Wow! This book has left me speechless. It exceeded my expectations in the best way. The world building and fantasy elements are well developed and the plot is well thought out. I couldn't put the book down once I started it was AMAZING

I love me a good fantasy with a strong fmc. I found the plot pretty easy to follow once I got more into the story which is great for fantasy.

4/5 stars
Recommended if you like: retellings, female rage, revenge, schemes

This review has been posted to Goodreads as if 7/25 and will be posted to my review blog on 8/13 and to Instagram on 8/14.

This book was fairly entertaining and fast-paced. Despite requesting the ARC, I dragged my feet when it came to reading it, but once I started I sped through it and was eager to see what was going to happen next. Was it perfect? No. But it's definitely entertaining and definitely scratches the itch for scheming characters.

I'll preface this review by saying I DNF'd The Count of Monte Cristo about 50% of the way through over a decade ago and haven't touched it since, so I can't really say how well this book does at reinterpreting it.

First, I'll say that I found the concept of zoraat interesting and I definitely wish we learned more about the different blends and effects. Taking too much zoraat, however, can begin turning you 'dark,' and taking the wrong mix can kill you. I like that the zoraat comes in the same general types, but it's the way the different types are mixed together that creates an effect. Noor does a good job explaining it, but getting an entry-level explanation is different than having lots of experience.

Dania is in prison for supposedly murdering a tribal chief from the north. She insists she didn't do it, and since she's an experienced swordswoman and the victim was killed via poison, I'd definitely have believed it in the king's shoes...but what do I know? She's spent her time in prison being tortured and plotting revenge, so when the moment pops up for her to escape, she takes it. While she's definitely rage-filled, Dania also craves human connection, and is unwilling to let fellow prisoner, Noor, continue to rot in jail when the other girl is why she can escape in the first place.

Noor is in prison for her mentor having stolen zoraat from the emperor, which is considered treason. She's been kept alive because the prison warden, and emperor, believe she knows where the stolen zoraat was hidden. Prior to being imprisoned, Noor was an expert at mixing different zoraat blends, and thus is an invaluable ally. I did like Noor, but for someone who says they want revenge, she preaches caution and letting go more than I'd expect.

Most of the book is spent plotting and executing revenge plans. Dania seems to be the mastermind behind the planning, with Noor helping to ensure everything goes off without a hitch. I really liked seeing their plans come to fruition, and I think one of the highlights of this book is that Dania doesn't tell us her plans ahead of time, we simply see them in action.

The two girls have a very specific list of people they're looking to take down: the captain of the guard, Dania's ex-lover, Dania's father's best friend, and the emperor. The first two are actually easy enough to accomplish with some planning, but the latter two prove to be more difficult, not least because Dania seems to still have some lingering feelings.

I have to say, I was disappointed in the direction things took with the ex-lover, Mazin. Obviously you can't just turn your feelings on and off, but man does Dania struggle to keep her head on straight when he's around. She does pretty well for a while, but it's clear pretty soon after their first time seeing each other again that Dania is probably not going to be able to carry through her revenge fantasy. Considering Maz doesn't have a good reason for betraying her (and betray her he did), I would have preferred Dania stick to her guns and get revenge on everyone, not just the people she dislikes. I wanted to see her punish Maz. I wanted to see her be villainous. And we just don't get that.

There was a good twist toward the end that I 100% didn't see coming. I was quite surprised when it happened and enjoyed it. However, the twist really does just serve to push the anti-revenge narrative, and I think it could've been more interesting if it had been used as a mirror to show how revenge can go two different directions: one unjustified and one justified.

Overall this was an entertaining read, though I will say the opening couple of chapters reads as an early-2010s YA book. The later prose is better and by and large I enjoyed the plot.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this!!! I like the premise of this book a lot. Nothing better than anger and rage with a hint of magic sprinkled in. The back and forth between the characters is a lot of fun, but I feel like this could have been fleshed out a bit more. Dialogue is good, but missing something important. However, I will say it is very refreshing not to have a series for once. To just be able to read a standalone all by itself without wondering when the next one will be out or if I don't remember something from the first book.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc. This story was amazing. Dania is a young woman who was wrongfully imprisoned and while in prison was plotting her revenge. During her plotting a prisoner in the cell next to her burrows into her cell and they become instant friends and continue to plot on their revenge. Dania was betrayed by the person she loves. Her father, the finest swordsmith in the area with the best sword collection, was murdered for his sword collection. During Dania’s imprisonment she was abused and neglected. So she gathers zoorat (magical and dangerous jinn seeds) to help her accomplish her goal of vengeance.

Although the book's premise was intriguing, I found its execution somewhat lacking. I was initially drawn to the story by its revenge-seeking heroine, deceived by her lover, and the Pakistani-influenced elements. While we do get a female main character driven by vengeance and retribution, the repetition of this theme felt excessive. The characters seemed superficial and immature, which is somewhat acceptable for a YA fantasy, but I still couldn't connect with any of them. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to read a digital copy of For She is Wrath, as I was very excited by its compelling premise. Unfortunately, the story didn't meet my expectations, but I would recommend it to young readers new to YA fantasy. It's an accessible, action-packed, and quick read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I did not request to read this book. It was offered as I was reading another NetGalley arc that mentioned the book this one is based off. It was a weird coincidence! I did not have time to read this but have added it to my tbr list in the future!

