Suhwa

Guardians of Dawn #4

by S. Jae-Jones

Min Suhwa has always longed to see the greater world outside the small, cloistered convent in which she was raised. Hidden there for her safety when she was a small child, Suhwa has learned to keep her unusual illusion magic to herself, but when the Bangtan Brothers come to town to perform, she can’t resist the chance to go see them for herself. But the world outside her convent is dangerous—the Morning Realms have fallen to civil war, and Huntsmen prowl the land in search of magicians and the fabled Guardians of Dawn, legendary elemental warriors with incredible powers. When Suhwa’s illusion magic brings her afoul of one of the Huntsmen, she must flee for her life.

Meanwhile, the Guardians of Dawn and their allies are fighting a war on two fronts—against the northern insurrection seeking to claim the Sunburst Throne and destroy all magicians, and against the rising threat of the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons. Zhara, Ami, and Yuli must travel to the Azure Isles to seek the Guardian of Water and save the Morning Realms from annihilation, restoring balance to order and chaos once and for all.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Paranormal, Retellings, Magic, High Fantasy

353 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 18, 2026

About the author

S. Jae-Jones, called JJ, is an artist, an adrenaline junkie, and the NYT bestselling author of Wintersong and the Guardians of Dawn series. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she now lives on the wrong coast, where she can’t believe she has to deal with winter every year. When not writing, JJ can be found working toward her next black belt degree in taekwondo, being run ragged by her twin dogs, Castor & Pollux, or indulging in her favorite hobby—collecting more hobbies.

NOTE: Only here to drop hints. 👀 And maybe occasionally answer questions.

Reviews

[Amanda Blanche · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for the e-ARC of this title releasing in August 2026.

We are back again in this world of the guardians of Dawn. An Asian inspired, sailor moon meets elemental warriors fantasy tale that is about four young women who are each incarnations of legendary elemental warriors meant to bring balance, peace and justice to their world.

This book is more on the focus of adding Suhwa to the mix - with Ami, Yuli and Zhara already discovered as guardians. Because this is book 4 - and the final book - it brings together all characters and storylines for the big conclusion. So we have multiple POVs (the girls and of course, Han, Gaden, etc). This is the classic fight against evil plot, but writing in a beautiful and immersive world. Only cons for me, was the pacing was a bit slow for me and I found that with everything all together, it became complicated. The multiple POVs, kingdoms, people, politics - I kind of got lost in it.

The cover is absolutely stunning per usual and this is a unique and creative take on fantasy. More YA for sure, but still well done.

[Merg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that this was a pretty solid ending to a series. I enjoyed Suhwa's character despite only getting to know her for a book. I felt like Jae-Jones gave each of the guardians enough screentime that we didn't feel like we lost out on any character story.

SPOILERS BELOW

I think my biggest critique is that it felt a little too easy to defeat Tiyok. I think thats the trouble with fantasy bad guys - they are described as so so terrifying and powerful - that you expect there to be more of a struggle for them to be defeated.

I can't help but compare this series to The Lunar Chronicles and I think the difference there is the TLC's big bad is still a human woman. so defeating her seems plausible. whereas the mother of all demons seems like someone who should take a long time to defeat.

Regardless, I thought it was a very cute series. I started watching sailor moon because of these books and I can definitely see the inspiration which was fun for me. And I liked that each character's story got resolved in a way that befits them without seeming too rushed. For example, I really liked that Suhwa didn't have a love interest because it would've been tough to do an entire brand new romance arc with everything else this book was meant to accomplish

[Amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Guardians of Dawn has finally concluded and almost every installment, besides Ami, was a three star read. There are things I enjoyed in Suhwa, such as the continuous world building and introduction of a new character(s) each book kept the dynamics fresh and world building interesting. I think the author does a great job creating a cast of characters that all feel unique in their personalities, motives, and strengths. One point that really held back my enjoyment of Suhwa was how the group is separated a majority of the time so as a reader you're bouncing all over the place while also spending way too much time setting up for the final, series encompassing conflict. Each book prior to Suhwa does have a minor conflict that usually tied in with the big bad, but here we just spend the entire book running around with little to no strife outside of Suhwa's secrets. I think the Guardians of Dawn would have been more successful if either written as middle-grade fiction or the less is more route was taken and each main guardian didn't get their own entire book, while also keeping the minor conflicts and cutting about 30-40% of the boring content in Suhwa. Overall, this is an okay series that I think would be appreciated more by a younger audience and would be a good choice to read if you're looking for something with fantasy but also keeps things simple.

Thank you to Wednesday Book, NetGalley, and the author for sending me an early copy.

[Sarah (TheLibrarysKeeper) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ending we have been building towards is here and it was kinda disappointing.

I have been reading along with The Guardians of Dawn series since Yuli was due to come out and quickly caught up so I could be ready for it. Through the series its been clear that there will be a big end boss fight. Since we have been comparing the series to magic girls - its like the build up to the Queen Beryl fight in Sailor Moon. But when the fight finally arrived it was almost too easy? I get that the girls have grown in themselves but.... shouldn't it have been harder?

My other disappointment was with all the other girls their entire book was dedicated to them alone. Suhwa feels as though we didnt get as much time learning her as we did preparing for the final fight and wrapping eveything up. Which I should add that each of the wrap up chapters and the "5 years later" bit were very satisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Publishing Group for sending an advanced copy my way.

[J E · Rating 4 out of 5]

The conclusion of the Guardians of Dawn series, Suhwa delivers more of what we’ve come to expect from S. Jae Jones. Girl/queer power, just enough action to keep things interesting, humor to keep things light (even at the end of the world) and the power of friendship at the heart of it all.

I loved that this story didn’t really feature a romance. Instead, Suhwa’s focus was on finding love with the most important person possible- oneself. Suhwa shows immense character growth throughout the book, from a girl hiding herself and her identity away to a courageous warrior embracing her elemental magic. All of our favorites from the series are right there along the way. S Jae Jones balances revisiting our old favorites with developing our new friends with skill and aplomb.

As a person with a emotionally strenuous career, one thing I loved about this series was its ability to put the characters into stressful situations necessary to advance the plot and to showcase their power, yet resolving things concisely. I rarely felt on edge for too long. The series was concluded in such a way that everything seemed resolved, yet you could imagine more adventures ahead for each member of our little crew.

I recommend this series for fans of sailor moon or anime (with a Korean twist), fantasy lovers looking for big adventure with light stress, and readers looking for queer representation within all of those elements. I rated Suhwa (and the series overall) 4/5 stars. No spice (aside from some vague, mild discussion of the subject). This book is YA. Thank you to NetGalley, S Jae Jones and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Selena · Rating 3 out of 5]

✧˖°. ⤷ Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin Press. Jae-Jones for the ARC. Honest thoughts as always, from me to you ♡

☁️ author: S. Jae-Jones
☁️ genre: YA fantasy / epic fantasy
☁️ mood: adventurous / bittersweet / richly imagined / emotionally complicated
☁️ tropes: found family / elemental magic / chosen ones / multiple POVs / series finale

🌙 Mini Synopsis:
Min Suhwa has spent her whole life hidden away in a small convent, keeping her illusion magic to herself and longing to see the greater world. When the Bangtan Brothers come to town and she sneaks out to see them perform, one encounter with a Huntsman sends her life spiraling into something far bigger than she ever imagined. Meanwhile the Guardians of Dawn are fighting a war on two fronts - against a northern insurrection threatening the Sunburst Throne and against the rising terror of the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons. The stunning conclusion to the Guardians of Dawn series.

