Review: The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh

Title: The Beautiful Series: The Beautiful #1 Written by: Renee Ahdieh Published: October 8, 2019 by G.P. Putnam Books for Young Readers (Penguin Group) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: In 1872, New Orleans is a city ruled by the dead. But to seventeen-year-old Celine Rousseau, New Orleans provides her a refuge after she's forced to flee her life as a dressmaker in Paris. Taken in by the sisters of the Ursuline convent along with six other girls, Celine quickly becomes enamored with the vibrant city from the music to the food to the soirées and—especially—to the danger. She soon becomes embroiled in the city's glitzy underworld, known as La Cour des Lions, after catching the eye of the group's leader, the enigmatic Sébastien Saint Germain. When the body of one of the girls from the convent is found in the lair of La Cour des Lions, Celine battles her attraction to him and suspicions about Sébastien's guilt along with the shame of her own horrible secret. When more bodies are discovered, each crime more gruesome than the last, Celine and New Orleans become gripped by the terror of a serial killer on the loose—one Celine is sure has set her in his sights . . . and who may even be the young man who has stolen her heart. As the murders continue to go unsolved, Celine takes matters into her own hands and soon uncovers something even more shocking: an age-old feud from the darkest creatures of the underworld reveals a truth about Celine she always suspected simmered just beneath the surface. At once a sultry romance and a thrilling murder mystery, master storyteller Renée Ahdieh embarks on her most potent fantasy series yet: The Beautiful.

I really enjoy Renee Ahdieh's writing so when I heard she was coming out with a book about vampires set in New Orleans I was so excited to read it. And then I was even more excited to get a copy at ALA in June. And while the writing was beautiful and the concept is fantastic but it didn’t quite deliver on what I was hoping for.

One thing that I did like about this book is Renee’s writing. I have red all her books and she is an incredibly descriptive writer. Everything really comes to life in her books. In this case she is taking New Orleans in the 1870’s and adding supernatural elements. I remember going to New Orleans and hearing all the stories about ghosts, vampires, and witches so it made for the perfect setting for a book like this. And while I don’t know that there was a real feeling of time and place, I do feel like the setting was lush and engaging.

However, the plot was a little lacking for me. There really could have been a fantastic murder mystery to this book but it just didn’t deliver on that. I felt like the main character wasn’t really trying to figure out who was responsible for what happened. She was just sort of on the periphery of what was going on. I wish she had been much more involved in everything. When it comes down to it, this just felt like a serious case of first book syndrome when it came to the plot.

I think my biggest issue is that I am realizing how hard I am to please when it comes to books about vampires. To be honestX I really cannot handle the dramatic irony involved in most of the stories that involves vampires. I know there are vampires, and the characters do not so they look obtuse and it gets in the way of me liking them and the book.

And as far as the characters go, I think think they other thing that I didn’t love was the romance. This really felt like a throwback to an mid-2000’s YA with the romance. Not only did we have a love triangle but it was with two guys who were former best friends turned rivals who are obsessed with this girl after first meeting her. See what I mean about it all being a throwback? It just felt so trope-y and that really is not my thing. If it played with and attempted to subvert the tropes I would be here for it but it bought into them too much for my taste.

On the whole, I didn't enjoy The Beautiful as much as I was expecting. I know a ton of people loved this book, it just wasn’t for me. I wanted more from the plot and less from the romance. I think I am just the black sheep here.

I give The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh 7.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Borrow. If you are a fan of supernatural romances and are looking for something with a throwback YA vibe then check this out. But if you want a dark and gothic adventure and mystery, look elsewhere.

Have you read The Beautiful? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Book Review: Smoke in the Sun by Renee Ahdieh

Title: Smoke in the Sun Series: Flame in the Mist #2 Written by: Renee Ahdieh Published: June 5, 2018 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers (Penguin Group) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: The highly anticipated sequel to Flame in the Mist—an addictive, sumptuous finale that will leave readers breathless from the bestselling author of The Wrath and the Dawn. After Okami is captured in the Jukai forest, Mariko has no choice—to rescue him, she must return to Inako and face the dangers that have been waiting for her in the Heian Castle. She tricks her brother, Kenshin, and betrothed, Raiden, into thinking she was being held by the Black Clan against her will, playing the part of the dutiful bride-to-be to infiltrate the emperor's ranks and uncover the truth behind the betrayal that almost left her dead.  With the wedding plans already underway, Mariko pretends to be consumed with her upcoming nuptials, all the while using her royal standing to peel back the layers of lies and deception surrounding the imperial court. But each secret she unfurls gives way to the next, ensnaring Mariko and Okami in a political scheme that threatens their honor, their love and very the safety of the empire.

