For She Is Wrath by Emily Varga
Safiyya Ingar deftly narrates For She Is Wrath, a Pakistani-inspired fantasy retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo. Dania, a skilled swordswoman, takes every opportunity to escape prison. But after nearly a year of failed attempts and with the help of her fellow inmate, Noor, she finally gets out. Ingar channels Dania’s relentless fury, emotionally committing to the text and commanding listeners’ attention to Dania’s journey for revenge. Noor, softly voiced with a youthful tone that belies her intelligence, blends the dangerous, magical seeds produced by djinn to disguise Dania’s appearance and help her infiltrate the emperor’s palace. Ingar heightens the tension between Dania and Mazin, the boy she still has lingering feelings for despite his betrayal, with precise pacing.