4.6 rounded up to 5/5.

In "For She is Wrath", Emily Varga takes readers on a sweeping and enthralling romantic fantasy retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo, infused with Pakistani culture and rich with themes of revenge, love, and redemption.

From the very first page, Varga immerses readers in the gripping story of Dania, a young woman framed for a crime she did not commit, and her relentless quest for vengeance against those who betrayed her, including the boy she once loved. As Dania counts down the days of her imprisonment, her desire for revenge burns ever brighter, fueled by a stolen djinn treasure that may hold the key to her salvation.

Varga's storytelling prowess shines throughout the narrative, keeping readers engaged and on the edge of their seats as Dania navigates a treacherous game of cat and mouse, facing off against formidable enemies and confronting the complexities of her own heart. The addition of djinn magic and an evil emperor adds layers of intrigue and mystique to the story, while the lush Pakistani setting and vibrant cultural elements enhance the immersive experience.

The characters in "For She is Wrath" are well-developed and compelling, with Dania standing out as a fierce and determined protagonist driven by her thirst for justice. The dynamic between Dania and Mazin, her former love turned adversary, crackles with tension and unresolved emotions, adding depth to their complex relationship.

Varga strikes a perfect balance between action, romance, and introspection, weaving together a tale that is both exhilarating and thought-provoking. The pacing is excellent, with well-timed twists and revelations that keep the plot moving at a brisk pace while allowing for moments of reflection and character development.

Overall, "For She is Wrath" is a masterfully crafted novel that will captivate readers from start to finish. With its blend of gripping storytelling, impressive world-building, and compelling characters, it is sure to leave a lasting impression on fans of romantic fantasy and retellings alike.

This was a confusing read. I liked the adventure, and the bones of this retelling are there.

However, its thematic exploration of revenge and vengeance was superficial at times and its main character, Dania, reads as quite immature. Perhaps the immaturity fits the main characters' young age, but Dania is frustrating to read and follow her decision-making. I think it would have been better to age up both main characters, Dania and Noor, by 5 to 10 years.

I will admit I did not see the twist at the end coming, though in reflection, perhaps there are hints to it. But not seeing it coming does not mean it’s a good twist.

Furthermore, the revenge against the men who wronged Dania and Noor was too fast and unseen. Noor is left as a sidekick who does much of the behind-the-scenes maneuvering and plotting, and honestly, I would have liked to follow her journey and exchanges.

For She is Wrath (excellent title) is a decent adventure book but would benefit from refining the motivations of the main characters and a more thorough explanation of the magic system.

There are also punctuation and editing errors to fix.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC.

3.75 star for me!
I enjoyed this book a lot! A retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo from the perspective of a Pakistani girl, Dania. I liked the similarities to the original story as well as the unique fantasy aspect of consuming magic/power through a seed.

I feel like a lot of the set up for the revenge schemes happened behind the scenes - so when plans came together and her enemies were arrested it seemed sudden.

All in all, I enjoyed this book and would recommend.

Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for this advanced reader copy ebook!

This was such a great fanstay read! The book not only has a good plot but is full of great characters and relationships! Definitely recommend :) Thank you, NetGalley for this ARC!

“But hope was a dangerous thing, because once taken away, it was impossible to feel more despair. That much I knew from the past year.” — For She Is Wrath by Emily Varga

Framed by someone she loved and locked away for a crime she didn’t commit, Dania lets plans of revenge swirl while she plans her escape.
Once free, and armed with dark magic and a new identity, Dania sets her plans in motion. But her plans begin to become twisted and complicated the deeper she gets into it and she risks herself all over again.

I really liked this story and Emily’s writing style. Dania is so fierce and the embodiment of a strong independent female and I loved her. I also loved Noor and I’m hoping Emily writes more about her in the future!

This story has djinn magic, revenge, a complicated love story, a strong FMC and so much more. I’m excited to see what Emily does next.

Spoilers ahead!!

