Author: Renée Ahdieh
Publisher: Penguin/Putnam
Release: May 12, 2015
Series: The Wrath and the Dawn
Pages: 388
Review: 5 Stars
Synopsis:
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.
You Can Find it At:
Barnes & Noble
iBooks
First Impressions
It took me a while to start this book. I'd been hearing great things about it, it just wasn't calling my name. Finally, at the end of summer break, I picked up the book. I can't believe I waited to so long to read this! From the first page to the last, The Wrath and the Dawn took my breath away!
Characters
From the beginning, we know that Khalid is not the monster Shahrzad, and the rest of their country, believes. While we don't know the details, we know that there's more to the story. Slowly, Shahrzad learns this as well. I loved seeing by Shahrzad and Khalid grow over the course of the novel. Shahrzad comes into herself, able to see herself as a powerful person. Meanwhile, Khalid learns to trust others again, and that he doesn't always have to bear an unbearable burden.
I wasn't as interested in the parts of the story about Shahrzad's childhood friends and her father. I know that they're important to the plot, but they were fairly boring. Almost all those characters annoyed me as well, with good reason.
Writing
The writing was beautiful! Everything that everyone says in praise about this book is true! I don't have too much else to say that hasn't already been said.
World-Building
The author had to do a lot of world-building, and very little at the same time. The novel is based off of stories from 1,001 Nights. For some reason, there's a big number of 1,001 Nights retellings coming out in the coming year. The author was able to use the backbones of the stories, while creating her own at the same time. As the novel goes on, the author develops the world around their small palace. There's references to other countries, people, and cultures. It will be cool to learn more about them in the sequel, which I am dying for!
Author Bio:
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 the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America.
You Can Find Her At:
Twitter
Tumblr
Instagram
Facebook
First Impressions
It took me a while to start this book. I'd been hearing great things about it, it just wasn't calling my name. Finally, at the end of summer break, I picked up the book. I can't believe I waited to so long to read this! From the first page to the last, The Wrath and the Dawn took my breath away!
Characters
From the beginning, we know that Khalid is not the monster Shahrzad, and the rest of their country, believes. While we don't know the details, we know that there's more to the story. Slowly, Shahrzad learns this as well. I loved seeing by Shahrzad and Khalid grow over the course of the novel. Shahrzad comes into herself, able to see herself as a powerful person. Meanwhile, Khalid learns to trust others again, and that he doesn't always have to bear an unbearable burden.
I wasn't as interested in the parts of the story about Shahrzad's childhood friends and her father. I know that they're important to the plot, but they were fairly boring. Almost all those characters annoyed me as well, with good reason.
Writing
The writing was beautiful! Everything that everyone says in praise about this book is true! I don't have too much else to say that hasn't already been said.
World-Building
The author had to do a lot of world-building, and very little at the same time. The novel is based off of stories from 1,001 Nights. For some reason, there's a big number of 1,001 Nights retellings coming out in the coming year. The author was able to use the backbones of the stories, while creating her own at the same time. As the novel goes on, the author develops the world around their small palace. There's references to other countries, people, and cultures. It will be cool to learn more about them in the sequel, which I am dying for!
Author Bio:
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 the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America.
You Can Find Her At:
Tumblr
Whooo! I'm always a fan of fairy-tale retellings, and for once it seems like the publishing industry is shaking things up and publishing some fairy tales that aren't just Hans Christen Anderson and the western cannon. I loved my collection of Arabian Night stories as a child, and really feel like there's been some lost potential, considering how compelling the original stories are. I'm excited to know that Ahdieh manages to make the stories her own and reshape them into something that's distinctly her creative and narrative vision.
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