The Jasad Heir

The Scorched Throne #1

by Sara Hashem

At ten years old, the Heir of Jasad flees a massacre that takes her entire family.

At fifteen, she buries her first body.

At twenty, the clock is ticking on Sylvia's third attempt at home. Nizahl's armies have laid waste to Jasad and banned magic across the four remaining kingdoms. Fortunately, Sylvia's magic is as good at playing dead as she is.

When the Nizahl Heir tracks a group of Jasadis to Sylvia's village, the quiet life she's crafted unravels. Calculating and cold, Arin's tactical brilliance is surpassed only by his hatred for magic. When a mistake exposes Sylvia's magic, Arin offers her an compete as Nizahl's Champion in the Alcalah tournament and win immunity from persecution. In exchange, Arin will use her as bait to draw out the Jasadis he's hunting.

To win the deadly Alcalah, Sylvia must work with Arin to free her trapped magic, all while staying a step ahead of his efforts to uncover her identity. But as the two grow closer, Sylvia realizes winning her freedom as Nizahl's Champion means destroying any chance of reuniting Jasad under her banner. The scorched kingdom is rising again, and Sylvia will have to choose between the life she's earned and the one she left behind.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Fantasy Romance, Adult, Fiction

479 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 18, 2023

About the author

Sara Hashem is the USA Today and Sunday Times bestselling author of The Jasad Heir and The Jasad Crown. An American-Egyptian author from Southern California, she spent many sunny days holed up indoors with a book. Sara’s love for fantasy and magical realms emerged during the two years her family lived in Egypt. When she isn’t busy naming stray cats in her neighborhood after her favorite authors, Sara can be found buried under coffee-ringed notebooks.

You can find Sara on Instagram and TikTok under @shashemwrites!

Reviews

[Ayman · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolute fucking cinema! i don’t care if it’s too early to claim this, as i haven’t even read book two yet, but this is actually my favorite book ever?!? i feel like i can do anything. i wanna jump off a building. i wanna kill myself because my life feels fulfilled after reading this. i wanna buy a house just to set it on fire. i need to be out there saving my people. i feel feral and animalistic 😆🔪

it feels like calling this a romantasy is a disservice because this goes beyond every realm of that genre. i haven’t felt this alive since 12 B.C. this book is exactly what i mean when i say i want the romantical part of a fantasy to edge the fuck out of me. i need to feel like im going under cardiac arrest. i need to feel like its my time and my next destination will be in the afterlife. i feel this book and its characters so deeply in my clit.

and can i just say, reading this book felt like reading the morning paper?!? fantasy is truly just drama, tea, and gossip at the end of the day. i was reading this like the weekly gossip comms. like what do you mean the opposing kingdom sent a weapon of mass destruction to you bed chambers so you enact the ultimate form of revenge by sending that same weapon to a dinner party in front of the queen? it’s sooo tea!! the drama, the stakes, the power and feeling of death near by?!? my eyes were glued to the pages. i actually had to force myself to put the damn book down to go eat, shower, piss, etc.

sylvia is officially my day one. she is literally the perfect main character. charisma, charm, witts, and humor. it’s impossible not to love her. every decision she made either had me in tears with laughter, chanting “as you should,” or fist bumping in the air with glee. she’s not just your typical “badass fmc” she defined that role, invented it, and gave birth to it. her flaws read so realistically on the page even in this genre. her fears and hopes and dreams and decision making. like at the end of the day, she’s just like everyone of us. my shayyyyla!! i wanna be her friend sauuuur bad.

“Arin tasted like nothing i could name. i had made a vow against intoxication, but i would recant immediately for the chance to savor the decadence of him” genuinely what the actual FUCK was that?!? 😭🌟💐

yall don’t want me to get started on Arin of Nizahl but i’m breaking my shackles as i type this. in every way a woman like me could have a fictional character that exist only through words and in my head, do i need Arin of Nizahl on my desk immediately. he got that dawg in him! the way he gathers information, bides his time, and measures every move…that big brain of his makes him sauuur sexy!! i would wipe every one of my memories to make room for only him. i would let this man gaslight me. i would make room for him in every aspect of my life for the chance of just looking at him. wars were started for less but i would fetch entire galaxies for him. if he was real. schools would be closed on monday. he would not be safe from me. this strong, dangerous, scary, and intimidating man is my pookie wookie sugar plum bear. “i am only a man” indeed you are sire ❤️❤️❤️🌟🌟🌟

nothing truly romantic really even happened in this book yet everything that romance is made of happened in this book. the yearrnnning could kill entire populations. the desperation could start a tsunami. there is no other true pairing. no one can hold a candle to them. their foreplay is literally stabbing one another. saying i want what they have isn’t enough. i need to kill them.

the writing in this book is truly fantastical. it was food to my brain. i felt it grow bigger and stronger with every word i read. this writing style is exactly what i mean when i say i want something lyrical that isn’t just quote farming. the plot moves with the words on page. nothing is milked out or unnecessary. there’s so much performative male yearning in this world, but this is one of the texts felt in this world that isn’t performative in the slightest. how else can i explain how perfect this book is ???

and what the fuck do you mean, the same man riddled with control and reason crumbles at the site of her tears?!? “what appeal can reason have in the face of your tears?” this line alone caused a genocide in my heart

you think you’re a fan of this book? say that to the 6 foot something cardboard cut out i ordered of Arin of Nizahl i have on the way. fedex. expedited shipping. don’t play in my face. i know dada.

they hurt me, constantly.

[Marianna Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIS IS WHAT I MEAN WHEN I SAY I WANT TRUE ENEMIES TO LOVERS!!!!

The visceral hatred they have for one another that truly makes me question how they are ever going to be together??? YES!! But then the slow slow slow burn of them falling for each other so subtly with the few heart wrenching moments of yearning and longing and chemistry!!! Arin and Sylvia have my whole heart!! They’re both equally unhinged and broken characters with so many layers and depth to them! I mean they did in fact stab each other and he did break her wrists when capturing her and maybe knocked her out but like… ENEMIES!!!

This is an Egyptian inspired political fantasy with deadly games and I was obsessed with lore and the world! The plot had me hooked from the start but it did have its low points and felt pretty predictable but I still couldn’t put it down. But it definitely had its imperfections for sure.

That being said I have a feeling book 2 is going to be even better and I cannot wait to dive in. I simply cannot get Arin and Sylvia out of my head.

“I am not immortal, lofty, mighty, or magnificent. I cannot be, because I am just a man.”

“I am only a man.”

“Do you have the faintest clue how you frustrate me?”

His mouth found the pulse jumping at my throat. The solid contours of his body pressed me to the wardrobe, pinning me in place.
“How you fascinate me?”

“Sylvia.” It was half plea, half pain.

“Arin. Am I hurting you?”

He dropped a feather-light kiss to my chin. “Constantly.” But it was wistful, content.

[chan ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was my third time attempting to read and i DID in fact finish it. everybody clap.

[jessica yeung · Rating 3 out of 5]

a very promising debut!

it follows a tried and true format for political fantasy stories, which most readers will find familiar and enjoyable. with tropes like a queen in hiding, the tension of enemies to lovers, a competition of champions, and scheming kingdom rulers, this ticks a lot of boxes. and the egyptian inspiration is also a really nice touch and creates a very vibrant atmosphere.

but the things that kept me from loving this were the unnecessary long length and inconsistent pacing, some weak editing, and awkward writing. not deal breakers but definitely things i would want to see improved before publication and/or as the series continues.

so again, a lot of promising components to this story and im looking forward to seeing how the next book progresses!

thank you, orbit books, for the ARC!

↠ 3.5 stars

[Uswah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️
WAIT… this is the author’s debut novel??? Be fr rn. I’m actually so impressed 😭🫶 Like??? The talent??? INSANE.