I loved Flame in the Mist. It was one of my favorite books of last year so I was really excited to read the conclusion of this series and find out what was going to happen next. And while I enjoyed checking back in with the characters and getting some resolution, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I had hoped.

One of the things that I loved about this book was the world. Renee has created a really fantastic fantasy world inspired by Asian culture. It makes for a really lush and fascinating world that drew in the reader. I love that it pulls for Asian history and samurai culture. But it also has a great magical system. It's kind of a subtle magical system which is, what I am learning, may be a trademark of the author. She doesn't overwhelm the reader with a complex magical system, she just populates the world with magic that captures your interest and builds a basis for the plot and drama.

Unfortunately that plot wasn't as engaging as I was hoping. It wasn't a bad plot. There was a lot to it and it was interesting but it didn't feel as unique and fantastic as I had hoped. For one thing it reminded me a little bit too much of The Wrath and the Dawn. Our plucky heroine has to marry a terrible ruler and uses the opportunity to help the people her people. It's compelling, yes, but, it's also both stories. I know that Renee can do better. It just felt like a lot of this book wasn't really fully-formed. There were some really engaging parts of the book and just when I thought we were getting to a part where the plot would kick in, it would fade to black and move on to something else. I mean I liked the political intrigue and the plotting and scheming but even that felt fully fleshed out. I am a plot driven reader and I need a great plot for me to love a book and here it was just good, not great.

But my other criticism of the book is the pacing. I am used to Renee's style, it's overly flowery and lyrical and draws the reader in making you slow down and take in all the words. Which is all well and good but in order for that to not become taxing after awhile you need a book that is paced a little bit more steady. This book had a very slow pacing. It took me awhile to get into it and even when I was into it, I totally didn't mind putting it down for a book for a week to go to ALA and read a whole new book. I feel like that's not really a great thing in a book.

But for me, a lot of the book was redeemed by the characters. I really love these characters. Renee does a great job with developing characters who are dubious and walk the line between good and evil. The one character who is probably the most moral is the main character of Mariko who even manages to do a few pretty terrible things throughout the book. But I think the best characters here are the secondary ones. When get to spend a lot more time with Mariko's brother Kenshin in this book and he was really great. I liked being in his head and seeing his internal struggle. But the character with the best development was Raiden. I don't want to say too much but he's the kind of odious and grey character that I love.

On the whole, I think that Smoke in the Sun was a good read but it didn't blow me away like the first book in the series. It had a great world and amazing characters but the plot could have been less complicated and more creative.

I give Smoke in the Sun by Renee Ahdieh 8 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Borrow. If you liked the first book in this series then I would say grab this one on your next library haul. It's good but I didn't like it as much as I thought I would.

Have you read Smoke in the Sun? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Book Review: Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh

Title: Flame in the Mist Series: Flame in the Mist #1 Written by: Renee Ahdieh Published: May 16, 2017 by Putnam Books for Young Readers (Penguin) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: The only daughter of a prominent samurai, Mariko has always known she’d been raised for one purpose and one purpose only: to marry. Never mind her cunning, which rivals that of her twin brother, Kenshin, or her skills as an accomplished alchemist. Since Mariko was not born a boy, her fate was sealed the moment she drew her first breath.  So, at just seventeen years old, Mariko is sent to the imperial palace to meet her betrothed, a man she did not choose, for the very first time. But the journey is cut short when Mariko’s convoy is viciously attacked by the Black Clan, a dangerous group of bandits who’ve been hired to kill Mariko before she reaches the palace.  The lone survivor, Mariko narrowly escapes to the woods, where she plots her revenge. Dressed as a peasant boy, she sets out to infiltrate the Black Clan and hunt down those responsible for the target on her back. Once she’s within their ranks, though, Mariko finds for the first time she’s appreciated for her intellect and abilities. She even finds herself falling in love—a love that will force her to question everything she’s ever known about her family, her purpose, and her deepest desires.

