In Guardians of Dawn: Yuli by S. Jae-Jones, the story unfolds in a richly imagined, Asian-inspired fantasy world where magic is forbidden. Princess Yulana, known as Yuli, must contend with the weight of her grandmother's legacy—a heritage steeped in mysterious powers that the empire seeks to suppress. As Yuli's abilities awaken, she becomes a pivotal figure in the rebellion against the empire's tyranny. Alongside allies who each harbor their own secrets and strengths, Yuli navigates a dangerous path filled with betrayal, intrigue, and sacrifice. This third installment in the Guardians of Dawn series beautifully interweaves themes of resilience, identity, and the fight for justice, offering readers a gripping and thought-provoking adventure.

Book three in the Guardians of Dawn series really kicks things up a notch. The world is still just as rich, and the character growth continues to be one of the best parts.

It definitely felt heavier and more intense than the first two, though maybe not as tightly put together. The multiple POVs got a little confusing here and there, but I loved how the trials brought Yuli and Kho closer. Not my favorite of the series so far, but still really good and kept me invested.

A genuinely fun series. Do not seek grimdark here. It’s funny, it blends action and romance, and it fully has my attention wanting to know what comes next.

The guardians are almost all together as a group, like we’re really close to the big boss battle. The narrative does recap some exposition. I needed that (poor short term memory), but I know that some readers find that annoying. 

Another caveat is that there is lots of “telling”, but there is also an expansion of mesmerizing world-building. The book is great at “set dressing.” Every setting had its own characteristics, culture, weather, vibes, etc. We get to see the North in this one, where vies for power are fracturing the aristocracy.

We get to see how our characters see themselves and see others, such as each Guardian thinking they’re the worst one, that the others have cooler powers and better personalities. There are more POVs in this one, so if that’s not your thing, just warning you.

My favorite element of the book is its humor. Funny interactions between characters. Subtle modern pop culture references: the totally-not-BTS Bangtam Brothers, references to Squid Game and those Korean sweets, and I swear there were others, those are just the two I made note of.

There is awkward wording in the ebook ARC I read (so not the final printed version) regarding the one explicitly Black character, usually referring to him as “black-skinned” with few other descriptors. It feels weird, maybe a little racist. It’s definitely not intended racism, and the narrative doesn’t include anything racist. It would be an easy fix for editing.

The story ends on a massive cliff hanger, but it also feels like a complete story told. I can’t wait for the finale. 

A highly subjective 9/10. Still an enjoyable read for everyone else.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

Guardians of Dawn: Yuli is the third book in the Guardians of Dawn series by S. Jae-Jones. I found it a little more difficult to get into compared to the first two, but I think that it is building up for the fourth book in the series. Some of the settings are great, and it really has the “magical girl” style, though the political intrigue didn’t quite work for me. I feel this book is more setting the stage for the fourth. As a side note, I was introduced to this series from Illumicrate, and the physical books for this series are so lovely. Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and S. Jae-Jones for a copy of this ARC.

This series is such a delight and this next installment is even better than it's predecessor! I love the characters and the magic system and I can't wait for the next one!

Another wonderful installment for the Guardians of Dawn series. Can't wait to see how this come together in the final book of the quartet (which I hope is the last because my heart can't take it anymore!!)

The third in the Guardians of Dawn series felt lacking. From the synopsis, I expected more about the Grand Game. And then the end felt rushed. I'll keep reading because I need to know who the Guardian of Wind will be.

Amazing third book in the series! It has everything I loved about the first two but so much more. So emotional!

While *Guardian of Wind* continues the sweeping fantasy narrative of *The Guardians of Dawn* series, it struggles under the weight of its own world-building and political intrigue—an issue that feels particularly frustrating given that this is the third installment. Rather than building on the momentum of previous books, a significant portion of the story is dedicated to explaining the empire’s political structure, court dynamics, and historical context, often at the expense of character development and plot progression.

Yulana’s struggles—ranging from the civil war to the supernatural threats—should provide a compelling foundation for the narrative, but much of the book is bogged down in the mechanics of governance rather than the emotional stakes of her journey. While some readers may appreciate the depth of the world-building, it often feels like the story pauses to deliver dense exposition, making the pacing drag. Given that this is book three, one would expect the political and historical framework to be more integrated into the action rather than repeatedly re-explained.

