The audiobook narrator does a fantastic job of telling the story. The book itself isn't overly complex. It doesn't go too deep into worldbuilding, so it ends up being a really easy listen. I think for being a Count of Monte Cristo re-telling, it could've been more focused on the revenge plot aspect. The main character, Dania, has fairly straightforward schemes that aren't very well developed. Again, I think this helps make it an enjoyable, easy-to-listen-to audiobook, but it perhaps won't go into as much depth as some readers are looking for. I think it's going to work well for the teen readers the book is actually written for, however.

For She is Wrath by Emily Varga

The story follows a fierce, revenge-driven heroine who takes on the world after betrayal, delivering the kind of unapologetic rage that makes you cheer her on.

This book was non-stop adventure and excitement, making it so easy to fly through. Though I did get a bit lost in the flashbacks (audio books and time jumps don’t always mix well), the plot and characters kept me going. The narrator was fantastic, it really brought the story to life.

If you’re into stories about powerful women taking control, a mix of magic and adventure, you’ll love this! Thank you to @macmillan.audio for the audio and @wednesdaybooks for the ebook!

So excited to see the author in person at the end of the month!

𝙽𝙰𝚁𝚁𝙰𝚃𝙾𝚁(𝚂): Safiyya Ingar
𝙻𝙴𝙽𝙶𝚃𝙷: 11h 52m
𝚁𝙴𝙻𝙴𝙰𝚂𝙴 𝙳𝙰𝚃𝙴: October 28, 2024
𝚁𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙽𝙶: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝙼𝚈 𝚃𝙷𝙾𝚄𝙶𝙷𝚃𝚂:
For She is Wrath is a retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo with a Pakistani FMC and setting that is absolutely thrilling and action-packed.

Dania is one of the best developed FMCs I’ve ever had the pleasure to read about.
She’s vengeance personified.
She’s an example of “make a woman mad and find out just what she’s capable of doing in retaliation.”
Mazin was a complicated but dedicated MMC.
I really wish we had gotten a few scenes from his POV but even without it his presence was heavy.

The relationships were a big focus.
Every interaction had a place in the story and I felt like there was no filler.
So impressive, y’all!

The plot was SO FRIGGIN GOOD.
The Count of Monte Cristo one of my favorite stories and this retelling did it soooo much justice.
I’m just glad we get an HEA for Dania because she made so many wrong choices along the way but by the end it was her right choices that ultimately saved the day.
I could honestly read more in this world.

𝙽𝙰𝚁𝚁𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽:
Safiyya Ingar absolutely brought Dania to life.
I felt like I was living the story as she put every emotion into every single line.
The production was immersive and I think I can say this is a favorite of 2024!

𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙤𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠. 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣.

Perfectly described as a retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo, with a strong female lead that will stop at nothing to get her vengeance. The characters were well written, the lead was someone the reader can root for, as we travel between time from before her arrest to after her break out from jail. The romance was intriguing enough to let the reader worry about if her feelings will get in the way of her master plan, and the addition of dark magic to the mix was a pleasant one.

Thanks to @macmillian.audio @wednesdaybooks and @netgalley for the #gifted copies of this book.

Dani's Rating: 4.5⭐️

Summary: A Pakistani romantic fantasy retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo. Dania has been in jail the last year for a crime she didn't commit. She is counting down the days until she can exact her revenge on the boy she used to love, the very one who framed her for the crime. When a fellow prisoner tells her of a treasure that could surely help with her revenge, they create a way to escape the prison together. Once free, they begin to exact their revenge despite many obstacles in their way, including the attraction still there between Mazin and Dania. Will she continue with her plans of revenge which will erase her very humanity or will she chose another path?

