A shining masterpiece!
Rating: 5 stars
My review in a gif:
The Wrath and The Dawn by Renée Ahdieh is a gem of a novel that I am ashamed to say I had never heard of until about two weeks ago. It tells the story of a headstrong girl, Shahrzad, lovingly called Shazi, and the enigmatic Caliph of Khorasan - Khalid. Khalid takes a new bride every night, only to kill them the next dawn. Shazi volunteers to marry Khalid in order to avenge her best-friend's death. However, this becomes more complicated when matters of the heart start getting in the way.
The story is perfectly paced and is also told from multiple perspectives. It begins with Shazi preparing to see Khalid, which is so refreshing. Often authors waste the first few chapters setting up the plot, even though it is already mentioned in the synopsis. As the story progresses, we see not only the palace, but Arab culture as well. From the food, to the respectful way that people address each other – it’s a homage to an often misunderstood culture. It also breaks down the stereotypes of docile, subservient Arab females. Despina, Shazi, Shiva and Yasmine are strong, fierce and unapologetically honest in a way that feminists around the globe would be proud of. Not to mention, Khalid himself refers to Shazi as his queen – not in a manner that objectifies Shazi, but in a way that turns the tables on the typical representation of a queen bowing to her king.
This brings me to Khalid – the man, the myth, the legend. He starts off as an enigma with a taciturn disposition, but by the end of the novel we begin to see past this façade. We see that he is a complex human being with the capacity to feel love, regret, anger, sorrow and happiness – far from the monster that people think him to be. I also adored Jalal and the banter between him and Shazi as well as with Khalid. But I am not a fan of Tariq. He seems possessive and completely blind. But alas, is that not what love does to us all!
The real triumph of this book is the writing. It is beautifully written – poetic, profound and passionate all at the same time. It ventures beyond writing as Ahdieh's words are pieces of art that should be admired. Beautiful writing seems to be a common theme amongst the past three books I have read this year. But this one has hands down outdone them all.
Most Memorable Quote
“I do not have to lose my wife to understand the meaning of loss, Tariq. A child with a broken toy understands such things.”
Renée Ahdieh - I thank you for this book. Khalid and Shazi may have “just [been] one boy and one girl”, but they became my everything (*softly utters joonam*). They helped me to escape to another world completely.
(*bows with hand to brow and then shifts hand over heart*)
Love,
