Disclaimer: Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow this book exceeded all of my expectations! To think this is the debut novel for Hashem, really amazing start.
The story and characters had me hooked starting from the first chapter. I absolutely loved our main character Sylvia. I thought she was realistic and likeable. Even in her rage or fear, she never came across as disingenious.

The writing is pretty good and the plot is intricate in its political intrigue and very fast paced which really benefits the story, I could not stop reading wanting to know what would happen next. I felt there was a good amount of tension in the story that kept it thrilling and mysterious without being overkill..

Oh and i really enjoyed all the side characters, they could be more fleshed out but it felt like a good beginning (given that the plot also took quite some space with all the world building as well it felt that took a bit of a back seat).

I felt like Sylvia and Arin had amazing chemistry, the banter was entertaining and they . This being a true enemies-to-lovers i did enjoy that Hashem really went for the "enemies" part.

All in all i cant wait to see whats next in store for this series..

A really well done fantasy book! Amazing world building and character development, excited to continue the series!

I loved this book and can't wait for the next one in the series, it was well written and totally absorbing

I wanted to read this book as soon as I saw the cover and it certainly lived up to my expectations.
It’s a great debut novel and I l. oved the central character of Sylvia. I really enjoyed how she grew through the novel and there are some interesting reflections on how much you owe to people you have never met or a country. She appears selfish and wants nothing more than her freedom but gradually, she comes to realise how much her found family actually mean to her.
I loved the world building and political intrigue although there were a lot of side characters and it occasionally become difficult to keep track of who everyone was. I was expecting much more of the Hunger Games element but in fact, this didn’t happen until the last quarter of the book. There is a romance element but this is only a small part of the novel and the tension between Sylvia and Arin was about control and power for a large part of the story.
It is a very long book and there are places where the pace really drags. However, the final part of the book is as action packed as anyone could wish.
This was a really solid epic fantasy and I can’t wait to find out what happens next.
Huge thanks to Net Galley and Little Brown Book Group for my ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

The problem with this book is that it is a 'one more chapter' book. This is usually fine, but this is a chunk of a book and so one more chapter becomes 300 pages and then it's 4am and you only have 3 hours before your alarm goes off and you have to function as a human being!!!

I don't know where to start. OK well I'll start with the fact it has the best opening line of a book that I have personally read. I knew I was in love then!! Sylvia is a great FMC, strong, independent, resourceful and yet prone to toddler like tantrums, that I think we can all relate to. I love that she isn't perfect and that she has some substantial flaws. After all she has been through and after everything she is learning about her past, I'd say her violent fits of hysteria are well earned. When you match that with Arim and his incessant composure, it's perfect. Each of the characters, main, side or historically mentioned, have so much depth, quirks and their own strengths, they all bring something to the table. There are no superfluous characters, very rare in a book, especially a long one! There were no wasted words with excessive descriptions of scenery or clothing etc. no filler paragraphs which were simply added to bulk out the book.

The writing style is wonderful, the humour laced all the way through, given how dark parts of this book were, was just flawless.

To say there are so many twists and turns is frankly, a huge injustice. Every chapter was an emotional roller coaster, not always a pleasant one, one that occasionally ripped my heart to pieces, one that often made me feel like I'd been hit in the face by a breeze block, but one that I would (and will) buy another ticket for (and I genuinely hate roller-coasters!)

The world building, the magic system, incredible. Even the book cover is a beauty!

I have nothing bad to say about The Jasad Heir, and it is going to take a lot for any book to knock this off my number one spot.

I finished reading "The Jasad Heir" a couple of days ago, and I'm still not sure how I feel about it. I can't decide of it's too long or too short for me, which is very strange! I did, however, absolutely love the writing and the story held my attention. I'm hoping the characters will grow on me in the second book. 5 stars for the writing and for keeping me thinking about this book long after I've turned the last page.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

Many thanks to Little, Brown Books and Sara Hashem for the advanced copy of The Jasad Heir via NetGalley, in return for my honest and unbiased review. Quick note: I don’t recap plots in my reviews, as it’s easy enough to read the book’s synopsis and blurbs, I purely focus on my feelings & opinions of how the books makes me feel.

A solid fantasy series beginning!

