Thank you to Orbit Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

In short: 5/5, highly recommended.

The Jasad Crown is the sequel to The Jasad Heir in The Scorched Throne duology and picks off directly after the first book ended. While the first book is mainly from Sylvia’s point of view aside from a few chapters, this book follows multiple characters. The expansion of POVs was excellent for keeping the reader engaged in multiple storylines that span in parallel, which granted an improvement in pacing from the first book. Not only did this flesh out more characters, but it also used that opportunity to emphasize the image of the world. Sara Hashem paints the kingdoms with a vivid brush, going into details about bright colors and small details that give a breathing heart to the character’s surroundings.

The strongest thing that stood out to me were Sylvia and Arin. Their characterizations were so strong that one could identify them a hundred miles away. You know exactly who they are, and the additional POVs only strengthen that feeling by exploring deeper into their thoughts and history.

My favorite part was the deep respect that Sylvia and Arin had for each other throughout the book. Despite being in opposition to each other, they both go through parallels with leadership, whether it’s dealing with a council, doubting their own abilities, or unraveling their kingdom’s mysteries. They both hold each other in high esteem and never underestimate each other. They have a wariness due to this respect, and Sylvia often describes their interactions as burning embers waiting to catch. I was holding my breath every time they spoke in the first half, just waiting for the flames to blaze.

The additional POVs also add thoughts of side characters into the mix (not naming them to avoid spoilers). I thought this was a great way to flesh out these characters and keep the reader informed about the other events around the world at the same time without having an exposition dump. I do have a soft spot for them, so I greatly appreciated seeing their internal thoughts.

Yes, there were a few things I wanted more of (more time with an ending, another epilogue, please…), but I have to give this a 5/5 because my emotions were a roller coaster the entire time. I was giggling, gasping, placing my hand over my mouth, and reading until the late hours of the night. It put me in a haze when I wasn’t reading, one foot in the book and one foot out. For that, I highly recommend this duology as a whole.

I’m still reeling from The Jasad Crown. I went in expecting a strong continuation, but I was absolutely stunned by how much depth and complexity Sara Hashem wove into this sequel. The high fantasy elements are elevated to a staggering degree, layered with rich lore, intense magic, and intricate war politics that felt both intelligent and emotionally resonant.

The plot unfolds with masterful pacing, immersing you in strategic battles, shifting alliances, and high-stakes political maneuvering. This book introduced multiple POVs, all equally crucial for how the story is set to unfold. Every twist felt earned, every moment heavy with meaning. Ms. Hashem doesn’t just build a world, she breathes life into it.

And the love story 🥹💔, the love story was chaotic, gut-wrenching, and utterly beautiful. It destroyed every fiber of my being. Tender moments were laced with tension, heartbreak shadowed every hope. I don't know why my type in MMCs is always the sad boys, but Arin of Nizahl can throw me off a bridge any day if it means his grief will dissipate with me 😭.

What truly broke me were the characters, all of them! I didn’t just read their pain; I felt it. I ached with them, hoped with them, and ultimately, I cried for them. The ending left me heartbreakingly shattered, in the best way. It’s bittersweet to leave this world behind. I almost wish I could stay a little longer, just to help the characters heal, and to heal with them.

This series has cemented itself as a standout in high fantasy. Absolutely unforgettable. Sara Hashem is now on my automatic buy list!

First off, a huge thank you to Orbit Books, NetGalley and Sara Hashem for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Second, what do you mean it’s over?? This GORGEOUS beautiful work of art duology is finished and I don’t know what to do with myself!

The Jasad Crown picks up right from the ending of the Jasad Heir and the story that is woven throughout this book rivals many of the fantasies that I have loved and obsessed over. The way Hashem weaved each of these characters together, their back stories, their dreams, their downfalls. Oh my gosh, I will not be forgetting this story for a long time. Tied in with the inspirations from Egypt and the little bits of culture filling every page, just add to the emotions you will feel throughout this book.
Sylvia is such a powerful female character and seeing her grow into her role and make decisions that benefited all, not just some was so inspiring. The fact that she spent so much time thinking she was alone when in reality she just wasn’t where she needed to be yet. Not to mention, her humour and timing of her little jokes was iconic and had me giggling often.
Arin. The man that you are, that you became, that you proved to Sylvia. The fact that we got a pledge to her specifically and a my wife comment will be satisfying my swooning heart for a while. I loved that we got more of his POV, truly saw into that insane mind of his.
And Sefa, oh my gosh. This poor girl has been through so much and while I’m happy with her character arc and new position in the kingdoms, my heart hurts for what she lost. While the ending didn’t give us a whole lot about the extended future, I hope she is able to find happiness despite everything.

