I enjoyed this! I loved the romantic subplot and the found family aspects of this.

I think that the character chemistry was a little off but it was still believable

"Guardians of Dawn: Ami" by S. Jae-Jones is a captivating start to a new fantasy series, blending rich world-building with complex characters and high-stakes intrigue. Set in a world on the brink of war, the novel follows Ami, a fierce and determined young woman who is thrust into a battle she never wanted. As tensions rise between magical factions, Ami must navigate her way through a labyrinth of secrets, alliances, and betrayals. Jae-Jones does an excellent job of creating a complex setting, where the magic system is not only intriguing but also pivotal to the plot. The world feels immersive, with its unique rules and stakes keeping the reader engaged from start to finish.

Ami is a strong, relatable protagonist, whose journey from uncertainty to self-discovery is both satisfying and emotional. Her internal struggles, coupled with her loyalty to those she loves, make her a compelling central figure. The relationships she forms throughout the story, particularly with her companions, add depth to her character, making her more than just a typical hero. Her growth is portrayed with nuance, and Jae-Jones skillfully explores themes of identity, belonging, and the cost of war. The supporting characters are equally well-developed, and their connections with Ami drive much of the emotional weight of the narrative.

One of the standout elements of "Guardians of Dawn: Ami" is its intricate pacing. While the book takes its time setting up the world and its conflicts, the tension steadily builds throughout. The plot is filled with twists and turns, which keep the reader on edge, though at times the narrative could benefit from a bit more focus in some of its subplots. The pacing slows in the middle, where certain sections feel like they linger longer than necessary, but these moments are still rich in character development, which helps offset the lag. The action scenes, however, are intense and well-written, providing the necessary balance to the quieter moments.

While "Guardians of Dawn: Ami" is an impressive debut in a series, it is not without its flaws. Some of the dialogue occasionally feels a bit stiff, and there are moments when the world-building could have been deeper. However, these are minor issues that do not detract from the overall enjoyment of the story. Jae-Jones has created a promising new series with "Guardians of Dawn: Ami", and its mix of magic, political intrigue, and emotional depth will undoubtedly appeal to fans of epic fantasy. This book leaves readers eager to see where Ami's journey will go next, and for that, it earns a solid four stars.

This was as sweet as can be! I loved this just as much as I loved the first book and I am equally looking forward to the next installments. These characters are wholesome and super fun to follow. I loved seeing Ami come together with the group we already know and love from the first book, and I can imagine the series will only continue to go up from here. S. Jae-Jones is a writer I respect, because these are the kinds of YA books that I would have loved to read was I was a teenager myself.

Guardians of Dawn: Ami by S. Jae-Jones is a continuation of the series, introducing new characters and deepening the magical world that captivated readers in the first book. The story picks up where Zhara left off, following Zhara and her companions as they embark on a quest to find the lost book Song of Order and Chaos, while also weaving in the perspective of Ami, a new guardian who has her own crucial role to play in the unfolding conflict.

Jae-Jones expands on the mythology introduced in the first book, with the inclusion of demonic infections, undead threats, and a mysterious prophecy tied to the Guardians of Dawn. The plot takes a darker turn, which adds weight to the story, but it is balanced by moments of humor and the strong bonds of friendship that remain a core theme. I especially appreciated how the characters' personal journeys tied into the overarching narrative, particularly Ami's growth from an unsure, bookish outsider into a confident hero ready to face her destiny.

The representation of LGBTQ+ characters, including a nonbinary love interest in Gaden, adds depth and diversity to the cast. Their character arc, along with Ami’s, was heartfelt and compelling, and it was refreshing to see their relationship evolve naturally throughout the book.

However, the book wasn’t without its flaws. The magic system, while fascinating, felt inconsistent at times. There were moments when the rules governing the Guardians’ powers, especially the healing abilities of the Guardian of Wood, didn’t always make sense, which pulled me out of the story. Additionally, some plot points—particularly those involving the undead—were confusing and left me with more questions than answers. While the action was exciting, there were a few instances where the pacing felt rushed, and certain events, like the group’s separation during a rockfall, were hard to visualize clearly.

Despite these small issues, Ami: Guardians of Dawn is a great sequel that deepens the lore of the series and builds on the relationships established in the first book. Fans of the series will appreciate the higher stakes, the intricate world-building, and the continued focus on friendship and bravery in the face of overwhelming odds. If you enjoyed Zhara, you’ll definitely want to dive into this one!

