A strong start to The Scorched Throne series. I was particularly pleased that a book described as an enemies-to-lovers Romantasy had such a strong plot. I love when fantasy books explore the complex political systems of worlds filled with magic. With issues such as scheming rulers, outlawed magic and a supposedly dead royal line to sink your teeth into, there are plenty of engaging plot elements for readers to enjoy.
The Egyptian-inspired setting was also a highlight. I really enjoyed learning more about the burnt kingdom of Jasad and seeing it rise from the ashes.
Whilst I loved these elements of the book, the pace of the plot could drag at times. I understand how difficult it is to create an entire fictional world, cast of characters and feuding factions, but I think that the competition at the heart of the plot should have occurred sooner in the novel. I was also unsure about the romance, (the uneven power dynamic was a bit uncomfortable) but I’m hopeful that it will grow into something better in the next few books.
All in all. I look forward to seeing what Sara Hashem writes next!

A truly phenomenal debut. Whilst it started quite slow, once you hit the 100 page mark the story grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. Some truly beautiful prose - I highlighted so many sections that took my breath away. Sylvia was a fantastic protagonist and the tension built between her and Arin was electric. Romantic Fantasy at its finest.

Very, very excited to see the story continue in book 2, especially with how things are left in book 1.

Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC. All opinions are my own.

What a phenomenal book! The world that SH has created is intricate and deadly and filled with so many secrets I could not stop reading. Sylvia is a brash and witty MC and the slow tension between her and Arin was beautifully done. The ending is epic and I am now wondering how I will possibly contain my excitement for the sequel

This was one of my most anticipated reads last year and i was so excited when i got accepted for this Netgalley ARC. I loved the way i could not put this book down because of all the twists and turns. This book was amazing and i cannot wait for the second book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – 5 stars

“Children are not meant to bear the woes of this life, Sylvia. It breaks them. They will spend their adult lives doing everything in their power to never feel the weight of the world again.”

Author Sara Hashem makes a brilliant debut in The Jasad Heir the first book in the Scorched Throne duology. We follow Sylvia, the Heir of Jasad, one of five kingdoms that was burned down ten years ago, its magic outlawed, its royal family murdered. The Jasadi people have been hunted by The Supreme Rawain of Nizhal ever since for the abomination that is their magic. And Sylvia never intends to be found, running as much from Nizhal as she is from her own past. That is until Commander and Nizhal Heir, Arin, tracks a group of Jasadi rebels to Sylvia's village. In a desperate and anger-driven moment, Sylvia's magic is exposed and suddenly a deadly game begins. Striking a deal with her greatest enemy, Sylvia finds herself embroiled in a complex scheme that could resurrect her scorched kingdom or leave it in ashes forever.

This book had me in a chokehold from chapter one. I've had a bit of a break from fantasy, but I can now confidently say I have been firmly placed back into my fantasy era. The world-building in this is exquisite. Throughout the novel we get to travel to each of the four remaining kingdoms, while revisiting Jasad through Sylvia's painful memories. The settings are vibrant, practically jumping off the page. Everything from culture to dress to politics to food to history is covered, it's hard to believe these kingdoms aren't actually real. The writing style is gorgeous and is a key aspect to how *unputdownable* I found this book.

Sylvia as an FMC is a breath of fresh air. Not only is she completely unhinged and feral, as the Heir and rightful Queen of Jasad, it was genuinely refreshing to see her not having a major savior complex. Instead, we get to journey with her from place to place as her own history and memories unravel and she realizes that no kingdom is perfect, however that doesn't mean Jasad is no less deserving of existence than the others. Her trauma has shaped her survival instinct and she's in a constant state of fear, to the point where she has become nearly entirely touch averse and completely closed off to any form of love or friendship. However, slowly but surely we get to witness as she begins to open herself up, as she puts two and two together and admits to herself that despite her best efforts she does have friends she loves, dreams for a future, people and places to fight for. And maybe that can include Jasad...

Our MMC Arin is cold and calculating. With his silver hair and blue eyes he makes a striking, yet formidable opponent. He is constantly one step ahead of Sylvia, something she finds frustrating and infuriating to no end. And yet, there are moments. Moments where his character shines through beyond the mask he dons as the Nizhal Heir. His meticulousness and perfectionism. His humor and wit. His fierce protectiveness, loyalty to, and love for his people. He thought recruiting Sylvia was dangerous because she is Jasadi, but maybe she holds an altogether different danger to him, because the more time he spends around her, the more she is slowly thawing his frozen heart.

