For She Is Wrath is a high paced tale of a girl whose only goal is seeking vengeance for her wronged family. The story is very fun, playful and steeped in rich cultural traditions that I loved to get a closer look into during my read.
I read this fairly quickly due to the fast paced story, but also the story reads very YA. I would recommend this story more towards middle school and early high school aged kids looking for a fun adventure in a far away land.

I DNFed this at 22%.

The pacing was dragging, but worse was that I had no connection to the main character. It was like she was telling me how she was feeling but not showing me. I wasn't feeling it.

The main character also regularly contradicted and repeated herself.

This book is not for me, even though the premise sounded amazing.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for the ARC.

I enjoyed this! I did not realize until after finishing that it is a retelling of Monte Cristo, but I’m not very familiar with that story anyways. I think the foreshadowing of the risk of the power and desire for revenge taking her over was a little heavy handed at times. But ultimately really enjoyed where the plot went.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC!

First off, can we take a second to enjoy the beautiful cover for this story? It's absolutely stunning and definitely increased my initial interest in the book.

Unfortunately, I really struggled with this story and DNF'd. It was rather repetitive with bland, forgettable writing. YA fantasy can be hit or miss - sometimes I find it to have complex, magical, well-planned worlds with engaging, more entertaining plots than adult fantasy, but sometimes I find it an excuse for what should be a NA book with poor writing and a lack of editing, complexity, and/or development. Take a guess which I'd consider to label this book under...

While I understood our main character's rage over a false accusation and betrayal, I felt the complexity of emotion could have been better explored instead of taking a more one-dimensional approach. I couldn't connect with her, and therefore I lost interest in the story. We were promised a high-stakes revenge plot, and I wasn't seeing that.

I just couldn't get into this Monte Cristo retelling, and it fell short on its premise. You might like this if you're looking for an upper YA/NA romantasy with little depth, but I'd skip it if you're in the mood for more complex relationship and plot development.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for an earc in exchange of an honest review.

For She Is Wrath is a Pakistani romantasy retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo. Our heroine, Dania, a determined, fierce, swordswoman, was framed for a crime she didn't commit by someone she thought loved her. Trapped in prison, she plots her escape and her revenge. She is aided by Noor, a fellow prison-mate who has the rare and coveted knowledge of how to blend Zoorat, a plant that gives the user djinn-like powers. Together, they plan to exact revenge on those who have wronged them, but in doing so, they risk losing themselves to darkness.

This was a page-turning, original retelling that kept me reading from the first lines. I loved the strong, sister-like bond that formed between our heroine, Dania, and Noor, and the spotlight on familial relationships. I loved the blend of fantasy and Pakistani culture. It was truly a great ride that left me wondering until the last reveal.

Made for fans who enjoy:
-female swordswomen
- female vengeance
- found family/sisterly bonds
- lovers to enemies
- magic
- hidden identities

Unexpectedly one of my top reads of the year!

I really wasn't sure what to expect from this book. It's safe to say though that this book took my breathe away. It took me a while to really get into it, but once I hit that 25% mark, I couldn't put it down.

I loved the entire concept of this story. The FMC was such a strong and fierce character, and I enjoyed following her journey from start to finish. Her character was dynamic, and I felt like the reader could feel her emotions right off the page. This book was also very easy to follow without being too predictable. It was a super easy read, but I still found myself surprised by all the twists and turns. But once again my MVP character has to be the MMC. Despite his miscommunication issues, he was just such a catch! I was obsessed with his character. The flashbacks were fun, and they helped give backstory without making the story feel all over the place. The side character was also a very well-developed character!

Overall, this book was something I never expected. It was fast-paced and full of emotions as well as twists and turns. This book had me feeling all the emotions right along with the main character. Would definitely recommend!

Big thank you to the author, the publisher, and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions. All thoughts and feelings are my own.

