This book was simply amazing! This was my first book by S. Jae-Jones and I'm in love! The writing style was so much fun! This author has a very unique voice, the double POVs gave the two main characters so much deepness and made them incredibly lovable.

The world-building was top-notch. A very intricate world with so many political/social/magical details but yet the way that these details were presented made for an effortless understanding.

Zahra's evolution through this book was otherworldly (literally). Her whole journey and her love for her sister, her yearning to be loved, to be worthy of love, touched me so deeply that I shed some tears.

Han was by far my favorite. He was goofy, a bit thick but so lovable. It is thanks to him that we understand the world of Guardians of Dawn because just like us readers he usually doesn't know what's going on.

This book gave some very similar vibes to some of my favorites YA books. It's like If The lunar chronicles and Our Violent Ends had a baby and that baby had some extraordinary magical powers. That would be Guardians of Dawn.

The found family trope was my favorite bit. I absolutely love this trope and this is definitely one of the many reasons why I loved this book. All of the characters had such different personalities, they were flawed and human(ish), and that's what made this such an engaging book, I truly cared about what was going to happen to them.

The plot felt incredibly refreshing and so unpredictable. 10 out of 10! Absolutely recommend this one.

A magical girl surviving where magic is outlawed. Zhara has magical abilities but does not know how to wield it, living in a place where having these abilities is a death sentence. Han is the heir apparent and is trying to protect his magical brother at all costs, as promised to his mother before her death. I loved the setting of this story and the characters, and felt fully immersed when reading and the prose flowed easily. Looking forward to the next book to see what happens!

DNF at 20%. I can see this being an enjoyable YA read but it just wasn't for me. The world-building was lacking and I couldn't get a feel for anything, characters, place, setting, what was going on. The humor wasn't my speed and I don't think I will enjoy any of the characters. I was really looking forward to this one and I'm super bummed.

Thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the e-ARC!

I had such fun reading Guardians of Dawn: Zhara! Just as the description said, it definitely had Cinderella and Sailor Moon vibes, but it was also fresh and new. It was a bit like reading a Korean fantasy tv series and made me think of Alchemy of Souls. Guardians of Dawn felt fantastical and historical with a sweet and innocent romance, and I loved it!

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalley

I really loved this author’s first duology so when I saw this and it was compared to Sailor Moon I was so in.

The things I like—the world building and the history of the magician purge along with the folktales we learn more about. I really like some of our side characters like Xu who is so funny and the war lord’s granddaughter who really gives MULAN vibes.

Things that needed work—the book feels long probably with some editing and focusing on just building steadily to the climax instead of including some really slow moments that don’t add to the story—this book could have been cut by like 70 ish pages.

I’ll also admit after reading it it doesn’t really give a lot of Sailor Moon vibes. I think that comparison is really loose and only based on there being four guardians and we meet two of them in this book. But just because you call them guardians doesn’t make them like sailor moon…

Major spoilers follow:
Zhara is so similar to Cinderella. She’s meek and working too hard for her cruel step mother to take care of a sister who doesn’t really return the affection and is too busy pitying herself. Zhara works for an apothecary and lost both of her parents.

She meets the kingdom’s prince but doesn’t know it’s him because he’s disguised and looking for the guardians of Dawn to help his brother who is also a magician and seems close to losing himself.

Zhara and the prince fall for each other even though he ends up engaged to the war lord’s daughter who is the guardian of wind. Zhara turns out to be the Guardian of fire and she can transform abominations back into magicians.

They learn that Xu’s dad has been taken over by a lord of what we would call hell who is trying to bring back his master through stealing magicians to use them in a summoning that also relies on Zhara who manages to escape the clutches of the master and kill the frog demon.
Myths book ends with the emperor accepting magicians again, Zhara and the Prince going out west to find another guardian and this book that they need.

Arc provided by Net Galley. I really enjoyed the world building and the magic system in this story! I did however find the main character a little whiney but still very excited for the sequel!

The synopsis did not mislead… this book definitely shares elements of Sailor Moon and Cinderella.
This book has a very different feel from the Wintersong duology. It is fast paced and the focus is on plot and world building. I loved the magic system, particularly the Guardians part. Zhara is a phenomenal female lead and I was just as easily drawn to Xu, Yuli, Jiyi, Han and dear Sajah. The flirty banter exchanged between many of characters was fun and gave me a few laugh out loud moments. There is a lot of action, some heartfelt/heartbreaking moments and a touch of romance. The end sets us up for some more come book two. We are also set up for more adventure with a crew heading out in search and the secondary epilogue laced with the unknown and a little something to peak the readers interest for book two.
I enjoy this book and am eager to get my hands on the next book(s) in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my review e-copy. The opinions expressed are honest and my own.

