Thank you NetGalley!! This book was the perfect ending to the duology. It had multiple POVs, expanded the world, the magic building, and had a lot of character development, while tying up the political elements and romance. Sara Hashem dealt with all of these elements amazingly, which not many authors can do in one book. I felt satisfied with every aspect of this book, but I do with for more romance and scenes between Arin and Sylvia.

I don’t think I’ll ever recover from this duology 🫣

I loved loved LOVED The Jasad Heir and have been ever so patiently waiting for updates since I finished it in March of last year. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing the ARC! While the Jasad Heir focused more on the trials and Sylvia hiding her identity from those she loved most-and despised- The Jasad Crown focused more on the political intrigue of the kingdoms and I was so happy to see it! And more points of views (Sefa, Marik, Arin, etc.)

Arin and Sylvia, oh my god. The tension was perfect and that epilogue destroyed me. Arin was one of the reasons I loved The Jasad Heir as much as I did, and I’m so glad we got to see stuff from his point of view.

My only hot take is that this should’ve been a trilogy. The sequel in some ways feels like an entirely different book, and while I loved it, it could be overwhelming at times. With the added POV’s, plot twists, and different subplots, The Scorched Throne could’ve benefited from a trilogy without jamming all the events together.

Nonetheless, this duology will forever be one of my top fantasy books!

After the explosive victor’s ball, Essiya finds herself the prisoner of the Urabi, though they swear she is their queen. Arin finds himself at a crossroads where war between the countries is looming every day and his father is pressuring him to find Essiya and her rebels as quickly as possible. Sefa finds herself servant to the unpredictable Sultana and Murak is hiding in a Nizhal fortress trying to find his way back to her. Together they must find a way to restore Jasad and defeat their real enemy, but as secrets of the past come to light they may just decide to forgoe everyone and forge their own path.

I think that Essiya had amazing character growth in book two. Not only did she accept her magic and all the trauma that came with it, but she really grew as a leader and wasn’t afraid to call out bad decisions made by those around her. She remained loyal to her friends while becoming a beacon of hope and the future for her people, wven though it would probably cost her her life.

I absolutely adored Arin in this book. His devotion and loyalty to Essiya, who he had been raised his whole life was his enemy, was just perfect. He protected her, even when she kept claiming they were on opposite sides of the war, and kept trying to find a peaceful solution. Never once did he try to control her or change her, or even try to take her magic (beyond saving her when it tried to take over). Their banter, as always, was amusing and charged. The epilogue though, that was what slayed me! My poor heart may never recover!

I absolutely loved the new lore on magic and history we got for the four kingdoms as well. I began to suspect that the magic-madness was tied to Rovial about half way through but I was happy with the reveal and his siblings regret of their actions. Their solution of sacrificing their own magic was the only peaceful way the kingdoms couldve moved forward, though I feel for Arin and Sefa suffering since it took ten years.

Overall a thoroughly enjoyable duology that is perfect for fans of romantasy wanting to break away from fae princes and faerie courts! I would highly reccommend to anyone looking to branch out into fantasy inspired by different cultures.

From the very beginning, I was taken on a journey that took my heart and mind through so much intensity - from the quiet, sincere moments of connection and understanding to the raw, heart aching intensity that seemed to echo off the page. Each character, from Sylvia to Arin and back, felt so real that by the end, I was living alongside them. Sara Hashem's storytelling is beautifully crafted and powerful throughout the pages of "The Jasad Crown." I finished the final chapter with streams of tears running down my face and a sense of change within. This book isn't just a story - it's an experience. One I'll carry with me for a very long time.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for granting me the honor of reading the advance e-copy of "The Jasad Crown." And thank you to Sara Hashem for it all.

Just so beautiful and tragic - and beautiful again with the epilogue,
Arin waiting around for her, i need more after that in their happy and peaceful love era travelling the world 🥺

also in absouote tears over Marek 😭

jeru and sefa - the mvps

First, I want everyone to read this two-book, Egyptian-inspired fantasy series. It is so unique and I loved all the characters.