Dani's Thoughts: I went into this book completely blind, and I'm so happy I did. I was hooked immediately to Dania's story and the mystery surrounding the events that led to her being wrongly accused. I love the friendship that sprouted between Dania and Nora first on their want for escape from prison and revenge, but then evolving into so much more. I always love a stab first ask questions later fmc, and Dania lived this to a T. The dueling timelines were so helpful to understand how Dania came to be found her in the position she was as well as showing the love story between Dania and Mazin. So many twists and turns throughout this book definitely had me reading it in just a couple days! I also got to listen to this one and Safiyya Ingar did a fantastic job with the performance. Highly suggest listening to this one if you get the chance.

Read if you like:
💘Lovers to Enemies
🖤Revenge
🔥Fierce Female Friendships
👀Count of Monte Cristo Retelling
😊Swoony Moments
🗓️Dual Timelines

I received an ARC from NetGalley & Macmillan Audio. For She is Wrath by Emily Vargas is lovers to enmities young adult fantasy novel. Let me first start by saying, I loved the narrator -Safiyya Ingar did an amazing job bringing these characters to life. I will have to look for more books she has narrated as she has excellent voice modulation.

The story follows Dania, a girl betrayed by Mazin, the boy she loves, and imprisoned for a crime she did not commit. The story is set in a world where djinn magic exists & the emperor oppresses his subjects with the same djinn magic. Locked up for almost a year, Dania has been trying to escape the prison when one day, opportunity literally falls into her lap.
Noor, another prisoner at the same prison helps Dania escape. What brings these girls together, apart from the fact that they were both imprisoned for crimes they did not commit, is their need to seek revenge. Together, with the use of dark djinn magic, they navigate the treacherous road of retribution. What happens after the escape how do they go about seeking their revenge I’ll let you read or listen and find out.

There is much I love about this book,but the thing I love most is the dynamic of the relationship between Dania and Noor. The back-and-forth banter, teasing, and little jokes made them feel like sisters, and I loved that about their relationship. It was very well written and for a relationship that developed quickly, it did not feel rushed or inconsistent but warm and loving.

There is also a romance aspect to the book. In flashbacks we see Dania and Mazin falling in love. Mazin is the boy she loves and you as the reader feel the same struggle she feels as she puts aside her feelings to exact her revenge. You want to root for the relationship to survive despite knowing Mazin failed her.

I loved that the story gets our buy-in on the wrath-the revenge right from the start with the evil prison warden. I was 100% team ‘Dania, let’s scorch the Earth and make them pay ‘. Then as the story developed, it showed us the ugly side of focusing on revenge and the destruction it can cause.

Throughout the book, after all that she has lost, despite her thirst for revenge, we see that when it really matters Dania chooses to do what’s right. Don’t get me wrong. She gets to let loose some of her wrath and dole out some vengeance which was beautiful to see. Would I have liked to see more revenge and wrath, sure but I’m a very vengeful person ;)

Overall, I loved this book. I’m happy to give this book 4 stars.⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ I wish it had been a longer read. I wish I got to spend more time with Dania and Noor. Will I be re-reading this book again in the next few weeks? most definitely. I already know I’m going to enjoy what this author has next in store for us.

Wow, For She is Wrath really hit the mark for me! Varga has created a world that pulls you right into the emotions of every character, and I loved every second of it. This book takes a deep dive into the idea of feminine rage and revenge, and I found myself totally absorbed in how it breaks down each piece of what revenge really means.

The way Dania and Noor plotted together was a highlight. Their carefully orchestrated plans to take down their enemies are not revealed outright, keeping you in suspense the whole time. Every time I thought I’d figured out Dania’s next move and thought, “Okay, this is her opportunity,” there would be another layer I hadn’t seen coming.

Dania and Noor’s friendship was real and refreshing. Noor wasn’t afraid to call Dania out when she needed it, and she helped balance Dania’s darker side. They worked so well together, with Noor bringing in that grounding perspective, and I loved seeing their relationship develop and strengthen as they pursued their shared goals.

The flashbacks to Dania and Mazin’s past gave the story a ton of depth. Witnessing the evolution of their relationship before his betrayal made everything way more intense. These moments helped me fully understand the depth of her emotions and made her mission all the more compelling.