When I heard it was a REAL enemies-to-lovers??? I was already sold 🤭 But then I got scared like, what if it’s just marketing lies? BUT NOOOO, it’s the real deal 😭💅 And the slow-burn??? HELLOOOO??? That thing was burning in slow motion and I was eating it upppp 👀🔥 Me, every chapter: “Kiss?? No? Okay. I’ll wait.” 🙂‍↕️

I def enjoyed this a lot but like… idk… something felt a lil off? Can’t explain it 😩 Like it was giving but not GIVINGGG yk?
If you’re into Egyptian vibes, you’ll probs eat this up tbh 🇪🇬✨ Some ppl might call it mid and honestly, I get it, but personally?? I was vibing 😌💛

The FMC??? Baddie. Doesn’t need saving. Love that for her 💅 The MMC??? Ughhh he’s just so good 🥲 Like pls sir, ruin me (respectfully) 🫠

Y’ALL. The way they literally hated each other at first 💀 I was like, “ain’t no way THESE two are endgame??” But then… PLOT TWIST. It works. It works SO WELL 🤭

Not the best fantasy I’ve ever read, it has its flaws 😭 BUT I’m definitely picking up book 2 cuz I need answers 👀📚 The plot has me in a chokehold, okay???

Anyways. That’s it. Love y’all. 🫶💛

————————————
𖤍 pre-read 𖤍

Heard that this is ACTUALLY enemies-to-lovers 👀 so ofc, I’m gonna give it a try 🙂‍↕️

[yuvi • ia · Rating 4 out of 5]

(reread#1) update
yeah so rereading saving 6 is NOT easy😭idk why i thought that would be a good idea. (just realised that joey's abuse started when he was 3 yo)
anyway i digress.
maybe rereading some of my favorite books will finally help with the slump? (ignoring the fact that they put me into a slump when i read them for the first time😭✌️)
mehh idkkk. i'm so confused.
someone send help

━━━━━━━━━━━
sidenote
started- oct 25, 2025
finished- oct 29, 2025
----
reread#1
started-
finished-

════════≪ °❈° ≫════════
other books by sara hashem -

❀the jasad heir (scorched throne #1)- 4★
❀the jasad crown (scorched throne #2)- 5★
❀where no shadow stays (standalone)-5★

[Yana · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMGGGG this has a potential of being a GOD TIER series

[BookishByTammi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finally finished this! Whew what a struggle
It started off so well and I was so invested and intrigued but towards the middle it started to drag, I was promised a deadly tournament however that didn’t even start until 3/4 of the book.

My main issue with this story was the fact the main character has cuffs on her wrist that prohibits her from using her magic, she was held hostage for 5 years and tortured and still her magic didn’t work. However as the story progressed she was able to not only use her magic with the cuffs but use it whenever she wanted… how??

Unfortunately I didn’t buy the romance either, it was once again a promising start with true enemies to lovers vibes but to me there was no slow build it was 300+ pages of enemies then the next minute there in love…when did this happen!

I was going to give it a 3⭐️ but as I read through the ending I just realised I’m not enjoying this at all its taken me all month to even read it even accompanied with the audiobook I just couldn’t bring myself to care for these characters or plot

[EmmaSkies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling characters, a pacey plot that kept me consistently wanting what came next, next, next, and TRUE, ACTUAL, HONEST TO GOD ENEMIES-TO-MAYBE-LOVERS-MAYBE-NOT. I really enjoyed the time I spent with The Jasad Heir and were it not for my own self-imposed book buying rules I would have gone out to grab the sequel and started immediately!

Main character Sylvia is a really fantastic POV to follow in this story and Sara Hashem does a fantastic job of meting out information and worldbuilding in a way that invites Sylvia's - and by extension, the reader's - worldview and preconceived notions to be explored. At times bolstered and at others questioned. Hashem populates the story quite successfully with characters that feel real and distinct from each other and coalesce into a group that ultimately makes the world feel expansive and lived-in.

And while we're talking about characters, this is what enemies-to-lovers should be. Diametric opposition, real stakes, and sincerely complicated obstacles they need to overcome to even see the other in a light other than "enemy." And not things that are easily navigated! This is an enemies-to-lovers line that is genuinely interested in what that means and what that dynamic brings to the narrative beyond just a marketable trope for the sake of it, and which truly could go either way: kiss or kill.

There's a rich history to the world Hashem builds here that feels realistically complicated - with messy alliances and differing histories dependent on upbringing - that lends a sort of puzzle quality, that makes each piece of new information gained feel satisfying when it slots in to further build out the more complete picture, and appropriately confounding when it jaggedly butts up against the edge of what you've already placed down. I only wish the magic system felt just as purposeful. While I expect it to be more explored in the second book, here the magic feels entirely convenience-based. Accomplishing what needs to happen when it needs to happen with no understanding of why, how, or what many of its limitations are.



Interestingly, this book is what I wish "New Adult" popularly encompassed. It's certainly an adult novel, with characters in their 20s and a narrative that treats its readers like adults, but has a sort of structural familiarity that harkens back to Young Adult fantasy adventures. It's pacey and occasionally tropey in a way that makes this a compelling ride, and most importantly it understands the use of the tropes it employs. Not a trope for trope's sake, but a trope used because of what it allows the writer to explore in their characters.

And on the note of classifications, I will say I take issue with this often being classed as Romantasy! Much to say on the idea that fantasy stories by women are now consistently referred to as "romantasy" (and also classifications are fake and no one can agree on what Romantasy is), but I digress. While there is a romantic plotline, if you removed it entirely there would still be a fantasy novel that stands on its own legs


Note that if you have the first printing of this book, there are some fairly significant editorial issues that were glaringly missed, but seem to have been addressed in subsequent printings (including, but not limited to, things like physical positioning errors and even a character appearing, out of the blue, in a scene some dozens of pages after they died). I find myself extremely annoyed with Orbit (the publisher) that one of my biggest critiques of this book lies entirely in its editorial mishaps rather than anything with the story itself. It's disappointing to see in traditional publishing, where the publisher takes a lion's share of the proceeds of a book's sales in return for doing all the work of actually publishing it, that they dropped the ball this hard and this obviously on line editing.
Comparing different editions with people in my book club, it seems like a lot of errors were fixed after the first printing, so if you pick the book up now you shouldn't run into these issues, but something to be aware of if you have an earlier printing.

Read for my book club's December 2025 pick and I'm glad this finally got picked after multiple months of coming close to winning!

[Jaime Fok · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

Sara Hashem's writing is absolutely stunning, my favourite part of reading this was just admiring the gorgeous ways she can string together a sentence.

I feel so conflicted because there is so much I liked about this. This is actually a rare case of a romantasy where I actually liked all characters involved! I also really enjoyed the chemistry in the romance plot, which has also been rare for romantasy lately.

But what I struggled with the most is the pacing of the plot. The majority of this book moved SO slowly, due to the mass amounts of fantastical world history and succession lore we were getting. Some of it was definitely crucial to the story, but it felt like there was an imbalance that favoured on history vs current plot. It almost felt like the actual story was second priority, and this book was some sort of a prequel in ways?

I'm curious to see where the second book goes so I'll definitely finish the duology - there is a lot of potential here!

[ivy]

ᝰ ⋆ ── preread ✶
i've been wanting to read this for so long 💚. hopefully it's a good one!

𖦹 🎬⌇ december tbr: #9

[Shelley Parker-Chan]

The Jasad Heir takes familiar fantasy plot elements—a destroyed kingdom; a hidden heir to the lost throne—and gives them a thrilling extra layer of political complexity. The epic slow burn between protagonist and antagonist will have you frantically turning pages to find out if they’ll kiss—or finally successfully kill—each other.