Second, I had to take a few days after I read this because it had me in all my feels.

The first book was more narrowly focused on the Jasad Heir and the Nizhal Heir, but the second book spreads the story out to more characters (Marek, Sefa, and Jeru!) and goes into more depth on the rest of the kingdoms. There was so much world building in this second book that I almost thought it could benefit from being split into a third book.

I loved these characters and I loved this story, but it was definitely heart-wrenching! Sara Hashem does not pull her punches. Maybe more akin to a Throne of Glass “happy ending” than, say, an ACOTAR. I can’t wait to go back and read it again and pick up on all the little details I missed the first time through.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Absolutely brilliant! My most anticipated read and it delivered!The Jasad Crown is absolutely phenomenal — a breathtaking fantasy that had me spellbound from the very first page. Sara Hashem creates a world that is rich, brutal, and beautifully layered, filled with magic, rebellion, and unforgettable characters. The heroine is fierce yet vulnerable, and her journey of survival, loyalty, and power is written with such depth and heart that I couldn’t look away. Every twist hit perfectly, the stakes felt real, and the tension (both romantic and political) was perfectly balanced. Hashem’s storytelling is bold, emotional, and utterly immersive. This is a must-read for anyone who loves fantasy that cuts deep and lingers long after the final chapter. ALL THE STARS!one of my favourite duologies and can't wait to read more by this author!

I absolutely adored this sequel. Sara has such a beautiful way of writing a strong FMC who is both witty and smart. Not to mention the brooding MMC we all adore. The tension and yearning between Arin and Sylvia was a level 10! The epilogue absolutely broke me but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

________________________________________________________

My heart shattered into a million pieces, and she somehow brought it back together.

HOLY SHIT, MS SARA HASHEM, THE ENDING????? OH MY GOD????? WERE WE ROBBED, OR DID YOU ROB US????? IN THE MOST HARROWING WAY???? EVERYTHING FIT PERFECTLY, BUT OH MY GOD?????

Okay, well. This book picks up right where the previous one ended. Your thirst to know about everything gets quenched.
One certain plot twist had me stop reading and get up because that's how shocked I was. Could I have seen it coming? Possibly. Did I? No.

I've said this before, and I'll say it again, THIS IS THE ENEMIES TO LOVERS STORY.

I've loved the relationship Sylvia and Arin had from the very beginning, and my love only deepened here. The angst will keep you on your toes. Whenever Arin opens his mouth to speak about Sylvia, all he reveals is how in love he is. Sylvia falls no short. I love how the power scales are equal. Both our leads are still as D A U N T I N G as ever.

I fell in love with the worldbuilding. The stories weaved on paper are like specks of snow on a cold wintry morning. Utterly mesmerising. The detailing and care woven into creature descriptions? Consider me impressed. Sara Hashem KNOWS how to write an enthralling story. The pacing in this book was chef's kiss.

Oh, how Marek and Sefa have my whole heart. I fell in love with every little titbit the author shared.
You get to learn so much about their past.

And Arin's guardsmen? Jeru? Wes? My babies too. Nothing but respect and love.
Vaun can throw himself off a cliff.

The new characters we were introduced to? Cinnamon? Maia? Lateef? Namsa? MA'AM, WHY DID WE NOT KNOW THEM IN BOOK 1????

Even the precious kitmers? And how one certain kitmer has an affinity towards one special character???

One despicable character... gets what they deserve. The scene was a little too handsy, and I was here for it. (IFYKYK)

There's a lot of depth and gore introduced in the finale of this duology. I irrevocably fell in love with it. Ms Sara has joined my list of must-read authors. A must-read if you like a fantasy with TRUE enemies to lovers and exceptional pacing.

I generously thank the publisher, Orbit, for providing me with an eARC of “The Jasad Crown” in accordance with NetGalley.

