The Wrath and the Dawn The Wrath and the Dawn Book 1

I personally read this book in the stiffling heat of summer, sitting outside in the sun. This book was absolutely perfect for the weather and the inner peace I felt. On top of that, the story is very compelling and fun, without a plot that is too heavy but also not boring. Recommendable for fans of YA romance!

Ich mag ja Fantasyromane, in denen der Bösewicht das Mädchen kriegt. Auch wenn Khalid ja nicht wirklich böse ist. Die Beiden sind so cute. Tariq soll mal zur Seite treten. Ich hoffe, der checkt im nächsten Buch, dass Shazi ihn nicht mehr so liebt wie früher. Aber das Ende oh Gott

While the prose in this retelling of the 1001 Nights folktale is undeniably beautiful, it’s unfortunately the only highlight for me. What’s marketed as enemies to lovers ends up being insta-love for both main characters, which is just not my cup of tea at all. The FMC, whose best friend was brutally killed by the MMC and whose thirst for vengeance is (or rather was supposed to be) central to her arc, somehow falls in love with him after spending just a couple of hours in his company—despite the fact that he not only took the lives of hundreds of girls but also violated her consent twice. This abrupt shift in emotions felt unearned and jarring. Additionally, both protagonists come across as rather one-dimensional and make questionable decisions that made it hard for me to empathize with or root for them. Overall, the emotional depth I was hoping for just wasn’t there.