Rating: 4.7/5

I'm usually not big on the fantasy genre, but when I got the chance to read this advanced reader copy thanks to NetGalley, I thought, why not? And guess what? It turned out to be the perfect fit for someone like me who doesn't dive into fantasy all that much. It featured a fabulous strong female lead, an equally formidable female sidekick, a love interest who flips the script and becomes the antagonist, a villainous emperor, and a village and family under his tyrannical rule, all wrapped up in some seriously impressive magic. The plot was a roller coaster of twists and turns, making it a truly captivating read. Definitely worth picking up.

FOR SHE IS WRATH is absolutely a Monte Cristo retelling - but it is also so much more than that! Especially in the beginning, the author brings in much of what made the Count of Monte Cristo so compelling: the fight for escape, the unquenchable thirst for revenge, the friends made and lessons learned along the way. But what I appreciate about Varga's retelling is when she chooses to go farther, such as when she leaned into the back-and-forth of female friendship. (I loved Noor!!) Or when she included in her worldbuilding an indelible fantastic element through the use of a unique magic. The romance itself is swoon-worthy, with several striking lines and scenes. Overall, I greatly enjoyed the book and hope for a sequel -- perhaps Noor's??

I've never read the Count of Mont Christo so I cannot speak to its being a retelling of that story but this story was more like a 2.5 for me and here's why:

1. This story is marketed as YA, and it definitely reads like the way teenagers would solve their problems or think about the world, so in that regard it's more of a me thing that makes this lower rated. BUT, this FMC is soo one track minded. She was imprisoned therefore EVERYONE MUST DIE! And we get thoughts like “I'll cry only after I get my revenge”. It's just not nuanced enough for an adult audience. So a me thing as a more mature reader but also may annoy some more mature YA readers as well.

2. Again, this is YA, so tell me why this book has two spices scenes and one of them is definitely NOT fade to black situation??? Why are we now putting spice scenes into YA stories? It feels like YA is now just a word for adult books with poorly written character depth and world building

3. I did however really enjoy the side characters of Noor and Mazin, as well as the magic of the djinn. There is a great friendship at the core of this book and that may be an influence of the inspiration

4. The plot conveniences…I rolled my eyes several times in and even wrote in my review copy “how convenient...” at least two separate times.

I suggest this book for NEW ADULT readers and/or someone who enjoys a stand-alone story that has an interesting magic system and a bantery romance, with some Pakistan influenced setting.

For She is Wrath is a fantasy retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo with a romantic subplot.

The blurb sounded really good on this one. It simply didn’t deliver many memorable scenes. I kept waiting for more to happen. I did like a twist towards the end I didn’t see coming but then that was followed by same type of meandering spirit.

It’s a fine book. It’s just not something I think I’ll recall much of 6 months from now. I had higher hopes and I’m bummed about it.

Thanks though to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

A great fast read wonderfully done from a woman’s perspective it was engaging and kept my interest. I love the story of the count so this reimagining was very well executed and fun. 5⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley

The narrator was amazing. I have never read the Count of Monte Christo was but vaguely familiar with it. I loved the FMC Dani and her friend Noor. They were both so strong in their own ways.

The fact that this is a debut is absolutely amazing and I can’t wait to see what else this author puts out.

For She is Wrath by Emily Varga, 400 pages. Wednesday Books (St. Martin’s Press), 2024. $18.
Language: R (20 swears, 4 “f”); Mature Content: R; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: SOME
After being framed and wrongfully imprisoned, Dania let her anger grow with every passing day and failed escape attempt. Noor has been planning her quiet escape longer than Dania, but Noor’s careful tunnel was dug in the wrong direction. With the girls working together, they vow to get out and get revenge.
The first half of this book is a fantasy version of The Count of Monte Cristo, which adds an element of fun in comparing the two and seeing how Varga built upon the original vengeance story. One of the biggest differences stem from the roles of Dania’s betrayers and how interactions with those characters force Varga to take the second half of the story in different directions than Dumas took his. The heart of the story is about the cost revenge demands, whether we are willing to pay it, and whether it’s possible to ever take it back.
Dania is described as having “brown” skin. The mature content rating is for illegal activity, kissing, innuendo, mentions of drugs and sexual harassment, nudity, and sex. The violence rating is for assault, blood and gore, mentions of torture, and murder.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

An action-packed, enemies-to-lovers quest of a romantasy that is a Pakistani take on The Count of Monte Cristo! I adored this one. The characters seemed to leap off the page, and their emotions were so strong it was easy to root for revenge. But what left the largest impression on me is Varga's beautiful way of wrapping the characters' journey and the growth they experienced and the message that vengeance isn't always what we need, but rather to cling tighter to the ones we love.

