While I think both books are well worth reading, they’re a little loosely plotted and romance-heavy for me to return to often. I feel as though I’ve stepped into another world entirely. It’s incredibly rich and detailed, from the language and the food to the clothing and the decor. My favorite thing about these two novels is Ahdieh’s world-building. Context: There are spoilers ahead for The Wrath & The Dawn. Khalid and Shazi’s relationship is better established though, and I appreciate that neither of them has to sacrifice their own personality in order to be together. The Rose & The Dagger by Renée Ahdieh It was because they were two parts of a whole. He could grow as a character, or he could stay a self-centered hothead–one of those is clearly the better story.

He’s the cause of most of the problems in both books, mainly because he doesn’t pay any attention to Shazi’s wants or opinions, but I didn’t feel like that was as well-developed as it could have been. I was hoping for a better character arc with Tariq. I never had the sense that most of the characters were actually in danger. Again, the budding romance between Irsa and Rahim struck me as contrived, and many of the major plot points fail to play out to satisfaction. The novel is slow to take off, with Shazi and her sister, Irsa, mostly stuck in the Badawi camp, and I didn’t enjoy the perspective shifts to minor characters like Omar. Thoughts: Since The Wrath & The Dawn had a lot of buildup, I was expecting more from The Rose & The Dagger, and it was something of a step down for me. Khalid has many enemies, and there are those in the camp determined to see him fall, with Shazi as leverage. After learning of his curse, she’s determined to break it but doesn’t have the first idea where to start, and the desert encampment grows increasingly unsafe for her. The Rose & the Dagger by Renée Ahdieh - 9780147513861 We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. It was about belonging together.”Ĭontext: There are spoilers ahead for The Wrath & The Dawn.Ībout: Shahrzad has fled a city stricken by storms and magic and left her husband, Khalid, the King of Kings, behind. The Rose & the Dagger by Renée Ahdieh, 9780147513861, available at Book Depository with free delivery worldwide. “It was because they were two parts of a whole.