Although slow to start, and perhaps following a slightly predictable format, Sara Hashem uses excellent world-building techniques to create an intriguing society with mysterious factions hiding in spooky forests, questionable spectres hiding in the protagonist’s mind, holding entire conversations, and power-hungry politicians stepping on the lower classes to get what they want (where have we seen that before?!).

I did get lost at times with all the new words, deities, etc in the five languages featured in the books, it didn’t hamper the reading process.

I am a character reader and there was plenty of character-building and development in this book, but not at the detriment of the development and pacing of the plot.

It took a while to really get into the book, but once I did, I was hooked, and I found that, the more engaging the book became, the more the pace picked up. The pace varied from slow in the beginning to fast in the end, so I’ll even the overall pacing in my ratings to ‘medium’.

There is a romantic element but it’s very slow burn and suitable for younger teens as the spice only goes up to kissing with no mention of anything beyond this.

Overall I recommend this book, especially to those who enjoy a fantasy series with explained magic systems.

Moods: adventurous, dark, mysterious, tense
Tropes: enemies/friends to lovers, forbidden love, forced proximity, lover(s) in denial, orphan, peril, secret royal
Pace: medium
Character development: strong
Plot or character driven: 50/50
Diversity: medium
Spice: 1/5
Trigger warnings: Blood/Gore, Death, Death of a family member, Genocide, Grief, Poisoning, Violence, Weapons

Rating: 4/5

This book was a generic fantasy, meaning whatever comes to mind when you think of fantasy can and probably be founded in this book. It's alright; it's just been done multiple times before. I did enjoy reading this book. The book's first half had me seated and intrigued, but around the 46% mark, the pacing started to fall off, and the journey to get to the built-up reveal- introduced on the first page- took too long. So, while I enjoyed the premises of the book, I wish the book's pacing in the last half was edited better

When I first saw the announcement for Orbit acquiring this to be published I instantly knew I had to read it. Magic, heir in hiding, an original fantasy world and a bunch of fun and games.

I absolutely loved Sylvia, she's very Jekyll and Hyde with how she acts, one moment she's all normal apothecary apprentice interacting with her friends and acquaintances and next she's out of control assassin mode with her unpredictable blocked magic doing it's own thing causing chaos.

The relationships that she has built whilst she's been in hiding with some of them having their own secrets she never even guessed at till the Nizhal heir uses it to blackmail her into helping him which was rather interesting.

There's some beautiful descriptions of the lost palace and underground housing she ends up living in for a large part of the book as well as the settings when she takes part in the games.

Sylvia's relationship with the Nizhal heir in this whole book is just so typical of both of their dysfunctional upbringings and I could not guess at what madness would come next when they came together.

There is a whole magical side to this world that I'm interested to see more of after having demons trying to possess the characters and animated creatures and with Sylvia's magic not being able to be properly used I can't wait to see what happens in book 2!

Thank you to Orbit for gifting me an arc copy of this through NetGalley and I will be getting the special edition of this from my Illumicrate subscription very soon.

When I saw this was an Egyptian-inspired fantasy, my interest was instantly piqued. After only a few chapters, I felt very much invested in the characters' stories and liked the idea of a reluctant heroine. As the story progressed, though, the pacing started to feel a bit off and I feel like the trials could've played a bigger part and been described in more detail. But overall, the plot and characters were very intriguing and this book established a fascinating world that I can't wait to learn more about. I can't wait to see how the story continues - especially after that ending!!

[ARC provided by NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK, Orbit. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review The Jasad Heir.]

Rating: 5/5

There’s nothing quite like being blown away by a high fantasy debut. Although it’s my favourite genre, I generally start these books with a small dose of scepticism because balancing all of the elements required for a great fantasy can be tricky and, in a lot of cases, the mishmash of world building, character introductions and plot development doesn’t quite hit the mark. The Jasad Heir, however, does not suffer from this problem. The author masterfully crafts an intriguing premise that doesn’t feel overwhelming and before you know it, you’ve been sucked right into a world of forbidden magic and deadly politics. I didn’t sink into this book gradually, and instead plummeted into this incredibly addictive story that was impossible to put down.

