Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. Somehow I think I like this one even more than Zhara?? I loved the expansion of knowledge that we got to build off of what we learned from book one's, and I think Ami is my favorite MC so far! I'm already so excited to see what'll happen in the third one!

As the second installment in the Guardians of Dawn series, this book is a lot of fun. It includes so many of my favorite things in a fantasy book: awesome magic, evil demons, and hordes of undead. Zhara has learned a lot about herself and her magic since the first book and is able to do some really cool things in this one. Ami is a great addition to the Guardians, with a unique ability that fits so well with the way that Zhara does magic. I loved the friendship between the two girls and the way they gave each other strength to overcome their evil foes.

One thing that I would have loved to see in this book was a more conventional plot. The book lacks a clear goal or typical plot points. Instead, the characters are never really sure of what to do next and sort of wander around until the next zombie or demon attack. They do have some vague goals, but there’s no overall thing they are trying to accomplish other than what was established in the first book of defeating the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons. Instead, book two makes baby steps toward the whole series goal without having its own plot line to carry it through.

The characters are great though, so it’s fun to just hang out with them as they wander. And I loved their magic, as well as the endless undead. Overall, those things made the book an enjoyable read.

I requested this because I thought I wanted to continue the series but then I realized I wasn’t interested. I read a bit of this story but wasn’t really interested. I ended up dnfing

I think this book was okay but I sadly wasn't interesting enough for me. The dmc does reads a bit more developed than Zhara, I liked that but sadly is not enough for me to continue the series.

What an amazing adventure and wild ride. I also had not read Zhara before being sent this book as an ARC, so I went ahead and purchased it and dove right in. You should read the first book before starting with this one since it is a continuation.

Wow, just wow. From the first pages I was sucked into the story and world with the characters. This book is a little more serious than the first but it has splashes of humor thrown in giving it that lighter feeling. I appreciate the multiple view points and that Zahara has a major role in this installment with Ami and Gaden. (We have LGBTQ representation). The story in this book just continues and flows beautifully feeling very fleshed out. The world building is chef's kiss in my opinion. You get exactly what is needed in order to feel side by side with the characters. There is more character development and growth especially with Zahara. I enjoyed this book almost as much as the first it's just a little darker. My only complaint was that the magic system was a little hard to follow but it could just be me. I wanted it more fleshed out with the guardians. I was slightly confused on being able to heal magicians and non-magicians. Regardless I throughly enjoyed the ride.

I think you hit the YA target audience beautifully. My kids will definitely have this series as an option for required reading. I work with troubled teens and this series will be perfect for them. Ami in particular struggles to connect with others and I think that will resonate with my teens. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to dive into your world. I can't wait to continue with the crew. Cheers to Zombies and defeating the Mother of ten Thousand Demons. I highly recommend this book and series. I give it a 4/5. Well done.

I really enjoyed this book and this series. As context, I had not read Zhara before being sent this book as an ARC, but as soon as I cracked this book open, I realized I was missing a lot of important context, so I went to the library and read the first book before getting back into this. Wow, my expectations for YA fantasy have diminished significantly over the last few years (either as a function of me maturing or as the genre being over-proliferated), but boy did this series blow my expectations out of the water. I will say, I did not enjoy this book as much as the first, but overall, it is so clear S Jae-Jones is an incredibly talented writer, and I will definitely be continuing this series.

Like the first book, Ami is a well-researched, well-developed book, and the world-building is so intricate and fascinating. Like the first book, there are little snippets of info-dumping, but It's not done in a too heavy-handed manner, so I didn't mind it ~that much. I love stories following 2 main characters where one is asking a lot of questions and the other has all the answers, and Jae-Jones navigated this beautifully. She kept the story lines separate but overlapping long enough to build the angst, but thread them together early enough that you didn't feel the need to bang your head against the wall.

I loved seeing Zhara's growth in this story, and seeing her mature into a lovely young woman and strong and level-headed leader, and Han as our favorite himbo cinnamon roll provided much needed comedic relief when exploring the other darker parts of magic. Ami was an interesting character, and her relationship with her father was beautifully explored and resolved.

