Summary

Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

Spicy rating: 0/5

Where do I even begin with this book? Pretty sure it’s my book of the year! This was genuinely incredible. I loved every second of it.

This is a beautifully written story of feminine rage and the cost of vengeance. A retelling of the classic Count of Monte Cristo with a city on the brink of a war and corrupted under the control of ancient and dangerous Djinn magic.

There are incredibly deep and well fleshed out characters, beautiful immersive world building that has opened my eyes to another culture. Feral female friendship that will fill your heart and make you scream and cry just as much as the lovers to enemies, betrayed by her first love romance.

Dania was a morally grey, bright burning ball of rage and I love and relate to her with my whole heart watching her journey of escape, trauma and the fight for vengeance whilst burning down the world was brilliant to read. Think Arya Stark but even better still!

The gasp I let loose at those final plot twists was so loud I was turning heads on the train and I just wanted to scream at them “You won’t believe what just happened!”

The dual timeline was both insightful and heartbreaking watching Dania and Mazin fall in love whilst ultimately knowing the betrayal and heartbreak is coming and man did it break my heart. I cannot get enough of these two and I can’t share some of my fave quotes because I can’t spoil this for you just read it. Trust me and read it.

Emily Varga has laid down the gauntlet for YA Romantasy and it’s going to be very hard for other stories to even come close! 👏👏👏

This felt over the top, the main character felt like she was written to be trying to hard to be cool which ruined a lot of the journey aspect in enjoying this fantasy as I coupons get a grip on the insufferable main character. It was the way she was written, I don't know if intentional bit she was unlikable. This then lead to me not enjoying the romance as it felt intolerable due to the main characters arrogance. I usually like female characters who are badass but this felt so over the top that it was exaggerating her traits to just be a one dimensional "bad bitch" woman. There was no one depth to her character which is a shame because I was really interested in a south Asian inspired fantasy romance to get hooked into. The plot by itself was not as exciting as I was expecting. Overall I'm not as hyped up as I was to begin reading this. I think it can appeal to some audiences who can get past my gripes with the main character.

As soon as I saw that this book was a Pakistani retelling of the Count of Monte Cristo, I was sold. The fact that it is also choc full of feminine rage was also a big plus. I'm very glad to say that I wasn't disappointed at all.

While I was a bit concerned that the initial prison escape was seeming to take ages and I worried about how this would affect the pacing of the rest of the book, I'm actually glad it took a while. It helped to build the world, explain who Dani was and who she had become, but also set up her relationship with Noor, which is incredibly important.

Once they get out of prison things do move along at a much better pace, giving enough infornnation to keep you hooked but also not glossing over how the plan plays out. I actually would have enjoyed the ending taking a bit more time, as it felt a little rushed, which meant it seemed a bit anti-climatic.

I enjoyed the magic system a lot, especially as it was fairly simple and didn't have a huge impact on the story. It existed to explain the power balance and for a way to change Dani's appearance, but other than that, the fantasy elements were nonexistent. This means the book is a great choice if you're not a big fantasy reader or want to read something to introduce you to the genre in a subtle way.

I honestly had such a great time reading this book and if it weren't for the slightly rushed ending that left me feeling slightly deflated, this would have been a 5-star read.

Described as gender-flipping Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo, this is gripping from the outset with pacey action, a feisty female lead, strong cultural references and a buzzing, well-developed plot. A harsh but excellent debut, an author to watch

I enjoyed the first half of this book and sped through it but found it lagged slightly in the second half and took me longer to finish. It was a fun read, otherwise, and I thought Dani's character growth was great.

The award for the best book of the season goes to this one
I had the opportunity of reading for For she is wrath and i was blown awaaaaaay.
Couldn’t believe this is just a debut, it’s by far one of the best book out there this year.
The female rage was portrayed perfectly, i found myse getting angry with and for Dania.
The romance…… IT WAS EVERYTHING 🥹🥹
Dania and Noor’s relationship was so important, everyone needs a Noor in their life.

We have magic, female rage, revenge, lovers to enemies to lovers again, found family( a small one but it doesn’t have to be a big family to know you found your people), djinn, it’s also a count of monte cristo retelling, aaaaaand pakistani inspired which is so amazing to see since this one is usually in very very very few books

Thank u to the oublisher for the arc

For She Is Wrath is a riveting book that spans three hundred and sixty-four days of imprisonment, where the protagonist, Dania, bides her time until she can exact revenge on Mazin, the boy who betrayed her and the one she still loves. Wrongfully accused of a crime she didn't commit, Dania's quest for vengeance becomes an all-consuming mission, intensified when she discovers that a fellow inmate holds the key to a stolen djinn treasure that could change everything.

