Sara Hashem delivers an unforgettable conclusion in The Jasad Heir duology with a sequel that’s as devastating as it is breathtaking. The Jasad Crown picks up in the immediate aftermath of betrayal, diving into a darker, higher-stakes journey filled with raw emotion, political chaos, and jaw-dropping magic. Sylvia fully embraces her rage and power, evolving into a force of nature, while Arin’s emotional arc where his vulnerability, his growth, and his unwavering love cements him as one of the most compelling MMCs in fantasy. Their bond is tested in ways that feel deeply human and utterly painful, but also powerful and enduring. This isn’t just a story of kingdoms and magic, it’s a gut-punch of a love story wrapped in heartbreak, betrayal, and resilience. Hashem’s writing is masterful, and the emotional weight of this book lingers long after the final page. The epilogue alone might just break you in the best possible way.

This was an AMAZING conclusion to an EPIC duology. Sara Hashem delivered a tightly woven plot on an epic scale, with beautifully written prose and so many poignant passages. This one’s for the girlies who like their romantasy with a touch of literature.

The ending was perfect—I wouldn’t change a single thing. I really enjoyed the multiple POVs, which allowed the story to unfold across different regions and plotlines at once, which really added to the epic scale of this duology.

I loved the Egyptian-inspired world, and the magical creatures were so cool—especially the massive, talking sea monster (honestly iconic). I loved basically the entire cast, and found the love story between the FMC/MMC very genuine and real. I hated Rawain (as intended), but had mixed feelings about Vaida—I always appreciate when an author makes me empathize with a character who’s mostly shaded as a villain.

This was a high-stakes, action-packed plot that never let up. It felt like one long on-ramp—with a beautiful conclusion.

First, let me say the first book in this duology, The Jasad Heir, is one of my all time favorites. The banter, the dry humor, how Sylvia is the right amount of unhinged. It all speaks to me. I could not believe my luck when I received this ARC as I have been waiting rather impatiently for the second book. This lived up to all of my expectations for the conclusion of this duology. This was some top tier yearning and angst. I loved the addition of Sefa and Marek’s POV. The character development and world building are so well done. The characters are dynamic and relatable. The conclusion wrecked me in the best possible way; I need more Arin and Sylvia. This is one I will be recommending to everyone!



Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the ARC!

3.5 stars

Enjoyed this more than the first! It improved upon some aspects of the first book I didn't enjoy and also introduced pieces that I adored. However, it also still fell for the pitfalls set up in the first.

The characters remain the strong suit of this duology. Going in this sequel, I was a little wary of where the character arc of Arin was going to go, given his romance with Sylvia/Essiya and his kingdom's history of imperialism against Jasad. But I ended up really liking, and Arin ended up being my favorite character in the book. We see this highly meticulous and strategic character get physically, emotionally, and psychologically unravels as he is continually forced to confront the lies of his father's and his kingdom's history, and try to make amends for the harm they have caused. (It was a very Zuko coded arc lol). The romance between Arin and Sylvia/Essiya continued to expand, and I absolutely loved their scenes.

Regarding the world-building, my issue with the magic system was largely improved here; we get to see more of the way it can manifest in Jasadi society and how people use it, and we get to have scenes where Essiya is actually learning to control her power. Yet, my issues with the writing remained. The descriptions of magic still felt magic lacking in any color/texture/feeling that overall made it feel aempty. I also think both installments could have used more discernment and editing to avoid repetition, drawn out scenes/dialogue, and restructuring of scenes to help the pace.

Another thing that brought this series down was that I think there was an underutilization of the side characters. I enjoyed that we got to have POV chapters for Marek and Sefa in this book, but I felt like their stories were not executed to their full potential. Even more missed opportunities lay with the new Jasadi characters we meet, who I was really excited to explore, but ultimately played a limited role. (Dare I say perhaps there was a little too much romance? And that more time could have been for these other storylines? lol)

Despite its flaws, I had a very good time with this series. It was the kind of story that was very close to being amazing, but didn't quite make it there in execution.