"For She is Wrath", the deubt novel by Emily Varga, is a breathtaking Pakistani retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo that seamlessly blends dark magic, revenge, and a powerful love story. Dania’s journey from betrayal to vengeance is both gripping and heart-wrenching, filled with unexpected twists and rich cultural elements. The dynamic between Dania and Mazin is electric, making the tension and chemistry palpable. Thank to to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was really hard to get through. The plot building was a bit sporadic which also made it hard to get to know the characters. Was also not really much different than any other fantasy book on the market.

This was an ok read. I liked that the main character was very head strong but that’s about it. There wasn’t really anything original to this story. It was very light on the details, as if it wasn’t fully fleshed out. Some conversations felt repetitive and drawn out. There wasn’t a lot happening that kept the plot moving along. I really didn’t understand why revenge was a huge piece of the plot but the main character had ample opportunities to enact said revenge and kept delaying for some bigger chance.

I love retellings and a retelling of "The Count of Monte Cristo"? WELL DONE. Seriously. This was truly supburb. From start to finish this book was an absolute dream. The characters were very well-developed and stood out as well written and the plot was powerful and dynamic as well. The magic elements added an extra element and were explained throughout the story.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

For She is Wrath by Emily Varga is a first person-POV YA Pakistani romantic fantasy about revenge. Dania has lost her father and her freedom and is counting down the days she wastes away in her jail cell. When Noor, another young woman in the prison, accidentally digs a hole into Dania’s cell in her attempts to escape, Dania finds a way to finally get out and get her revenge.

The magic system has some parallels to drug addiction, particularly in the use of zoraat, a mixed powdery substance that greats the powers of a djinn to whoever injests it. Noor is an experienced herbalist who knows the quantities needed to get the right effect, but warns Dania that people do get very sick and even die from zoraat. Dania uses the powder to change her facial structure to pretend to be the daughter of a northern chief, but slowly feels the powder asking her for more and more.

The romance is a childhood friends to lovers to enemies than back to friends and lovers. Varga used backstory chapters to show the progression of Dania and Mazin’s relationship, letting the reader see why his betrayal was so painful and how she could lump her old friend in with a murderous usurper of an emperor. Mazin is sometimes misguided, but mostly has a good head on his shoulders and respects Dania’s skills with a blade and her autonomy.

One thing I really liked was how food was used both to worldbuilding and show interiority. Dania missed the rich food outside of prison and struggles not to stuff her face when she's presented with delicacies she hasn't had in a while. At the same time, she takes note of when one of the men she plans revenge on has not only changed the cup he drinks his chai in, but also that it now contains rose petals. Food can tell us a lot about culture and about a person and I think it was utilized quite well here to do both of those things when it was on page.

I would recommend this to readers of YA fantasy with a revenge angle, fans of The Count of Monte Cristo, and those looking for a fantasy with a relatively easy to understand magic system

This book is a powerful new fantasy story that was a delight from start to finish. There is so much to dig into with this world, the characters are engaging and I found myself desperate to get back to them when I wasn’t reading. The story was a good one that surprised, engaged, and delighted in the right balance with good pacing and I am excited to read more of Varga’s work.

This is a great addition to any YA fantasy library.

What a great book! It opens up with such a punch, I was sucked in on page one.
I adored the plot (which is inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo!) and the pacing was excellent. The twists, in particular, were *chef's kiss*.
The main characters were also very well crafted. I loved our MC Dania. Such a determined, headstrong, intriguing character to follow. But still managed to stand out amongst the sea of "badass FMCs" in the fantasy space right now. She felt real in the best way. Powerful, but not unflapable.
I'd definitely recommend this for your next standalone fantasy adventure.

@sidthesffkid recommended this one to me and I’m so glad I picked this up. This was such a good fantasy novel and my first Emily Varga book.

For She is Wrath by Emily Varga caught my attention with its cover, drew me in with its summary, and hooked me with its prose. I adored that this is a Pakistani romantasy and thus not based in immediately recognizable European centered tropes. The less familiar back drop combined with break neck pacing kept me fully immersed throughout my reading experience and I will gladly read more by this author in the future.

➸ 4 stars

“The ones closest to you betray you the most”

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!

Dania, a fierce and strong swordswoman, was framed for a crime she didn’t commit by one person she thought loved her. Counting down the days in prison while plotting revenge, she unexpectedly meets Noor, who has the key to the vengeance she seeks...

̩̩͙⊱ lovers to ememies
̩̩͙⊱ female rage/vengeance
̩̩͙⊱ swordswoman fmc
̩̩͙⊱ magic
̩̩͙⊱ secret identity

This Pakistani romantasy retelling had me hooked from the very first chapter, the story was intriguing, the characters were complex and was overall a very fast paced book that I could not put down!

Full review is posted on my Goodreads!

Interesting story! The premise really drew me in. I love a good female rage tale. Unfortunately, this lacked the rage that I wanted.

This was very interesting! I enjoyed the magic system and the setting a lot. Dania was a fun character, and her motivation was very believable. I will add this to my recommendation list!

I finished this on a long weekend of reading sprints and I'm glad I did. I enjoyed how Varga took the Counte of Monte Cristo and competely reimagined it. It was a page turner! With revenge, plot, romance and some betryal it's one of my top reads for 2024.