Publisher: Putnam
Page Count: 404
I read this book together with the wonderful and amazing Marie @Drizzle and Hurricane Books. We’ve read a couple of books together by now, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that we once again had a fantastic time buddy reading and as always, I was super glad to have someone to share my thoughts with. Don’t forget to check back on her blog within the next couple of weeks to see her review!
The Wrath and the Dawn was an absolutely magical tale. Inspired by A Thousand and One Night, I was bound to like it from the beginning, because those used to be some of my favourite tales as a child. Shahrzad was a commanding presence from the get-go, determined to avenge her friend. I understood her motivation right away, even though her techniques were a little unorthodox, but I had a much more difficult time understanding Khalid. I was never able to hate him. From the first moment he appeared, I saw him as a broken boy, smelling of sun and sandalwood. In my mind he was a good person with warm eyes, but that’s just not how he is described. It’s mysterious how my brain can conjure up something that’s not really there. Either way, I am glad that there was sort of a valid explanation in the end.
But Shazi and Khalid weren’t the only characters I liked, the side characters were just as great! The only thing that bothered me a little was that I felt like I was missing a backstory on some of them (*cough* Despina and Jalal *cough*). Some decisions just felt rushed, but as if they were really important for what’s to come. I hear there are various novellas for the duology, but even though I think that novellas should enhance a story, they shouldn’t hold necessary information on key characters. In my opinion, that is supposed to be in the actual novel itself.
The Wrath and the Dawn was really fast paced and a lovely tale. It got more intense with every chapter, your heart getting torn in all different kind of directions. It truly did end on a cruel cliffhanger, so I am glad I waited with reading the book until I had the second one at home as well. And that is what I am going to do now – go on and read The Rose and the Dagger, because I definitely can’t get enough of that story!
Fazit: 4.5/5 stars! A beautifully written and magical tale with characters that you can’t help but love!
Have you read The Wrath and the Dawn? Did you enjoy it?
Life and Other Disasters 
Yay, great review, and as always, I have such an incredible time buddy-reading with you ❤ I really want to underline this "novellas should enhance a story, they shouldn’t hold necessary information on key characters". AND YES YES YES. I definitely agree. I think that novellas are really becoming a trend, and even a must in a lot of series, but if they should give us an insight, more info and more of the world we love, they shouldn't hold back key information we want and NEED TO KNOW.
I can't wait to read the second book, I'm even more excited to hear your thoughts about it. I hope it's as good as the first one so far! 🙂
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YAY, so glad you liked it! Both, the review and our time buddy reading. I am also super glad you agree on the novella thing, because I actually do believe that the backstory would have been necessary, because I definitely wasn’t feeling the romance for example.
I still haven’t continued reading – I slept till noon hahaha, but I’ll keep you updated.
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Yes, me neither, and I’m still upset about it, I think it could have been such great material to the story if the romance was more developed. Here, it just felt like it was here, a bit out of the blue, and that’s it. I can’t wait 😀
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I totally agree. I didn’t feel like it was a natural development for the characters to be in love.
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YAS, YOU GUYS. I’m so happy that the two of you finally read it and yeees I absolutely agree with your review. For me I didn’t mind that we don’t get to hear about the details for the side characters as much – I rather liked that we didn’t get everything handed out to us and are kind of ‘allowed’ to draw conclusions ourselves. I hear there’s a novella for Jalal and Despina though. Hope you like the second book too! 🙂
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Hahaha you were really insistent that we shouldn’t wait any longer hahaha
It was a great book and I am definitely enjoying the sequel so far.
I don’t know, but I just wasn’t feeling the connection between Despina and Jalal AT ALL! I also don’t think that it’s strictly necessary to show everything in detail either, but they didn’t talk with each other in private once during the whole book. I didn’t see Jalal steal a glance at her either and all Despina did was hide from him …
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Sorry, sorry! I thought it was just a good time with the second book already being released, so if you like it, you can go straight to it and finish the whole thing. Are you picking up TRATD any time soon? 😛
Ahh yes, I can see why that’d feel like it came out of nowhere! I honestly don’t remember how I felt, but I think that particular subplot didn’t leave much of an impression on me either way.
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I already started reading TRATD yesterday hahaha
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YES. Hope you enjoy it! 😀
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I am only in chapter 3 and am already feeling the characters’ despair. 😦 I just hope everything will work out!
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Great review Kat ! I need to buy this book haha
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Thank you 😀 It was really great and such a surprisingly quick read too. But be ready for the cliffhanger!
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I would buy the second book too 😉
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Wise choice!
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[…] The Wrath and the Dawn/The Rose and the Dagger by Renée Ahdieh (both 4.5 stars) TWATD read with Marie and review for TRATD is soon to come! […]
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[…] reading The Wrath and the Dawn, I knew that I had to read The Rose and the Dagger as soon as possible and I am happy to say that […]
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