MY RATING: ★★☆☆☆
(Goodreads average: 4,24)
Okay first, do not attack me LOL I know this book is loved among the readers. If you are a hardcore fan and can’t stand people not liking this book you can walk away haha. But if you want to know why, then I invite you to stay and read my thoughts 🙂
THE ORIGINAL TALE
I am a big fan of the original 1001 Nights, I have read it when I was 16 years old and I absolutely loved it with all my hearts. I thought it carried great lessons and messages, with the right amount of fun and good quality for literature (I’ve read it in French). 1001 Nights is about a girl who wants the king to stop murdering women every night, so she infiltrates the palace and volunteers to be his wife. She decides to tell one story every night so the king keeps her alive.
With that said, The Wrath and The Dawn has the exact same premise, storyline and while I like my retellings to be original and authentic, this one didn’t make it on the list.
Let’s talk about the main character , Sharzad, who is supposed to be brave, fearless, smart and wise; because apparently that is what the author tries so bad to convince us. The original girl in the 1001 Nights was the definition of these words in a subtle, cryptic way, but not Sharzad. I think the author tries too hard to make us see that side of her and eventually it just becomes totally annoying for me.
Sharzad: I WILL KILL YOU, I WILL AVENGE MY BEST FRIEND, MAKE NO MISTAKE
48 hours later… HM MMAYBE I WANNT TO KISS HIM
Oh and guess what, I’m going to be smart about it and show the king THAT I HAVE NO INTENTION IN KILLING HIM. BUT OH WAIT LOOK HOW GOOD I AM AT ARCHERY!! OH OOPS IM TOO GOOD. HMM LET ME BE NOT GOOD ON PURPOSE. OH MAN, THE KING’S COUSIN SAW THAT I WAS FAKING.
The way she tells the stories at night is supposed to be mesmerizing and enchanting. But I didn’t feel any connection. In fact, it was so dry and fast, I was surprised that kind of story would keep a prince awake until dawn. Like I’ve read it in 10 mins.. I’m pretty sure she can do better than that. AND THOSE CLIFFHANGERS SHE LEAVES AT THE END ?? If I were the prince I would be like :
N to the O, NO TO THE LOVE TRIANGLE. Okay so this aspect here is what makes The Wrath and The Dawn different from the original, and oh my god, it is so disappointing. In the beginning, I was rooting for her childhood friend who is desperately in love with her and I was like: “oh a decent character..hmm oh I was so wrong”. He was so desperate to get Sharzad out there even if IT’S PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT SHE DOESN’T LOVE YOU AND SHE’S STRUGGLING WITH HER FEELINGS FOR THE PRINCE. Neways, boy, learn your place and don’t try to make a decision for the girl. She can decide on her own. As for Khalid (the king) and Sharzad… I didn’t feel any chemistry?!
The last thing.. the writing was one of the weirdest part for me. As I’m reading the book, I felt bored… and then 100 pages later BOOM, a really beautiful sentence shows up out of nowhere .I found many, many deep and meaningful quotes in this book :
“This dangerous girl. This captivating beauty.
This destroyer of worlds and creator of wonder.”
“People fall in and out of love with the rising and setting of the sun. Rather like a boy who loves the color green one day, only to discover on the morrow that he truly prefers blue.”
And then back to these childish quotes :
“I despise him. As if he could truly teach me anything about a bow and arrow..a boy who still uses sights! Tariq could tear him apart. Second-best swordsman in Rey-HA!”
That’s it ! 😀 Hope you don’t hate me much and can have a good laugh ahha 🙂
Buy your own copy by clicking here.
I have to admit I am one of the Wrath & The Dawn fans. But…I did understand some of your points, and I definitely found this interesting to read – so thank you 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awnn yayy 😀 Thank you so much! Hahah yes I respect your opinion books are really subjective 😀 I’m happy that you found this interesting enough!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve never read the book or even heard of it before, but it does sound a little iffy. I’m never a fan of love triangles!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Omg if you are not a fan of love triangles, I don’t think this book will do you any good LOL not only the love triangle is not that good everything else seems to fall apart hahah
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the laughs!!
I haven’t read this book yet but I really, really want to and your review hasn’t changed my mind. :p
Hopefully I don’t end up hating it too… I’m already worried about the love triangle .