Jin Zhara is a magician in a land where magicians are feared and killed. She walks a tightrope of being discovered, of appeasing her stepmother, of keeping her sister safe. All while remembering her father’s final words to her: “Be good, and be true.”
The warlord’s kestrels have ramped up the hunt for any who use magic, but they’re not behind the disappearance of magicians, nor the monsters emerging from the marshlands.

A chance encounter with a handsome young man, Han, leads Zhara to a hidden organization, the Guardians of the Dawn. As demons, rumors of war, and abominations emerge, she must learn to control her magic and do more than just survive. She must thrive.

“For so long, Zhara had believed that to be safe was to be subservient, that if she were good enough, well-behaved enough, the world would treat her the way she wanted to be treated.”

This isn’t a straight Cinderella retelling, but there’s so many delicious little nods to the popular tale, especially in the underlying theme of believing she had to be good enough to be loved. We also get a masquerade ball, sleeping in the ashes, and a lost slipper. There’s also a nod to Flynn Rider’s many incorrect portraits that made me laugh.

The writing is gorgeous, with many lines I highlighted. Jae-Jones knows how to drop a hint and move on, drawing the reader further into the story. She’s created an incredible world populated with a culture not often seen in fantasy books. All of the characters have depth, and the romance between Zhara and Han is light and adorable.

There is some mild swearing (I think three times.) A few kisses, and some references to more (mostly teasing by other characters.)
Disability and LGBTQA+ representation.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance reader copy. This is my honest review.

This book was super charming, and gave off classic YA vibes. The main characters both had a deadly grip on my heart, and I enjoyed watching them interact together (the banter! the angst!). The writing was just beautiful too. This is a book I could widely recommend to YA readers. I absolutely can't wait for the next book!

I loved Wintersong so much and was stoked to have access to an early copy of Guardians of the Dawn: Zhara.
YA can be hit or miss for me lately, but I continue to read my favorite authors because I’m less likely to pick up a YA I’m just not into, so I was a little bummed that Zhara didn’t mesh with me at first. I decided to keep reading and push through it because the story and world was intriguing.
The reasons I didn’t like Zhara are things that just personally don’t work for me, but I think if you’re a big YA reader and love YA fantasy, this book will probably be a winner for you!
The book just didn’t work for me and I was put off by small things, such as the FMC getting “Good Looking Giggles” when she saw cute guys. She called the cute boy Mister Plum Blossom because his face was red, which could have been funny and cute, but felt weirdly campy to me. It may sound weird, but any anime/cartoon that has too much giggling is an immediate no for me and just really bugs me, so these small aspects pulled me out of the story. I think these things might help the story feel lighter and more fun for most readers, though.
I did see that the synopsis said it was like Sailor Moon meets Cinder and that sounded cool when I initially picked the book up, but I have to admit I like the idea of Sailor Moon, yet also could never sit through any episodes without being annoyed, so I probably shouldn’t have picked this book up in all honesty.
Overall, Zhara was a fun YA fantasy with a cool world and interesting characters and I think it will be a hit for most people.

In a fantastical world where magic is forbidden and monsters are real, the heroine hides her magical gifts so that she can live comfortably with her stepmother and stepsister. But then the heroine meets the hero, who introduced her to a mystical organization called the Guardians of Dawn. Thus begins the journey to bring equanimity to the world as monsters re-emerged ushering chaos.

This is the first book in the GUARDIANS OF DAWN series. This book has dual perspectives and a good set of LBGTQ+/disability representation, which enhances the story a lot. This book felt like how a light novel set in a magical world with teenagers as the main characters and a light-hearted vibe to it, though there are also some trigger warnings in the book. With that in mind, the story has a good setting to it, with animal companions and memorable characters. I would have liked some more details in some sections of the book, but they weren't detrimental to my reading experience. Overall, a great start to this latest series by S. Jae-Jones and I look forward to reading more in the future.


** Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own. **

A fun and enjoyable book!

I definitely liked Guardians of Dawn: Zhara more than S. Jae-Jones previous series, Wintersong, mainly because this book featured Asian characters in a lush Asian inspired world filled with magic. I had a lot of fun reading about the lore and meeting the diverse set of characters. I also really love the Cinderella elements within this novel!

However, I couldn't really get into the writing. I had a hard time connecting with each character and found that the book fit more for middle grade audiences than that of young adult. The jokes weren't hitting and pace was slow.

Guardians of Dawn: Zhara by S. Jae-Jones is a true gem of a book, seamlessly blending captivating fantasy with cleverness, allure, and a heartwarming love story. This enchanting tale pays homage to beloved fairy tales and fandoms, effortlessly intertwining elements of demon possession and dark magic, resulting in a truly delightful and gripping read.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC, the opinions that follow are my own.

From the first chapter, I knew this book was something special! I loved the east dialogue at home and the instant chemistry between the love interests! I’m very curious to see where the author takes us next (I’ve heard there are at least four planned). Also crossing my fingers the other covers are just as lovely!