Let me just start off by saying I support women’s rights, and wrongs. As someone who loves count of monte cristo so much. As in has 5 copies of the book in different languages as well as exclusive versions this book was exciting, thrilling and I could not put it down. In the beginning, it’s like an exact carbon copy with some differences. It’s 100% a retelling. And you can tell, whether or not that’s what you’d like it’s up you. But I was eating it up like a goddam man starved. I love count of monte Cristo and whenever someone said a book was “inspired by” it was just with a bit of revenge. Dania is smart, she is angry, and she comes up with plans very well. She’s been training in sword fighting essentially since she could pick one up. But by chapter two you KNOW that Dania is about to do EVERYTHING she can to get her revenge on the person who put her in jail. You can already feel her anger. Obviously the biggest difference is that Dania’s first love is the one that betrayed her and not just her best friend. He was also her best friend though. Her anger is so large and yet when she was first asked what she’d do it was to find her father. She loves her family very much. In the original, he loves his Fiance, but that too ended in betrayal. While it’s a bit slow in the beginning it does pick up pace. another difference? The benefactor lives. Noor is witty, and badass. She doesn’t like bloodshed but will cut a bitch if she needs to. Chapter 12 is when you really see Dania’s anger outright. The book so far has been inching towards it. But this. This was her breaking point. She was ready for her Jason Todd moment. Again, this book is a retelling of the count of monte cristo so it is essentially the same with the authors own twists. If you are not a fan of blood, gore, and of course revenge do not read this book. Please read trigger warnings of the book beforehand. And remember, revenge is sweeter than justice.

Favorite moments?
“I did try again”
- God it was so good. So badass. Love her.
“Never show them your fear. The weak feed from fear”
- this quote meant so much to me. As a Latina in a new state living thousands of miles away from family fear is practically my roomate. But never let your fear control your fate.
“I think. That you didn’t really save your sister from a hawk that day.”
- the way she’s insinuating that the Nahid is the hawk is so ughhhh so good.
“You know I’d follow you anywhere Dani”
- all I could hear was donkey saying “oh the betrayal”
“I had him”
- ok. This is here because I know that from that moment. From that touch. He knew who she was.
“What you are saying is that you liked it when I stabbed you?”
- HAHAHAHAH no explanation needed.

This was really good! I wish there was a map in the front, and hopefully before this book is published there will be!
The plot was really strong. I loved the detail that was given to the characters and their story! It was a bit repetitive at times, but mostly it was a strong fantasy story. The relationships were really strong, and I would’ve loved to have a prequel of Dania’s father and mother’s love story. Just the bit we got in this book didn’t feel like enough!
I loved reading the training scenes, but I wish Dania and Maz didn’t fall in love so quick and we got more background of their story. It just seemed fast. However, it’s an easy fantasy read! Enjoyable.

This was such an unexpected revenge story!! A unique retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo in a Pakistani romantic fantasy..umm yes please!

I went into this story practically blind and I urge you do to the same. It was such a well written plot with complex characters that were fierce and full of angst. A wrongfully imprisoned women spends a year in prison plotting how to exact her revenge on the man and ex lover who put her there. Our FMC is a bad*** as were the rest of the characters for that matter. There’s romance with no spice and as much as I enjoy my spice, it was such a fresh take.

We have enemies to lovers, a unique magic system, a beautifully vivid setting, found family, and the best part was the Pakistani influence and culture that’s represented here. The pacing I think is not too slow or too fast and it had just the right amount of twists to be fully enjoyable without being over the top. Recommend this for fantasy lovers alike!

I have been provided with a review copy of this title from NetGalley for an impartial review. Ahhhhh this was just such a great read. I just didn't want this book to end and I was sad to turn the last page. I'm so excited to see what's next from this author.

I was so excited to receive this book and my gosh it did not disappoint! This was PHENOMENAL! The enemies to lovers that we all swoon over. I love that this is a Pakistani romantic fantasy, and that it involved djinn. We love a good revenge story over here

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I was very exited to read this since I love a good revenge story. Though I thought it was a bit underwhelming she only stayed in prison for one year (not that it wasnt enough to want revenge, cause she was tortured in there. I could understand her hate 100% but still felt like she was there for more time. And I dont think it would have changed much in the story if she did.) I still had fun, It's always something thats so satisfying to read and by the end of it I was giving up an hour or two of sleep so I could keep reading it. Usually in this type of story I can guess what direction it will go but in this one it kind of surprised me. (I think it can be dissapointing for some people, even thought it was not a problem for me.) But there was a twist in the end that I thought it was a bit.. meh. Also I think it ended TOO well and happy for a story with this tone? but maybe its a personal thing.

Something else I did not enjoy was the magic, I think zoraat was not explained enough. But my biggest issue was Noor's character. Even thought she is present in most of the book, she did not have enought dept. Her friendship with Dania in the surface seems beautiful but I could not care much, unfortunately.

As for Dania, Im always asking for more characters motivated by hate so it was satisfying to get it.
The romance was fine, most of what we see from them is from flashbacks so we just see pieces of their story, which its something that usually does not work for me but it did here. I was not crazy about them or anything but the angst was good.

Overall, even with some criticism this was still super entertaining to read and I will look foward to other books by the author!