________________________________________________________

LOVED this book!! I love how it picks up quickly after the events of the first book, and all of the political intrigue in this book. I was never bored reading this book and was always hungry for more. Having Arin’s POV was such a delight and I also enjoyed Sefa and Marek’s POV too.

The character development of Essiya and Arin was so nice to see, and I loved to see their growth. I liked how in retrospect, there was quite a bit of foreshadowing and hints in the first book, so it was fun to see all those strings get tied in this book.

As for the ending, it was bittersweet, I wish we got to see more insight to Sefa and Jeru, but I also wish we got to see more Arin and Essiya. The last lines were perfect, but I’d love to see them both together without all the chaos and live out their dream life.

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit!! I’m already planning a reread of the duology.

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy.

The Jasad Crown was one of my most anticipated books of the year, and it was worth the wait. This book further explores characters from the Jasad Heir and weaves storylines together as we learn more about each person. Sara is an expert storyteller, and one of my favorite parts of this book was the magic and the creativity in magical gifts as well as magical creatures. It's impossible not to root for the two main characters and their relationship as they show such devotion to each other in this book.

Overall, this is a standout duology and I look forward to future novels by Sara.

It's amazing! Truly epic. From the very first page. Personally, this is my favorite etl duology ever. No joke. I don't want to give too much away, but if you loved or even just liked The Jasad Heir, you will definitely love this sequel. I think most people will find book 2 even better than book 1, as there's never a dull moment this time around and there's a lot of action, twists, & turns, as everything comes together in a rather masterful way. I've read the first book several times and had a lot of theories going into this one. I was right about several of them, which felt like a rewarding payoff since I paid attention to all those details in TJH. Even with that said, there were a lot of things I did not expect as well. I was shocked & blown away. And of course, I totally fell in love with Arin in this one. You get A LOT of his perspective this time around & those were all my favorite chapters. .... My only complaint is I didn't want it to end, and although the last lines are perfection, I wish there was even more revealed after the end point. We need more epilogues, lol. Overall, this was a perfect conclusion to The Jasad Heir & is everything I've ever wanted in an enemies to lovers fantasy read. (Other than the fact that I didn't want it to end & basically needed at least one more chapter to really solidify the happy ending & tie up some lingering questions due to the events of the final chapter.) With that said, thank you for allowing me to read this! I loved it so much!!

I have no words. This book was terribly brilliant in equal measure. The yearning, the tension, the longing, and eventually the heartbreak—I haven't read a book that's kept me awake at night thinking and sobbing like this since The Burning God. At times, I couldn't stop flipping the pages, and then at other times, I was scared.

I love that the book dove deeper into characters we never got to see before, and that we got to see more of Arin's past and the relationships that shaped him into the man he is. Sara had an incredible range of characters, amazingly strong both physically and mentally. Her power system was so thoroughly planned out to the last detail. This book contained such intricate political intrigue between the kingdoms that I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.

The ending absolutely destroyed me, right when I thought the worst had come to pass, it was like a knife had stabbed me in the same place. I kept telling myself that I should expect the worst, and the characters basically told me too, but my pure heart wouldn't let me.

Absolutely gut-wrenching yet also a perfect conclusion to the story (that I dont want to accept.) Thank you Sara for writing this!

12 million stars, no notes, exceptional, perfect, GUT WRENCHING, emotional turmoil abounds, I will suffer for this series for the rest of my existence.

