The Jasad Heir is an Egyptian-inspired fantasy debut that delivers a compelling blend of political intrigue, slow-burn romance, and rich world-building. The story follows Sylvia, the hidden heir of a fallen kingdom, as she navigates a world where magic is outlawed and her identity must remain secret. Her journey intertwines with Arin, the heir of the oppressive Nizahl empire, leading to a complex relationship that evolves from enmity to reluctant alliance.

The novel excels in its exploration of themes such as identity, power, and resistance. Hashem's writing brings depth to the characters, particularly in the nuanced portrayal of Sylvia and Arin's dynamic. The political landscape is intricately crafted, adding layers to the narrative that keep the reader engaged. While some pacing issues arise, with certain sections feeling rushed or slow, the overall storytelling remains compelling.

The romantic tension between the protagonists is a highlight, offering a satisfying enemies-to-lovers arc that complements the broader themes of the story. The world-building is immersive, drawing readers into a setting that feels both unique and authentic. Despite minor flaws, The Jasad Heir stands out as a strong debut, leaving readers eager for the sequel.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

4.5 ⭐️

What an amazing end to an amazing story! Arin and Sylvia are one of my top favorite fictional couples! This is a 5 ⭐️ series for me!

This is true enemies to lovers but also still being enemies at the same time basically for the whole story. The banter and relationship between the two is top tier. I absolutely love the side characters and the world building. I laughed, I cried, I loved it all. It did seem to drag a little near the end but that ending was fantastic. I love the world building and lore! It’s so unique and immersive. Definitely pick up this duology ASAP! You won’t regret it! Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for this early copy of the book! The first book was 5 ⭐️ for me so being able to read the final book made me so happy!

4.5/5 stars.

With gorgeous writing, lush worldbuilding, and masterful dialogue, The Jasad Crown is even better than the first book.

The author has really come into her own, making vast improvements on issues that had kept me from fully enjoying The Jasad Heir. The pacing was more consistent, and the growth of Sylvia / Essiya in both maturity and conviction was remarkable. Strong-willed yet ambivalent, I had struggled to connect with Sylvia in the first book as I was often frustrated by her carelessness and confused by her motivations.

Whereas The Jasad Heir skimmed the surface in terms of the worldbuilding and magic system, the sequel dove in. The multi-POV chapters spread across the kingdoms enriched the complex tapestry of political intrigue and fascinating Egyptian-inspired magic (although Sefa’s chapters took some jarring turns and Marek’s chapters, while amusing, didn’t advance the plot much).

Arin, the broody and calculating MMC, continued to delight. Insight into his scheming as he navigated a field of emotional landmines was my favorite part. The slow burn romance was swoon worthy as they overcame generations of obstacles to trust and love each other, even if the fade-to-black intimacy was ill-timed (this is not the first romantasy to have a mid-battle love scene, nor will it be the last).

This was a 5 star read until 70% when the plot lost momentum and took questionable turns to a rushed ending. After centuries of magical conflict across war-torn kingdoms, the resolution was somewhat anticlimactic.

That being said, I would highly recommend The Jasad Crown to fans of epic romantic fantasy with rich worldbuilding, evocative prose, and a deliciously tense enemies-to-lovers slow burn.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the ARC in exchange for an honest review..

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the ARC. After annotating the heck out of The Jasad Heir last month, I nearly screamed when early access to The Jasad Crown hit my inbox…easily one of my most‑anticipated reads of 2025.

I loved book one so much that I rationed this sequel like contraband chocolate, determined to stretch the experience. Oddly, the story’s choppy pacing meant I could set it down more often than I expected; momentum came in bursts instead of a steady climb.

One big change is the jump to four(‑ish) POVs. Sylvia (and Essiya), Arin, Sefa, and Marek each bring something worthwhile, but every time I sank into one thread, the narrative yanked me into another. Helpful for scope, sure—but it chipped away at immersion.

The cast is also scattered across half the continent: Sefa holding things down in Lukub, Marek grinding through trainee camps and hanging out in Nizahl’s upper villages, Arin politicking in Nizahl proper, and Sylvia either in mountain passes or in Jasad. You absolutely need a map to keep it straight.