Overall, this second instalment was phenomenal, I could not have asked for a better conclusion to the story. Fans of the Throne of Glass series by SJM, the Artefacts of Ouranos series by Nisha J Tuli, and the Red Queen series by Victoria Aveyard will definitly enjoy this duology.

I have been waiting a long time for this book, and it was perfection! Hashem wrote a brilliant ending to this duology, and I loved every minute of it.

One of my favorite aspects of Hashem’s writing is its smooth flow. She has a way of ending each chapter, as if it’s a little cliff-hanger. You have to keep going to find out what happens. Her way with words is fluid and addictive. I love how she expanded this world and added all these mystical creatures. Not only that, but the character development for many characters also surpassed what I had hoped for.

The romance in this book is so good, and has a tinge of star-crossed lovers. It feels like the time is never right, and things can never work out. The moments they pretend to hate each other, but deep down love each other, add many tension-filled moments. This romance is the enemies-to-lovers that I crave in my reading. They are both determined to do right by their people, even if it comes at the cost of their happiness. The last 20% of this book had me on the edge of my seat and STRESSED.

Hashem’s writing shines in this book. This book is chunky, and I never felt it. She weaves the story and characters so flawlessly. I highly recommend this duology. It will be among some of my favorite books!

Thank you, Orbit, for the physical ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

“I spent my life frightened by the sound of my own name. I folded the parts of me the world did not want into as small a piece as I could manage, and I hoped time would take it away. Magic is not all we are, but it is all they were willing to see. Their fear tore us apart, and our fear destroyed what remained. Today, we turn their fear against them. We reclaim what was taken, and we do it loudly. We will not shrink. We will not hide. Hear me well, and hear me true: this will not be another Jasad War.”

At the moment (one of which I just got done crying like a big baby), I feel like I don’t have the proper words to describe how incredible this story was.

It feels so bittersweet when you read the final book of a duology - it seems like you haven’t had a chance to spend as much time as you’d have liked with the characters and world you grew to love, but also being so deeply impacted by those same things in just two books is a feeling you’ll never tired of. When I say reading can be so much more powerful than we can imagine, stories like The Jasad Crown is what I mean. I do not want to say goodbye, but I’m so thankful to have known Essiya, Arin, Marek, Sefa & crew. To have read their stories is to know love.

Sara Hashem has created something so beautiful with this duology. The character development, the politics, the magic system - it’s everything you could hope for in a fantasy novel. The vulnerability of the characters in The Jasad Crown is tangible - beware, it will likely leave you in tears (we love vulnerability though so it’s worth it). And just as much as we love vulnerability, we loveeee tension. The tension between Arin & Essiya had me kicking my feet and turning the pages so fast to see if they’d finally give in 😂 I also have to acknowledge the incident with the ball of sand and the way it made me cackle. I just love them so much! Arin has absolutely moved his way up on my book boyfriend list - Sara blew the “touch her & d!e” trope out of the water with him. She also gave me two new besties, Sefa and Marek 🫶🏻

I hope you guys give this duology a chance - it will not disappoint. Thank you to the author for creating a such a wonderful story with strong character development, a unique magic system, and thought provoking politics.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read and review this eARC.

This book was absolutely amazing. The stakes from the Jasad Heir only got higher in this sequel. There was so much angst, betrayal, and heartbreak. Sara is such a talented author and her writing makes everything feel so real. Despite being a long book, I enjoyed every minute of it. There was never a dull moment. I will be telling everyone to pick up this sequel and it is my top book of the year. 6/5 stars!!

