Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-ARC! I will be reviewing and/or showcasing this book on my social media accounts when I can. Thanks again very much appreciated and looking forward to this book!

The marketing for this book made me very excited to read it. Anything related to Cinder, Sailor Moon, etc is going to get me hyped. The actual book not so much. As soon as I saw reviews about the book claiming it read like a lower middle grade and was meh, I knew it wasn't going to be for me nor what I expected. This ended up being a DNF.

Zhara serves as a good introduction to what has the potential to be a great series. There were some fumbles, particularly in the writing of some secondary characters, but many more wins. That said, one of the most enjoyable aspects of this book was the ambience. While not wildly unique, the magic and the world felt real to me in an enjoyable way. Jones's inspiration from manga was evident, and there were also plenty of K-drama vibes.

Zhara was feminine and young in ways that I am a reader am not necessarily, which at times made her hard to relate to. I often found myself relating to Han's companion (apologies, as I am writing this I am not able to immediately recall their name). I hope to find more that I can relate to in the sequel, Ami. Even then, I expect to enjoy the series for what it is and intended to be. I source of joy.

Special thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an eARC. The full and final review will be available on Geekyst on March 29, 2024

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.

To be frank, I DNF this book. I’ve read plenty of YA fantasy and know that just because it’s YA doesn’t mean it has to read to the humor of a preteen child. It felt as if it was trying to read as high fantasy with the world building, but the writing style counteracted that effort. The cover art is beautiful and the title was engaging. Unfortunately those surface level made expectations were not met for me. I’d say if a much younger individual is starting out in fantasy this could be a good start for them with some humor thrown in- but as a teenager to adult I would not recommend

Conceptually, this is good and has a lot of potential.

The reality: this wasn't executed well. Too many characters and not enough development of who the characters were. They all felt very one dimensional and that made it difficult to enjoy the story that was being told.

I did not enjoy S. Jae Jones’s debut novel Wintersong, but I was excited to give her a second chance with her new Guardians of Dawn series. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t get into this one either. Her writing style is not particularly for me, and the pacing of her novels are slower than my usual tastes. Very disappointing.

3/5 Stars

I've been waiting for this book for a while. I loved S. Jae-Jones Wintersong duology. While I liked some aspects of this book, it wasn't my favorite. While I still very much enjoyed the writing I just found that I wasn't that interested in the characters or invested in what was happening in their lives. I just found that I would lose interest in what I was reading within minutes of picking it up. This could very well be a me issue and not an issue with the actual book, but unfortunately, it did affect my enjoyment. Overall it was just an okay read for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

This was perfectly fine. The description calls it a mix of Sailor Moon and Cinder but I'm not familiar with either of them. However, I did get a slight Cinderella retelling, which I'm guessing is where the Cinder read-alike is coming from. Jones isn't breaking any molds with this story but I always enjoy Asian-inspired fantasies. The characters were enjoyable, yet predictable, but narrator Katharine Chin did an excellent job making them believable.

This book had a very interesting magic system, but I found it to be one of those YA books that was less interesting to me as an adult reader.

I, like many Sailor Moon fans, have been eagerly awaiting this title ever since the author mentioned they were working on a Sailor Moon inspired fantasy. So when I got the chance to request an ARC of Zhara, I leapt at the chance. And while the tone was a little younger than what I typically look for in young adult, but the story was fun and the Sailor Moon vibes were hitting all the right notes. I'm very excited to pick up the sequel!

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for granting me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed S Jae Jones Wintersong books, so was very curious to see where this book would take me. I enjoyed the Cinderella and Sailor Moon vibe of this story. 4 stars out of 5.

Zhara has magic, but a magic that is public. In a world where people with magic are being targeted with some type of sickness, she has to be careful. Yet, it's her magic that holds a key to this sickness.

This was a very fast read with some twists here and there. I wonder how the rest of the story will play out.

When I first read the premise of the book, I was immediately captivated and couldn't wait to pick it up. The concept was unique and intriguing, promising a thrilling and unpredictable journey. As I started reading, the twists and turns kept me on my feet, constantly guessing what would happen next. The plot was well-crafted, filled with suspense and mystery. However, I did struggle to fully immerse myself in the story. The voice of the narrative felt distant, and it was challenging to feel grounded at first. Despite this, the gripping storyline and constant surprises made it difficult to put the book down.

