Review: The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh
Following the April release of The Rose and the Dagger, the sequel to The Wrath and the Dawn, I decided to review the first book in the duology by Renée Ahdieh as it is a favourite book of mine.
In this retelling of Arabian Nights, murderous boy-king Khalid takes a new bride every night, and each morning they are found dead, strangled by a silk cord. When Shahrzad’s best friend Shiva falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows revenge. Volunteering to marry Khalid herself, Shahrzad is determined to bring about his downfall, telling him a story each night in exchange for her life. But soon it is not only her life on the line, but her heart as well.
Shahrzad, the main character, is sharp-witted and silver-tongued, making her an intriguing protagonist. She is a strong, fierce female character the likes of which is seldom seen in fantasy novels. Khalid, the 18 year old king, is quiet and clever, with a mysterious past and secrets of his own that are slowly unravelled as the plot unfurls.
This book takes place in an ancient Arabian/Persian setting, and the kingdom seemed like a character in itself. Renée Ahdieh’s description of the market souks, the marble palace and the desert lands were so rife with imagery that you can’t help but imagine yourself in the midst of it all, swathed in silks with the desert sun on your skin.
Combining magic, romance, and the tale of A Thousand and One Nights, this book is one of the best I’ve read in a long time. The gorgeous imagery and intriguing characters have compelled me to re-read this book several times since its release summer of 2015.
You can purchase your copy on Amazon, Chapters, or for American readers, Barnes & Noble.
A Goodreads summary can be found here.
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| Please note that the above photo was taken by me. |
In this retelling of Arabian Nights, murderous boy-king Khalid takes a new bride every night, and each morning they are found dead, strangled by a silk cord. When Shahrzad’s best friend Shiva falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows revenge. Volunteering to marry Khalid herself, Shahrzad is determined to bring about his downfall, telling him a story each night in exchange for her life. But soon it is not only her life on the line, but her heart as well.
Shahrzad, the main character, is sharp-witted and silver-tongued, making her an intriguing protagonist. She is a strong, fierce female character the likes of which is seldom seen in fantasy novels. Khalid, the 18 year old king, is quiet and clever, with a mysterious past and secrets of his own that are slowly unravelled as the plot unfurls.
This book takes place in an ancient Arabian/Persian setting, and the kingdom seemed like a character in itself. Renée Ahdieh’s description of the market souks, the marble palace and the desert lands were so rife with imagery that you can’t help but imagine yourself in the midst of it all, swathed in silks with the desert sun on your skin.
Combining magic, romance, and the tale of A Thousand and One Nights, this book is one of the best I’ve read in a long time. The gorgeous imagery and intriguing characters have compelled me to re-read this book several times since its release summer of 2015.
You can purchase your copy on Amazon, Chapters, or for American readers, Barnes & Noble.
A Goodreads summary can be found here.
It sounds like a very intriguing book as I enjoyed the stories of Arabian Nights, I would like to read it!
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