The Rose & The Dagger by Renee Ahdieh

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ARC, 416 pages

Release Date: April 26, 2016
Published by: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
The Wrath & the Dawn, #2
Source: Texas Library Association (TLA)
For fans of: Magic, Romance, Fantasy, Fairy Tale Retellings, YA

The much anticipated sequel to the breathtaking The Wrath and the Dawn, lauded by Publishers Weekly as “a potent page-turner of intrigue and romance.”

     I am surrounded on all sides by a desert. A guest, in a prison of sand and sun. My family is here. And I do not know whom I can trust.

In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad has been torn from the love of her husband Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once believed him a monster, but his secrets revealed a man tormented by guilt and a powerful curse—one that might keep them apart forever. Reunited with her family, who have taken refuge with enemies of Khalid, and Tariq, her childhood sweetheart, she should be happy. But Tariq now commands forces set on destroying Khalid’s empire. Shahrzad is almost a prisoner caught between loyalties to people she loves. But she refuses to be a pawn and devises a plan.
     While her father, Jahandar, continues to play with magical forces he doesn’t yet understand, Shahrzad tries to uncover powers that may lie dormant within her. With the help of a tattered old carpet and a tempestuous but sage young man, Shahrzad will attempt to break the curse and reunite with her one true love.

*MY THOUGHTS*

     If you read my review of The Wrath and the Dawn, you’re probably wondering why I decided to read this one. In all honesty, I did like the other one, it was just Khaldid I didn’t like. Now that we know more of the story, it makes more sense and I really loved this story. The Rose and Dagger ended up being a great close to a near wonderful series!
“Because nothing hurt like missing her. He suspected nothing ever would”
pg.28 (ARC)
     This starts off right where Wrath let out. The land where they are is on the brink of war, but now Shahrzad is now torn away from the misunderstood Caliph. Now she’s with her family, but her family doesn’t know Khalid as she does now. They are still looking to bring death and destruction to his land. 
“Love speaks for itself.”
pg. 35 (ARC)
     I think I loved this installment more because there was so much more action. My heart was thundering at the close of every chapter. Bur this is what made the book for me. In the first one, I wasn’t as invested. But this one just has so much more. There was also more of the fairy tale with the “tattered old carpet,” the magic, and Jahandar was being all stubborn. I think this one was better to me because it just contained so much more of everything. 
“He did not belong to her. And she did not belong to him. It was never about belonging to someone. It was about belonging together.”
pg. 166 (ARC)
     I also can honestly say I fell for their relationship more in this one. I guess because the way he originally treated her wasn’t thrown in my face this time. And because of that, it no longer made me feel as icky as it did. And good thing  too, because this one is a lot more swoony than I remember the other one being. (See I told you there was just MORE in this one.) 
“True strength isn’t about sovereignty. It’s about knowing you need help and having the courage to accept it.”
pg. 181 (ARC)
     Last but not least, I still loved think it was interesting to learn more about their culture. Every word in my ARC that was italicized I looked up just to see exactly what it was. That helped with my experience as well as my understanding. I encourage everyone to read a diverse book, if nothing else but to learn more about people different from themselves.
“For a story was only as good as its villain.”
pg. 293 (ARC)

      The Rose and Dagger definitely caught me off guard. It just contained so much more of everything I had been looking for verses the first one. I felt like I was there in the story with Shahrzad, Khalid, and that old, tattered carpet!

2 thoughts on “The Rose & The Dagger by Renee Ahdieh”

  1. I'm so glad you loved this one. I'm finishing my reread of The Wrath and the Dawn in a few days so I can finally start it. More action you say? That is very exciting!
    Cassi @ My Thoughts Literally

  2. OOh nice! Glad to hear you enjoyed this one more! I'm excited to read it but haven't gotten past buying it! LOL! Hopefully I will soon! Great review!

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