It was fun for the first half, but the second half was a bit let down .. overall it was a solid read but nothing to go head over heels… I did love the scenery and the ambient but the story itself was a little repetitive

This was one of my most anticipated books of the year and S. Jae-Jones does not disappoint! The writing was very new and lyrical! I found the world-building to be very original and realistic! I love the fairytale feel! I did not want this story to end! I adored the magic and romance! The only thing I did not like about the book was that it was very slow-paced at times! Nevertheless, I was awe-struck by this book! I can’t wait for other installments in this series! I recommend this for fans of Margery Rogerson, Marissa Meyer, and Elizabeth Lim!

I found this to be a really interesting book with a fascinating cast of characters. I really like the subtle references to Sailor Moon, and on a whole I found it to be a really good read.

This was my first book by S Jae-Jones and I'm so glad I picked this up. Although honestly, who's surprised I did? Pitched as Sailor Moon meets Cinder, it was bound to be a hit for me (👋 I'm Heather, known to be obsessed with Sailor Moon and has a leg tattoo to prove it lol).

Like with the first episode of Sailor Moon, we were introduced to our main character and her love interest, plus the general bad guy and magic system. I love that the magic is still elemental, but it's likely not going to present the same as Sailor Moon.

The love interest was sort of meh for me, but I feel like he will grow on me as the series continues. Overall, it felt better as a story of friendship and finding. I can't wait to see how we progress in both friendships and love interest.

The Cinder element has to do with a rebellion and it was an element I loved too. How it's brought into the story and how it progresses was interesting. Plus the people we get exposed to and what we find out about how the rebellion has hidden itself so well in society had me hooked.

Overall, this feels perfect for the Sailor Moon obsessed or the Cinder fans. This is onky the beginning and I can't wait to see how this series progressed and evolves.

I really enjoyed this book. I have put it on several displays since it came out and recommend it to those who are looking for fantasy books.

I was really enjoying this book but did not get to finish it before it expired on my shelf. The main character was really interesting and I was intrigued by the magic and the suppression of it in the book.

I was super intrigued by this book and was sold on the fact people were saying it was reminiscent of Sailor Moon meets Cinder. I started reading this via ebook but then switched to audio and I wonder if I did myself a disservice - don't get me wrong, the audiobook narration was good but my brain had a hard time keeping up. The pace felt a little slow and I would've liked to see more character depth. That being said, it felt animated and playful and I think younger YA readers would enjoy it.

Thank you to St-Martin's Press, Wednesday books and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I actually quite enjoyed reading this one. It was breezy and had a fairly good amount of world building. While I agree with others that it read a bit young and the "good looking giggles" got a little old after a while, I found it to be a quick read. I think I read this at exactly the right time, when I needed a little silly humor. I do agree that I wish I could connect with the characters a bit more, but I'm invested enough in the plot that I've already started the next in the series. This would be a good choice for teen readers that enjoy fairy tale retellings.

Loved this book. very eager to see the full series as to be able to consider it for assignment as part of various fantasy courses i teach

Life got in the way and I could not finish the book. Thanks to the publishers for the chance to read the book.

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC for early review.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.

A Cinderella retelling swirled together with magical girls a la Sailor Moon, steeped in Chinese and Korean mythology, the first book of the Guardians of Dawn is a fun, cute, and heartfelt romp filled with romance and danger.

I will say, this reads way more like Middle Grade than it does Young Adult. The dialogue and the "cuteness" of it all just felt so young and light, and I didn't have an issue with that. Even the more intense, scary scenes still felt punctuated by lighthearted humour, which helped keep the consistent tone of hopefulness afloat.

I think the world building of Zhara is a little clunky, a little too heavy on exposition, but the action and intriguing characters help keep the pace going. In a world where magicians are wiped out and now monsters have come to attack once again, Zhara must hide her powers and identity from everyone, including her sister. With the help of her horrid stepmother, she keeps a low profile, until meeting the crown prince in disguise and starting off on her magical journey, accompanied by her feline familiar.

The romance was very sweet and youthful, and I found myself more interested in that than the monsters, demons, and conflicts of the magicians. I loved how Han was an avid enjoyer of romance novels and bonded with Zhara over that fact. I loved the easily dodged love triangle tropes by making the bride-to-be a very blatant lesbian. I loved Han's fussy and prissy assistant and all their groaning and griping. Overall, I think this is a goofy, lovable start to a series where we will eventually see many young girls come into their power and form strong friendships, and I'm looking forward to reading book two.

3 stars for Guardians of Dawn: Zhara. I feel like a lot people will really enjoy this book! I loved the world building in this story. Overall I just wanted to connect to the characters more so I would become more invested in the story. I’m sure this gets better as the series goes on!

I really really enjoyed this. I was able to pick up on the nuances that referenced favorite fairy tales. I liked the characters a lot. However personally pacing is usually what knocks stars off for me and I found this to be a bit too slow. I would continue reading these books tho, they were fun enough that I wasn't reading too critically.

"Guardians of Dawn: Zhara" by S. Jae-Jones is a captivating YA fantasy that immerses readers in its richly crafted world, featuring an engaging plot and a cover that immediately grabs attention. While the characters are entertaining and make for a pleasant read, they often lack the depth needed to forge a strong emotional connection. Despite this, the book's intriguing storyline and striking cover make it a noteworthy read.

I was unable to complete this book, regretfully. I had myself pick it up numerous times before giving up. I really enjoyed Wintersong, so I was excited to read the Guardians of Dawn series. The idea behind it is excellent, but the way it is carried out is so disappointing. This book feels more like middle-grade than young adult. The lack of nuance in the character's portrayal makes them appear flat, and the dialogue seems awkward. I might give this author another chance in the future with another series.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really like the world that Jae-Jones created and the diverse cast of characters. I am definitely looking forward to the next book.

Overall it was an enjoyable read. The world building was intriguing, detailed, and complex. However characters tended to feel a bit one dimensional and not have enough depth to them to really enjoy them. At times the pacing of the plot felt a bit slow as well.

Witty and engaging.

I was given a free copy in exchange for a review.

Zhara was an excellent switch from my usual fantasy reads. I enjoyed the cast of characters, the easy to picture scenes, and the dense plot.

There were many well placed clues. I highly recommend this to fans of saviour origin stories.

I hear the book is described as Sailor Moon meets Cinder, and I'd say that is very accurate!

I LOVED S. Jae-Jones's WINTERSONG and SHADOWSONG, so I was delighted to get my hands on a copy of GUARDIANS OF DAWN: ZHARA. Unfortunately, the story fell a bit flat for me. Some cute moments, but struggled to connect with the story overall. Still important representation though!

The Guardians of Dawn: Zhara is one of those books which quickly picks you up. I loved the world building and magical feeling you immediately get. This is abook about duty, love, heart, and family. About all the things, and sacrifices, we will make for our family. It feels a bit on the younger YA side, but because of that felt nostalgic to me. Who hasn't, at some points, felt like they were limited in our potential to dream? And so when we have the opportunity to spread our wings, sometimes we will do everything we can to do so. One of my favorite elements has to be the humans versus deities in terms of power and cruelty. All the things we would do, or not, if we had more power, if our tomorrow was ensured.