The slow burn in this book might be the best I have ever read. Our two main characters genuinely hated one another for the first half, if not more. Their conversations are always intriguing and had me begging for more interactions. Particularly when they started taking more notice of the other, and the effect they had on each other. Hashem, you sly fox, you had me kicking me feet and squealing at descriptors of Arin's eyes as he looks at Sylvia, a soft laugh, or a teasing moment of banter. When the infamous "who did this to you" moment whipped out, I basically passed out. This is peak enemies to lovers, you guys, and peak slow burn.

I have to say that the plot took me slightly by surprise at times, particularly the pacing. The trials are mentioned so early on and yet we don't get to actually see them until much later on into the book, and even then, they take up far less page-time as I had anticipated. It's not what I expected, but I'm not unhappy about it at all. In fact, if anything, I am glad Hashem took her time to explore Sylvia's inner turmoil, and the many character dynamics. It wouldn't have made sense for someone with as much trauma as Sylvia to all of a sudden become Jasad's biggest advocate or to jump Arin's bones or even to proclaim her love to her two closest friends, Sefa and Marek (who, by the way, were both amazingly developed side characters that I instantly adored for their steadfast loyalty and stubborn love persistence). Instead, the slower pace allows for the story to unfold naturally. To me, that is one of The Jasad Heir's biggest strengths.

All that to say, I cannot recommend this book enough. Exploring themes of power and corruption, trauma and healing, building an unbelievably detailed and immersive world, creating deep and authentic characters with raw and beautiful dynamics and arcs, The Jasad Heir has quickly become one of my favorite reads of this year.

Thank you to NetGalley, Little Brown Book Group UK, and the author for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK

This book was every bit as amazing as everyone is saying. It was simply epic. The worldbuilding was excellent and descriptive. I never had problems imagining what the author wanted me to imagine. The characters and their dynamic was excellent. And the story? Had me in a chokehold the entire time. I can't do anything other than applaud the author for an awesome fantasy book!

So I probably should start this review with an admission: I do not particularly like the romantasy subgenre. Most of the books I've read in this genre have disappointed me greatly, because most of them were just several currently popular romance tropes stacked on top of each other in a trenchcoat pretending to be a coherent story. I'm not saying there aren't great books, but so far I haven't read one that didn't fall prey to... let's call it the "tiktok tropification" effect - which absolutely has its fans and that is very valid, but I'm not among them.
So what am I saying with this? Probably that when I got an arc of Sara Hashem's debut <i>The Jasad Heir</i>, which I've only ever seen categorized as romantasy, I was curious because of its Egypt-inspirations but also wary because well, it's a genre I just don't click with. One could say I didn't give this book a real chance when I first opened it.

One could say I'm a big big fool.

<i>The Jasad Heir</i> is amazing, it had me by the throat, it didn't let me go to sleep because I was so invested. This is all I'm hoping for in a fantasy book centering a romance, because I like those, I promise! I think the main difference here is that <i>The Jasad Heir</i> does have its' central romance, but it's first and foremost a fantasy book. There is world building, there is well-crafted complexity, there is a story beyond just two people falling in love. Admittedly, the first few chapters are a little rough because they are more infodumpy than they have to be in order to build the world, but once you get past that, it's just so intriguing and well-written. I wanted to know more about the world, I wanted to dig deep into its mysteries. I think I've read that there's a rough distinction between "romantasy" - romance built on tropes with some fantasy added - and fantasy romance, which is more fantasy focused with its romance being central but not the only point of the book. <i>The Jasad Heir</i>, to me, clearly falls more into the latter category.

