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!

What a delight! The narrator is fantastic. The story is exactly what you'd want from a gender-bent Pakistani Count of Monte Cristo retelling (both thematically and in plot). And the PROSE. So many gorgeous turns of phrase.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the #gifted copy!

A Pakistani retelling of THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, this book is all the female rage wrapped up in a pretty cover. Dania has been in prison for a year, tortured and starved, and only wants to break out to get revenge on the boy who broke her heart for his own gain.

Emily’s writing is beautiful. I loved both the rage and romance elements, and there were a lot of great lines that stood out to me. There’s also fantastic friendship, constant action, and dual timelines, making this a really solid fantasy read. I absolutely love this on audio and I’m really glad that I read it that way.

Read for:
🗡️BA female main character
🗡️Rage and revenge
🗡️Djinn magic
🗡️Count of Monte Cristo retelling
🗡️Pakistani influence
🗡️Romance and friendship

Firstly I want to thank NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for providing me with an audiobook ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Dania was wrongly imprisoned, accused of murder and betrayed by her oldest friend and lover, Mazin. She’s hell bent on breaking out of prison and exacting revenge upon those that were involved in the conspiracy against her. In the process she meets Noor, another girl who was wronged by some of the same people. Together they cook up and carry out a plot to bring down those that did them wrong.

I loved this book! The Count of Monte Cristo is one of my all time favorite stories, and this is a gender bent retelling that was done right! At times this is almost a shot-for-shot reimagining, which I know will not work for some, but it had me grinning at how Emily Varga reimagined the original text. Then there was Djinn magic and intrigue thrown in which helps keep it feeling fresh and exciting. I thought Dania was a fantastic MC. I love her rage fueled revenge plot, but also how she maintained her humanity throughout. She was complex and her journey felt authentic. I loved Noor and her friendship with Dania. She was her co-plotter, but also her conscience at times, and she helped keep Dania grounded. Finally I loved watching Dania and Mazin interact, especially knowing the story and how things would turn out. It was catnip for me!

My only complaint is that I think it could have been longer and could have delved deeper into the Djinn magic and some of the other aspects of the plot that were kind of glossed over. But ultimately, I think this is a solid debut and am so excited to see what Varga writes next! 4.5/5 Stars

Do you plot the revenge of your enemies? When someone does you or your family wrong, do you picture the ways in which they could be held accountable until it eats you alive or do you let it go on the wind?

For She is Wrath by @emilyvargabooks came out of LEFT FIELD. I was not prepared for how good this book is. 

Dania is stuck in prison, for a year they have tortured her, for a crime she did not commit. For an entire year she plots her revenge on the man who claimed to love and stabbed her in the back, and the emperor responsible for the destruction of her people. 

When she frees herself and discovers access to ancient and powerful Djinn magic, will she destroy the people who ruined her, or will she let her revenge eat her alive. 

This book was phenomenal, I finished it in 2 days. I was entirely enthralled from the first page to the very last. Make sure to pick up your copy October 29th!

Thank you so much to @wednesdaybooks for the arc. 

#forsheiswrath #revenge #emilyvarga #vengence #betrayal #djin #genie #pakastan #pakastani #thecountofmontecristo #montecristo #thecount #review #bookreview #read #bookreader

I am a sucker for The Count of Monte Cristo so when I saw this was a retelling I knew I had to get my hands on it. Thank you so much Varga and Netgalley for the ALC (advanced listener copy). The audiobook was very well done. The narrator made me feel like I was in the story. paired with Varga's writing style, I could see the world she had created beautifully.

If you picked this up like me for the retelling - be aware that it is very fast-paced and not at all like the original story. (I feel I should mention this because somehow people forget a retelling does not mean it has to be an exact replica.)

I liked Dania for all of her hot-headedness. I like that she was able to make a friend during her escape of the prison and how they worked together throughout the story. The way the author incorporated Djinn magic is what intrigued me most about this plot however. That being said, I wanted more. I wanted more detail on how it worked, how Dania would be used and punished for using it.

SPOILERS
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I felt Dania should have been properly punished by the Djinn when she went back on her deal. In the same breath, I hate that she forgave Maz so easily (even though I absolutely adored him!) I wanted her to destroy him, I wanted her to get her vengeance. I understand where he was coming from, but to abandon her got under my skin.

Maz was by far my favorite character though. I knew he knew who she was. When she kept her hands while she changed the rest of her appearance I knew he would recognize them. That he would recognize the scars that he gave her.

I didn't see the twist coming and was a little taken aback. It was so out of the blue I wish we had had more build up to it and even hint that the grandmother had been behind everything.

Overall, I wish we had more detail but I truly enjoyed the story. I'm hoping I can meet Varga for a signing she has coming up in my city so I can get her to sign a copy of the physical book I'll be buying.

“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.”

Short Synopsis:
For She is Wrath is a Pakistani retelling of the Count of Monte Cristo. Dania has been in prison for a year. All she wants is revenge on the boy who is responsible for her prison sentence but also the boy she loved. She befriends a fellow prisoner, Noor, and the two manage to escape together. And her revenge plot takes shape.

My Thoughts:
This was such a fantastic debut. Bravo Emily Vargo. 👏

This is “female rage” in book form, it’s full of revenge, killer swordswoman, and swoony romance. The revenge plot was captivating. The romance has me melting. The friendships were beautiful. Though I found some of the twists predictable, I loved the journey getting there.

