Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

This was perfectly fine. The description calls it a mix of Sailor Moon and Cinder but I'm not familiar with either of them. However, I did get a slight Cinderella retelling, which I'm guessing is where the Cinder read-alike is coming from. Jones isn't breaking any molds with this story but I always enjoy Asian-inspired fantasies. The characters were enjoyable, yet predictable, but narrator Katharine Chin did an excellent job making them believable.

This book had a very interesting magic system, but I found it to be one of those YA books that was less interesting to me as an adult reader.

I, like many Sailor Moon fans, have been eagerly awaiting this title ever since the author mentioned they were working on a Sailor Moon inspired fantasy. So when I got the chance to request an ARC of Zhara, I leapt at the chance. And while the tone was a little younger than what I typically look for in young adult, but the story was fun and the Sailor Moon vibes were hitting all the right notes. I'm very excited to pick up the sequel!

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for granting me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed S Jae Jones Wintersong books, so was very curious to see where this book would take me. I enjoyed the Cinderella and Sailor Moon vibe of this story. 4 stars out of 5.

Zhara has magic, but a magic that is public. In a world where people with magic are being targeted with some type of sickness, she has to be careful. Yet, it's her magic that holds a key to this sickness.

This was a very fast read with some twists here and there. I wonder how the rest of the story will play out.

When I first read the premise of the book, I was immediately captivated and couldn't wait to pick it up. The concept was unique and intriguing, promising a thrilling and unpredictable journey. As I started reading, the twists and turns kept me on my feet, constantly guessing what would happen next. The plot was well-crafted, filled with suspense and mystery. However, I did struggle to fully immerse myself in the story. The voice of the narrative felt distant, and it was challenging to feel grounded at first. Despite this, the gripping storyline and constant surprises made it difficult to put the book down.

Zhara, the sweet and relatable protagonist, was charming with her genuine and kindhearted nature. Her experiences and struggles elicited empathy, making her incredibly easy to root for. As for Han, her love interest, his complex and intriguing persona drew me in from the very beginning. The chemistry between Zhara and Han was undeniable, sparking electricity and creating captivating moments throughout the story. Furthermore, the book featured a delightful cast of secondary characters.

The book description immediately gripped me with its promises of intricate world building and a unique magic system. As I delved into the novel, I was captivated by the author's ability to seamlessly integrate folklore and magic, creating a tapestry of enchantment that served as the very foundation of the story's time and place. The world building was meticulous and immersive, transporting me to a realm where magic thrived and shaped the lives of its inhabitants. The magic system, in particular, exuded a sense of authenticity and significance, not merely serving as a tool for escapism, but as a fundamental force that dictated the characters' actions and the trajectory of the plot.

Guardians of the Dawn: Zhara is the first book in S. Jae-Jones’s new Guardians of the Dawn series. Although I was initially disconnected from the story, the intriguing premise and unexpected plot twists quickly drew me into the narrative. The two main characters were both charming and captivating, their chemistry making them enjoyable to follow throughout the book. However, what truly stood out to me was the captivating world building. The author masterfully integrated the magic system into the setting, creating a fascinating and immersive environment. I recommend this book for fans of Marissa Meyer and other fast-paced YA fantasy sagas. I’ll definitly be looking forward to the next book in the series.

This book is so warm! I felt the world building a little difficult to follow but that could also be just having a harder time following world building with the reading mood Im in! overall though the vibes of this book are very cute!

i really enjoyed the magic system and complex world building that this book had to offer. i’m a huge fan of the lunar chronicles and fairytale retellings (evidently) so i was pretty much immediately hooked. for a ya fantasy, i was surprised how the writing style and the jokes seemed directed towards a younger audience, but it didn’t take away from the story too much in my opinion. thank you netgalley for the arc!