Thank you for everyone who allowed me to read my absolutely most anticipated future book in advance!
This one delivered so much, I am still recovering from all of the emotion.
I am glad to have been part of this journey and knowing these amazing characters. I am a little sad selfishly because I would be glad to hear from them again and I definitely want more. Sara Hashem is one of the most talented authors I have had the pleasure to come across and I would eagerly anticipating anything coming from her in the future.
Not to spoil anything, the writing is exceptionally beautiful and meaningful and it made scenes and interactions that in many other books come across as forced to be organic, effective, and really hit all the feels. Arin and Essiya forever have my heart and their developed especially of the former is one of the best I have encountered in fiction and trust me I have read a lot.
The middle portion of the book from chapter 18 until the training "montages" in the mountains made me as emotional as I haven't believed a novel could.
The only thing I am uncertain about and might have to sit with for a while is a particular twist near the ending that to me changed a bit too much for a certain character at a very late stage and I feel like a portion of the ending could be a little longer.
But I wouldn't change and trade this duology for the world and it would forever sit in my heart as one of the deepest and most meaningful depiction of love I have ever seen.
I could only hope I would have the luck to find anything remotely resembling the feelings it gave me.

The highly anticipated sequel to The Jasad Heir did not disappoint.

Disclaimer: I read this book as an e-book via NetGalley and Orbit Books. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Wow! That is really all I have left to say after finishing this high-powered sequel.

There was a lot to love about this sequel. I really enjoyed the additional POV's we got from characters from the first book. I felt like they added a lot of layering and nuance to the story and kept things fresh even during times of slowdowns in the pacing.

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.

I felt like all the little sub plots entwined with each individual characters POV blended well and organically to the main storyline. Each character's POV was equally as entertaining for me, and I was never disappointed when any of them came up. I was always interested in with those characters were up to.

The romance between Essiya and Arin continue to be slow burn and heat up over the course of the book. I feel like the author did a really good job about making the romance intriguing and interesting, but not overwhelming the overall fantasy story with it. It felt like the fantasy definitely came first and the romance was sub plot. Which I really liked about this.

Based on this time left in the book and where I felt I sat at the end, I was a little concerned the ending was going to feel rushed. It did not feel rushed, but yet it did not feel overly descriptive either. But that was OK with me because it gave me what I needed from the ending and it was satisfying in my opinion. The ending was sufficiently emotional, and I did find myself shedding a few tears at parts of the ending. In fact, me and Sarah Hashem might have some beef about a couple things that hurt my feels. 😉

This is just a personal point, I do kind of wish this duology had been broken up and released as a trilogy. Partially for pacing reasons and partially because I'm selfish and wanted to sit with this longer. But for what it was as a duology, it worked really well and I enjoyed myself quite a bit.

Book Stats:
📖: 688 Pages
✍️: Sarah Hashem
Genre: Fantasy
Series: 2nd in a Duology
Themes: self discovery, family, morality, colonization
Gore: Light
Spice: 🌶️ closed door sex scene, general kissing scenes

Thank you so much to Orbit & NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was in the middle of rereading The Jasad Heir when my request for this arc has been approved and let me tell you I was bursting with happiness. I was dying to know what was going to happen to my babies: Sylvia and Arin.
A little warning, this review contains spoilers.
If I am to describe what I felt while reading this book , I would not be able to settle on a singular emotion. It was truly a roller-coaster, one moment I would be sad, then I would be squeaking in delight, then I would cry. Mostly crying actually because my Arin and Sylvia suffered SO MUCH. The happy moments between them were almost insignificant compared to the number of times they were in pain. I was bawling my eyes out whenever their suffering was described and I have to give it to Sara, she made an excellent job at making every emotion realistic .
Although there were so many plot twists and truths revealed along the way, I feel that a few actions weren’t properly explained or the reasons behind them did not align with the story itself.
Moving onto a happier note, I appreciated the new creatures, which were presented, their personalities and involvement in the story.
Also, seeing certain characters through someone else’s eyes changed my opinion on them as we got chapters from other POVs.
Honestly, I am quite disappointed by the ending, after everything they went through, including several years apart from each other, all we get is a chapter full of grief and eventual reunion with only one line. The characters as well as the readers deserved better, at least a few pages describing their new life together, happy and safe. I waited about two years for this book to come out, and it broke my heart, all the hope and envisioned outcomes have been disintegrated. Sara, I beg you, give us a peak into their earned happiness, something to help the story end smoother.

