Guardians of Dawn: Zhara by S. Jae-Jones
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Zhara is a magician hiding in Morning Realms where Magic is forbidden. One day she meets a handsome young man named Han, she accidentally takes home the book he purchased and it sets her on a dangerous path to learning more about Magic and why it is forbidden.
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Ok so the premise and idea for this book and series is really cool. People who have magic have to hide it. There is an underground group who are trying to change that. It’s like if Cinderella was set in Asia, with magic and a corrupt government.

But I just struggled to enjoy it still.

Zhara kept making these unwise decisions and stressing me out.
I DESPISED her stepmother.
Her sister made me want to punch myself in the face.
Towards the end people kept saying “I am SO sorry” and THEY WERE NOT EVEN THE LEAST BIT SORRY. I was losing my mind.
From almost the beginning someone told Zhara who she was and then at the end she was like, wait, who am I?!? 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

But I loved the cat. He was my favorite part.
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3⭐️⭐️⭐️ I wanted to love this book, it had so much promise but it fell short of my mark and was just ok.

really good book and kept me on my on my toes of what would happen. really enjoyed the characters and their journey and would read this author again.

A swing and a miss - middle grade writing with little to no swearing but strangely frequent jokes about sex and erotic books. Rather predictable and plenty of common tropes in the YA field, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but the combination of juvenile feel and poor execution made it difficult to finish.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for an eARC of Zhara!

Romance, Magic, Sailor Moon/Cinderella VIBES! I had so much fun reading Zhara! The world building and the characters are so well written and I absolutely can’t wait for the next book!

(Also, the Illumicrate edition is TO DIE FOR!!!)

The Guardians of Dawn: Zhara, full of colorful characters and rich world building. Zhara has a full plate taking care of her sister and stepmother, while working at the apothecary. She has a forbidden magic she has to continually hide from the Falcons. She has a love of reading and is a huge fan of a popular romance series. On her way to work she runs in to Han and through a mix ends up with the book he got for himself setting. Eventually the two find the Guardians of the Dawn and begin investigation the return of monsters created by corrupting magicians.

I wanted to like this book more, but seemingly important bits were glossed over and scenes switched abruptly despite being at the end of a chapter. The story and imagery is there but the flow was very off and kept bouncing me out of the imagery. I feel it should have been longer or perhaps two books with some more closing out of scenes. Overall I would happily give a sequel a try.

I received an arc and am leaving this review of my own volition.

this was a really cute book!

thank you to the author, netgalley, and the publisher for this advanced copy to review!

This was a fun one. At first I tried to read it before bed with only one or two chapters a night, but soon it turned into me sitting and reading "just one more chapter" until I finished it.

Here is the set up: Jin Zhara does her best to be good and live quietly. Ever since she lost her parents in the purging of the Magician's as a child she does all she can to take care of her step mother and step sister. This is due to the fact that she too is a magician, and her step mother did her the kindness of hiding her as a child. So she survives - goes day by day making breakfast for the family and working in the local apothecary. Keeping her magic hidden until a demon blighted child is brought into the shop and she is pulled into a choice - to survive or to thrive.

This book is a yes if you like your chapters to end on cliffhangers, if you like magic systems that aren't necessarily all spelled out, if you like Cinderella retellings.
This book is a no if you dislike the "I can't tell them who I am" trope or if you don't like books ending on cliffhangers.

My thoughts: Cinderella generally isn't my favorite of the fairy tales however it's very lightly touched on here. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The author does a good job of weaving in the dark and light together. The idea of balance stands strong in the book and she does a good job not veering too dark or too bubbly but holding the tension nicely between the two.

What kept this as a 3.5 star for me was I was confused at times at the end. perhaps there were too many characters, or we didn't revisit the baddie enough for me to really understand them and their motivation. But I was left with many points of "huh?" though was able to keep going.

I will be looking forward to the sequel and how they work on tying everything together. From the nibble at the end of the novel perhaps beauty and the beast will be the next fairy tale retold.

Thank you Netgally and Wednesday books who gave me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Guardians of Dawn: Zhara was a fast paced and interesting YA fantasy.