What You’ll Find:
🖤Revenge
🔥 Burn it all down
🌆Corrupt city
⚔️Girl with swords
🗡️Arya Stark-like heroine
❤️‍🔥Lovers-to enemies-to lovers
🫠Swoony romance
2️⃣Dual timelines

Oh my gosh. This book was such a ride and I was just hanging on for life. This takes feminine rage, and women scorned to a whole other level. I was grateful that the story just jumps right in. I read the Count of Monte Cristo in high school and absolutely loved it. So when I saw that this was was a romantic fantasy retelling I was excited to dive in. I will say that a lot of time when things are marketed as one thing they end up falling short but I think that this was spot on. Dania was a great character, I found her to be complex and I enjoyed watching her development throughout the book. The supporting cast of this book are all interesting and lend their own pieces to the story. I was glad to see that there weren't really any characters that were just thrown in as a space filler. The action in this book is fast paced and intense. The scheming and back ally politics are well planned out. I really enjoyed the pieces of Pakistani culture and lore that were included in the book and thought that they made this story so unique. This is a book that I don't regret staying up until 2am reading. And one that I cannot wait to add to my physical library.

The narration of this book was done so well. It brought this story to life so beautifully!

Short synopsis: Dania is falsely imprisoned for a crime she didn’t commit. Meeting up with a fellow inmate named Noor, they hatch a plan to escape prison, find the hidden djinn treasure, and enact revenge on those who wronged her.

My thoughts: I love a book with a strong female character and boy did Dani fit that portrayal tenfold. She was strong, smart, cunning, and at moments had to fight for her own humanity.

The romance subplot was also well done, betrayed by her best friend and the boy she loved. I really enjoyed their chemistry throughout and finding the reason behind the betrayal.

The ending came completely out of left field for me! Completely unexpected. Also, I didn’t realize this was a Count of Monte Cristo retelling, I’ve never read it but do remember watching the movie adaptation years ago.

Read if you love:
- Revenge plots
- Strong female protagonist
- Sword wielding
- Romance subplot
- Magic

This book is perfect if you loved the Count of Monte Cristo as a kid, but you wished for my diversity in the writing. I loved every moment of this book and the Pakistani mythology that breathed through. The main female character is also amazing and a badass.

4.5⭐️

This story was epic! From the very beginning I was completely swept up and dazzled by this story of magic, survival, betrayal, and revenge. The action sequences had me on the edge of my seat and I found myself holding my breath quite often, unsure what sinister magic and secrets Dania and Noor would have to face next.

I am truly in awe of the sheer determination, strength, and resiliency of Dania and Noor. They literally clawed their way out of the darkest depths of despair after being betrayed by those in their inner circle of friends and family. There were many moments when it seemed all hope was lost, but Dania and Noor were always at the ready with their wit and swords.

The audio was fantastic! The narration was flawlessly executed to the point where I couldn’t stop listening - you know the book is good when you voluntarily do more laundry just to keep reading! I think the story would be excellent read with eyes or ears, but I definitely recommend the audiobook!

This was such a fantastic retelling with well developed characters, rich history and culture, heart wrenching moments of betrayal, sword fights, danger, romance, and magic, and I highly recommend if you’re looking for a fast paced standalone fantasy!

This book deserves a five-star rating without a doubt! It was absolutely fantastic from start to finish. The revenge storyline was incredibly gripping and the plot twists were unexpected. The relationship between Dania and Mazin was complicated and enjoyable. The depth of emotion and intensity in the book kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. Overall, this is a must-read for anyone looking for a captivating story. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

I wanted to love this. I hated everything about it. I should've known not to trust a beautiful cover.

While retellings are hard for me, if you're going to write one, make it good. Make it different. Make it SOMETHING. This was NOTHING.

Dania is whiny. Mazin isn't worth it. Her "friends" are also not worth it. The twist wasn't twisting.

ALC Review: For She is Wrath by Emily Varga
Pub Date: October 29, 2024

Dania has been in prisoner for a year for a crime that she did not commit. Her father is a swordsmith so she knows how to fight and she's cunning. When she meets Noor they plan to escape the prison together and get revenge on those who wronged them. For Dania this means the boy she once loved as well as Emperor Vahid who rules due to his djinn magic.

Pakistani Count of Monte Cristo?? Say less! The Count of Monte Cristo was one of my favorite classics and having this flipped so that the main character is female really worked for me! I love a take no prisoners type of FMC and Dania felt like a well rounded and complex character as the book continued. She definitely makes some morally grey choices at times but they're ones that you can really understand given her need for vengeance for all that has happened to her.

I really loved how far Dania came throughout the book and thought the ending was really satisfying. As much as this is a story of female rage, it never goes too dark and Dania never loses her humanity. There was a twist I fully did not expect, which I love to see!

I liked the romance much more than I thought and there was a *moment* that really made me swoon! I typically don't love flashbacks/dual timelines in books but I did actually really appreciate the ones here because they show the relationship between Dania and Mazin before all of the events of the book.

I LOVED the narrator Safiyya Ingar - she added so much to the story for me and I'm so glad that I listened to this instead of reading it. She really immersed me in the story in a way that felt really unique and fresh and that I wouldn't have gotten had I just read it. I would happily listen to anything she narrated and actually will probably seek her out as a narrator!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.