“If your magic takes you, I will drag you back. It cannot have you.”

When I say that the epilogue of THE JASAD CROWN altered my brain chemistry, I’m not lying. I think about Arin and Sylvia daily.

This book utterly wrecked me. Like tears leaking down my cheeks while I was on an airplane wrecked me.

THE JASAD CROWN picks up almost immediately after the end of THE JASAD HEIR. And best of all we get Arin’s POV!! Plus Saifa and Marek! As much as I adore Sylvia’s brutal and dry sense of humor, the longing and self-loathing from Arin’s POV had me hooked. His chapters were my favorite. This man was down SO BAD and he knows how disastrous being with Sylvia would be for him… and yet he wants her SO BAD.

And THE YEARNING. SO. MUCH. YEARNING.

“All of me is written in your name, he wanted to say.”

If you love enemies to lovers, political maneuvering, forbidden romance, hidden heirs, and all the yearning then do not miss this one! This duology is joining the ranks of my other favorite duologies: ONE DARK WINDOW and DIVINE RIVALS.

A million thank yous to @orbitbooks for the #gifted eARC of THE JASAD CROWN. It comes out on 7/15 and I can’t wait to add a physical copy to my shelves!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

3.75 stars. It physically pains me to give this low of a rating for a book that has one of the best endings I have read in this genre. The epilogue was DEVASTATING and I am going to be in my feels about this for the foreseeable future.

My problem is the first 65% of the book. The only reason I didn't DNF this book was because it was part of a duology, and I loved the first book. It took me over a month to read this book because I had to force myself through chapters where literally nothing happened. I love Sefa and Marek, but they had no purpose in this book. Marek's side quest did not contribute to the plot at all, and Sefa was just placed somewhere out of the way until it was time for her to be useful again. Essiya is just grumpy for the entire first half, and Arin carried the weight of the entire plot so everyone else could go dillydally. I honestly considered only reading Arin's chapters after 30% because that was the only time anything significant was happening.

Once I hit the 65% mark, it was 5 stars. I devoured the last third of the book like a ravenous beast. I loved everything that happened and it reminded me why I loved Jasad Heir so much. The writing and the character development were back up to levels I expected and why I was so excited to get this ARC in the first place. The epilogue was not what I wanted but was what I deserved. I love a complicated HEA, so this had me tortured while saying thank you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbitz Books for the free eARC.

This was a satisying read mostly. I did expect more grit and rage given the stakes but somehow they seemed to focus more on the romance than the plot which felt very annoying at times. If the stakes were that high, I would have expected more

The Jasad Crown is the second and final book in the Scorched Throne duology. When I say I have been waiting for this book to come out, I mean it. This was my most anticipated read for 2025 and it did not disappoint.

Read if you like:
-magic
-strong and unhinged FMC
-strong and stoic MMC
-wonderful side charaters
-life or death situations
-touch her and die
-Egyptian inspired fantasy


Spoilers for book one below:

Sylvia has now revealed herself to be Essiya to the other kingdoms and was kidnapped by the Mufsids. Malek and Sefa were sent to different locations by Sylvia and Arin is on the hunt for all three. Sylvia must decide to embrace her magic and the madness or continue to run.

This was a great conclusion and I could not ask for more. The longing, the politics, the danger, the magic - all 5 stars. Hashem knows how to write characters and drama. I laughed and cried. This is one of my favorite duologies of all time. I cannot wait to read more from Hashem in the future.

This conclusion to the Scorched Throne duology was satisfying and emotional, with political intrigue and high stakes that kept me invested throughout the story.

While the first book was entirely from Sylvia's narrative, this sequel expanded the story with additional points of view. This change provides valuable insight into other characters, most notably Arin, and further builds out this fantasy world from different perspectives and locations. The multi-POV narrative successfully shifts between overlapping experiences without feeling repetitive.