The Jasad Crown is my favorite book of 2025. Yes, I know we haven’t even made it to the halfway point of the year.

Alright, spoiler-free review here, folks. First, a huge thank you to Sara Hashem, NetGalley and everyone involved in granting me an advanced reader copy!

I read The Jasad Heir earlier this year, and it only came across my radar thanks to some fan art of Arin on Instagram (silver-haired fictional men are my weakness.) It’s an absolute crime that I didn’t know about The Jasad Heir any sooner, and I’ll be happy to call my representatives and encourage them to consider passing legislation that mandates that every fantasy-romance reader learn about The Jasad Heir’s existence.

See, The Jasad Heir immediately shot up to one of my favorite books of all time, period. It’s the reason I’ve finished so few books since. I just could not get our dearest Sylvia/Essiya, Arin, Sefa and Marek out of my head.

The Jasad Crown picks up right where we left off, and it demands you sprint to its end, not because you want it to be over, but because putting it down feels impossible.

Sara Hashem boldly set some high stakes in the first book, and has the courage to see it through, delivering a conclusion that feels as real as the world she has created. I promise you’ll be satisfied, even if you’re tempted, as I am, to plead for her to write even just a few more pages to her ending. It’s a selfish desire, and this is not to suggest she left things incomplete.

Where do I begin to talk about my love for Sylvia? She feels less burdened in this book despite all that weighs on her. Or, perhaps it’s not that she’s less burdened, but that she is better at allowing herself to love and be loved after the events of the first book. As a result, we get to see more of her lightness, her softness, despite committing herself to a cause she had long tried to run from and now has to reckon with feelings of inadequacy and guilt because of it.

And don’t get me wrong. I don’t need softness to adore Sylvia. Her ability to be harsh, to be unapologetic in her strength, to live comfortably in her unlikeableness, to chase selfishness – in sum, to exist in opposition to what our society deems worthy in women – is in part what made The Jasad Heir so compelling.

But it’s Arin who is absolutely going through it in The Jasad Crown, which is saying something considering the cards Sylvia is dealt. Sara Hashem pushed this man into a hole, dumped dirt over him with her shovel, and said, “Climb out.”

And he did.

Arin was Sylvia’s foil in The Jasad Heir, his calculated nature, certainty in his duty and tight reins over his emotions contrasting with her wildness, her fears and temper. In The Jasad Crown, he's the thunder growing increasingly louder outside your window, full of turmoil and complexity, and eventually, the lightning striking down. It was a delight to truly see what Arin is capable of.

For my fellow lovers of pining and yearning who were raised on Pride and Prejudice (2004), my God, this book delivers. I’m also going to need more authors to write fight/combat scenes between their leads the way Sara Hashem does, please and thank you. Sylvia and Arin’s incredible chemistry somehow grows in this book.

What is an unexpected but delightful treat is getting to spend more time with Sefa and Marek, whose journeys in The Jasad Crown reveal so much more about them. They are just so precious, and the friendship between them and Sylvia is so wholesome and healing. Also, separate but related, and you’ll understand why when you read: Vaida deserves her own book!

A book rarely makes me cry, but I was by The Jasad Crown’s end. I’m grateful for the experience of being moved so deeply, and I honestly only crawled out of this post-The Jasad Crown haze to write this review. I cannot wait to do a reread, but for now, I’m going back to bed to sob that it’s over.

Sara Hashem, WHAT have you done to me. I'm ruined beyond repair. This is such a beautiful sequel and conclusion to The Jasad Heir. I was broken and shattered into thousands of pieces, put back together again, went through the emotional wringer, and at times wanted to rip my hair out. I haven't had this much of a visceral, emotional reaction to a book in a very long time but it was glorious. This book picks up where the first leaves off, in the fever of betrayal and Sylvia's grand reveal (to say the least).

