This enthralling fantasy novel is a captivating blend of elements, from an intelligent, fierce heroine to a gripping revenge plot and childhood friends-turned-enemies trope. Varga's world-building is exceptional, and the pacing keeps you hooked from start to finish. The chemistry and tension between Dania and Mazin are palpable, making for some of the most compelling scenes in the book. If you're a fan of strong female characters who can wield a dagger as well as any man, this is a must-read!

The narrative unfolds seamlessly, alternating between Dania's past and present, gradually revealing her backstory and motivations for seeking vengeance. The addition of djinn magic and an oppressive emperor adds depth and intrigue to the story. Dania's resilience and determination shine through, making her a truly memorable protagonist.

However, there are some flaws in the novel, particularly in the portrayal of the male characters and the handling of certain plot twists. The pacing occasionally falters, and some readers may find certain aspects of the story predictable. Despite these minor drawbacks, the book remains a highly imaginative retelling that will undoubtedly resonate with fans of fantasy and revenge narratives alike.

Overall, this is a highly enjoyable read with plenty of action, romance, and twists to keep you turning the pages. Varga's fresh take on a classic tale is sure to delight readers and leave them eagerly anticipating her next book.

Thank you so much for this ARC NetGalley!

First off, the cover is amazing! The art is what compelled me to read the description and ultimately request it.

I love a good retelling and this did not disappoint. Action, adventure, a cast of characters fit for an epic- it was super enjoyable. The prose was powerful and the storytelling entrancing!

Imprisoned for a crime she did not commit, Dania has had nearly a year in a harsh, high-security jail to think about who set her up and how she’s going to get her revenge. But escape seems impossible until fate brings her Noor. Dania and Noor team up to escape prison and set off to right the wrongs done to themselves and the ones they loved. With Dania’s sword fighting skills and Noor’s access to djinn magic, the women set off to the capital for vengeance.

But what happens when Dania is faced with the boy she once loved? The one who betrayed her without remorse? She’ll have to determine if forgiveness is more important than retribution and if love greater than hate.

I don’t want to give too much away, but readers can expect magic, power struggles, and subterfuge. Rife with battles of the conscience, this book will have readers thinking about what their priorities would be in Dania’s position. A well-told story that will be sure to surprise you!

Thank you NetGalley and Emily Varga for early access in exchange for my honest review.

Dania is fire, and like any fire it can bring comfort or destruction. Dania must choose which she wants to be while on her journey to take back the life she’s lost.

This was a great story, with lessons entwined throughout. The characters went through a journey of discovery and all become more reassured versions of themselves as the book concluded. Dania and Noor were such a great duo and I enjoyed reading the growth of their friendship. They balanced each other’s personalities and Noor provided Dania some much needed grounding at times.
The flashbacks of the relationship Mazin and Dania were planted nicely. They gave just enough information about who they were before they became what they are now, and I lovedddd the burn. From lovers to enemies, enemies to lovers, the process was laid out well and the build was perfect. Mazins backstory was nice to have, sometimes we forget that the men have their own pasts that make them who they are and I appreciated getting those details to truly complete his character.

The Djinn was such a cool “bad guy not bad guy”. One you didn’t even see until chaos had already taken control over everyone’s lives. The Djinn was neither good nor bad, the creature just was. That thought made you more aware that actions have consequences and most of the consequences were caused by these characters poor actions. The story was so thought out and well written.
I am so glad to have read this work and believe Emily wrote a great piece that every young girl should read.

I had the pleasure of receiving this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and I must say, I am thoroughly impressed by the author's debut in the fantasy genre.

For those who may not typically delve into fantasy, this book serves as an excellent introduction. The world-building is masterfully crafted, striking the perfect balance between detail and accessibility, while the characters leap off the page with depth and complexity.

As a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope, I found this iteration particularly compelling. The central theme of revenge adds an irresistible layer of tension and intrigue, showcasing the protagonist's journey of self-discovery and the consequences of pursuing vengeance.

While the story reaches a satisfying conclusion, I couldn't help but feel that there is still more to explore within this captivating world. I eagerly await future works from the author, hoping to delve deeper into the rich tapestry of characters and narratives they have skillfully woven. Overall, a remarkable debut that leaves readers hungry for more.

The cover of "For She is Wrath" is what initially caught my eye but I also really love re-tellings of classic well known stories.

From the premise I thought that this book would be a great fit for me but overall I thought it was just okay. I struggled a bit to connect to the storyline and stay engaged throughout the book.

I think that it's worth checking out if you enjoy reading books in the YA Fantasy Genre but it just wasn't the right fit for me.

Thank you Emily Vargas, Net Galley and St. Martin's Press-Wednesday Books for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Cool concept and a great marketing catch when describing it as a retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo. Wished some aspects of the story weren’t given away immediately so more suspense could have been built (exo: explaining why Dania was in prison and how she’d been betrayed within the first ten percent of the book). Definitely liked the friendship between Dania and Noor as well.

Despite the intriguing premise of the book, I found the execution to be bit lacking. What first drew my eye towards this book was its revenge-seeking heroine who had been deceived my her lover, as well as the Pakistani-influenced elements in the story. And we do get a female MC motivated by the idea of vengeance and retribution, but it was unecessary just how repetitive it became. The characters felt surface-level and immature (which I can find passable given that it's a YA fantasy), but I couldn't find myself connecting with any of them, either. I'm deeply grateful for the opportunity to get a digital copy of For She is Wrath, as I was incredibly excited to read it based on it incredibly compelling premise. Unfortunately, this story fell short for me, and I would probably recommend this book for young readers who are new to YA fantasy. It's an accessible, action-packed, quick read.

