This book was just kinda mid for me. It wasn’t bad by any means and I did enjoy it, but nothing really stood out to make it wow me.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a well-written, interesting take on the Count of Monte Cristo. The characters were interesting and the story was compelling, but a bit slow at times. The main friendship was the highlight for me and I would be interested in reading a book centered on Noor.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

For She Is Wrath is a YA Pakistani romantasy with a friends-lovers-enemies revenge plot. When I picked the book up, I was so excited to dive headfirst into a South Asian inspired world and really immerse myself. However, while the book started off strong, I was quickly disappointed. The characters fell flat - especially Noor, who seemed to only exist to be a sidekick to the FMC Dania. Dania was always angry, to a degree that didn't always make sense and often made her look immature. The romance between her and Mazin was sweet but I wasn't invested due to the underdeveloped characters, which made the resolution of their whole relationships arc similarly underwhelming. I could've ignored this if the world and magic and politics had been gripping, however this was unfortunately not the case.

I thought I would be entering a rich, lush Pakistani inspired world and would be introduced to a unique and interesting magic system, with lots of action and fast pacing. This was not the case. The worldbuilding and magic system are almost non-existent and when they're present, are very simplistic and brought up/developed only in moments that are convenient to the plot. Similarly, obstacles/conflicts arose and then were solved one after the other instead of feeling connected and like they were building to something. And the climax unfortunately did not make up for any of this. I'm giving this 3 stars because I really loved the concept, this is a debut South Asian author, and a South Asian inspired world, which I'd like to see more of in fantasy and romantasy.

Perhaps young (middle grade and early-mid high school) readers will enjoy this, as it has many elements I could see myself enjoying at that age. However, I would not recommend this to older readers as it reads very YA.

I enjoyed this, however, my preference would have been for the book to be more darker. For the MC to be hell bent on seeking vengeance, everything wrapped up too nicely for me. Also, I wasn’t completely sold on the relationships. Dani and Noor’s friendship felt very surface level and Dani and Mazin’s relationship… eh. There were some moments but I would have been totally fine if Dani had unalived Mazin. Just saying.

I will say that the audiobook was narrated by Safiyya Ingar and it was well done! I would definitely recommend listening to the audio!

3.75/5

A pretty darn good debut!

3.75 ⭐️

I found this book to be very readable. The author captured my attention and held onto it from cover to cover. Where I think this author shone in her debut novel was character development and interpersonal dynamics - especially between our protagonist, Dania, and her former love interest/betrayer/current love interest(?), Maz. The scenes between these two were my favorite scenes and I delighted in their tension and pining.

Where I found myself feeling less satisfied was in the magic and world building. Personally I feel this *barely* counts as a fantasy book and only bc there technically is a magic system. But that system was rudimentary and underdeveloped and there was very little world building - a major faux pas in this particular genre. I would love to see if as this author develops, so do these aspects of her writing.

Despite these criticisms, I would still recommend this book and will absolutely read whatever she writes next!

Fat-friendly rating? 🩶, neutral

She Is Wrath is a stunning Pakistani retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo that hooked me from the very first page. This book has everything I love: revenge, fierce female characters, and a touch of magic. Dania’s journey is gripping as she seeks to take down the boy who betrayed her, Mazin, all while navigating dark magic, a stolen treasure, and her own moral compass.

Dania is one of those heroines you can’t help but root for. She’s tough, determined, and skilled, but also has a vulnerable side that makes her feel real. She’s driven by revenge, but as the story unfolds, it’s clear that she’s also trying to reclaim her humanity—and her heart. Her relationship with Mazin is a rollercoaster. Their connection is complicated, shifting from love to hatred and back again. I loved the tension between them, especially as Dania hides her true identity, which creates so much drama and suspense.

But what really stood out to me was the friendship between Dania and Noor. Their bond felt so authentic, like a true found family. These two women had been through similar struggles, and together, they formed a relationship built on trust and mutual support. I loved seeing how they protected and cared for each other throughout the story. Honestly, I wish there was more of Noor—I could totally see a book two that focuses on her story. Her character deserves more time in the spotlight.

The world-building in She Is Wrath is rich and immersive, blending elements of Islamic horror, cultural traditions, and supernatural phenomena in a way that made the fantasy world feel both unique and grounded. The action scenes were intense, and the revenge plot had me on the edge of my seat. Every twist felt earned, and the chemistry between the characters was electric.

