The Wrath & the Dawn (The Wrath and the Dawn)

An intoxicating debut! The Wrath & The Dawn is a captivating story set in a vividly detailed world, and beautifully told. Renee Ahdieh's storytelling is mesmerizing. With unforgettable characters, and a romance that slowly ignites the pages, this book will leave you wanting so much more when you finish it. It's perfectly paced, and an incredibly well written book. This is one of THE best books I've read this year.(The Longer Review Version)The Wrath & The Dawn is a beautiful told, calculated story. Nothing within this story is without purpose. From the little to the big details, to the way the story is told, everything is vividly detailed, and in the story for a reason. I loved that nothing is what it seems. Ahdieh does a beautiful job at unraveling this story's plot twists, and each of the characters secrets in a timely manner, allowing readers to form their own conclusions, much like Shahrzad does. Once you think you have things figured out, Ahdieh reveals a shocking truth, which alters the story, and against my better judgement, makes fall even more in love with the characters.The characters in this story are masterfully crafted. When each character is first introduced into the story, Ahdieh reveals just enough about them that you're able to form an opinion about them, or understand why Shazi seems them they she does. It's not until you get further into the story that she purposefully allows readers to get to know a little bit more about them, realizing that not all the characters are as they first seem to be. There's so much more to them. In slowly unraveling the characters's layers bit by bit vs all at one time, Ahdieh allows her readers to see just how complex, and intertwined many of the characters are with each other, and the plot twist within the story.It's been awhile since I've read a book that was so well paced, and so patiently told. There's now rushing through this story. There's so much to take in, and so many details to observe and mull over, that you literally have to sit back, and enjoy the pace Ahdieh sets in her captivating story. Once you start reading it, there's no stoping until you're at the end. Even then, you'll be wanting more. The twists in this book come one after the other. The characters in this story are addicting. Once you get to see a glimmer of who they really are, you want to know more about them.I loved Shazi! This girl is so courageous. In a world where women aren't meant to stand their ground, and are forced to hold their tongues, Shazi's inability to be anything but fierce, and witty, makes her stand out. She's fearless, and daring, and I admired her character, and her strength. She's not afraid to speak her mind, and she doesn't apologize for doing so either. There's also this other side to Shazi I loved getting to see. That's her falling in love. Shazi has risked everything, and is willing to lose her life for something she strongly believes in, but in doing what she does, she realizes there is much more to the cause. In her patience to seek justice she realizes there's more to the person she has wanted to seek revenge against than she ever thought. Where she's risked losing herself, she now risks losing her heart.It's easy to want to hate Caliph. Especially since the reader sees him from Shazi's point of view. But there's something about this young King that makes it hard to believe that he does what he's known for just because he's the King, and can. Caliph is the most surprising character, and the most complex character out of the entire story. Ahdieh has written a beautifully, broken, fearless leader with Caliph. He makes no apologies for who he is and what he does. He's calculating, observant, and not someone anyone crosses. Shazi has away for getting under people's skin, and there's something about her that Caliph can't resist. There is so much more to this young King than his ruthlessness and power that he's been known for. I loved seeing Caliph for who he really is, demons and all. What I loved most is the way both Shazi and Caliph have a way of calming each other when it's just the two of them, though things are far from calm around them.Shazi and Caliph have an incredible chemistry. It's one of the most beautifully written, torturous slow burning romances I've read. It's the kind that ignites the pages, yet leaves you wanting so much more from them. Their relationship, and their chemistry is one of a kind. It's not forced, but one that slowly builds up, and grows stronger with each layer that is pealed back between the two characters. Each touch, each emotional moment, each sensual kiss, and each secret that slowly gets unraveled between the two of them brings them closer together, and unites them in a powerful, binding way. Their relationship is one that starts out treacherous, and set in tradition, but grows to be something so much more than either of them, nor those around them, could have ever imagined. I loved the way Ahdieh wrote their story. It's complex, dangerous, and grows into something that is undeniable, fierce and unbreakable.The Wrath & The Dawn is intoxicating. The more I read, the more I wanted from this story. Trust me, you get a lot from this story. I did not want this story to end. For all the questions I got answers to, there are still plenty of unanswered questions. I couldn't get enough of this story. I loved the characters, including the secondary characters whom play a huge role in Shazi and Caliph's lives. I love it when an author makes me love those characters as much as I love the main characters. And that ending! My only compliant is that I have to wait until next year to read the sequel! What have you done to me Renee Ahdieh. I've now got a book hanger, and I pity the next book I read.Favorite Lines:...."wisdom becomes less of a birthright and more of an expecation. In my life, the one thing I have learned above all is that no individual can reach the height of their potential without the love of others. We are not meant to be alone, Shahrzad. The more a person pushes others away, the clearer it becomes he is need of love the most.".... "Trust that the man you see now is a shadow of what lies beneath. If you would, give him the love that will enable him to see it for himself. To a lost soul, such a treasure is worth it's weight in gold. Worth it's weight in dreams."She was drowning in sandalwood and sunlight. Time ceased to be more than a notion. Her lips were hers one moment. And then they were his. The taste of him on her tongue was like sun warmed honey. Like cool water sliding down her parched throat. Like the promise of all her tomorrows in a single sigh. When she wound her fingers in his hair to draw her body against his, he stilled for breath, and she knew, as he knew, that they were lost. Lost forever. In this kiss.