The tone and plot of this book is darker and more complex than the first-- the stakes are higher, and the angst is angsty. Exhibit A: Sylvia, the wonderful and endlessly stubborn Sylvia. She embodies power and rage, and she was such a badass in this book. Her magic was fascinating and jaw dropping at times - it was clear in the first book that she had extreme power, but I was still blown away.

Now onto Arin, who will forever be in my list of all time favorite MMCs. There are not enough words in the dictionary to describe how much I love this man, and he had so much growth in this book. He was so afraid to love, so afraid to be vulnerable, and to watch how he changed over time was so heartwarming, especially in the wake of Sylvia's "betrayal" to him. I can't even count how many times I was grinning ear to ear. It's never smooth sailing with Arin and Sylvia, but this book shows just how far the two can fall and still persist and overcome.

Listen, there was a little more misery and suffering than I would've liked in this book. I finished this book two days ago and had to take some time before writing the review and I've found myself actually staring at a wall thinking about how beautifully gut-wrenching this book was - especially!!! the ending. But one thing is undeniably clear - Sara Hashem has written a masterpiece of a duology and this book made me feel a lot - a LOT - of things. I still can't believe this was her debut series, and I simply cannot wait to see what she writes in the future - I am a forever fan. She is such a talented author, and this book was truly spectacular.

Thank you so much to Orbit and NetGalley for this ARC!!

My Selling Pitch:
Enemies to lovers at its very best. Tamora Pierce’s spiritual successor. A must read for Throne of Glass fans.

Pre-reading:
Probably my most anticipated release in years. I can’t be held responsible for my actions if these two crazy kids don’t end up together.

(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
No, because what do you mean the epilogue is Aaron 10 years later. No one‘s allowed to die, Sara!

Well thank god, our boyfriend made maps of all the mountains then.

Put him back on the page now. I don’t want them separated.

Don’t you cinnamon boy me. Don’t you dare give me a love triangle. I swear to god, Sara.

The way my jaw dropped. I know we’ve been calling her a siren all book, but I didn’t think we were gonna go to Waterworld!

Sara, don’t give us a new man. Get him off of the page.

The metaphors are still so awkward sometimes. I know she’s going for a ye old fantasy, but like they don’t work and come off cringe A LOT.

No, I don’t care about her best friends! Put my kids on the page!

This better not be a romance between her and Sefa, I swear to god. We don’t give the rape victim a would be rapist for a love interest.

Vaida’s such a toothy villain.

I like that she reminded us about the ring.

Oh cool, so we’re definitely voting, and he’s definitely getting impeached.

Immediately, yes to Layla.
but also get away from our boyfriend.

OH GIRL, ME TOO, SHIT.

God, he's so in love with her. Sara, please be kind to us.

Oh my god, is he turning the cuffs into a sword?

Why would he be outfitting swords against Vaida? So he can frame her for starting a war?

Imagine you gotta pee in the middle of the night and you gotta go down four flights.

Not the I’m an empath bullshit.

Love how he’s already decided he has to lie to his dad because he’s still in love with her.

She said let’s make it clear homeboy is a capital H HERO.

The Jasad Crown: Monster Yehaw edition
Sara Hashem: monster cowboy romance 😂

Sir, they are framing you to get you stripped of your title.

JUST KISS
but also oh my god, we are being fed. Mr. and Mrs. Smith, who?

The irrational anger I feel when it’s not one of their chapters together-
Like I understand. We got balls in the air. We’re not even at 30%, but like put them back on the page now.

Vaida is such. A. Good. Villain.

Oh my god, has he been mining magic for his dad’s scepter this whole time? Oh my god, my mind is blown. Like we knew the dad was evil. We knew the scepter had magic. I don’t think I ever made the leap that Arin’s drained magic had to go somewhere.

what if I told you that none of this was accidental? 🎶

Oh my god, Sara. Sara. Sara, you did that. Sara, you hid that for an entire book. Sara, we’re only at 32%. Sara, have mercy.

The way I feel like an idiot sandwich for never even considering that.

