I enjoyed this book as much as I could. The narrator did a great job portraying the characters and making us feel their emotions throughout the book. I understand the marketing of promoting this book similar to Cinder x Sailor Moon. There were a lot of moments where I saw the similarities of Cinder, and maybe a tiny portion of Sailor Moon, but it was still enjoyable. I'm still interested to see where the author goes with the series since it's a very unique story that I feel would do well for those entering into the YA section for the first time.

I feel very neutral about this book. It contained a lot of elements that I’ve read and loved in books before but I just didn’t enjoy it as much here. I found myself struggling to pick this back up whenever I took a break and the plot was predictable which isn’t always a negative for me but unfortunately I couldn’t get invested in the characters or the overall world. The beginning was enjoyable but as the story went on I found myself uninterested in the direction of the plot. I also don't read young adult fantasy as much anymore so the younger YA feel of the book just didn't keep my interest.

Zaharia has magic in a place where magic is not only illegal, but punishable by death. Because in the past, those with magic got “corrupted” into monsters, people are naturally afraid of those with magic. When it begins happening again, the raids on magicians crack down again. Zhara rarely uses her magic to keep it a secret. Her stepmother is the only one who knows of her powers after her parents were killed in the raids of those with magic. However, there are rumors of a secret society of people who either have magic or protect those with magic. Zhara beings investigating the society when she meets a boy named Han who is looking for the society to help protect his brother. They both have a vested interest in finding the Guardians of Dawn and the society that can protect them and teach them how to use their magic.

This book was in theory a retelling of Cinder, but honestly just felt like a fantasy novel. I really liked the world building, the writing, the characters, and the mystery behind the monsters. This book was one I pretty much binge read and it was a fun read

Zhara is the first in a new young adult fantasy series about an Empire in which magic has been outlawed and two young people who become entangled with a resistance movement.

While the concept and storytelling were strong, I felt that the story lacked a specific place within the YA genre. Most of the book actually read very middle grade to me, with our characters coming across very young and many of the commonly used phrases being slightly juvenile and cliche. However there were also many references to mature and adult content in the form of humor throughout the story which made me unsure who the intended audience was meant to be.

While I was intrigued enough by the Cinderella-inspired plot, I felt that this book could have been a standalone had it not been for the final few chapters. The story seemed to wrap up relatively well and I didn’t feel much need for a continuation with subsequent books.

Overall I was slightly disappointed by the book as a whole as it did not capture me as fully as o was I hoping it would. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to read and review it. I would recommend this to a younger YA audience, though be aware of adult innuendo used frequently.

I feel like I went into this one with my hopes too high after the Sailor Moon comparison. I spent a lot of this one trying to find where the comparison came from. This did help to keep me pushing through and while I was intrigued by 30% it did take a little bit to get into. Otherwise the writing is beautiful and well done. I just didn’t enjoy the story. 3.5 ✨

Publishers really need to stop describing their books as "for fans of..." or "a cross between..." because more often than not the book bares no resemblance to any of the things mentioned. This book is only 'like' Cinder in that it takes from the same source material. It is only 'like' Sailor Moon in that it has a magical girl. If I were to compare it to a book I had recently read, I would compare it to Hafsah Faizal's We Hunt the Flame, or The Book of Tea series by Judy I Lin which shares the same cover artist.

Unfortunately, both of those books did this story style better than Zhara. The book is boring, and the Cinderella framework feels like it's being forced into the story like a stepsister's foot into a glass slipper. And like the stepsister's too large foot, this book needs some bits chopped off in order to make it fit. The world and the story itself are interesting concepts. The execution is sadly not great or at all entertaining. I'm sure there is an audience for this book, but I would like to politely redirect that audience to some other books that are doing it better.

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!

Katherine Chin did such a great job narrating the audiobook. The voices were identifiably different and enjoyable to listen to.

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

#NetGalley

The book started off so good, but the ending got very chaotic, the begging Zhara is hiding the fact that she can do magic and that it’s so frowned upon in this world that they take off any suspected magician off to be killed, but one day Zhara goes into town looking for the release of the next romance novel and ends up bumping into a stranger and they accidentally swap books. He was there looking for book on magic to help his younger brother so that he can stop the nightmare from coming and plaguing his brother every night. After realizing the mishap they then end up going on quest to find a book on magic while falling in love with each other, and the finding out that she is a reincarnated fire goddess. It was a good read just not one of my top ten.

Zhara Guardians of the dawn is an upbeat but emotional start to a Young Ya fantasy series. I loved the overall lush world and loveable characters with a somewhat fast paced plot. So many books can have such dark undertones but this one felt like it was there was always hope and a light at the end of the tunnel which I really enjoyed for a summer read.