Wow, WOOOW. This book was top tier. It was amazing. The stories dynamic how it starts with the MFC being in a rough predicament, her befriending someone unexpected and different from her personality. The MFC is ruthless, strong, fierce, and she has ONE thing on her mind REVENGE. She will do anything to get her revenge, and ensure no one else has to go through what she had too, or her friend.
I love the culture references I learned so much Arabic culture, learning the words, weapons, foods, clothing, it was such an rich environment the author paints for you, it is perfectly paced. You get to feel all the emotions, twists and turn. Finding who people truly are, what fuels them, what darkness consumes them. This book is just amazing. Proves that you do not need spice in a book to enjoy it. This book has no cussing/foul language, closed door romance scenes and nothing sexual to boot!

For she is wrath

Revenge. A whole year is a long time to focus your mind, but when you’re locked in a prison under false pretenses, starved and beaten, you find yourself uniquely driven. Dania has goals: escape the prison, find her father, and enact her revenge on her friend and lover who betrayed her. It takes another prisoner to allow a true chance for escape, and together they hatch a plan to enact revenge from the both of them… getting an advantage from a secret weapon.

For She is Wrath is an interesting story. It has the feel of a Count of Monte Cristo retelling, directed for a more YA crowd. The setting is beautiful and unique, including bits and pieces from the Pakistani culture. My biggest fault with the novel, however, is the main supporting character. I felt like she was more of a prop up to whoever Dania needed at the time (but by all means this could be the way I interpreted her!)

I recommend if you like your YA angsty, like unusual settings, or are into fantasy retellings you give this one a try.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me an early copy.

4.25 Stars
-Friends to lovers to enemies to lovers
-Fake dating/courting
-Powerful magic system
-Found family
-Revenge
-Cliffhangers and plot twists

Dania has just spent the past year in prison, and it was all because her lover turned on her and sent her there. She has tried escaping, and when she meets Noor she is successful. Her quest is simple: enact revenge on all those who wronged her.

Dania seems like a complex character but is really simple when you dive into her. She deeply loves those around her and wants to protect them at all costs, at ANY cost.
Noor is an anchor for Dania, keeping her stable and is the mind of reason for the operation.
Maz is her kryptonite. She wants to hate him, but her heart still can't let go even after his betrayal. How will she be able to get revenge on him when she still cares for him?

We dive into this tale of *Prison Healer meets Dreams Lie Beneath*, where hidden identities are crucial to the plot. Characters will sacrifice themselves and those around them for power. But is power the best thing?

I had such a blast reading this. The theme of revenge is so prominent in not just Dania, but all the characters. It gave these dark and sinister vibes but filled with love and friendship. I loved seeing the development of Dania's character and how her relationships evolved at the end of the book.

A woman wrongfully imprisoned after being betrayed by her lover and her quest for vengeance against everyone who wronged her. Need I say more? Dania was such a badass sword-wielding MC and I felt for her so much. And Mazin - I loved him, I hated him, I won’t say reveal anything more.

I really enjoyed the Pakistani influence and the magic system with magical seeds controlled solely by the Emperor and powers granted by the djinn. The story was made all the more exciting with flashbacks from Dania & Mazin’s past slowly revealing how things got to that point. Loved the romance, unlikely friendships, and surprising betrayal. Would love to read more from this world!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

Emily Varga’s “For She Is Wrath” follows wrongly imprisoned Dania alongside her prison break companion Noor as they seek out revenge and justice on their intriguing magical quest.

This story had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next - I was captivated by Dania and loved the way her character developed throughout the book. I appreciated the Pakistani setting and of course the references to pakora, chai, etc had me salivating as I read. I had such a soft spot in my heart from Mazin and was eager to find out his motivations and the truth behind his epic betrayal.

I truly enjoyed the romance that unfolded within this book as we get a friends to enemies to lovers trope that made my heart melt. I don’t remember The Count of Monte Cristo, so I can’t remark on how this retelling honors the original, but I can confidently say that if you enjoy romantasy, magic, sword fighting and action-packed adventures — you will most certainly delight in the consumption of this tale.

Thank you so much to NetGalley & Wednesday Books for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback. I hope to read more from Emily Varga in the future.

Actual Rating: 4,5 ⭐️

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For She Is Wrath is a worthy read inspired by the book The Count of Monte Cristo.

Plot

Dania wants to get revenge on Mazin, the boy she once loved, because she is behind bars for a crime she did not commit. She finds out that a fellow prisoner might have the secret to getting her retribution—a treasure that was stolen from a djinn. Despite Mazin's objections, Dania comes up with a scheme to bring those who betrayed her and her family to justice using dark magic and a new identity. But as they pursue, a tricky game of cat and mouse develops, with the potential to wipe out adversaries. Dania runs the risk of losing both her love and humanity for Mazin.