[èvieane · Rating 4 out of 5]

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . 4.2 - 4.4 ☆ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ˋ°•*⁀➷ㅤmight contain spoilers ❗

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ I have really struggled to find the most suitable way to describe this book, and I think I have found a description that seems to do it at least SOME justice: this book is cultural opulence wrapped in a slow-burning romance. I ventured in hoping for political intrigue, forbidden magic, and a spark of forbidden romance that would entirely take my breath away—and while I got all of that beautifully wrapped in this book, I also found myself exhilarated and exasperated in equal measure.


ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ “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.”

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ short summary
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ The Jasad Heir drops you into a world where secrets are practically a currency and the characters guard theirs like dragon hoards. Our elusive heir is a master of speaking in loaded half-sentences and conveying entire arguments through a single, well-timed glare. Emotional openness? That’s for lesser mortals.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ Beneath all the frost lies a slow-burn tangle of lineage, betrayal, and shifting loyalties, where every alliance feels as fragile as porcelain. You’ll spend much of the book deciphering glances and pauses, but when the emotional armour finally cracks it’s enough to make the whole guarded journey worth it.


ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ honest thoughts
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⋅ ☾ The world-building in this book is absolutely and utterly mesmerising. The world feels alive, with a rich mythology, cuisine, language, and ritual. The Egyptian influence dominates every scene, from the whispered legends of magic to the clink of ceremonial blades. I was so immersed that I felt like I'd walked into a live tapestry rather than just a collection of pages.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ But—and this is the big but that also made me slightly reduce the rating of this book—when your world is rooted in a real culture, you must bring your readers into it. I’m really thankful for Google's existence, because being dropped into dozens of cultural elements and rituals without a single guide or explanation for 100+ pages is exhausting. A glossary is something that this book urgently needed and I would be really grateful if authors started considering adding one to their books when they plan to create an imaginary world of such cultural richness and influence. I only finally managed to start understanding the terms and the things I was reading about around the 30% mark; readers shouldn’t need such patience and extra research as a prerequisite for reading a book.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⋅ ☾ I don't particularly find myself compelled to say anything of utter importance concerning the writing in this book. Not spellbinding, but quietly elegant. The simplicity was a gift, given how info-heavy the setting is. The author's voice never distracts from the world, but rather, it times the load of history with clarity.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ The only issue I found myself having while reading this book is that sometimes it was simply hard for me to understand what was happening. I was only realising what was going on about halfway through the action itself. Probably smoother transitions and a better description would’ve helped.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⋅ ☾ I am unsure whether the following statement I found myself thinking about this book is something bad or good in this situation: the narrative resembles a cultural immersion rather than a fast-paced plot progression.. There are trials, tension, and secrets, of course, but for nearly 200 pages, the action simmers rather than erupts. I wanted more moments of friendship and camaraderie—not romance, but rather a connection rooted in shared struggle meant to bring the characters closer and build something between them.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ Sylvia’s inner world is intoxicating and fascinating (maybe because I saw glimpses of myself reflected in her character), but I craved external bonding; something beyond the looming war and conspiracies.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⋅ ☾ You know I live for slow-burn romance, and this delivered real slooooow burn with two incredibly complex characters who barely tolerate each other. Sylvia and Arin are viciously honest, sharp-tongued, cold, and distrustful and then… something shifts. The first glimpse of a spark arrives even later than halfway through the book, and everything thereafter tingles with very discreet “Will they? Won’t they?” moments.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ There’s no insta-lust, no sudden thought of “she’s so gorgeous” or “he’s so handsome”, and this was honestly a breath of fresh air in this sea of fake enemies-to-lovers/slow-burn romance books that have been dominating the market lately. This book reminds everyone what enemies-to-lovers should look like. Just carefully guarded walls and tiny gestures that threaten to crack them. It’s brilliant. But if you’re here for rainbows and grand declarations, dim those romantic expectations. It’s subtle, nuanced, and utterly, deeply rewarding.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⋅ ☾ The Ending? Heart-ripping and perfect. It lands fast, with all the emotional consequences swirling around the characters and the reader. Felt a bit rushed, yes, but the gut-punch of misunderstanding, revelation, and sudden heartbreak was worth every slow-building second.


ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ characters
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ These characters wield potentials, secrets, and snark, some more effectively than others, and I was entirely here for any moment of it.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ 𓇼 Sylvia/Essiya – The lost Heir of Jasad, shaped by genocide, exile, and dangerous magic. For years, she suppresses her identity with both invisible cuffs and icy emotional walls. Her survival instincts are razor-sharp and she calculates, hides, and lashes out first, asks questions later at any given chance. Sounds exactly like my ideal type of character, right?
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ Yet this is both her strength and her curse. Sylvia’s trauma is real, but Christ, it bottlenecks her arc. She’s compelling in a flash, but she reflexively recoils from connection, from hope, from anything. She gradually learns to lean into buried identity and draw power from it, yes, but slow burn doesn't excuse emotional stiffness. I deserved more moments of vulnerability that weren’t fear-driven.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ 𓇼 Arin – Frosty. Strategic. Brooding; and a bit creepy when you remember he plans to hunt Sylvia’s entire people. But over time, his rigid armour reveals cracks: small acts of mercy, political restraint, and an increasingly empathic gaze toward the very person he should arrest. The slow burn of respect turning into something more; it's that perfectly flavoured slow torture I never knew I craved. Still, at times, he reads like a textbook brooding hero, except slightly more interesting.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ He reminded me, at times, of a much more intriguing and captivating Aaron Warner, and he reminded me even more of myself; which is probably why I found myself completely addicted to him as a character. I simply cannot wait for more of his POVs in the second book...

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ 𓇼 Marek & Sefa – Ride-or-die allies with secrets and scars. Marek is heartfelt steadfastness personified; Sefa is the fiercely loyal protector. They care for Sylvia in invisible ways—sharing favourite treats, watering magical plants, and walking dangerous paths for her without hesitation. They grounded the narrative’s emotional core like anchors of humanity in Sylvia’s isolated life.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ 𓇼 Wes & Jeru – Maybe this is an unpopular opinion, but I really need to see more of these characters in the second book. It felt like they are for Arin what Sefa and Marek are for Sylvia, and I truly want to see this loyalty bloom even more beautifully in the second book.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ 𓇼 The Jasadi Rebels – Dearest faceless ghosts of Jasad, pulsing with rage and longing. They're Sylvia’s potential redemption—not just politically, but emotionally. She sees them as symbols, not people. They push her toward the crown she’s evading, but we see so little of them as individuals that they remain atmospheric rather than essential.


ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ should you read this?
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ Yes— especially if you hunger for immersive fantasy, cultural depth, enemies-to-lovers simmer, and morally grey characters. Otherwise, proceed with caution if you're after adrenaline, immediate friendships, or openly romantic arcs; this will test your patience in all possible ways.
Verdict? Rich, patient, hauntingly tender. Just bring a glossary and a friend to talk it through with.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ I’m already into the second book as I am finishing writing this, and I can say that I am completely addicted. The Jasad Heir is definitely a lush debut that both challenges and enchants—and, when digested properly, stays with you long after the last page.
⊹₊┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍendㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈₊⊹

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍˗ˏˋ📖‧ ˚ ₊⊹ The Scorched Throne duology reviews:
⋆˚࿔ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍The Jasad Crown (5.0 ⭐)



⊹₊┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍㆍ✿ㆍㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈₊⊹
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ᯓ ✿ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍pre-reading ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⪼ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ started ┆09-August-2025┆
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⤿ happy "Book Lovers" day to everyone! And what better way to celebrate it than finally starting the duology I've been dying to read for a long time now!
Hope this is as good as you all convinced me it will be 👀

[vanessa ⋆.☕︎ May and half June ia ✦ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rating: Dnf 60%.
I wanted to love this book so badly, I really did, because the characters have potential and the world clearly has depth. But something about it just felt… off. It’s like the soul of the story is missing. Every time I turn a page, instead of being swept away into a magical world, I feel like I’m reading a history book.
There’s just so much information, so many details, that it starts to feel like reading a history book rather than a fantasy book.

