The Wrath and the Dawn (The Wrath and the Dawn #1)

The Wrath and the Dawn (The Wrath and the Dawn #1) by Renee Ahdieh
Publication Date: May 12, 2015

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.

Words cannot even begin to describe how much I adored this book. This is easily one of my favorites of 2015 so far, and it's hard to believe there could be a better start to a series out there. I just finished reading The Novice, and I thought that was amazing, so I was never expecting to love another new series just as much. But I did. The Wrath and the Dawn is a spectacular read that is sure to appease fans of Arabian Nights or even Aladdin. This book grabbed me from the beginning and never let me go. I simply couldn't stop reading, and the story stuck with me long after I finished. You know a book is good when it makes that kind of impression.

I was enthralled by this book from the very first chapter. The world itself is so interesting and intricate, but you are never once confused. This is told from several perspectives, and I think this aspect of the novel was handled not only beautifully, but also expertly. Ms. Ahdieh wrote with the grace and finesse of a seasoned author, and her writing will sweep you away on this spectacular journey. I do think it was crucial to the story that there were multiple perspectives as it added greatly to the book. This is not to say that without the multiple POVs the book wouldn't have been as amazing (because I'm sure it would have been), but it made the story much more complete and well-rounded to be able to see what was going outside of the palace where Shazi was residing for the duration of this book.

One of the best parts of this book was Shazi's character. She is simply one of the best female leads I have read in a long time, and my love for her rivals my love for Caelena from the Throne of Glass series. Seriously, she is that amazing. Not only is Shazi headstrong and independent, but she will fight with whatever she has in her in order to survive and fulfill her plot for revenge. It's hard not to lover her honestly. She has a great humor about her and her relationship with Khalid is like no other. Khalid himself is a wonderfully complex character, and I loved the mysterious nature to him. When all is revealed about Khalid's character, I just felt so strongly for him, and my love for him knows no bounds.

The relationship between Shazi and Khalid is simply beautiful. I highly applaud Ms. Ahdieh for creating a romance that is sure to captivate readers right from the off. Quite simply, this is one of the best romances/relationships I have read and even though I didn't want to love their relationship as much as I did (hello...Khalid killed Shazi's best friend!), did that effect me one bit...NOPE! I still shipped them like no one has shipped before. I was rooting for them almost immediately.

Ms. Ahdieh must possess some sort of writing magic, but whatever she has she must use this power to continue writing absolutely amazing books. The plot is incredibly creative and will keep you on the edge of your seat. I am so intrigued by the magic, and I can't wait to find out more about it in the second book, The Rose and the Dagger. Her writing is poetic and flows off the page. You will want to re-read this book as soon as you're finished. I highly recommend that you read this book because if you don't, you will miss out on an extraordinary book!

Happy reading :) 

~Cassie