The Grand Game, which should be a thrilling, high-stakes competition, is undermined by its own complexity. Instead of offering a tightly woven, suspenseful conflict, the competition often feels secondary to prolonged discussions of alliances, treaties, and bureaucratic maneuvering. Yulana’s relationship with Kho—one of the most intriguing elements of the book—is unfortunately sidelined in favor of more political posturing, leaving emotional beats underdeveloped.

The novel does have its strengths—Jae-Jones’ prose remains evocative, and the blend of mythology and political fantasy is ambitious—but *Guardian of Wind* ultimately feels more like an extended history lesson than a climactic continuation of an epic saga. For readers already invested in the series, it may still be rewarding, but those looking for a more balanced mix of action, character depth, and world-building may find themselves wading through too much setup with too little payoff.

This is boo. 3 in a series and I highly recommend reading the other 2 first. It continues where they leave off and there are lots of details and relationships that are needed to understand what is going on in this book. Its well written and is a great magical girl ya story with inclusivity and lots of representation

This book continues on the guardians of downs journey. You get to see a lot more of past characters in this book more about what’s going on with some characters that you don’t get to follow. Which was very enjoyable for me. Especially since I’m attached to some of the characters from the first book. This book has it action pack scenes and unbelievable choices that the characters must make.

I rated 4.5 stars and rounded up to 5 stars.

This was a great continuation of the series. Three of the four Guardians are together to fight off another high demon in the north, where Princess Yuli lives. I really enjoy how they help each other and are researching ways to fight the demons and help their people. The politics in each region are getting more fraught with tension as the leaders are dying off and the Sunburst Throne is vacant without a known heir.

I love the Sailor Moon vibes and the beast companions. I also like how each high demon has a Guardian that can defeat them so each Guardian's power is important, while working well together. Overall, I really enjoy this YA series and cannot wait for the fourth book to come out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

S. Jae-Jones delivers a mesmerizing fantasy in Guardians of Dawn: Yuli, filled with magic, adventure, and heart. The world-building is rich, the stakes are high, and Yuli is the kind of protagonist you can’t help but root for. If you love epic adventures with a touch of myth and wonder, this one’s for you.

A short disclaimer: Guardians of Dawn: Yuli is the third in a series - there will be spoilers for books 1 and 2 ahead, and I also do not advise reading this book as a standalone. Certain plot points, relationships, and worldbuilding elements rely heavily on an understanding of the previous 2 books. Disclaimer over - now I can gush about how much I loved this book.

After cherishing cameos from Princess Yulana, aka Yuli, in both the previous books, I was so thrilled to see her have her own adventures and romance in the third installment of Guardians of Dawn. Yuli is a strong heroine, a warrior inside and out, and someone who cares deeply about her friends. She's a delightful main character and can more than carry her own book (something I had struggled with a bit in Zhara's book). Kho, Yuli's love interest, is her former friend and the daughter of a rival clan leader; their paths unexpectedly cross again when the patriarch of the five ruling families dies, and a competition (The Grand Game) is called to determine who shall take the throne next. As daughters of the two strongest contenders, Yuli and Kho must endure three trials--one physical, one mental, and one spiritual--to determine who is most fit to take the throne. That alone is enough plot to carry the book, but intertwining with the Great Game plotline is the other side of Yuli's life--the Guardian side. While Yuli is trying desperately to win the Grand Game, she's also trying to figure out the mysterious sickness plaguing her continent: the Waking Dreamer sickness. As the Guardian of Wind, only Yuli can see that those afflicted by this sickness have become empty vessels, their souls wandering untethered from their bodies like ghosts. But why is this? And could this mysterious affliction be connected to the Moth Demon, the next villain the Guardians know they must defeat?

Like in previous installments, I think S. Jae-Jones does a great job of balancing the multiple plotlines and the multiple POV characters. As in Guardians of Dawn: Ami, the other Guardians get a few chapters here and there, but the majority of the book is spent on Yuli and Kho, and I like both of them a lot. Their arcs are beautifully done, and I especially like Kho's tangled relationships with her family. Although her family's tie-in to the larger plot is a bit obvious, I thought the arc itself was fantastic. Being someone who really, really likes plague books, I absolutely ate up the Waking Dreamer sickness scenes, and I enjoyed the twist with those as well. I really like how the series is progressing in terms of each individual book's Demon, and their connection to the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons (who I assume is Book 4's villain).