That was literally my first thought while reading the opening chapters: “This book reminds me so much of Heartless Hunter, and I absolutely loved that one! So I’m really hoping this one keeps me hooked with its chapters and scenes too.”

“sigh”… I really tried with this book, but this book tested every bit of my patience. It started with so much promise, fallen kingdoms, hidden magic, a deadly secret, yet somehow turned into 500 pages of heavy info dumping and confusing world building that drained all the excitement out of me.

➛The Characters:
And here’s me again, absolutely convinced she was going to be my new favorite FMC: “Olivia is so arrogant and strong, she literally snapped a man’s neck even when she wasn’t alone. But she did it anyway! She’s so sharp, so clever, she can analyze anyone’s character or even her own actions. I’m obsessed with her.”
The heroine, Sylvia, could have been powerful and compelling, but she’s written so inconsistently it’s impossible to connect with her. One moment she’s fiery and sharp, and the next she’s fragile and impulsive without reason. It felt like every chapter introduced a different version of her.

The male lead? Arin! The definition of dull. He’s marketed as mysterious and dangerous, but in reality? Just another brooding fantasy man who thinks staring dramatically counts as character depth. Their chemistry is nonexistent, their conversations feel forced, like the book is begging me to believe in a connection that just isn’t there.

➛The Plot:
Where do I even start? It drags. Every time the story starts to get interesting, it’s buried under endless political jargon and lore explanations that don’t pay off. The pacing is chaotic, slow where it should move, rushed where it should breathe. It felt like I was constantly being teased with potential that never delivered.

What should have been a powerful tale of survival, identity, and rebellion ended up feeling hollow. There’s no emotional pull, just pages and pages of over complicated world building that reads more like a history lecture than a fantasy adventure. I wanted to feel magic in my bones; instead, I felt tired. The book talks about loss and legacy, but I never felt it.

I DNF’d this book because I already knew exactly where the story was heading, and honestly, even the second book sounds predictable at this point. So no, I’m not even going to bother giving it another chance.


_____


“Ten years ago, the kingdom of Jasad burned, its magic outlawed, its royal family murdered. But one survivor remains, hiding in the ashes of what once was. Because even buried magic can’t stay silent forever.”
༉‧₊˚🕯️🤍₊˚. I’ve been wanting to read this book for the longest time, but honestly, I never had the courage to start it on my own. Then my lovely girl, Mania, reached out and asked me to join a buddy read, and of course, I couldn’t say no.

So here I am, finally diving in, and I’m so excited to experience it with these beautiful girlies Mania, Maryam, Yuvi and Lina 🤭.

[♥Milica♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“What appeal can reason have in the face of your tears?”

I have been waiting for this book for a year and around four months at least. I've been so exited for it, so sure I'd love it, and there's no better feeling than proving yourself right when it comes to a book, I think.

The Jasad Heir is one of those brilliant books that sucks you in so fast and doesn't give you time to breathe until it's over and you're left in a puddle of your own tears.

THAT'S RIGHT FRIENDS, I CRIED. I have been HURT by this book to extreme levels that I'm wondering how I'm even writing this now. But it's a good kind of pain, the best, caused by the best book in the universe. I'M NOT EVEN KIDDING I LOVE THIS SO MUCH.

If I could give this 10 billion stars I would, but not even 10 billion would be enough. Sara Hashem, you have ruined me for all future books. I've said this once before, but NOW I am well and truly ruined.

I just love everything about this, the writing, the story, the characters, the setting, the magic the romance. How is it possible that everything was so perfect???

Sylvia is our main character, a Jasadi queen hiding in a village until her past catches up with her. Hers is the main PoV we follow throughout the book. The other PoV is that of Arin, the heir to another kingdom and the villain.

I have loved both of them from the moment they were introduced on page, and I kept wondering if we'd get Arin's PoV at some point. Lo and behold, we did!! I think it's only around three chapters, but I adored reading them. I hope the next book will have even more of him.

Both Sylvia and Arin developed from start to finish, I'm of the firm belief that it wouldn't have been possible if they didn't have each other.

They start off as enemies and become lovers while still wanting to end the other person, naturally. It's so delicious to read, and the fact that it's a slow burn too makes it even better. I was SUFFERING, waiting to see if they'll kiss or not. And you know what? My suffering paid off, that's all I'll say.

I also loved Sefa, Marek, Fairel, Rory, Dawoud, Wes, Jeru, Diya, all the Jasadis (even the not-so-nice ones)...

Speaking of Sefa and Marek, their relationship is unclear until a certain point where we learn that it's a relationship on the ace spectrum which is so cool!!! I was not expecting ace rep at all, if I didn't already love this book, then this would make me love it for sure.

Now let me complain about the ending and by complain I mean scream at the sky in frustration because the second book isn't available yet. Of course, we get a cliffhanger that's perfectly designed to make you frantically flip the pages hoping there's more and that it's not truly the end.

SADLY, it is the end. For now. I am not okay. I need another box of tissues and a hug. Many hugs.

If you trust my taste in fantasy books, and want to read something that's proper enemies to lovers, full of politics and magic then READ THE JASAD HEIR!!!!! You won't be disappointed.

*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*

[Nancy •͙͙✧⃝•͙͙✩ͯ · Rating 4 out of 5]

──⟡⋆˙✩ 4.25 stars ✩ ⋆˙⟡──

𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ "𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕚𝕤 𝕟𝕠 𝕤𝕦𝕔𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕤 𝕒 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕥𝕙𝕪 𝕤𝕒𝕔𝕣𝕚𝕗𝕚𝕔𝕖. 𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕠𝕟𝕝𝕪 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕤𝕖 𝕨𝕙𝕠 𝕕𝕚𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕤𝕖 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕠 𝕝𝕖𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕞." .𖥔 ݁ ˖𓂃.☘︎ ݁˖

That ending had me:

The hype for this book is SO deserved. From the very first page, I was hooked.

As someone who usually does not give two shits about worldbuilding, it surprised me to find I was suddenly giving ten shits. That is such a weird sentence now that I reread it, but I have no shame, so it’s staying.

No really, I was devouring every description of the world, the different kingdoms and their customs and cultures, the food, the clothing... all of it.

And the writing is INSANELY good. My physical copy is now aggressively highlighted, annotated, and stuffed with bookmarks like a wounded soldier held together with tape.

𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ𐀔 βօօҟͲąցʂ 𓍯𓂃

➽ Egyptian inspired
➽ Enemies to Lovers to enemies again
➽ Slowburn
➽ “Who did this to you?”
➽ Hidden identity
➽ FOREHEAD KISS (yes this is an incredibly important bit of information)

⁀➷ Sylvia of Mahair

     "𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖 𝙢𝙪𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙧."
     "𝙄 𝙖𝙢, 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮." 𝙄 𝙘𝙝𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙚𝙙.

Also known as Essiya of Jasad. The girl she used to be ten years ago, before her kingdom was scorched to the ground, her family burned alive, and her people mercilessly hunted ever since. In a world where magic is outlawed, being a Jasadi means death, because being a Jasadi means magic runs through your veins.

Sylvia is so full of inner turmoil. Torn between who she is now and who she thinks she used to be before. Between what she owes to her kingdom and her people and the fact that Jasad has not truly been hers since she was ten years old.

     "𝙑𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙚. 𝙃𝙖! 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙫𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢"

Sylvia just wants to live the rest of her life in hiding. She can watch Jasadis being slaughtered right in front of her eyes and do nothing to save them. All it would accomplish is her own death. She is quite practical, you see. Definitely someone who leads with her head over her heart. A little unkind too. Not monstrous, but definitely not a saint.

She tries very hard not to feel responsible for the deaths of other Jasadis. At first, she succeeds. But as the book progresses, the guilt and shame slowly begin eating away at her. Sylvia is such a fascinating character. So full of anger and spite, yet underneath it all are walls built entirely out of pain.