My only minor wish is that the story had explored deeper into the Djinn magic and a few other plot points, but honestly, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all. For a debut, this book is so impressive, and I can’t wait to see what Varga does next.

For She is Wrath is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a richly character-driven story with themes of revenge, resilience, and the power of friendship.

✨Audiobook review 🎧✨

4⭐️. 0🌶️

Ok hear me out… Lovers to enemies 😱

I love strong female characters and Dania was magnificent. She was full of rage and unrepentant of whatever she had to do to get her revenge on Mazin who was her ex lover and was responsible for her been in prison for almost a year. She got framed for a murder and he just stood by and do nothing.

This book was so amazing it hooked me into the story since the beginning. Is very fast paced and full of action and adventure, the magical aspect of the story was very interesting. It was easily a 5 stars until I got to 75% of the book.

I didn’t like the was things got resolved they felt somewhat anticlimactic. I hated that Dania forgave Mazin so easily after he let her took the blame for something she didn’t commit to save his sister. His character seemed weak to me and I didn’t like him much. Also if making bargains with Dijin were so easy because it seemed at the end like that (everyone had one). Why no one did anything before to stop the evil king. I didn’t like the twist of the story and the way things were solved was very convenient and to me unbelievably you’re telling me that Dania couldn’t pull out all the magic from her grandmother just one person but minutes later she did for an entire army 🤨.

The story got resolved by the end but it kind of had an open ending so I’m wondering if this is a series or a stand alone book.

I really enjoyed this gender-swapped, Palestinian, young adult version of Count of Monte Cristo—it was a fun, fast-paced story. The romance was excellent, packed with rage and longing, and the Arya revenge-list nod was also amusing. I loved especially how the djinn whose magic she used became a symbol for vengeance possessing her and how she had to break free of it—that was really well-done. Overall, it was just everything you wanted it to be, and a really good time.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners, St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, Emily Varga, and Safiyya Ingar (audio narrator) for the opportunity to read and listen to the audiobook of For She is Wrath in exchange for an honest review.

A Tactless Escape
Dania has been imprisoned for a crime she did not commit. She continues to count down the days: three-hundred sixty-four (and counting). Perhaps it won't even be a whole year. When she hearse a scratching sound from within her own cell, she meets Noor, another prisoner, though in the middle of an escape attempt. Figuring it will go faster with two, Dania joins Noor. They may have to leave a few casualties in their wake though...

A Path to Vengeance
Dania and Noor find that they make a good team. Both have their own ambitions, but they develop a friendship that may hold the power to take down an empire. Noor knows how to blend zoorat, a plant-based concoction that allows them to disguise themselves, though they need to take it at a certain time within a certain window to maintain the disguise. The reader can see how this may be risky. With not only a disguise, but a deal with a djinn, Dania finds herself face-to-face with Mazin, her former lover and the man responsible for her imprisonment. A fire still blooms between them both, even though Dania is disguised, but betrayal makes for a stronger emotion.

Dania will learn about the secrets behind her imprisonment and have to make a daring choice for love, friendship, family, djinn power, and the empire.

Final Thoughts:
I found this novel to be well-crafted and fast paced. The lore and world were intriguing. The plot twists were unexpected and exciting. I really found myself absorbed in the tail-end of this novel in a way that I just couldn't put it down! It has the feel of a stand-alone, which is nice because the novel is fulfilling for the reader without having to invest further into a series. All around, this is just a really great novel.

For She is Wrath follows a path of vengeance and encompasses a few lessons about one's desire for revenge, such as avoid acting without all the facts. It is also a testament to friendship and how friends can become family in their own right. This novel is excellent for lovers of fantasy for both teens and adults alike.

I enjoyed this book but I found it slightly predictable. It took me a little bit to get into because in the beginning there was so much anger and very little other emotions to help round out to the characters. Yes I know this is a retelling of the Count of Monte Cristo, which is a book that I love, but it’s hard to listen to only anger for a couple of hours.