Zhara, the sweet and relatable protagonist, was charming with her genuine and kindhearted nature. Her experiences and struggles elicited empathy, making her incredibly easy to root for. As for Han, her love interest, his complex and intriguing persona drew me in from the very beginning. The chemistry between Zhara and Han was undeniable, sparking electricity and creating captivating moments throughout the story. Furthermore, the book featured a delightful cast of secondary characters.

The book description immediately gripped me with its promises of intricate world building and a unique magic system. As I delved into the novel, I was captivated by the author's ability to seamlessly integrate folklore and magic, creating a tapestry of enchantment that served as the very foundation of the story's time and place. The world building was meticulous and immersive, transporting me to a realm where magic thrived and shaped the lives of its inhabitants. The magic system, in particular, exuded a sense of authenticity and significance, not merely serving as a tool for escapism, but as a fundamental force that dictated the characters' actions and the trajectory of the plot.

Guardians of the Dawn: Zhara is the first book in S. Jae-Jones’s new Guardians of the Dawn series. Although I was initially disconnected from the story, the intriguing premise and unexpected plot twists quickly drew me into the narrative. The two main characters were both charming and captivating, their chemistry making them enjoyable to follow throughout the book. However, what truly stood out to me was the captivating world building. The author masterfully integrated the magic system into the setting, creating a fascinating and immersive environment. I recommend this book for fans of Marissa Meyer and other fast-paced YA fantasy sagas. I’ll definitly be looking forward to the next book in the series.

This book is so warm! I felt the world building a little difficult to follow but that could also be just having a harder time following world building with the reading mood Im in! overall though the vibes of this book are very cute!

i really enjoyed the magic system and complex world building that this book had to offer. i’m a huge fan of the lunar chronicles and fairytale retellings (evidently) so i was pretty much immediately hooked. for a ya fantasy, i was surprised how the writing style and the jokes seemed directed towards a younger audience, but it didn’t take away from the story too much in my opinion. thank you netgalley for the arc!

I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The premise behind this book is an exciting one but the execution and pacing unfortunately fell short to me. Perhaps it was the comparison to Cinder, part of a favorite series of mine, but it set high expectations. Zhara is industriously trying to provide for her family in an Asian-inspired fantasy setting and in that sense I can see the inspiration from Cinder. However unfortunately the writing seemed to drag and it didn't resonate with me.

Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for providing me with an e-ARC to review. All opinions are honest and my own.

The cover of this book and the comparison to Sailor Moon instantly hooked me. I think this book started off strong, with a unique premise and a looming conflict, swarming with hidden powers and secret identities. However, I found that the pacing quickly devolved into a slog. Which was curious, because this story had all the makings for a compelling and adventurous story, however the execution was lacking. It's like the ideas were too grandiose for the author and she could not balance the multitude of elements she was working to incorporate within. This was disappointing, as I have read previous works from this author which showed her writing prowess, but this one did not hold up to the mantle. The redeeming element for me was the relationship between the Crown Prince and his younger brother. I typically gravitate towards a caring, and genuine sibling relationship and their love for each other was a great light in the story.

I do intend to pick up the sequel, because I am curious about what happens next and want to see if the writing tightens up in later installments.

I absolutely loved this. I will read anything by this author. Her books are always amazing! I eagerly await part 2

**Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the eARC. This in no way affected my review**

I loved Zhara and can't wait for book two in the series. I think the comparison between Cinder and Sailor Moon was spot on, so if you like one or both of those franchises, you'll probably like this. The characters are rich and the world building was so interesting to me. I listened to the audio from Libro.FM, as well, and that was also well done and interesting to listen to. I cannot wait to see Ami's book as it's hinted that it will be Beauty & the Beast inspired and that is a departure from the options in Cinder's series. I also like that the guardians are elemental based, which gives me hope the water guardian might be Little Mermaid! The only thing that was a throw-off for me was that the author is a HUGE army and wrote in a Fantasy version of BTS into the story. They became progressively a larger part of the story and that didn't feel needed to me. I think they could've just been a fun easter egg.

Overall, recommend and will definitely be reading book 2!