My main (nitpicky) point against this book is Beast as a character. I found him to be a little self-absorbed and immature, and some of the emotional developments of the characters seemed a bit one-dimensional/naive. But considering how this is a YA, I think its rather par for the course. YA characters do tend to lack emotional nuance. Since their entire plotlines revolve around discovering their identity, this was a point I could easily concede.

Overall a really well-written book, would definitely recommend.

3.5/4
This story has so much promise but I don't think the author's writing style is for me anymore. This story has multiple points of view and brings Ami into the mix of Zhara's story. Zhara's pov is a lot more tolerable with less 'good-look giggles' references in the story which I absolutely hated in the first book. Ami seems to be a more mature and well thought out character. The plot line was interesting but it got a little boring that I once again started to skim the story to get back to actually something happening. It's bringing an interesting set up to what I think will be the final book.

Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read this e-arc. This is my honest opinion.

Ami is the second book in the Guardians of Dawn series, where classic fairy tales meet Sailor Moon in a traditional Asian fantasy world.

Li Ami has always been different. Her intelligence, awkward social skills, and unique magic made her seem standoffish and created a distance between herself and the world around her. Forced to flee with her father to the western edges of the Morning Realms, Ami finds herself using her skills with languages to translate an ancient book of magic, one that will reveal the truth about Ami's true nature and the demon threat that has arisen in the world.

Although this is Ami's book, there are three main POVs: Ami, Zhara, and Gaden. Zhara is the Guardian of Fire, and she's much more confident in her destiny than she was in the previous book of the series. Having Zhara as a large part of the story makes things feel more cohesive while also giving Ami someone to befriend and rely on as she learns of and has to quickly accept her destiny as the Guardian of Wood. Ami's POV does a fantastic job of showing how much she lives her head and how that makes it hard for her to connect with others. Her friendship with Gaden is established early in the story, and I love the way the relationship between these two develops, both before and after their true natures are discovered; both characters accept each other's differences and do their best to make the other feel truly seen and heard. Gaden has their own secrets, and the reveal is not entirely unexpected, but it's done well and will play a major role in the upcoming books.

As far as romance, Zhara and Han have some ups and downs until they finally discuss the nature of their relationship, but the flirting and sweetness is still on point. Ami and Gaden have a slow-burn romance with many things still needing to be worked out at the end of the story. The LGBTQ rep is still strong, and the use of the Asian use of the ungendered third-person pronoun make this aspect feel more subtle and in keeping with the culture of the fantasy world.

There are many new characters introduced in Ami, and I'm sure we'll see most of them again as the crew continues on their quest to find the final Guardian and defeat the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons.

Although more serious in tone than its predecessor and with a bit of an abrupt ending, Ami is a wonderful continuation of this series and has all the Sailor Mercury vibes you could want. I can't wait to read the rest of this series!

Rating: 3.7 stars (rounded up to 4 stars)

The second installment in the “Guardians of Dawn” series is filled with more action and adventure. Although the tone is a bit more serious, there is still a good balance of light-heartedness and humor. In this novel, the world building definitely gets more intricate. The plot is a little bit darker since the story revolves around the mystery of demonic infection and the undead. We also learn more about the prophecy, the Guardians of the Dawn, and the Star of Radiance, as we collect more pieces from the book of “Song of Order and Chaos.” There is also a political subplot involving The Herald of Glorious Justice, which is a rebellious fraction believing in the liberation of magicians by any means.

As you can see the story has more depth, but not only that, the characters are more diverse and also well developed. I loved the neurodivergent and nonbinary representation with Ami and Gaden’s character. Ami, is often described as eccentric and different. She has a hard time communicating her emotions. She definitely finds more comfort in learning from books than real life. People have often made her feel like an outcast and that her feelings are wrong, so it was really rewarding to watch her grow into her own person, build friendship, and find love with Gaden. Gaden’s storyline was very interesting. They want the freedom to choose who they are vs what other people want them to be. Similar to Ami, I loved Gaden’s journey as they struggle to hold on to themselves under the burden of their destiny. Zhara, I didn’t really care for her much in book one. However, I loved her maturity in this book, especially during the interactions with the other guardians. As for Han, he brings such comic relief and humor that I just love him.

