The Wrath and the Dawn

The Wrath and the Dawn - Duo-logy

By: Renée Andien

I just finished this duology and I can even think right now. The brilliance of this series hasn’t even sunk in yet. This is a truly wonderful piece of work which has torn my heart out of my chest.

The writing is so rich and vivid and it just takes you on this unexpected and so beautiful adventure. Every word is so carefully thought out and it just perfectly flows and set the story’s Arabian scenery in the Golden age.

I will only summarize the first book. The story is a fairytale retelling of 1001 nights. Although this one is of a much more complicated storyline. The Caliph of Khorasan, who is known the monster of a king, marries a new wife every day and every dawn they are found dead with a silk cord around their neck.

Sharhrzad, who’s best friend was recently murdered by him volunteers to be the next wife. To seek revenge. She uses her ability to tell the most captivating stories to stay alive the first day. Then, continues to do so until the king decides not to let her suffer the fate of all his previous wives. After a while, she enters a constant battle with her determination for revenge and her feelings for the Caliph. Slowly, she find herself dragged into a world of secrets and lies. Perhaps the cruel king isn't as monstrous as she first concluded?

The text also includes many cultural references, items and vocabulary which made it rather educational as well. I found myself picturing the world in which they live in and wanting to step right into the story with them. Wanting to taste the food described in an all too tempting manner, wanting to witness all the beauty of the streets in Rey, wanting to be there all the steps of the way as the courageous characters find their fate.

Although they are just characters in this book but I already hold them so close to my heart and feel like they are real people whom I’ve really known. Every single person has their struggles and thoughts and it just makes you so drawn to their lives.

What I love about this series is that not only does it just evolve around the main characters, it shows and develops around so many others involved in the story. Normally I dislike when a book is written in several points of views as it is often done wrong. But a huge part of why this book was just so enjoyable was because it focused on so many other relationships than just the main one. The the way every single person interacts with another is what sets this book above the ordinary.

Many ya authors chose to focus the struggles of relationships on the individual’s feelings. However, these two books don't follow the same trend. Even though Sharhrzad faced many conflictions about how she felt about the Caliph, after the two admit their feeling towards each other, it is pretty much set the rest of the story. The only thing that came between them were their disastrous problems but their love only became deeper as they faced the struggles.

I think this a beautifully written book for teenagers or anyone older. It is very culturally rich and has one of the most vivid fantasy worlds I have read about.

I have not decided to give any ratings but feel free to comment what you think this book deserves :)