For She is Wrath is a gender-swapped Count of Monte Cristo retelling, infused with Djinn magic. Dania is on a mission to avenge herself after being framed for murder and locked in prison for the past year. With the help of another inmate, they break out and plot to get back against those that wronged them, including Dania's former lover.

You can expect -
YA Fantasy
Djinn Magic
Revenge & Betrayal
Feminine Rage
Lovers to Enemies
Found Family
Only One Bed
Dual timeline
Single 1stP POV

This book holds a lot of rage, as the title suggests, and I was afraid it would bog it down, but the story moved fast. It is justified and there is great character development along with it. I enjoyed the writing, it was like watching a movie in scenes, with details and interactions. The audiobook narration really lended to this as well.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books to providing an eARC for my honest opinion.

For She Is Wrath is a take on The Count of Monte Cristo from the POV of a Pakistani woman. The action starts from the drop, and you know that Dania isn't someone to be messed with. There are prison escapes, sword fights, espionage, and the drive for revenge. “The ones closest to you will betray you the most.” Dania does not go quietly into the night and instead seeks vengeance, but are things really the way they seem? I loved the gender switch in this retelling because we got all the female rage vibes! Despite the main plot focusing on going after those who had betrayed her and her family, there are also moments of found family.

Thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an eARC for an honest review.

For She is Wrath focuses on two female prisoners, who escape from prison and reclaim a cache of zoraat seeds and powerful djinn magic which allow them to establish themselves as wealthy women in the city of Basral. Both Noor and Dania are seeking revenge against the power-hungry emperor Vahid, who came to power himself using djinn magic. Dania's father, an esteemed sword maker, was killed when he tried to defend her. She, an expert swordsman herself, disguises herself using the zoorat seed magic, and executes an elaborate scheme to hurt her betrayers, including Mazin, the lover who betrayed her. But seeking revenge becomes complicated as the magic threatens to overtake Danai, Noor disappears, and her feelings for Mazin reemerge despite his betrayal. Dania ultimately learns the power to destroy her enemies comes with a price.

Thank you St. Martin's Press ans Netgalley for this ARC.

Dania has been locked in prison for a crime she did not commit. She's been counting the days and planning her revenge should she ever break free and make it back home to her father.

I loved Dania's story and how she was so set on her revenge. I loved her female friendships and how they empowered one another.

A great fantasy and YA book.

“The truth was, nothing else mattered if I didn’t get revenge.”

Emily Varga’s For She Is Wrath is a magical Pakistani retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo and follows Dania’s desire for revenge against those who betrayed her and her family. The story begins in a remote prison known for its extreme measures and inescapable walls. In order to escape her false imprisonment, Dania allies with Noor, another girl trapped in the prison, who knows the hidden location of a collection of zoraat seeds—the source of djinn magic, which are crushed and blended to create the perfect mixture. They were stolen from the emperor, who now has a tight rein on the remaining fields of zoraat. With the seeds in hand and Noor’s ability to blend the zoraat, Dania sets out to take down those who sent her to prison, including the boy she thought she loved.

For She Is Wrath is a fascinating tale of rage and determination told in the form of a romantic fantasy with twists and turns that kept me on edge the entire novel. Pakistani culture and mythology influence crucial parts of the story, and I loved seeing how different elements were added into a fantasy world. I found the magic system in this world interesting, as it stems from a consumable seed that can be mass produced. It was even more fascinating that there are specialists who study and craft blends of zoraat to cause different magical abilities. The use of a middle man between magic and wielder was a cool subplot that I haven’t seen much of. I also enjoyed Dania’s character; her thoughts are intriguing, and the complexity of her wrath and grief at the life she lost and her unstable emotions kept me turning each page. I liked the intricacy of the relationship between her and Mazin, the boy she loved who set her up to be arrested for treason. A lot of their relationship is told in a series of scattered flashbacks that detail when they met to the day she was arrested, allowing readers to understand the depth of the betrayal and how Dania’s rage was cultivated during the year she spent in prison. Emily Varga’s story was well written, with carefully crafted elements that showed a deep love for Pakistani culture and an appreciation of the fantasy genre that, combined, create one epic story.

This was a great retelling, and the romance was done just right. I really liked this book a lot and will be purchasing a hardcopy for me and my sister.

This was everything I wanted it to be! I absolutely adored this retelling! Looking forward to more from Emily Varga!

The djinn magic was a cool way to bring a fantasy aspect to this story. I love Noor.

I feel like maybe I went into this with high hopes and just could not finish it. It did not keep my interest to want to keep picking this up. For now I am shelving this till later got about 35% in. The characters were not enough to attach to and keep me going. I will say the atmosphere was good but story line not so much for me. If I finish at a later time I will come back and revamp my review.