I think this sequel definitely stepped up from book one. I definitely felt that there was a bond and friendship forming between the guardians. However, one thing I did struggle with in this novel was the magic system. In the novel we learned about each of the Guardians power as explained by the “Song of Order and Chaos.” However, when these powers are applied throughout the story, it just didn’t make sense. Example, Guardian of Wood is able to grant life where there is none. During a scene where she is healing a magician from the infection, the magician ends up dying. However, when she heals a non-magician from the infirmary scene, they survive. What is even more confusing is towards the end, she heals a non-magician, who ends up dying (similar to the magician), but then is able to bring back to life. This than brings up questions, why does her healing kill certain people but not others? Why isn’t she able to bring back the other dead characters in the story? The principles behind the magic just seems very inconsistent. There is no constraint or limits which than brings into questions some of the plot lines. Also, I felt the Guardian of the Wood’s celestial companion was underutilized. It was mention they have the power to heal all illness, but we never see that in the story.

Overall, I had a lot of fun reading this novel. I thought it was a great continuation of the “Guardian of Dawn” series. I definitely loved the development of the characters and the relationships. I do hope the magic does become more defined and that the mythical creature play more of an active role later on in the series. However, I do love the direction that the story is heading, so I am excited to continue with this series and I can’t wait to meet the other Guardians.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was engaging and exciting, it has deep themes that I really enjoyed. Pacing was great, this kept my engaged from page 1.

I was over the moon excited to dive into the second installment of the "Guardians of Dawn" series, especially after being enchanted by the first book. 🌙 As a die-hard Sailor Moon fan sporting tattoos of Wicked Lady and the iconic moon herself, the series' nods to my favorite anime were an irresistible pull.

"Ami" by S. Jae-Jones continues the fantastical journey set forth in "Zhara," blending Asian folklore with a dash of Beauty and the Beast charm. 📚 Jae-Jones weaves a spellbinding tale, whisking readers away with her lush descriptions and immersive worldbuilding. While the first book laid the groundwork, "Ami" expands the universe with gusto, introducing captivating new characters like Ami herself.

The sequel brims with fresh allies, formidable foes, and enough magic and mayhem to keep any fantasy lover spellbound. 💫 And let's not forget the delightful blend of Beauty and the Beast meets Sailor Moon vibes that infuse this sequel with brilliance, humor, and intrigue. So, grab your tiara and prepare for another enchanting adventure! 🌟

I was very impatient for this book to be published. I had loved Zhara, but with how it ended, I needed to know more about the characters, the world, the romance, and everything else connected with this world. Surprisingly, I was surprised when the publisher sent me a widget. Why was I surprised? Well, I thought the book would be published next year (and that was my assumption). Then, I was thrilled. I was curious who the Guardian of Wood was. Well, Ami more than answered my questions. But it also raised new ones, which I am sure will be answered in the next book.

Ami is the second book in the Guardian of Dawn series. It cannot be read as a standalone; you need to read book 1 to understand the backstory and events that lead into book 2.

Ami’s main storyline is centered around Li Ami and Jin Zhara. The storyline with Li Ami did make me sad. Ami had to deal with so much (her mentally ill father, her magic, and her feelings of inadequacy). She worked hard to overcome her feelings, tried her hardest to suppress her magic, and cared for and shielded her father. Ami even pleaded to take his punishment (when he stole a branch from the Pilar). By the middle of her plotline, though, I began to see the girl she’d become at the end of the book. She became more assertive and less shy but still suppressed her magic. It wasn’t until the end of the book that her full character emerged, and I loved her.

