This gave my die hard sailor moon fan heart the serotonin it needed. It is a fun read that I'd recommend to all. It is a fast ya read. I will say readers will either love this book or hate it, I don't think there will be much of an in between but not all books are for everyone.

gonna be one hundred percent honest about this: i didn't read it. i ran out of time between the books i'm reading now and work. but it will be purchased for my library's collection because it looks interesting.

DNF. I really liked the premise but the writing did not work for me at all. It wouldn't be fair to the book if I finished reading and gave it a low rating.

(Thank you to Wednesday Books for providing me with an eGalley copy to review.)

I thought the premise and the world were interesting. The writing was simple and easy to follow along with for the most part; there were instances, such as mentioning locations in the world and not really having something like a map to indicate where they were in relation to one another, that made it confusing to keep up with when I was reading the story. Unfortunately, the writing style was written as telling everything as it is, which took out any tension the action scenes/battles would've had.

There's a diverse cast of characters, but I felt like none of them really stood out as characters except Xu. All of them also basically remained the same throughout the book. However, this is the first book in a series, so there's room for character growth and I'm curious to read more about the magical world and the adventures they'll go on.

Something that frustrated me while I was reading was when something major happened, but then none of the characters mention it until a few chapters later. And then when it gets outright explained several chapters later, Zhara is somehow still surprised even though it should've been really obvious.

The writing got really repetitive with all the instances of Han being like "but how?" and then immediately going "oh..." afterwards. And most of the time when the characters fell, they fell "head over heels."

I'm not a fan of instant romantic attraction between characters. Han is instantly drawn towards Zhara and there's also the instant attraction between the two side characters.

Despite the criticisms I've written, I'm curious to read of the story's world (more about the history, the magic, and the elemental Guardians' powers) and I plan to read the next book.

New Release!

I had a really great time reading this book! I really like the story and the characters; this was a pretty quick read for me. I liked the world-building, and found the elements of mythology and magic to be intriguing. It’s a really great fantasy read.

I really like Zhara as the main character. I loved how she is a “Cinderella” character, but with magic. It was great getting to see her magic grow throughout the story. I also really loved the relationship between Zhara and Han. So cute!

I really can’t wait to read more in the series, and I will be patiently waiting!

I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys magical fantasy novels, and also fans of Cinder.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for the ARC!

I really liked this story. It intrigued me right from he start. I immediately connected with both characters and couldn’t stop reading it once I started. I’m still reading it but so far I’m really into it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the arc.

Thank you to the publisher for my gifted copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I absolutely loved this! Once I picked it up it was a struggle to put it down again. There is so much to enjoy inside these pages including emotional sibling relationships, family drama, secrets, adventure, and tons of Magic.

I was originally interested in this book because it was described as Sailor Moon meets Cinder. The similarities between Guardians of Dawn: Zhara and Cinder are basically what you would expect with both of them being magical Cinderella retellings. I get where that comparison came from. The Sailor Moon similarities are there but much less in my opinion. The two seem to be only similar in the way of both of them having different guardians of different things.

This was such a great book. The characters were great, the story is so well written and reads so quickly. It was over before I knew it but still ended in the perfect place. I enjoyed it so much and am already excited for the sequel. This book is just a great time overall.

In a nutshell this was boring. I didn't care about any of the characters and the story was meh. I felt like this was more just going through the motions of being a book but really grabbing anything real.

Loved the concept (anything mentioning Sailor Moon will hook me), and I thought the cover was beautiful. Unfortunately, I really felt like I had to force myself to get through this one. I think I just had trouble connecting to the writing for this, so I couldn't get fully immersed.

When I first came across this book, marketed as “Sailor Moon meets Cinder” I was on NetGalley’s site so fast someones head definitely went spinning (not mine but someone somewhere in the world) And every day for three weeks I was on their website hoping I would win an arc. And I did. There’s magic. There are monsters. There’s romance. It’s an enjoyable, action-packed read. Zhara is a teenage girl. S. Jae-Jones did a fantastic job of capturing the core of Usagi (aka Sailor Moon’s) personality. She’s bubbly, and giggly and clumsy, and often naive and super dense. Like wise Han is so awkward and handsome useless (if you know you know lol) She lives in a world where magic is forbidden, on pain of death. Zhara, who is magical, has to survive in a world where she doesn’t really fit in. She lives with her step-mother and step-sister. Things change for Zhara when she meets a mysterious young man named Han. The two of them have to work together to restore harmony to the world. Overall, the story was fantastic. It might be my fav. read of the year, but with A Curse for True Loving coming out this fall, it might be a short-lived victory. Thank you @netgalley & @wednesdaybooks for the e-arc

Twenty years ago, a plague of monsters destroyed the Morning Realms, and magicians were to blame. Rumors now tell of monsters emerging, but Jin Zhara has other things to worry about. Her stepmother is cruel, she looks after her blind younger sister, and she has burgeoning magical gifts. Meeting Han brings her into contact with a secret magical liberation organization called the Guardians of Dawn. A mysterious plague is corrupting the magicians of Zanhei and transforming them into monsters, and the Guardians of Dawn believe a demon is responsible.