I really liked The Wrath and the Dawn duology so I was very excited to read Renee Adhieh's next series. Not to mention it seemed like an interesting YA fantasy with a unique world and complex characters. And that's exactly what it was.

For one thing, if you have read The Wrath and the Dawn you know what you are getting into when it comes to the writing of this book. Renee really knows how to draw you in with her writing. It's lush and descriptive with these beautify explanation of what you are seeing and what the world looks like. I could perfectly see the locations and couldn't help but immerse myself in this book.

But in general that was easy because this was a very cool world. I am always looking for unique fantasy worlds and I definitely found one here. For one thing this is a world that is based on Asian culture. It pulled a lot from samurai culture which was very cool and worked really well with this kind of book. It also had some subtle magic to it. I do wish there was a little bit more magic because I think it seemed a little out of place when it did come into the story. But I think there is more to learn in later books and I'm excited to learn about it. Because I think in general this book has an Avatar: The Last Airbender vibe and that is always something I enjoy.

The thing that surprised me most about this book and the world was how much political intrigue it had. You usually expect a little bit of that when it comes to fantasies, especially when you're talking about a girl who is betrothed to the son of the emperor, but I still think this had more than I thought. There was a lot of intrigue to this. And it's the kind of thing where you have to wait until the end for all of it to unfold. There are still a lot of unanswered questions that I want to see answers to.

That is however my main criticism of this book. There were a lot of unanswered questions and it kind of made for a confusing plot development. It also made for slow plot development. This is a book that had extremely slow pacing. Things happened, lots happened, but I wasn't sure why it was happening until the last fifty pages or so. And yes, it did have some great twists and lots of excitement it just took it's sweet time to get to the good stuff while being obtuse throughout most of the book. I'm such a plot driven reader that I have to say I was a little bored in parts. But in the end it did make up for it.

I also think one of the things that made the book a bit tough at times was the characters. Now I will say, u rally loved these characters. They are my favorite kinds of characters in that they are really complex and walk that fine line between good and bad. Much of the character development was the MC and the reader asking themselves who was right and who was wrong. And everyone was so dubious in that they were doing the wrong thing for the right reason or vice versa. But there are a lot of character perspectives here. Most of the book was from Mariko's perspective but we did get three or four other perspectives that kind of muddied the water and confused me a little bit. I did like the characters though so it wasn't too annoying.

In general, I think this is an amazing read. It is a fantastic YA fantasy wig gorgeous writing, a lust and unique world, an engaging plot, and complex characters. I really loved it and I can't wait to see what happens next.

I give Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh 9.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. If you liked The Wrath and the Dawn you should definitely check out the author's new book. But even if you didn't read it you should definitely check this one out. It's a fantastic YA fantasy with such an unique world that I think fans of the genre will love it.

Have you read Flame in the Mist? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

On Rereads: Fantasies with May Sequels

On Rereads is a monthly feature on My Thoughts Lit where I talk about the books I reread during the month. It's an opportunity to share some new thoughts on a book I read before and usually to prepare for a new release. For the foreseeable future I plan to do one reread a month so I want to share my thoughts on these books the second time around.

I usually try to do a few rereads a month to prepare for upcoming sequels. I had four on my list for May but I honestly only got to half of them. I'm still trying to decide if I want to push the ones I didn't read to June or to just say


The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
(Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)

I loved this book when I read it last year. I was so impressed by the world, the plot, and especially the characters. I fell helplessly in love with Shazi, adored Khalid, and totally ship them. I was excited for the sequel, The Rose and the Dagger, to come out so I decided to reread this one to refresh my memory.

And boy did I need a refresher. This was, I think, the first book I read that was set in a high fantasy world inspired by the Middle East with magic that slowly came into the book but it wasn't the last. They all tend to blend together after awhile and so I needed to be reminded of the plot of the book. I honestly forgot so much. Well except how amazing Shazi is, that I remembered. And I loved the story again. Even though I knew how it would go, I still felt like the stakes were high and there was a lot of exciting moments.

But that being said, I didn't love the audio for this one. I have such a hard time with certain female narrators and what I assume is the way that they try and create atmosphere. The narrator here was one of the examples of what I don't like. She was just entirely too breathy for me and I even speeding it up didn't help much.

But I am really glad that I reread it. It was a great refresher for the series and I was able to dive right into The Rose and the Dagger knowing what had led to that point.