While I enjoyed the world-building, I'm also foremost a character-driven reader. I rarely enjoy a story when I don't enjoy the characters. The characters in this one are just chef's kiss. I love, adore, worship our main character, Sylvia. She's so complex and complicated, and Hashem allows her to be deeply flawed and selfish and scared and violent which is so rare in this genre. She is absolutely fascinating and I felt for her every single second. Then there's her love interest, Arin, heir to the very kingdom that once destroyed Jasad. Now, in many ways he is your typical romantasy love interest - beautiful but cold, silver-haired, yadda yadda. But he's also so much more than that, because for a large part of the book Hashem actually lets him be a villain to our protagonist. There is no "I hate him but oh my god look how pretty he is". Sylvia and Arin start out loathing each other, and this is an actual, real slow-burn enemies to lovers story. This is the trope how it should be done. They are enemies before they slowly start to understand each other better, gain some trust, and then develop complicated feelings. There is so much tension and all of their moments of emotional, and physical, intimacy feel earned. I was completely invested in their story and I cannot wait to see how it develops.
There are some side characters and while not all of them feel fleshed out, the main two (Sylvia's friends) are loveable and interesting and I love having them with us on our journey. The villains in this sometimes lack a little nuance, but are still so interesting and when I tell you I'm praying daily for That One Guy's death (iykyk) I'm only a little bit joking.

The plot is interesting, even though the usually fast pacing is, admittedly, at times a little off. But even then I was invested, because I loved the characters so much.
So in conclusion? <i>The Jasad Heir</i> is one of my biggest surprises of the reading year because I really didn't expect to love it as much as I did. It's probably the best enemies to lovers romance I've read in a very long time because Hashem actually clearly understands how this trope works, and I cannot wait to get my grabby hands on the sequel.
Almost 5 stars for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for the ARC.

Sara Hashem's 'The Jasad Heir' is a great book! It is an Egyptian-inspired story with great world-building and complex characters. The story dives into history, family secrets, and the complicated rules that govern the world. This is part one of The Scorched Throne duology, I believe, and I am honestly so excited for the next book! And this was a debut novel from Sara Hashem, wow!

I had a great time with this book! On paper, lost royalty stories have been done to death, but Sara Hashem manages to do one in a way that feels different and new and I loved it. The world is great, the reluctance between characters is palpable (they really are enemies), and their conflicting developing bond is very believable. Thoroughly enjoyed the FMC's story, her decisions/mental state make a lot of sense for her situation. Sara Hashem also builds an interesting, compelling and complex world and I can't wait to explore the more political side of this story along with the slow-burn romance. And I couldn't finish this review without mentioning that Sara writes in a way that is highly appealing to me personally..


Thank you NetGalley/Orbit for the ARC.

I am routing for Sylvia & Arin. This book was brilliant!

I cried multiple times during this story, I loved everything about it. From the Jasad backstory to Mahair to the Citadel. There wasn't a single thing I disliked 😍 Sylvia has been through so much, I loved her journey and I want to know more. I want her to get all she's ever wanted.

The slow burn romance was utter perfection, also the pacing was great in general throughout.

All the characters were written so well, I can't believe this is the authors debut novel. I will be reading everything she writes 😊

I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in this series. I want to know more about the past and magic. I want more Sylvia and Arin and I want to know what happens after that finale!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is an Egyptian inspired political enemies to lovers fantasy! I wanted to read this ever since I got the sub box mug that said "She had the temperament of a deranged goose". Easily my favourite quote EVER and it resonates LOL. I didn't much care for the ending to be honest -- I felt like this could have easily been wrapped but, but then it wasn't... I won't go into detail but it was pretty frustrating. Over all enjoyed the book though!

4.25 ⭐

"The Jasad Heir" is the first installment of "The Scorched Throne," an adult fantasy duology written by Sara Hashem and currently in progress.

I had pretty high expectations for this title and in the end it did not disappoint! Maybe I was expecting more, but overall I enjoyed it quite a bit.

I really enjoyed the captivating, evocative and lyrical writing! I loved the vivid and curated descriptions, the attention to detail, so much so that I could easily picture everything.

The world building fascinated me a lot! Large, complex and multifaceted, it seemed to me to be well managed and analyzed down to the smallest detail. I admit that in some moments, especially in the initial part, I sensed several infodumps that slowed down the narrative a bit, but overall I can only give kudos!

The story proceeds slowly and quietly, taking its time to set the stage. A slowness that I found particularly pronounced in the first part, where it sometimes risks being excessive and heavy, also due to rather long chapters. However, past the initial hurdle, the pace begins to pick up, leading to a more brisk and action-packed second half. The novel is full of numerous political intrigues and court games, mixed with deceptions, subterfuges, secrets, lies, alliances, betrayals, and some really enjoyable fights to read. Some events seemed to me to be a bit rushed, I perceived several convenient situations, but overall the book satisfied me.