One of my favorite lines from the book is when Mazin says, “Either like you want to kiss me or stab me. I can’t always tell with you, but for some reason they are both equally as exciting.” The tension between them was palpable, and this quote perfectly captures their fiery relationship.

The miscommunication trope was the only part of the book I wasn’t fully sold on. I guessed early on what was happening with Mazin, but it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the story. What I loved was the way Dania and Mazin’s complicated emotions and shifting loyalties added to the book’s tension and drama. And when Mazin says, “Did you think I wouldn’t know you? I’d know you with any face. Any skin. Any hair. A thousand djinn could disguise you from me and I’d still be able to find you just by the sound of your breath,” it really hit me how deep their bond runs, even amidst all the lies and betrayal.

And the twist at the end? I definitely did not see that coming at all, and I absolutely loved it. It was the perfect ending to a thrilling and emotional ride.

I can’t wait to read more by Emily Varga.

I requested this book as it was set in Pakistan and wanted to learn more about the culture. It’s also a fantasy tale, so I didn’t learn much about the culture in this book. The story starts off with Dania, stuck in a cell after being framed by the one person she loves, Mazin. She’s angry and with the help of her neighbor cell mate sets off t get revenge on those who betrayed her. There is a lot of repetition of the word revenge, which got annoying at some point. There are elements of dark magic, an enemy to lovers story, a friendship story and of course, revenge. The story is a retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo, which I haven’t read and really hope it’s not solely focused on revenge like this book. It was hard to keep an interest in the book and solely finished it just to see if she finally got her revenge.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy of this book. My review was completely voluntary.

I love a good revenge story! I thought that Dani was an amazing protagonist & I was rooting for her to get her vengeance on those who wronged her. I could have done without the romance. I was not expecting the ending & was so surprised with the twist. I can't wait to read more by the author.

What a fantastic retelling of one of the greatest classics of all time. This was a phenomenal story with a fabulous group of characters.

Loved this one so much!! Female rage and empowerment, a true enemies-to-lovers romance, and such an interesting magic system. I have a thing for characters in disguise, too. This truly lived up to its title and is everything I want in a YA fantasy lately.

This is a fun retelling with a fresh Pakistani fantasy background. There's a little sprinkling of romance that will keep the romantasy fans happy (although don't mistake the book for a complete romance--it is not at all), and a strong thematic element on the merits of moving forward with or without making others feel your wrath.

For She is Wrath is a great book for those who are looking for something on the cusp of young adult, with some adult- like themes. The concept was interesting but I found the deliverance to be lukewarm at best. I found Dani as a character one dimensional. The ending left a bitter taste in my mouth as I felt a book that was promoted as a revenge story didn’t have enough revenge- like aspect.

I couldn’t get into the writing style. For this reason I will not be posting a review on Goodreads or my Instagram page because it is 3 stars and below.

Thank you very much for allowing me the opportunity to read this book.

For She is Wrath follows Dania, a girl imprisoned for a crime she didn’t commit who is out for revenge against those who betrayed her. While I had some issues with the pacing, particularly in the first half of the book, I greatly enjoyed this story from start to finish. A big standout for me was the relationships between the characters. I loved Dani and Noor’s friendship. They balanced each other out but also kept each other motivated for the revenge they were both after. I also loved the enemies to lovers and then enemies again arc with Dani and Maz. Their banter was fantastic and I loved getting to see flashbacks of them as they first became friends and then more. While I guessed some of the plot twists at the beginning, others did shock me and made for an exciting ride throughout this book. I definitely recommend for readers interested in standalone fantasy books with unique magic systems and with an emphasis on the characters at its core.

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

If you're looking for a feminine rage YA fantasy with a splash of enemies-to-lovers romance, this is for you. This really played into the idea of how far would you go to get revenge on those who wronged you. I really enjoyed this book.

Thus fast paced ya fantasy was entertaining, but unfortunately fell flat for me. I couldn’t connect to the character, and the ending felt cliched to me. I still had a fun time reading this! And I can definitely see other people enjoying this as well!

For She is Wrath tells the story of a young Pakistani girl who is suffering after having been betrayed by the person she trusted the most. Loosely inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo, Dania finds new allies and embarks on a path of complete and devastating revenge.