Sylvia's character arc in particular was fantastic, but I also grew to understand and appreciate the other characters more in this sequel. The romance, which I was hesitant about in the previous book, finally won me over. I enjoyed the plot much more than the first book and I loved the ending; it was perfect!

My only wish is that there had been a recap, since it's been a while since I read the last book and this just dove into the present without much reference to the events of the previous book.

nobody warned him. sorry i need to lay on the floor and figure out how to be a human after this book. (RTC)

I.... This just dragged me through a whirlwind of emotions, magic, and Egyptian-inspired vibes that left me clutching my Kindle like it was my last lifeline to a lost kingdom.

It’s got everything: messy emotions, sizzling tension, and a fugitive queen who’s badass and heartbreakingly human. But, let’s be real, I’m docking half a star because the ending, and I’m still pouting about it like a toddler denied a second cupcake.

First off, let’s talk about Sylvia, our fugitive queen with a chip on her shoulder the size of the Great Pyramid. She’s not your cookie-cutter fantasy heroine who’s all noble and self-sacrificing from page one. Nope, Sylvia’s a hot mess of survival instincts, guilt, and a knack for making choices that had me yelling, “Girl, WHY?” at 2 a.m. But that’s what makes her so real. She’s flawed, fierce, and fighting for a kingdom that’s been scorched to ashes, all while juggling a heart that’s torn between duty and, ahem, a certain someone who’s got enough smolder to set the Hirun on fire. I was rooting for her so hard I nearly sprained my thumbs flipping pages.

Now, let’s get to the romance, because I’m a sucker for a love story that makes my heart do cartwheels. The tension between Sylvia and Arin is chef’s-kiss perfection. It’s a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers situation that had me giggling and kicking my feet like a middle-schooler with a crush. Their banter is sharp enough to cut glass, and every stolen glance or accidental touch had me squealing into my pillow. There’s this one scene—y’all, I won’t spoil it, but let’s just say it involves a moment and some serious yearning that left me dehydrated. I was living for it.

The plot is a rollercoaster of battles, sacrifices, and twists that hit like a sandstorm. Hashem weaves a story that’s part political intrigue, part epic fantasy, and part emotional gut-punch. I laughed, I gasped, I maybe threw my Kindle across the room when a certain beloved character unfairly died (don’t worry, it’s fine, I have a good case and screen protector). The pacing is relentless, pulling you in quietly before you realize you’re emotionally wrecked and begging for more. The supporting characters? Layered, complex, and so well written.

But here’s my one gripe, and it’s why this isn’t a full five stars. Without spoiling too much, I was convinced Sylvia/Essiya was going to be crowned the Malika, the ultimate queen of Jasad, in a blaze of glory that would’ve had me sobbing and cheering. Instead, the ending went a different route. It’s still beautiful, moving, and wraps up the duology in a way that left me satisfied but also… yearning for that one extra spark of royal destiny. I wanted her to claim that throne like Beyoncé claims a stage, you know? I’m not mad, just a little salty, like I ordered onion rings and got tots instead.

I’m begging for more of this world, even if the duology’s done (cough hint Sara). If you love fantasy with deep characters, swoony romance, and a world that feels like a fever dream, grab this book and a box of tissues. 4.5 stars, because I’m a petty queen who wanted a different crown moment (and M + S deserved better), but holy hell, this book is everything.

P.S. I want a pet Kitmer

The perfect conclusion to this duology! The last 40% had me hooked I could not put this book down. I loved that this book gave us deeper insight into the characters and we got more POVs. This story is the definition of a slow burn and I loved every minute!

Okay, where do I begin with this review? Firstly, it took me a while to get through this, halfway through I stopped reading it and yesterday I returned to reading it. This book felt so LONG! I don't know what it was, whether it was the amount of characters or insane lore and story. I felt that there was such an abundance of characters that I couldn't quite remember what each one's purpose was. There were also parts in the writing where I felt there to be a bit too much lore to comprehend, and that sort of muddled the story. Also, the main character was not my favorite character. She didn't feel like someone I should have rooted for. The ending was unsatisfactory for me.