A Count of Monte Cristo retelling but genderbent and with a Pakistani romantic twist. One girl is betrayed by her lover and sent to prison for a crime she didn't commit... and now she must find a way to break out and exact revenge on the very boy who got her in this situation. Dania is the daughter of a swordsmith who was framed for a crime she didn't commit and betrayed by her lover, Mazin. In prison, she spends her days thinking of revenge and of ways to get out... and with the help of a fellow prisoner her key to escape is finally in her hands. Together they go to seek the hidden treasure and to both get their revenge against those who had wronged them. Dania armed with dark magic creates a new identity for herself, begins a complicated of cat and mouse while wrestling with her old feelings for Mazin. Can she find a way to get revenge or will her plan by foiled before she can ever begin? Let me start by saying I am a Count of Monte Cristo freak, I love, absolutely love the classic. It's one of my all time favorite classic novels and so my scoring of this might be harsher than someone else's might be, however when you make it a point to advertise your book as being a retelling of my favorite classic, I am going to be judging it as such. The thing about this book is that it had so much promise. It had so much potential to be my next favorite book, it had potential to be a fantastic retelling of the classic story.... but it completely fumbled the bag by the 50% mark of the story. If this book was a sapphic retelling that stuck to the CLASSIC MAIN POINT OF THE COUNT'S CHARACTER, this would have been such a good book. This book falls into the issue that I have with every single adaptation of the classic that I hate, it has the character of the "count" forgive and fall back in love with said past lover, please god no, PLEASE NO. It is especially egregious in this one because there is a perfectly wonderful secondary character that could have been both the new love interest and also been a fantastic one. Seriously, having Dania and Mazin fall for each other again just gave me the biggest ew possible, not when Noor was there, not when Noor's character had so much more chemistry and potential than Mazin. I just, I feel so let down and disappointed. Yes this is a YA retelling, but sadly it falls short of being a good retelling for me. I would say, if you don't know anything about the classic maybe you'd have a better time with it than I did.

Release Date: October 29,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

What a FANTASTIC debut and fun from start to finish!

This is the gender swapped, Count of Monte Christo story with Pakistani influence you need on your TBR immediately. As a retelling, you just need to know that it has the basic premise/framework... but still feels completely and refreshingly different in the best way. Please don't compare them.

Rage stories don't really do it for me, but Dania's anger feels warranted. Betrayed by the boy she has loved, she escapes prison with an accomplice, and steals away powerful Djinn magic to enact her revenge. The vengeance friend pact was delightful.

For She is Wrath is filled with friendship, greed, and themes of how to break the cycles of meaningless hurt and vengeance. Dania growth as a main character felt right for her, especially as someone who comes off as a sharp blade, but is also able to feel things quite deeply. Dania is angry but she doesn't make it her whole personality. I loved that the theme of anger was softened by love, and legacy, and the need to be better than before utilizing the powers of forgiveness.

The romance was executed wonderfully and I enjoyed the back and forth flashbacks that really added great strength to the main plot. There are some fantastic heartfelt moments of intimacy amplified by the authors beautiful writing.

There aren't very many solid fantasy stand-alones, but I recommend For She is Wrath to be added to that list.












4.5 stars.

I think my big issue was that it couldn't hold my attention. I would read a page then put it down and the only way I got through it was on audio. The writing also felt a bit jarring at times with some modern day phrases that felt out of place. I liked our characters but didn't fully connect with them and I personally don't think I would have been able to forgive Maz. There were a lot of things that I really enjoyed too, the amount it focused on friendship and how for me, it was the perfect amount of its own story while also paying tribute to the OG book. Overall great for a debut.

A young woman breaks out of prison to get revenge on the emperor who sentenced her to death. She also has in her sights the man who helped with that sentencing, never mind that she gave her heart to him years earlier. Author Emily Varga offers a fresh twist on the classic The Count of Monte Cristo in her sparkling debut For She Is Wrath.

Dania has spent 364 days in prison plotting her escape. Falsely accused of murder, Dania wants revenge. She wants to make all of the people responsible for her imprisonment pay, starting with the emperor, Vahid. Also on her list is Mazin, the boy she once loved, who claimed to love her back, and yet who stepped aside as she was dragged off to jail.

Every attempt at escape has been a failure. Every single time, the jailer tortures Dania with glee afterward. And every time Dania starts planning again as soon as she’s back in her cell.

When her latest prison break fails, though, Dania starts to doubt herself. Then she meets Noor, also intent on breaking out, also intent on getting revenge on the emperor. Between the two of them, a lot of daring, and Dania’s exemplary skills as a swordmaster, the young women do the unthinkable: they actually escape.