The plot was very inventive and the overall storyline reminded me a lot of Avatar: the last airbender (which was a favorite of mine in childhood). I loved the magic system and felt that the world was well described. I did find the plot to sometimes not have the best pacing but I still overall enjoyed it.

The Characters are extremely loveable but they can also be very naive at times and it was definitely frustrating (as a 26 year old reading this it irked me but it is totally what i would expect out of young teens). I do think the age of the characters should have actually been a little younger as they came off very young for their age.

I received the audiobook and felt the narrator did a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life. I felt there was a lot of good inflection and it was easy to follow and listen to.

Zhara is a wonderfully fluffy and imaginitve start to a series. I definitely want to listen to book 2. I recommend for those that loved Avatar and Sailor moon and especially for the younger teens 12+

thank you so much to Netgalley and Macmillian Audio for the E-audiobook in exchange for my honest review!

I was initially drawn to this book after seeing that it was pitched as a YA Sailor Moon, and I was not disappointed in the result. The worldbuilding is incredibly compelling and I can't wait to see how the story continues developing over the series. This book also manages to balance humor with serious topics.

The narrator did a great job with the audiobook and I was engaged in her interpretation of the characters and the storyline.

This audiobook was so good to listen to. I really love the fantasy story that as it was described as Sailor Moon meets Cinderella. That sounded like something right up my alley, and thankfully it held up to the expectations I had set for it. I can't wait to see where the story goes from here.

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of the audiobook.

I am a massive Sailor Moon fan, so when I saw this being pitched as Cinder meets Sailor Moon, I was very excited. The world in this book is beautiful and lush. I love the influences in this book. It was fun, and I can’t wait to read the second one. That being said, it got repetitive at times and the pace slowed down. A lot. Writing-wise, this is written for the younger YA audience, and at times I found the characters frustrating and too naive. It was fun though and I will be reading the second one.

Sailor Moon meets Cinder was an underselling in my book!
A fast paced book that was a great start to a ya series.
It is very trope heavy but if you like that it'll be right up your alley.

I was honored with a standard e arc in edition to the audio copy of this novel and I loved both. The narration in this edition adds an immersive element to a story I had already fallen in love with.
Guardians of Dawn: Zhara by S. Jae-Jones is a young adult fantasy tailor made for fans of coming of age fantasy seeking strong Cinderella meets magical girl vibes.
What Worked for me
1. High stakes that don't get watered down for the sake of any interpersonal dramas
2.strong family bonds that remain central to driving plot points and character actions
3.well crafted dialogue that reads well while remaining realistic feeling
What Didn't work as well for me
1. Awkward pacing during the first fourth of the story
2.tension building and pay off was a bit wonky

This is an enjoyable middle-grade/early teen book whose influences are very grounded in animated series like Avatar: The Last Airbender or the Disney Princess movies. The good guys are good, the bad guys baaad, and there are even animal sidekicks (I couldn't help be think of Mulan and Wushu here). As an Avatar fan, I could appreciate that this story could very easily have fit in that universe - the characters, setting, magic all greatly reminded me of Avatar and Mulan especially. While those influences likely skew young, I think as long as you are going in with that mindset, this will be a fun read.

Story: Zhara has a secret power that is both forbidden and equally hard for her to control. But things are changing in her land and a new evil is rising - one that can turn magic-sensitive people into monsters. There is a legend about a secret group who protects the mortal realm: The Guardians of Dawn. Along with a prince in disguise, his non-binary companion, a magic cat, and several others, they will seek out the Guardians while coming up against the dark magics.

The setting here is historical Korea/China and the author works hard to ensure that those influences are authentic (even in a fantasy setting). So the world building is good but, it should be noted, on the more simplistic and one-dimension variety similar to the characters.

Zhara as a main character is painfully earnest and single-minded in wanting to 'do good.' The prince in disguise is a lovable, good-looking, romance novel loving goofball who becomes courageous when needed. The two main characters greatly reminded me of Katara and Sokka from the Avatar series. Their other companions are what you would expect: each with their own quirks - flamboyant dry humor companion, mentors, harsh but fair associates, etc. Because of their very simple traits, some readers may find them lacking in depth and nuance and a bit juvenile. As noted above, the appeal here is the same appeal as in the animated media: Avatar and Disney movies. Targeting this to a YA audience may perhaps be a bit optimistic.

The plot moves as expected: Zhara has to learn what her ability is, how to use it, and how to defeat baddies with it. Most of this book is a standard anime 'power up' situation in which all the characters are there to help Zhara grow and become powerful enough to fight the evil.