For me, the biggest weakness here is I wanted so much more from the romance. It's not bad by a long stretch, but I guess I just wish the characters had spent more time on the page together -- of the 3 main couples in the series, I'd say that Yuli and Kho were physically with each other the least, although they do have the most history as childhood friends/rivals. I feel like the book would've actually benefited from being longer, just so there's more room for the romance -- it's tautly plotted in every other aspect, so I can't even say that something should get cut. That is such a little nitpick, though.

I know reviews for this series are kind of inconsistent, but I've found myself consistently enjoying every book. It's not a perfect series, not by far, but it perfectly fills that Magical Girl niche that YA is seriously lacking. As someone who grew up on Sailor Moon, Winx, and W.I.T.C.H, this feels nostalgic in all the right ways, and reading a few chapters after a rough day totally transported me to the Guradians' world.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books, and S. Jae-Jones for gifting me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review! I really love how this series is shaping up and cannot wait until we get to meet (fingers crossed) the Guardian of Water in Book 4.

This is the third book in the series. I liked it but it was not the best fantasy book ever. It felt very flat and a little bit boring.

This book is fantastic! Even though I hadn’t read the first two installments of the Guardians of Dawn series, I was immediately drawn into the intricate world and compelling characters. While I could tell this was part of a larger ongoing story, the writing was so immersive that I still found myself deeply invested in the narrative. That said, I would highly recommend starting from book one to fully grasp the depth of the storyline and character arcs.

The world-building in this book is lush and intricate, bringing the Morning Realms to life with vivid descriptions and a rich history that feels essential to the story. The balance of good versus evil is a major theme, and the way it plays out through elemental warriors and ancient demons makes for an intense and thrilling read.

Yuli’s journey is especially compelling—she’s not just facing external threats but also wrestling with her own insecurities and the enormous burden of restoring balance to a fractured world. The dynamic between Yuli and Kho adds another layer of complexity to the story. Their history is steeped in rivalry and tension, making their interactions unpredictable and emotionally charged. The political intrigue woven throughout the book adds even more depth, keeping me engaged from start to finish.

One of the things I appreciated most about this book was its diversity and inclusion. The cast of characters is vibrant and unique, with each guardian bringing something different to the table. Despite their incredible strength and abilities, they remain deeply human, struggling with personal conflicts that make them feel real and relatable.

At times, I did feel a bit lost due to the multiple POVs and the ongoing nature of the story, but the writing is strong and descriptive, making it easier to follow along. I can only imagine how much more rewarding this book would be for those who have been following the series from the beginning!

Overall, this is an excellent read for fans of Asian-inspired fantasy with high-stakes action, compelling characters, and a richly developed world.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I didn't know this was a book in a series when I started reading it which is on me but I ended up really enjoying it despite my initial confusion about the identity of characters and how their relationships worked. It's a charming, magical book full of fun characters like Yuli and Kho, especially Yuli who is such a brave and compassionate main characters. I love the Asian mythology inspired world building in this and the stakes feel high. The ending is devastating but leaves room for the next book to be even more epic, Thank you for the ARC!

Book 3 of the Guardians of Dawn Series - continues the story from the previous two books and is not a standalone but rather a continuation. Youll be confused if you haven’t read them and I also think wouldn’t understand the depth of the story line. This series and this specific book are Asian inspired fantasy about elemental warriors in a world divided fighting against ancient demons. The balance of Good vs Evil. Ultimately I really did enjoy this story line, but at times was a bit confused as there seems to be a lot going on and multiple POV. But it was really well written and very descriptive. I found this specific book to have a lot of inclusion, which was really nice to see incorporated. I especially liked that all the guardians although are very important, are also different with their own uniqueness. I love that despite how strong they are, they still remain so very human. If you’ve read the first time, definitely keep continuing! Zhara, Ami and Yuli – cant wait for the next! Thanks to Netgalley for this opportunity to read this as an ARC!

Having read Zhara and loving it, and then reading Ami and liking it but not as much as Zhara, I was excited to read the third book in the Guardians of Dawn series!

The writing of this book matches the intended audience perfectly, which is something that not every YA book is able to do. Yuli is probably my second favorite book in the series now. I loved reading more about Yuli's life and especially her relationship with Kho. I love the world-building and it makes the story feel so vivid and intriguing from the start. There are now quite a few POVs to follow, which would be my main complaint, but I do like that we return to the POV of the previous characters.

Yuli was such a fun book with high stakes that contributed a lot to the continuation of the Guardians of Dawn world. I'm definitely looking forwards to seeing this series continue!