Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance listener's copy of Guardians of the Dawn: Zhara!

Guardians of the Dawn: Zhara tells the story of Zhara, a young woman who lives with her stepmother and blind stepsister after the death of her father and cooks and provides for them. Zhara is secretly a magician in a land where known magicians have been brutally murdered and magic is outlawed. Zhara allows herself to be subject to her stepmother's cruelty as her stepmother continues to keep her secret about her magic.

One day in the market, while longing for the newest edition of a romance novel, Zhara literally bumps into Han, who is unbeknownst to her the Royal Prince. While running to escape from the Kestrals, the police tasked with rounding up the magicians, they find themselves learning about a secret magical relief organization referred to the Guardians of Dawn. As they gain further admittance to the Guardians of Dawn and its information, Zhara and Han must fight to keep all the magicians they know and love safe from greater dangers than the Kestrals.

I LOVED this book! I cannot wait for the next one!! Zhara is such a beautiful character. I loved that her and her sister are united against the evil of the stepmother. The female characters in the Guardians of Dawn are funny and have so much agency. I highly recommend this book!

The narration was excellent. I would have struggled with pronunciation on so many of the names but she made it very clear.

Zhara has such a promising concept - Sailor Moon mixed with Cinderella (but not a Cinder rip-off though also not completely dissimilar in tone), but it does read more middle-grade than ya. The humor skews young and the characters are a little less dynamic than I typically expect of pieces in the YA genre. I didn't hate it but I also didn't love it in the way I hoped to.

Our female main character, Zhara, is a bit generic "magical girl." Which, I guess, so was Usagi but what works in an anime doesn't necessarily translate to a novel. That said, she's one of the few characters whose motivations are super clear and also evolve throughout the novel. Han, our main guy/love interest is a full tilt himbro and while his antics are cute, they're a little hard to believe. No one would actually be this silly/dumb. His best friend Xu is significantly more interesting but also I never quite sorted what they wanted for themselves/what they're up to. This is clearly setting up to be a longer series but I would love to know more about all of the side characters. Additionally a LOT of time is spent world-building and explaining the political structure, which is interesting but also affects pacing.

I think the biggest thing is that the novel reads like a middle-grade targeted anime but that's not how it's marketed. The premise is super interesting and I really want to love it but I just don't. That said, I think if this reaches the audience of younger teens/tweens, it will be well received.

Specific to the audiobook: The narration does a phenom job bringing the characters to life! Excellent quality.

I received an eARC of this book for review from Macmillan Audio via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
• The Brief: Guardians of Dawn: Zhara is the first book in a new YA fantasy series combining elemental magic with western fairytale retellings set in an eastern inspired world. In this Cinderella inspired installment, Zhara is hiding her illegal magic and doing her best to provide for her family and protect her sister… but then she catches the attention of dangerous people.
• Readers looking for a well-paced YA fantasy focusing on both interpersonal relationships and political intrigue should give this one a try.
This novel is told in a dual POV featuring Zhara, a natural magic user, and Han, whose mother was executed for her magic. It is a story about family loyalties: and both Zhara and Han have been subject to parentification. There is a great deal of diversity, both explicit and implied. While fairly plot driven, there is some nice character work here and the world building sets a good foundation for development in future series installments. An overall interesting story; I look forward to seeing more in this world.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 here.

Off the bat, when I started this book, I really enjoyed the representation within the book for both disabilities and genderqueer people. Though I would warn readers that there is blatant abuse towards child characters and also misgendering/homophobia at times from people who are not friends of the characters. I definitely got feelings of watching a Sailor Moon style anime while reading this book with its pacing and protagonists.. The audiobook was also well narrated, which added to my personal experience. The overall plot and world building was fascinating and something that makes me want to continue the series, though the first book wasn't perfect.

The things that felt like they could use improvement on were how the younger characters such as Zhara and Hon are often portrayed in a way that makes them come across younger than they actually are. This is largely due to the humor aspects of the story and how Zhara sometimes seems cartoonish in her mannerisms. This works at some points but not in others since the book is a nod to Sailor Moon, it helps, but when it comes to being realistic in how a teenager would behave it does not help. If the balance were a bit better then it would feel as though it was more for a young adult audience than a middle grade audience across the whole book.

In the beginning, I was really enjoying this book. However, it began to drag on. There were a few too many characters and a couple of scenes that didn't seem to affect the ending of the book. It was good, don't get me wrong. I did enjoy it once the climax started to pick up.

The characters were a little annoying at times, seeming to fill stereotypes and archetypes that they definitely could have stepped out of.

I think that the writing style also annoyed me slightly. It just wasn't for me.

The narrator did an honestly average job. Her pronunciations were amazing, but her voice didn't change at all for different characters.

I was really wanting to enjoy this book but I just couldn't. I am very surprised i even finished. There were way too many characters to keep up with. I honestly have not a clue what i listened to. I was zoned in and out the whole time. I unfortunately do not have much to say.

Thank you so much to net galley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this audiobook. I loved all of S. Jae-Jones books before previously so I was very excited to get an early copy. I absolutely loved this book including the main character.