As Dania and her new ally plot a daring escape to find the hidden treasure, the narrative takes on an exhilarating pace. Armed with dark magic and a new identity, Dania is determined to bring down those who have wronged her and her family, but her path is complicated by the undeniable chemistry that still simmers between her and Mazin. Their relationship adds layers of complexity to her quest for revenge, making it a gripping game of cat and mouse filled with twists that come without warning.

The author's writing is nothing short of spectacular. Her mastery of language and world-building creates an immersive experience, allowing readers to feel every moment of pain, anger, and sadness. The plot twists are expertly woven into the narrative, keeping you on the edge of your seat and making it impossible to put the book down. I found myself losing sleep, captivated by Dania's relentless determination and character growth throughout the story.

Dania’s friendship with Noor stands out as a beacon of loyalty, showcasing the true essence of camaraderie amidst chaos. Meanwhile, Mazin's character evolves into something intriguingly complex as the truth about his actions unfolds.

The book delves into profound themes of friendship, vengeance, and the sacrifices one makes in the pursuit of retribution. It raises thought-provoking questions about the cost of revenge and the lengths to which people will go for those they love.

I loved every moment of this book and highly recommend For She Is Wrath to anyone looking for a powerful and emotionally charged read that lingers long after the last page is turned.

Read more at The Secret Bookreview.

A book with true feminine rage is always worth the hype and this book nailed it.

Our FMC Dani had me riled up reading what led her to be imprisoned and tortured, she is defiant and cunning. Although she is burning with a desire for revenge, Dani’s longing to be reunited with her father is what stands at the forefront of her mind during her time locked away. While in prison we’re introduced to a prisoner who is living a similar fate, but holds the solution to get them both free.

Dani and her new friend/escapee are a duo you can root for, and you will find yourself wishing them nothing but success on their path to vengeance.

There are secrets and betrayals that will gut you, the level of betrayal in this book reminded me of Red Rising but with djinn magic making the stakes that more intense.

There’s elements of romance and found family you can enjoy along this journey, it does add some lighter but also emotional points.

That was an unexpected little gem!

I must say I'm always impressed when I find a good standalone fantasy book! It’s seems like such a feat to execute well, and this book was fab! I felt you got up to speed with the world and magic, whilst still getting thrown into the action. For a 400 page book, a lot happens!

~~~
Premise:

{Count of Monte Cristo inspired}

Dania is thrown into prison for a crime she didn't commit, and whilst she's there she meets another prisoner, Noor, who knows of a stash of dark magic and riches.

They escape to together and embark on a mission to destroy the emperor and the people that wronged Dania. One of whom, happens to be Dania’s ex-love and the Emperor’s second, Mazin.

Using magic to conceal her identity, she plots of overthrow the city and seduce and destroy Mazin.