Although some of the themes were quite dark, the book overall felt like younger YA - think Once Upon a Broken Heart - which I enjoy but I know some readers prefer to avoid.

The characters were young but felt realistic, and had gone through a lot both before and during the book. The magic system was intriguing and I loved how it came together - particularly magicians being able to identify each other by touch.

The conclusion of the book went quite quickly, but I enjoyed the way the epilogue set up for the events of the sequel, and I will definitely be continuing with the series in the future.

Jin Zhara’s life hasn’t been easy. Her mother died as a baby, her father was taken and killed in a purge of magicians, and she is treated horribly by Second Wife, her father’s second wife. She also has to hide that she has magical powers. Her only joy is tending to her blind younger sister, reading romance serials, and working at the apothecary shop. But that will change when she bumps into a young man named Han. Through him, Zhara discovers that a plague corrupts the magician’s powers and turns them into unrecognizable monsters. She also finds the secret organization, the Guardians of Dawn, sworn to help the surviving magicians and discover what caused the plague. Zhara doesn’t know or understand that she is instrumental in balancing order and chaos. But Zhara must learn to control her magical abilities, or the world as she knows will be lost. Can Zhara do that? Can Zhara learn to control her magical powers and save the world?

When I got the email containing the widget for Zhara, I was pleasantly surprised. I had read Wintersong a couple of years ago and enjoyed it (which, it turns out, puts me in the minority). I accepted the invitation and downloaded the book. Also, what figured into my downloading the book was that I love the mythology and lore of South Korea. Seeing that this book is loosely based on those myths and lore, I knew I needed to read it.

Before I get further into the book, I want to put up some trigger and content warnings. The warnings are:

Child abuse (off-page but prevalent. It consists of emotional, verbal, and physical)
Genocide (off-page and vividly remembered by everyone in the book)
Death of parents (Zahara’s mother died of a fever when she was a baby, and her father was killed in the genocide of the magicians in the land. Han’s mother was also killed during that same genocide)
Possession (on and off page. Demons possess the living bodies of magicians and transform them)
Body Horror (Zhara, without permission, used magic to try to help Suzhan (her stepsister). Instead, she ended up blinding her sister)
Abelism (Second Wife shames Suzhan constantly for being blind. Suzhan’s suitors discard her after discovering she is blind.)
If any of these trigger you, I suggest not reading the book.

Zhara is the first book in the Guardians of Dawn series. Here is where I post if this book is a standalone or if you need to read the other books in the series. But since this is the first book in a new series, you can disregard anything I usually say.

The author has a forward explaining how this book is loosely based on Korean mythology and lore. She also apologizes for any inconsistencies that arise because of it. It was a very tongue-in-cheek forward, and it did make me smile.

There are three storylines in Zhara. One follows Zhara, her introduction to the Guardians of Dawn, and her home life. The other storyline follows Han and his search for a book, Songs of Order and Chaos, and the shenanigans he and Xu get into. Towards the middle of the book, Han and Zhara’s storylines merge, following them as they look for a cure for the plague and figure out who was behind it. All of these storylines were wonderfully written and could keep my attention.

I loved the characters in Zhara. I found them all to be complex characters. Some of these characters had more depth, more layers, to them than what the author had written.

The storyline following Zhara, the Guardians of Dawn, and her home life broke my heart. I was beyond angry at Second Wife and her treatment of those girls. She kept reminding Zhara that she kept her safe from the Kestrels and that she houses and feeds her. The abuse that both Zhara and Suzhan went through (even if it wasn’t on page) was awful. But, at the same time, I liked that Zhara started to see herself as more than Second Wife’s property (even though she wasn’t). Her character growth during the book was terrific. It reached a head during the battle scene, where she faced and overcame her demons (literally).

The storyline following Han, Xu, and their shenanigans did give a bit of a comedic break between Zahra’s chapters. But, there was a darker undercurrent running underneath. Han and his brother were forced to watch their mother die because she was a magician. Before she died, Han’s mother made him promise to take care of his brother, who was a magician himself. It was a lot to put on an 11-year-old, but he did it. He ensured his brother was kept safe from the Kestrels at all costs. His friendship with Xu was one of the best I have ever read. The search for the book became a backdrop when Han and Zahara’s storyline merged.