I loved Sylvia, protagonist with her first person pov! I found her incredibly complex, tormented, and with a decidedly painful past. What she had to endure, what she had to do to survive, really struck me! Her being morally gray and an unreliable narrator then won me over! Arin, a character who has some pov in third person, fascinated me! Cold, aloof, enigmatic and tough, he captured me with his unfathomable and mysterious air! The romance is present, but marginal to the story. I admit that I expected it to be more present, but in the end I am happy with the choice. The relationship that develops between Sylvia and Arin is a combination of a fantastic enemies to lovers and a slow burn really slooow,which made me sweat and swoon so much! I also enjoyed the secondary characters, especially Marek and Sefa!

All in all, "The Jasad Heir" is a fantastic debut that left me with great curiosity to read the sequel!

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Title: The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem

Release Date: July, 18th, 2024

4.5 Stars

Step into a world where kingdoms burn and magic is forbidden in The Jasad Heir, the electrifying debut fantasy by Sara Hashem.

This Egyptian-inspired tale weaves a spellbinding story of lost royalty, deadly bargains, and a kingdom on the brink of resurrection. Wow what a concept this was! I loved the Egyptian inspired plot line.

Sylvia, the last surviving heir of the scorched kingdom of Jasad, lives in hiding, haunted by the memories of her kingdom’s fall and the massacre of her family. For ten years, she’s evaded the grasp of the ruthless Nizahl, who outlawed magic and relentlessly hunts the Jasadi people. Sylvia’s sole focus is survival, burying her identity deep and steering clear of the rebellion that seeks to restore Jasad.

But fate has other plans. When Arin, the heir to Nizahl, arrives in her village chasing Jasadi rebels, Sylvia’s carefully constructed life crumbles. In a moment of anger, her hidden magic is revealed, drawing Arin’s dangerous attention. Now, Sylvia must navigate a deadly game, making a deal with her greatest enemy: help Arin capture the rebels, and she might save her own life.

As Sylvia and Arin become slow burn dance of deception and reluctant alliance, the lines between enemy and ally blur. And I was all there for it. Sylvia’s hatred for Arin transforms into something more nuanced, and their slow-burning connection adds an intoxicating layer to the high-stakes political intrigue. Yes there is a political side here…. But do not let this put you off.

The tension between Sylvia and Arin is breathe taking, their relationship a tantalising slow burn that smolders with every interaction. The development of their bond is both torturous and exhilarating, making their journey one of the most compelling aspects of the book.

One of my favourite things about this story was that The Jasad Heir is a masterclass in world-building containing richly detailed landscapes inspired by Egyptian mythology and history. The kingdom of Jasad and the oppressive regime of Nizahl are brought to life with vivid descriptions and intricate lore, making this story unique and interesting from start to finish.

Hashem’s storytelling is amazing, with action-packed scenes that keep the pages turning and a plot brimming with secrets, political scheming, and unexpected twists. I was not expecting to love this as much as I did, and this was the first story I read by this author….. Will be dong some research and planning to read more of her work soon.I was truly captivated by the rise of Jasad and the queen who will stop at nothing to reclaim her throne.In The Jasad Heir, Sara Hashem delivers a stunning debut that will leave readers breathless and yearning for more. It’s a tale of survival, love, and the unyielding quest for justice and redemption.


If you’re a fan of fantasy worlds filled with magic, intrigue, and complex characters and a angsty slow burn, this book is a must-read!


Thank you to The Publisher Little, Brown Book Group UK | Orbit ,The Author Sara Hashem & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem
Rating: 4/5

At ten years old, Sylvia, the Heir of Jasad, survives a massacre that claims her family. By fifteen, she's burying her first body, and at twenty, she's hiding her magical abilities from Nizahl's anti-magic regime. When Nizahl's Heir, Arin, discovers Sylvia's village sheltering Jasadis, her peaceful life shatters. Arin proposes a deal: compete as Nizahl's Champion in the Alcalah tournament to earn immunity, but act as bait to lure out rebels. To win, Sylvia must navigate Arin's scrutiny and the deadly tournament, balancing her freedom with her loyalty to Jasad. As their alliance deepens, Sylvia faces a crucial choice: her newfound life or reclaiming her shattered kingdom.