Like a fairytale or an anime show, this book creates strong visuals that will stick in your mind. There’s much more humor than a typical high fantasy read, but not all of it hits. It leans on the younger side of YA, but if you know that going in, it’s a lot of fun.

To address some critical reviews I’ve seen, it’s obviously not a straight up Sailor Moon retelling, but I do think it vibes with Sailor Moon. It’s got battle scenes, teenager cringe, chosen ones, demons preying on humans, hero reincarnation, serious darkness, inane silliness, smaller villains and a big boss villain. I think a lot of reviewers had certain expectations going into it, especially for American readers largely deprived of Sailor Moon merch and appreciation. Let it be what it is, and you will be entertained.

The novel also has lots of Cinderella vibes, and the end explicitly shows that the next book will take inspiration from Beauty and the Beast.

It’s not perfect. The book suffers from “girl didn’t know she was pretty until a handsome boy noticed her” syndrome. Nothing is surprising in the plot. There was one pronoun mistake that everyone keeps talking about in the ARC copies, but there’s a fair amount of text errors, and I highly doubt it was intentional.

I was entertained while reading it. Each character has their own quirks and personality. There was a thought-out world and villain schemes that I can’t wait to see play out in a series of novels. The shifting atmospheres of the book, from teenage silliness to harsh living to magical secret societies to demonic plots to royal glamour were all fun and all made sense. The different parts of the story all work together. I’m definitely picking up the next book.

7/10 an intriguing series starter.

I absolutely LOVED Wintersong and knew I'd read whatever this author put out. I was slightly disappointed. I think I was so hyped for something new from this particular author that I had high expectations. Should I have gone in without those it would have been better. It wasn't bad but it also wasn't up to par with a lot of other fantasy I've read lately.

1.5 ⭐️

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for an E-ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.

Guardians of Dawn: Zhara was a book that I was truly hoping to like. In fact I thought I would love it, since it sounded like a promising fantasy novel. However, it’s a book that continues to prove that a pretty cover doesn’t make a fascinating story.

To start off, this book was a decent idea of a fantasy novel and with proper execution it could’ve been amazing. But it just wasn’t. For one, I despised the writing. I’m aware that the author included a note at the beginning of the book, explaining why they wrote it the way they did. And while I’m happy they are proud of what they wrote I also need to say that it was confusing. As someone who is not very familiar with Asian culture, I was excited to learn more about it but this book made me feel so lost. I had no idea what it was talking about and was unfamiliar with much of the language. I didn’t want to have to look up a word every 5 minutes.

Another issue I found for this writing, also had to do with marketing. The marketing for this book was that it was YA sailor moon meets Cinder. For one, I know nothing about sailor moon so I didn’t see the appeal and still don’t which is just my own personal issue. But Cinder? I loved that book so much and other than the references to Asian culture and the so called cinderella retelling in both novels, they didn’t feel similar at all. Lastly this book is not YA. It’s been marketed at that genre but it’s not and I know many agree. YA or Young Adult is aimed for teenagers. Such an audience is able to read more mature content just without so much graphic detail that adult books have. Guardians of Dawn: Zhara was written way to immaturely to be for teens. I felt as though I was reading a middle grade book. Even Harry Potter felt more mature than this.

Such immaturity brings me to discuss the characters. The main protagonists were 17 years old but acted as though they were 10. The MMC, Han, was a typical jock dressed up to be a prince. He literally lacked common sense and only cares about his looks, as pointed out many times by the other characters. On top of that he was obsessed with romance novels but then proceeded to be afraid of girls. His whole personality was his waitlisting and his romance novels. As for the MFC, Zhara, she acted like a school girl who would make a fool or herself in front of her crush. I was hoping for a powerful female lead but she lacked it completely. Everyone walked all over her and she completely lacked any strength or power the entire book until suddenly in the last couple of chapters she knew exactly how to handle her magic and how to save the world. Even though she failed all her lessons the whole book.

On top of this the romance between Han and Zhara, it was predictable from the start, which is part of why I don’t like reading retellings much. I mean this retelling wasn’t even a good one. Her stepmother was just mid and she only had one stepsister that did actually love her. Anyways, her relationship with Han was like watching two 12 year olds be pushed together by their friends and then share an awkward kiss in front of everyone. Han didn’t know how to act around her at all. And Zhara has a weird habit of getting the “good-looking giggles” where she giggles around anyone she finds good looking. Like wth? 😐 On top of that we got a pov from both characters and Zhara acted completely different in both. When we saw her from Han’s perspective she was like all flirty and confident but when we got her own pov she was all fawn-like. Nothing really lined up or was consistent in this book.