If Cinnamon doesn’t back the fuck off our girl. Arin rode a whole-ass firebird. What did he do? Take his shirt off and have a bad haircut? Purple shampoo boyfriend would never.

Sounds like Cinnamon’s magic is more Lukub leaning.

TO WHATEVER END

They’re such perfect foils.

Where your clothes at?

Me, every time they interact: this is my favorite chapter
Me, the next chapter they interact: this is my new favorite chapter

Dude, how do you write a prince this good your first time out of the gate?

She tries to kill Arin because he’s the source of Rawain’s power and that’s why he can’t bear for him to die, and the book is gonna end with Sylvia having to kill Arin to stop Rawain, but like no! (So happy to be wrong.)

Miss Sara really said none of you have been asking the right questions. Let me spell them out for you. I said Miss Sara, I was trying to keep up with all the names and the politics, but like oh my god, I love a political fantasy. Spot the lawyer. We love to see it.

She’s so good at creating tension and reasons why they can’t shenanigan, but like Sara, they’re perfect for each other. Please let my children be happy by the end of this.

SHUT UP. The screech that left me.

This book SEXY.
They’re so vicious and hungry and in love. This is how you do equality in a relationship. Like this is what I want.
Good god, what a chapter.

She’s like let’s break up the tension so people keep reading with these side characters, and I’m like I don’t care about them. Sara, put my kids on the screen.
It’s just making me resent them because I only ever want dialogue between Sylvia and Arin. Like I’m loving the plot. I love how many balls we have in the air, but like I have figured out the book I’m pretty sure, and everything else is superfluous and I just need my children together. (I ran through this book for the romance.)

Also, she would have to butcher the ending so badly for me to not give this five stars.
Like this is-
We are feasting.

Marek reminds me so much of Aedion.

Also, you can’t convince me the series isn’t for the Celaena Dorian fans. They said give us a vicious hidden queen and a prince with anti-magic hands. And fucking ruin ‘em.

This has the same like young adult/new adult edge riding to it because nothing dirty is happening, but like it’s very adult in all the politics going on, and like she turned up the gore, she turned up the romance of the first book. Like I’m having such a good time!

They’re gonna win, and it’s gonna further destroy confidence in Arin or it’ll be seen as treason if he lets her go, and omg, just let mom and dad be together!

Sara, no one in this book is allowed to die. Oh no. Oh no. Oh no oh no oh no

Give it to your boyfriend. He’ll crack it. (Lowkey bummed there wasn’t a coded message.)

She really took every criticism of book one and said you didn’t give me enough time. Flat side characters? Not anymore. No magic world-building? Not anymore. Plot holes? You weren’t asking the right questions.

Sara, I told you no one was allowed to die!

The way this is so well paced. I am gooped and gagged at 50%, and I’m also like daddy’s home.

DADDY’S HOME.

this book is drugs.
All gas, no breaks.

Oh, the stupid grin on my face.
KICKING MY LITTLE FEET.

Your honor, I cannot be held responsible for my actions.

The way my jaw dropped. Emily Henry who? We have a new best romance quote.

Uh, no magic means they can touch. Guys. Guys!

Tamora Pierce would be proud of this book.

Ma’am, this is better than Realm of the Gods and that was pretty much my standard for perfect fantasy.

You know, normally I would be complaining and be like you guys need to put a Band-Aid on before you get to it, but like I’ve been waiting for so long-

Ma’am, that is not the wood you should be touching!

This book is just dropping bar after bar.

Yarros wishes she could write this dynamic.

They’re not allowed to die, Sara!

This book would make Tamora Pierce smile.
This is so good.

Don’t tell me Arin and Sylvia are going to 4 x 4. We’re not doing this. I’m not happy. (I tried to figure out this book the whole time like-)

This would make Game of Thrones TV. Like it’s so good.

Me, eyeing the chapter headings, knowing I don’t get to be with my children for a hot minute in a second, and I’m not pleased.

No, but it’s fine because she’s not dead because there’s more chapters and Marek is on his way to rescue her, and everyone has to live, Sara!