If you’ve been following me for any amount of time, chances are you’ve heard me gushing about The Jasad Heir. Well I am here to announce the sequel is just as good, maybe even better!! I already know that this is the best book I’ll read all year, maybe the best book ever. This duology is so sooo special to me and nothing will ever fill the Arin and Sylvia void in my heart.

Sara Hashem somehow managed to raise every stake in this sequel. The angst, the turmoil, the betrayal, the twists, the political conflict, the yearning!! Honestly feels like she pried open my brain, saw what was inside, and gave me my dream book. I absolutely adore enemies to lovers to enemies, but it’s rarely done well. BUT The Jasad Crown not only delivered, but superseded my expectations.

Every character’s arc was so meticulously written. I have never been this emotionally invested in side characters before! Sefa’s storyline in particular stood out to me so much, I love my gentle girl!! And while found family is a trope I tend to get bored with, it felt so natural in this??! Like they would all die for each other ok! Obviously found family leaves lots of room for pain and tears, and that’s all I’m gonna say about that!

And I obviously have to mention the romance! The bloody, heartbreaking, vengeful, angsty, gritty, sick and twisted romance!! Sylvia and Arin are two sides of the same coin (one might even say two swords meeting on a battlefield 😏) and their dynamic is delicious!! I love smart, hot enemies who know each other so well, meaning they know exactly how to best hurt each other. Whether that’s with a vicious barb or a dagger dug into an old injury, they’re constantly observing each other!! This sequel did one of my favorite things, forcing characters who love each other to be enemies and outmaneuver each other 💔 I also liked(?? not really bc it was painful) that we got more of Arin’s childhood and story bc WOW. Rawain, when I catch you!!

It would be remiss of me to not mention the epilogue, but I can’t even speak of it without bawling like a baby. Up there with TID epilogue because it was just pure emotional devastation. I mean how could [redacted bc of spoilers] 😔

I am honestly shocked that I came out of this experience alive, but just know that there are broken shards of me scattered throughout the book’s pages. I’m genuinely fearful for when I start transferring my kindle highlights to my physical copy 😭

A solid 4.5 stars from me. The lore, politics, and character arcs in this final book were rich and carefully crafted. I loved the multiple POVs and the emotional stakes, the angst and yearning were definitely a highlight.

That said, some plot points felt unnecessary, and a few things weren’t explained as clearly as I’d hoped. The ending especially left me conflicted; I wanted something neater and more satisfying. If you enjoyed The Jasad Heir, this is absolutely worth reading, just be ready for an emotional wreckage.

Thank you to Orbit Books for the ARC

When I finished The Jasad Heir, I kept wondering: how will Sara bring them all back together again? The lore, politics, worldbuilding, and character arcs were dense and handled with care, but I do think some things could have been executed better. For a sequel and final book, the worldbuilding sometimes felt more like something you'd see in a book one, a bit too introductory at times.

For most of the book, I felt like I was in a constant anxiety chokehold. I just needed all my kids to be safe and for a time, they were.

I really liked the multiple POVs and how each character's development came through their own voice. That said, there were way too many new characters introduced. I had to pause several times to remember who was who. Arin’s arc left my jaw on the floor. Sylvia’s reluctance at the beginning also felt true to her character. I appreciated how her change of heart happened gradually. And her humor was intact, I loved that about her.

Sefa, my soft girl... I loved that scene she got. It was so, so powerful to me. Marek... my angel baby. You will always be loved by me, and I will never forgive Sara for what she did to you. I can never trust her again. I did like that Juru stayed with Sefa afterwards.


I liked that we got a little glimpse of togetherness from our found family before everything fell apart. There were some magic-related plot points that weren’t explained very well, felt like the author just assumed we’d get it. And there were other things we spent too much time on.

This book had me in a chokehold until the very end, but I think Sara lost me there. I was thinking 5 stars until the last stretch, but now... I just can’t. I think she could have given a much neater ending to this duology. The epilogue nearly sent me into cardiac arrest: TEN YEARS? TEN YEARS? I CANNOT. WHAT WAS THE REASON?

