Originally Posted On The Sassy Book Geek 
 Let me just start by saying "The Wrath and the Dawn" gets a solid 4.5/5 stars. 
 WOW. That is the only word to describe this book, it's absolutely amazing! 
 First off, the writing is beautiful and descriptive there were an abundance of adjectives constantly describing things you didn't know could even be described so beautifully! Seriously, it's enchanting it definitely will keep you reading and hanging on to every little word. It's also very cultural, there are a lot of Arabic terms and phrases used to give a very authentic feel. But it also doesn't leave you feeling confused or have you constantly looking up words while you're reading. 
 The characters are so well written and developed. Believe me when I tell you, if Renee Ahdieh wants you to like a character, you like them. If she wants you to hate a character, you hate them. I developed so many feelings towards all of the characters in this book it's unbelievable, I grew attached to every single one. I found myself constantly changing my mind about how I felt about certain people, it's all very conflicting. You'll love all of the characters for very different reasons, but they're just so good! 
 And that romance! Now let me tell you that I am NOT a romance reader, I hate it. I prefer books with little to no romance. But "The Wrath and the Dawn" is absolutely heart-warming, I LOVE Shazi and Khalid. I LOVE THEM I TELL YOU! I was sniffling my way through parts of the book because it gave me the warm and fuzzies. There is NO insta-love, which is perfect. However, there is a sort of love triangle but you can easily disregard that notion since you really have to think about it to realize it's there. I can't gush enough about how much I love the romance though, I really can't. It's sweet, endearing, and touching. 
 And the plot/story is very engaging, it's fast paced, it's perfect. It's a good mix of YA romance and YA fantasy, since there are subtle hints of magic throughout the book that are very intriguing. If you're wanting answers for some of that though you'll have to wait for the next book in the series like the rest of us! One minor complaint I have about the book is that it didn't have as many stories within stories as I wanted. This is a sort of retelling of One Thousand and One Nights so I was expecting to read some of the stories Shazi uses to keep herself alive! There are a couple and I loved them, so I was disappointed when I wasn't graced with more throughout the story. There are also plenty of secrets and surprises along the way to keep you guessing and entertained. 
 I can't recommend this book enough! Even if you're like me and you're put off by the notion of a very romance driven story please consider pushing it aside and giving this book a go. It really is worth it! 
 I think while I wait for the sequel I will be ordering a beautiful hardcover of this book, it's gorgeous.