The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
Reviewed by: Barb Rude, Reference Assistant
Genre: Fantasy
Suggested Age: Teens
What is the book about?: The Wrath and the Dawn is a retelling of 1001 Nights. Shahrzad’s best friend has been murdered by the king, so she volunteers to be his next bride—and possibly his next victim. She’s determined to find out why he kills his brides, and she’s also determined to kill him. Her desire for revenge starts to melt as she gets to know him. Love is complicated and secrets are dangerous.
My Review: I like this book. The setting and characters are brought alive through vivid descriptions. Shahrzad is quick, fierce, and bold. The story unfolds with strong emotions. The changes between characters happen with enough depth to feel authentic, and the story develops at a strong pace. My only quibble was the use of magic. Shahrzad discovers she has a powerful talent but never uses it, which was unsatisfying. As this story is the first of two, I imagine we’ll see more magic in the next book. Otherwise, I really enjoyed the story.
Rating: 5/5
About FDL Reads
Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library. Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available. If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently. We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!