Novella Reviews: The Wrath and The Dawn Novellas

Reviewer's Note: I've never done something like this before. I've reviewed novella compilations before, but since these stories are so short, and since there isn't a compilation of these stories, I've decided to review all three in one post. Also, please note that all three of these novellas should probably be read after The Wrath and the Dawn as they do spoil a few things that are revealed in the first book. I will be reviewing these stories like I do novella compilations, with short 1-2 paragraph reviews on each one. I hope you enjoy!

Release Date: March 22, 2016
Author: Renée Ahdieh
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Length: 26 pages
Source: Library E-Book

It started as playful, if barbed, banter before rising to a fateful wager with a most notorious rake—the Captain of the Guard, Jalal al-Khoury—who may have finally met his match in a lovely, if haughty, handmaiden, Despina. But she, too, seems to have met her match in the handsome Jalal. What begins as a tempestuous battle of will and wit in short order becomes a passionate affair spurred on by tragedy of the worst kind.

    

Review:

I loved Despina in the first book as was excited to see more from her in this novella, as well as her relationship with Jalal. This story is perfect for those wanting to know more about how they met and their personal chemistry. However, this is also a story of Despina soon after she becomes the handmaiden to the calipha and her brief interactions with Ava. There isn't much to say more than that. I love these characters and their interactions are so well written and spark with electric chemistry. It was fun reading about these characters before the series starts, but it doesn't seem to have anything necessary shown, more like a deleted scene (or several) that helps to fill out the story a bit more.

Rating:

Even though this didn't have anything necessary in its text and it was rather short, it was a fun story that helped deepen a couple fan favorite characters. If you love Despina and Jalal, this story is for you!

Release Date: March 1, 2016

Author: Renée Ahdieh
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

Length: 18 pages

Source: Free E-Book

Seventy-one days and seventy-one nights had come and gone since Khalid began killing his brides. This dawn, Khalid would mark the loss of the seventy-second girl, Shahrzad al-Khayzuran. Khalid didn’t know how many more of these dawns he could take. And there was something about this latest girl that piqued his interest. Not only had she volunteered to marry him, but at their wedding ceremony, she had seemed not the least bit afraid. In fact, what he had seen in her eyes was nothing short of pure hatred. She was about to lose her life. Why wasn’t she afraid? Why did she hate him so? He had never before gone to his wife’s chambers before her death at dawn. Tonight would be different.

    

Review:

Honestly, there's only one point to this short story, to see how Khalid reacted to Shazi prior to TWATD. On the whole, I enjoyed what was pretty much a deleted scene from the first book, in all honesty, it could have been slid into the beginning of TWATD  without changing much of anything. I don't think anything was spoiled and it's so short that nothing really happens, so if you're a fan of Khalid and want to know his first thoughts of Shazi this one's for you!

Rating:

If this was marketed as a deleted scene or a bonus scene from a special edition, I wouldn't have batted an eye and it probably would have gotten five stars since it's a rather interesting scene, but since it was marketed as a short story, and there isn't all that much story here, I had to knock off a star.

Release Date: April 26, 2016

Author: Renée Ahdieh
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

Length: 11 pages

Source: Free E-Book

The city of Rey is burning. With smoke billowing, fires blazing and his people fleeing, Khalid races back to defend his city, and protect his queen. But Khalid is too late to do either. He and his men arrive to find the city in ruins, nothing but a maze of destruction, and Shahrzad is gone. But who could have wrought such devastation? Khalid fears he may already know the answer, the price of choosing love over the people of Rey all too evident.

    

Review:

Did you ever want to know the reason Khalid didn't saddle up his horse and ride out after Shazi at the end of TWATD? Well, this is the deleted scene for you. I'm sorry, but I refuse to call it a short story. This scene shows Khalid learning of his city on fire and racing to find the people he loves among the chaos of the city. All in all, it was an interesting chapter, showing some of what happened in Rey after Shazi left, but like the other extra stories in this world, it doesn't add any necessary details.

Rating:

Much like with The Crown and the Arrow, this would have probably gotten five stars if marketed correctly. I mean, it is a free deleted scene which is great, since it's extremely short. I did really enjoy this scene as I do feel it fills out the story a bit.