This was highly anticipated, but I just didn’t love it as much as I expected to. It was decent, especially for a debut, but something about the book just didn’t quite stick it for me. Great narration though

I really enjoyed this book. It was amazing and I highly recommend it. The narration was also spot on especially now after having read the text format I can say that the narrator did an awesome job.

I really enjoyed this book! I will say I was skeptical because it’s a standalone and it seems a lot to pull off in a YA standalone but it worked.

I understood the characters and why they did what they did, I thought the pacing worked well. And the story hooked me from the beginning. There was so much tension and emotion: Overall it was a good time.

If you liked the count of monte cristo with a side of female rage then give this one a try!

Dania was a great female character and I really enjoyed her journey and the friendship she built, her rage and her capability. And despite being a standalone it managed to wrap up the whole arc without feeling overly rushed.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this audiobook for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Not my favorite thing I've read, but it definitely has an audience out there that will love it!

The things I liked:
-Super unique and interesting magic system.
-Really great female secondary character (Noor is the BEST character)
-A strong and rage-filled female MC
-beautiful descriptions of setting, food, and clothes
-nice twist towards the end

The things I didn't like:
-bad chemistry between female MC and male MC, honestly felt a LOT more chemistry between the two female leads, but alas...
-dragging pace at points, mostly due to Dania's internal dialogue feeling repetitive
-lackluster flashbacks. I got so frustrated each time there was a flashback. It felt like an unnecessary interruption each time because they rehashed information we already knew.

This book was amazing. A lot of times books that are based on or retelling make me want to go read the original. But this was so good I doubt the original could be nearly as good. I do hope the way it ended means we get another book in this universe to explore some of the other characters.

While I enjoyed the Pakistani elements of the story, I find that in a lot of cases retellings of The Count of Monte Cristo just normally are very enjoyable for me, often times I end up thinking I should have just reread the original. The writing is good and the setting is vivid and interesting but other than that it just wasn’t for me. Safiyya Ingar does a really wonderful job narrating the book and bring Dania to life, and I would gladly listen to any other book narrated by her.

Framed for a crime she didn’t commit, Dania escapes prison with the help of a stolen djinn treasure. Armed with dark magic and a new identity, she seeks revenge on those who betrayed her, especially Mazin, the boy she once loved.

The book is fast-paced, with twists and turns that kept me hooked. I listened to the audio and the narration was great for the most part. However, the voice actress adopted a low growl for the entire book, which fit the dark tone of the story but occasionally became a bit tiring. That said, she still brought the characters to life wonderfully, and I’d love to hear more from her in the future.

The ending wasn’t exactly what I anticipated, but it was a fitting conclusion for Dania’s journey. It was ultimately the best choice for her character, which left me feeling satisfied. Dania’s journey is a powerful exploration of female rage, reclaiming power, and the consequences of seeking revenge. She is strong, smart, and undeniably capable, and I was rooting for her every step of the way.

This book offers a compelling story about the power we have over our own destinies—and the men who may try to stand in our way. The emotional depth and the complex relationships throughout made it more than just a tale of revenge, turning it into an empowering narrative. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dark, action-packed stories with a fierce, complex protagonist.

“A history of women and girls being wronged by men who never had any consequences. Now I would be the consequences.”

Thank you @macmillan.audio and @Wednesdaybooks for the #gifted ALC/ARC of FOR SHE IS WRATH!


That quote still gives me goosebumps.
FOR SHE IS WRATH is a Pakistani genderswapped retelling of THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO. Like any good millennial, my first exposure to MONTE CRISTO was Wishbone. I remember loving the story of betrayal, a prison break, secret identities and revenge. I eventually read the original in high school as well.

FSIW stays true to the general plotline of the original book but I absolutely loved the changes that made this story uniquely its own. Dania is a ferocious FMS. She’s so righteously angry and hurt by the utter betrayal of someone she loved. She spends a year in prison plotting her escape and how she will get retribution from those who wronged her. And when she is finally free, she stops at nothing to get her revenge.

This was probably one of my favorite YA reads this year and I definitely recommend it!

Check this one out if you like:
- Childhood lovers to enemies
- Djinn magic
- Morally gray FMC
- Classic retelling
- Secret identities
- Swordfighting badass girlies

FOR SHE IS WRATH is out now!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6422974198
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DC4Z5XpvAYz/

Fuck. Yes.