http://www.theinkgobbler.wordpress.com/In an era where technology has become a ubiquitous part of our lives, it's easy to forget that there are other, more timeworn things that are just as powerful, only in different ways. To me, storytelling is one of those - dare I say - magical forces. It has the power of bringing people together: I'll always remember evenings spent sprawled on my stomach in bed, my eyes scanning the words that my dad read aloud from the latest Cornelia Funke novel ("Inkheart" ring a bell, anyone?). It has the power of providing an escape from the wear-and-tear of mundane life, of creating a refuge for you to slip into with a simple turn of a page. In short, storytelling is truly enchanting stuff. In her debut novel "The Wrath and the Dawn," Renée Ahdieh captures just this, weaving a sumptuous tale that enchants and astounds readers and takes them on a journey to faraway lands.First off, "The Wrath and the Dawn" has an intriguing premise, retelling the tale of "A Thousand and One Nights" in a way that's fresh and more tailored to a younger, modern audience. There are some interesting complications added in to the traditional plot, like the love triangle between Shazi, Khalid and Tariq, which not only expanded the world of the story to include kingdoms other than Rey, in which the novel is set, but also rendered the plot more layered and complex. Another interesting spin was the addition of actual magic that some of the characters seem to possess, like making flowers bloom and healing and the like. However, I wish there had been more than some scattered instances of magic here and there, since I wasn't entirely sure what to make of it in the world of the story - Is magic considered normal? Does everyone have it? Are there different kinds of magic? Lots of these kinds of questions remained unanswered, and left some gaps in the otherwise solid world-building in the novel.If I had to describe the characters of the book in one word, it'd be: fiery. From our heroine Shazi to the tiger-eyed Khalid, from Despina, the spunky handmaiden hailing from Greece, to Jalal, Khalid's flirtatious, arrogant cousin, everyone has a lot of fire in them. In fact, there are moments when I felt like there was a little too much fire, especially since all these strong-willed people live in one palace together (and, no matter how big a palace can get, it's still a lot of stubbornness and flair stuck into one place), almost to the point where it seemed unrealistic and maybe even a little irritating. But because each of the characters are 'fiery' in their own, individual ways, it made up for a cast of characters that's indubitably dynamic and lively. Shazi, for example, is brave and clever, and I thoroughly enjoyed her quick-witted banter with Despina and the double-edged exchanges with the baddie Sultan. On the other hand, Khalid is more reserved and cool on the outside, but his amber eyes (I mean, hello, they're orange) belie the whirlwind of emotions and thoughts inside. And speaking of which, I appreciated the development of their romance, especially as it's one that's built not just on passion, but also on respect and, later, trust. Though I do wish that we hadn't learned from the get-go in the prologue that Khalid actually isn't some murderous king who marries a girl every night just to kill her the next morning - it was a drop of the suspense that would've been great in propelling the momentum of the storyline forward.But that doesn't mean that there wasn't any momentum, not one bit. On the contrary, what I loved about "The Wrath and the Dawn" was its seamless storytelling throughout, which is perfectly fitting given the fact that the whole tale is focused on Scheherazade - or, in our case, Sharzad - and her alluring ability to tell stories, which ultimately saves her life and the kingdom. While I do feel like this particular element of the traditional story was downplayed a little in this retelling, it cannot be denied that Ms. Ahdieh's elegant and ornate writing engages the reader throughout the novel, weaving rich descriptions of the setting and the characters without being overdone. Everything is fast-paced and exciting - and I ended up having some difficulty stopping myself from starting the next chapter.Overall, "The Wrath and the Dawn" is truly a sumptuous, beautifully-told tale that breathes new life to the traditional story of "A Thousand and One Nights," with a fiery cast of characters, intriguing spins in the storyline, and delicately intricate writing. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking an exotic, magical read - it may be one of my favourites in a long while.Rating: 5/5

