Thank you NetGalley and Orbit for an ARC of this book!

A thrilling start to an adventurous ride filled with betrayal, aching longing, and deadly secrets. With a wonderful combination between political intrigue, immersive world building, and an enemies to lovers arc, this book had me flying through its pages!

Starting with the main character, Sylvia is a force to be reckoned with, quite literally. She is hands on, and very driven to keep a simple life. Of course, who she really is will come in between her hazy plans for the future. It was so nice to see this 21 year-old have this clear-cut idea of what she wanted her life to be, and then having her world turned upside down until she realized what she truly wanted. Seeing her character evolve throughout the book, especially in terms of love of all kinds, was one of my favorite things about this book, and I will remember it fondly.

On the other hand, Arin was my absolute favorite character solely because of how he was written. He was so distinct, making his mark on the page. I loved to see how cunning, calculated, and dangerous he was—and how he never apologized for being his efficient self. Of course, I was hesitant about him at the beginning. The way he and Sylvia started was not exactly cute. It was brutal, and it showed how dire Sylvia’s situation was. But then we also see Arin evolve, opening up more and more in his own way.

I truly adored that this book had so many scenes between Sylvia and Arin. I didn’t want to stop reading solely for them.

As for the writing, I really enjoyed Hashem’s style! It was immersive yet simple (in a good way). I felt transported to these lands, seeing all these people and their different villages.

The only time I found it to lack the quality most of the book had was actually in the first three chapters. The scenes weren’t bad or anything. I liked reading about Sylvia’s life before Arin came into the picture. However, the pacing in these first chapters felt too slow, sometimes choppy. Granted, I understand that this is a fantasy, and it would take some time to fully get to know Sylvia’s world. However, I believe those three chapters could’ve been condensed and still reveal the same information needed.

I felt like the book really started in full swing in chapter four, and I had barely any problems after that! Though I wish we had more information on the political front, more about Jasad and Sylvia’s family, and how Sylvia fits into all of it. But I understand that as a story written mostly in first person, we could only really know what Sylvia knew, and that meant not being in the know of a few things.

I was surprised to see that the trials took up the last half of the book, concluding in a Victor’s Ball that shocked everyone involved. I really liked reading about these trials, and it was interesting to see Sylvia come out on top as she fights for her freedom. It was the ending and how rushed it all felt after so much happening that had me kind of pull back a bit. I felt like that enormous burst needed more simmering in order to have that full effect. Though I did really enjoy how Sylvia revealed her identity to the Supreme. What a moment!

I’ll definitely be awaiting the second book, especially after reading that epilogue! All in all, a very enjoyable book!

"And so Jasad's Heir suffered in the woods while the throne of magic sat empty in the newly scorched kingdom. In her captured corner, the soft girl who had known a bird by its song and calmed at the touch of another was burned away. I am what remains"

From the moment I learned about THE JASAD HEIR, I knew I wanted to read it. Promising a hidden royal and an enemies-to-lovers romance, I set aside books with an earlier publication date to pick this one up right away, and I am so glad that I did. I was completely enthralled by the world Hashem created, causing me to draw comparisons to THE HUNGER GAMES, DIVERGENT, and THE SELECTION. I had the opportunity to read those books when life held less responsibilities, and therefore, I was able to read them in one sitting, but THE JASAD HEIR managed to captivate me the same way.

I know that this review doesn't really tell you why I loved it, but I highlighted so many passages and was hooked from the first sentence. If you loved any of the aforementioned books or have been looking for a fun, new voice in fantasy, I cannot recommend this one enough. A huge thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Jasad Heir is a powerful fantasy read. This book proved to be a lot of fun, and had impressive combinations of political and personal themes all mixed with magical elements. I am impressed with the cultural diversity that is represented as well. Recommended to be on every library shelf!

Thank you so much Netgalley and Orbit for the ARC.

I struggled to get into it initially but it develops into a fast paced and engaging story . Can’t wait for book 2 !

Thank you so much Netgalley and Orbit for the ARC of The Jasad Heir.

This book is such a beautiful start to a series. The beginning does start out slower but it’s easy to read through as the magical lore was so fascinating.
The trials Sylvia goes through were very reminiscent of Hunger Games with the mix of mind games and monsters. the monsters sound absolutely horrifying, both the creature and human monsters. This book is absolutely heartbreaking, throughout the first half I told myself I wasn’t going to cry. Then the second half happened and that was a lie… this book really highlights the hate that can cloud someone’s eyes from prejudice and paranoia.

Sylvia is such an amazing woman, her life has been so tough and she still comes out strong. She might not have the humor anyone could call respectful but she sure grows on you.

And then there is beautiful, terrifying Arin who had my heart from the first mention of his calculating stare. The Enemies to lovers is really so perfect and well done. It had me questioning how that relationship could ever work based on inherited prejudices from both sides. But love really does find a way and it was beautiful.

That ending has me so distraught!
This was an enchanting train wreck for my heart.