This is GOOD. It's story leaping off of the very first page, run headlong into it, GOOD. Emily Varga nails the narrative tone from the very beginning and once I was going I could not stop.

When I heard this was a Count of Monte Christo retelling I felt positive it would miss certain nuances. I was happily wrong. The threads of tension built around vengeance, the subtle and strange amassing of characters was pitch perfect. Supremely satisfying and filling a void that was much needed. For She is Wrath is a favorite of all I’ve read this year

"Do you have a plan?" "No, but I have a sword" - One of my favorite exchanges between the two female leads, and I had to pause the audio and rewind and relisten to it a couple of times, dissolving into a fit of giggles each time

First things first, I have NEVER never once ever finished an audiobook. I don't know what it is with me and them but at some point I absolutely hate listening to the narrator. However, this audiobook was narrated by Safiyya Ingar, and her voice is absolute perfection in my ears. I enjoyed every single second of listening to this woman read this book to me and if you enjoy audiobooks you should definitely give this one a listen.
Now with that being said, the story is absolutely amazing, there is a slight past/present to the story and there were times that while I was listening I didn't fully grasp if it was the past or present at first, but again audiobooks have never been my thing and it's possible it was made clear and I somehow missed it. I cannot attest to if it was handled well in written format as I do not have the written version.. yet, but you can bet your ass I will definitely be buying it at some point.
The story is absolutely amazing, filled with just the perfect amount of strong female characters, but those who you feel earned their strength, and still show their weaknesses which is something I admire. Our FMC is strong, and beautiful and full of so many emotions and feelings and I felt like I could feel all of those along with her.
I thought that I knew where the story was going the whole time and then at the end we get the most interesting, and possibly heartbreaking twist that I didn't see coming, but if you go back and take another look you can see all the small signs there little by little. Emily Varga truly crafted a masterpiece with this one, and I could never recommend this enough to anyone!!

I received this as an audiobook ARC through NetGalley but the thoughts in this review are 100% my own.

I really enjoyed this book! The story itself was well written, the characters were interesting and dynamic, and the use of language was impressive in this book. I wish that the book was advertised in a way that better showed that is an adaptation of a classic novel-- I think that that will pull in more appeal to a broader audience. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others.

DNF @ 45%
Oh gosh I wanted to like this book so bad but I just wasn't invested in the story. The premise itself was so intriguing and I love that we're seeing more books with non-Western settings. The story starts with a bang and the characters have really strong motivations. Unfortunately the pace of the book moved too slowly for me and I found myself losing interest. For a book about a revenge plot there was way too much thinking and not enough action. I'm sure the action will pick up past this point but I'm almost halfway through and I feel like very little has happened. I'm sure that many others will love the reflective nature of this book. It didn't work for me but I'm delighted to see traditional publishers picking up books by more POC. I would definitely read more from this author in the future.

The narrator was delightful is and is honestly why I made it so far into the book. I loved the different voices they employed to make the story more engaging. Unfortunately the story itself fell flat for me and not even a talented narrator could save it.

**Book Review: *For She is Wrath* by Emily Varga**

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️ (1 chili pepper – mild)

Emily Varga’s *For She is Wrath* is an intoxicating mix of vengeance, love, and magic, set against the lush backdrop of medieval Pakistan. This gender-swapped *Count of Monte Cristo* retelling is a masterpiece of storytelling that combines high stakes with deep emotional resonance. From the opening page, Dania’s journey is gripping—a countdown to revenge that simmers with rage, heartbreak, and hope.

Dania is a powerhouse protagonist. Her fiery determination to take down those who wronged her is both fearsome and inspiring, especially as she wrestles with lingering feelings for Mazin, the boy who betrayed her. The tension between them is electric, layered with years of anger and regret, making their dynamic impossible to look away from. The addition of djinn magic and a stolen treasure makes the plot even more exhilarating, weaving in a sense of mysticism and danger that kept me hooked.