The Sin Eater's Daughter by Melinda Salisbury
(Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)

Hilariously, so this is going to be the total opposite of what I said above. Well except for this first point. I absolutely loved this book when I read it originally. I have it 10 stars and it actually pulled me out of a reading slump when I read it last winter. So with the sequel/companion coming out at the end of this month I was excited to reread it.

And yes, I do still like the story but I think this is a case where I should not have reread. For one thing, I remembered a lot of details about this book. It's not a super complex story. The main plot is about the character learning about the way things really are and then there is a bit at the end that will set up future books. One of the things I liked about this book this the first time was the mystery and the big reveals. Not having that here kind of made the story not as exciting.

There is also a lot of world-building. Like a lot, a lot. The first time around I really liked the way that this book combined religion, history, and politics to create a complex and engaging world. But this time I just wanted the plot to kick in. It just felt like a lot of exposition. It may have just been a case of timing. Good timing the first time around and bad timing this time around.

But despite the fact that I did like the audio. I felt like the narration did a good job of setting the tone of the story. There was a lot of mystery and confusion with it and the internal conflict of the characters were evident in their thoughts and manner of speech. If you are reading this for the first time and are a fan of audiobooks I would recommend this one.

Have you read the The Wrath and the Dawn or The Sin Eater's Daughter? Did you reread in preparation for their sequels? Have you done any rereads lately? What books? Do you like doing rereads or not? Tell me why.  Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Book Review: The Rose and the Dagger by Renee Ahdieh

***This is the second book in a series. If you have not read The Wrath and the Dawn proceed beware of potential spoilers. Read that first that (MY REVIEW)***

Title: The Rose and the Dagger Series: The Wrath and the Dawn #2 Written by: Renee Ahdieh Published: April 26, 2016 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers (Penguin Group) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: The much anticipated sequel to the breathtaking The Wrath and the Dawn, lauded by Publishers Weekly as "a potent page-turner of intrigue and romance."  I am surrounded on all sides by a desert. A guest, in a prison of sand and sun. My family is here. And I do not know whom I can trust.  In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad has been torn from the love of her husband Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once believed him a monster, but his secrets revealed a man tormented by guilt and a powerful curse—one that might keep them apart forever. Reunited with her family, who have taken refuge with enemies of Khalid, and Tariq, her childhood sweetheart, she should be happy. But Tariq now commands forces set on destroying Khalid's empire. Shahrzad is almost a prisoner caught between loyalties to people she loves. But she refuses to be a pawn and devises a plan.  While her father, Jahandar, continues to play with magical forces he doesn't yet understand, Shahrzad tries to uncover powers that may lie dormant within her. With the help of a tattered old carpet and a tempestuous but sage young man, Shahrzad will attempt to break the curse and reunite with her one true love.

I enjoyed The Wrath and the Dawn and so I was really excited to read the sequel to this duology. The Rose and the Dagger was a very different read but just as good a read of not better. It had a fantastic and engaging plot, great characters, and beautiful and descriptive writing.

 For one thing, The Rose and the Dagger has a lot more action. The way we left things in the last book there is a threat of war and so the stakes here are even higher than they were in the last books. There are tons of thrilling action scenes and plenty of twists that had me on the edge of my seat and kept me reading from star to finish and plenty of twists that caught me totally off guard. There's even more magic in this book and while it was subtle and not as big a part of the plot and world like I usually like, it was interesting and added a new dimension to the book. But I will say, there is a lot going on here with the plot and certain plot lines felt a little short or unbalanced but it did all work together to make an compelling.

I also absolutely love the characters in this series. Shazi is a fantastic female protagonist, for one thing. She's tough and smart-mouthed in a totally prickly and intense way which I always enjoy. I cannot help but get behind her and her struggle. Part of that struggle was to get back to Khalid. He had some great development in the first book and by now I am absolutely in support of his success as well. He's not so surly this time around and I definitely ship them even though the romance in this one was toned down a lot. That wasn't the main focus here and for someone like me who is kind of romancephobic that was really nice. It made the more tender and romantic moments all the more enjoyable because there weren't as many.

But this book is also full of fantastic secondary characters, many of whom we get a little perspective from to help make them more well-rounded. There are characters you love and characters who you love to hate. Some old favorites from the last book are back but I think my favorite was a new character, Artan, who had such a small part but made a big impression. But that's all you need for this book because it has great characterization.