     "𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖 𝙗𝙪𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙧." 𝙄 𝙬𝙚𝙥𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝘼𝙧𝙞𝙣'𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙩. "𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙭𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙬𝙪𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙."

Aside from that, she is incredibly entertaining. Some of her thoughts and dialogue absolutely CRACKED me up.

This for example is VERY relatable: 𝘼 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙉𝙞𝙯𝙖𝙝𝙡 𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧. 𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙥𝙞𝙚𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝘼𝙧𝙞𝙣'𝙨 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧.

She is the queen of pettiness and I support women’s rights and women’s wrongs alike. Always feeling smug when someone who mistreated her gets what they deserve. Having violent, borderline concerning thoughts at the worst possible moments. Making jokes that nobody laughs at. (Okay, but I think you’re funny, Sylvia.)

She is genuinely such a well-crafted female lead. I loved her.

⁀➷ Arin of Nizah: 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.

MY MANNNN.

Sorry.

NO BUT LIKE, YOUR HAND IN MARRIAGE, SIRE?

Ahem. I’ll stop.

NO REALLY, I JUST NEED ONE CHAN—

slap

holds bruised cheek with tearstained eyes FINE. I will stop thirsting over him.

     "𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙥𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙫𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙨? 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙉𝙞𝙯𝙖𝙝𝙡 𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙮𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙢 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚? 𝘿𝙤 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙮 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙅𝙖𝙨𝙖𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙮."

See, initially my thoughts on him were... less than generous. By that I mean I frequently found myself wanting to slap the cool composure out of him. He irritated me so badly with how unaffected and nonchalant he was all the damn time. Like what, does he want a medal for being more frigid than the South Pole?

However. I formally apologize for my ignorance and insolence.

Arin (AHHHHHHHHH) is a cold, calculating man who maps out twenty different paths and their twenty different outcomes before making a decision. He is extremely intelligent, extremely powerful, and unfortunately for my sanity, extremely pretty. His competence is SO attractive.

     𝘼𝙧𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙉𝙞𝙯𝙖𝙝𝙡 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙝 𝙖 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙚.

There is just something about him. The ice-cold eyes. The immense self-restraint. The tall, broad figure. The terrifying calmness. He is polite to a fault, which somehow only increases his appeal. Everyone is absolutely terrified of him too, which again, is doing nothing good for my heart.

He does not need to glare. He does not need to raise his voice. He simply looks, and suddenly the temperature in the room drops ten degrees and everyone is shaking in fear.

This man is mine. No one else can have him.

And WHEN that icy composure finally fractures? God. How delicious he becomes. His face going ashen when she is injured. Shouting for medics. Snarling at his guards to keep her ALIVE. Suddenly this controlled, restrained man becomes something feral.

     "𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙧," 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙. 𝘾𝙝𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙬. "𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙅𝙖𝙨𝙖𝙙𝙞 𝙜𝙞𝙧𝙡, 𝙄 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙘𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙."

And just like that, my heart was forever his to do with as he pleased. There is no getting it back. It refuses to return to me.

His eyes softening when he looks at her. Holding her tightly while she sobs. Looking into her tear-streaked face and saying:

     "𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨?"

OH OH OH STOP. I am undone.

The man who has only ever made calculated decisions suddenly acting out of emotion for the first time? Please. Do you WANT me utterly helpless at his feet?

Okay, this is rapidly turning into an Arin of Nizahl review instead of a The Jasad Heir review.

⁀➷ 𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖: 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙉𝙞𝙯𝙖𝙝𝙡 𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙜𝙖𝙢𝙚. 𝘼 𝙗𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙖 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙-𝙨𝙤𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜.

Okay, I have a confession to make. Don’t side-eye me, please. Some of you might find the romance a little objectionable. Just a teeny tiny bit. Because you see... err... how do I put this.

It is enemies-to-lovers, right? And Arin is an incredibly ruthless man.

Translation: he snaps one of her wrists, crushes the other one, hurls her into a wall, stabs her in the arm and calf, punches her, and gives her a black eye.



You did not see this. Especially not after watching me lose my mind over him for several paragraphs straight.

No no, listen. My friends who already read this book ASSURED me she pays him back eventually. She has not beaten him up yet, so I assume that will happen in book two. I will report back once I read it.

Aside from the physical violence on his side in the beginning, and yes, it is limited to the beginning because he does not do it later, the romance is actually super cute.

Okay maybe cute is not the correct word considering she spends half the book fantasizing about creative ways to torture him, but you get the idea.

     Him: "𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙚. 𝙄 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙙𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩--𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙡."
     Her: "𝙔𝙤𝙪. 𝘿𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙮𝙤𝙪."

They have an INSANE amount of chemistry. And because it is slowburn, I was kicking my feet and giggling by the end like a fool.

     "𝙄 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪." 𝙄 𝙗𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙞𝙧. "𝙄 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙤𝙛 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪."

     𝙀𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚. "𝙈𝙮 𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙎𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙖, 𝙬𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙪𝙨𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣."

He calls her Suraira. Just to clarify matters, Suraira is said to be a devious demon of mishap who compels humans to their death.

     "𝘼𝙧𝙞𝙣." 𝙄 𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙢𝙮 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙚𝙠 𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙞𝙧. "𝘼𝙢 𝙄 𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪?"
     𝙃𝙚 𝙙𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧-𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙠𝙞𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙮 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣. "𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙮."

I can write an entire essay about Arin. Of my love for him. But I will not torture you all further.

     (*ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)ꕤ*.ﾟ・Ꮖᥒ Ꮯꪮᥒᥴᥣᥙ᥉เꪮᥒ・

This was less of a review and more of a very long, emotionally unstable thoughts-vomit. Overall, this book was incredibly interesting and entertaining. I loved every second of it. I literally could NOT look away.

     Buddy Read with my lovely Bestie Arushi!

[Alienor ✘ French Frowner ✘ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh welcome, new favorite—if there's one book you'll preorder, make it this one. Addictive and exciting, this Egyptian-inspired debut fantasy takes well-known Fantasy tropes and makes them *flourish* :
✔ the chosen one (who doesn't want to be chosen) and the overwhelming burden of other people’s expectations;
✔ a will they/ won't they (kill or kiss each other) slow-burn that WILL alter your brain chemistry;
✔ deadly trials filled with monstrous creatures and magic;
✔ war between political factions —their allure and their lies.

Set in an Egyptian-inspired world filled with myths, The Jasad Heir explores the themes of family, loyalty, finding oneself after being shaped by others all one's life, resilience, betrayal(s) and power, but it’s also about trauma—how it shapes us, and how we crave to raise above it anyway. I was hooked from the first page and in the rare moments I had to stop reading—because real life exists, rude—I couldn’t stop thinking about the characters I fell in love with:
✔ Sylvia, of course, our fierce and relatable heroine I came to adore—I loved her humour and her tenacity so much, and above everything, let it be known that I root for *her*;
✔ Arin, her enemy/reluctant ally/something-more-please-and-thank-you, is rigid, lonely, manipulative, brilliant, maybe evil, but oh-so-loyal… What's not to love, I’m asking?
✔ I also need to mention the supportive cast of characters because their interactions with our main characters were everything: from Sefa & Marek, Silvia's friends (she'll have you know that she didn't ask for that!!!!) to Beru and Wes, Arin's guards—their scenes often made me smile so big and I’d protect Effa with my life, okay?

The last chapters kept me on the edge of my seat and now I have to ask: how am I supposed to wait for the sequel? Huh?

CW: war, blood, torture, physical and emotional abuse, child abuse, mention of sexual assault

Thanks orbit books uk for the arc!

[Clace]

Funny story: I started this with a certain someone who knows who they are 🌚 but they ditched midway so, after months I'm back and it's going sooo good!!