🍃 thoughts
I flew through the first 70% of this book in a single day and was completely on board with everything happening - the story was moving, Suhwa was being set up beautifully and I was so invested. And then part three hit and things started to slow down considerably. The guardians make a genuinely baffling decision with major repercussions that they ultimately face very little consequence for, which made it hard to stay fully rooted in their corner for the final stretch. The ending also ran significantly longer than it needed to - the last 50 pages or so felt like six chapters of epilogue back to back, and while I liked where everyone ended up I was ready to get there a lot sooner.

My bigger frustration with this finale is how much it had to carry. Introducing Suhwa, developing her conflicts, wrapping up her arc AND closing out the entire Tiyok storyline in a book no longer than the others in the series was always going to feel rushed - and it did. Suhwa herself is genuinely wonderful and S. Jae-Jones does such an impressive job conveying who she is in the limited time we get with her, which honestly just made me more frustrated that we didn't get more. I wish this had been a five book series so she could have had a full book to herself. The Snow White storyline with the Bangtan Brothers felt a little forced given how little time they actually spend together, but her Guardian of Water arc dealing with illusions and identity was so much stronger and genuinely compelling.

Even after four books I still found the magic system and politics difficult to fully grasp - threads introduced earlier in the series would resurface when needed or disappear entirely, which made certain plot points land with less impact than they deserved. That said, kudos to Jae-Jones for actually managing to tie everything together into something cohesive. I am so sad this series is over and I just wish we had gotten a little more time with these characters before the finale mode kicked in.

🌸 favorite things
♡ Suhwa - the little we got of her was absolutely wonderful and I loved every single second of her perspective
♡ The Guardian of Water storyline - illusions and identity explored in such a compelling and meaningful way
♡ The way all the loose threads actually got tied together - a genuinely impressive feat for a series this sprawling 🌙

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe a 3.5 Overall this was a good conclusion but I had a few qualms.

My biggest issue mostly was the pacing. This is just too fast. It's break-neck speed almost constantly, and I wish we had slowed down a bit. This could have easily been an extra fifty pages and given us a little more breathing room. There were a lot of things that we were simply told in a summary, rather than shown, and I would have rather seen it. Some things were summarized so much that I felt we missed crucial moments. After the Mother of Demons is released, we only found out Kho was actually still alive in a passing mention of her. We never saw her and Yuli's reunion. It was glossed over, and Kho was barely there. At one point towards the end, a very, very big thing happened, but then it is wrapped up and fixed within twenty five pages. Even the defeat of the Mother of Demons is told in summary, rather than shown. It happens so quickly. This book really needed to just slow down and take a little bit more time with pretty much everything.

I did appreciate the way things were resolved, especially with the Star of Radiance and such. I thought the actions taken made sense and worked well. I don't love them not being Guardians of Dawn anymore. I understand why, but I do hate the trope of magical person losing their magic. I get it, it made sense here, but it's still a trope I find annoying.

That being said, I still liked all the characters. Granted at this point there's so many that it was hard to keep track of. We barely got to know Suhwa, and a lot of her parts were a bit bogged down by the Brothers, since she was traveling with them a lot. The brothers have always been one of the weaker elements of this story for me, since there's seven of them and it's a little hard to keep track of them. Doesn't help that Suhwa called them nicknames instead of their real names. I didn't know who was who.

I'm also sort of relieved Suhwa didn't have a love interest, because that would have been just another thing added on when there was already so much going on. That being said, I did for a while think she would romance one of the brothers, so I was a bit surprised it didn't happen. On one hand it's nice that not everyone got matched up, but on the other, it does feel like the story got rushed and her romance was taken out to condense the story down a bit.

Overall, I have enjoyed this series. It's not perfect by any means, and I've certainly had my issues with it, but it is fun. It's extremely queer, and feels like watching an old school magical girl anime (especially Sailor Moon). While it's nothing massive or groundbreaking, I did enjoy reading it and will probably recommend it to teens or people with nostalgia for Sailor Moon.

[Jordan Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suhwa is the final book in the Guardians of Dawn series, and it's a lovely ending to this quartet!