Not for me as a reader. I struggled with the plot whilst the writing style was good, I struggled to remain engaged. If this sounds like something you would enjoy I do highly recommend it as I can see real talent developing here.

Actual Rating 4.25/5 Stars

Sara Hashem’s debut book is absolutely outstanding! The high stakes fantasy follows Sylvia, the fallen/hidden heir of the Jasad kingdom, trying to quietly live as a chemist’s apprentice until an unexpected tragedy leaves her no choice but to make a bargain with her greatest enemy.

Sylvia is a complex character finding difficulty reconciling her past with her present circumstances. While she fights her moments of self-doubt, Sylvia is resilient and steadfast in her beliefs.

The first 25% did feel like it dragged a bit with the world building, but after that point I wasn’t able to put the book down. I can’t wait until the next book in the series is in my hands!

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for a chance to read and review an advanced copy of this book!

This is the first book in a fantastic new Egyptian-inspired fantasy romance series and I am already addicted. The characters are beautifully fleshed out, the world and magic system are constructed, and the plot keeps you wanting more. Can't wait for book two!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC copy of this book to read and review. All of these thoughts and comments are my own.

I think this is a great fantasy debut novel. A fallen kingdom, a hidden heir, and an enemies to lover trope. I was very intrigued the whole time while reading this. I actually had to put it down a couple of times so I wouldn’t bulldoze through it. I really wanted to soak this book in.

I am floored 😭

Firstly, I'd like to say that I lean towards any authors who include Arabian or Egyptian settings and worlds in their stories. They are some of my favorite stories ever!

This book features a enemies to love, slowburn which is like every person's favorite trope combo ever. There is a lot of angst that had me on the edge of my seat. Like this is how you build chemistry without it being a case of instalove!

The worldbuilding, character development, and plot were wonderful! The pacing I felt was nice as well! So this is definitely a book you can binge read - I did! Lol

I will say book two seems like it will get spicier so definitely give this book a shot!

Hashem has the makings of a strong fantasy writer! I think The Jasad Heir will definitely appeal to habitual high fantasy readers, especially fans of We Hunt The Flame or Throne Of Glass. It has a lot of elements that high fantasy readers enjoy- hidden royalty, a high-stakes tournament, angry magic, fantasy politics, battles, monsters, cross-kingdom travel, the chosen one who resists ‘the call’ and much more. If morally grey is your favourite colour, you’ll especially enjoy this; if you want a morally grey protagonist- Sylvia/Essiya delivers. You’re rooting for her the entire time, but you still feel frustrated with her, her thoughts, and choices. But at the same time, she’s realistically human and it’s quite refreshing. The romance... was a bit iffy for me. The narrative does its best to redeem Arin in our eyes as it progresses, but I could never forget that no matter what, he was still complicit in the ethnic cleansing of the Jasadis (not a spoiler), and I also couldn’t forgive how he treated Sylvia and her companions near the beginning; frankly I could not completely support Sylvia forgiving and, eventually, falling in love with him. I also hoped that more page time would be given to the Alcalah/tournament, as it was supposed to be a focal point of the book. But don’t be deterred , I was thoroughly hooked in by the book and will eagerly be awaiting its sequel to see where it will go. While this is a New Adult book, I think it will appeal to older YA readers as well. Small warning for graphic violence and (infrequent) disturbing imagery.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC copy of this book to read and review. All of these thoughts and comments are my own.

I think this is a great fantasy debut novel. A fallen kingdom, a hidden heir, and an enemies to lover trope. I was very intrigued the whole time while reading this. I actually had to put it down a couple times so I wouldn’t bulldoze through it. I really wanted to soak this book in.

The very slow burning romance between Sylvia and Arin was honestly perfect. There was so much romantic tension between them and I have never thought a book without any smut could be spicy but the connection between these two have changed my mind. Literally the only thing they ever did was kiss and it was at the very end but man, just their interactions was 🔥. Arin seems mean and distasteful but if you really pay attention in the book, he’s super sweet in his own way by remember things about Sylvia like her likes and dislikes and what’s she comfortable with and the way he sneakily does stuff for her…ah my heart!!!

It started off a bit slow but it wasn’t boring. I think the world building was wonderful and I think the plot was fantastic. The characters were funny, loyal, and very relatable. I enjoyed this book immensely and I’m excited for the next one in the series because the way this ended; I just have a feeling it only gets better from here. Plus I have got to see this reunion between Arin and Sylvia because it’s either going to be HOT or they are going to rip each other’s head off.

5 wonderful stars!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the opportunity to read,rate and review this arc which will be available July 18,2023

This is an Egyptian inspired fantasy about a hidden queen with powers, her murdered family and striking a bargain with their greatest enemy.

I was intrigued the entire time reading it but I wasn’t snatched up and like awed by it. It was epically written, fleshed out world and good pacing but I feel like a lot of the story was forced. Sylvia is a great FMC but Arin the MMC irritated the unholy fluffy bunnies out of me.

