About the Book:

Title: Zhara 

Author: S. Jae-Jones 

Publisher: Wednesday Books 

Release Date: August 1, 2023

Pages: 416

Genre: YA Fantasy 

Synopsis:

Sailor Moon meets Cinder in Guardians of Dawn: Zhara, the start of a new, richly imagined fantasy series from S. Jae-Jones, the New York Times bestselling author of Wintersong.

Magic flickers.
Love flames.
Chaos reigns.

Magic is forbidden throughout the Morning Realms. Magicians are called abomination, and blamed for the plague of monsters that razed the land twenty years before.

Jin Zhara already had enough to worry about—appease her stepmother’s cruel whims, looking after her blind younger sister, and keeping her own magical gifts under control—without having to deal with rumors of monsters re-emerging in the marsh. But when a chance encounter with an easily flustered young man named Han brings her into contact with a secret magical liberation organization called the Guardians of Dawn, Zhara realizes there may be more to these rumors than she thought. A mysterious plague is corrupting the magicians of Zanhei and transforming them into monsters, and the Guardians of Dawn believe a demon is responsible.

In order to restore harmony and bring peace to the world, Zhara must discover the elemental warrior within, lest the balance between order and chaos is lost forever.

Review:

*I received an e-arc via Netgalley from the publisher for an honest review. All thoughts are my own*

This was my first read by S. Jae-Jones and I really enjoyed it! It’s been compared to Sailor Moon meets Cinder and I can totally see why. This is the start of a fun YA fantasy series, and I am excited to see what happens in the next installment and meet more of the guardians. 

Jin Zhara has grown up in a world where magic is forbidden. Magicians are called abominations, and they have been blamed for the plague of monsters that wreaked havoc twenty years ago. She has had a tough upbringing, after losing her father, she’s been trying to appease her stepmother’s cruel whims, and look after her blind younger sister, all while trying to keep her own magic hidden and under control. There have been rumors of monsters reemerging in the marsh on top of everything. 

Jin Zhara has a chance encounter with an easily flustered but handsome young man, Han, who introduces her to a magical liberation organization called the Guardians of Dawn. She soon realizes that there may be more to the rumors than she thought. A mysterious plague has been corrupting the magicians of Zanhei and turning them into monsters and the Guardians think that a demon is responsible. 

Zhara along with her new friends, must find the demon and destroy it and bring balance back to the realm or face chaos. 

I really enjoyed watching Zhara blossom and come into her own. I liked that she never gave up and kept trying to do her best and stay true, as her father had always told her to do. I liked the relationship she develops with Han and their other friends they meet along the way. The magic and folklore were really fascinating parts of the story, and I am excited to learn more in the sequel. 

If you like stories with magic, fantasy and folklore, I think you will enjoy this one. There are some darker elements to this book as well, so reader please be advised. 

 

 

 

About the Author:

S. Jae-Jones, called JJ, is an artist, an adrenaline junkie, and the NYT bestselling author of Wintersong. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she now lives on the wrong coast, where she can’t believe she has to deal with winter every year. When not writing, JJ can be found working toward her next black belt degree in taekwondo, being run ragged by her twin dogs, Castor & Pollux, or indulging in her favorite hobby—collecting more hobbies.