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.

For She Is Wrath by Emily Varga is a thrilling and intense read that’s all about revenge and justice. The story follows a fierce protagonist on a mission to settle scores and uncover dark secrets. Varga’s writing really pulls you in with its suspenseful twists and high-stakes drama.

The book does a great job mixing action with some deep character moments, making the whole ride feel exciting and personal. If you’re into gripping thrillers with strong leads and lots of surprises, For She Is Wrath is definitely worth checking out.

this was an adventurous and action packed read. it starts off with Dania who was wrongfully imprisoned for a crime she did not commit. she knew she was set up and set out to plan her escape from the torturous prison. out of nowhere, she meets Noor. another imprisoned young woman who was in the midst of her plans of getting out. the two become fast friends and realized they have common enemies as they successfully escape.

from there, the story takes off into twists and turns. Dania is a badass when she's wielding a blade, thanks to years of training from her blacksmith father. because of Noor, Dania gets access to zoraat (djinn magic) which allows her to have the ability to do things out of the norm. but in the midst of it, the zoraat begins to add to the complexity of Dania's problems.

this is a story about betrayal, grief, rage, friendship, retribution, and romance. Dania really embodies the all-consuming anger from everything that was done to her and taken from her. and we all know... hell hath no fury. there's plenty of magical fantasy and world building, which made for a good read.

while i enjoyed this read, things got a little repetitive or slow. still, i loved it. there were parts where i was just rooting for Dania, especially during the fighting parts. it's a 4-star read for me. i'm sure there'd be many others who'd enjoy it just as much as i did, if not more. totally would recommend!

thank you to NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this book. i received this book as an ARC and leave this review voluntarily.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the premise of the book and the main character is very dynamic! The ending felt really rushed though and I wish that there was more build up to the ending. Overall an enjoyable read.

Described as a retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo, this story follows a betrayed Dania in her quest for revenge.

The book has good story telling and world building. However it just moved too slow for me. I got about a quarter of the way into the book and it was not holding my attention. I realized this type of book was not for me. That being said, I am giving it a solid rating of 3 out of 5 stars. The characters are well thought out, but I was not connecting with them. Dania is betrayed by a man she thought she loved and is in prisoned. She manages to escape and starts on her thirst for revenge.

The story contains mystery, intrigue with a dash of a supernatural element.

I was given an advance readers copy by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book and the twist on the Counte of Monte Cristo. The representation of characters is refreshing.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for sending me and ARC of For She is Wrath, a Pakistani-inspired retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo. There’s a lot I enjoyed about this book, a strong FMC, the magic, the description of the surroundings and the food… The writing itself was enjoyable.

Dania was framed for a crime she didn’t commit, and is hell-bent on getting retribution and revenge against the people who wronged her, which is an amazing premise! The question it leaves you with is: “How far would you be willing to go, and how much of yourself would you be willing to give up, to get revenge?”

The main issue I had with this book was the pacing. It dragged along. Dania and Noor would have conversations with each other that were identical every other chapter. It was repetitive and felt like rumination, honestly.

This was sent to me as “fall of 2024’s hottest romantasy,” but the romance was blah. I think if we were given more of a backstory and the sprinkles we were given of the past were put in different spots, I would’ve been more engaged and intrigued. Overall, I couldn’t have cared less about the romance. There’s a few moments that I was like “aw!” but there was no substance to it. I get that romance was a very minor subplot, but I think it would’ve been better without it. Dania was very wronged by Mazin, and the so-called reasoning he gave for his actions didn’t add up to how quickly she forgave him and moved on.

There is a LOT going on leading up to the last 30% of the book, and I truly expected some sort of huge plot twist (we did get one, but it wasn’t surprising due to lack of information and too much TELLING instead of SHOWING) most of the dilemmas they faced were too easily solved at the end, so I left it feeling very rushed.

Again, I’m very thankful to have received an early copy of this, and I think the writing is great, but I do think it could use a little bit of tweaking before release.