However, I did very much enjoy some of the other characters. The dialogue at parts was beautifully written, and throughout the book, some parts kept me wanting more.
Overall, this book was a bit much for me, but I'm glad that I saw the story through, and mostly enjoyed this series.

While I am content with the conclusion of this duology, this installment felt a bit bloated. I feel like there was a decent amount of scenes and sections that could have been completely cut from the story. While I enjoyed both of Sefa and Marek's storylines, I just don't feel like they were necessary. It gave those two characters something to do, but their actions didn't really impact the plot and just kind of detracted from the main story. I would say that the writing is better than in the first, I just think some sections could have been cut to streamline the story a bit.
I liked Arin's sections, but I almost feel like he should have gotten more. Even though his arc made sense on paper, I feel like there could have been a little more to make it feel more believable. Sylvia/Essiya was great. I liked her arc as well.
There were a handful of reveals throughout the story. While some were interesting, I don't really remember gasping at any of them or anything. I did finish this book a few days ago though, so I might be misremembering.
As for the ending, I thought it was fine. I liked what it was going for thematically, but it didn't quite hit for me. There was also one aspect of the ending that I actively disliked. It just came out of nowhere and was so abrupt.
While I didn't love this sequel, I'm content with the ending and will likely check out Sara Hasem's next novel.

Thank you to both NetGalley and Orbit for allowing me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in the scorched throne duology. This was an epic conclusion to this story with mystical monsters, magic and character development. I loved that our characters maintained their personalities and were faced with challenges independently. It was an epic way for everything to come together. There were some amazing twists that I did not see coming.

When I was done I just couldn't help feeling that I wanted more time with these characters. I loved it!

I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy on July 15th!

I'm positively wrecked, destroyed beyond recognition.

And I am thankful for it. I'm not going to lie; when I went into this book with a little trepidation because, I thought the first book was okay. I did enjoy it, but it had issues. Mostly due to pacing, and it wasn't very clear at times (at least to me). But. This book? This Book?! Most of those issues were pretty much resolved. And my goodness, WHAT AN ENDING!!! The Author wrote a devastating conclusion to this duology, and hoooooooly she should be so proud. Jasad Crown stepped up its game so hard, between the heart-wrenching angst and plot twists? My heart. I also adored following multiple characters. Ah! If I say more it will be spoilers but as much as this book destroyed me all the moments that hurt felt necessary, we weren't just hurting characters to hurt them. Everything had a purpose to the story which I really appreciate.

I honestly think that for the hardcore stans of the first book, this will be a unicorn 6-star book; for fans of the first, it'll be an even 5. For me? Who was lukewarm on the first? I went from a 3.25 to a 4.5. It still has some pacing issues, and the switch from first to third-person perspectives was a little jarring, but ultimately, those nitpicks are more of a “just a me” kind of thing. Now excuse me as I sob to death.

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

Wow!! What an amazing duology!! I loved every page of this! Book 2 fully expands the story in every way possible!
With 2 (technically 3) new POVs from different parts of the world you really get to see all the different of the plot unfolding. The magic is way more explored and really shows what it can do.
Not one moment was wasted but it also didn't feel over bearing or too much. This was perfectly paced and you get a full complete story by the end.
I will be so excited to read whatever else Sara Hashem writes!!

I loved this book so much. I read it immediately because of how excited I was. I don’t even know where to start because of how amazing this book is. The plot between Arin and Essiya, the tension that was going on. It was amazing, I just don’t think words will be enough to describir how much I enjoyed this book. The pace felt slow sometimes, but then tension made up for it. The ending was sad In my opinion, but it ended well.


Thank you for this arc.

4.5 stars rounded down

The end to The Scorched Throne is complete. It took almost 60% of the book for me to sink back in to this world but that last 40% was worth it. Lots of magic creatures, battles both on and off the field, and a very different world make this an entertaining and unique fantasy duology.

Sefa and Arin are my favorite characters from this series and we get chapters from their perspective throughout this book.

Thank you Orbit Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.