Cualquiera que me conozca sabe que me encanta la fantasía, es mi género favorito. Desde la lectura de todos los libros de Sarah J. Maas y Leigh Bardugo, nada se ha comparado hasta ahora. Este libro es fenomenal. La atmósfera que Renée Ahdieh pudo crear con su escritura es increíble. Sentí que estaba viviendo y respirando en este hermoso mundo. Los personajes son realmente originales e interesantes y no predecibles de ninguna manera. La trama era tan rápida que tuve un pequeño problema para mantenerme al día y realmente entrar en ella al principio, pero una vez que había leído un par de capítulos estaba tan completamente inmerso en este mundo con estos personajes increíbles que me voló la cabeza. A pesar de que es fantasía y las cosas que suceden no son reales, Renée lo hizo muy bien haciéndote creer en ella. No muchos libros me han hecho sentir de esta manera y cuando bajé el libro y luego lo recogí de nuevo después de unas horas, simplemente volví a caer en él como si nunca lo hubiera dejado en el primer lugar. Mientras lees este libro hay un misterio que no puedes evitar tratar de resolver antes de que realmente lo averigües y que realmente se mantiene absorto.El libro sigue a Shahrzad cuando decide ser voluntaria para ser el califa de la nueva novia de Jorasan. Pero él es un rey asesino que trae una nueva angustia familiar cada amanecer. Cada noche se lleva a una nueva novia y llegan por la mañana han sido asesinados. A los dieciséis años, la amiga más cercana de Shahrzad es víctima de Khalid, por lo que decide ofrecerse voluntariamente mientras está decidida a seguir con vida, pero también en busca de venganza.La compleja trama está muy bien tejida y el desarrollo y la relación del personaje de Shazi y Khalid progresa lentamente y de una manera realista que realmente te atrae y te hace importar lo que les pasa. También disfruté el romance lento y creo que también fue fabulosamente hecho. La forma en que seguimos el viaje Shazi cuando ella al principio odia a Khalid y cómo ella está extremadamente enojada y conmocionada por él para luego encontrarse desarrollando sentimientos hacia él, más ella llega a conocerlo y descubre la verdad que creo que era hermosa. Definitivamente es romance hecho de la manera correcta y creo que es uno de los mejores y más bien escritos romances que he leído en mucho tiempo.« ¿Qué me estás haciendo, plaga de chica?» susurró.« Si soy una plaga, entonces deberías mantener tu distancia, a menos que planee ser destruido». Las armas todavía en su mano, ella empujó contra su pecho.« No». Sus manos cayeron hasta su cintura. «Destruyeme».Esa es realmente una de mis escenas favoritas porque el snark y la tensión son abrumadoras y me encanta! Ahora también hay algunas bromas aquí y allá entre otros personajes no sólo los dos principales y me encanta bromas y angustia honestamente cuanto más mejor y realmente era sólo el tope de una historia ya increíble. Me encantó cómo se dedicaron mucho esfuerzo a formar personajes secundarios, así en lugar de centrarme en los principales protagonistas, realmente agregó mucho a la historia y en general agregó tanta profundidad. La mayor parte de las bromas que vemos son entre Shazi y Jalal que es primo de Khalid. La escena en la que está practicando con Shazi es una de mis escenas favoritas de todo el libro. Su amistad que se desarrolla lentamente es también uno de los puntos más destacados y estoy emocionado de ver a dónde va eso.« Algunas cosas existen en nuestras vidas por un breve momento. Y debemos dejarlos ir a iluminar otro cielo». Los personajes secundarios de este libro eran muy intrigante, sobre todo me encuentro queriendo saber más sobre Jalal, cualquier escena que tengamos en el próximo libro es muy bienvenida .A lo cual estoy muy emocionado de ver lo que sucede después de ese final. No voy a entrar en detalles porque todo lo que necesitas saber es que hay giros y giros y cosas impactantes suceden. Aunque diría que no hay mucha acción a lo largo del libro, sin embargo, lo poco que obtenemos es impactante y desgarrador y yo estaba sentado en el borde de mi asiento mientras leía esas últimas escenas. También he leído el libro más recientemente publicado de Renée Ahdieh 'Flame in The Mistur' y tengo que decir que aunque adoré ese libro creo que me encantó aún más, su firma escrita en ambos libros es tan profunda y como su lectura fluye junto con las historias de una manera perfecta. En general, este libro fue maravilloso y lo recomiendo encarecidamente para los fans del género de la fantasía y también si te gustan los libros con la construcción del mundo rico y personajes que se arraigará continuamente.