Honestly I just might be in a funk but I do recommend it. It is a fantastic story in a fantastic world

I think “The Jasad Heir” will appeal to fans of “These Infinite Threads”; you’ve got a queen in hiding, with illicit magic, whose people have faced genocide, and the enemy is her love interest. I found the rest of the book to have familiar, well-worn but beloved tropes of the genre. The story is a slow-burning one.

the Jasad Heir was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and not only did it live up to every expectation, but it also went far beyond. this book wrecked me and consumed me—Hashem’s story ideas, writing, and storytelling is absolutely incredible. I’m so in love with Sylvia and Arin—both together and as individual characters—they were written to perfection with a perfect sprinkling of all the best enemies to lovers tropes. in that regard, all of the characters are epic and dynamic and their own wonderfully developed individual people that you feel you get to know over the course of the story. this book was devastating (in the most perfect way you hope the best books to be) if slightly incomplete. the political intrigue was incredible, the motif of love throughout the story was felt so deeply, and I’m so excited to see how these journeys continue in book two. my one piece of feedback about the story at large is that the pacing is a little messy throughout which makes it harder to follow the plot in some places. for example, there are times when a plot point or twist is revealed vaguely and based on the character’s reaction to that event it can be hard to tell if as a reader I missed important context or if the intention was to keep this content more concealed. because of this pacing challenge sometimes the plot fell through as it lacked clarity, and at times the story jumped around (with little insight into character’s reflections) more when I wanted it to linger, and where lingering might have served the storyline better. the uneven pacing makes the world building a little hard to understand in some places, but doesn’t take away from the content or overall quality of the book. I can’t believe I have to wait so long for book two! I will be a faithful reader of all Sara Hashem’s books from here on out.

The Jasad Heir is the first book in an all new Egyptian inspired fantasy series with political elements and lots of court intrigue and after reading this, consider me INVESTED.

I knew nothing about The Jasad Heir when I added it to my most anticipated reads list when it was first announced except for the above two lines and I have no regrets about giving this a full rating.

I loved the fact that there weren't any major info dumps in the first few chapters of this book and the main character was already to an extent self aware of her role in the long run. I also really enjoyed how the author really explored the inner conflict Sylvia had constantly throughout the course of the story, how she is torn between her duty and responsibility to her people and also the life she wanted for herself. It was done in such a way that the main character, even though she felt young, didn't come off as immature.

Enemies to reluctant allies to lovers but where the romance takes a backseat to the actual conflict in the book is one of my favorite things to read about in a fantasy book when done well, and I think this book definitely did that for me.

I cannot recommend this one enough and I hope everyone loves it as much as I did.

Thank you so much to orbit books and netgalley for the arc !!

I lost count of how many times this book made me shriek in an absolutely inhuman manner. The world was steeped in history and political maneuvering and lore. The main character Sylvia - the titular lost heir of Jasad - is sharp as a porcupine and doing her best to survive a world that is set on the complete eradication of her family and her people. Arin is cold and calculating and brilliant and I love him. The two of them are some of the best enemies to lovers that I’ve read in a long time. The side characters were fleshed out and complicated and you cared as deeply for them as you did for our main characters.

I’m not usually a huge fan of tournament tropes, but this one kept me engaged. There were so many threads of the past - both ancient and recent - that were tantalizingly teased in this book that I can’t wait to read more about in the sequel.

Do you like slowburn romance? Enemies to lovers of the “I don’t know whether I want to kiss you or kill you” variety? The “who did this to you?” moment between enemies? Intricately woven worlds? Political intrigue and betrayal? Read this.

I literally am obsessed with this book and especially with how incredible the cast of characters. Best book I’ve read this far into 2023. I am deeply regretting the fact I read this so quickly because now I have to wait for the sequel. Read this book if you love characters that are clever , stoic male characters that literally shatter your heart with any type of expressed emotions. I need the sequel NOW UGH. Thank you for writing such a great book seriously.

I'm getting a bit skeptical about these authors that are getting hyped on TikTok.

In this case, I expected something really well written and a tight plot. I had made it 25% through the book and I felt that the meandering of the main character and not much backstory was my give-up moment. All I knew at the time was that she killed someone because she was caught to be a banned magic user, and the Prince / new Heir found her. It just took forever to get to that point.

I was really looking forward to this book but holy crap, exposition needs to be trimmed of all the unimportant stuff. Like her getting those gloves for her birthday from her master? Like her friends goofing around with her? It felt like filler than actual moments that were supposed to mean something.

This was one of the best Egyptian fantasy books I've read and I cannot wait for the next book to come out. I will be anxiously awaiting the next book. I loved this so much. I am obsessed with this!!!!
I just reviewed The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem. #NetGalley
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Holy cow, I loved this book. My only complaint is I read this before it came out, so I cannot send this book to all of my friends immediately. The world building and pacing were delightful.. I was pulled into the histories and the various kingdoms and cannot wait to dive back in. Every character was multidimensional and their arcs gripping. I truly could not put this book down. Hashem did a wonderful job of weaving a story so in-depth and enthralling that I just want to go read it again.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC, now I have to go and preorder...