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.

I'm a bit disappointed because the cover is so gorgeous and the premise was definitely super interesting, but unfortunately this won't be for me. This lives in an odd space between YA and Adult, where it was marketed as adult but reads quite juvenile. The humor and characters didn't work for me personally.

What an absolutely delightful novel. I was so excited when. I saw S. Jae-Jones share the idea behind this story and even more thrilled after reading it!

I feel like this was such a strong opening to a really fun series set up. I loved Zhara and Han so much as characteres. The plot and pacing was fantastic.

I loveee sailor moon and so i love that this is a sailor moon inspired fantasy. The story is super fun and full of intrigue. The forbidden magic and the way we can be powerful too. It's so so exciting to see a character grow into her powers like this.

I definitely struggled with this one. The writing is very nice, the characters and the plot as well. But what really made me struggle was my disinterest in the main character. When they compared this book to Sailor Moon I expected the comparison would be the girl power aspects, not the annoying main character. Zhara was extremely similar to Usagi in the way that I wanted to punch her at times because she annoyed me so much.
After passing the halfway point it got a lot better. I’m actually interested to see what comes next.

This is my third Jae-Jones, and while I'm not the biggest fan of the Wintersong series, I was super excited to give this a go. I properly read about 35% of this book before I realized that this is bad. This is really bad. This writing is so incredibly juvenile that I feel like I'm being insulted as a reader. It was so hard to connect with any of the characters. This is so very YA.

I ended up just skimming the rest of the book, nothing happened that you couldn't work out about the 35% mark. Extra star for the beautiful cover.

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for providing the arc for my honest review!

I was so excited seeing a Sailor Moon retelling, and instantly added it to my TBR. Unfortunately this really fell flat for me. I know this is YA but the characters felt very juvenile. Sadly I don't think that this author is for me, but I liked the concept and forbidden magic here.

What a gorgeous cover But I couldn't really engage with the story except between her and her sister, the rest didn't seemed fleshed out. The plot was kind of see through as well with the cat turning into something else right in front of Zhara and she didn't even connect the dots at all until much later was strange writing.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me an eARC of this book!

I only had a vague idea of what this book was about but after reading the official synopsis (when I was partway through it) I fully agree that this book had some sailor moon elements and some cinder parts, though I also think those two references reveal a bit too much of the story too early. Most of the moments that were sailor moon or cinder references didn’t happen until later in the book (besides the general Cinderella elements) so those two references kind of spoil some of the big twists and reveals.

I loved the characters and how they really felt like seventeen year olds—trying to be adults but also being kids at the same time. I also loved how the author handled betrayal and the confrontations between characters—there was anger but also grace and forgiveness which is a hard line to walk. I also felt like the romance was well-developed and was super cute. Han might be the sweetest love interest I have read in a very long time and his apology to Zhara was what romance novel reunions wish they could be.

I could definitely see this becoming a really cool movie (so long as Hollywood doesn’t ruin it) as it played out like a movie—I could picture just about everything because of the author’s excellent descriptions and the food made me so hungry.

Now I just have to wait impatiently for the sequel!! (Which I wouldn’t mind if it’s done like the lunar chronicles with each book being from the perspective of the guardian in question but I also want more from Zhara (and Han)!)