The angst and yearning were a solid 10/10 — no notes there, even if I didn’t love the ending. But for the plot, character arcs, and politics? I definitely have notes. Thank you Orbit books and NetGalley for the early reading opportunity.

Sara Hashem when I find you!! I really enjoyed the first book in this series, and I was a little daunted by the size of book 2. Do not fear, dear reader! Hashem packs the second book in this duology with excitement, pain and suffering. As I sit here on my deck WEEPING, I’m realizing I’m probably going to need 3-5 business days to recover. For a slow burn, enemies to lovers and back to lovers BOMBSHELL of a series, check this one out.

Thank you to Orbit books for the advanced copy!

I’ve been searching for a series that makes me obsessed and feel like the Shepard King duology made me feel, and I finally found it in The Scorched Throne series, these two series aren’t similar but they made me feel that desperation to read, the love for the characters, the desire to slow down and spend every waking moment in this series, but at the same time desperate to know what happens. I have million things to say about this series, but I won’t because a lot would be spoilers, so I’ll talk about what little things I loved.

First, Arin and Sylvia, their connection and love for each other is top tier, this is yearning with little payout, this is a slow burn in the best way, and it’s addicting! I could read these two’s story over and over, they way they tested each other, bested each other, and just the pure battle of wills between these two is one of my favorite things to ever read, and this series will easily move into my top of all time because of these two.

I also love how this book focuses on the taking of power, whether political, relationship, or magical, it always has a cost, and it’s cost isn’t always taken out on the person welding it, instead the innocent victims. It’s a reminder that battles can’t be fought alone, no one is better as an island, and true relationships will always be there to save you. This story will stick with me and haunt me forever, and I’ll cherish it so much!

Thank you NetGalley for an e-arc copy of this book.

Let me just say this was EVERYTHING I needed it to be and more! The perfect ending to the duology.

I can’t say too much without spoiling book 1 but if you thought the first book was good? This book outdid itself. This is one that is going to stick with me for a long time coming. The ending was so perfect and the buildup was kept me captivated the entire time.

PLEASE read these books if you haven’t already 10/10 series

“In the measure of monster or man, what tips the scales?”

4.5 ⭐️ I ADORE THIS DUOLOGY and it is severely underrated. Things I loved about this book:

👯‍♂️The characters and found family elements. Sefa, Melek, Jeru, Rory, and so many more characters who love with their WHOLE HEART.

🗡️ A badass FMC who makes a selfless choice - and is constantly battling her internal demons.

🌎 The world building and the world itself; it feels like Aladdin mixed with all of the Egyptian history books I loved reading growing up. The magic, the people, the kingdoms = WOWOWOWOW. Truly everything I love while reading a fantasy book.

🔥The slowburn tension and yearning between the two main characters ACTUALLY gave me butterflies. The love they have for each other is both beautiful and heartbreaking.

My critiques: this book was THICCC! Because of that I do wonder if it could have been 3 books. Because of the length, and a lot more explanation of the world, I feel like it didn’t really grip me until 30% in. But then it TOOK off.

PLZ EVERYONE READ THIS

The Jasad Crown delivers a riveting and emotional finale to the Scorched Throne duology, blending Egyptian-inspired lore with high-stakes intrigue and richly drawn characters. Sylvia’s struggle to reconcile her forbidden alliances, her dangerous magic, and her fractured identity kept me gripped from the first page to the last. The tension between her desire for redemption and Arin’s loyalty to his kingdom creates a compelling dynamic that anchors the story’s sweeping conflict. While a few pacing issues slowed the middle, the climactic battles and Sylvia’s fierce determination to reclaim her home more than made up for it. A satisfying and dramatic conclusion that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

How does it feel to write a perfect book? This is THE series, and I can’t wait to see what more Sara does.

“The most lethal acts in a royal court often happened without shedding a single drop of blood.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My jaw is on the floor and my heart is crushed. I cannot believe this duology is over. The ending has me in such a tizzy that it is hard to get my thoughts in order.

Sylvia and Arin both have such incredible stories and are such complex, well thought out characters. The push pull between them and their true enemies to lovers arc is heart wrenching, beautiful, funny, and messy. They are both those perfectly imperfect characters that it is impossible not to love.