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL no problem 😀 !! I’m happy I can make you laugh ! I tried to do my review in a way that both me and the readers can have fun while reading it 🙂 You should give it a try! After all, a lot of people loved it so I wouldn’t want to stop from reading it 😉
LikeLike
Hmm there are some understandable points but I guess these weren’t huge issues for me that’s why I liked it. I respect your opinion though!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahha yay! 🙂 I’m glad that it doesnt bother you as much, after all, if you can enjoy the book that’s the most important part ! Thank you for passing by, love ! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure XD
LikeLike
I have been looking for a negative review of the book for so long. Because everyone was ask for the book and i wanted to see something against it before reading.This one was really funny. 🙂 Not sure if I would but this codifying the love triangles though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
HAHA I know right.. I was reading all the reviews for this book and I saw a lot of 4/5 stars LOL I was like maybe I’m the one who was too picky.. I don’t know. I guess it wasn’t my genre at all. The love triangle definitely sucks (sorry for the word) for me T_T
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly! I don’t trust a book unless I see how bad the negative reviews are. Well I guess each person sees the book differently! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeahh!! Like this book was a total mess for me but a lot of people love it so I guess you have to read it to find out for yourself LOL I don’t want you to miss out on a great book. But if the kind of things I tell in my review can influence or ruin your reading maybe this book is not the one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah i’ll have to read it myself I guess. But it was good knowing what it had inside. 🙂
LikeLike
Noooo! Not more 1001 nights! I am finally approaching the last few nights in the Richard Burton translation. Still haven’t found either Aladdin or Ali Baba in it. The French version must be a lot more interesting than this English translation.
In the Burton translation there is, of course, no archery competition, and no love triangle. However, some of the issues you note with the way the stories are told (the short nights, the not-always-so-compelling cliffhangers, etc.) are things I am seeing in the translation as well. I am so over Arabian Nights! I don’t intend to read this new book.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahah oh noo!! D: It’s too bad the english didnt do it justice ! The original version by Antoine Galland is the best for me hahah I enjoyed it so much ! The tales weren’t dry or corny like in the Wrath And The Dawn. But if you didn’t like the original tale, then yeah I gotta agree maybe you wont like this new book LOL its mostly the same story but with a love triangle and even less chemistry
LikeLiked by 1 person
You made me want to read this book. I’m really curious about this female main character.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL niice :O If you wanna read the book even after my review then I should definitely want to know your thoughts! Let me know when you finish it 😉
LikeLike
I was more forgiving on some parts, but I do agree with you on your points about the characters and the stories she is supposed to tell to keep her alive. They weren’t as captivating as I suppose I was hoping for. Hopefully, the second book will round things out, and I hope to read another hilarious review on that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m happy that you can overlook some parts haha 😀 and still enjoy it ! Me too I hope the sequel would round things out, I wonder where the author is gonna do about the storyline ! I had so much writing this review LOl hopefully I will have as much fun for the next one 😉 THANKS FOR PASSING BY ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
This book has lots of mixed reviews and I can pretty much agree with your issues but still despite all of that, I’m glad I enjoyed it. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahahah yeah a lot of people in my community enjoyed it and I think I am the only one with another girl who didn’t LOL I’m happy that you enjoyed it and overlooked the issues 🙂 After all, that’s the most important part 😉 Having fun while reading !
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am a bit conflicted about whether I should pick it up or not, bcuz I am not familiar with the original story,so I dont know whether I will “get” the retelling or not…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I noticed that a lof of people who actually LOVE this book, didn’t read the original tale so maybe that’s one of the forte of this book. Introducing a new way of retelling and actually looks good. For people who read the original tale, like me, we are maybe too picky since we have it in our mind and we keep comparing so it can ruin the reading experience. I wouldn’t want you to miss out on a great book either !! After all, 90% of my friends and goodreads community loved it hahah xD
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bummer 😦 I wanted to read this one, but your review makes me think I won’t like it. Maybe I’ll give it a go, but now I have lower expectations.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aawnn 😦 Yeah! I think plunging into a book with lower expectations will definitely help you on this one ! Because you can either be greatly surprised and not disappointed. The overhype surroundign this book makes my expectations went skyhigh LOL so I was more disappointed. Despite all of it, you should definitely give it a go and see it for yourself 🙂 !
LikeLike
I liked this enough to want to read the next book, but I can definitely see your points. Great review!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahha niice 😀 I like justifying a bad review and I’m glad you get the points! I plan on reading the sequel too and see what the author has in store 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just ripped it to shreds. :p
I apologize for saying you were too generous. 😦
LikeLike
Sorry Trang!
LikeLike