Oh, what the fuck is Vaun up to? Actually, I changed my mind. Sara, you can kill that one.

I don’t think anyone saw that coming, and it was right there the whole time because none of us ask questions, and this book is insane.

The way both of his parents went after our girl-

Game of Thrones fuckin’ wishes. Saraaaaa

I know she’s long, but the sheer amount of plot we’ve crammed into this book, and romance, and banger quotes, and genuine plot twists.

Vaida is SUCH a good villain.

She said I’m walking depression lmao.

How do you ethically have her magic?

What if none of this was accidental 🎶

SJM wishes she could hide her reveals like this.

Why are we letting Vaun listen to this? He can’t survive this if he’s a traitor. Like-
Oh, I knew, but sad!
The way my tears pricked.

I think somehow he thinks he can raise the Fortress instead of Sylvia, but like neither of them are allowed to die!

The amount of head injuries they give this man-

There’s such Tangled vibes to this series, and it’s giving you were my new dream, and I’m not prepared for this book to hurt me like this! There’s 20% left. There’s quite a bit left, but like oh my god, they’re not allowed to die!

I’m not convinced Sefa is Sefa. (Would’ve been another gut punch of a twist tbh.)

We don’t deserve this man.

The Jasadi kissing the ground after riding Gyarados, but all I can think of is Katy Perry.

If this is like a when did your heart go missing🎶 I’m gonna be angry.

I feel like he still has the cuffs and they haven’t used them yet so maybe? But I hate a girlypop gives up her powers plotline.

OK, well, that made me cry. Goddamnit Sara! I know people had to die so we would take it seriously, but ow!

What do you mean the last time, Sara? Sara. Sara, this isn’t funny.

Also, what about Raya?

This like plot twist! she’s a god! is kind of a letdown compared to all the other ones that genuinely surprised me. I’m like yeah, we knew from book one. What do you mean? This was obviously where we were going. Book one was not subtle about it.

That book took absolutely everything out of me.

I love that the solution isn’t girl loses her powers, but I really wanted a kiss at the end. I needed a little more romance there actually, ma’am. I wanted to know what magic he got. I would like another book actually.

Oh my god, that was still so good.

Post-reading:
Sara Hashem you did that.
Girl.
Girrrrrrl.

This is fantasy romance. This is how you do enemies to lovers. This is how you do yearning.

I couldn’t put it down.

It has so many genuine twists that I don’t think people will see coming and the fact that she managed to set all that up in book one and hide it for that long is incredible.

It’s cinematic. The monsters feel original.

The couple are such perfect foils for one another, and it leads to a really nuanced examination of nature vs nurture and questioning the politics you’re raised with. The dialogue is top-tier.

It’s such twisty, political maneuvering, and it was so entertaining to read. The side characters get their own satisfying arcs. The world-building continues. We get a satisfying, albeit not very original magic structure. It’s so well-paced.

It was just everything I wanted the series to be. She’s an auto-buy author. Absolutely devastated that I don’t have another book to pick up. I’m not ready to be done with this world.

Who should read this:
Fantasy lovers
Enemies to lovers fans
Tamora Pierce fans
Throne of Glass fans

Ideal reading time:
Anytime

Do I want to reread this:
Immediately.

Would I buy this:
Multiple copies, babe. Every special edition they make? Yeah, she’s a need not a want.

Similar books:
* The Immortals by Tamora Pierce-YA fantasy romance
* Alanna by Tamora Pierce-YA fantasy romance
* Throne of Glass by Tamora Pierce-YA fantasy romance
* Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo-YA urban fantasy, ensemble cast, heist
* Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent-YA fantasy romance
* Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros-NA fantasy romance
* This Dark Descent by Kalyn Josephson-YA urban fantasy, political, urban fantasy, ensemble cast
* Sons of Darkness by Gourav Mohanty-myth retelling, political fantasy, ensemble cast

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.