I was fortunate to read "Jasad Heir" when it was first released in 2023, and I thoroughly enjoyed this reread. My initial impressions remain largely unchanged: Hashem crafted a solid plot with dynamic world building and great characters that kept me entertained throughout.

However, I did find that after a strong first 20%, the pacing lagged and my attention waned. Thankfully, the last 20% picked up the pace and made up for the slower middle section.

The romance was also highlight, with the beloved enemies-to-lovers trope bursting from the pages perfectly. "Jasad Heir" remains one of the best YA romantasies of the year, and I highly recommend it.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Little, Brown Book Group UK, and the author, Sara Hashem, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

I absolutely loved this book!

Before going into it I had heard some positive reviews across various platforms, so I went into the book with high expectations… and it did not disappoint.
The world building was so interesting and every single character had so much depth.

The romance!!!
Reluctant allies who should be enemies, turned lovers.
The chemistry rlly shone.

Definitely one of my top books of the year.

It doesn’t happen often, but this book had me putting off reading for the simple fact that I wanted to prolong my time in this world with these characters.

This was such a good read. I loved the storyline, and the world Sara has created. This is a well-written Egyptian-inspired New Adult Fantasy filled with magic, betrayal, adventure, love, and friendship.
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Syliva survived a massacre. She has lived her life since in hiding. Keeping her true identity, a secret from everyone around her. Syliva is the Jasad Heir, a princess with power beyond even her own understanding. What little of her people that are left are being hunted and killed because of their magic.
.
Syliva in a moment of anger reveals her magic to the Heir of Nizahl, in order to save her life and her friends she agrees to compete in a deadly competition. She must win to gain her freedom, but she also must keep her true identity hidden.

Thank you to Orbit for providing me with an arc in exchange for a review!

“The Jasad Heir did burn in the Blood Summit. She was a better person. Susceptible to such notions as honor and virtue. She would have tried to save her kind. Protect them from the likes of you, even if it spelled her own destruction. But your Supreme killed her." I stroked a finger down the soldier's cheek. "And Sylvia replaced her. I do not heal. I do not lead." I tightened my hands and twisted sharply.
The snap of the soldier's neck echoed in the silent wood. "And unlike her, I am excellent at staying alive."

Yet, despite being hunted down just for having magic, Sylvia has none. It’s been bound up by her grandparents with cuffs. She can’t even use the thing that condemns her and her people to save herself.

How was it fair that Jasadis were condemned because of their magic but I couldn't even access the thing that doomed me? My magic had been trapped behind these cuffs since my childhood. I suppose my grandparents couldn't have anticipated dying and leaving the cuffs stuck on me forever.

This book was startling and poignant in its wider regard for people, politics, and power. How we are easily indoctrinated by the world we are brought up in. Interestingly, my recent coursework research has also been surrounding this, so the amount of ‘A-HAH’ and ‘SAY IT LOUDER’ moments I had were numerous.

"You ignore that each child enters a completely unique world, founded on different truths. We build our reality on the foundation our world sets for us. You entered a world where magic is corrosive and Jasadis are inherently evil. I entered one where turning a shoe into a dove made my mother laugh. Have you considered, in that infinite mind of yours, that the truly brilliant people are the ones who understand the realities we build were already built for us?"

Finally, I seem to be having a good streak with enemies-to-lovers which is normally something I don’t tend to enjoy. Like a few of my recent reads, this tantalising, murderous, stabbing slow burn had me hooked.

I would recommend this to fans of The Final Strife, Throne of Glass, and An Ember in the Ashes.

"His will is strong. It always is, in the self-righteous.”
“But the will of the damned is even stronger.”

the way my heart is beating so fast because um THAT ENDING??? im both excited and absolutely *terrified* for book 2. i need some news ANY NEWS PLEASE on a release date, how am i expected to wait?? you cannot make these characters and story have such a hold on me and expect me to be okay without book 2 in my hands right now. i am broken.