The Jasad Heir is an Egyptian-inspired fantasy that features a lot of the tropes we know and love and elevates them to a new level. Sylvia is the classic ‘chosen one’, something that quickly becomes clear she is vehemently against. As the lost Heir of her home kingdom, Jasad, Sylvia lives on the run as a fugitive. In this world magic is outlawed and, in an effort to rid the land of its dangerous potential, the Jasad royal family was murdered along with anyone who has magic flowing through their veins. Many believe the Heir to have perished along with her family but despite evading death ten years ago, she continues to live a precarious life as she does everything within her power to conceal her own volatile magic. Staying hidden becomes impossible, however, when in a moment of anger, Sylvia exposes her magic to an enemy. This leads her to striking a deadly bargain wherein she must partake in a dangerous scheme to avoid persecution.

Sylvia is a fantastic MC who constantly struggles with the ghosts of her past along with her present enemies. Having suffered from horrible atrocities following the fall of her kingdom, she lives a very isolated life which has led to her having some major trust issues. Despite this, she has still managed to find a small support system for herself and I really loved the ‘found family’ element of this story. Although her personality might be considered prickly (who can blame her?), those closest to her are constant reminders that there is reason to rally behind her. She may not want to view them as friends at the beginning, but the devotion of those that value her most prove that she isn’t just a cold, calculated fighter.

And then there’s Arin, the Nizahl heir and one of Sylvia’s most prominent enemies. The tumultuous relationship that they share is delightfully deadly, and a brilliant example of the enemies to lovers trope. Sometimes super slow burn romances can be hit or miss for me but in this story I thought it was perfect. The tension between Sylvia and Arin is undeniable and with the high stakes situations they’ve found themselves in, there’s a whole new element of stress to their steadily growing romance.

Something else that I loved with this story was the pacing. I was never bored reading and found the world building genuinely fascinating. Also, considering this is a fantasy world inspired by a region I’m not too familiar with, I was never confused or lost in the world and felt that everything was explained well. Overall, the storytelling was truly fantastic and after reading the shocking ending, I couldn’t be more excited for the sequel.

I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys high fantasy, political intrigue and morally grey characters. This is an excellent debut from Sara Hashem and I’ll be keeping an eye on all of her future projects.

Just WoW!!
I knew this was going to be good, but this surpassed my expectations. An absolute incredible read and such a beautiful book.

A beautifully intricately woven piece of storytelling.
This is a work of art, absolutely magic.

Loved, loved, loved this book with my whole being….

This is the best book I've read all year, maybe of all time. As Schmidt once said: "NO NOTES!!" I will attempt to do it justice but my only thought for the past 24 hours has been "GAHHHHH" so... idk how coherent this will be but here I go:

The writing in this book- if I didn’t know this was a debut, I would’ve never believed you. I knew this was going to be a 5 stars from the very first page about frogs. Sara Hashem has this incredibly unique skill of articulating really niche emotional experiences for her characters that are both rooted in the fantasy world, but also feel so relevant and so universal. Idk how she does it, but the way these characters emote, and the descriptive comparisons used to communicate how they experience their arguably abstract political and social environment still allowed me to identify and empathise with them. And making the reader feel what the characters are feeling, or at least understand two opposing sides feels like what writing is all about and it was done so so beautifully here. Whenever one of them would get a win it felt like I was winning, or like someone I love was winning ya know,,
The way extreme, volatile, and often murderous intentions and feelings were scripted into the dialogue was so artful- it could’ve easily been cringe, like who says I wanna murder you while making out with someone and the other person not freak out, but the dynamic that was set up and cultivated from the start up until that point was so solid that it worked (and bloody well at that, the last 100 pages had me stunned into shocked silence).

Being North African myself, recognising familiar words, foods etc. in this fantasy world was something I haven’t experienced before, and it was- I could cry. It felt (and this is gonna sound dramatic but bear with) like a warm hug, like I was being brought into the fold with these characters. It was familiar enough that it enhance the fantasy elements and made it feel like I was entering a world I’d heard stories about but had never visited, but not so much that it took away from the fantasy; it supported it so well, it was like a perfectly balanced blend of the two.

