Growing up, I was always fascinated by Arabian Nights and Aladdin and of course the mysterious Scheherazade or Shahrazad. I watched so many cartoons and retellings that I lost count! So when I first stumbled across The Wrath & the Dawn, it is no wonder I bought it immediately. Sad to say though, it sat on my shelf far too long. Lenore @ Celebrity Readers asked if I wanted to buddy read this one for the #COYER retelling readathon, and I jumped at the chance. The Wrath & the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh is a beautifully written, heart-aching story about finding love despite the odds.

The story begins with Shahrzad marrying the Caliph of Rey (King of Kings), one of many brides who die every dawn. She seeks revenge for her best friend who died at the Caliph’s hands. However, once in the palace, Shahrzad quickly realizes there is more to the Caliph than the monster he presents to the public, and she is determined to learn the truth before her own neck meets the silk rope.

I love Shahrzad. She is cunning and loyal, cares to a fault, and loves fiercely. I do not believe I’d have had her courage to volunteer to be one of the many brides, knowing that I most likely would die the next morning. Her gift for storytelling and her honesty with the Caliph are what saves her. She realizes that he is observant and would notice a lie so she makes the decision to tell him the truth or just not answer