Book Review: ‘For She is Wrath’ is a Fantastical Retelling of ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ Perfect for Romantic Fantasy Lovers
I was sold the second I found out For She is Wrath by Emily Varga was a fantasy retelling of one of my favorite classics, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. Not only a retelling, but a woman taking the place of Edmond Dantès in a Pakistani-inspired setting with Djinn magic?! Yes, please. However, retellings can be hit or miss for me, and especially with a beloved classic that I know so well, I tried to go into it with an open mind, and not look for an exact match of the story. And I really enjoyed it! This was an excellent retelling, and yes, it does have a happy ending, for which I’m grateful. It’s YA Romantic Fantasy afterall. Speaking of, it does read YA, but there are definitely some adult themes and fade-to-black moments, along with a few F-bombs, so keep that in mind. Dani and Noor create a beautiful sisterhood, that is a definite departure from the original work, but not an unwelcome one. If you’ve also been a longtime fan of The Count of Monte Cristo, or you just want a great YA Fantasy with romance to sink your teeth into, I think you’ll enjoy this debut from Emily Varga. P.S. There’s a hand flex scene a la 2005 Pride and Prejudice to look forward to…
Things to Know:
YA Fantasy
First person POV
Flashback chapters
Betrayal and Revenge
Lovers to enemies
Sisterhood
The Count of Monte Cristo retelling
Pakistani-inspired culture
Djinn magic
Dani’s been betrayed by those she thought she loved most, but she’s determined to escape the prison she finds herself in after being tortured for a crime she didn’t commit. Noor, a young girl, takes the place of the Abbé Faria character, and this was probably the biggest departure for me to the story. I really enjoyed her character though, as a newfound sister to Dani, and often a voice of reason, though she was also motivated by vengeance. I loved the addition of a fantastical element in the form of Djinn magic and as with most magic, it comes at a price. But is it one Dani’s prepared to pay for her revenge?
I loved that interweaved between the present, there are chapter flashbacks to before she was imprisoned, which gave a nice backstory to her relationship with Mazin, and the other betrayers. Her father, a famed swordsmith, naturally means she’s handy with a blade, and while at times, her prowess hit the edge of believability for me, it was fun addition to the story. Ex: This tiny woman who’s been imprisoned for a year and is starved and emaciated takes on 12 armed guards… And if you’re a fan of a lovers to enemies storyline (yes, you read that right), you will eat this up!
There is a twist I’ll admit I did not see coming, which is always nice to have as an avid reader, but shhhh no spoilers here.
If I had anything else to critique, it would be the copious descriptions of food and outfits over the actual location of the story. Yes, if you’re hungry while reading this, you’ll be salivating at the food descriptions, but I did feel the world itself was a bit lacking in description. I didn’t have a great sense of the main city, or how the villages mapped into the world. There’s also some scenes and references to raiders, but no mention or explanation of who they are or where they really come from, and it’s never addressed again. So bravo for the all of the small details being covered super well, but the overall picture fell short for me.
Other than that, it’s an impressive debut novel for Emily Varga, and I’m excited to see what she writes next! If you’re looking for your next class retelling, make sure to grab this one. I would also highly recommend the audiobook as I really enjoyed the narrator. Many thanks to Wednesday Books for the eARC and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC to review. All opinions are my own.
Fave Quotes (note: final quotes may be altered):
“The problem when someone you loved betrayed you, was that you had a lifetime of good memories with them that you had to examine in a different light.”
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“I would read you like a novel. From cover to cover, learning everything about you.”
“Leisurely, only taking me out when you felt like it?”
“Is that how you read your novels…? How uninspiring. No, I mean in a fierce frenzy, by candlelight, devouring you until I finished every page and committed it to memory, and then I’d flip right back to the front and start again…”
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“Well, I’ve never been one to do what men expect.”
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“A thousand djinn could disguise you from me and I’d still be able to find you just by the sound of your breath.”
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