Sylvia is to-date my favourite morally grey, feral fmc ever!! She's not driven by loyalty or morality, or an unwavering sense of justice - yes, she's very aware of those things and she does have strong feelings about them but her experiences make it so that she's on survival mode, and loyalty and friendship are luxuries she can't afford.
HOWEVER, and I love when this happens, without her even realising, she had started to lay down roots with Marek, Sefa, Rory, and the rest of the gang. It's the kind of attachment and affection that sneaks up on her and is uncomfortable until she decides to embrace it, and then it's the most powerful thing she's got- literally, because her magic is linked to those strong emotions. "I wouldn’t be trapped again. I had cut and bled and fought for my freedom. I would rip his head from his shoulders with my teeth before I took his shackles," - survival is her sole motivation when we first meet her, and seeing that morph and interact with her desire for comfort and to just breATHE, and then seeing her priorities shift - I'm talking the horseback scene with Arin where she voluntarily gets vulnerable to help him, at the end with Sefa and Marek, even at the start tbh, which is what started it all. I LOVED seeing her become more and more gentle with herself (which, wasn't a lot but it was a lot for her), allowing herself the feelings that Hanim tried to smother- it almost brought me to tears when she said "It didn’t feel like betrayal. It felt like wandering through the woods for an endless night and finally stumbling into the dawn [...] Fairel’s giggle and the click of Rory’s cane. Anchors, real and solid, pinning me to earth." For her to accept the love she was offered, even if she didn't realise it, was her accepting that she was worthy of it and- 100% chance of tears, actually. Also, she was so funny???? Like, the sarcasm and insults she threw around had me laughing out loud, I love that even in her affection she's completely unhinged.
"From the stories I’d heard, he had less political acumen than a rabid goat."
"If Wes soured any more, they could squeeze him over a broth."
“My current stench alone could be used as a weapon. I have no garments, and the sole company I am permitted to keep is a handful of soldiers whose conversational skills peaked in the womb.”

“…a dark thrill raced through me at the thought of conquering the Nizahl Heir. Stealing a piece of Arin’s power in the surrender.” – this, she was so real for this. One thing I love is that both characters get a chance to have the upper hand, both are given the space to feel any good, bad, twisted, messed up, selfish feelings they have, and it’s written so skilfully that most times, the reader can identify with it, and if they can’t, they can at least empathise and understand it, regardless of it being from two opposing sides.

Arin, my love, my life - I would seriously lay my life on the line for this man. Obsessed with him from his first appearance on-page to his last. He is so hot (I saw silver hair and gloves and rAN with it), I needed to do breathing exercises to get through those rare POV’s – I was as unprepared then as I am now. Even by the end of the story, we don’t really know much about what made him the way he is when he’s introduced. There’s a line where she says something along the lines of- if Hanim made her this way [where she lashes out etc.] what must he have gone through under the supreme to make him completely unreactive. That- that hurt. I really hope we get to see more of that in book 2!! Something about the thinly veiled violence, the way he could deliver a threat while half-smiling – I would not survive this man- not for a second. I really loved the physical representation of that: with the gloves, almost like there needs to be a physical barrier between him and the world not just because of the magic but because he can be so volatile/unpredictable. Same with his compulsive neatness. It was, absolutely genius on the author’s part, making the gloves, the neatness, the control (both emotional and otherwise) so inherent and fundamental to his character, because when these things waver or when they show up in a different context, it’s like oh my god this is huge. Like his organisation- when he didn’t line up the weapons the way he always did, she knew he was in a mood and to tread carefully, but skip forward 300 pages and he’s carefully folding her clothes and leaving it where she wouldn’t miss it, and then bLUSHING when she notices. The versatility of these rigid, unforgiving characteristics is, I have no words, the complexity and depth that the author infused these characters with is phenomenal.
The fact that he was upset by the fact that people (particularly his soldiers) were afraid of him – I sobbed, actually. And more than that, the fact that he won’t train them because he knows that the fear will make them obey instead of learn – that kind of self-awareness and empathy is why he is the only character ever. Like Sylvia, I think his affection for her snuck up on him, and you can see how he tries and fails to process it like he does all other info in a logical, detached way, because he panics at any chance she’ll be hurt or sacrifice herself, saying that her survival is the only acceptable option. Also, him remembering the thing about wool being hard to launder- shut up rn.
“You are a creature of pure spite. You would not react out of fear, but out of fury. I think daily of chaining you to a wall and seeing which you would attack first—me, or the wall.”
Of course, that’s not to say he’s all rainbows and sunshine because he’s just as, if not more unhinged than she is, but in the best way.

