A wonderful and magical adventure full of adventure, intrigue and so much action. I was fully invested right until the last page.

I thought the first installment in this series was full of potential but required some more character development
This one is entertaining and fascinating. World building and characters are well developed, and I liked the storytelling.
The cover is gorgeous
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Having loved Zhara I was so excited to get approved for this arc!

I loved Ami and her whole character, you can see how deeply she cares for everyone and everything and she definitely embodies what it means to be the Guardian of the Wood. One particular thing I loved about this is the comradery between the 3 guardians and how they feel about the others, you can really see the burden they carry and only they can understand what it means.

Gaden was a great character and I had a few moments where I thought they would go bad or be taken over by the corruption. I loved the moment of Ami finding them again once the Pillar was defeated.

The enemies in this book were so interesting with the undead and abominations coming back and how the undead were described as being possessed, I just loved it.

One thing I didn’t particularly like was some of it seemed a little childish, and I wish we had more of Zhara & Han. I loved them in the first book and just wish we got more of that relationship building, I understand more with Han’s explanation but I still missed them.

So excited for the next instalment and if they can find the Guardian of the Water.

This is the second book in the Guardians of the Dawn series and I was excited to read this one after enjoying the first book Zhara.

I enjoyed being back in this world and getting to know Ami and her powers. Ami is quite a timid character in comparison to Zhara so it was nice to see the contrast between the two.

I feel like the plot continued on quite smoothly in this one and it definitely added to the world building and the lore.

However I will admit that this book had issues. Originally I rated this 4 stars but the more I thought about it I realised that I didn't enjoy this as much as Zhara. Whilst there were elements I liked there were a few things that just didn't sit right with me and I feel came out of nowhere.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Titan Books and Netgalley for the advance reader copy of this book for an honest review.

Ami is the second book in the Guardians of the Dawn series by S. Jae Jones.

I read and enjoyed the first title but did feel that I wasn't necessarily the age demographic for these books. However I was still will to give the sequel a go out of interest for the story and for the Sailor Moon vibes.

Ami has always been on the outside whether that be in friendships or in family. She has devoted her life to books and knowledge as they are easier to read than people. She is taking care of her mentally ill father in the morning realms though this proves challenging when he is arrested for stealing a sacred branch and she must offer up her scrivener services to the castle to someone named Beast to translate a forbidden mythical text to find a cure for the blight that is affecting the land.

Meanwhile Jin Zhara our main character for the first book is travelling across the land to find Amis father Li Eur Shan to help find one of the missing passages of the sacred text and defeat the mother of demons. However she needs the Guardian of Wood to do so. Could Ami's strange powers hold more of a purpose?

I really enjoyed this book once I got into the story it was fun, had a lot more action than the first book and we got perspectives from multiple new characters which was interesting and added to the plot.

I enjoyed the dynamic between Beast and Ami in this book though I found Zhara and Han's dynamic lacking. It seemed almost like they took the chemistry out of the first book and his character possibly being asexual was a twist that I wouldn't have seen from the first story.

I did however enjoy that the good looking giggles was mentioned less this irked me in the first story so much.

Ami's character was really interesting and she had lots of growth throughout the story I was glad we got to see her story through as well as her growth.

The world building I this book was interesting and added so much to the story. The boom is clearly aimed at YA readers however this one had more draw to me than the first one. Maybe it's the sailor moon parallels I did really enjoy seeing those throughout the story.

Overall a fun book for YA readers and sailor moon fans!

I really enjoyed Wintersong and Shadowsong so was excited to read another work by Jae-Jones. I can honestly say Ami did not disappoint. I loved everything about this one. The story, the characters and the setting it was all fantastic. It was a bit a chaotic but obviously that ties to the plot so it makes sense.

The worldbuilding was fantastic and tied with the storyline and characters it created a captivating read. I will confess I had forgotten a bit of what happened in Zhana so do need to reread both but it’s fair to say this is another fantastic novel by Jones.

Thank you to Netgalley and Titan Books for the e-ARC. My review is completely honest and left voluntarily.

Wintersong and Shadowsong are two of my favorite books in the entire world. Everything about it works for me. The plot, the characters, the emotions, the intensity, the mix of raw truth and fairytale. So, when the author came with a new series I of course wanted to read it too. These books are clearly way more YA than her duology, but I really enjoyed the first book. So, when I saw the sequel was on Netgalley I requested a copy and luckily Titan Books granted me one.

The beginning of the book felt a little chaotic. I'm not sure if it was because a few new characters were added and each got point of view chapters or because it was simply quite some time since I read the first book. However, once the storylines of Zhana and Ami came together I started to enjoy the book more and more and also started to appreciate what the author has done in this book, how much thought has gone into this series.