Where the book truly shines is in its worldbuilding. It’s that “Leigh Bardugo” approach—no hand‑holding, no lore dumps. The story assumes you already care about the Sirauk Bridge or the Awaleen and lets context do the lifting. You work a little harder, but the payoff is a world that feels lived in and layered. The prose is equally sharp:

“Duty is a weight we should carry between us, not a weapon we use to crush each other.”

“The time is always right, and it is the rest of us who are wrong.”

“Survivors strike first and repent second.”

Lines like these lodge in your head and hit harder than they have any right to.

And then there’s Arin and Sylvia—my favorite brand of agony. Enemies, reluctant allies, lovers, enemies again…the slow burn is excruciatingly good, made worse (better?) by the fact that Arin touching her could literally kill him:

“If I learn how it feels to touch the untouchable Heir, how could I live in a world where that knowledge only haunts me?”

Side characters refuse to be background noise. Marek and Sefa’s platonic ride‑or‑die friendship is everything, and folks like Maia, Lateef, Namsa, Jeru, and even Vaun (ugh) feel fully realized, each tugging the plot in their own direction.

Where things wobble is the final act; key moments—especially Wes and Marek’s deaths—fly by so fast they barely register. I should’ve been sobbing. Instead I blinked and turned the page, wondering how I’d missed the emotional gut punch.

Even with those stumbles, the series is still an easy recommend for its layered world, razor‑sharp prose, and characters I can’t quit. Give it another editing pass and it could’ve been legendary; as it stands, it’s simply very, very good—and absolutely worth your time

Perfection. 5 ⭐️ I absolutely loved this.

I fell in love with the characters, the writing, the plot in The Jasad Heir, and it was the same with this book. The perfect amount of enemies to lovers, tension, ANGST, and heartbreak 😭

I loved the new POV’s. It was fun getting to know Sefa and Marek in a new way and seeing how their POV’s contributed to the plot.

I’m just obsessed with Arin and Essiya. The way they naturally gravitate towards each other, the slow burn, ugh it was amazing. Their story was written so beautiful to me. I have no notes, just perfection. I (selfishly) want more of them 😭

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me the ARC!!

The Scorched Throne is easily one of my new all-time favorite series. I'm struggling to find words for how wonderful this conclusion was to such an incredible story.
The character development was just perfect. Watching Essiya come into her own as a ruler at the cost of her own sanity was so painful but also admirable. Her complexity and the love she has for the people around her makes her such a fantastic character to read about.
Likewise, Arin's struggle to leave behind everything he thought he knew merged gorgeously into his steadfast loyalty and love for Essiya. His skill as a strategist and leader combined with his relationship with Essiya made him the perfect MMC.
I am a huge fan of political fantasy, so the plot in this book was so well-excuted. The tension between the kingdoms and watching both Essiya and Arin dominate their own thrones was just perfect. [As devastated as I was at Marek's death, I did appreciate that Sefa was able to live for herself, instead of being attached to Marek all the time because of his love for her. (hide spoiler)]. The use of different POVs was seamless and gave such good glimpses into the minds and hearts of each character.
[I usually struggle with books that end with the loss of magic or the reversed death of a character. It really worked in this case, though, seeing that Essiya was never actually dead, and magic was distributed to everyone. (hide spoiler)] So, the ending was perfect for the characters and the story (and had me in tears).
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the honor of reading this eARC. I absolutely cannot wait to read what Sara Hashem writes next!

Why does it have to be a duology😭 Not but truly, epic from the very first page.

Absolutely amazing.

If you liked, better yet loved, Jasad Heir then this is just icing on the cake. There are so many twists and turns in this action packed book. There were so many unexpected things, the book and plot just blew me away. Arin is 👌👌 in this one and you get a ton of his perspective this go round.

Biggest complaint? That it ended. Truly that's all.

Perfect conclusion to the Scorched Throne duology!

I didn’t think it was possible to top The Jasad Heir, and then this book came along. What I loved more than anything was the addition of more character POVs. I felt like they help with character and plot development. Normally I want to skip back ahead to hang out with the main characters, but I loved the time spent with the “friends of”. I read this book in 24 hours, and enjoyed the entire emotional rollercoaster the story took me on. Everyone should add this duology to their TBRs ASAP!!!