[Lexi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overview:

💋 Enemies to Lovers
💋 Super slow burn
🤯 Twists Twists Twists
🤯 Betrayal from multiple sides
♥️ Vast expansive world
♥️ Morally grey characters
🤔 Political intrigue

⭐⭐ Read more of my reviews and get tips on the best Enemies to Lovers books by checking out my Blog, Enemies to Lovers Source ⭐⭐

I DNFed this book when I first read it, and it my opinion, it is a 5 star read and one of the most unique and fun fantasy books I've picked up this year. Let's talk about what changed.

10 years ago, Sylvia fled her homeland and went into hiding after the Nizahl kingdom invaded and laid waste to the land. As the heir to the Jasad throne, the last kingdom with dangerous magic, she and her kind are hunted to the ends of the earth, put into sham trials, and executed. She lived a life of peace until the Nizahl Heir Arin finds her in her village and chooses her to be his champion in a deadly game between kingdoms. As Sylvia trains for this competition, she must keep her identity hidden, or face death.

I will start with the book's flaw; this is a debut novel, and the first 100 pages are a tad slow with quite a bit of exposition and info dumping. Not so much that it is unreadable, but its clear the author really wants to connect you to the world but struggles to find natural places to put the information. Sara Hashem clearly has planned out every inch of her world and there is a lot of information to keep track of- yet I also found that this information is naturally expanded on as the book progresses. Moreso, you can tell that she is plotting out a massive world expansion in books following. This is a fantastic series if you like a big fantasy universe with a lot of thought put into the intricacies.

Sylvia is one of the most beautifully written main characters I've spent time with in awhile. She is a deeply conflicted person wrestling with a troubled past and the crushing guilt she feels in collaborating with the kingdom that slaughtered every person she has ever loved. Her adventure slowly begins to reveal dark details about Jasad that force her to reconcile with the past of her own people. Her story asks the reader to examine their ideas about perfect victimhood- and whether nations that perpetuate atrocities deserve to experience those atrocities inflicted on them. Why would every nation want the Jasad gone, and what does one do when an enemy is vanquished?

Sylvia herself is a survivor, and it's established early on that she does not have a lot of moral hangups when It comes to protecting herself and those she loves. She is not an "everyman" main character; but a woman plagued with a troubled past who is not afraid of using violence

Arin is the secondary main character worth talking about- the Nizahl Heir. Hia character is written strictly as a villain for a major portion of the book. Arin is an icy shrewd warlord able to swiftly sniff out secrets and lies. he is emotionally distant from his allies and brutal on his enemies- willing to kill or torture to achieve his goals.

The books is written in first person, so the characters are seen though Sylvia's point of view, thus many remain relatively mysterious. There are some fun side characters here, but they don't have a lot going on in terms of independent storylines. This actually worked for me because there are many characters that all have plot threads connected to Sylvia, and her relationships with all of them range from warm and emotional to devastating. I was particularly affected by her relationships with certain characters from her past that show up a bit later in the story. The other characters of note appear in the back half of the story: the nobles of the kingdoms and their selected champions. This includes a manipulative and fearsome sultena, an axe wielding brute, and a whole cast of interesting characters.

But how is the enemies to lovers promise?

The romance in the book is easily one of the best I've read in fantasy fullstop. This is the slowest burn possible. every single moment between these characters is earned. Arin and Sylvia start out as enemies when she is captured. He isn't seen as a handsome rogue- she truly sees him as a detestable monster who is beyond humanity. Because both characters are deeply broken, romance and attraction is not on their minds. Instead, the two slowly grow to trust each other as reluctant allies and then friends. Feelings play a part only towards the end of the book.

If you like romance where the leads attempt to kill each other and don't feel shy about harming each other, this one is for you. Sara Hashem creates a truly national progression to romance that starts with bitter enemies from different factions carrying prejudice and hate with them. She carefully plans a story where each plot points brings the characters closer to each other against their will.

Sometimes there is banter, but the book strays away from "two quick witted people shooting off Joss Whedon lines at each other" focusing on darker conflicts between the two. Namely, Arin is predudice against Sylvia's people. His father destroyed her lands. He genuinely fears the power that magic has and carries the generational trauma of that; motivating what he does and how he treats others. The pair struggle to feel safe under normal circumstances, but working together to achieve a goal puts the mistrust both of them have to the test.

This is NOT a romance where the main character's heart flutters right away, or the villain love interest does something shockingly sweet early in the book. Arin and Sylvia are ice cold, and their adventures with each other thaw years of trauma and social conditioning. The Jasad Heir truly is the story of two broken people harming and hating each other because they can't fathom a world where love and companionship is possible for them.

The Jasad Heir sometimes demands work from you. Its not always an easy read, but it works to reward you at every turn with shocking twists, excellent character development, and a 5 star romance.

[sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

Whilst I loved the premise and the plot and the characters, it all felt kinda surface level. I got confused at certain points (especially in the second half) as the plot seemed to move along but with no explanations of what was happening. There were so many characters and places it was kinda hard to keep track of them all too.
(Side note - these issues could just be a me problem as I only managed to read a chapter, or a few, at a time so it was probably interrupting the flow of the story.
Also another side note as I feel it’s important - I read it so slowly but that wasn’t because I didn’t enjoy the book I was just in a slump).

But overall I love the whole world and storyline so I’m hoping the next book is better! One thing that was done really well though was the romance subplot!! This is true enemies to lovers 🤌🏻


—————————
been in a bit of a slump lately so I chose this at random, fingers crossed it helps 🤞🏻

[Krysta ꕤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Oh, my sweet Sylvia.. the way most men love is so boring. Arin would love to obsession. To madness. If asked, he would get on his knees and let it kill him.”

you know who else was on their knees? ME 🧎‍♀️

i really enjoyed this one, Arin was 100% the highlight of the book. i also loved that there were trials involved. Sylvia has these cuffs on her wrists that restrain her magic and keeps it hidden, while she also has to never reveal her true name either. Arin is the Nizahl heir, which makes him the enemy of Sylvia and puts them on opposing sides. until Arin decides to choose Sylvia to be his champion for the trials, slowly making them grow closer in the process. i loved Arin.. he’s so intentional and the slow burn was killing me. there were some reveals in the plot that i found predictable but it didnt hinder my enjoyment at all. i kept seeing people say they found the second half confusing and i didn’t have that problem? the only thing I’d say was that there were some names and terms that kind of went over my head.

[lena 🐰 [ semi ia - school ]]

SOFT dnf @ 43%

this is basically a big ol’ nothingburger - might be back when i’m in the mood…but right now, NO.

[Ilhaam · Rating 5 out of 5]

ur actually joking. this book was life changing

[Nils | nilsreviewsit · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Your soldiers cannot take me to your kingdom and put me before a court, because I do not exist. According to your history texts, I died almost eleven years ago. I burned to death alongside my grandparents and a dozen others. I believe my crown was taken for display in a war monument. Tell me, how can the dead stand trial for the living?"

A kingdom in ruin, the royalty massacred, a race hunted and persecuted, magic outlawed. Welcome to The Jasad Heir, the stunningly fiery debut by Sara Hashem.

Jasad was once a powerful kingdom, rich with culture, prosperity and magic. Jasadi’s thrived and lived freely until the fateful events which lead the Nizahl armies to burn their lands, kill their people, prohibit magic and annihilate every last royal. Or so they thought. Sylvia is the Jasad Heir, the sole survivor after her entire ruling family were brutally murdered at the Blood Summit. In the aftermath across the four kingdoms of Omal, Lukub, Orban and Nizahl, formerly known as Jasad, the Jasadi race are hunted by Nizahl soldiers and put to trial for any illegal use of magic. No Jasadi can live openly and no Jasadi is shown mercy by Supreme Rawain. Sylvia, now living in a quiet village in Omal spending her days apprenticed to a chemist, has mastered the art of concealing her true identity and has little desire to be found. Yet underneath her magic burns with rage. When the Nizahl Heir, Arin, visits the village of Mahair in Omal for the traditional Waleema celebration, Sylvia unwittingly captures her most feared enemy’s attention. What follows from then is a game of high stakes, for Sylvia must become the Nizahl Champion in the Alcahal, a game of three deadly trials where the winner receives much wealth and ultimate freedom, and she must also enter a bargain with Arin and aid him in the capture of two Jasadi rebel factions. As the chains that bind Sylvia tighten from all sides she must choose whether to seek freedom for herself or to free her people.