This book has everything:

💔 Lovers to enemies to lovers
🔥 Revenge-driven plotlines
✨ Djinn magic and dark powers
🤝 Found family
⏳ Dual timeline storytelling

Varga has delivered a richly woven tale packed with action, heartbreak, and powerful themes of love and redemption. The layers of revenge, dark magic, and complex relationships create a story that’s impossible to put down. *For She is Wrath* will stay with you long after the final page—don’t miss it!

I have never read The Count of Monte Cristo so I can't speak to how this book relates, but I really enjoyed the plot of this book. I don't typically read/listen to fantasy and I was a little hesitant going into this. I'm glad I gave it a try, because it wasn't too complex or hard to keep up with. I loved how Noor and Dania met unexpectedly and became friends. This book is great if you're in the mood for a revenge story!

Wow! This book has left me speechless. It exceeded my expectations in the best way. The world building and fantasy elements are well developed and the plot is well thought out. I couldn't put the book down once I started it was AMAZING

I love a woman hell bent on revenge. This is an unputdownable, fast-paced Pakistani retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo. Even though this is a debut novel the writing is fantastic. Everything is well developed: the world buidling, the real loves to enemies to lovers romance, the engaging plot. The feelings of rage are intense yet don't get in the way of character growth and plot movement. Overall, I highly recommend this for fantasy lovers, female rage enthusiasts, and anyone looking for a fast-paced story.

The audiobook is well done and easy to listen to, even at a higher speed.

For She Is Wrath is a retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo. I have not read that, so I can't say whether it's a good retelling or not. But boy oh boy did I have a good time reading this.

After being betrayed by her lover, convicted of a crime she didn't commit, and then thrown in prison to rot, Dania is out for revenge. I simply could not stop listening to this audiobook. I devoured it. There are action packed scenes, heart wrenching moments, and so many characters obsessed with revenge.

I really enjoyed the development of the friendship between Dania and Noor. Forged by their mutual need for revenge and fortified by the way they work together and protect each other. Noor kept Dania from being blinded by her need for revenge, bring her back from the brink of destroying herself. And that's not to say they were never wicked in their quest for revenge; they really went for it sometimes and I was so into it! I am here for women's wrongs haha. But Noor could see beyond the moment and served as a good balance for Dania.

The narration for the audiobook is phenomenal. I felt immersed in the story the whole time and never got confused between characters. I listened at 1.3x speed. I would highly recommend this audiobook.

Thanks so much to Macmillan Audio for the advance listening copy.

I am IN LOVE with Emily Varga's writing. This was her debut?? I am very excited to see where her career goes.

In 400 pages, she managed to make me fall in love with her characters. She made them flawed, yet enjoyable to read because last we progressed through the book they grew and addressed those flaws. The growth didn't come out of nowhere, it was organic and genuine given the events the characters endured.

The plot was very well done. While it had its low points that were a little more difficult to get through, overall the action and the scheming were very entertaining. The world-building could use some work, but I'm sure Varga will improve on that aspect of her writing as she ventures deeper into her career.

If you're looking for female wrath, especially in the light of current events, this is the book for you. Dania is determined to get her revenge and doesn't fall back on outright violence to do it.

This female version of "The Count of Monte Cristo" steeped in Pakistani folklore will leave you feeling vindicated and wanting for more.

I didn't know much about this story before jumping into it, but I was drawn to the idea of a loose Count of Monte Cristo retelling because I devoted a few weeks of my life to that book 10ish years ago and loved it 🤣❤️ I also loved the cover for this one and was happy to try a new Canadian author living in my hometown!

I don't often come across standalone fantasy worlds but this one absolutely held its own and I found it easy to sink right into the story. I loved the way it was told and how it resolved. This book was hard to put down because it builds to quite an intense conclusion and loyalties and friendships are tested. For some reason, maybe the setting, I felt some Aladdin vibes here too which was super fun.

Dania is a character we can all get behind and I really loved her friendship with Noor and her tenacity and determination to fight for what is right and seek her revenge. Compared to some other fantasy worlds, I found the magic in this one to be decently understandable for someone who struggles with that kind of thing. It would certainly be ok for a YA audience as well, as suggested by the publisher.

All in all I recommend this if you're into fantasy and I hope to read more from this author in the future!

This was such a good book, I loved it. I was a little disappointed we didn't go the burn the whole world down in revenge route, but this was probably the better ending