Loved this one so much!! Female rage and empowerment, a true enemies-to-lovers romance, and such an interesting magic system. I have a thing for characters in disguise, too. This truly lived up to its title and is everything I want in a YA fantasy lately.

This is a fun retelling with a fresh Pakistani fantasy background. There's a little sprinkling of romance that will keep the romantasy fans happy (although don't mistake the book for a complete romance--it is not at all), and a strong thematic element on the merits of moving forward with or without making others feel your wrath.

For She is Wrath is a great book for those who are looking for something on the cusp of young adult, with some adult- like themes. The concept was interesting but I found the deliverance to be lukewarm at best. I found Dani as a character one dimensional. The ending left a bitter taste in my mouth as I felt a book that was promoted as a revenge story didn’t have enough revenge- like aspect.

I couldn’t get into the writing style. For this reason I will not be posting a review on Goodreads or my Instagram page because it is 3 stars and below.

Thank you very much for allowing me the opportunity to read this book.

For She is Wrath follows Dania, a girl imprisoned for a crime she didn’t commit who is out for revenge against those who betrayed her. While I had some issues with the pacing, particularly in the first half of the book, I greatly enjoyed this story from start to finish. A big standout for me was the relationships between the characters. I loved Dani and Noor’s friendship. They balanced each other out but also kept each other motivated for the revenge they were both after. I also loved the enemies to lovers and then enemies again arc with Dani and Maz. Their banter was fantastic and I loved getting to see flashbacks of them as they first became friends and then more. While I guessed some of the plot twists at the beginning, others did shock me and made for an exciting ride throughout this book. I definitely recommend for readers interested in standalone fantasy books with unique magic systems and with an emphasis on the characters at its core.

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

If you're looking for a feminine rage YA fantasy with a splash of enemies-to-lovers romance, this is for you. This really played into the idea of how far would you go to get revenge on those who wronged you. I really enjoyed this book.

Thus fast paced ya fantasy was entertaining, but unfortunately fell flat for me. I couldn’t connect to the character, and the ending felt cliched to me. I still had a fun time reading this! And I can definitely see other people enjoying this as well!

For She is Wrath tells the story of a young Pakistani girl who is suffering after having been betrayed by the person she trusted the most. Loosely inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo, Dania finds new allies and embarks on a path of complete and devastating revenge.

I had an odd reading experience with this book: I picked it up to read, got maybe 15% of the way through, and then put it down and forgot about it for months. Then I picked it up again randomly and finished it in one day. I think the beginning is hard to get into, because right away we are thrown into the whirlwind of Dania’s story and swept up into the adventure, and we’re not really sure what’s going on.

We do eventually find out what’s going on as we start to understand why Dania is in the position she’s in and why she is full of burning hot rage. There are several scenes with flashbacks that were helpful in fleshing out the story.

I absolutely loved how furious and full of rage Dania was. She was so bent on revenge that she had no room for any other emotions, and it was just fun so see her decide to go full out violent on people. I also enjoyed the magic in this book, and all the glimpses of Pakistani culture. Oh, and I also loved the friendship dynamic between Dania and Noor. I feel like characters in this genre of books never have friends, so it was nice to see that.

Unfortunately, the rest of it didn’t really work for me. It wasn’t bad, it was just missing the spark that would alleviate it to something wonderful. I wasn’t really rooting for Dania and the love interest, in fact, I thought that Dania and Noor had better chemistry and better conversations. I felt that due to her magic, she was never really in danger even though she’s enacting this murderous revenge plot. I also wanted more with the djinn and the magic, something more evil and more terrifying.

It was a fun read though, so if you have some time to kill and want to read about an adventure in a South Asian setting, then definitely pick it up.

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc of this book.

"For She Is Wrath" was fun to read through Dania's POV and I loved the character dynamics. I thought the Djinn magic and the overall worldbuilding was interesting, but I wish we learned more about Djinn magic like where it came from. Some parts of the book felt repetitive (mainly Dania's inner dialogue) but it was overall a fun read. Dania and Maz's relationship was very well done.

I'm so impressed that this is Emily Varga's debut novel! A Pakistani-inspired reimagining of A Count of Monte Cristo + YA Fantasy sounded incredibly fascinating and hooked me from its synopsis.

Dania is fueled by revenge. She was betrayed by her best friend and lover, Mazin, and is counting down the days to escape prison and make those responsible pay. I loved the way this novel portrayed female unabashed rage. The friendship between Dania and Noor was so heartwarming and their loyalty for each other despite their circumstances made me tear up. That being said, the fanatical elements of the magic system, particularly zoraat was so intriguing! The details being sprinkled throughout the novel and not all at once made this so easy to digest.

It was so hard to root against Mazin despite his betrayal. I loved his character and the tension between him and Daria was palpable.