In the opening chapters we learn a great deal about the four kingdoms as Sylvia reluctantly remembers her past. This did take some time for me to fully comprehend and to visualise where all these places were in relation to one another. My ARC didn’t include a map and so I was struggling, but fortunately I was able to message the author and Hashem was kind enough to send me a digital copy. Immediately the detailed map clarified everything and I was able to immerse myself into the story, which kicks events into action rather rapidly. Readers are delved into a world that is filled with much political strife dating back many centuries ago before the Nizahl armies were even formed. Here is where Hashem seamlessly blends together history, politics and mythology. The roots to the downfall and suppression of Jasad began when the Jasad Awal, a godlike figure of pure magic, lost control and burnt his own followers. From then each kingdom’s Awal began their slumber and as a result each kingdom began to lose their magic—except Jasad which still thrived and thus remained powerful. We all know power breeds corruption but it also breeds jealousy. As the novel progresses we discover how far the Nizahl strayed from their original purpose, how much was lost and the blood that had been spilt, and how history became distorted. Buried or suppressed truths is a key theme throughout, it is a concept we are familiar with even today, and I feel Hashem explores this superbly as she shows that all political sides of this war, in various ways, are at fault. No one’s hands are entirely clean.

"There is much you don't know about me, but understand this: I will fight for my freedom until my last breath. You took it away, and you cannot fault how ardently I choose to take it back. Until you have felt hunted, less than human, rejected from the moment you were born for something you did not ask for and cannot control—until then, do not speak to me of martyrs and mercenaries."

Speaking of dirty hands, this leads me to discuss our cast of wilful characters. My favourite kind of characters are those that are morally grey, that have goodness and darkness within them, that have a complicated, often traumatic backstory. Well Sylvia and Arin fulfilled all of this. Sylvia’s questionable actions throughout show she holds many dark secrets—she does not shy away from violence, her mind is always two steps ahead predicting the outcome of a situation before it happens and it is clear she has been shaped to think this way. Sylvia has been trained to survive knowing exactly when to fight and when to be submissive, to bide her time and plan her escape. Yet for all her strong, practical demeanour she has also faced much trauma and abuse in her life, which have inevitably left scars. She cannot tolerate anyone to physically touch her, she cannot accept kindness, friendship or love. Hashem uses Sylvia’s first person narration to reveal her true thoughts, her true intentions and though we build a picture of Sylvia being quite selfish in her self preservation, we do come to understand why. In turn I came to love her character all the more for this understanding. Fear, grief and rage consume Sylvia but her character grows slowly, naturally, and by the end she leaves us in awe.

As headstrong as Sylvia is, so too is our Nizahl Heir, Arin. On first appearances Arin seems to live up to his feared reputation as the tyrant Heir, but as we read on we discover that his character is far from what he seems. Piece by piece Arin’s acts of mercy, his code of honour shines through. For example in the poorer regions of Nizahl, Arin’s newly installed laws help those in need, restricting the age of those who could be conscripted into the Nizahl army and ensuring the families of those who are conscripted are provided for. We cannot mistake his character as any less dangerous though, as shown when those around him betray or cross his path, but Arin is certainly not a character prone to unnecessary acts of cruelty. What I loved most was his fiery connection towards Sylvia. The fantasy genre has seen a resurgence of the enemies to lovers trope, and whilst I’ve read a few of these myself recently, none have been as subtlety developed as Hashem does here. Sylvia has the ability to get under Arin’s skin, to rile him up, to make him blush. As he so eloquently puts it, Sylvia has the temperament of a “deranged goose” and he’s not wrong! Yet slowly she breaks through Arin’s hard exterior and they begin to understand one another. Their relationship maturely blossoms yet also retains its element of fun with their witty banter!

Romance, however, is not at the forefront of this novel, I believe the friendships hold a much more prominent part. Once again, Hashem shows herself to be the master of slow-burn, mature relationships. Marek and Sefa were two characters I adored right from the onset, they both show their love for Sylvia in the most tender ways given that Sylvia is a somewhat difficult person to become close to. Then again, once you find friends that will help you dispose of a dead body with no questions asked, you should never let those people go and this is something that Sylvia comes to realise! However what impressed me was the way, given Sylvia’s aversion to affection, they both respect her wishes and keep their physical contact minimal showing affection in other ways by gifting her favourite sesame seed candies or by caring for her plants or even, later on, by plotting to rescue even when it risks their own lives. They love her even though she tells them she doesn’t deserve it, they often do what she would not in return. In my eyes, that is true friendship.

“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?"

Hashem often takes many fantasy tropes and portrays them in impressive ways. The most significant ones being the lost heir and the reluctant hero which is at the heart of this novel. However, I’ve always loved the forbidden magic trope and Hashem explores this fantastically too. Though magic has been outlawed there are remnants of its existence throughout the world. Certain monsters, inspired from Egyptian mythology, still persist and are drawn by magic, and the Jasadi rebels, the Mufsids and the Urabi, use it in their uprising. During these scenes I loved visualising the powers that the world once inhabited. Nevertheless in order for Sylvia’s identity to remain hidden she must keep her magic concealed, not that she can use it much anyway, but also entering a Champions game where her biggest advantage to win is her magic, proves somewhat difficult. Following Sylvia overcoming all the obstacles of her forbidden magic throws at her was deliciously entertaining, particularly in those last few explosive chapters.

Hashem has well and truly grabbed my attention—this first instalment of The Scorched Throne duology absolutely triumphs. The Jasad Heir blazes with rich worldbuilding, compelling characters and magic that will leave you singed.

“One day, I would stand trial before the spirits of my dead. One day, the bodies I never buried would call upon me to answer for my sins. One day, but not today.”

ARC provided by Nazia at Orbit Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the copy! All quotes used are taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

The Jasad Heir is out 20th July 2023

[Bookishness · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

I honestly don’t know what took me so long to pick this book up. It’s brilliantly written. The emotions I felt for Sylvia were intense an heir to a throne that had been burned to the ground, left completely alone, tortured and terrified, yet still unbelievably strong. Her will, courage, and bravery never wavered. I loved watching her growth throughout the story, especially how by the end she finally found the courage to stand up for who she truly is and stop being ashamed of it.

“Let me refresh your memory.” my wrists ached with pressure on my cuffs. “My name is Essiya. Malika of Jasad.” Say it Queen... Malika :) (Same word we use in Assyrian for queen) I love the references to middle eastern culture in this book, (the honey sesame candy) My fav…

And Arin… I love, love, love him. This might honestly be the best enemies-to-lovers dynamic I’ve ever read. “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.” The slow burn was painfully good the tension, the crumbs, the constant bickering between them. I lived for every moment of it. Watching their feelings slowly build over hundreds of pages made everything feel earned.

“After a lifetime of running, he was my homecoming.”

What I really appreciated is that this doesn’t rush into a typical enemies-to-lovers ending. They never actually declare their feelings yet, but you can clearly see them starting to feel something for each other, even if they don’t fully understand it themselves. Exactly how it should be. And the ending leaves so many questions: did Sylvia betray Arin’s trust? How will Arin feel about what happened? There’s so much left unresolved… but it ended in an absolute bang!!!!!!!

I only wish this was dual POV. There were moments I really wanted to see inside Arin’s head. That said, it also made him more mysterious and probably added to the tension, letting us imagine what he might be thinking. I do love that The Jasad Crown has multiple POVs, and I honestly can’t wait to get into it.