I appreciated the author including lgbtq characters in this novel. In fact Xu, who identifies as they/them, as well as Yuli, who was a lesbian, were my two favorites characters. But none the less it was mentioned quite frequently in the novel how identifying that way was looked down upon in the morning realms. With Xu it felt a little forced on the character. But since I’m not apart of the community, I don’t feel comfortable addressing anything. You’ll have to ask someone who is more able to relate.

So at the end of the day, Yuli was the only well done character. She was the badass female lead that I wanted but didn’t get. I would have preferred that the book be written about her. She knew what she wanted and she knew how to get it. And unlike Zhara she understood magic and knew how to wield it.

The only other thing I liked was the elemental guardian’s companions. Such as the ginger cat named Sajah. I loved that cat so much. He was my favorite character. Which at first I didn’t even like his bc when her meowed the author would be like “‘purrrt’ said the ginger cat” I’m sorry what? Idk the writing of the whole book was off to me.

I literally gave the extra .5 star for Yuli and Sajah the naughty ginger cat.

I know I’ve already said a lot and at the beginning of this I did say it could’ve been a good book. It’s true it could’ve been but at the same time it was a basic plot. —> secret magical girl and some unfortunate prince run into eachother while seeking some all powerful elemental guardians. Said magic girl also happens to have a magic animal sidekick and poor prince can’t do anything for himself so he has to bring his smarter, wiser best friend with him. Alas they find said guardians and help save the day. And somehow their parents don’t care at all what they are doing. Don’t even suspect a damn thing. If any of you have ever seen the movie: Guardians of Ga’Hoole (yk the one with the owls) then just know this book is the same plot but with humans and Cinderella romance.

Okay I’ve said enough now. I’m really proud if anyone made it to the end of this crazy review. Deep down, I think this book is definitely for someone. And I think children between the ages of 11-13 would eat this up. But unfortunately it’s not for me. I’m truly shocked I read it to the end bc I wanted to DNF on chapter 3.

Read this book if you want some elemental magic and a slight Cinderella retelling. (Assuming your even still interested after reading this entire review.)

One again thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for this E-ARC. I really appreciate the opportunity but just wasn’t for me.

3.5 rounded to 4

Guardians of Dawn :Zhara is a new Young Adult fantasy by S. Jae-Jones. Follow the point of views of Jin Zhara , an apothecary's apprentice, and Han , a sheltered prince. While are enduring characters and from the moment they literally bump into each other their interactions are entertaiing, they did come off a bit too immature even for a YA. This fantasy was rich in world building and plot. There's magic where it's forbidden, secret societies, monsters , demons and more to discover and I look forward to what's to come in the series.

3.5 rounded up

New series alert! This book is a fun young adult fantasy described as a mix between Cinderella, Sailor Moon, and Avatar: The Last Airbender, and it certainly delivers on that promise.

What I didn't love as much:
-There's some disconnect on the age this book is targeted for. For example, our mc Zhara often gets the "good-looking giggles" whenever she sees someone attractive, suggesting this is for a younger audience, but there's also some suggestive references and gruesome descriptions of monsters. It was just kind of jarring?
-I was often confused during action sequences regarding where characters were positioned, or who could hear what. At one point there are characters on a roof, but the monster they were fighting is on the ground? I think??
-Aside from a twist or two at the end, I found the plot twists and secrets to be too heavily hinted at throughout the book.

What I loved:
-There was a lot of great rep in this book - LGBTQ, different cultures and skin tones, and disability rep (blindness). The book touched on discussions of queerphobia, colorism, classism, and ableism.
-The characters, while sometimes frustrating and flawed, I mostly found very lovable. My favorites were Xu, the nonbinary best friend of the prince, Han, the himbo mmc prince, and Jiyi, the cold and sarcastic magic researcher.
-Not a huge fan of insta love, but honestly I liked the mmc so much, that it didn't pull me out of the budding relationship.
-THE BTS REFERENCES 👀

After being drawn in by the mystic, intriguing, and powerful plotline, as well as falling in love with the book's cover, my expectations were set quite high. However, if you were to ask me if the book fulfilled my wishes as a reader, I couldn't honestly say "yes." While it was still an enjoyable read for me, I unfortunately found it difficult to connect with most of the characters. Additionally, the abundance of characters made it hard for me to remember their long names and past stories.
Maybe my expectations were a little too high, but it took me quite a long time for me to even get through the first 25%, partly due to the writing style, but also partly pacing. While there were some moments that I liked and the idea of the world, I felt that it took a bit too long for me to really get interested. The romance and dynamic between Han and Zhara was cute in the innocent and young love kind of way, which I did enjoy. But I didn't really connect with the rest of the story as much as I wanted to, and felt there could've been a tad bit more depth between Han/Zhara. I think that the Sailor Moon/Cinder-esque vibes were kind of there, but not strong enough to my tastes. Zhara's reactions to her family were a bit too YA protag. for me.