“‘The way most men love is so boring. It is frequent and fickle and altogether unextraordinary. Arin would love to obsession. To madness. But do you want to know the real reason he would never allow himself to love an- other?’ […] ‘Arin is consumed by what he loves. If asked, he would get on his knees and let it kill him. He withholds his heart out of self-preservation.’
The image rose before I could prevent it. Arin on his knees, stead- fast and resolute. Chin tilted forward to accept the fate he would be dealt. Or maybe he would be wild for the first and last time in his life, eyes desperate and seeking. I bit the inside of my bottom lip until I tasted blood.”
- When I say this sent me into an early grave. Not only in Arin giving absolutely EVERYTHING, but her reaction is so valid, she’s just like me fr

You haven't read enemies to lovers until you've read this book; honest to God ArinSylvia shifted my entire understanding of the trope.

“Are they for me?”
“They’re for the vermin.”

Forget knife to the throat, try the mmc using the fmc as target practise while they're both stuck in a tree...and not missing....both times. "You want to be hunted? Then I will gladly grant your wish." HUUUUH??? The way I read that line and had to take a lap.
These two couldn't be any more different; heirs of enemy kingdoms, his dad orchestrated the downfall of her people (it's kinda complicated), she's all teeth and fists and he's the guy that calculates every possible outcome of every word he says. At the same time, they're more similar than they realise, neither of them backs down from a disagreement, both are loyal to a fault (again, it's complicated), and neither of them acknowledges any feeling that isn't spite or murder. A lot of books with this trope start the attraction wayyy too early, or one character will hate the other but it's one sided - getting to see both of their POV's and having that confirmation that yep they both would rather stab the other than share a meal together. I think that made their development that much more profound- that they truly came from seeing the other not as a person but as part of the enemy whole, and for them to end up trusting each other, and seeing the other as an individual with the capacity for the full spectrum of emotions and feelings was, it was GUT WRENCHING (not to get ahead of myself but this arc made the ending SO much more painful, my heart actually feels like a grape that's been crushed under a boot). The gravity of it- to overcome that deeply ingrained prejudice and hatred of the other, and don't get me wrong it's a precarious, fragile truce which is tested at the end, but it just feels so monumental that they did that with each other.

“…with him, every aversion was a craving.”

From "the Jasadi" to "Sylvia", from "monster" to her "homecoming" - NO ONE LOOK AT ME!! When he called her "my demented Suraira" I actually fell to my knees. There's something about them not losing the feral edge of their rivalry even after they've come to love each other that will always have me gagged. "I despise you. I dream of killing you," while they're in the middle of making out????? They invented romance in that scene. That scene cured my mental health, passed my exams, and cleared my skin in one fell swoop. Seeing him become increasingly frazzled by her was hilarious in a really endearing way, from the very start she was a disruption to his control and he just got more and more turned around by her. I LOVED that every scene where his control cracks or we see him express any intense emotion, it’s with or because of her - "This Jasadi was the human equivalent of spilled ink over the meticulously drawn lines of his map. Whether he could refrain from breaking her neck until the end of the Alcalah was one question for which Arin had no answer." When he brought the healers to tears while she was passed out, chose her over hunting [redacted], was basically gonna ruin their whole plan to save her- I love him.

"I am alive because you need me, don't you? And you're furious."
"Finally." ALL WHILE SHE'S UP IN HIS SPACE AHHHHH - the goading, the approval when she catches up with his plan, the scheming push and pull, it was scrumptious. Even when he was still just using her, he couldn't help but appreciate her as a worthy adversary - "A glimmer of approval passed over his features. I had neatly walked him into my own trap."

Not only were the main characters amazing and dynamic, but the side characters were too!! Each supporting character had their own history, fears, prejudices, weaknesses, it felt like a really well-rounded cast of characters that held on their own. The way they interacted with each other was such a joy to read, more often than not side characters are a tool to get the plot moving or are just outlets for the MC’s dialogue, and although they do support the MCs, it’s done so skilfully where each side character gives us insight into different parts of the MC. Where she’s able to be vulnerable with Sefa, Marek understands her anger and violence. They don’t trample her boundaries for the sake of plot, they respect each other’s’ boundaries and flaws and give each other space and time to do what they have to do. Even with his guards, Sylvia banters with them etc. it’s, if there was a novella written about Marek and Sefa, I would be there first to buy it. If there was one about Arin and his guards in their early days, I would eat it UPPPPPP good lord!!