Guardians of Dawn: Ami is the sequel to Guardians of the Dawn: Zhara. If you're going in expecting the same lightheartedness from Zhara, please temper your expectations as Ami is a much darker story.

I think I enjoyed Ami more than Zhara because of the darker elements, but that being said, the darker elements almost feels like it came out of left field. I felt like in Zhara the author really embraced being a bit silly/cheesy with elements of the story (lol Good Look Giggles) but for whatever reason decided to tone it down for the sequel. Ami tries to be more of a serious book and while its not bad I think makes the book feel not as special as the first.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin/Wednesday Books for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this ACR Copy!

I really enjoyed the first book in this series so was really excited to pick this one up. I enjoyed the continuation of the story but I had a hard time connecting with the new FMC in this installment. She seemed a bit too quiet and timid and I just had a hard time connecting with her. I always love a really strong FMC and just did not see that in Ami. Gaden's character also fell a little flat and immature for me. I enjoyed it just not quite as much as Zhara, but I will still continue with the series.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series and equally enjoyed this book. I love the elements used within the story, and how S. Jae-Jones crafts her world within the story and the characters. Thank you so much Netgalley for an arc of this book. I apologize for the late review.

A good sequel. Quite enjoyable. I liked all the characters and the story was entertaining. Fast paced which kept me engaged

Thank you net gallery for an advanced copy of this book. This is the second story of the guardians of the dawn who have been reborn to save the world, this time from zombies. Some parts of the book are a little cringe but overall, the plot moves along till the next book.

The sequel shifts gears from the playful campiness of its predecessor, opting for a slightly darker and more serious tone—which, in my opinion, is a bit of a letdown? What I loved most about the first book was its slightly over-the-top and silly moments, and I found myself missing that sense of fun. That said, this installment does introduce some really intriguing elements, especially for fans of zombies and necromancy (big fan myself). I feel that necromancy magic is underutilized in fantasy, so I was thrilled by the body horror aspects and, well... the curry horror too, which was pretty quirky.

The diversity in this book is beautifully woven in. It’s refreshing to see such a broad range of identities and orientations, and it adds authenticity to the world and characters. The new characters, especially the "Beast" figure, are interesting. Their struggle with fear, and how it limits their interactions and changes their choices, is one of the most compelling parts of the story.

That said, I desperately needed a summary of the previous book. Without it, I felt lost at the start, and it negatively impacted my experience—seriously, ALL series should include a recap at the beginning! PLEASE, publishers and authors. It is so useful.

Though the book has its high points it also feels a bit too predictable at times. It leans heavily towards the younger adult side, but without the delightful campiness that made the first book so memorable. It’s enjoyable, but for me, it doesn’t quite live up to the fun of the original even if I liked the new characters more.

Thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the opportunity and complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

I read Zhara back a little over a year ago and remember my overall conclusions being kind of on the meh side. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the first installment but found enough I liked to continue this series. In my opinion, Ami is a good deal better than Zhara. I really enjoyed Ami’s POV and Gaden’s inclusion into the story. We got so much more lore and world building in this story and so many gaps were finally filled and I started to connect with the characters. There was also a lot more horror elements that I anticipated and believe it served well for the plot and story development. The ending was decently timed, as I worried it might get a bit rushed. I think the author’s writing has definitely improved and I’m super curious to see where the next book takes us.

Thank you Wednesday Books, NetGalley, and the author for sending me an early copy!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I really enjoyed this! I love Ami, and the found family trope.

I found the book atmospheric. I enjoy yhe worls building and magic systems. Just an all around enjoyable read.

I love, love, loved the character of Ami. She is autistic-coded in the way that she is always unsure of how she fits in among others, can be overly formal or not formal enough, and is reserved because she's afraid to get close to anyone. Her father has always told her to hide away her light, to mask, if you will. She felt super relatable as an autistic woman myself. This book is also a loose retelling of Beauty and the Beast, so she aligns with Belle as a scrivener, a scholar who can translate magic books.

The fairy tale retelling is a pattern for the series (i.e. Zhara as Cinderella) so it was expected, but it felt a little flimsy in this book. For instance, the love interest (who is nonbinary!) goes by "the Beast" as an alias. But this seems kind of mean since they are covered in burn scars...It's not framed that they are a beast due to their appearance; but it still felt a little awkward to me.