In The Jasad Crown we get Marek and Sefa’s POVs which adds so much depth to an already intricate story. I could not turn the pages fast enough throughout the book - the stress and action does not let up.

This is a must read duology. It is heavier on the political intrigue and epic fantasy, but the romance is still at the center.

Thank you to Orbit Books US for the digital arc. All opinions are my own. Now excuse me while I go cry over the ending again and reread it.

Sylvia has taken refuge with a group of magic-wielding refugees. Sets finds herself in the palace of the Sulyana. Merek finds himself hiding as a soldier. And Arin is still the Champion. Each of them have been scattered after the trials and are facing both their pasts and their futures as they work their way back to each other.
Sylvia must face her magic now that she has access to it, and with it the inevitability of going mad from the amount of power she wields. Can she lead here rebels to freedom and restore Jasad? And what of the relationship she was building with Arin? Does he hate her now for what he might see as a betrayal?

An epic ending to this duology! I loved it!

4.5 stars (rounding up)
Yay! Love a satisfying conclusion to a duology. In my opinion, The Jasad Heir is a criminally underrated enemies-to-lovers Romantasy and I was thrilled with the opportunity to read The Jasad Crown early. The Jasad Crown picks up right where things left with Sylvia (Essiya) and Arin's partnership rocked apart by the truth of who Sylvia. They both struggle with how to proceed knowing who their people think they should be but knowing that role puts them on a path of destroying each other. Everyone's favorite side characters - Sefa and Marek- still feature prominently in book 2 , getting their own POV chapters a few times throughout the book.

The yearning between Sylvia and Arin is SO GOOD and is *chefs kiss* of true enemies-to-lovers. I thought their story played out in a realistic in plausible way as they both grew to understand themselves and therefore their relationship better. The spice remains very low in this book and I would call it a solid pg-13.

The pacing of this book with the first felt about right. Where some authors struggle to contain fantasy plots realistically in 2 books, I thought this was a believable timelines and I was satisfied with how the lose ends wrapped up.

My only major negative was that for me the culture and world building was a little too much. Keeping track of all the terms of the different cultures, the different people groups, the Gods (who play a bigger role in this book then the last), was a lot. Since I had a review e-copy I had no front/back material so I hope that the physical book has a glossary of terms to refer too, which would make it easier reading.

I only had one additional small negative but it is a spoiler so I will leave it at the end of the review.

Overall I immensely enjoyed this conclusion to the series and I can see myself coming back to it again and again. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to review this early!

<spoiler>My last negative was that I wished we had more time with Arin and Sylvia at the end. I felt a little cheated out of the reward of getting a few pages of them together and happy. I'm not a fan of long drawn out epilogues, but I would have preferred a bit more. At the end I was like "what! That's all!??" But that's also a testament to how good it was that I was sad it was over. </spoiler>

DNF

A well crafted story, just too dark for my personal preferences. Another reader might still enjoy this as it is indeed a very interesting and complex political fantasy. We learn more about Arin and Sylvia’s family histories and how their pasts are connected. There are some delicious plot twists that will knock readers off their feet as well as so much tension that will have them holding their breath. I also like that Arin kind of gets a redemption arc. Regarding the romance development, there is a lot of physical violence involved. There’s a particularly brutal scene where if the roles were reversed, I don’t think readers would ever forgive Arin. On that note, strong warning for constant graphic violence and gruesome imagery, which is why I couldn’t continue.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC! After really enjoying the first book, I was very excited for the sequel. It started out strong but unfortunately did not feel as emotionally attached as I did in the first book and the ending was not satisfying. The world building was expanded and lush.

Ahhhh why would you do this to us saraaa... the epilogue was crazy. I wish there was just one more chapter, even if it was a page long ide be happier than I was after reading the end!

Amazing book! I loved the character development with all the characters especially arin! I loved that we got his POV this time round. We got to understand his motives much better. I also loved throughout these two books we got a steady love. A slow burn and even though it was was enemies to lovers their love for eachother remained strong😭. The story building In this book was so much better than the first though Ive got to say the first book is still my favourite!



thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing the advance review copy.