The storyline following Han, Zhara, the plague, the reason for the plague, and the search for the book was interesting. I liked that Zhara slowly started to accept that she was worthy of her power and love. There was a part that I wasn’t fond of. It was the engagement of Han and Yuli. This brings me to another thing I didn’t like: Han keeping who he was from Zhara. It made that scene where she finds out heartbreaking.

The fantasy angle of the book was wonderful. The author created a world that, while similar to ancient Korea, was different. I liked that magic was something people were born with. I also loved that there were antimagicians. I wasn’t expecting that revelation, and who was revealed to be one.

There is an LGBTQIA rep in the book, and I loved how the author wrote those characters. Xu was gender-neutral. I loved their personality and their friendship with Han. They were like Jiminy Cricket was to Pinnochio with Han: a voice of reason. Yuli, who is introduced later in the book, is lesbian. She isn’t exactly loud and proud, but she doesn’t hide it either.

The end of Zhara was interesting. The battle scene and what happened while Zhara was in the Void was anti-climatic. But Zhara needed it. The fallout from that battle was widespread but needed. Also, something shocking happened, something that I didn’t see coming. The author did wrap up most of the storylines but left a few hanging. That makes sense if there is going to be a second book. Also, the epilogue was fascinating, and I can’t wait to find out if that person is a friend or foe.

I would recommend Zhara to anyone over 16. There is no language, but there is violence and a couple of kissing scenes. Also, see my trigger warning list.

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

This was definitely intriguing, though I think my expectations were set a little high. I did have a hard time getting into the actual story, and with there being so many characters I kept getting confused as to who was who. In any case, the story was great and I think this will be a great read for fantasy lovers. Definitely purchasing for my library!

I know the synopsis compared to Cinder and Sailor Moon but I did not get any science fiction vibes. This story came off as full fantasy. It reminded me of some other fantasy releases and think the marketing would have been better on mentioning those novels as a comparison. I kept waiting for a different element that never came. I had been waiting for this novel for about 5 years. The writing was phenomenal.

I really enjoyed this book, I knew I would like it based on the sailor moon vibes and they weren’t wrong, I enjoyed following Zhara throughout the story and I can’t wait to see what’s next.

"Guardians of Dawn: Zhara" by S. Jae-Jones is a captivating addition to the Sci-Fi & Fantasy genre, perfectly tailored for Teens & YA readers. The book's imaginative world-building and dynamic characters create an immersive experience that keeps readers hooked from start to finish. S. Jae-Jones skillfully weaves elements of adventure, magic, and friendship, making it a thrilling read for young adults. "Guardians of Dawn: Zhara" is a testament to the author's storytelling prowess, delivering a fantastical journey that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment.

I don’t know why I mistook this for middle grade when I first agreed to review it. Maybe the cover reminded me of a different middle grade title? I’m not sure. At any rate, the book page on Amazon recommends it for ages fourteen and up. I think maybe 11 or 12-year-olds could read it just fine, though.

My favorite thing about the book is definitely the way Zhara and Han relate to one another. They’re so cute. She gets all giggly, and he is so easily flustered. I loved it! I also loved Xu, Han’s best friend and often the voice of wisdom.

The story has some strong Cinderella vibes, but I wouldn’t call it a Cinderella retelling. I definitely see the comparison to CINDER— which was a Cinderella retelling couched in a story of revolution. Similarly, GUARDIANS OF THE DAWN: ZHARA follows characters through political upheaval and what could lead to revolution.

I’m super curious about what the rest of the series will be like. Will each subsequent book contain elements of a familiar fairytale, a la The Lunar Chronicles or the Everland series? I hope it does. I would love to see more East Asia-inspired remixes of fairytale stories.

All in all, I enjoyed this book a lot, especially the character interactions. I’m really eager to read more of this series.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.