I listened to the audio version and the narrator was fine. She was perhaps a bit wooden at odd times but for the most part, she did give the characters different personalities in her narration. As such, since this is a more simple-structured type of story, it makes for an easy and enjoyable audio book. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

Guardians of Dawn: Zhara is the story of Zhara a girl who has magic, but since magic is forbidden, she has to keep it hidden. Meanwhile, she's trying to care for her blind sister and avoid her drunk and cruel stepmother. But then she meets Han, the prince who's hiding the fact that he's a prince. And then monsters start cropping up.

I had such high hopes for a book that likens itself to Sailor Moon. First of all, that's a very big claim, but I love Sailor Moon so I thought I'd give it a go. Guardians of Dawn: Zhara isn't much like Sailor Moon. That's my first issue with this book. The most difficult thing I dealt with while reading this is how juvenile it is. This book is YA (and I read a lot of YA), but it felt like it was middle grade fiction. Zhara can't stop giggling every time she sees a cute boy. You may wonder her age. Is she 12? Nope, she's 17. She was really insufferable. And Han, the bumbling idiot prince, was no better.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. Katharine Chin was a great narrator, but this book was definitely not for me.

Zhara is a teenage girl who possesses magical powers in a society where magic is forbidden. She is kind, curious, and has a big imagination, and these traits help her survive in the impoverished and abusive home of her stepmother. She deeply loves her half-sister but carries tremendous guilt for causing, or at least worsening, her sister's blindness after Zhara's uncontrolled magic injured her. One day, Zhara meets a boy named Han outside the bookseller's shop, and she later spies him inquiring of the bookseller about a mythical organization called the Guardians of Dawn. This chance encounter changes the trajectory of Zhara's fate and brings new light and purpose to Han's as well. We are beside them as their paths cross in their journeys - Zhara learning about her own gifts and investigating what appears to be a blight on magicians turning them into monsters, and Han on a quest to protect at all costs his little brother who is secretly a magician. We are alongside them as they battle evil forces, uncover magical secrets, and seek a life where they can thrive, not just survive.

S. Jae-Jones does a fantastic job of world-building and setting up the lore, history, and politics of the Morning Realms. The magic system is creative and works well to propel the plot. I appreciated the Author's Note at the beginning that described her own journey to bring this tale to life, and her efforts to incorporate her cultural roots and even aspects of the Korean language in the way she introduces and describes characters. The story is influenced by the anime and pop culture that has brought her joy throughout her life - she specifically mentions Sailor Moon and BTS.

I must admit some stylistic choices didn't work for me. Certain expressions - especially ones involving giggles and bubbling - were repetitive and grating. Han's naivete was extra, as was the other characters' mocking of him. The flirty dialogue also felt immature even for teens. The juxtaposition of the light-hearted interactions with the dark and downright disturbing events the characters face was jarring. Maybe these are me-problems due to not being the target audience for this book, but I felt like it could have been tightened up more in the editing process. Despite its flaws, I enjoyed the story and I'm intrigued to see where this series goes. I also think it would make a great anime itself!

I listened to the audiobook courtesy of Macmillan Audio and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. The narrator was excellent and really brought the story to life! I enjoyed how she voiced the characters and it helped me vividly conjure the book's imagery.

I would give this more stars if I could!
There is magic and political intrigue, but also hope and smiles. This book has characters that you will fall in love with while you are also rooting for them to make things right. There is a pretty clear generational demarcation. The adults are mostly the bad guys for a variety of reasons, but the youth are the good guys. We don’t spend a lot of time with the adults, so that gives us time to be with the youth in happy moments as well as action packed tense moments. The magic system is not well defined in this one, but that didn’t bother me. The romance was light and mostly lacking in angst. I liked that as well. I can’t find anything to complain about!
Waiting for book 2 will be so hard!

Ah this book was so, so good, I’m obsessed!! And I was not expecting that!

I loved the cover and had seen the author’s account on social media so decided to request this book. Even after getting approved, I went into the story completely blind so every part of the story was surprise to me!

It definitely gave me a little bit of Cinderella vibes. I adored the magic system, our main characters, side characters, the writing style, the romance, the plot twists, the adventure, EVERYTHING!

Usually, fantasy books, especially from authors I haven’t read books of before, take me some time to get into but with Zhara, I was having a hard time putting the book down to do my chores.

Will highly, highly recommend!!

Not gonna lie, I was going to be down for this book as soon as I got to "Sailor Moon meets..." It really didn't matter what it was meeting, I was in. Considering that it is also a bit of a Cinderella vibe, yeah, this is my alley. They story is quick and fun. It has joy; it is actively channeling joy. It definitely has some season one Usagi vibes with a very unsure of herself protagonist. I'm looking forward to where this series goes, as I want to meet the rest of the Guardians. If you are down for something light that will make you smile, this is a solid pick-up.