This was a great book. I really love the world building and the characters. The pacing was really good and it kept the story moving and I was engaged the entire time as a reader

I’m giving this a 2.5 star rating, rounded up. This book is being marketed as a Count of Monte Cristo retelling with a gender swapped lead, I was sold on this premise. Dania our FMC has been imprisoned for a year for a murder she did not commit when another prisoner Noor(our sidekick with convenient skills of mixing the djinn seeds, another note on this in a minute) literally digs a tunnel into her cell. The girls end up escaping after Dania kills a lot of the guards due to her great fighting skills from her father and begin to plot “revenge.”

I will say with a book like this, more planning/plotting by the main characters is warranted. Things sort of got planned, other things were just moments of convenience.

The magic was interesting but like the setting not as well fleshed out as I would have expected, the djinn seeds in a nutshell are magic beans one eats if correctly cooked and gives you power. Too many beans? You go bad.

Overall I can’t say I felt strongly one way or another about this. It didn’t have enough “oomph” to recommend it, pretty meh.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by this one! A Pakistani romantic fantasy retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo with lovers to enemies to lovers?? It was so intriguing and I was very honored to be sent this widget via Wednesday Books, thank you!

The world building was great! It got me really interested in what was going, in our setting, and sucked me right into the story without a hitch. The characters were distinct and easy to keep track of and to get to know, though I would have liked to have see them a little bit more flushed out. Dania's desire for revenge was so delicious and we definitely get to see some of that come to fruition, but I do wish we got to see MOREEEE.

Overall, this was a great retelling. I actually kind of wish that this was a bit longer because perhaps with that, some of the issues I had could have been solved by giving more room for growth and detail.

Thanks NetGalley, St. Martins Press, and Wednesday Books for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Wednesday Books for this book.

The book took me less than a day to read only because I read it nonstop.

It is an amazing read. You're in for a treat!

I have never heard of this author so took a chance based on the cover and reviews. I am glad I did.

Lived the magic system and was sad for the book to end. Hoping for more from this author.

Recommend.

Dania is imprisoned for a murder she didn’t commit and is looking for revenge on those who betrayed her. I enjoyed this Count of Monte Cristo reimagining. I loved Dania’s character and her motivations. I liked the twists along the way. The book did struggle with pacing in the middle of the book. There were some things that happened too conveniently and I would’ve like to see more of the characters planning and plotting. Overall it was an enjoyable, quick YA standalone.

Dania gives me all the Arya Stark vibes--seeking vengeance, list of names, bada** with a sword--and I'm HERE 👏 FOR 👏 IT. I thought the pace was fantastic and was able to devour it in just a few days. The magic system was interesting and the world building made me feel like I was dropped into the middle of a movie. Varga's descriptions are vidid and mouth watering (really, I just wanted to eat everything they were eating). Overall, I LOVED this book and the world it's set in, and truly hope Emily Varga continues the story within it. It seems like the door was left open in the end, so fingers crossed 🤞

DNF @58%

I tried. I promise I tried. But I had to dnf (finally) because thinking about finishing this had me stressed beyond measure.

I expected revenge plots and carefully planned schemes and vengeful, kickass characters. What I got was... not that. I was bored. I didn't care about anything. Or anyone. The romance was... ugh, NO.

I'm sorry this just didn't work out for me.

I enjoyed this book. I thought the author did a great job writing the characters and creating their story. The characters were well developed and you could easily get attached. 5 star read easily! Great read!!

For She Is Wrath is a Pakistani-inspired retelling of The Count of Montecristo (which admittedly I have not read). Our main character, Dania is imprisoned after the boy she loves frames her for a crime that she did not commit. A chance accident while in prison leads to her meeting another character, Noor, who is seeking revenge on the emperor after he ordered the death of someone she loved. Both girls manage to escape the prison and begin on their path of vengeance, aided by djinn powers that are obtained through careful mixing of magical seeds. Mazin, Dania's betrayer returns to her life and the girls plan to use him as a tool to exact their revenge on those who have hurt them and those they love.

Overall, this was a very fun read and I loved how Varga incorporated South Asian (specifically Pakistani) elements and mythology into the story while still maintaining the fantasy elements. The writing was approachable and I found myself drawn into the story right away. The concept of magic being drawn from precise mixing of ingredients was very unique although I would like liked more explanation of the magic system and how it was used in Dania's world. The plot twist at the end was not something I would have ever predicted! I feel that it was slightly rushed (as was the general ending) but Varga did a fantastic job of pulling off a surprise that I think few (if any!) will see coming. For She Is Wrath seems to have ended in a way that makes it a standalone but I could absolutely see Varga revisiting this world, maybe with more of Noor's story!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC

So magical and full of action! I loved this story. Originally I thought that perhaps the story wasn't for me but the characters and world won my over quickly. I highly recommend!

I appreciate the opportunity to read this but this one is a DNF for me. I made it about 40% of the way through but felt like there wasn't much that happened other than discussing revenge. I also didn't feel like the characters had much depth to that point.

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!!