Monday, April 25, 2016

Review: The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18798983-the-wrath-the-dawn
The Wrath and the Dawn
(The Wrath and the Dawn #1)
by Renee Ahdieh
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Publication Date: May 12th 2015
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Pages: 395
ISBN: 9780399171611
Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Retelling
Source: Own

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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. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts...

I purchased The Wrath and the Dawn after it had been out for a while, and then it sat on my shelf for an even longer while before I finally picked it up to read. I've only read one other book that was a retelling of A Thousand and One Nights, so I was curious to see how this book would compare. I definitely was not disappointed, and I'm now kicking myself for not having read the book sooner!

I was completely captivated by the main character in the book, Shahrzad. She was such a great character, so strong-willed and full of determination throughout the story, this is a girl who sets her mind to something and goes after it. She also has an amazing gift of storytelling, and I was completely fascinated by all the tales she told. I'm so curious to see more of her as her story goes along.

There are so many secondary characters in the novel that I have grown to love as well, and some that I've grown to hate, and they are all so well written. I could go on and on about them all, especially one guy that has nearly stolen my heart, but I'd rather you read the book and meet them yourself! (And come back to tell me what you think when you do!)

The storyline in the book is completely engrossing. I have not read the original tale of A Thousand and One Nights, but these retellings of the tale definitely make me want to check it out. I love the setting and the descriptions of everything from the food and clothing and more. Also, there's romance in the book, and it was SO well written. Not too much, but just enough to make you swoon. *Wink*.

Overall; I really, really enjoyed The Wrath and the Dawn, and I'm starting the sequel, The Rose and the Dagger, right away, as I must know what's going to happen next, and how it will all end for Shahrzad. Definitely pick up this book if you're a fan of A Thousand and One Nights retellings, as I know you will enjoy the book as well.

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3 comments:

  1. So far I've only read one retelling based on A Thousand and One Nights (A Thousand Nights by E K Johnston) and I completely loved it. Such a magical and beautiful story. The Wrath and the Dawn seems to be as beautiful as that one.

    I wish I had heard of this book sooner (I only found out about it because of its sequel release). It keeps receiving so many great reviews... I've to read it soon!

    Happy readings! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nice review!!! I loved TWATD as well and it's one of my favorites ^^ I can't wait to have TRATD (it's shipping right now)

    Laura @ psilovethatbook

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love this review! I really want to read the wrath and the dawn and the rose and the dagger so bad! But I already have so many books on my TBR that I have to catch up on :(
    So hard to choose!

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