I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The premise behind this book is an exciting one but the execution and pacing unfortunately fell short to me. Perhaps it was the comparison to Cinder, part of a favorite series of mine, but it set high expectations. Zhara is industriously trying to provide for her family in an Asian-inspired fantasy setting and in that sense I can see the inspiration from Cinder. However unfortunately the writing seemed to drag and it didn't resonate with me.

Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for providing me with an e-ARC to review. All opinions are honest and my own.

The cover of this book and the comparison to Sailor Moon instantly hooked me. I think this book started off strong, with a unique premise and a looming conflict, swarming with hidden powers and secret identities. However, I found that the pacing quickly devolved into a slog. Which was curious, because this story had all the makings for a compelling and adventurous story, however the execution was lacking. It's like the ideas were too grandiose for the author and she could not balance the multitude of elements she was working to incorporate within. This was disappointing, as I have read previous works from this author which showed her writing prowess, but this one did not hold up to the mantle. The redeeming element for me was the relationship between the Crown Prince and his younger brother. I typically gravitate towards a caring, and genuine sibling relationship and their love for each other was a great light in the story.

I do intend to pick up the sequel, because I am curious about what happens next and want to see if the writing tightens up in later installments.

I absolutely loved this. I will read anything by this author. Her books are always amazing! I eagerly await part 2

**Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the eARC. This in no way affected my review**

I loved Zhara and can't wait for book two in the series. I think the comparison between Cinder and Sailor Moon was spot on, so if you like one or both of those franchises, you'll probably like this. The characters are rich and the world building was so interesting to me. I listened to the audio from Libro.FM, as well, and that was also well done and interesting to listen to. I cannot wait to see Ami's book as it's hinted that it will be Beauty & the Beast inspired and that is a departure from the options in Cinder's series. I also like that the guardians are elemental based, which gives me hope the water guardian might be Little Mermaid! The only thing that was a throw-off for me was that the author is a HUGE army and wrote in a Fantasy version of BTS into the story. They became progressively a larger part of the story and that didn't feel needed to me. I think they could've just been a fun easter egg.

Overall, recommend and will definitely be reading book 2!

Due to St. Martins Press refusal to address the remarks made by their employee regarding Palestine, I will not be reviewing this book.

This in no way has anything to do with the author. But I refuse to support anything from SMP because of their refusal to address a major issue at hand.

I receives a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. I found the story of Zhara and her doing her best to keep her element abilities under control because they are seen as wrong and to draw creatures out of the dark. There are think like hidden identity, a secret group and something come for the world from the darkness. What drew me to this book was the cover, magic, and that is was compared to Sailor Moon. I enjoyed it it okay. I did have to go back and re-read parts at time to keep some of the characters right in my mind. The step-mother came off a little flat for me. I am not sure why the sister has to be blind. Some elements did not really add anything to the story. Maybe things will be come clear when Book 2: Ami comes out.

I still gave this four stars, but I hyped this book up a lot in my head and it wasn't as good as I was expecting. Sailor Moon and Cinder are a reach for comp titles. Overall I really enjoyed the magic in the book, and I will be reading book two, but I was confused by the pacing a lot.

Zhara is my favourite fantasy read of 2023! Look at that cover and the character art, its beautiful and interesting just like this forbidden magic story. I can see why this first book in the series did not work for many readers, but the manga loving adventurer in me enjoyed reading this one. I love the easiness of reading this high fantasy with mythology notes and retellings! If you see my review, this is your queue to give Zhara a chance.

Thank you Wednesday books for the book!

Such a refreshing read! I loved the setting; the world was so unique and vibrant. However the plot itself wasn’t very unique and some parts of the book were just cringe, but I could see how a different audience would enjoy it. The characters fell a little flat but not to the point i couldn’t enjoy the story. The writing was great, excellently done—not cliche.

I really enjoyed the ideas in this book. It is just so unique and interesting. And that cover is perfection!

It was okay as YA fantasy goes, but we will see how the patrons react to it. Good world building, but characters were super immature (even though they are teens) and it was cringy to read at points.