The plot of the book was really good. I was hooked from the first page and the book didn't disappoint. The pacing was good, but I wish the ending was a little longer. I thought the main problem got resolved way too easily and in just a few pages. However, there was a plot twist that I didn't see coming and I was really surprised.

Characters

Dania

Dania is our main character and she was a very good protagonist. After everything that happens to her, she swears she is going to revenge on her father and what happened to her. She is strong, and brave, but can also be hotheaded. She grows a lot during the novel and I love how she realizes that sometimes revenge isn't everything and can do her more harm than good.

Mazin

Mazin was a complex character. He is alive because of the emperor, but he also knows what the emperor did to his mother and does to the kingdom. He could have done things differently, however, I could understand the reason behind his actions.

Noor

Noor was a prisoner that Dania met while she was in prison. They befriended each other and escaped together. Both of them want revenge for what was done to them. Noor was a character who tried to help Dania every step of the way. She was the person who tried to call Dania out when she became obsessed with her revenge.

Anam

Anam was Mazin's younger sister. She was such a sweet person and she could have been a very interesting character. I wish the author could have spent more time fleshing out her character.

Vahid

Vahid is the emperor and he is supposed to be a ruthless man, who wants more power at all costs. However, he barely appears in the novel. I wish I could have seen more of him. The ending left me unsatisfied.

Writing

I loved the writing style. I love the descriptions and the dialogue between the characters was well done. For a debut novel, the writing is really good.

World-Building

The world-building was well done. The magic system was well explained and left me with no doubts and I love how the author described the empire.

Romance

The romance between Dania and Mazin was good. I liked their story. I just wish the author could have developed the relationship a bit more. But in general, I liked their interactions and I also think they had an amazing dynamic and chemistry.

Final Thoughts

This read was very good and I was surprised by this. I look forward to seeing the future books by this author.

Following Dani and Noor as they attempt to make their way to the emperor to seek their revenge is quite an adventure. Utilizing magic, Dani is able to disguise her appearance so that she may exact her revenge on those that have wronged her. After escaping imprisonment, Dani has one thing on her mind and that Is REVENGE. She discovers that she has lost everything when she returns to her hometown and no longer feels that she has anything left to lose. Except her plans are derailed when her feelings for her previous lover keep distracting her from her goal.

I loved the storyline of her revenge. I loved the journey and plotting with Noor. I knew where it was going with Mazin, but that didn't necessarily deter me from moving forward in the story! I appreciated the story overall and would recommend to others.

I enjoyed For She is Wrath. I thought the premise was good and enjoyed the Count of Monte Cristo take. This book would have received a higher rating but here are the reasons in my opinion of why it didn't:
- I felt like most of the characters were one dimensional and I personally didn't feel any strong connections to the characters due to this
- The beginning of the book was *chefs kiss* but I felt like the longer I read it, the plot kind of just got thrown in and there was no cohesive shift from one aspect of the book to the other. Things kind of just happened

I think this book had several strengths including:
- Fight scenes
- Magical element added into the Monte Cristo world
- Descriptive language used

Overall I give this book a 3 star. Aspects of the book I really enjoyed but feel like it could have been even better with smoother transitions/lead ups and better character development.

So, I know nothing about The Count of Monte Cristo except that it's super long and it's about a man getting revenge against the guys who got him jailed for 15 years. But I was sent a digital copy of the ARC from the publisher itself. The premise intrigued me, too, so I thought I'd read it and see if it would deliever.

It really didn't, in my eyes.

Firstly, the writing is sluggish and incredibly repetitive. It was the same words and thoughts over and over. Revenge, vengence, I must kill the boy who wronged me, it all consumed the prose and dragged the story so much. I get this is all Dania has thought about since her imprisonment, and it makes sense it's all she'll be thinking about, but the writing doesn't need to keep telling me. But it did! It kept going although out the plotting, scheming, and bemoaning til she finally starts acting on it way too late into the book.

As for the characters, I didn't care for them, whatsoever. Dania's repetitive thoughts about revenge were really annoying, and she didn't have much else going for her til the last couple chapters. Noor felt more like a plot device to help Dania escape in the beginning only to act as a sidekick throughout the rest of the story; again, not much going for her. Maz was there, but I felt nothing for the romance was there.

Overall, this was a miss for me. I dunno what the people who read the original Monte Cristo will think of this, but I also dunno what this can offer to people who regularly consume YA fantasy besides the Pakistani representation. I do think this book will find its audience, but I will not be among them.