The plot and pacing of this were just as wonderful as the characters. I loved how we had chapters of more dialogue, introspection, and then ones where it was just, go go go!! Particularly the second trial, the description of the nisnas was disgusting, bordering on horror but wow, that scene was SO good I love a good bit of gore in my fantasy.

To conclude this literal essay, this book was incredible, it has something for every kind of fantasy reader (the romantasy readers, the political, the gory, the war stuff, the mythology, old gods type ones, IT’S THE WHOLE PACKAGE!!). I will read anything Sara writes, and I can’t wait to get a physical copy to annotate (idk how im expected to wait for book 2…. Book1 isn’t even out, I’m not ok).

P.S., The very end scene where she winks- the scream that escaped me,, nono because that scene is ingrained into my brain it’s going down as one of my all-time fave scenes.

Absolutely enjoyable, though I admit the balance between romance, politics, and action isn't always perfect. Still, relatable and likable characters combined with a cool world make for a pleasant and immersive read.

ARC provided by Little, Brown Book Group through NetGalley in exchange for an independent review
Release date: 20 July 2023
Rating: 3/5⭐

The Jasad Heir, an Egyptian-inspired fantasy debut, immerses readers in a vibrant world brimming with potential. While the novel showcases several compelling aspects, it falls slightly short of its full potential due to pacing and worldbuilding limitations.

As the story unfolds, the worldbuilding gradually loses some of its depth and fails to fully explore the potential of the Egyptian-inspired elements. While the foundation is solid, readers may find themselves yearning for a more profound connection between the characters and the world. The missed opportunity to delve deeper into the cultural nuances and intricacies leaves certain aspects feeling somewhat shallow.

The pacing of The Jasad Heir has both strengths and weaknesses. The first half of the book has an interesting premise and engaging plot phasing. It hooks the reader, setting the stage for an adventure. However, the latter half of the book feels somewhat hurried and rushed. This sudden shift in pacing can be disorienting and leaves me longing for a more balanced rhythm throughout.

While The Jasad Heir may not entirely fit into the romance genre, it features a slow-burn tension between the characters that adds depth and complexity to their dynamic. The romantic subplot is skillfully woven into the narrative, not overpowering the central plot.

As a solid debut, The Jasad Heir serves as a testament to the author's potential to captivate readers. While it falls slightly short of its full potential due to pacing and worldbuilding limitations, the novel still warrants consideration. It offers an intriguing glimpse into an Egyptian-inspired fantasy world and showcases the author's ability to create compelling characters and storylines

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.

I first heard about The Jasad Heir some time in late 2022 and have been excited about it ever since, so naturally I was over the moon to have gotten the ARC, and I am even happier that it actually exceeded my expectations.
I loved everything about it and so far, it's my favorite debut novel that I've read all year and in my top 5 overall.

The world, the writing, the plot, the characters, the romance, it all just fit together so nicely and had me so excited the entire time I was reading.
The setting is great, I heard Egyptian-inspired fantasy and that alone was enough to make me add the book to my TBR, and I loved the different kingdoms and the idea of a fallen magical kingdom. The worldbuilding also flowed effortlessly into the plot, I never felt like it was overpowering the story, despite being a very rich world.

The writing was beautiful! I don't annotate (not even ebooks) but if I did, there would have been quite a few sentences that I would have highlighted.

Trials/tournaments can be a bit hit or miss for me, but this one was a definite hit! I usually prefer it when trials aren't the main plot (because sometimes it can feel limiting to only see the trials and not what's going on in the world outside the trials); so I loved the way it was done here, where they were a central element of the story but not the majority of the plot. Also that ending!! How am I supposed to wait for book 2, I need to know what happens NOW!!

The Jasad Heir has a very strong cast of characters, I loved the variety of characters and their relationship dynamics. Especially Sylvia and Arin were so good, I loved them both so much in their own ways, which brings me to my final point: The romance. There was a lot about the book that I loved and I don't want to reduce this book to its romance because it's so much more than that, but the romance was my favorite part.
It's been a while since I got really excited about one in fantasy, for the last couple of months, I mostly enjoyed the romance but didn't get the giddy feeling and satisfaction of them finally kissing, but Jasad Heir NAILED IT. This was the best enemies to lovers I've read in a very long time, and the payoff towards the end was *chef's kiss*, I couldn't contain my excitement. These two deserve all the happiness and I can't wait for them to eventually get their happy end (at least, I very strongly hope that they get a happy end!!)