If you’re looking for a quick, light read, this probably isn’t it. The story is layered and complex, and it ends on a cliffhanger. Thankfully I bought both books before starting The Jasad Heir, now I can immediately jumped into The Jasad Crown.

I also loved seeing the early hints of a found family forming something Sylvia denied herself her ever since escaping Jasad. Growing up she never allowed herself love or connection with anyone, so watching those walls slowly start to crack was one of my favorite parts of the story.

“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, Raya’s squash soup on my b-day, Rory’s gruff smile when I names a herb correctly, Fairel's giddy laugh, Dawound Turing the dagger onto himself. A table exploding in the Blood Summit. Love was Arin cradling my face in a burning room and telling me to run."

And Dawound… I cried so many tears for him. A character we barely got to know, and yet his sacrifice hit so deeply. That’s how beautifully this book was written; making you feel completely connected to someone who had only just stepped onto the page, and breaking your heart when they were gone.

~PRE-READ~ Based on the results of my poll, this book won:) so this will be the physical book on my never ending TBR that I will start! I heard nothing but good things and I am excited to jump in.

[veerali · Rating 3 out of 5]

⁀ ⊹ ₊ Shame is a dangerous feeling to manipulate. Pull at the string too many times, and it will eventually snap into apathy.

i gotta set the scene: i was so beyond hyped for this book, it's not even funny. i'm talking full-on biased from the jump. the character fanarts had me in a chokehold and all that. it had been a literal eon since i read a proper high fantasy, so my expectations were through the roof. what could go wrong, right? well we'll get to that.

but let's start with the absolute slay factor, because the characters were chef's kiss. sara hashem understood the assignment and then some. essiya and arin are, without a doubt, the main highlight of this entire book, and i am OBSESSED. their character designs in my head were just as good as the fanart, which is rare. they are both ridiculously hot, and the vibe they bring had me screaming.

⁀ ⊹ ₊ I wanted to cut him open and compare our bones to understand why his gave him grace and mine gave me back pain.

now, about their dynamic, this isn't "oh no, i hate him but he's so fucking hot" enemies-to-lovers. they loved to play stabby stabbg game, and it's iconic. essiya is the presumed dead jasad heir, basically a legend everyone thinks is gone for good. arin, on the other hand, is the heir of nyzhal, whose whole entire deal is hunting down and eliminating every single jasadi he can find. this setup added so much delicious mouth watering, coochie trobbing tension and depth to every single interaction. every moment they were forced to be in the same space i was giggling.

okay, now for the part where things got a bit messy. real talk, for a significant portion of this book, i'm talking past the 50% mark, it just kept dragging. and dragging. and dragging some more. there was so much unnecessary information, so many repetitive scenes, and nothing really felt like it was happening. i'm usually pretty chill when it comes to pacing, but even my attention span was struggling. there were multiple points where i seriously considered dnfing it. and finally what felt like a thousand years, i was able to finish this book.

⁀ ⊹ ₊ You want to be hunted?” A branch snapped somewhere below me. “Then I will gladly grant your wish."

as someone who saw the huge potential floating beneath the surface, primarily because of essiya and arin, i somehow managed to stick with it. and glad i did, because the ending was actually done really well. it finally picked up the pace, delivered some much needed action, and left me on a cliffhanger that actually made me gasp.

⁀ ⊹ ₊ All your choices require sacrifice. The question is, what are you willing to lose?

i will absolutely be picking up the second book. my heart needs to know what happens next with my faves.

[Pang]

When I gonna finish this book, my dear? lol! 🤣🤣



Is on the cover Apep and Horus? I'm not sure.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

no one is more surprised than i am...

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I deserve to be thrown into one of Vaida's wells for waiting so long to read this.

This was PHENOMENAL!

Enemies to lovers, where the MMC fixing her collar has me screaming, giggling, and kicking my feet!

The angst in this is so freaking good.

Whats to love...
- TRUE enemies to lovers
- the ANGST
- the BANTER
- SLOW BURN
- EPIC FOUND FAMILY
- reluctant hero / secret heir
- rich, well-developed world with magic, monsters, gods, and political intrigue
- TALL STRONG AND GENERALLY BADASS FMC
- stoic and uber controlled MMC (those are my favorite)
- well placed dual POVs (you get a sprinkle of the MMCs POV, just enough to satiate, but not so much there isn’t mystery)
- in-depth characters
- a sprinkle of trials/competition (the right amount imo, but might not be a heavy enough plot-point for some)

What’s not to love…
I loved it all - I thought this was so well done! That said, here are some things to consideration.
- imo, this is fantasy with a romantic subplot rather than a true romantasy. The plot of this book would stand on its own without the romance but DAMN does the romance make it SO much better.
- this leans character-driven, but emphasis on the lean. It has plenty of plot and is generally very well paced, but those that crave a plot-driven book might find this book won’t work for them.
- This is the type of fantasy book where the world-building leaves you a little confused at first, rather than info-dumping on you. I personally prefer this, but you have to be comfortable not having all the answers up front to really enjoy this.
- This is book 1 in a duology, so even after all the reveals there are still unanswered questions. Lucky for you Book 2 comes out in July, so you won’t need to wait long.

GO READ THIS BOOK!

Also, I would like to formally apologize to Kriste and Erin for waiting so long when both of you were screaming about how good this is. I am sorry, it won’t happen again.

5⭐️| IG | TikTok |

[Lia Carstairs · Rating 5 out of 5]

2nd read [June 13, 2025]: 5⭐
arin & sylvia own my heart and soul😭 they better get a HEA in TJC or i will be beyond devastated

1st read [March 18, 2024]: 5⭐

"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 FMC 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.
no surprise i have SO many favourite scenes but to list a few:

- um their first kiss, I WAS REBORN, like??? i knew it would be everything but it was even better than i imagined. oh to be kissed by Arin

Arin kissed me with the same singular attention and skill he displayed in every facet of his life. He took me apart with each drag of his lips against mine.

I followed the sharp line of his nose. “I dream of killing you.”
Arin pulled my fingers away. Worry lashed me. Had I gone too far?
Eyes dark with amusement searched mine. He smoothed the furrow forming in my brow with his thumb. “My demented Suraira, we have much to discuss about seduction.”

they really have me giggling like a 7 year old with the goofiest of grins

- Sylvia breaking down and Arin there for comfort truly he's so😭🫶 mr. "What appeal can reason have in the face of your tears?" yeah why dont you stab me in the heart already???
the way he hugged her tightly as Sylvia sobbed omg i was near tears myself. and then for Arin to tell her to run away and leave this all behind, like excuse me HE is the standard the love of my life <3

- when Sylvia was giving him the pendant she bought for him?? that. was. everything.

Arin’s brow arched. The motion was unfairly attractive. “You’re turning red.”
“I don’t turn red,” I argued, but this might very well have been the exception. Every drop of blood was rushing to my cheeks. I had endured a tainted elixir, poisoned sap, the talons of Al Anqa’a. They paled in comparison with the sheer effort it took to extend the fig necklace in the Nizahl Heir’s direction.

how the figs on the pendant reminded her of safety and comfort--both which she associated Arin with i-😭 my heart and soul really could not take this, how can a couple be so perfect and make me feel so much?? i NEED them to be reunited and in love and with a happily ever after.

oh and also all their wall scenes >>> they served every single time!! really any scenes in super close proximity... like this🤭

“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.” His voice was low, threaded with… curiosity? No, it couldn’t be that. Endeavors to unravel my identity nonewithstanding, Arin seemed to find me as noteworthy as a blunt axe.

AND REALLY EVERY ONE OF THEIR HUG SCENES GAVE ME LIFE, I LOVE THEM THEYRE SO ADORABLE STOP😭 when Arin gave the signal to the guards to turn around and Sylvia gave him a hug help sos🥹

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⭐