I was provided both a print and audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This was a fun YA fantasy novel inspired by East Asian culture. I do believe this is the beginning of a new series by the author. This ends nicely and closes out this first adventure with Zhara and her companions, but sets us up well for the next installment. There is still much to learn about the magic and the other characters but we aren't left with a huge cliffhanger. I am interested to see where the story goes in the future.

This follows Zhara, a magician in hiding in a world where magic is forbidden. Her father was executed for being a magician and her step mother has hidden her away. She fills a sort of Cinderella role in her household doing the cooking and cleaning, but she also has a job outside of the home. Her stepmother is not a nice person and treats both Zhara and her own daughter poorly. Zhara doesn't know how to control her magic, so when she accidentally comes into contact with a secret organization that protects magicians and is trying to protect the people from a strange blight taking over the land she quickly learns that her magic might be the only thing that can save them. She also has a chance encounter with an handsome boy, who isn't who he seems. Han's little brother is also a magician, and he is seeking the help of the Guardians of Dawn, the secret organization, to help protect his brother. Han and Zhara quickly strike up a friendship that shows signs of turning into more. They team up with the Guardians and other allies to figure out what is happening and figure out how they can save those with magic within the realm and prevent the blight from spreading.

This was a little on the slow paced side for my tastes. This was a bit juvenile for my liking. This is YA and the characters are teenager, but they read more like middle schoolers from their maturity and naivety at times. Zhara is constantly giggling every time Han is around, and their romance was a bit cheesy. This was definitely a case of I felt like I was not the audience for this book. The magic system on the other hand was interesting and I enjoyed the plotline.

Zhara has been a surprising first book for me since I have no expectations aside from the fact that this book radiates a Sailormoon vibes.

And S. Jae-Jones successfully delivered an amazing start of a series with Zhara, the only thing that I hate is how I have to wait for the next book.

WHAT DOES THAT ENDING MEANS?

WHEN ARE WE GETTTING A SEQUEL?? 😭

This was the perfect blend of a magical girl anime and fantasy novel. You could really see how the author was inspired by the magical girl genre and used it as the base of this great new series. I loved how she even included animal companions for the girls to have though I was a bit sad that they didn't talk.

The language used was a big part of this book, with the author trying to give a nod to the more formal language that would be used in the setting. I thought it worked really well. Especially the honorific avoidance of personal pronouns. It added to the various characters relationships and tension. I also have to mention Xu, the non-binary character who I loved.

I did feel that occasionally plot points were forgotten about for a bit, especially with Han and Xu getting out from the palace. There was so much emphasis on them dressing in disguise and sneaking out and then it was just ignored for half the book.

It was a really strong start to the series though and I can't wait to read on.

I had a good time with this book. Good time as in you turn on a tv show in the background and let it play but only occasionally get invested. The writing style felt immature. I understand it’s YA but the writing style sometimes pulled me out of the story. I enjoyed the plot, though sometimes it felt confusing. I enjoyed the characters but didn’t really see the love connection between Zhara and the prince. This book was compared to sailor moon and I couldn’t really see that connection either. I probably won’t be reading the rest of the series.

Thank you NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I struggled with this book from the very first page. I hated the writing and didn't particularly care for the characters. This is a YA fantasy book that reads condescendingly young with jokes that feel like they were written by a twelve-year-old boy. I was also really uncomfortable with the constant jokes about the teenage characters reading porn/smutty books. It doesn't make sense that a book that reads so young would have that many mature jokes. The jokes themselves weren't even funny and they were so frequent that they became incredibly annoying. What really tested my patience with this book was the phrase “The Good Looking Giggles” to describe Zhara’s reaction to meeting attractive characters. The book never felt like it was taking itself seriously which made it impossible for me, as the reader, to care.

The plot is predictable but still enjoyable at times. Unfortunately, it is also incredibly repetitive with the same jokes, slip-ups, and events happening many times. The magic and world-building had a lot of potential but I was distracted by my strong distaste for the writing and humor. I was also a bit uncomfortable with some of the choices regarding the representation of disabled and LGBTQ characters.

While the premise was promising, the writing was rather clunky and awkward to read. As well, the time and place of the settings weren't effectively conveyed and didn't create enough immersion for me.