Dania's experiences wove her to be such a strong character. Her determination and skills make her so loveable despite her flaws. That being said, I loved her ending. The idea of trauma and its impact on future generations was something I did not expect from this story. I absolutely loved every second of my time reading this.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

Title: For She is Wrath
By: Emily Varga
Pub. Date: October 29, 2024

Genre:
Fiction, Young Adult, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Romance

Red Flags:
Abuse, Violence, Revenge

Favorite Quote:
I was unleashed and all the dark parts of me were clamoring to get out.

Summary:
Dania is counting down until she’s out of prison and with a vengeance can execute revenge on the boy who held her heart and shattered it into a million pieces. Noor, who’s been planning her escape for a while, might finally succeed—with Dania's help. The two girls join forces and in the romantic tone of enemies to lovers, take on Dania’s heartbreaker. Will they survive their dangerous mission?

Review:
I'm trying to read more fantasy and science fiction, genres that I usually find difficult to get into. However, “For She is Wrath” really stood out to me. The characters are well-developed, the magic is perfectly woven into the story, and the plot quickly turns into an emotional roller coaster that's surprisingly relatable. I thoroughly enjoyed this young adult novel!
Thank you Emily Varga, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#ForSheIsWrath
#EmilyVarga
#St.MartinsPress
#reluctantreaderreads
#advancedreadercopies
#NetGalley

This book was so interesting to read! I’m not personally familiar with Pakistani culture so I was learning quite a bit about their clothing and food throughout the story. I enjoyed that the focus was Dania’s revenge and her friendship with Noor. Both of them learning to trust again after being betrayed for the sake of their shared goal. There is romance and it flows well with the rest of the plot. There’s real chemistry between Dani and Mazin and their relationship feels natural. Overall, a fantastic read!

It seems like I am on a retelling binge lately and I am here for it. I loved the female rage spin on the original Count of Monte Cristo (which for the record could be one of the only classics which I dearly love!). I loved all the characters and I loved the gore and violence (which is not something I often enjoy in my novels but I did find myself cheering for Dania to rip a few throats out close to the start of the novel). All the twists on the original are highly enjoyable. While I understand the morals and lessons about vengeance are needed for the sake of the story plot... I kinda wish there had been a tiny bit more revenge in the end.... (or maybe that could be the voice in my end whispering revenge - you have to read it to get that reference).

A super fast-paced, high action, lots of magic and bloody revenge tale with a kick ass female protagonist! Highly recommend for anyone who needs a rage read right about now.

Also - I adored the narrator. Well done.

I received the ebook and audiobook as an Arc from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley!!

This book hit something in me that made me want to race through the pages. Maybe it’s the world around me but a highly trained, knowledgeable young woman who is confident in her ability to handle just about anything while also seething with anger, betrayal and vengeance pulled me towards this character. Such a fun combo - I imagined a younger ‘bride’ from Kill Bill but with Pakistani heritage. I could almost hear the soundtrack from Kill Bill in my head anytime she faced one of her targets.

The best friend became Dani’s moral compass that kept pulling her back from the edge and “checking in” to assess the vibe and emotional vulnerability of the room. The male love interest was interesting but he got off far too easily for me . . . He needs to thank his lucky stars! Loved this story and I loved the narrator. It felt so cohesive and immersive.

Overall, I’m giving it a 4.5 (rounded up)

I was disappointed by 'For She Is Wrath'. Despite its promising premise, for me the book failed to deliver.

*Key Issues*

1. Unremarkable characters lacking depth
2. Predictable plot with no surprises
3. Underwhelming romance

*Expectations vs. Reality*

I craved excitement and engagement but found none.

*Recommendation*

For compelling fantasy, explore other options.

This debut fantasy was a fast-paced, captivating revenge novel. I loved Dani from the very beginning. She is a fierce, independent, and fiery MC who always stood up for what she believed was right. Her relentless determination to seek revenge on the people who framed her was front and center.

There was so much to take away from this book such as strong friendships, choosing your destiny, personal costs of revenge, maintaining personal values, recognizing signs of grief, letting go of past hurts and moving forward, and finding purpose again after so much heartache and lost.

For 364 days Dania has been in prison for the crime she was framed for. Dania has spent that time planning her revenge against everyone who had betrayed her, but especially the boy she loved Mazin. When she meets another prisoner also trying to escape, they are able to escape together and seek out a hidden djinn treasure. Using djinn magic she creates a new identity and begins her plan to bring down everyone. A complicated web full of lies is being made and Dania must be strong enough to not lose herself to vengeance.