Driving them is information Noor has about secret djinn treasure that can give them all the money and power they need to get back at Vahid. It would be too quick, Dania reasons, to kill him. They need to make him suffer first so he’ll understand just how terrible a mistake.

With her knowledge of how to harness djinn magic, Noor helps Dania transform into someone else: Sanaya, an incredibly rich, well-connected courtier with all the innocence of a fawn and all of Dania’s strength behind her mask. Together the friends begin establishing themselves, making waves in all the right social circles so they can infiltrate the emperor’s inner court.

The revenge part on Vahid is easy for Dania; harder still is the fact that Mazin, the boy who once looked at her as if she was the sun in his sky, is now second in command of the emperor’s military forces. Mazin, who took her heart and learned the sword from her. Mazin, who watched as the emperor’s guards chained her and took her to prison.

As Dania and Noor work through every step of their plan, they deal with complications and challenges they couldn’t have anticipated. One of these is the way the djinn magic is worming its way into Dania’s thoughts and heart, whispering that it can give her all the revenge she wants if she gives herself to the magic completely. Hardest of the complications for Dania is that her pulse still races and her heart still beats for Mazin every time she sees him.

Author Emily Varga does an admirable job taking a literary classic and adapting it with ease for a modern-day audience that wants all the tropes of a classic djinn story. The characters are well developed and three-dimensional. Dania, as a protagonist, has no trouble holding her own against all of the obstacles in her path, and Noor is a funny, smart, no-holds-barred sidekick that—in a few scenes—steals Dania’s spotlight.

Anyone familiar with The Count of Monte Cristo will have a fair idea of where the story is going, yet Varga makes it feel like her own tale all at the same time while still remaining respectful of the original plot’s framework. Fantasy lovers may wonder why someone didn’t try to adapt the classic in this way sooner. The book’s steady rise in tempo toward the main portions of the adventure will keep readers engaged.

A few pieces of the plot’s resolution feel like they come a little too quickly, particularly toward the end. Also, the unexpected reappearance of a character, while a great plot twist, may make some readers pause for a few seconds to remember who that person is and why seeing them is so significant. Before that point, Varga has packed enough drama and intrigue into the book that the aforementioned character almost feels unimportant by that point in the story. The title, too, feels like it needed a little tweaking. Dania is wrath, yes, but she’s so much more.

Regardless, Varga tells her story with confidence and a dedicated eye toward her ultimate goal. Those wanting to read a new voice in romantasy will definitely want to check this out.

This story is beautifully crafted and incredibly engaging, drawing readers in from the very first page.

The characters are wonderfully endearing, each with their own unique qualities that make them relatable and memorable. The world-building is rich and immersive, creating a vibrant setting that feels alive and full of possibilities. The magic system is particularly captivating, intricately woven into the fabric of the narrative and sparking curiosity about its limits and potential. Additionally, there's a hint of romance that adds a lovely touch of sweetness without overshadowing the main plot.

Dania, our main character, is a compelling figure driven by unyielding fury and a desire for justice. Wrongfully imprisoned for a crime she didn’t commit and betrayed by the boy she once trusted, her emotional journey is both heartbreaking and empowering. She finds solace and strength in Noor, her gentle and compassionate friend, who provides the support she desperately needs. Together, they embark on a thrilling quest for revenge, harnessing djinn magic to aid their escape and navigate the challenges ahead.

One of the standout elements of this story is the vivid scene-setting. The author excels at evoking the senses through lush, descriptive prose that paints a clear picture of the world and its inhabitants. I felt as though I could see, hear, and even feel the magic around me. The character development is equally impressive; I appreciated how the author allowed Dania and Noor to grow and evolve throughout their journey. The plot twists were surprising and kept me on the edge of my seat, making for a truly immersive reading experience.

The ending, in particular, felt a little rushed, especially after the slower pacing in the middle of the story. A more gradual build-up to the conclusion might have created a more satisfying resolution.

Overall, this is an excellent standalone YA fantasy that honors the genre while offering a fresh, female-centric retelling. It’s a story that celebrates friendship, resilience, and the pursuit of justice. I highly recommend giving it a read—you won’t be disappointed!

Emily Varga is a must-read author. This fantasy novel is epic and I appreciate the attention put into the world building for a standalone. I love Dania and Noor's friendship because they listen to each other and help each other. Mazin is amazing.

For She is Wrath is a reimagining of The Count of Monte Cristo set in Pakistan. It focuses on Dania who was falsely imprisoned for a murder and wants revenge on those who frame her including her former lover/friend Mazin. She teams up with another prisoner, Noor, who has her own plan for revenge against the man who killed her father. They manage to escape and put their plans into action.

