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May 09, 2015

Review: The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

The Wrath and the Dawn (The Wrath and the Dawn, #1)
Title: The Wrath and the Dawn (The Wrath and the Dawn, #1)
Author: Renee Ahdieh
Publisher:
 Penguin Canada
Publication date: May 12, 2015
 
Genre(s): Young Adult (Retelling/Fantasy)
Source: Publisher
Format: ARC
Pages: 388
Every dawn brings horror to a different family in a land ruled by a killer. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, takes a new bride each night only to have her executed at sunrise. So it is a suspicious surprise when sixteen-year-old Shahrzad volunteers to marry Khalid. But she does so with a clever plan to stay alive and exact revenge on the Caliph for the murder of her best friend and countless other girls. Shazi's wit and will, indeed, get her through to the dawn that no others have seen, but with a catch . . . she’s falling in love with the very boy who killed her dearest friend.

She discovers that the murderous boy-king is not all that he seems and neither are the deaths of so many girls. Shazi is determined to uncover the reason for the murders and to break the cycle once and for all.
I've been anticipating The Wrath and the Dawn as soon as I found out it is a retelling of One Thousand and One Nights, an arabic folk story I'm familiar with. I had high expectations and once I started reading The Wrath and the Dawn, I knew that every one of my expectations will be met... and they were. The story revolves around Shazi, who lives in a land that is ruled by a boy king who marries a girl every night, only to execute her when dawn arrives. Shazi's best friend became a victim to this monstrous king and Shazi's vowed to take revenge. However, nothing is what it appears to be and Shazi is thrust into a foreign royal world and unexpected foreign feelings towards this boy king that could jeapordize her revenge plan. 
I loved how The Wrath and the Dawn wasn't predictable and obvious. It kept you on your nerves wanting to find out which and what direction the author will take with this plot. Also, Shazi is a fantastic main protagonist. I loved her personality as well as defiance that was actually one of the main reasons that Khaled found Shazi so admirable. I loved their interactions together and the internal conflict Shazi was going through as she discovered more of the hidden truth as well as how her heart feels towards this boy that she spends her night with talking and trying to understand. The Wrath and the Dawn has changing POVs, and while Shazi is inside the castle, her childhood sweetheart, is trying to start a revolution while some other questionable characters were trying to their agendas to the front. 
The Wrath and the Dawn has just about everything. A fast paced thrilling plot as well as beautiful descriptions and accurate explanations and use of arabic words. The arabic world seemed very authentic, something that many authors struggle with sometimes (writing about a culture that is different from their own). From the arabic words used to the way the empire was at the time One Thousand and One Nights was written and set at. I loved everything about this book and I am so happy that it is the first in a series, and not a standalone. I can't wait for The Rose and the Dagger and very excited to pick up where we left off (and it was at a very exciting place!) and get back into this diverse and unique world. 
 

8 comments:

  1. OOoh nice! I am totally excited for this one! I don't think I've read the original tale, but I feel familiar with it in a sense! Cannot wait to read this! Great review!

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  2. I really want to pick this one up! I have heard nothing but wonderful things, but I am trying to keep my expectations low, just so that I'm not dissapointed!
    -Monica @ Tomes Project

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  3. Heard so many great things about this one and I can't wait to read it myself! A POC couple in YA yasss the diversity~

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  4. Oooh I looooooooooooooooooooved this one, it was so well-written and the romance was perfect. I need book two immediately, I can't wait another year.
    -Jon from Bookish Antics

    **Check out my giveaway for The Novice by Taran Matharu!

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  5. I loved this one too and reading your review, I feel that since you are familiar with the setting and you were still captivated by it, and by how the author described anything, I'm even more impressed now!! Ever since you stopped by my review for this one I've been looking out for yours, I am so happy that you enjoyed this one as much as I did! Now the long wait for the sequel begins haha! GREAT review^^

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  6. I hadn't heard of this one until very recently. Honestly, the cover did not catch my attention at all. I'm so glad I read your review. I'm going to have to add it to my list.

    Thanks for visiting my haul.

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  7. YAYYY!! So happy you loved this! I love it when the story's unpredictable! It makes the story that much more enjoyable. And Shazi sounds like an awesome protagonist! Thank god I don't have to wait long now :D

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  8. YAY :D Gorgeous review Juhina. <3 I'm oh so happy that you loved this book so much sweetie :) I'm so curious and excited about this book. But nervous, because I can't stand it when the girl has an ex-boyfriend. And I peeked at the ending of this one. He seems like he will be a VERY ANNOYING character. I can't stand it :( but hoping to still love it. <3 I shall cross my fingers to love it like you did :) Thank you for sharing sweetie. <3

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