I thought that this was a really interesting listen. I enjoyed the pot and thought that the narrator did a good job. I thought there were a few world building things that were unclear, but overall really enjoyed this one.

This book was so charming. The magic system was cool, the dialog was YA-witty, and I found myself invested in the characters' journeys throughout. The book was giving cozy fantasy vibes at multiple points, though the stakes are higher than what I'd normally expect in a cozy fantasy. The narration was engaging and fitting for the story. There were several familiar tropes throughout that could have benefited from some deviation, but overall this was a great book.

I'm excited to see what will happen with these characters next and will definitely continue reading the series. I'd recommend this to anyone that likes YA fantasies with interesting magic systems.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this audiobook for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

4.5/5

Enjoyed the premise, but wasn't won over unfortunately. The narration is quite slow, definitely recommend speeding up when reading.

I listened to this as a NetGalley preview.

Zhara lives in an empire where magic is forbidden. Where magicians were accused of turning into monsters and have been hunted down and destroyed. The problem? Zhara is a magician and has discovered that the magicians that turn into monsters are actually being possessed by demons. Can her and her new friends find a way to not only survive, but thrive?

First, the narrator of the audiobook did a phenomenal job! With the world this was built in being based on some oriental traditions and names, having someone who was able to pronounce all the names/places/events really brought a lot of depth to the story.

Beyond that, I thought the world building was amazing! The characters really had depth to them and they really brought the story to life. Han was hands down my favorite character, even if he was totally clueless with all the innuendos being thrown around throughout the book. You could tell that a lot of thought went into the story line and it excites me for how things will go moving forward. I cannot wait to read the other books in this series!

📚Review: Guardians of Dawn: Zhara 🔥

By: S. Jae-Jones
Published: August 1, 2023

Throughout the Morning Realms, magic is forbidden and magicians are seen as abominations responsible for the monsters that plagued the land twenty years ago. Jin Zhara has a lot on her plate - appeasing her cruel stepmother, taking care of her blind sister, keeping her magic hidden, and, now, dealing with rumors of monsters being seen again. A chance encounter with a young man sets her on a journey to find a secret magical liberation group called Guardians of Dawn and she learn there’s a lot more behind those rumors of monsters.

Happy book birthday, @sjaejones! 🥳

What a fun read! 😊 Honestly, this is the type of fantasy book I love to pick up in summers because ya girl hates being sweaty outside & I can get lost in the pages of another world WITH AIR CONDITIONING.

Now, I was sold the second Sailor Moon was mentioned in the description (truthfully, I may need to do a rewatch after reading this). Boy, did it deliver! The world building and magic system are beautiful, intricate, and captivating because so much of magic’s history has been erased out of fear and Jin Zhara has lived a pretty meager life until now, so we’re discovering the world and it’s magic with her. I was hooked by the demon history and can’t wait to see this play out more in the future.

I enjoyed the political lens the book offered and see politics coming into play even more in book two with the world expanding. The romance was cute and I was happy to see LGBTQ+ representation throughout. I do feel the ending was a little too easy and slightly rushed, but this is book one of a new series, so it gets a pass from me.

Can’t wait to meet more Sailor Scouts…I mean, Guardians of Dawn! 😉

Verdict: Loved It! ❤️

Thank you so much @wednesdaybooks for this #gifted copy! 🥰

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan audio for the advanced copy of this audiobook!

First off, that dedication was everything. I didn't know what to expect when starting this book, but was pleasantly surprised by the complex world building and overall voice of the book. The story follows Zhara, an apothecary's assistant, who is trying to care for her visually impaired sister while hiding her own outlawed magic as well. She meets Han, who just so happens to be the prince, who is trying to help his younger brother. The two get entangled in misadventures and I found their relationship to be incredibly cute from the start. This has been on of the few YA books that I didn't feel was too young for me. It was fun and entertaining, but could use work around pacing. There were a few moments that dragged, but overall I really liked it. Looking forward to the following book!

I was intrigued by this book’s premise, which was “Cinderella meets Sailor Moon”, and it did not disappoint!

Guardians of Dawn: Zhara, tells the story of a world in which powerful magical warriors are being reincarnated to face a great evil. However, magic is outlawed and mages can be possessed by demons to become monstrous abominations.

My favourite thing about this book was the cast, who I found to be very endearing. Zhara and Han are both very loveable protagonists and I was invested in seeing their relationship develop. The supporting cast is also very entertaining, and I loved them as well. There is a good amount of queer rep in this book, which was often revealed in a very nonchalant nature at unexpected times.

Guardians of Dawn: Zhara is a strong start to a new series and I will be eagerly awaiting the sequel.

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for letting me read an audiobook of Guardians of Dawn: Zhara! I really enjoyed the Wintersong books, so I was really excited to read this one!
Guardians of Dawn: Zhara 3.5/5 stars
Summary from Goodreads:
Sailor Moon meets Cinder in Guardians of Dawn: Zhara, the start of a new, richly imagined fantasy series from S. Jae-Jones, the New York Times bestselling author of Wintersong.
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.
Guardians of Dawn was such an interesting listen. I really enjoyed the general plot and the magic throughout the book, but the writing was not 100% my favorite. A lot of the book felt very single leveled, but I liked this a lot more as an audiobook than I probably would have had I read a hard copy/ebook. I really liked Katharine Chin as a narrator. Han and Zhara weren't my favorite characters, but I did really enjoy the side characters and the demons. I'm excited to see where things go in this series. I definitely think that this one is a great audiobook to pick up for a drive or when you're cooking/cleaning!