This is the start of a new series, primed for teens and older, inspired by Sailor Moon and the book Cinder. Magic is contained in the Language of Flowers, with the brush, inkstone and seal seen as tools of said magic. All books and those who could read the books were burned to keep Abominations at bay, with purges held every year. This gives very real stakes for Zhara to remain silent and do what her stepmother wants no matter what, and to work hard to pay the bills and care for her sister. She's a kind girl, so it's easy to root for her and hope for the best. Of course that doesn't happen, we wouldn't have a novel to read otherwise. Han isn't an ordinary boy, and he has a vested interest in keeping his younger brother safe with the Guardians of the Dawn.

The novel lays the foundations for magic, for the Just War twenty years ago, the Guardians and their role with those who develop magic. Character names come from different East Asian cultures, and elements of their mythologies are mixed together to become the mythology of the Realms. Zhara has worked and sacrificed out of guilt and piety, to hide her magic and hopefully be seen as worthy. Han doesn't want his heritage and would rather be a boy who likes working out, writing poetry and reading romance novels. Elements of the familiar Cinderella are also woven into the tale, as well as the fight between Order and Chaos. I loved reading it, and look forward to the rest of the series.

First off, it's a Cinderella retelling crossed with Sailor Moon. (It's not like Cinder, except for the retelling part.) At the way end, there's a hint at the second book - which seems like it'll be a Beauty and the Beast retelling. So yeah, let's just stop with the Cinder comparison. It's Cinderella.

Now - onto the main review!

I was absolutely taken away by all the references to the Four Guardians and the nods to Sailor Moon. I felt completely immersed in the world, especially with the way pronouns and honorifics were used. In fact, I love that that "they" is used until the person identifies themselves more clearly. I think it's better that way. Xu seems to be non-binary (don't know for certain), and I love how everybody just goes on about life. (There's no stink about it, no big to-do that Xu is feminine presenting sometimes and masculine other times.) I also love the nicknames that people came up with when they were referencing one another!

Honestly, this book is dear to me. It brought me back to my youth, watching Sailor Moon and Fushigi Yugi (which also had guardians and four celestial beasts). The storyline makes it clear who the main villain is and what the real end game will be. I love that fact! We know there's a clear ending in mind for this series, and yet I have no idea what specifics will come. The concept of each book being a retelling seems fascinating though. So I'm curious what each will be like.

If you ever loved Sailor Moon, Eastern Myth and culture, retellings, sassy cats and innocent love then go check this out! You won't regret it!

Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC! I need to go buy it now!

First, thank you to #netgalley and #wednesday books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Magic flickers.
Love flames.
Chaos reigns.

Magic is forbidden throughout the Morning Realms. Magicians are called abomination, and blamed for the plague of monsters that razed the land twenty years before.

Jin Zhara already had enough to worry about—appease her stepmother’s cruel whims, looking after her blind younger sister, and keeping her own magical gifts under control—without having to deal with rumors of monsters re-emerging in the marsh. But when a chance encounter with an easily flustered young man named Han brings her into contact with a secret magical liberation organization called the Guardians of Dawn, Zhara realizes there may be more to these rumors than she thought. A mysterious plague is corrupting the magicians of Zanhei and transforming them into monsters, and the Guardians of Dawn believe a demon is responsible.

In order to restore harmony and bring peace to the world, Zhara must discover the elemental warrior within, lest the balance between order and chaos is lost forever.

I'm giving this one a solid 3.5 stars.

I enjoyed the characters and story but I didn't love it the way that I was hoping to. That being said, I know that there are many readers who will love this book and these characters. The storyline was fun and the world felt fresh. What bumped it from a 4 star down to 3.5 was the fact that I wasn't entirely sure what the story was trying to be. It was described as Cinder meets Sailor Moon, but it felt more like a Korean rom-com type story, where sometimes it took itself seriously, and other times it was light-hearted and full of tongue and cheek. Once I embraced that, it was easier to settle into the story. I really enjoyed the main character, Zhara. The Prince was a little hard to like at times as he was often portrayed as stupid, or all brawn and no brains, which felt like a peculiar choice for a MC love interest. But overall, it was a fun and engaging read, well written, in a world that I felt fully immersed in.