And once again, Renee's writing was beautiful and descriptive. I was very impressed with the lyrical and immersive nature of her writing in the first book and I wasn't at all disappointed with the writing here. It's poetic without being flowery. It's descriptive without being overdone. Because of the writing too, you can fall head first into this world without even realizing. I've been loving Middle Eastern inspired desert fantasy worlds and this is just one more example of them being done right. The world was creative and engaging with lots of inspiration from mythology and folklore of the region but it wasn't a retelling this time so don't expect there to be more stories and 1001 Nights references. This time it's more of a sword and sorcery kind of fantasy which I really liked.

On the whole The Rose and the Dagger is a great sequel to a captivating and creative fantasy series. Here the action and adventure was heightened and the romance was toned down but with likable characters and a great world it was an immersive and engaging experience and a good read.

I give The Rose and the Dagger by Renee Ahdieh 9 out of 10 stars.

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy/Borrow. If you liked the first book you will not be disappointed by it's sequel and should definitely pick up a copy. But in general I really liked this duology. It's got great characters and an interesting world that I think fantasy fans, especially if you are enjoying the desert setting trend, will enjoy.

Have you read The Rose and the Dagger? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

ARC Review: The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

Title: The Wrath and the Dawn Series: The Wrath and the Dawn #1 Author: Renee Ahdieh Published: May 12, 2015 by (Penguin Group) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: A sumptuous and epically told love story inspired by A Thousand and One Nights.  Every dawn brings horror to a different family in a land ruled by a killer. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, takes a new bride each night only to have her executed at sunrise. So it is a suspicious surprise when sixteen-year-old Shahrzad volunteers to marry Khalid. But she does so with a clever plan to stay alive and exact revenge on the Caliph for the murder of her best friend and countless other girls. Shazi's wit and will, indeed, get her through to the dawn that no others have seen, but with a catch . . . she’s falling in love with the very boy who killed her dearest friend.  She discovers that the murderous boy-king is not all that he seems and neither are the deaths of so many girls. Shazi is determined to uncover the reason for the murders and to break the cycle once and for all

I was incredibly excited to win an ARC for The Wrath and the Dawn from Virginia Boecker on Twitter a few months ago. It sounded like an incredibly interesting fantasy and retelling. I completely devoured the book. It drew me in and took me for a ride with gorgeous writing, a thrilling plot, complex characters and themes.

What first drew me into this book was the writing. Everything about the prose of The Wrath and The Dawn is poetic. From the way the characters spoke, to the atmosphere, to the setting it was all infused with intentional beauty. Ahdieh's writing is descriptive in a way that immerses you into the world. There are so many descriptions of food, clothing, and locations. This may annoy some people but for me it helped to create the world. It's a world based on the Middle East and that culture was present throughout much of the book. And there was also a subtle magic in this world. And while I liked the brief view into the magic here I wanted more. It didn't really come into play until late in the book and I like magic to be a bigger part of the story than that. But that was sort of a trend in this book. Certain things were emphasized while others were downplayed, but not in the typical way. It was the kind of world-building that was show when it came from large details and tell when it came to small details but it worked. I could perfectly imagine the world and the beauty of it.

But despite all that beauty, the plot was full of mystery and suspense. The stakes here are incredibly high. We know our main character's days are number but we can't help but root for her to succeed in her goal for survival. I wouldn't say that it's an action-packed story, but it was definitely a suspenseful one. I flew through the last 100 pages worried about what was going to happen. However there were some things about the plot or narrative style that I didn't love. We do spend most of our time with Shazi but every once in awhile we would get a different perspective. It took a little getting used to. And I don't mean the stories within the story. No, those were great, they all seemed intentional and like they fit with the larger story. I mean when we were taken out of the palace to the group trying to free Shazi. It all ended up making sense in the end but at times it dragged the pacing down a little and took me out of the story. But that may have just been because I was loving Shazi's story so much and I saw her more as the heroine and her own savior. 