I had an odd reading experience with this book: I picked it up to read, got maybe 15% of the way through, and then put it down and forgot about it for months. Then I picked it up again randomly and finished it in one day. I think the beginning is hard to get into, because right away we are thrown into the whirlwind of Dania’s story and swept up into the adventure, and we’re not really sure what’s going on.

We do eventually find out what’s going on as we start to understand why Dania is in the position she’s in and why she is full of burning hot rage. There are several scenes with flashbacks that were helpful in fleshing out the story.

I absolutely loved how furious and full of rage Dania was. She was so bent on revenge that she had no room for any other emotions, and it was just fun so see her decide to go full out violent on people. I also enjoyed the magic in this book, and all the glimpses of Pakistani culture. Oh, and I also loved the friendship dynamic between Dania and Noor. I feel like characters in this genre of books never have friends, so it was nice to see that.

Unfortunately, the rest of it didn’t really work for me. It wasn’t bad, it was just missing the spark that would alleviate it to something wonderful. I wasn’t really rooting for Dania and the love interest, in fact, I thought that Dania and Noor had better chemistry and better conversations. I felt that due to her magic, she was never really in danger even though she’s enacting this murderous revenge plot. I also wanted more with the djinn and the magic, something more evil and more terrifying.

It was a fun read though, so if you have some time to kill and want to read about an adventure in a South Asian setting, then definitely pick it up.

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc of this book.

"For She Is Wrath" was fun to read through Dania's POV and I loved the character dynamics. I thought the Djinn magic and the overall worldbuilding was interesting, but I wish we learned more about Djinn magic like where it came from. Some parts of the book felt repetitive (mainly Dania's inner dialogue) but it was overall a fun read. Dania and Maz's relationship was very well done.

I'm so impressed that this is Emily Varga's debut novel! A Pakistani-inspired reimagining of A Count of Monte Cristo + YA Fantasy sounded incredibly fascinating and hooked me from its synopsis.

Dania is fueled by revenge. She was betrayed by her best friend and lover, Mazin, and is counting down the days to escape prison and make those responsible pay. I loved the way this novel portrayed female unabashed rage. The friendship between Dania and Noor was so heartwarming and their loyalty for each other despite their circumstances made me tear up. That being said, the fanatical elements of the magic system, particularly zoraat was so intriguing! The details being sprinkled throughout the novel and not all at once made this so easy to digest.

It was so hard to root against Mazin despite his betrayal. I loved his character and the tension between him and Daria was palpable.

Dania's experiences wove her to be such a strong character. Her determination and skills make her so loveable despite her flaws. That being said, I loved her ending. The idea of trauma and its impact on future generations was something I did not expect from this story. I absolutely loved every second of my time reading this.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

Title: For She is Wrath
By: Emily Varga
Pub. Date: October 29, 2024

Genre:
Fiction, Young Adult, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Romance

Red Flags:
Abuse, Violence, Revenge

Favorite Quote:
I was unleashed and all the dark parts of me were clamoring to get out.

Summary:
Dania is counting down until she’s out of prison and with a vengeance can execute revenge on the boy who held her heart and shattered it into a million pieces. Noor, who’s been planning her escape for a while, might finally succeed—with Dania's help. The two girls join forces and in the romantic tone of enemies to lovers, take on Dania’s heartbreaker. Will they survive their dangerous mission?

Review:
I'm trying to read more fantasy and science fiction, genres that I usually find difficult to get into. However, “For She is Wrath” really stood out to me. The characters are well-developed, the magic is perfectly woven into the story, and the plot quickly turns into an emotional roller coaster that's surprisingly relatable. I thoroughly enjoyed this young adult novel!
Thank you Emily Varga, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#ForSheIsWrath
#EmilyVarga
#St.MartinsPress
#reluctantreaderreads
#advancedreadercopies
#NetGalley

This book was so interesting to read! I’m not personally familiar with Pakistani culture so I was learning quite a bit about their clothing and food throughout the story. I enjoyed that the focus was Dania’s revenge and her friendship with Noor. Both of them learning to trust again after being betrayed for the sake of their shared goal. There is romance and it flows well with the rest of the plot. There’s real chemistry between Dani and Mazin and their relationship feels natural. Overall, a fantastic read!