Thank you, NetGalley and Wednesday Books, for an ARC of For She is Wrath! Pub Date: October 29, 2024.

“I’d read you like scripture, a prayer. And all the worship I felt, I’d heap at your feet.”

We all need more female rage in our lives

“If I’m going to have the stabbing, there better be kissing after.”

4.5 stars

This was so atmospheric. The power of family lost and family gained. That when motivated, anything is possible, including burning down an entire empire.

“I am a tool of vengeance now. I exist to destroy those who came for me and my family.”

I don't know how to describe it but it was like the ideal fantasy setting. There was a prison, a castle, markets, farms, swords, horses, hidden identities, enemies-to-friends-to-lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers, he-knows-her-scars, rain-forcing-them-to-an-inn-for-the-night-with-only-one-room-and-only-one-bed…

Just so perfect.

“Are you flirting with me about getting beheaded?”
His eyes lit up. “I can’t think of anyone else who might even consider it flirting.”

Dania was so strong, after all she went through and lost and I loved her and I loved her friendship with Noor was great. I love a good friendship-building in books, its always so wholesome.

He fell to his knees on the floor, looking up at me as if waiting for his execution.

Set on a Pakistain-inspired background, this book of revenge, rage, forgiveness, acceptance, and romance was just amazing. I loved the movement around Dani and Mazin’s relationship and their history, told in duel timelines (not alternating chapters, though, just enough for background).

“Noor, this isn’t about revenge. It’s about making sure this power doesn’t stay in the hands of anyone who is going to use it to destroy. It’s about stopping the cycle.”
Noor looked up at Maz, her brow raised. “It’s a little about revenge,” he admitted.

I would have liked a little more rage, world-building, and romance, hence the not 5 stars, but overall, amazing!

“It’s too much. I can’t save you without destroying myself.”

Dania is not just mad, she is furious. For the last year, she’s been imprisoned for a crime she didn’t commit. What’s worse, she was framed for this crime by several powerful people, including a boy she thought she could trust with her heart. Now, heartbroken and angry, she sits in prison, plotting her escape. When another prisoner, Noor, accidentally digs into Dania’s cell, Dania thinks this might actually be her chance. Noor has knowledge of secret wealth and magic that will help them once they get out. But Dania wants more than to just go back to her life. No, what she wants, what she needs, is revenge, and if she has to bring the whole empire down to get it, she will.

I received an advanced reading copy of For She Is Wrath in exchange for an honest review.

For She Is Wrath is a young adult fantasy novel by Emily Varga. It’s also a retelling of one of my favorite classics, The Count of Monte Cristo, but with a Pakistani-inspired setting and djinn magic. Of course when I heard about this book, I knew I had to read it!

For She Is Wrath really swept me away. From the beginning, the pages seemed to fly by. We start out with Dania in prison, planning her escape, and seething over the events that initially landed her there. The story quickly gets the plot moving, and after it starts, it definitely gets rolling. There’s a good combination of action with planning scenes, and there are a few flashbacks to inform on Dania’s past and how she got to prison, but the book has an excellent pace and it made it really hard to put it down, especially when things start to get really exciting. After all, even after she breaks out of prison, she has to go back to the city and get revenge, and what better way to do that than to disguise herself with magic? It’s the tension of ‘what if they see through her disguise?’ that keeps up the pace even in more of the court-style politics of the book, because if she’s discovered, her plan crumbles, and her life is forfeit.

