The Jasad Crown by Sara Hashem REVIEW

Summary:

Held deep in a mountain refuge, Sylvia has been captured by the Urabi, who believe the Jasad Heir can return their homeland to its former power. But after years of denying her legacy and a traitor's bargain with Jasad's greatest enemy, Sylvia must win the Urabi's trust while struggling to hide the dangerous side effects her magic is having on her mind. 

In a rival kingdom, Arin must maneuver carefully between his father's desire to put down the brewing rebellion and the sacred edicts Arin is sworn to uphold. He is determined to find Sylvia, but Arin's search unravels secrets that threaten the very core of his beliefs about his family and his kingdom.

War is inevitable, but Sylvia cannot abandon her people again. The Urabi plan to raise the Jasadi fortress, and it will either kill Sylvia or destroy the humanity she's fought so hard to protect. For the first time in her life, Sylvia doesn't just want to survive. She wants to win.

My Thoughts:

I really wanted to throw this book out the window after that ending. Sylvia is forced to face the reality of who she is after years of hiding, as well as gain the trust of her people. They want her to raise the fortress, which will either kill her or make her go mad. Arin learns the truth behind his heritage and what his father has been doing. He is actually half-Jasadi, and he has no magic due to his father magic-mining him when he was very young. His father keeps the magic in his scepter, and is also part of the reason that Jasad fell. I loved learning all of these revelations and getting the full history of what happened to Jasad piece by piece. I could not put the book down, but I hate the ending. Sylvia dies and never sees those she loves again? While I understand not having a completely happy ending, this seemed like a bit of a cop-out. I think that it would have been better if she was consumed by her magic and everyone had to try to bring her back.

My Rating: 4 stars

The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem REVIEW

Summary:

Ten years ago, the kingdom of Jasad burned. Its magic was outlawed. Its royal family murdered. At least, that's what Sylvia wants people to believe. The Heir of Jasad escaped the massacre, and she intends to stay hidden, especially from the armies of Nizahl that continue to hunt her people.

But a moment of anger changes everything. When Arin, the Nizahl Heir, tracks a group of Jasadi to her village, Sylvia accidentally reveals her magic - and captures his attention. Now Sylvia's forced to make a deal with her greatest enemy: Help him hunt the rebels in exchange for her life.

A deadly game begins. Sylvia can't let Arin discover her identity, even as hatred shifts into something more between the Heirs. And as the tides change around her, Sylvia will have to choose between the life she wants and the one she abandoned.

My Thoughts:

Sylvia is such a compelling character, even more so than other main characters of similar stories. She is the sole survivor of the royal family, and intends to hide her identity for as long as she lives. When a young child is in danger from the Omal Heir's temper, Sylvia lashes out in anger, accidentally exposing her magic. While no one knows her identity, they know she is Jasadi. In exchange for her life, Arin wants her to be his Champion in the upcoming games. He hopes to draw out the rebels with her in the spotlight. With no other option, she agrees.

I really like how fast-paced yet character-driven this book is, as well as how the author writes. If I didn't know before I started reading, I never would have guessed that this was the author's first book. I also really like Sefa and Marek, Sylvia's friends. They really balance out the dynamics. The slow-burn romance between Sylvia and Arin is very believable. They don't even admit their feelings for each other until the end. The only real complaint I have is not really knowing much of anything about Jasad and the in-depth reasons why they were targeted. I get that we learn them while Sylvia does, but Jasad feels more like a legendary kingdom than one that existed until a decade prior. I hope this gets resolved with the next book.

My Rating: 3 stars