Dania is to disguise her appearance using djinn magic with the help of Noor. She slowly puts her plan into action but discovers that her feelings for Mazin are not dead and he may not be the enemy she thought. Dania is a great FMC who is strong and will not let a man dictate her actions.

I really enjoyed this book. I have never read the classic it was based on but this story was a entertaining read and I could not wait to find out what happened to the characters.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I’m not a huge fantasy reader however, The Count of Monte Cristo is in my top three favorite books/movies. When I saw this was a fantasy reimagining of it, I just had to read it. My expectations were incredibly high and I had a few things I needed from the story to enjoy it. Without them, this book would be an overall disappointment. Let me tell you, it had everything I wanted and more.

The story opens with Dania already in prison and plotting her escape. It isn’t until she partners with Noor that things start to pick up. The story takes an interesting turn and we are hit with twists and emotional nuggets left and right. There isn’t a single lull in the story. I was captivated from beginning to end and look forward to reading more from this author.

This book is being voluntarily reviewed after receiving a free copy courtesy of NetGalley, the Publisher, and Emily Varga.

4.25!

“We had become intertwined, we were part of each other, and with him, I felt at home.”

This book had enemies to lovers to enemies and back to lovers (?) and it ATE!

It's been a while since I have enjoyed a book so much! especially a YA book and to see a book where I could relate to so much and understand the cultural references made me feel really good. I would say the writing was really good. It was fun, well written and so easy to read. I was hooked like I was flying through the pages and it was so good to sit and read and love a book. I was a little hesitant seeing how a pakistani retelling would work but it did not disappoint I was having fun reading it and if that wasnt enough the way she carried the plot and the romance as a sub plot was so enjoyable, they were so heavily intertwined which had me at the edge of my seat AND giggling at the same time lol

Dani, after reading a really shitty dark romance I needed an FMC who could stand up for herself and was somewhat in the morally grey area and she delivered, she was ruthless and a soldier, her past story was so interesting to and read and you would feel what happened to her to be honest. It was done so well, her relationship with her father was so cute and the one vision had me sobbing. Dani really stood out to me, she was driven by revenge and allowed that to cloud her moral believes so it was fun to read that lol. Noor, She was Dani's morality because without her Dania would have been lost, I liked her role as well she alongside Dania escaped prison with the goal of revenge but she didnt let her hatred cloud her judgement or made decisions based around that so she was more of a smarter character. Mazin, Okay look I grew to hate him with how well Emily wrote Dania's hatred for him so I was definitely not fond of him but I needed to know his motives and his character was more mysterious like Dania would be thinking of trapping him under her spell but you'd know that he had something else under his fingers, it was interesting to read but I didnt really like him.

The romance, This was enemies to lovers done right!! I needed this and it quite literally consumed, some scenes had me fanning myself. I loved the before chapters and how they transitioned into the lovers state and even in the present timeline, they fit so well together and I absolutely loved it BUT yk what I loved more? The best friend relationship what dani and noor had honestly!! it was so fun to read a friendship like that and the way they stood up to each other for each others mistake and didnt really let things slide but yeah this book delivered on that for sure.

The plot, was very closely based on revenge and it was well planned out, I liked how it was drawn and how the things were slowly unravelling and the final plot twist had me shooketh I did not expect that at all and yeah I had to sit back and think on what I read lmaoo but yeah I would definitely recommend this book because it was amazing!!

Read it if you like An ember in the ashes, we hunt the flame or the wrath and the dawn.

I really enjoyed this book. I found it a little slow at the very beginning, but then it flowed great. It was well written and I really liked reading about a kick-ass lady like Dania! I also had a soft spot for her friend; Noor. She was loyal and had Dania's back. The premises was great and I kept rooting for Dania! Highly recommend for anybody who wants a great book with a lot of action set in south east Asia/middle east.

This was such a cool read. I loved the opening scene and how the two FMCs join forces. I also loved their plan and watching as the story unfolds. I was invested in the story right from the start and it had me until the end. Although there is a romance I like that it didn’t overwhelm or slow the rest of the story down. I wish Noor was more developed and that we learned more about the magic but it was still a good read that I would recommend others check out. 4 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

Retellings of classics can be a huge hit or miss and I think that Emily Varga was able to make a great Pakistani retelling of "The Count of Monte Cristo". This story blew me away and I can't wait to pick up the physical copy for myself and re-read this book! I am curious about this authors next book and look forward to pick up any of her next projects. I can't sing anymore praises, but if you like a retelling and romance, pick this up!

Thank you to NetGalley and Publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!