The Wrath and the Dawn Review by Saanvi Kunisetty

 The Wrath and the Dawn Review

Saanvi Kunisetty

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh is a story that takes place in the Middle East in a fantasy world. It narrates the tale of a girl named Shazi, a common girl, who ends up falling in love with a boy-king named Khalid, the Caliph of Khorason. The only catch- Khalid happens to be a murderer; he marries a girl every night, only to have her killed by dawn. Shazi sets foot into the palace as Khalid’s wife, hoping to avenge the loss of her best friend Shiva, kill Khalid inconspicuously, and put an end to the ongoing cycle of marriage and death. But, when she becomes the first one to survive the night and live to see the sun rise, her plans, along with her relationship, take a significant turn.

Perhaps what I loved best about The Wrath and the Dawn was the author’s subtle hints, foreshadowing, and references to certain ideas throughout the story. The cause of the curse on Khalid, the reason he became so cold and unapproachable, the magical abilities of Shazi’s dad- these were all puzzles that my mind was constantly yearning to figure out throughout the book. Sometimes, it was the smallest details that hinted to a major idea- something shocking and revealing. As a reader, these moments of epiphany were so satisfying to experience.

In addition to this, the author’s style of writing was beautiful- the book was filled with vivid and sensory description, metaphoric details, and unlikely symbolism. Whether it was feeling the character’s emotions in a certain moment, or witnessing the comparison of a character’s development to symbols such as the blooming and wilting of a rose, the author’s crafting added a certain amount of eloquence and elegance to the writing. All in all, I would definitely recommend this book to an avid fantasy or romance novel reader.

Thank you,

Saanvi Kunisetty