The plotline with Zhara was interesting. Her travels with the Bangtan brothers and Han (her love interest) were a little more exciting than Ami’s. In this storyline, the zombies were first shown in action, and a possible explanation was given for why they were being created. Yuli (the Guardian of the Wind) did make appearances (Zhara is her BFF), but she was dealing with a whole lot of shit at home.

Ami and Zahara’s storylines merge a little after the middle of the book. I liked the instant connection that they both felt to each other. But I liked the most that Zhara took the time to get to know Ami and her companions. She also doesn’t push Ami past her comfort zone but stresses the importance of their mission (to find and stop the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons, to stop the zombies, and to heal the Pilar).

I did like the LGBTQ+/nuerodivergent rep that the author incorporated into Ami. The book has autistic, lesbian, nonbinary, and asexual characters. The author did a great job of introducing and portraying those characters and the people around them. I felt nothing was forced or fake, and she didn’t play into stereotypes.

The fantasy angle of the book was well written. Ami, Zhara, and Yuli’s powers were enough to keep me reading. But then she added the other fantasy elements, and I was hooked. The whole zombie sub-storyline was interesting, as was how they were created (the explanation is wild). I also absolutely loved the storyline to save the Pilar (and what was eventually revealed). I also was curious about Gaden’s magic and how they used it. It was introduced mid-book and did cause Gaden some issues with Ami (and the rest of the group).

There is a romance angle in Ami. There were two. Zhara and Han’s romance continues in this book. Gaden and Ami’s romance, which made my day when I read it, was pure and sweet, and it was what I wanted to read in a fantasy book. Because of their scars, Gaden didn’t think they were worthy of love. That was until Ami saw beyond the scar to the person underneath.

There are a few twists in Ami that raised my eyebrows. The first is the confession of Ami’s father while he was in his right mind. That confession explains a lot about the Guardians and what Ami had to keep her power hidden. The second was about Gaden, and that caught me by surprise. I was not expecting Gaden’s true identity to be what it was. I also wasn’t expecting (even though, in hindsight, it did make sense) Gaden’s utter lack of caring about their true identity. There is a twist about the portal and the Pilar and Gaden’s connection to both.

I had mixed feelings about the end of Ami. On one hand, I was pleased with how everything turned out for this book. I liked that the Guardians (with Yuli being there in spirit, literally) were able to resolve the issue of the zombies and how they were being created. But on the other hand, I really wanted Yuli to be there in person. I was also very curious about the Guardian of Water because that epilogue wasn’t enough.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, NetGalley, and S. Jae-Jones for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Ami. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

This was book two in the guardians of Dawn series. I had to read the first book before I could read this ARC and I’m so glad I stumbled across this author. This story is so good! She did A fantastic job with Book one so I was very excited to start reading book 2! This book did not disappoint! Ami’s story was so good and you get to hear from your favorite characters from Book one as well. There was a twist there at the end I didn’t see coming good job! I will definitely be looking out for the rest of the series!

I read the first book and absolutely loved it so when I saw this one I knew I needed to request it IMMEDIATELY. If you loved the spellbinding magic and fierce battles in the first book of the Guardians of Dawn series, brace yourself for the next thrilling installment: "Guardians of Dawn: Ami." This time, we dive into the life of Li Ami, an exile caring for her troubled father whose prophetic ramblings hint at looming doom. When her father is imprisoned, Ami must prove her worth by tackling a mysterious blight, drawing her into a dangerous quest alongside the fiery Guardian of Fire, Jin Zhara. The stakes? Only the fate of the Morning Realms as they face a rising undead threat and the dark power of the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons. The lush world-building, intense romance, and high-stakes adventure will keep you glued to the pages. Don’t miss out on this heart-pounding continuation that masterfully blends magic, mythology, and a race against time.

**Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC**

When Chaos overruns Order,and balance must be restored, the Guardians of Dawn are Reborn.
Ami has always been seen as odd, her magic aside, she finds comfort in plants and languages. People on the other hand are an entirely different matter. When her father gets himself in a heap of trouble, Ami must do what she can to protect him, even if that means trusting a "Beast". Gaden, the "Beast" of Kalantze has many secrets they would rather kept hidden, but unforeseen events make it necessary for them to seek Ami's knowledge of language in exchange for sparing her father. Meanwhile, Zhara and Han are on the search for Ami and her father, in order to get what knowledge they may have in order for the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons to be defeated. Along the way they face abominations, undead, and forces unknown.

****4.75****In my opinion this was a really strong second book. While you are getting perspective from Ami in this book, you do still get continuation of Zhara's, from where her book left off, as well. Also, love how the author was able to wrap up the subplot for this book, while still adding to the overarching series plot. Appreciate the nods that have been made to classic fairytales in each book so far(Zhara-Cinderella, Ami- Beauty and the Beast). Has great LGBTQ+ rep. If you are looking for a fast-paced YA fantasy series, with elements of action, adventure, animal friends, found family, magic, and a little sprinkle of romance, then I highly recommend picking up the Guardians Of Dawn series by S. Jae Jones.

3.5 out of 5 Stars

A great sequel that lived that liv d up to the potential of the first one.

Thank you Netgalley for the E-Arc.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Disclaimer: I have not read any of the other books in this series or by this author so that might be why it was hard for me to get into this book.

I enjoyed the concept and the characters a lot. But I felt like this book read really young at times and then felt very complicated at the same time.

It took me a really long time to get into this book and there were so many characters it became confusing. Also there were numerous times where I didn't know that the POV had changed right away.

2.75 star read for me.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc of this book. all opinions are my own.

I will post my full review once SMP address the insensitive comments of their employee.

2.5 rounded up.

First off, thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I listened to Zhara at the end of 2023 and felt it was a bit on the younger side of YA, so I didn’t go into this one expecting it to blow my mind. Ami to me, started off strong and I thought I was going to be pleasantly surprised, but now I’m not sure. It def feels like it’s suffering from second book syndrome to me.

Ami herself is a really interesting character and I really loved her dynamic with the others. I also really like the introduction of Gaden and the diversity brought with them. I’m excited to see both of the these characters while I’m still deciding whether or not to read the next one, which I’m assuming will be titled Yuli.

Now for the things I didn’t like. Again I do feel like the writing is a bit young for me and I feel like this one got second book syndrome. But there were a lot of plot holes and points that I felt weren’t expanded upon or corrected bc this book has so much going on in it.

When you’re going to have a big surprise about a character then don’t telegraph it to the point where the big reveal twenty chapters later is a flop. I think the reveal would’ve been better off being kept to Ami alone and the others figuring it out in the next book. Also if there was a way to, again, not telegraph it that’d be cool.

The name of the bad guy in this one was a bit silly, but also a funny use of the anagram trope.

Towards the end I was a bit bewildered that Zhara had so many crystals with her. Like I get she took three or four, but it felt like it was suddenly she had a whole trove and I missed something. She’s not described with having a bag usually.

Then there was the whole “thank you for leading us” when she didn’t really do much other than look to other people for help. She still felt like the silly girl from book one.

Idk maybe it’s just mean of me to think this one needed another round of editing. There were some frantically errors as well, but nothing earth shattering.

Anyway I’m finished this book after a month and it’s late, I might add more later as it comes to me.

This sequel hit HARD. The plot made me go wild with shock and I still think I'm dealing with whiplash. Characters all still had their same personalities, but underwent some changes throughout the length of the book. First of all, the relationship made it through, which is a miracle, and we saw another romance blossom between two wildly different people. S. Jae-Jones went hard on this one, and nothing and no one can tell me otherwise. Though, the book would have been better if we saw less kidnapping and less stereotypical plot points. I'm not saying that the plot was bad, it was great, but just some recommendations for the future when the author writes the third book because the series can't end here. It's too juicy at this point. Would recommend to some select people, but not all book readers. Mostly people who like a good juicy plot with a buttload of fiction. Overall good book.