Zhara and Han continue to be adorable in this installment, and we get to see more of Yuli and the magic pets! Zhara and Ami keep exploring their powers and can do so many neat things; the magic is super creative. I'm looking forward to the next book!

A big thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book!

Guardians of Dawn: Ami by S Jae-Jones is the follow-up to Zhara, where we were introduced to the Guardian of Fire and a world where there are demons trying to bring back the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons. This story picks up after the events of the first book where Zhara is receiving lessons from the Bangtan Brothers on their way to find more resources to help in their fight to restoring the Morning realms.

We are also introduced to two new characters, Ami and Gaden/The Beast. They are the real focus of this story. This instalment introduces the Guardian of Wood, who has the power to restore life where there was none. Ami herself is a scrivener and has a vast amount of knowledge that was learned from her father who used to be the royal astrologer. They had to escape to a different part of the realm where magic is more accepted when her father's attempts to shield his daughter from the magic ban in the royal city led to his mind being fractured.

When her father escapes her supervision and steals a branch from a sacred tree, The Beast accepts Ami's help in the library searching for information about the blight that has been affecting the region. The blight has started to infect the population of the region and turned them into zombies. Zhara also discovers the undead in her search for more information that could help in her fight against the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons, and the search for other Guardians. Eventually Zhara and Ami find each other at a point where the temple they are at gets overrun by the undead, launching them on a pilgramage for answers with a very unlikely group of characters - all with their own secrets to hide.

I really enjoyed this book, even more than I did the original. It was only in the epilogue that I realized that both the first and second were loose adaptations of Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. And since I've always loved the Beauty and the Beast trope, it would make sense that I enjoyed this one.

The one aspect that did bother me was a misunderstanding trope, where the reason for the big climactic fight at the end was due to a specific character withholding information. It made the last part a bit unnecessary, but it did end with the proper closure you would want from this arc.

I am really looking forward to the other books still awaiting us in this series! This is a really special series that does both the fairytale retellings but making them so unique, and keeping true to their Asian inspiration. Big fan!

Li Ami was always on the outside—outside of family, outside of friendships, outside of ordinary magic.

The second Guardians of Dawn book was an improvement on the first. I enjoyed Ami as a character and the world-building continues to flesh out in an interesting way.

This was an excellent follow-up to Guardians of Dawn: Zhara. The world in this book expands upon what was encountered in the first book in a very satisfying way, and I enjoyed seeing the twists and turns the characters' journey took. The additions to the cast fit perfectly, along with development of the originals, and I especially loved the representations of neurodivergence and queerness. As an autistic non-binary person, I could relate both to Ami's awkwardness and love for books and words, as well as Beast's frustrations with people trying to shove them into a certain mold of person. And Han is on the asexual spectrum! I feel like none of this is represented enough in books, so I very much appreciate its inclusion here.

I was also pleased to learn more about the magic system in this book, and have more of the secret text discovered and decoded. I can't wait for the next book to learn even more, and also to see exactly what else S. Jae-Jones will put the characters through. It's been fun so far, and I have no doubt that will continue to be true.

Just like Zhara, Ami has me in a chokehold! The Sailor Moon nostalgia is huuuuuge for me. I need more, S. Jae-Jones, moooore!!

Book 2: Guardians of Dawn Ami keeps up the momentum that started with book 1.. The battle against the mother of all demons continues.
I absolutely adored getting to know Ami, also known as the Guardian of Qood in this fast past addicting of a novel. S. Jae Jones knows how to create such captivating characters with a plot that keeps you flipping through pages at a break neck pace. I can’t tell you how many times I had my heart pounding with the events Ami and Zhara were facing on their journey to restore balance in a chaotic world.
I now know that I need a physical copy of this book. That’s how good it was.
If you like:
Realistic Characters
Battles of Good and Evil
Magic Abilities
Edge of your seat action

This series is for you! Now I wait impatiently for book 3 lol
Rating: 4 and half stars.
Thanks to the folks at NetGalley for a copy of this book. My review is a honest reflection of my feelings towards this book..

I had a hard time enjoying the book because I wasn't a huge fan of our main character, but the writing was well done and the plot was a good one.