Overall, I loved this book and highly recommend it.

Ten years ago Jasad was brutally burnt down, its royal family killed and its people in hiding. Sylvia is the surviving heir and has been in hiding ever since. She wants nothing to do with the politics or magic and simply wants freedom. However this falls short when she accidently reveals her magic to Prince Arin, the heir of Nizahl and to survive she is thrown into a deadly tournament in order to win her freedom.

This book sucks you in from the very start. The world is built beautifully, taking influences from Egyptian mythology, to the point that it feels real. But the real beauty is the characters in this book who you cannot help but love.

Sylvia is a strong minded woman with a tortured past and you feel this in every chapter. Her past is revealed slowly and vividly and just when you think you know everything something else is revealed. Her relationship with Arin is tantalisingly slow, but we get to see the point where things change between them and its delicious. Her dedication to her loved ones also made her a strong lead i was behind from the very beginning.

The romance takes a back seat to the main plot but don't think that means it isn't there! It is ever present in its slow burn enemies to lovers trope and it had me wanting to scream at them half way through the book.

I could not put this book down and when i wasnt reading it i was thinking about it all the time. I absolutely cannot wait to read the 2nd installment and see where this goes!

Brilliant for fans of hunger games, fourth wing and city of brass!

This was a solid fantasy debut and I had a good time reading it. It had a lot of tropes that I absolutely love, but some of them fell a bit flat for me personally. I also found the writing to be a bit choppy in places and I kept re-reading to see if I’d missed anything. The enemies to lovers was great but then I felt there wasn’t enough angsty or defining moments. Sylvia was an interesting character, a reluctant heroine, and I enjoyed seeing her development throughout the book. I absolutely loved the world and the political intrigue and I’m interested to see where the story is going to go. I would love to see more of the side characters too.

Ahhh, I loved this book!
A fast paced fantasy, The Jasad Heir is full of mystery and political intrigue, magical monsters, fallen gods and morally grey characters at every turn. Having reached the end, it diverges from traditional fantasy in that there is no good and evil - we have the age old conundrum of one man's terrorist being another man's freedom fighter, and no clear sense of who is right and who is wrong.

Sylvia, our main character, is everything we don't expect from a fantasy heroine - she's strongly weighted towards self preservation instead of what is 'right', she's unfriendly and closed off, she's constantly asking 'why should I feel responsible?' and it feels like a very real emotional journey for someone that left a war-torn country as a child. She struggles with finding her place in history and a sense of responsibility towards a country and a people that she only knew for a small part of her life.

The slow burn enemies to lovers romance is exquisite. At one point I found myself questioning whether I was just seeing what I wanted to see and the romance was in my head. The journey of Arin slowly, slowly softening to Sylvia as they spent time together was absolutely believable as she moved from Monster to a real person in his eyes.

I cannot wait for Book 2, and I am praying that all our characters find their way to a happily ever after following the shocking conclusion of The Jasad Heir.

Thanks to NetGalley, Little Brown Book Group and Sara Hashem for the chance to read an e-Arc of The Jasad Heir in exchange for an independent review.

Sylvia has a secret, one that will kill her if it gets out. She is a Jasadi, a member of the kingdom that was burned down 10 years ago, whose magic is hated and feared by the other kingdoms. That alone is enough to secure a vicious death, but even worse, Sylvia is the heir to that kingdom, and no one knows she survived. Her magic has been bound, which has kept her hidden up until now, but will she survive the scrutiny of Arin, the Nizahl heir who is rumoured to be able to sense magic through touch?

I went into this book expecting a classic sci-fi/fantasy trials novel, so perhaps that is why, in part, I found it disappointing. Sure, the trials of the Alcalah are there, but really they serve as a backdrop for a fantasy romance novel, with the trials themselves getting minimal attention. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the fantasy romance subgenre, so this book didn't really do it for me. It's very brooding and lots of tension, so if that sounds like your sort of thing, go ahead!