For She Is Wrath

Revenge and romance go hand in hand in Varga’s Pakistani-inspired fantasy debut. Imprisoned for a murder she did not commit, Dania, a highly skilled swordswoman trained by her renowned swordsmith father, plots vengeance. A chance meeting with fellow prisoner Noor provides both girls with an opportunity to escape, and the discovery that Dania’s father was killed for defending her renews her desire for retribution. Armed with gold, a magically altered appearance, and dangerous magic from djinn-produced seeds, Dania returns to the city of Basral with Noor. There, she aims to exact her revenge on all who’d wronged her, including the power-hungry emperor, the corrupt head of the palace guard, the greedy sword merchant who conned her father, and the emperor’s ward Mazin, the lover who betrayed her. But even as she successfully cuts down her targets, Dania finds she can’t escape her lingering feelings for Mazin. Evocative prose is punctuated by sumptuous descriptions of Pakistani food, clothing, and weaponry, creating a memorable backdrop for Dania’s retaliatory schemes and sultry encounters with Mazin, which build to a satisfying, somewhat hastily resolved denouement. Ages 13–up. Agents: Laura Rennert and Paige Terlip, Andrea Brown Literary. (Oct.)