~~~

Tropes: Revenge list; Evil ruler; friends to lovers to enemies to lovers; sword fighting FMC ; Pakistani inspired fantasy world; Hidden identity; Dark and destructive magic.

~~~

What I loved:

🌟 Two romances in one: I loved seeing the development of Dania and Mazin, first in the flashbacks at the start of their more innocent relationship, and secondly in their more deceitful one! And there's a Mr Darcy hand flex!!*
🌟 Lots of plot! Firstly there’s the prison escape and then seeing how Dania takes everyone down! The to-do list lover in me loves a revenge list plot!
🌟 It just flows! It’s fantastic writing for a debut! I feel visually its very engaging without neglecting the plot! And the world is easy enough to pick up! At no point did it fill like there was uneccesary filler! The last 100 pages especially, I inhaled!

All in all, a great read! I will definitely be keeping an eye on what the author does next!

*Romance info: It’s marketed as romantasy, but the romance elements are slightly more limited, and things don't overly develop until the end! And it’s definitely YA! There are two slightly spicier scenes, but they are quick and more PG!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Books for the ARC. 2.5? 2.75⭐ rounded up. Not a 2 because oddly enough, I was not bored nor felt the urge to give up multiple times, so that counts for something.

I'm still simmering on how much of it I actually really liked. I've never read The Count of Monte Cristo so I can't account for how faithful FSIW is or if it even matched the original story's themes. I do feel that it's a serviceable YA debut. But maybe because it's YA that it doesn't truly deliver on the unhinged heroine bent on revenge that I went in expecting. A satisfying revenge book to me ensures its protag has conviction, which Dania lacks. This is a story that is more of a look at the destructive nature of revenge and when to let go before it consumes you.

That isn't a story I was expecting and it became rather apparent midway through. I had to quickly adjust my mindset lest it sour my entire reading experience.

Dania, despite her lofty ambitions to take down the men who wronged her, has such flimsy schemes that I half expected them to fall apart sooner than they did. I felt only her first plot against Casildo, the supposed close friend of her father's who betrayed him to the tyrannical Emperor Vahid for gold, was interesting. There was calculation and a malice in spectating his downfall that isn't matched in her subsequent conspiring, even for all the murderous intent she kept repeating she had.

The worst part is that what should have been the highlight of this revenge book—the main scheme of seducing her former lover Mazin, who stood by and watch her be wrongly imprisoned, so as to manipulate and then hurt him the way he hurt her—fell so incredibly flat. Again, her lack of conviction throws this to the bin. Dania grapples with mixed feelings of love and hate; she's STILL drawn to him despite, ya know, the fact that he abandoned her when she needed him the most and she was made to suffer both physical and mental torture for a whole year. I needed her to LOATHE him more than her missing how good it was to be with him.

It was also rather obvious that she was never going to go through with her revenge against a certain character, with how the story sets up the flashback chapters interwoven with the present that we're supposed to see what kind of person this character truly is. I felt that she forgave them too quickly, and would've preferred more ambivalence from her with regards to their relationship. And! You cannot for the life of me get me to fully enjoy a story that set off an avalanche of tragic events hinged on one bad decision of Not Freaking Telling The Person Important Info.

There was also a plot to stir up even more anti-Emperor Vahid tension amongst the common people that ... didn't pan out? Lol.

And then there's the plot twist of Who the True Killer Was. Which I felt wasn't a very good twist because it truly came out of nowhere and I wonder if author Emily Varga wanted to throw readers into a loop. I understand the narrative purpose of this twist, to further reinforce the novel's moral message of the monster Dania could be if she continues on her path of vengeance, but there was no set up to it at all. I was so unimpressed.

The friendship between protagonist Dania and Noor as two wronged girls seeking revenge & retribution and breaking out of prison together started out enjoyable to read. But Noor's true purpose is eventually revealed as to serve as Dania's moral compass, reminding her again and again on not becoming a monster while on this vengeful path. Which did not bode well for me if I came in wanting to see a protagonist become monstrous like that. Otherwise, she was...fine.

Despite my gripes, I'd read another book of Varga's. I could see her actually writing a YA novel I'd have fun with.

This was a really engaging tale. I loved the setting and the atmosphere the author created. The opening of the novel instantly hooked me and I needed to know if Dania would get her revenge!
At times it felt a tad repetitive in the mid section, lots of references to beautiful embroidery and sharp pickles etc. But otherwise I found the story really enjoyable. The characters were strong and the plot had enough twists and turns to keep it fun and surprising.
It is also nice to have a clean YA title. A steamy kiss and a fade to black is quite refreshing nowadays! Great for fans of Fantasy, strong heroines and south asian mythology.

Brilliantly fun lovers to enemies Count of Monte Cristo Rettelling. Revenge is the name of the game.

FOR SHE IS WRATH is a gorgeous, thrilling tale of vengeance! It reminds me of REBEL OF THE SANDS in the best way. A fierce protagonist hell-bent on revenge, djinn magic, and betrayal. The chemistry between Dania and Mazin was incredible. Their banter and bonding during training had me in a chokehold. Seriously, their “before” scenes were my favourite of the entire book. I’ve not read the classic “The Count of Monte Cristo” yet, but now I definitely want to. To see what inspired this gripping debut. I’m so excited to see where Emily Varga’s career goes.

