Source: DRC via NetGalley (Orbit Books, Orbit) in exchange for an honest review
Publication Date: July 18, 2023
Synopsis: Goodreads
Purchase Link: Amazon

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Why did I choose to read this book?

I chose to read this book because I am a sucker for a reluctant hero storyline. The Jasad Heir not only serves me this, but an enemies to lovers story as well. I had no hope of resisting this book. It has so many things that my brain craves in a fantasy tale. I also love supporting debut novels that sound as good as this book does!

What is this book about?

This book is about obligation. The theme of “I didn’t ask for this!” is strong here. Sylvia is actually Essiya, the Heir to the Jasad throne (this is not a spoiler), but after she narrowly escaped the attack on her kingdom that wiped out her entire family, all she wants to do is live a normal life. As the events of this story play out, she’s forced to question whether she owes her scattered people anything, and whether or not she wants to take up the mantle of Queen of Jasad and fight against those who brought her kingdom low. Do her own needs and wants come first, or does her people’s struggle for safety and freedom come before her own? I think this is a battle we all go through on a small scale, so it was easy to connect to Sylvia’s character.

What is notable about this story?

Sara Hashem does an excellent job writing how Sylvia thinks through her decision without having Sylvia’s internal monologue become repetitive. Sometimes fantasy stories suffer from the guilt problem (it’s all my fault, I don’t deserve this because I should have stopped it, etc) even though it doesn’t make any sense for the character to feel that way. Sylvia grows as a character from start to finish and she earns her ending.

I have never wanted two characters to kiss/get physical so much in any other book. The chemistry between Sylvia and Arin (the Nizahl heir) is absolutely electric, and the “we have to be enemies because your kingdom destroyed my kingdom” to “we are our own people and might actually like each other?’ is written so well that by the 50% mark I was just screaming KISS!! at the Kindle.

Was anything not so great?

There wasn’t a lot to criticize about this book. It’s a fast read, I didn’t want to stop reading, and I wanted to get back to it to find out what happened next. I think if I had to pick something, it was how the romance finally blossomed. I kind of felt short changed. It was like the tension was so well built up and went on for so long that when they finally connected I was like, that’s it? That’s all I get? But even this isn’t a huge issue, given how the book ends. I have no major quibbles with this debut, it’s fantastic.

What’s the verdict?

5 stars on Goodreads. This debut and series starter is a triumph that will grab you from the start and refuse to let go. I cannot wait for more from Sara Hashem and the world of The Scorched Throne!