I have a love for good retellings and this one hits right on spot with its twist on 1001 Arabian Nights! 🎯It's a magical journey with absolutely lovable main characters and vibe.The secondary characters have their own uniqueness that makes you want to see more of them! I absolutely love the type where you can't tell which side they're on.Also the stories Sharhzad spins! I was just as interested as the Caliph.Although the enemies to lover went a little too fast... Well the lovers phase was nice so I'll forgive that ❤️

-It's such a lovely edition. It came without scratches or any damage. Also the delivery was pretty fast. The story is really good and beautifully narrated. If you didn't know it, the story has an awesome webcomic.-Es una edición preciosa y la historia es muy buena 👍 llegó rápido y sin rasguños

Chaque nuit le Caliph de Khorasan prend une nouvelle femme. Et à chaque nouvelle aube, cette femme meurt. Cette horrible tradition se perpétue depuis plusieurs années déjà. Jusqu'au jour ou Shahrhad se porte volontaire pour être la nouvelle femme de Khalid, le Caliph. Loin d'elle les envies suicidaires, elle prend en réalité cette décision dans le but de venger sa meilleure amie, une des précédente femme de Khalid, en tuant celui-ci. Grâce à ses histoires, son intelligence et son cran, Shazi réussi à passer plusieurs aubes auprès de Khalid, mais à un prix bien pire que la mort : peu à peu, elle tombe irrémédiablement amoureuse de l'homme qu'elle hait le plus sur cette Terre. Elle ne peut définitivement plus se résoudre à l'assassiner. Mais alors qu'elle s'en veut de souiller la mémoire de sa défunte amie, Shazi se rend compte que les meurtres ne sont peut-être pas ce qu'ils semblent être et que Khalid, qui est détesté des foules pour toutes les morts qu'il a apporté, n'est peut-être pas si coupable que tout le monde le pense.Que dire de cette lecture ? J'ai eu un peu de mal à rentrer dans l'histoire au départ. Peut-être à cause de la V.O qui était d'un langage plutôt soutenu, ou des divers changements de Point de Vue qui m'ont rendue confuse à de multiple reprise. Mais j'ai fini par trouver mon rythme et à partir de là, l'histoire c'est trouvée être vraiment belle, passionnante et intrigante.Shazi est le genre de personnage féminin que j'aime. Elle a un but, qu'elle fera tout pour accomplir, peu importe les dangers et la mort qui plane irrévocablement au dessus de sa tête. Khalid lui, est tout d'abord froid mais malicieux, distant mais taquin. Puis, plus on le découvre, plus Shazi le découvre et plus on peut entrevoir un homme aussi fort que faible, tendre, passionné, doux et surtout très amoureux. La relation que ces deux là entretienne m'a chamboulée. Elle est relativement longue à se mettre en place, mais c'est totalement normal sachant que Shazi est entrée dans la vie du Caliph pour le tuer en premier lieu et rien d'autre. Le comportement dont Khalid fait preuve dès que cela concerne Shazi est juste beau à voir, et cela à bercer ma lecture d'un sentiment très agréable. J'ai eu plus de mal avec Tariq, l'ami d'enfance et amour de jeunesse de Shazi. Je comprend qu'il veuille la sauver, certes, mais j'étais tellement éprise du couple Shazi/Khalid, que l'interruption de Tariq pour briser le peu d'entente et le confiance qu'ils avaient réussi à faire naître entre eux, ne m'a pas plut du tout. Les personnages secondaires eux, sont très plaisant. Je pense particulièrement à Despina, la servante de Shazi, qui a une attitude hilarante la plus part du temps.Et cette fin.. Mon dieu, 2 mois après ma lecture je n'arrive toujours pas à m'en remettre. Ca va paraître bête mais je ne m'attendais tellement pas à ça que je me suis presque sentie trahie par la façon dont les choses se terminent. Et je ne peux décemment pas ne pas lire la suite. C'est même une nécessité absolue ! Et j'ai hâte d'avoir le second tome entre les mains.En conclusion, The Wrath & The Dawn est une excellente lecture, qui a frôlé le coup de coeur de très près pour moi. La relation de Shazi et Khalid est magique, les décors sont splendidement retranscrit et c'est une histoire à lire, définitivement.Chronique de mon blog : novelteabooks.fr