Like the previous three books, this one is named after and centered on one of the four Guardians of Dawn, this time being Suhwa, the Guardian of water. Suhwa ran away from her aunt-the Fleet Queen-years ago when she discovered that the older woman was actually a demon in disguise. Now, she lives at a small convent, dreaming of exploring the outside world with her faithful dog companions. Using her magical abilities of illusion, Suhwa sneaks out to watch a performance of the famous Bangtan Brothers and instead discovers her destiny - the fourth member of the Guardians who must help complete the mission to stop the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons before chaos takes over the world.

I enjoyed this finale. Suhwa was a lovely character, and while this book didn't focus on her and her development as much as the previous installments focused on their titular girl, there was enough to get to know Suhwa and see how her role as the Guardian of Water impacted her life. I would've enjoyed getting to know Suhwa more and to see her develop more relationships-not necessarily romantic ones-because her ending felt a little bit like a loose thread. But she got to see more of the world, which is what she wanted, so it works. Suhwa's powers of illusion felt a bit similar to Zhara's transformation abilities, but it's at least fun to see all four girls use their magic together, especially when they transform into their elemental selves.

The pacing of the story also felt a bit off. A lot of the major obstacles felt rushed, with the problems being solved quickly and easily, and the happy ending, although deserved, seemed too long. There was a tense scene as the Guardians tried to exorcise the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons, and the literal chaos broke loose, but after that, the battles seemed more lyrical and ethereal than realistic. I didn't need them to be extensively bloody and gritty, but everything just seemed too easy. Some of that is reflective of the girls being more confident and developed in their powers, but it all went by so quickly. Even the big battle was just over and done, which felt quite anticlimactic.

That being said, I loved the comradery between the four Guardians and how Suhwa was easily accepted into the group. The relationships the girls have with the secondary characters is explored quite a bit, which I enjoyed, and I really liked where everyone ended up and how the girls were able to follow their dreams once their destinies were complete. The ending is lovely, just rushed, and I'd enjoy reading a novella that followed future adventures of the girls, especially Suhwa as she explores the world.

This is a fun series with definite Sailor Moon vibes, and while it's not perfect, it's cozy, quick, and filled with girl power and diversity.

[caffeinated_reads3 · Rating 3 out of 5]

It will be difficult to review and rate this book without the mentioning of the previous books in the series.

My immediate thoughts after finishing the book: I am so glad that this is over. I understand why the story was broken into four books, allowing each book to develop the four different Guardians of Dawn. However, by book 3 I was over the procedural plot of meeting the main character, them having self doubt about how they are, finding their "family" and pushing them away to prevent getting hurt or hurting them, and then coming together with people they have learned to trust to defeat the big bad. By book 4, I was looking for something else. I think I would have been happier if this was a duology, or followed through the POV of just ONE of the Guardians, versus going from one to the other, to another.

This book alone reminded me of Zhara (book 1), and why I did enjoy it in the first place. There was not too much MC self doubt, higher stakes, betrayal, and deceit. Also, who does not enjoy an ending with the heroes joining together at the end against the final boss? I did like Suhwa's character more than Ami and Yuli, but not more than Zhara. The ending was as happy as one can imagine.

This series seems to be geared towards the older middle school age with the use of language, how the characters converse and their discovery of oneself.

I always enjoyed the story building and magic system of the series!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for the opportunity in exchange for an honest review.