Thank you to the author, Macmillan Children's Books, and Netgalley for this ARC!

For She Is Wrath had an intriguing premise—a Pakistani retelling of *The Count of Monte Cristo* with romantic fantasy elements—but it didn’t quite live up to expectations. The fast pace left little room for character or plot development, making it hard to care about Dania’s quest for revenge.

It was hard to connect with her emotionally or care about her motivations. Her journey had potential, but the character felt one-dimensional, and her thirst for vengeance didn’t have the weight or complexity I expected.

The world-building felt underdeveloped, It all felt very surface-level. While the enemies-to-lovers dynamic with Mazin had potential, it lacked emotional depth. It also read more like a YA novel, which might work better for younger or those newer to fantasy.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

For She Is Wrath stands out as a strong YA debut by Emily Varga with an interesting cultural backdrop. It is apparently a retelling of the Count of Monte Christo, although I wasn't aware of the plot of the story before reading this book.
The book starts off quite slowly, taking about 12 chapters for Dania to escape the prison and set out on her path of revenge. The revenge path is done very well, and the central part of the book felt the most interesting to read, with the new setting and the interaction of Mazin and Dania.

The plot twist at the end was certainly a surprise, however I was not completely satisfied with how things tie up in the end. The magic system left a lot of open ended interpretation and it wasn't quite clear how it worked for Dania to be able to escape her bargain. Nevertheless it was an enjoyable read and is well suited for the YA category.

Dania is wrongly imprisoned after the man she is dating, a ward of the emperor (essentially a prince) turns on her and blames her for a murder she didn’t commit. After a year forgotten about in a strict jail, Noor, another prisoner digs her way into her cell and they decide to work together to escape. Noor was an apprentice to djinn magic and Dania was the daughter of the sword maker to the emperor so together they have a good mixture of skills. They return to Dania’s home town but her beloved father has been murdered after also being betrayed by a friend.

They manage to find a stash of unbelievable wealth and magic and instead of leaving this godforsaken place where everybody is a two faced schemer they decide to get revenge against all the people that have wronged them.

This is a gender swapped Indian take on The Count of Monte Cristo, but it’s trying to tell the same story in a book that is a third of the length of the original so a lot of subtlety and nuance is thrown aside in favour of some subtle as a sledgehammer takes on the plot lines. There are plot twists and reveals a plenty, and the ending wrapped things up well in my opinion.

The narration was excellent, the two main female characters were easy to differentiate between and the overall tone of the story was kept steady throughout.

Sometimes YA books hit the spot, and this one was incredible.

I loved this Count of Monte Cristo Retelling, it hooked me from the very first chapter and took me on a while ride of angst, betrayal, love and friendship. It's a Pakistani romantasy, which was very refreshing to have something so different to the usual medieval style fantasy books, about a girl called Dania. She's a fierce and strong swordswoman who was framed for a crime she didn't commit and thrown in prison. While counting down her days, planning an escape snd plotting revenge, she meets Noor, another prisoner with an escape plan and possible the key to the vengeance she seeks.

It was fast paced, there were twists I didn't see coming and the tension between the two love interests was UH perfection. I loved every moment of this book and would absolutely recommend this standalone to everyone I know.

This story of revenge is difficult to put down! I was completely caught up in the plot and its characters, rooting for Dania and her new friend on their quest for revenge. Don’t we love a story where the baddies get their comeuppance? I totally do, and Dania was very creative and ruthless in her efforts. There are some ethical conundrums, and Dania is erring on the side of morally grey, but after everything she’s been through it’s easy to see why. Her life is full of betrayal and grief and she’s got nothing left to lose. She’s fierce, clever, and determined, so I couldn’t help but admire her character.

I don’t want to give anything away but I would say I was a little disappointed towards the end as I felt like Dania’s character deserved much more than she got but this is overall a really well written, interesting story and I enjoy a revenge plot!

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

In this Pakistani retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo, is the tale of Dania, who has been imprisoned for a crime she didn't commit. After spending her days planning her escape from the torture she now endures and plotting her revenge against the boy responsible, the boy she once loved, it is time to take action.

Unfortunately I did not finish this. I made it to 25% and felt very reluctant to carry on reading. I don't believe this is a bad book by any means, it just wasn’t for me.

I didn't connect to our main character and felt she was contradictory at times. She has been trained since she was young to fight and can handle any blade she comes across but trips over and falls at the slightest of things. Maybe this was meant to humble her and make her seem human, just a normal girl, but it felt out of character.