"When you choose who you are willing to fight for, you choose who you are."

from the very first chapter, The Jasad Heir immediately gripped me and caught me in its thralls. (like come on, how is it not hot for Sylvia to break a man's back in such a brutal way?? yes you read that right. girls covering up their murders!!! we love to see it and what a way to get someone hooked!!) but truly not one moment was i bored and was completely at these characters' mercy, your honor i am OBSESSED. the writing, the plot, the magic, the characters, the romance--literally everything about this story was so compelling and beautifully written, there is no doubt that this book has put me in a slump and i eagerly welcome this for once because i do not want to move on anytime soon. this is 100% an all time favourite book of mine. i mean i loved this so much that even before finishing it as i neared the end, i immediately ordered the Illumicrate edition because i absolutely need a SE of this masterpiece. i will most certainly be rereading The Jasad Heir so many times, which makes it all the more perfect because its THAT kind of book: one that can be reread over and over and you never get tired of it. if this doesnt tell you how loved this book is to me, then don't worry im not done.

She had the temperament of a deranged goose. Every interaction he’d shared with her had thoroughly convinced him he was not dealing with a stable woman.

it's impossible to write this review and not speak of the characters. Sylvia, my fierce, ruthless, gorgeous queen. i would lay down my life for her in a heartbeat, i just love every part of her. her strengths, her weaknesses, how she copes by rambling or making jokes, how she loves so fiercely despite trying not to show it, how she longs for a peaceful life where there are no expectations of her, how even when she tries to not feel the guilt it claws at her like it would any human, how hard she tries to build walls around feeling any sort or attachment for anything or anyone but really she feels so alone and theres so many layers of trauma and distrust to unpack my heart breaks for her. it's how she's so strong and cool and even in the face of her fear she fights. its how she has the temper of a deranged goose and its really such another lovable quality of her😂❤ and how her dry sarcasm and jokes are actually FUNNY?? the amount of times I laughed bye I dont think I've read about a MC that's made me laugh this many times, really what's not to love about her? i'm probably missing many other beautiful qualities in Sylvia, but truly her character is such a delight and feels so real, I just want to give her a big hug. It's no wonder Sefa and Marek were so willing to lay down their lives for her I mean who wouldn't?? and no surprise that a *certain* heir fell for Sylvia completely👀

“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."

which brings me to the other new love of my life: Arin of Nizhal!! From the moment he stabbed Sylvia in the leg and arm standing atop a horse saddle near the edge of a cliff... i knew it was true love. i too would happily be stabbed by Arin. and then when he caught her before she fell into the river, shielding her from any further damage, i was absolutely even more sure🥰

IM NOT BEING SARCASTIC BTW I LOVE HIM SO WHOLEHEARTEDLY. if that makes me completely unhinged, i welcome that. but truly his character is so!!! his need for organization, his attention to detail, his politeness, his brilliant mind, his bluntness, the dangerous air surrounding him, how hot he is--im completely at his mercy. there are so many layers to Arin's character and every time a piece of his guard broke, a new side of him was revealed and i just melted. like Arin's eyes softening?? i stopped breathing. Arin smiling?? i died. Arin laughing?? KILLED ME. Arin BLUSHING?$@#! just rip my heart of my chest already.

and THIS is what I call a true enemies to lovers marketed correctly!! not the "enemies to lovers" that's really hate to love and they're "enemies" but constantly think about how attractive the other is. i need that muderous tension between them!! i need that constant thinking of "oh how i want to kill him/her". the bloodthirstiness!! the electric and dangerous tension!! and it so served here.

The way he looks you at sometimes. Like you are a cliff with a fatal fall, and each day you move him closer to its edge.

Arin and Sylvia's dynamic was absolutely delicious and so so well written, the slowww burn was truly everything and their chemistry (THE ANGST??) was pure perfection. i would change nothing. (in fact please give me more i'm starving for more ArinSylvia scenes, my greedy, hopeless heart is begging for it) the way Arin was caught folding her clothes, handling her belongings with thoughtfulness and care and then Sylvia noticing that when Arin was in a good mood he ate with his right hand, and left when in a bad mood i mean just???🥹 her "Why do I even remember that?" please they are so gone for each other.
(view spoiler)

Love was not submission. It was not testing how far I could bend before I broke. Love was Sefa’s hand finding mine in the dark to reassure herself of my presence. Love was Marek entering the kingdom of his nightmares to help me.