Overall I would recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and McMillan for an early audio copy.

Imagine the love of your life throwing you into prison for a crime you did not commit….wait then also imagine finding a friendship in prison and escaping…but then also plotting revenge by using MAGIC…


Dania is one character you do not want to cross she has a pension for VENGEANCE and she will get you even if it means killing her!

This was a perfectly written book with amazing Pakistani cultural aspects as well as adding Magic into it made it so intriguing!

Im also all for a book thats the epiphany of Taylor Swifts song “Whos Afraid of Little Old Me?” The rage was everything I needed!

This is perfect for Fans of ToG and for anyone who wants the action packed fantasy with major twist and turns and with an ending that you wouldnt have seen coming for miles!!

Thank you Wednesday books, Macmillan Audio & Netgalley!

This book was way better than I was expecting, I kind of dilly dallied when it came to reading this and man am I mad at myself for waiting so long!

There are themes of love, loss, friendship, and sweet sweet revenge.

This book starts with our FMC Dania, she has been in prison for a year, and has been accused of a murder she didn’t commit, and has been tortured everyday by the Warden of the Prison. Thing’s look bleak until she gains the help of a new friend, someone who wants out just as much as she does.

They both have a grudge against the men that betrayed them and left them to rot in prison, and they have a plan to get their revenge, and avenge those who perished when they were arrested.

Armed with magic seeds, ornate daggers, and a lot of sass. Our MC’s infiltrate the palace and bide their time gathering intel waiting for the first chance to strike.

This is a story where there is love and loss but mostly just anger. Many families experience the generational curse, whatever it may be, at first we think that what came before us is right and just, but slowly we come to find out there are things we can change, and a cycle we can break. 4 ⭐️’s

Thank you to the Author Emily Varga for writing this story and sharing it with us, and Thank you to the narrator Saniya Ingram for her wonderful work.

Big Thank you as well to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for my no cost copy of “For She Is Wrath”

I received this advance review copy at no personal cost and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Count of Monte Cristo is one of my favorites, so I jumped at the chance to read/listen to this Pakistani retelling. Prison escape, revenge tactics, betrayal – it’s all included, along with dark magic.

I love a good vengeance tale, and Dania, with assistance from clever Noor, creates a strategic plan to get back at those responsible for wrongly imprisoning her for the past year. She disguises herself using a stolen djinn treasure involving magic that could have serious consequences if not used properly.

Both Dania and Noor are strong female characters, and I liked the friendship that develops between them. Noor has no problem calling out Dania when she believes her to be in the wrong and occasionally helps her see reason. The flashbacks to the relationship between Dania and Mazin before he deceives her allowed me to feel the deep level of betrayal Dania experiences. But is everything what it appears? The action sequences are full of tension and well-choreographed. Dania is a highly skilled swordswoman, and someone you don’t want to mess with.

With an overall theme of forgiveness, this is a novel I enjoyed and would recommend it to fans of retellings, magic and swords, and revenge tales.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced copy! You can pick up For She Is Wrath on October 29, 2024.

This was a really fantastic YA fantasy! I loved the way it played on the classic Monte Cristo story but with a Pakistani twist. Our main character, Dania, is the epitome of female rage, and she'll stop at nothing to get revenge on those who wronged her -- including the tortured and sexy Mazin.

Honestly, the romance was one of my favorite parts of this story. I really enjoyed the flashbacks showing the slow build-up of their relationship, juxtaposed with the current day where she's in disguise making him fall for her again so she can destroy him. The magic in this was interesting, and I loved the plotting Noor and Dania did to take down their enemies!

Honestly, the only parts I struggled with were Dania's single-minded focus on vengeance and the book's ending. It made her feel a bit flat and repetitive at times, when I wish we could've seen a bit more depth and growth. As for the ending, I didn't see it coming, but it almost came too out of left field for my taste.