"The Jasad Crown" - Obsessed Doesn’t Even Cover It

Okay, let me just say The Jasad Heir ruined me in the best possible way. This book had my emotions in a chokehold. I laughed, I raged, I swooned, and that ending left me breathless.

First of all, Arin and Essiya are the perfect kind of opposites. She’s all fire, he’s ice. Their chemistry is explosive, and I enjoy how they challenge each other. The enemies to lovers romance here is flawless, tense, slow-burn, and packed with so much delicious angst. I enjoyed there moments together every single time!

The pacing is impeccable. Not a single dull moment. I was intrigued by the heart-stopping action and twists. Sefa and Marek's POVs were insightful and added so much to the plot. The world-building and magic system are a perfect complement to the first book.

But that ending had my heart pounding, and then that epilogue!! Excuse me!!? I need more!!

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for a copy of this e-arc.

Thank you Sara Hashem! I enjoyed this very much!

Spice: 0/5 (closed door)
Romance: 5/5
Enemies to lovers
One love interest
Silver hair MMC
RATING: 5 out of 5

I can't breathe, I can't sleep, I can't recover from this masterpiece. I am going to be haunted by this book for years to come and I mean that in the very best way.
I am going to compare every FMC to Sylvia and no MMC will ever measure up to Arin.
They are truly enemies to lovers, the slow burn was scorching, and the angst was consuming (think of Mr. Darcy's hand flex).
Every single chapter was interesting and did a fantastic job at slowly bringing everything and everyone together. You got just the right amount of depth from each main and side character to where no one was forgotten about and no one was over hyped.
She ended this book in the most bittersweet way, every question you had in book one was answered, every feeling you can have you will go through, and you will never know what is going to happen next all the way until you hit the Acknowledgments page.

I really wish this would have been a trilogy just because I selfishly want more and I hope one day she does decide to dive back into this series because I love every single character and would gladly read a book about any character in this universe.

Thank you NetGalley, Orbit and the very talented Sara Hashem for this ARC

The Jasad Crown by Sara Hashem delivers a breathtaking conclusion to the Scorched Throne duology, blending explosive magic, sharp political intrigue, and deeply human emotion. Sylvia’s evolution from fugitive to queen is masterfully written—raw, vulnerable, and fierce. Trapped by enemies and haunted by her past, she must embrace her legacy and fight for a kingdom that may no longer believe in her.

Hashem’s writing shines brightest in the emotional complexity between Sylvia and Arin, whose paths collide in a storm of loyalty, doubt, and burning chemistry. Arin’s internal struggle between duty and justice adds richness to a story already brimming with tension. The Egyptian-inspired worldbuilding remains lush and immersive, but it’s the moral ambiguity and character-driven plot that truly elevate this finale. Heartbreaking, empowering, and full of fire, The Jasad Crown sticks the landing with a finale that’s as satisfying as it is devastating. This is a must-read for anyone who loves fantasy with teeth, heart, and unforgettable characters.

Enjoyable enough, but didn't leave a lasting impression. I did like the characters and found them interesting, but the plot didn't fully captivate me or feel particularly bland. It had some good moments, but overall, it didn't quite deliver for me.

What an overwhelmingly bittersweet ending to one of the best duologies I've read!

When I received the email notification of the ARC approval, I was equally scared and excited to see how Arin and Slyvia's story would end. We waited for almost 2 years, and here they finally were.

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

I loved that we started and ended with Arin's POV. His personality shone so much more in the Jasad Crown and it was lovely to see how much respect and admiration he had for Sylvia/Essiya. There were times when I felt that his character was "too" perfect, but his chemistry with his guardsmen balanced it out. His vulnerability when it came to Vaun, Wes, and Jeru humanized him. On a lighter note, his little moments of jealousy and protectiveness for Essiya had me giggling and grinning from ear to ear.

Of course, we can't forget Essiya. She was ashamed of surviving, and that's what made the ending so important to me. She chose herself and was brave enough to chase the kind of life she wants to live. She's one of my favorite FMCs for the sole reason that she's always been so authentic and transparent to the readers. In both books, Essiya constantly displayed her train of thought with little to no regard for how others might take it. Her candidness with Arin in this book made their dynamic so much more fun and heartwarming.