The first few chapters intrigued me greatly, I read the first 15% in one sitting without even looking up. Afterwards the story seemed to trail along. A lot was happening but almost too fast so nothing felt fleshed out or to mean anything. Once the real adventure started, everything seemed to happen too quickly and too easily for our characters, the stakes felt low.

I definitely feel this was written for a younger audience and think it is a great book for young adults and teens getting into fantasy.

"What is your revenge costing you?"

For She is Wrath is labelled as a Pakistani retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo. I'd say for the first quarter of the book that's very much true, as the beginning definitely takes inspiration from the classic tale. But after a while Varga's tale follows down its own direction, and while I didn't dislike it, there was a point where the story felt as if it lost the identity of what it wanted to be.

I was so excited to start this, and recieving an ARC copy could not have arrived at a better time for me. I've been a bit spoilt with revenge based stories lately, and before picking this up I had just finished watching both the Chinese drama masterpiece 'The Double' - which is a stunning example of a well written revenge story told from a woman's perspective - and had just been lucky enough to watch the 2024 French version of 'Le Comte De Monte Cristo' in the cinema, so I was ready to pick this up and dive into a revenge story with a strong female focus. And the fact it had Pakistani representation was even better, so I was eager to see how this story would be handled and developed.

For the most part I did somewhat enjoy this novel. Early on I could see that this was focused towards a Young Adult audience, yet even though I was wary for the first few chapters I decided to give the story time to develop and grow. And I'm glad I did, as there were parts to it that I felt were good.

I especially loved the twist on how our protagonist went about changing her apperance through what we come to learn as Djinn magic or zoraat seeds; a kind of rare, otherworldy power that can be world changing in its useage but also incredibly dangerous when used incorrectly. I felt this magic system was a great inclusion, and an even better way to somewhat seperate the story away from its original inspiration. I also really enjoyed the inclusion of Djinn themselves, and the haunting, ever looming presence of own that follows our protagonist, Dania, throughout the story. So much so I wish we got more of this illusive character, as they were probably one of the most intriquing and interesting to me. I thought they were such a good way to show the inclusion of Pakistani culture and mythology - we needed so much more of this sort of representation in the story, as it gave the novel such an unique and intriquing view.

I do however wish there was more explanation to the use of the zoraat system, as we are told that there are different kinds of zoraat and that each one has different uses depending on what it is the user intends to use its power for. Yet we only really see two of three of the variations, and there is little growth or expansion on this.

And ... that leads into one of the big problems I had with this novel. For a story that spans 400 pages, I felt that a lot of it was rushed at times, and that it could have benefitted from giving time for the plot to breath and grow. There are a lot of instances where we focus on things like 'what Dania chose to wear for her next meeting with Maz, who totally betrayed her, by the way,', or whole paragraphs where we're reading the same example of 'why Dania is plotting for revenge' - which, we know. I would have rather some of these moments be removed in favour of showing us more of growing plans; the meetings she has with these people that have wronged her in order to build familiarity and closeness with them, or even just moments where her and Noor - her accomplice - get to really plan, rather than argue with each other on 'if they really want to do this'.

But, again. I have to remind myself that this is for a Young Adult audience, and not everyone is as big into the scheming, plotting, politics and eventual vengence-getting as I am.

The latter half of this novel is where the structure sort of crumbles. We lose the aspect of this being a revenge story and, with it, the stories whole identity. I won't say too much in this review as to what actually happens, but I will mention that the story suddenly drops from what it wants to be and becomes ... a romance story? I guess? We have a twist that comes out of nowhere that ... really feels quite random, and could have done with far more construction and foreshadowing. Our protagonist decides to drop the rest of her quest for revenge, so much so that at the very end it seems that even Noor, who wanted her own revenge against a particular character, just gives in and decides that nope, revenge was never worth the hassle anyway. Which is fine ... I guess? There is an - albeit sudden - reason why the revenge idea is suddenly dropped by Dania, and Noor seemed to grow more and more reluctant as the story goes on (and she seems to fall more and more into the background as things progress anyway, sadly. Very much a character that is a victim of 'I am used for a plot point and that's about it'). But for a novel that markets itself on being about female rage and a quest for revenge, I felt disappointed by the way Varga decided to resolve this.

So I come away from this novel feeling rather conflicted. I can honestly see the appeal this will have on a younger audience, and this has the potential to be a story that will be very popular in such circles. But as much as there were parts I did enjoy, they were overshadowed by other frustrating choices and directions. Maybe I've just been spoilt lately from other, much more fulfilling revenge themed stories, but for now, For She is Wrath sits lukewarm for me.