As for the characters and their relationships, we have Dania as our main character, and she tells the story through her POV in first-person narration, so we are incredibly close as she hatches her plan for revenge. This closeness helps, especially as revenge and doing some of the things she does can be controversial, but with the reader seeing things from her perspective, being witness to her grief and anger, it’s impossible to take any side but hers. I rooted for her as she set her plans in motion, cheered at her successes, and got nervous about every setback. She was an excellent character to read from, and I especially liked her friendship with Noor, her fellow prisoner, but you know I really love friendships in books! Not to say that there isn’t some romance happening here too. I mentioned before that Dania is disguised to fool her enemies, one of whom is the boy who betrayed her. But it’s this boy whom she used to love. There were so many moments when I wondered if he would recognize her, especially with the flashbacks working to flesh out their previous relationship, and despite them technically being enemies, I was wondering whether they’d end up being something different. I can’t say what it is, but know that I loved what happened here, and I guess you’ll have to read the book to discover it yourself!

I had such a great time reading this book. I kept opening it, intending to only read a chapter or so, only to close it after reading much more, surprised at how quickly I was sucked in, and how quickly I was moving through the book. Even while hosting family for the weekend, every spare moment was dedicated to continuing this book, wanting to reach the end of Dania’s revenge journey, and see if she would succeed.

I would recommend this to any young adult fantasy fans, but especially those who love retellings of classic novels, and who have been looking for a retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo!

For She Is Wrath will be released on October 29. You can preorder your copy from Wednesday Books here.

This was such a captivating read! This young adult Pakistani romantasy retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo is a unique take on a classic, blending familiar themes of revenge and justice with fresh perspectives. It was a niche I hadn’t explored yet, but the familiar feelings of vengeance and redemption made it easy to get invested in. The writing pulled me in, and I had to force myself to slow down because I easily could have finished it in a weekend. The main character, Dani, is focused on her need for revenge, and watching her embrace that drive is incredibly satisfying. The flashbacks revealing her history kept me hooked without being overwhelming. My only minor issue was that some parts felt a bit repetitive. While the themes were mature, the writing occasionally felt a little too simplified (yes, even for YA). Still, this would make a fantastic movie, and I enjoyed the story. Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the early access to this book!

dnf @ 35%

Thank you so much to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the eARC of this book!

I’m going to right off the bat say that I don’t think there is anything crazy wrong with this book. It has a strong FMC and an interesting concept, but it’s just not for me.

This is a case where I should have read the summary more thoroughly before requesting the book because revenge plots really aren’t for me. Something about the anger as a motivation really turns me off of a character, especially when the ends they are willing to go to don’t justify the means. (Not saying that’s the case here, just a general observation.)

The only complaint I will have is how linear the plot is moving (up until the point I stopped at least). I wish that there was more of the “before” flashbacks and that there was something to look back upon instead of this straight forward quest for revenge.

For that reason it’s also super difficult to sympathize with Dania(FMC) because we don’t have the context and memories of these relationships to explain how hard these betrayals hurt.

Anyway, maybe eventually I’ll come back to this book if people truly rave about it when it comes out, but right now, not for me.

5⭐️

I kept finding myself utterly surprised this was debut throughout reading this book. I would find myself going to Goodreads to see what else she wrote. Disappointed I couldn't read more from her right away. This says alot to me regarding this book, I enjoyed the writing so much that it made me wanting to experience more after this one.

I had actually never read the Count of Monte Crisco so for me this book was full of fun surprises. It had multiple layers between revenge, grief, and absolution. It handled everything so well. I believed the pain and betrayal Dani felt and the bond she made with Nora. It was also wrote from one perspective with two timelines. The past time line was peppered in really well and paced appropriately with the main story.

In the end I really loved many aspects of this book. I would love to see a companion novel sometime from Mazs point of view.

Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this advanced reader copy. My review is voluntarily my own.

4.5 stars!!! this book had one of the greatest female main characters everrrr! i love retellings and this was definitely a top one for me.