[Audrey Stars in Her Eye · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this fourth and final entry in the Guardians of Dawn series, the Water Guardian, Suhwa is revealed. The four girls must face the chaos itself to save the world.
Min Suhwa is hidden in an old, cloistered convent where she was raised. Hidden there for her safety when she was a small child, Suhwa has learned to keep her unusual illusion magic to herself, as she is actually the Guardian of Water. But when the Bangtan Brothers come to town to perform, she can't resist the chance to go see them for herself. But the world outside her convent is more dangerous than even her illusion magic can protect her from. The Morning Realms have fallen to civil war, and Huntsmen prowl the land searching for the Guardians of Dawn. Meanwhile, Zhara, Ami, and Yuli are searching for Suhwa while not knowing her identity and trying to protect their loved ones at the same time. Will they be able to band together to beat the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons and save the Morning Realms?
There is a lot to conclude in Suhwa, and I wish we had more time with her as a character. I would have loved more time with her and her state of mind being the Lost Heit. But S. Jae-Jones does a pretty good job balancing the story threads that spread throughout the kingdom. At some points, we are with the Bangtan Brothers and at others at the Sunburst Throne with the Star of Radiance. These people, along with the Guardians, are important players in the ultimate quest for peace for their world. I wanted more of the girls, but that was my own bias and not a true lack of balance.
The ending of the novel is a mixed bag. The final confrontation with the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons is underwhelming as the threat has been building for four books. And it seems like the girls had a harder time taking out the lesser demons than the final enemy. But Jae-Jones makes sure to go past the conflict for true resolution for all the girls. Each gets an ending that is fleshed out. I left the saga happy in the end.
Suhwa brings the Guardians of Dawn to its epic conclusion, and unlike some sagas, I am not disappointed.

I received an ARC for review; all opinions are my own.

[M. K. French · Rating 5 out of 5]

Min Suhwa longed to see the world outside the convent she was raised in. While Suhwa learned to keep her illusion magic to herself, the Bangtan Brothers will perform, and she wants to see them. The world outside the convent is dangerous, especially with Huntsmen searching for magicians. When the illusion magic draws them in, she must flee for her life. Meanwhile, the Guardians of Dawn and their allies are fighting the northern insurrection seeking to claim the Sunburst Throne and destroy all magicians, and against the rising threat of as well as the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons. Zhara, Ami, and Yuli must travel to the Azure Isles to seek the Guardian of Water and save the Morning Realms from annihilation, restoring balance to order and chaos once and for all.

This is the fourth and final book of the series, telling the story of Suhwa, the Guardian of Water. Don't worry, there's a summary of the prior books at the start to catch you up to speed if you don't want to do a marathon reread session.

From the start, Suhwa gets more adventures than she bargained for after sneaking out of the convent. From there, she meets the other Guardians, discovers the truth about demons and her ability to craft illusions. She doesn't have a love interest waiting in the wings and feels awkward because of her sheltered upbringing, but she is central to saving humanity. As much as she second-guesses herself a lot, she grows up as much as the other young ladies have. She shows others the importance of sticking together, of knowing the core of her identity, and that the Guardians can win while working together.

I love the appearance of the Bangtan Brothers, this world's analogue to BTS. We find out who is the author to everyone's favorite manga/light novel, which is not what I would have guessed. (It's revealed early on, and I thought it was a fun bit of in-world trivia!) The finale is properly cinematic, and we get an ending for all four Guardians. It's the conclusion that I was looking forward to reading and enjoyed.

[Michaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this book!

I have been looking forward to this book ever since I read Zhara. I love sailor moon and I love fairy tale retellings (especially with unique settings and magic systems) and this one did not disappoint in that regard. Each guardian had to face what it meant to have their particular power and its antithesis as well as how it tied to the experiences they’ve had. Zhara was an orphan who dreamed of things being different and her power involved changing reality. Ami wished to help people in her ow way (and save her father) so had the power to heal (an oversimplification). Yuli had power due to her family but wanted to be independent, so she had the power to spirit-walk and go wherever she could imagine. Suhwa wished to be someone else to protect herself (and those who tried to help her) and had the power of illusion. Each had to face the antithesis of their magic and in a way face the other path they could have taken—Zhara could have given herself a good life and taken from others, Ami could have abandoned her father and let him and everyone else rot while keeping herself safe, Yuli could have flown away and never returned, and Suhwa could have stolen someone else’s face and life to avoid the dangers facing her. I initially thought that Suhwa’s battle with her demon was anticlimactic, but when I thought about it with this lens, it felt right and that the only way for her to win was to accept herself and her power and imagine a better place that became reality. The beauty in the magic in this series is really something and would be amazing to see animated one day.