4/5 Stars for Guardians of Dawn: Zhara by S Jae-Jones. This book was wonderful! A girl with forbidden magic and her new companions are tasked to save the world. Although the characters behaved a little young/immature, I still really enjoyed each one. I read that it is anime-inspired and that made me understand each character’s personality so much more. In fact the writing was so descriptive I found myself seeing it play out. I loved the nod to Cinderella and I suspect the next will have a Beauty and the Beast reference. Zhara and her friends are clearly in for more adventures in the next book and I cannot wait to read it. Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc on NetGalley.

When I heard about this book over social media, I was kind of hesitant, but intriguing as well. Why do you ask? Because they mention it gives off a sailor moon vibe, which I never watched before, but I’m always willing to read any new young adult fantasy books.


Guardians of Dawn: Zhara brings hidden societies into light when darker forces are trying to overpower the throne. Magicians in the kingdom. That’s where the guardians of dawn come in. They are the hidden magician's society that does their best in protecting the realms. And they are going to have a hard job when there is a plague of monsters around the kingdom.


Zhara has always done her best in being a ‘good girl’ for her family. It’s tiresome to always be a ‘good girl’ when you are not living your life. I think that’s what pushes Zhara to discover more of her magic and place in guardians of dawn. It may be a far stretch since her evil step-mother is trying to tighten the reins on her. Zhara just needs to take courage for her future, especially since she catches the eye of a certain prince, Han.


Han may be the prince in the kingdom, but he is bidding his time until it’s his time to reign. Why? Because the kingdom and its people are dying with the current ruler, and he can't do anything until it’s his time to rule. Besides, Han has other things to worry about, like his brother.


Han is trying his best to save his brother. His brother is a magician, just like his mother, but it’s very dangerous in their kingdom. Magic is forbidden, and they executed anyone who possesses it. So Han is desperate to find anyone to help. He knows that there is a hidden magician's society, guardians of dawn. And he is going to find them with the help of Zhara.


The guardians of dawn are such more than a hidden society. They are powerful in their own magic with protecting the realms while helping their people as well. And it comes in handy when Han and Zhara need it. They each have something to give, especially if they want to avoid the plague of the monsters roaming around the kingdoms.

Zhara (Guardians of Dawn #1) is the first book in a YA series by S. Jae-Jones. Cinder meets Sailor Moon in this fantasy where magic is forbidden.

As I was reading Zhara I did find myself enjoying it moderately. It was simply a way to pass the time and that's completely fine; not every book has to be this engrossing story that changes your life.

What disappointed me was how forgettable this novel was. I waited to write my review because I wanted my thoughts to settle about the book but I had to go back and read passages because I couldn't remember what happened.

I don't think this book is bad, I just think it requires a closer reading, taking notes so you'll remember and a reread would definitely be necessary before the next in the series.

I would still recommend Zhara to those who want to read a ya fantasy novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for an ecopy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions contained within this review are my own.

cSet in a magical world doing its best to deny magic, this book is a little bit Cinderella, a little bit Sailor Moon, and wholly its own thing. For readers who love big stakes, big emotions, and characters with an unexpected silly side.

[NOTE: Unless otherwise stated, my NetGalley feedback is not a blurb or endorsement. If a publisher wishes to use any part of my comments for promotional purposes, please contact me or my agent via email. I would prefer not to include star ratings but NetGalley won't let me post without one, so all will be 5 stars.]

This book was a lovely surprise! Zhara was a wonderful character to follow. The comparisons to Cinder and Sailor Moon feel correct. You have some of the expected beats from a Cinderella story, but it definitely takes on its own story very quickly. The Sailor Moon comparison works due to spoilers, so just know that it fits.
Our hero, Han, is the perfectly adorable himbo prince, but it's fun when his brain works. His assistant is brilliant, and his betrothed is the butch princess that teenage me would have been all about!
I had a lovely time, and I think it's appropriately aged for its audience! I would recommend it for teens and adults alike.

Love books about magic!

This one kept my interest the whole time! Zhara is hiding her abilities, trying to find out about her abilities as those with magic are taken and/or executed.

As they created an underground group with some important people that were hiding with them to learn more. They learn more about magic and history with the legends. Learning just how important they are and what their role plays. Loved all the talk of books- looking for the knowledge that was lost or taken.

Loved Han he was so awkward and handsome with his useless muscles. Lol love aesthetic muscles. 

Zhara is so strong and kind. She keeps trying to find the good in her stepmother "Second Wife" after her father died.

But that ending!


Thank you wednesdaybooks for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

This book had me so hyped but it didn't live up to my expectations unfortunately. I found the characters extremely juvenile to the point where I was rolling my eyes at the dialogue. The "good looking giggles" that our fmc experiences around attractive people? I felt like I was reading about a 10 year old... Except that 10 year old also reads naughty graphic novels. The story was a bit boring and the characters not exciting enough to keep it going. I was overall pretty bored with this one.