While the book was lengthier than most, I felt it was necessary to tie up loose ends in the story. However, some scenes felt too rushed (IYKYK), and the amount of information, along with the introduction of new concepts, can get very overwhelming to the reader. Overall, I will miss this series so much it hurts. I can't wait to re-read this and have both books on my shelves.

THANK YOU to Orbit Books and NetGalley for this ARC!

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

I don’t even know how to express my thoughts on what a wild ride this book/series was. WOW. A lot was tackled in the Jasad Crown. It was a 5 star story… I truly did not see some of those twists coming. But the execution is where I knock off a star… the Jasad Crown could have and should have been split into two books. Not only was it too long, but were parts of the book that needed to “simmer” longer or we moved on too quickly, and then at other times there were very important events to the story that happened “off page” and we only learn about it through a secondhand dialogue. If there was a whole other book, there would have been more time to flesh things out and develop them properly. Certain parts of the book would have been a little more impactful if more time had been spent on it.

The romance, overall, was gut wrenching and soooo good. I need some time to recover. Arin and Sylvia are one of, if not my most loved book couples and Arin is by far my favourite character of the series. I love his brilliant methodicism and how stoically he keeps his feelings controlled, until Sylvia makes him snap. The depth we ended up seeing in him was one of the best parts of the whole book. But that last epilogue 😩 in some ways, yes, it was a sweet and poignant ending but at the same time, it carved a big whole in my heart and left me wanting more closure!

Here’s hoping we get a spinoff series and we can get a glimpse of Arin and Essiya one more time.

Excellent series, and without a doubt best enemies to lovers romance I’ve read.

Five stars is not nearly enough for the epic conclusion to this enchanting duology. Haunting, lush, and unforgettable. I was as enthralled with THE JASAD CROWN as I was with book 1, in entirely new ways

Thank you Sara Hashem and Orbit and NetGalley and all magical forces for this ARC of the long-awaited sequel to The Jasad Heir.

The author ate, slayed, devoured, and mastered this book. In The Jasad Crown, we follow Sylvia as she weaves through the aftermath of her true identity coming to the surface to all the Jasadis and worse, to Arin of Nizhal. With multiple POVs, intricate plot detail, bloody encounters, and dialogue so sharp it cut my eyeballs- this book was a dream to read. A perfect, painful paradise to live in for a time I never wanted to end.

I wish this series was longer than a duology. I wish it were 10 books long, but not because it left anything to the imagination. The Jasad Crown was an extremely well-rounded book that answered questions I never even thought to ask about the characters and the world. It lends itself easily to immersivity of the kingdoms we'd yet to explore in book 1, and to several narratives we were not privy to before. There is so much to be uncovered and unpacked in this book with neither being rushed while doing so. It has perfect pacing and depth for the story.

I especially love the yearning the author cultivates whether its for magic, for love, for power, or for friendship. I love Essiya and I love Arin and I love Marek and Sefa (named together because I wouldn't dare separate them). I love the characters that were lost and the ones gained. I am left in utter astonishment and awe at this book.

5⭐

Thank you so much to Sara Hashem, Orbit Books, Hachette Book Group and Edelweiss for the ARC.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 is the thrilling conclusion to the Egyptian-inspired Scorched Throne duology, a fugitive queen may be the key to restoring her lost kingdom of Jasad, but it could cost her everything and everyone she loves.

The tone and plot of this book is darker and more complex than the first-- the stakes are higher, and the angst is angsty.

I loved that this book dove deeper into characters we didn’t get POVs from before. That we finally got to know more of Arin - his childhood, his relationships, what shaped him into the controlled and cunning man he is. I loved the yearning and the tension and the deep fascination that seeped through every one of his pores whenever he thought of Essiya. I just— this was the most heartbreaking and gorgeously written yearning I’ve read in a long time.

The political intrigue became much more descriptive in the second book. I feel like I understood the kingdoms and their rules much better and I really enjoyed watching it all play out as a part of the war strategy. I really like how the restraints and bending of the rules added to the height and suspense of the overall plot and kept things interesting and fresh.

Overall, it's a wonderfully heart-breaking, gut-wrenching and bittersweet ending to a beloved duology! I cannot wait to read more books written by Sara Hashem, possibly a spin-off!