Because despite the fact that this series has a more YA vibe than the duology by this author, the worldbuilding is way more complex, just like the mythology. Maybe that's partly because I'm not that familiar with the mythology, but there are a lot of terms and unknown words. However, it didn't bother me at all. Either because everything is explained very well or because the context helps to understand the meaning.

By the end of the book I was blinking away a few tears, though. I really loved the moment Zhara had with her prince, talking about their relationship and where they stand. I also really loved Ami's character growth and journey. In the first few chapters she was hiding from the world, insecure about how to participate in it. In the end she's ready to face her destiny and be the hero the world needs her to be.

I can't wait for the next book to be ready!

This was a good follow up to the 1st book, I enjoyed how the story flowed from Ami’s new POV and back to Zhara’s. I look forward to the next book bringing in the last guardian of the dawn.

I got a little confused on Gaden, the way they were described felt like it was ever changing. I did enjoy their romance sub plot though.

I’m intrigued to see where the story will continue on.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Sequel to Zhara, Ami picks up where the last book finished: the fight against demons and political intrigue. I actually enjoyed Ami better: the new main characters were more interesting and complex, and I adores the Beauty and Beast elements! The magic system is not really clear for me, but the ending left me intrigued, so I cannot wait for the 3d book!

First of all a big thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Continuing almost from the events of the last book we meet the titular character Ami. Ami was a great character, the representation of the neurodivergent community and the journey that this character goes through is well thought out. This story also focuses on Gaden and the representation here for the non-binary community was also very well done.

The developments within the plot were a bit darker than Zhara, the plot moved at a good pace and it was packed with action as well as thought provoking character interaction. The world-building continued to be rich, but was done in such a way to not overwhelm. The world-building is one of my favourite aspects of this series.

This book has multiple POVs and fortunately we still get Zhara and Han's from the first book. While their development wasn't the main focus of this book, they still develop hugely and seeing the difference in Zhara from her book to this, she is much less juvenile than I thought her to be in the first book.

I would definitely recommend this series, I have already bought the matching Illumicrate copy and I am so excited for the third installment.

In this sequel, the plot takes a darker and more intricate turn, weaving together elements of demonic infection, the undead, and intricate political machinations. The narrative delves deeply into the series' mythology, offering a richer exploration of the prophecy, the Guardians' roles, and the enigmatic Star of Radiance. The world-building is particularly noteworthy, providing a vivid and immersive depiction of the Morning Realms and the looming menace of the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons.

The character development in this installment is exceptional, with a particular focus on Ami and Gaden. The author’s portrayal of neurodivergent and non-binary characters is commendable, presenting their personal growth and struggles with nuance and respect. Secondary characters such as Zhara and Han also undergo significant development, enhancing the depth and complexity of the ensemble cast. This sequel not only expands the series' universe but also enriches its character dynamics, making for a compelling and thought-provoking read.

Ami by S. Jae-Jones
Book 2 of Guardians of Dawn
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: 6 August 2024

"Guardian of Wood," the second instalment in the "Guardians of Dawn" series, significantly expands upon its predecessor's foundation. The story follows Li Ami, an outcast sent to care for her mentally ill father in the distant West, where she becomes entangled in a complex web of prophecy and magical corruption. Meanwhile, Jin Zhara, the Guardian of Fire, grapples with her newfound powers as she faces an overwhelming tide of undead.

This sequel introduces a darker, more intricate plot involving demonic infection, the undead, and political machinations. The narrative delves deeper into the series' mythology, exploring the prophecy, the Guardians' roles, and the enigmatic Star of Radiance. The world-building is rich and immersive, painting a vivid picture of the Morning Realms and the looming threat of the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons.

Character development shines in this instalment, particularly in the portrayal of Ami and Gaden. The author's handling of neurodivergent and non-binary representation is praiseworthy, offering a nuanced and respectful depiction of their personal growth and struggles. Secondary characters like Zhara and Han also show significant development, adding depth to the ensemble cast.

The novel strikes a commendable balance between its serious themes and moments of levity, with Han providing much-needed comic relief. The strengthening bonds between the Guardians are well-portrayed, adding emotional weight to their shared journey.

However, the magic system presents some inconsistencies, particularly regarding the Guardian of Wood's healing abilities. The rules governing this magic often seem unclear or contradictory, which can be confusing at times. Additionally, the celestial companions feel underutilised, leaving their potential largely untapped.

Despite these minor issues, "Guardian of Wood" is a compelling read that improves upon its predecessor in many ways. The character arcs and relationship dynamics are particularly engaging, and the expanded world-building creates a rich backdrop for the unfolding drama.

As a fan of the series, I'm excited to see how the story continues to develop in future installments. While I hope for more clarity in the magic system and a larger role for the celestial companions, the strong character work and intriguing plot developments have certainly piqued my interest for what's to come in the "Guardians of Dawn" series.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Titan Books, and the author, Ami. S. Jae-Jones, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.