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nightmarebees 's review for:
For She is Wrath
by Emily Varga
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
one of the better 2024 debuts i’ve read! the count of monte cristo is one of my favorite novels, so i was biased from the start, but varga also did really well in adapting elements of that story to a YA fantasy and making it her own. now for the pro/con list:
pro: the betrayal, mistunderstanding, and yearning between dania and mazin was well developed through the flashbacks, and i did end up quite invested in them.
con: besides the history of her relationship with maz, we don’t get a sense of what dania wanted for herself and her life before everything went wrong.
pro: i love a fmc, especially in YA, who’s allowed to be angry and bloodthirsty and is 100% justified. she shows mercy at some points, is vindictive at others, and by the end learns to prioritize her own peace over her vengeance.
con: the reveals of the third act felt a bit like a hat on a hat, and the last 25ish pages felt rushed to the conclusion. i fully recognize that this is partially bc of a set page count for the author and also bc it’s YA fantasy, not adult, so the resolution happens a bit easier.
pro: a pretty cool magic system? i would’ve like more backstory on djinn bargains and how the world of the unseen interacts with the kingdom, but the mechanics of zoraat seed consumption were cool.
this was absolutely solid and i’ll be on the lookout for whatever emily varga puts out next
pro: the betrayal, mistunderstanding, and yearning between dania and mazin was well developed through the flashbacks, and i did end up quite invested in them.
con: besides the history of her relationship with maz, we don’t get a sense of what dania wanted for herself and her life before everything went wrong.
pro: i love a fmc, especially in YA, who’s allowed to be angry and bloodthirsty and is 100% justified. she shows mercy at some points, is vindictive at others, and by the end learns to prioritize her own peace over her vengeance.
con: the reveals of the third act felt a bit like a hat on a hat, and the last 25ish pages felt rushed to the conclusion. i fully recognize that this is partially bc of a set page count for the author and also bc it’s YA fantasy, not adult, so the resolution happens a bit easier.
pro: a pretty cool magic system? i would’ve like more backstory on djinn bargains and how the world of the unseen interacts with the kingdom, but the mechanics of zoraat seed consumption were cool.
this was absolutely solid and i’ll be on the lookout for whatever emily varga puts out next
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood
Minor: Sexual content