Title: For She is WrathAuthor: Emily Varga
Pages: 400
Publication Date: Oct. 29, 2024
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Fantasy / Romantasy
Synopsis:
A sweeping, Pakistani romantic fantasy retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo, where one girl seeks revenge against those who betrayed her—including the boy she used to love.
Three hundred and sixty-four days.
Framed for a crime she didn’t commit, Dania counts down her days in prison until she can exact revenge on Mazin, the boy responsible for her downfall, the boy she once loved—and still can’t forget. When she discovers a fellow prisoner may have the key to exacting that vengeance–a stolen djinn treasure–they execute a daring escape together and search for the hidden treasure.
Armed with dark magic and a new identity, Dania enacts a plan to bring down those who betrayed her and her family, even though Mazin stands in her way. But seeking revenge becomes a complicated game of cat and mouse, especially when an undeniable fire still burns between them, and the power to destroy her enemies has a price. As Dania falls deeper into her web of traps and lies, she risks losing her humanity to her fight for vengeance–and her heart to the only boy she’s ever loved.
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A Pakistani-inspired fantasy, For She is Wrath is a new twist on The Count of Monte Cristo with a strong FMC and an angst-filled romance. The story follows Dania, a woman wrongfully imprisoned and intent on revenge. When she meets a fellow prisoner trying to dig her way to freedom, the pair work together to escape and exact vengeance on those who wronged them, especially the man who broke Dania’s heart by betraying her.
I’ve read The Count of Monte Cristo a few times, and I decided very early on not to compare this book to the original story. Though some of the elements are similar, there are so many original elements in this story that make it unique. The magic and Pakistani inspiration stand out, as does the writing style. I love the author’s use of language and the way the story is told. It’s super immersive, and the main character’s story is compelling from the start.
Dania’s strength, conviction, and need for vengeance, as well as her plan to take on a new identity and bring down her enemies, propels the plot. I thought she was a fascinating protagonist – strong and smart and flawed, she suffers unimaginably, and her journey is equal parts heartbreaking and empowering. I also loved the relationship between Dania and Noor. These two women, imprisoned but not broken, prove that they are strong enough to take down the whole kingdom.
The flashbacks are great, too, as they show how Dania and Mazin’s relationship evolved and how deeply Dania felt the betrayal. It also gives us a view of her relationship with her father and what’s going on politically that could have contributed to Dania’s situation. I thought it was pretty clear from the start that there was more to the story than Dania knew and that there were unresolved and hidden feelings between her and Mazin. I almost wish there were chapters from his perspective so we could really get into his thoughts and reactions to everything that happened. And though I thought their relationship felt a bit rushed and I wanted it and Mazin’s character fleshed out a little more, there were plenty of swoon-worthy moments that made me root for the pair. Their love story is complicated and messy and angst-filled, which I always enjoy in a romance.
This is an engrossing debut fantasy about vengeance, friendship, forgiveness, and more! Some parts of the story felt a little repetitive, and I kind of wanted a bit more groveling and insight into the magic, but, overall, it was an exciting and intense read. And the writing – gorgeous and immersive! Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
“You don’t get to decide my retribution.”
The problem when someone you loved betrayed you was that you had a lifetime of good memories with them that you had to examine in a different light.
“I can’t read you as I would wish.”
“And how would you wish to read me?”
“I would read you like a novel. From cover to cover, learning everything about you.”
“Leisurely, only taking me out when you felt like it?”
“Is that how you read your novels, Mazin? How uninspiring. No, I mean in a fierce frenzy, by candlelight, devouring you until I finished every page and committed it to memory, and then I’d flip right back to the front and start again from the beginning.”
“This isn’t about revenge. It’s about making sure this power doesn’t stay in the hands of anyone who is going to use it to destroy. It’s about stopping the cycle.”
- secret identity
- lovers to enemies to lovers
- Count of Monte Cristo retelling
- found family
- revenge plot
Emily Varga is a Fantasy author with a fondness for getting lost in bookstores and watching a lot of terrible reality tv. She has lived all over the world, but currently calls the Rocky Mountains of western Canada home, where she lives with her family and their menagerie of pets. When she’s not writing, Emily is a cohost of the ON THE WRITE TRACK podcast and works as a family lawyer, where she learned more about storytelling than she ever expected.
Emily’s debut novel FOR SHE IS WRATH is a Pakistani-inspired Count of Monte Cristo retelling.
I love the cover of this one. I love the title. I love the premise. I am super excited to hopefully get my paws on it soon, and look forward to reading whenever I can 🙂
Ooooo, I hope you love it!!!