boom boom with the action, it just kept me flipping, was never bored. The worldbuilding and magic system were incredible, without spoiling anything, i loved reading about the Djinn magic. The first time i read about Djinn was in AEITA and i loved it, so i'm happy to see more lore about it here. All in all, this was a gripping, amazing read and i can't wait for it to come out, so i can get the audio and listen to it.

If you love books that are retellings, then this is right up your alley!

This Count of Monte Cristo retelling follows Dania who is locked up in a horrible prison. She has spent 364 days here for a crime she didn’t commit. After numerous failed escapes, she ends up meeting another prisoner that is planning an escape that might just work. Together, they dig their way out of the prison and form a friendship a long the way. After a bloody escape they travel for hidden treasure that will help accomplish their revenge. She doesn’t just seek revenge, but also longs to reunite with her father again. A tragic surprise awaits her at her home village and she hits her breaking point. With a list of names to ruin and eventually kill, a future of false identities and lavish wealth awaits her.

This book includes:
lovers to enemies
female rage
secret identity
classic retelling
magic and swordsmanship
betrayals
and much more!

I loved reading this! I was hooked from the start and never got bored. Such a fast paced book with twists and turns all through out! With amazing world-building and spectacular character development, I couldn’t ask for anything more! The before chapters were honestly my favorite. This book deserves all the praise I know it will get once it releases!

I would like to thank NetGalley and publishers for letting me read this wonderful arc!

Dania wants revenge more than anything else in this world. Everything has been taken from her, and those she thought she could trust betrayed her in the worst way possible. When a chance encounter allows her to have access to magic beyond her belief, Dania finds that maybe revenge will be possible. This book portrays a young woman so focused on revenge that she is slowly starting to lose herself. What is worse is those that are around her are also focused on revenge, yet they do a better job of trying to keep true to themselves, while Dania slowly starts to lose herself. I think there is a lovely message in this book about what can truly happen when someone lets something over take your whole being. I really liked the gin and how they were portrayed. I think the book had a perfect blend of magic and realism where it was necessary.
Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

A great read! I am very unfamiliar with the Count of Monte Cristo, but after a bit of googling I can see how it is comparable. Emily did a great job of making the story her own though, and I think it will appeal to anyone that is a fan of a heist or a bit of romantasy. I found the djinn magic really interesting, and I loved the loophole at the end.

There was a bit of repetition in the writing, and some of the drive for revenge felt a bit unrealistic to me, but I don't have a lot of main character energy haha. The romance was so full of yearning and tension, the flashbacks between Dania and Maz were some of my favourite parts.