This excellent conclusion to the Jasad Heir duology! The story really expanded and we picked off right where we left off at the end of the first book so you absolutely must read "The Jasad Heir" before picking this one up. The pacing was excellent and I thoroughly enjoyed the extra POV.

First I wanted to say thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for my very first ARC ever.

This duology is so unique. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book where the characters are so well crafted that they feel like true living breathing human beings, down to the small idiosyncrasies that make up each one of us. The character development was beautiful to see and experience. I can tell that Sara spent a huge amount of time molding these characters and as a reader it’s sorely lacking in so many books these days. These characters will live on with me for a long time.

Sara Hashem infused so much humor within the pages that existed alongside characters who also thirsted for violence and these opposing subjects existing alongside one another even in the same paragraph made for such an entertaining read. I found myself laughing so much and being startled by the simultaneous bloodthirstiness of the characters within that same frame of humor.

This series was true enemies to lovers. Arin and Essiya literally beat the crap out of each other but drew the line at ending one another. When love finally entered their hearts, their self sacrificing mentality brought me to tears.

Arin is probably my favorite male main character I have ever had the privilege of meeting in literature. A strong dedication to his own moral code, an exacting and disciplined frame of mind, an incredibly sharp intelligence, running circles around his enemies. Incredibly lethal but to the one woman he loves, he’d burn everything down for her and anyone who threatened wouldn’t live long enough to rue the day. He’s so decisive and in control of situations. A character I truly admire.

Essiya and Arin were ultimately bonded by violence which is strange when you think about a couple but these two make it work. They’re prone to hit first and ask questions later but they’re both very passionate about their ideals and the ones they love. They both have an incredible love for their subjects and their opposing personalities drove each other crazy but also endeared themselves to each other. Essiya is not a planner or a natural born leader like Arin. She’s impulsive, immature, and humorous at all the wrong times but it’s her imperfections that draw Arin to her like a moth to a flame. His nature is to be controlled and I believe her lack of it intrigues him. Opposites attract and all. The broken pieces of their minds and hearts found an echo in one another and through love those shattered pieces reformed into something truly beautiful and awe inspiring.

I also appreciated that this book wasn’t spicy. All the tension was there without the needless sex scenes. I was nervous that Sarah would go there because the tension is off the charts but Hashem ultimately places plot and sexual tension over explicit content. So many readers these days clamor for spice in books but I personally feel that it cheapens the romance.

MAJOR SPOILERS FROM HERE ON OUT. Do not read any further if you don’t want the entire ending spoiled:

The book was a five star read for me until the ending which really blindsided me as the conclusion was really rather strange and wasn’t what I expected or hoped for. Essiya actually became Rovial himself. Essiya’s magic in fact was not her own but Rovial’s the entire time. Once a century, Rovial’s magic would be born into a Jasadi and it would end up driving them insane. No mortal can live with a god’s power dwelling inside of them, Well, lucky for our girl, she happens to be the one blessed with it this century. At the end, her magic becomes so powerful that her reality begins to morph into Rovial’s and all the previous lives that had taken on his magic before. Rovial’s memories melded with Essiya’s and she talked about herself as if she were Rovial. She began to refer to the other gods as her sisters as Rovial would have. We did in fact get our happy ending but the cost felt too high. It felt more bitter than sweet. Marek’s death almost destroyed Sefa and Arin spent ten desolate years waiting and hoping that Essiya would come back to him after she sacrificed herself to be entombed with the other gods. She does return to Arin but it is only for a very short paragraph that we don’t truly get to enjoy it. I have so many mixed feelings. Ultimately I still love this duology but my preference would have been to see Essiya still be herself at the end and not this new melded being of personalities and experiences. She just wasn’t who I originally fell in love with.

Would I read this duology again? Would I recommend it? A billion times yes. Even with the unexpected ending, it will have a coveted position on my shelf as my absolute favorite duology of all time. In a sea of mediocre, this book will be able to say, “I am what remains”.

The Jasad Crown fell a little flat for me unfortunately. I felt the pacing was uneven, dragging in the middle and then rushing to wrap up everything, and that things that were made obvious to the reader early on took too long to be revealed to the characters.

I did like that we got more POVs this round (a lot more Arin, and the addition of Sefa and Marek). Readers who enjoy romance will appreciate the much larger focus on tbe romance between Arin and Sylvia as well.