The Wrath & the Dawn

I once had a thousand desires,

But in my one desire to know you,

all else melted away.

Jalal al-Din Rumi







IT WOULD NOT BE A WELCOME DAWN.

Already the sky told this story, with its sad halo of silver beckoning from beyond the horizon.

A young man stood alongside his father on the rooftop terrace of the marble palace. They watched the pale light of the early morning sun push back the darkness with slow, careful deliberation.

Where is he? the young man asked.

His father did not look his way. He has not left his chamber since he gave the order.

The young man ran a hand through his wavy hair, exhaling all the while. There will be riots in the city streets for this.

And you will put them to rout, in short order. It was a terse response, still made to a somber stretch of light.

In short order? Do you not think a mother and father, regardless of birth or rank, will fight to avenge their child?

Finally, the father faced his son. His eyes were drawn and sunken, as though a weight tugged at them from within. They will fight. They should fight. And you will ensure it amounts to nothing. You will do your duty to your king. Do you understand?

The young man paused. I understand.

General al-Khoury?

His father turned toward the soldier standing behind them. Yes?

It is done.

His father nodded, and the soldier left.

Again, the two men stared up at the sky.

Waiting.

A drop of rain struck the arid surface beneath their feet, disappearing into the tan stone. Another plinked against the iron railing before it slid its way into nothingness.

Soon, rain was falling around them at a steady pace.

There is your proof, the general said, his voice laden with quiet anguish.

The young man did not respond right away.

He cannot

Renée Ahdieh is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In her spare time, she likes to dance salsa and collect shoes. She is passionate about all kinds of curry, rescue dogs, and college basketball. The first few years of her life were spent in a high-rise in South Korea; consequently, Renée enjoys having her head in the clouds.

She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband and their tiny overlord of a dog. The Wrath and the Dawn is her debut.

Praise for The Wrath and the Dawn:
#1 New York Times Bestseller
One of TIME Magazine s 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time
#4 on the Summer 2015 Kids' Indie Next List!
An Amazon Best Book of the Year for 2015 Young Adult
A New York Public Library Best Book for Teens for 2015 
A Seventeen Magazine Best Book of 2015
A YALSA 2016 Best Fiction for Young Adults Pick
 
Lushly imagined and powerfully characterized, it s a potent page-turner of intrigue and romance. Publishers Weekly 

This inventive young adult retelling of The Arabian Nights walks a delicate line in its depiction of such a monstrous man, but puts the power in the hands of a courageous heroine who is determined to stop the senseless brutalities inflicted upon so many women. TIME Magazine

This book is a fairy tale, a mystery, and promises to become a classic tale of its own. VOYA

  Set against a backdrop of political intrigue and a simmering revolution, this is a carefully constructed narrative of uncertain loyalties, searing romance, and subtle magic in a harsh desert city. Booklist, starred review

  The rich, Middle Eastern cultural context adds to the author s adept world building  a surefire hit with teens. School Library Journal, starred review

  Renée Ahdieh's lush debut novel, The Wrath and the Dawn, is a suspenseful and beautiful reimagining of The Arabian Nights, with an edge. Shelf Awareness, starred review 

Dreamily romantic, deliciously angst-y, addictively thrilling. Kirkus Reviews

Sumptuous detail  satisfyingly steamy scenes, along with some angsty push and pull moments between the two for optimal romantic tension.