A Pakistani based retelling of the Count of Monte Cristo, this was such a good read. It had me hooked from the start and I was rooting hard for Dania. I loved the bond built between Dania and Noor. Their friendship was the best foundation and I'm sure without Noor Dania would have lost herself. As for Mazin I was a bit torn on him, he should have stood up for Dania from the start. But the line he dropped at the end about knowing her anywhere … chefs kiss. Their dynamic in their before chapters showed great banter and how deep their relationship truly was so I shouldn't have been surprised he knew. On the other hand the identity of the murderer shocked me. I hadn't seen that coming or how closely tied Noor and Dania were from the very start. This was so well written and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for what Emily writes next.

Rating 4 stars
*I received a review copy from NetGalley for my voluntary and honest review

Thanks, Macmillan Audio and Wednesday Books, for the ALC and arc!

FOR SHE IS WRATH by Emily Varga is nothing like I could have expected and everything I could have wanted in a book. It was such a different story, but I think that was because we finally have a strong female Pakistani lead character, we are immersed in Pakistani culture, and a fantasy reimaging of THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, which, as far as I know, has yet to be done.

I haven't read or seen MONTE CRISTO in a long time, so reading WRATH was all new to me since I didn't remember any of the original tale. Dania was such a fantastic character. She had been through so much in her life and still had the perseverance to go on. I don't know if I could do that, even if it were revenge that was in my soul. She had a fantastic character arc, and I loved seeing her change and stay true to the person she always was.

I'm glad I had both the arc and ALC. This is a book I enjoyed reading and listening to at the same time. Safiyya Ingar is an excellent narrator for the book and does so well with Dania's voice. I also like how Ingar brings the side characters and setting to life. The reason I liked reading and listening to this one was that, not being a native Pakistani speaker, it was cool and helpful to read the language and hear it at the same time.

Definitely read it if you are a fan of fantasy, retellings, strong female leads, or Pakistani culture. It's one of my favorite retellings of the year, if not ever.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for an Advanced Reader Copy - pub date 10/29/2024. This book was advertised as a gender-swapped Pakistani retelling of The count of Monte Cristo but, not having read that, I'll take your word for it. Just like you have to take my word for it that this book was an awesome journey along the path of betrayal and revenge and forgiveness with a main character who does nothing by halves. For She Is Wrath starts with a prison break and ends with a coup and only very rarely lets up on the gas in between, challenging the reader's view on moral issues and consequences along the way.

An expert swordswoman, Dania starts the book in the worst of prisons, framed for a crime she didn't commit and betrayed by the man she loved. Let's just say the term "female rage" more than applies to her. The thought of escape and seeing her father and seeking revenge are the only things that keep her going. Enter Noor, an equally wronged and angry prisoner with knowledge of the Emperor's magic-granting djinn seeds instead of a sword. The two of them, spoiler alert, escape and set off on their very understandable To Do List.

Told from Dani's point of view, the reader gets a first row seat to all of her emotions and opinions. Even when she is playing a part, you know the Dani beneath and feel her struggle to keep to the role. She is a steady diet of Big Emotions, to be sure, and most of them are driven by an intensity that allows for little humor or brightness. For those moments, you either have to rely on the interstitial flashbacks to Younger Dani or glimpses of her dry humor and capacity to care with her new BFF, Noor. I'll say this - thank heavens for Noor's presence. She humanizes Dani and exerts a steadying hand as much as she is able until things spiral a bit too far down the dark paths where she is not willing to go. The very fact that she is unwilling, though, acts upon Dani and the reader feels the hope that such an amazing, honest friendship can bring.

To be honest, I almost like the friendship between Noor and Dani more than the romantic lovers to enemies to WTF between Dani and Mazin. Don't get me wrong. I like that plotline, too. While I suspected the reasons behind his actions, it still kept the fire of anger and betrayal. There are some things you just don't do to those you love. However, there WAS a twist that I had not seen coming from a totally different direction and, wow, it hurt.

So a story about revenge and djinn magic and swordfights becomes something more and that is exactly what we need.

Unlike anything I’ve read and I loved it! A BA FMC, action, revenge, friendship and lovers to enemies. What more could you want? It took me about 20-25% to really get into it, but the wait was worth it! While I find myself leaning away from YA more often these days, this was so good and I think anyone would enjoy it.

I can’t wait to see what else this author has in store for us with further stories.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

A Monte Christo retelling infused with Pakistani mythology?! YES PLEASE!!

A second chance, romantic fantasy about a girl named Dania who breaks out of prison for revenge against the boy she used to love, for framing her for a crime she didn't commit. And she is PISSED. She's like, I'm going to destroy everything now with no apologies.
It has Jinn, magic, a friendship that turns to sisterhood, treasure hunting, and more. It's classic storytelling. Good vs. Evil with a lesson to be learned... What does revenge cost you?
I absolutely LOVED this book!