Def pick this one up if you want a quick, action-packed YA fantasy with cool magic and pretty good romance!

4 stars

I really enjoyed the beginning of this book and was super interested in how she would get revenge. I felt like it didn't dive in as much as I wanted it to. But for being YA it was pretty compelling.

This is great if you love
YA
Enemies to Lovers
Retelling of Monte Cristo
Revenge
Feminine Rage

I love female vengeance and rage, so the title, cover, and summary really drew me in! However I did not love this book.

Dania is a weak point in this book. She’s a pretty flat character with not much personality so you don’t really see progression or the darkening of her soul as the book progresses. I really wish you could see more contrast in her personality as the need of revenge consumes her.

I also wish that the magic was better introduced and that we actually got to see more direct events of the emperor- but he so infrequently showed up he hardly felt like the main antagonist.

The ending of the book felt rushed and unsatisfying. Genuinely the scene in the rain with Mazin didn’t make a lot of logical sense. Mazin’s sister is gullible and naive but suddenly at the end of the book she is able to deal with court politics?

Narration was fine, I felt some emotion was lacking but it could have been the book itself.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio for this audiobook ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW

One of the best books I've read/listened to this year! I was intrigued by the Count of Monte Cristo comparison and I always love girls with swords so this was right up my alley. This book was more than I could have dared to hope. Revenge and love and loyalty and betrayal. It was everything good about a fantasy book wrapped in one amazing package. I loved Dania and Noor and their friendship. They felt more like sisters by the end of the book. I'd been really scared there in the beginning that Dania would leave Noor in the prison but she went back for her and it made all the difference in the world! I really loved Mazin and his sister Anam. I knew in my heart of hearts that Mazin wouldn't betray her (unless this was meant to have a more tragic ending where you kill your first love instead of being with them. I was glad to see I was right. The djinn magic and overall world building was really great too. I didn't see the plot twist with Dania's grandmother at all! I thought the emperor manipulated the whole situation somehow. Either way this was an incredible novel and I truly enjoyed it.

Short Synopsis:
For She is Wrath is supposed to be a Pakistani retelling of the Count of Monte Cristo. Honestly I’ve seen the movies but I think I only read that book once, in high school, back in the 1900s. So for me I wasn’t constantly comparing the two books.
I felt like this book stood well on its own and honestly it is so refreshing to have a fantasy standalone book!! I’ve gotten overwhelmed with the amount of trilogies. So thank you Emily Varga for this debut novel.
Dania has been in prison for a year. All she wants is revenge on the people who are responsible for her prison sentence. She has a list of names (a la Arya Stark from Game of Thrones).
She befriends a fellow prisoner, Noor, (who is digging out of prison) and the two manage to escape together. And her revenge plot takes shape although it doesn’t go quite to plan. Nothing ever really does though when you combine anger, love and powerful magic.

Narration:
The narrator did an amazing job keeping my attention on the story.

You’ll love this book if you like:
Revenge
Magic
Found Family
Arya Stark-like heroine
Lovers-to enemies-to lovers

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for sending me an early copy of this book! All opinions are my own!

Where to start with such an enchanting story of feminine rage and revenge? Where to start with such a strong female character who is taken on a journey of family, friendship, and the costs of protecting them both? Where to start with such a vibrant Pakistani fantasy full of culture and mythology alike?

Varga does an amazing job of weaving a world unlike any other full of characters that tug at your heartstrings and make you live through every emotion possible on the winding journey with them. I think my favorite part of the book is the way that it was so character driven and really dove into studying the heart of feminine rage and revenge. There are books about revenge, and then there is For She is Wrath - a dissection of each aspect of revenge and the emotions that come with it.

I loved the romance and getting to know both Dania and Mazin through flashbacks more than the present. It gave a lot of depth to what might have been a flat romance without it and helped me really understand the stakes and the *feelings* behind the situation.

I cannot wait to see what Varga does with her writing career. If this is where she starts, we are only in store for more masterpieces!