I bought this book, and this is not a sponsored blog post.
The Wrath and The Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
Series: The Wrath & The Dawn
Number in Series: Book One
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Historical Fiction
My Recommended Age: 14 and up
Amazon Recommended Age: 12 and up
Edition: 2015 hardcover
Pages: 416
Check it Out: Goodreads, Amazon, PenguinRandomHouse
From Publisher:
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.

Words cannot describe how much I love this book; I was literally squealing as I was reading. I WAS SCREECHING, LIKE A PTERODACTYL.
I love Shazi, her quips kill me!
“I can’t say I’m surprised. As for me? I believe I’ll leave this set of goods on the rack, as well. I have no interest in. . . tiny cucumbers” (pg 159) Shazi to a rude boy in the city of Rey.
I also think I have a problem, much like Shiza does. I was sold on Khalid probably the moment he entered the room, or the moment he showed Shiza kindness. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME? He killed so many innocent young girls (there is a kind of a good reason, but I’m not going to spoil it for you) and yet I’m still fawning over him. I recently read The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead, and the main guy was a good boy, but I was so bored with him. Khalid is just so
Okay, okay. I know everyone will be confused by this next quote, but this scene gives me life:
“And only those watching very carefully saw the Caliph of Khorasan lean back against the cushions and toy with the bangles on his wife’s arm” (pg 254).
*internal screaming* I can just see Khalid lean back into the cushions with a smug expression as he plays with her wrist. I literally get goose bumps (the good kind) rereading that scene. Ahhhhh!
Okay, and I NEED to talk about the writing. Ahdieh does such a phenomenal job describing everything. I can almost taste the food, smell the prized roses, feel all the emotions as if I was character in that moment. I COULD NOT PUT THE BOOK DOWN. I started at eight and finished around 12, I WAS SLAYED SO HARD.
And just to convince you that I’m not crazy, here’s a little quote to prove that our Caliph is not just some brazen lunatic, and is aware of his sins:
“It’s a fitting punishment for a monster. To want something so much–to hold it in your arms–and know beyond a doubt you will never deserve it.” – Khalid (pg 316).
Also, Shazi is tormented by loving a monster:
“Shahrad slid to the floor. The hands that had appeared steady against him now shook before her face. Proof that she was being eqaully punished for her own transgressions. Punished for desiring a monster” (pg 316).
If this display of internal conflict doesn’t enticement you, I don’t know what will. YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK NOW.
And can we just take a moment to appreciate how stunning the model for the cover is?? Just damn!
Overall rating: 5/5 HEARTS
Cover: 5 hearts
Characters: 5 hearts
Writing: 5 hearts
Pacing: 5 hearts
Creativity: 5 hearts
Discussion: SPOILERS AHEAD // CONTINUE AT YOUR OWN RISK//
Continue reading “The Wrath and The Dawn [Review&Discussion]”