You see the feminist undertones in this book are very thinly veiled and it's amazing to see. A lot of that has to do with our main character, Sharzad or Shazi. She's the most complex and well-rounded female protagonists I have seen in a long time. I did a whole discussion post about how I prefer strong female protagonists who are not just all about fighting, women who are as strong emotionally as they are physically, and that that's exactly what I found in Shazi, She can hold her own in a battle, she's an excellent archer (side note, where are they always archers?), but she's also mentally and emotionally strong. But my favorite thing about her is that she's mouthy. She doesn't pull any punches and she stands up for herself. It doesn't matter who she's talking to, Shazi will get her feelings out even if they're not appropriate. But she's also vulnerable and uncertain. Her mouth gets her into trouble and her rash decisions get her into even more. But through it all she's relatable and likable and the perfect heroine for teen girls to root for. I didn't want Shazi to be a damsel in distress and I'm glad that she wasn't. 

I think what surprised me most about this book was how much I liked the romance. I have not read any historical romances but I imagine this is what they are like. It was a sweeping tale of love against all odds in an exotic location in a world that harkens to the past. And yes, there is a love triangle but dare I say, it works. The choice between the two is only hard for Shazi to make because it's deciding between her past and her future. She knows what her heart wants but it's hard to let go. The romance was also a fantastic slowburn with a male lead that was a little dangerous and a lot mysterious. I'm not the kind of girl that appreciates the good girl loves a bad boy with a heart of gold trope but again it worked. Ahdieh made a believer out of me. She made me see how sweet and romantic Khalid could be despite him starting out as a villain. As he grew to love Shazi as an equal, I grew to love him as a character. It was a very pleasant surprise.

A lot of The Wrath and the Dawn was a pleasant surprise. It was a book with a captivating world, complex characters, fantastic feminist themes, and a romance that I adored. It was a quick and engaging read that desperately has me wanting more. I now officially cannot wait for more. When does The Rose and The Dagger come out? Get me my time machine!

I give The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh a 9 out of 10 

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. If you are a fan of YA fantasies and are looking for one that is heavy on the romance with some subtle magic, you must check this one out. It's an engaging and interesting read I would recommend to lovers of the genre and those who are trying to explore fantasy a little bit more. An all around great read and another fantastic 2015 debut.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Wrath and the Dawm by Renee Ahdieh

A weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

Title: The Wrath and the Dawn Series: The Wrathe and the Dawn #1 Author: Renee Ahdieh Published: May 12, 2015 by Putnam Juvenile (Penguin) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: A sumptuous and epically told love story inspired by A Thousand and One Nights.   Every dawn brings horror to a different family in a land ruled by a killer. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, takes a new bride each night only to have her executed at sunrise. So it is a suspicious surprise when sixteen-year-old Shahrzad volunteers to marry Khalid. But she does so with a clever plan to stay alive and exact revenge on the Caliph for the murder of her best friend and countless other girls. Shazi's wit and will, indeed, get her through to the dawn that no others have seen, but with a catch . . . she’s falling in love with the very boy who killed her dearest friend.  She discovers that the murderous boy-king is not all that he seems and neither are the deaths of so many girls. Shazi is determined to uncover the reason for the murders and to break the cycle once and for all

Why I'm Waiting 

You may know that it is retellings month her on My Thoughts Literally. So I thought this Wednesday I would mention a retelling, and debut, that I am really excited about. The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh.

I first heard about this book a few months ago and I almost immediately added it to my TBR pile. It has so many amazing elements that I love in my books. First off it has a strong female character. And a character who puts herself at risk to help others and the greater good. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. It sounds like the main antagonist is a pretty dubious villain, which I love, and I'm so interested in exploring the idea that the MC's perception of things is not as black and white as she initially thought.

And then there is the plot of the book. I'm kind of excited for the tortured love story. I'm not a usually a fan of Romances but this sounds like it will be one I will enjoy. I always enjoy a romance where the characters don't belong together or they fight their attraction, because of the banter. Plus I love a good slowburn and that's what happens when characters start out as enemies. I love the sounds of the main character falling in love with the person she set out to exact revenge on. Speaking of that revenge, that's another element of the story I'm excited about. That plot point sounds really mysterious and intriguing with tons of surprises. I cannot wait!

I was lucky enough to win an ARC of this book in a Twitter giveaway from the author Virginia Boecker (whose debut is another one I'm waiting for) and I cannot wait to read it in May!

What about you? What are you waiting for this Wednesday? Are you waiting for The Wrath and the Dawn with me? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!