also shoutout to the side characters whom i adore!! Sefa and Marek are the best friends a person could have, they're so sweet i love love loveee them and no harm had better come to these two or there will be therapy bills to pay!! Wes and Jeru were also interesting and funny guards, and i cant wait to see more of them, and hopefully less of a *certain* guard although i know that's very unlikely unfortunately.

truly The Jasad Heir is a book i highly HIGHLY recommend to anyone who wants an enriching and true dynamic in enemies to lovers, with well written characters, magic, plot and politics. i still cannot believe that ending, it wrecked me and i knew it was coming but the way it came?? im destroyed, please take me back. i will be suffering in wait for the next 9735972 days on news of book 2's release and will definitely be rereading this book many times. hell, i already am resisting the urge to do a reread right away--another sign of this book's magnificence.

Arin and Sylvia, my OTP <3

10 billion stars⭐


Thank you Orbit for gifting me this ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!!

4.5 stars

Wow, this book is going to leave me with a romance hangover despite only 10% of the story being about the romance.

Upfront, The Jasad Heir stumbles it's way through a lot of it's plot beats. There's holes, inconsistencies, and the word 'heir' is mentioned more times per page than I thought possible. If you're going into this book for the tournament trope please don't expect it to be the focus. The tournament only encompasses the last (view spoiler) or so pages, and the trials themselves are quite underwhelming. Deadly contests are one of my favourite tropes and I was initially disappointed by this.

This book does move slowly and the first half had me feeling fairly adrift. I was just along for the ride until something shifted in the character development and it clicked for me why so many of the people in my circle have been praising this book.

This. Cast. Are. Everything.
I loved all of them.

Sylvia is a wonderful protagonist. She isn't a hero. This was much more a tale of self-acceptance than of bravery. She is in an identity crisis and totally lacking a solid foundation from which to visualise or build upon who she wants to be. Watching her fight to carve out an identity for herself was slightly gut-wrenching and entirely relatable. I really hope we get more of this journey in book 2.

Very mild spoilers: I also appreciated how her (view spoiler) was handled, as someone with a sensory processing disorder (and trust issues) who cannot tolerate (view spoiler), I did feel slightly teary whenever (view spoiler). I loved how Sefa and Marek navigated this, and adapted to find other ways to show her affection and reassurance.

Don't click if you haven't finished this title yet: Having (view spoiler).

Sefa and Marek were a great rep for strong platonic bonds. While I don't feel we really got enough of them in this instalment I am very grateful that Hashem chose to prioritise a non-romantic pairing. More of this please!

Where this book really shines though is romance. It is such a tiny part of the story, barely there for the first 70% of it, but wow did it get to me. This is a true enemies-to-(maybe?)lovers. Knives are thrown. Hashem didn't pull punches. It is a slow-burn that really creeps up on you. Arin is somehow both terrifying and adorable. In her own way Sylvia is too. I was grinning like a fool towards the end.

quiet screaming
I love them so much.

Was this book a work of art? Mmm, no. Did I enjoy my time with these characters? Immensely. It is rare I have this much fun with my reading at the moment and, despite it's flaws, my heart can't rate it any lower.

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My rating system:
✧✧✧✧✧ - loved it, no complaints
✧✧✧✧ - loved it, some technical flaws
✧✧✧ - liked it
✧✧ - disappointing
✧ - unenjoyable

- 4.5 Stars*

I loved this book so much!!! I loved all the Arabic words and names used in this book! A breath of fresh air from almost never seeing that in Fantasy books.

And to author I have one thing to say to you… how dare you introduce Arin in that manner! As if I needed more reason to love him than that entrance. And Sylvia, praise to Sylvia for being one of the best morally grey characters out there 🗡️

Now, I wouldn’t recommend reading this book when you’re hungry 😂 so many mouth watering delicacies mentioned throughout the book!

The slow burn in this book 🔥 I swear I shouted “Kiss already” a billion times 😂

The book has A LOT of world building, lots of politics, magical lands, the banter, a Romantic sub-plot with the enemies to lovers trope, deadly trials, the fact that it’s inspired by Egyptian culture and History!

As you can see, I simply cannot write down my thoughts properly. Though, I hope you understood that you should definitely read it after all this chaos I wrote 😋