Book Review: The Wrath & The Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

Book Title: The Wrath & The Dawn
Author: Renee Ahdieh
Series: The Wrath & The Dawn #1
Release Date: May 12th, 2015
Genres: YA Fantasy, Romance, Retellings

One Life to One Dawn.

In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. When sixteen-year-old Shahrzad's dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. Shahrzad is determined not only to stay alive, but to end the caliph's reign of terror once and for all.

Night after night, Shahrzad beguiles Khalid, weaving stories that enchant, ensuring her survival, though she knows each dawn could be her last. But something she never expected begins to happen: Khalid is nothing like what she'd imagined him to be. This monster is a boy with a tormented heart. Incredibly, Shahrzad finds herself falling in love. How is this possible? It's an unforgivable betrayal. Still, Shahrzad has come to understand all is not as it seems in this palace of marble and stone. She resolves to uncover whatever secrets lurk and, despite her love, be ready to take Khalid's life as retribution for the many lives he's stolen. Can their love survive this world of stories and secrets?

Inspired by A Thousand and One Nights, The Wrath and the Dawn is a sumptuous and enthralling read from beginning to end.

 

“There is no one I would rather see the sunrise with than you.” 

I've never been more thankful to my reading buddies for introducing such a tragic yet enthralling love story that left me deeply wounded because OH MY GOD THIS BOOK. Thinking about this book makes my heart hurt every single time. It's been a few days since I've put it down but the ache in my heart has hardly been soothed at all. 

I'll be honest: I rarely pick up a book that involves a retelling because duh it's a retelling. I'm always afraid that it would be predictable in some ways but with The Wrath & The Dawn, I couldn't flip the pages fast enough!! 

As the blurb mentioned, this is a story inspired by the A Thousand and One Nights; in this one we have a strong heroine by the name of Shahrzad or easily known as "Shazi" who volunteers herself to be the next bride of the King. By each sunrise, the King kills off his bride until he takes a new one in and the vicious cycle repeats. She vows to take vengeance for her friend who is just one of the many victims.

Right from the start, I already had the good tingly feelings that this book was going to give me the EPIC feels. The author's writing flowed through the pages beautifully and the characterization of Shazi was nailed down to my perfect heroine type. She was courageous yet it allows you to see her vulnerability when facing the throes of her death. 

 “A true plague of a girl. And yet a queen in every sense of the word.” 

And the King, Khalid. BE STILL MY HEART. I didn't imagine I would fall head over heels for him but I did! In every way that matters, I truly did. Tortured with a secret that hangs over him, his brooding personality from the start drew me immediately. The romance and chemistry between Shazi & Khalid was so naturally beautiful- thinking about it still give me the goosebumps. It's just that good. I lost count on how many quotes I highlight from this book alone- simply amazing!

“What are you doing to me, you plague of a girl?” he whispered.
“If I’m a plague, then you should keep your distance, unless you plan on being destroyed.” The weapons still in her grasp, she shoved against his chest.
“No.” His hands dropped to her waist. “Destroy me.”  

Easily another top read of the year for me, I can't believe I didn't find out about this book sooner last year! The book ends with a mini cliffhanger but thankfully, I heard it's a duology so the agony of waiting the next one will be worth it!!

Pick up this book, you won't regret it. Fans who are looking for an epic love story won't be disappointed because Renee definitely knows how to spin a tale that will captivate you and bring you down to you knees with this. I need my own King Khalid!!

“You have a beautiful laugh. Like the promise of tomorrow.” 

I live in North Carolina (Go Heels!) with my husband Victor and our dog Mushu. My YA fantasy novel, THE WRATH AND THE DAWN, is available wherever books are sold. In my spare time, I like to cook, dance salsa, and wreak havoc on the lives of my characters.

I’m also a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, as well as an active member of theScience Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America.