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and S. Jae-Jones for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"There is no cure for possession. If there had been we wouldn't have gone to war."

Cinderella, Sailor Moon, demons, and magic. Guards of Dawn follows Zhara as she struggles to come to terms with her magic and what it means to be loved - all with the help of a magical kitty companion. I admit, I was a bit worried going into this book after reading some of the reviews but I ended up thoroughly enjoying Guardians of Dawn. It does follow some typical YA tropes, but I found the characters to be incredibly endearing so I didn't mind.

I listed to the audiobook version and really enjoyed Katharine Chin's narration. She did a good job at conveying the emotions and establishing a different voice for each of the characters. There were a couple of moments within the narration where in the middle of the sentence it sounded like it had been rerecorded or recorded in a different studio - but that's my only complaint in regards to the audio.

"Ever since her death, Han and his little brother had become orphans. Their mother lost to flames, their father to grief."

There are some juvenile moments within this book, such as sex jokes and the female MC getting giggly anytime she find someone attractive, but these moments didn't throw me off as much as I expected them to. I found this had the book reading like a fantasy romantic comedy - that wouldn't be my regular choice of books but it was enjoyable despite being a little cringe-y. However, I do hope book two matures a little bit more.

"There are some that are dead even as they breathe."

The magic system within this book has me excited for future books within this series. It's mysterious, and gruesome at moments. The answers to my questions weren't handed to me all at once and left me guessing, wanting to read on to learn about the depths of Zhara's magic and how deep the darkness runs within the world of Zanhei. Even by the end of the book, while much is revealed, there is still plenty for us to learn.

"Han met Zhara's eyes across the room, he remembered the expression of longing in them as she gazed at the books on the display and the realization that he could live for so much more."

Han and Zhara were incredibly sweet together. I enjoyed the moments where S. Jae-Jones allowed them just to be kids in love while still maturing together. Upon their first meeting they immediately bonded over books, and later their enjoyment over a romance novel. It's rare that we see male characters be granted the choice to enjoy things that are inherently seen as feminine.

The romance is a bit of a slow burn, but it was a nice change for a YA novel watching the main characters find friendship within each other before love.

"If they are children now, then they won't be children for much longer. There are no children during war."

Throughout this book Zhara struggles with being loved and accepted by those around her. She is consistently tormented by the idea that she is not worthy, not good enough. I think many readers will resonate with her as a character in this way. Even by the end of the book she is still struggling, it is something that is no immediately resolved within book one. As this series moves forward and Zhara matures and grows into her power I think she will begin to realize she is worthy of love, of taking up space.

I am excited for Zhara's journey and look forward to future installments.

I loved this. It was such a fun read and I’ll definitely pick up the next in the series (I’m assuming it’s a series). I thought the characters were great and made the story so much more fun to read. The narrator was absolutely perfect. I’m already telling people to read it.

Thank you macmillan audio for letting me listen to this book. I can see why they compare Zhara to Sailor Moon. I haven't read Cinder, but it's also compared to that book series. If you like Sailor Moon I think you'll enjoy this book! I'm glad this is a series and not a standalone. This cover is Stunning!

Summary: "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."

My thoughts:
I enjoyed this read overall, though sometimes the dialogue was too young and cheesey.

The characters were enjoyable to follow. I liked getting to learn more about Zhara throughout the story. The narrator did a beautiful job; they really brought the characters and world to life. The narrator and the author had me invested in the story right away. It was slow for a while, but I don't mind that in stories because It gives us the opportunity to learn more about the world and characters. However, I hope we will get to learn more about the characters in the next book. We got to know Zhara well, but not so much with the others.

The world Jae-Jones created is intriguing, magical, beautiful, and I can't wait for the next installment in the series. 3.5 out of 5 stars. It's out on August 1st!

Guardians of the Dawn: Zhara is, in a word, fun! It has elements of a Cinderella retelling without being an out-and-out Cinderella story. It has some political intrigue, some romance, and a slew of lovable characters.

The magic and the world building are interesting, playing off of folklore as well as some more common tropes to craft a magical story that’ll leave you impatient for the next book.

Jin Zhara is clever, but sweet. The prince is “lovable but dense” in all the best ways. There’s enough humor sprinkled throughout that the serious moments are broken up enough that it isn’t too tense but but not too many that the gravity is still apparent. Overall a fun read.

3.5 ⭐️

Though I really liked this book, there was something missing. At times I felt it fell a little flat and it didn’t hold my interest.

Really enjoyed the narrator! I love Asian fantasy books, but sometimes with names (especially Chinese) I know I’m not saying them correctly. With the audiobook, I got to hear the correct pronunciation and beauty of the words and names!

Unique magic system. Very YA relationship between the FMC/MMC.