The Bibliophile's Bookshelf

Title: The Wrath and the Dawn

Series: The Wrath and the Dawn #1

Author: Renee Ahdieh

Genre: Young Adult, Retelling, Fantasy, Romance

Rating: 4 stars

Review:

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, and they have a silk cord wrapped around their throat come morning. When sixteen-year-old Shahrzad’s best friend is taken by the Caliph, she swears vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. She is not only determined to stay alive but end the Caliph’s reign of terror forever. Night after night, Shahrzad’s beguiles Khalid with stories, ensuring her survival, though each dawn could be her last. But something she never expected begins to happen: Khalid is nothing like what she imagined him to be. This is a monster boy with a tormented heart. Shahrzad begins falling in love. How is this possible? It is an unforgiveable betrayal. Still, Shahrzad has come to understand that not is all as it seems in this palace of marble and stone. She is determined to uncover whatever secrets lurk, and despite her love, is ready to take Khalid’s life for the many lives he took. Can their love survive this world of stories and secrets?

This is a reread for me, and I have to admit I was a little disappointed. I have held this book in high esteem since I first read it. I was sixteen when I first read it and I was very caught up in the romance. Upon rereading, I realized that the romance was still there, but the rest of the book was a little lackluster.

The Wrath and the Dawn is a retelling of One Thousand and One Arabian Nights and I really love the premise. Shahrzad volunteers to marry the killer Caliph, Khalid, to get vengeance.

Of course this turns into a love story, and I really enjoyed that. It is very similar to Nasir and Zafira in We Hunt the Flame, which I loved. However, Shahrzad and Khalid’s relationship was rushed. There was definitely attraction, but I wish there was more development. Shahrzad married him to kill him, and there was a reason Khalid killed his brides, so I wish there was a little bit more development and fighting of feelings.

The world is also really intriguing. I love being able to experience a fantasy Middle East. I also love retellings and One Thousand and One Arabian Nights isn’t one that is told too often. Some things in this world did need to be fleshed out a little and the book was definitely focused on the romance, so the setting was in the background.

There were some intriguing side characters, especially Despina and Jalal. I wanted more from them. I think their stories are so intriguing and I hope to see more of them in the next book.

Khalid was, of course, my favorite. I usually love the sad, troubled male characters and this was no exception. I think he was such an interesting character, and I really enjoyed him, but I wish I got more of him outside of Shahrzad. It would have helped had there been more of a dual POV, I think. I also enjoyed Shahrzad. She was a strong and determined main character. And I did really like their relationship.

The Wrath and the Dawn was a good book, with an intriguing premise and an interesting romance, though the story needed to be developed a little more.

Quotes:

“Some things exist in our lives for but a brief moment. And we must let them go on to light another sky.”

“My soul sees its equal in you.”

“You are not weak. You are not indecisive. You are strong. Fierce. Capable beyond measure.”