Any one who knows me knows that I love fantasy, its my favourite genre. Since reading all of Sarah J. Maas and Leigh Bardugo's books nothing has really compared until now. This book is phenomenal. The atmosphere that Renée Ahdieh was able to create with her writing is incredible. I felt like I was living and breathing in this beautiful world. The characters are really original and interesting and not at all predictable in any way. The plot was so fast moving that I had a little trouble keeping up and actually getting into it at the beginning but once I had read a couple of chapters I was so completely immersed in this world with these amazing characters that it blew my mind. Even though it is fantasy and the things that happen aren't real Renée really did well making you believe in it. Not many books have made me feel this way and when I did put the book down and then picked it up again after a few hours, I just fell straight back in to it like I had never put it down in the first place. While reading this book there is a mystery that you just can't help but try to solve before you actually find out and that really keeps to engrossed.The book follows Shahrzad when she decides to volunteer to be the Caliph of Khorasan's new bride. But he is a murderous king that brings a new family heartache every single dawn. Each night he takes a new bride and come morning they have been killed. At sixteen Shahrzad's closest friend falls victim to Khalid and so she decides to volunteer while determined to stay alive but also looking for vengeance.The complex plot is very well woven together and Shazi and Khalid's character development and relationship progresses slowly and in a realistic way that really draws you in and makes you care what happens to them. I also enjoyed the slow burning romance and I think that it was also fabulously done. The way we follow Shazi journey when she at first hates Khalid and how she is extremely angry and shocked by him to then find herself developing feelings toward him the more she gets to know him and uncovers the truth I think was beautiful. It's definitely romance done the right way and I think it is one of the best and most well written romances that I have read in a very long time.“What are you doing to me, you plague of a girl?” he whispered.“If I’m a plague, then you should keep your distance, unless you plan on being destroyed.” The weapons still in her grasp, she shoved against his chest.“No.” His hands dropped to her waist. “Destroy me.”That is really one of my favourite scenes because the snark and tension is overwhelming and I just love it! Now there is also some banter here and there between other characters not just the main two and I love banter and angst honestly the more the better and it really was just the topping to an already amazing story. I loved how loads of effort went into fleshing out side characters as well instead of just focusing on the main protagonists it really added a lot to the story and overall added so much depth. Most of the banter we see is between Shazi and Jalal who is Khalid's cousin. The scene where he is target practising with Shazi is one of my favourite scenes of the whole book. Their slowly developing friendship is also one of the highlights and I am excited to see where that goes.“Some things exist in our lives for but a brief moment. And we must let them go on to light another sky.”The side characters in this book were very intriguing, mostly I find myself wanting to know more about Jalal, any scenes that we get in the next book are very welcome. To which I am extremely excited to see what happens next after that ending. I'm not going to go into detail because all you need to know is there are twists and turns and shocking things happen. Although I would say there isn't very much action throughout the book however the little we do get is shocking and heart-breaking and I was sitting on the edge of my seat all while reading those last few scenes. I have also read Renée Ahdieh's most recently released book 'Flame in The Mist' and I have to say even though I adored that book I think that I loved this even more, her signature writing in both of these books is so deep and as your reading it just flows along with the stories in a perfect way. Overall this book was wonderful and I highly recommend it for fans of the fantasy genre and also if you enjoy books with rich world building and characters that you will continuously root for.5/5 Stars