My only complaint, is that most of this book did not actually involve Suhwa. Unlike the other 3 books, this did not feel like a book primarily about 1 character and instead Suhwa was a secondary character to Zhara and the other primary characters. And while I appreciated that she did not have a romance (since it’s not necessary for every character), I was frustrated that her sadness about having no one to miss her if she died or anyone to go to after the battles was only briefly talked about. Again, it felt like she was not the main character and more time was spent on the other 3 and their romantic relationships than on Suhwa’s journey to find a place she felt she belonged.

Also, I hate the trope of characters losing their power when they defeat the villain. In this one, it made sense since it involved keeping the balance, but I wish at least the spirit animals could have remained magical even if it was lessened. The idea that Rinqi is now a deer and will just roam the wilds made me very sad because it felt like no one cared about these creatures once they no longer had power.

To summarize: loved the series, didn’t fully love the ending.

[Shayna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press | Wednesday Books for the eARC of this long‑awaited finale! All opinions are my own.

Finishing Suhwa felt bittersweet. It's the kind of ending that makes you sit with your feelings for a moment. Even though Suhwa herself isn’t explored as deeply as I hoped, her presence still threads quietly through the story. She’s not a loud or dominant main character, but when she steps into the action, her illusion magic and calm steadiness make a difference in this battle against evil.

This last installment throws us straight into political upheaval, rising magical danger, and the final confrontation that’s been building since book one. The characters carry most of the emotional weight, and seeing Zhara, Ami, Yuli, and the others fight for their world (and for each other) genuinely hit me right in the feels. Their bond is the heart of the series.

Two issues come to mind with this book. The pacing is uneven, especially in the middle, where plot threads move quickly and sometimes feel scattered. I also found myself wishing for more time with the main character of the book, Suhwa. Specifically, I wanted more insight into her role and her emotions. She’s central to the conflict but overshadowed by everyone else, and, like an aloof cat, she left me wanting more.

But the final act is intense, magical, and full of payoff. The ending ties the Guardians’ journeys together beautifully, and the finale delivers the emotional closure I was hoping for. The worldbuilding and elemental magic remain stunning, and the Sailor Moon vibes had me all nostalgic.

Despite a few stumbles, Suhwa is a heartfelt, memorable conclusion, and I’m grateful I got to follow these characters to the end.

[Anna G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this book.

Note: This is the fourth in the series, spoilers going along with any book after the first book in a series. I would overall recommend the series if you're looking for a unique fantasy series. I will always love this work and would read more by S. Jae-Jones.

That being said.... 3.5/5 stars

The good:
- You definitely feel that the series is wrapped up. A lot of time is spent on the lives of the Guardians after battle which I appreciated.
- I appreciated seeing all the perspectives from the previous novels and traveling all over the realm.
- I really liked Suhwa as a character, I feel like she was a great addition to the guardians.

The loss of 1.5 stars:
- The story of actually defeating our main villian, which has been building for 3 books prior, was way too short for me.
- I feel like the conflict of civil war was also addressed way too quickly. I genuinely wish the first 75% of the book was longer in general, similar to how long the last 25% of the book felt.

Overall, if you're started the series and enjoy it, definitely finish it, but it will most likely leave you wanting a longer fantasy series to read next :)

[Clara · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's over. I don't know how to feel. But it is. Thank you so so much to St. Martin's Press for sending me the copies as they released, this has been such a wonderful ride.
The series is so full of Sailor Moon and generalized magical girl feels, I truly feel like this is a wonderful representation of fantasy for people who LOVE mahou shoujo anime. Ami still remains my favorite, with Zhara a close second. <3
Honestly I'd love to see some more from the world, just partially because I'm not ready to part with the Guardians of Dawn ;; <3

[Sara Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

The explosive adventurous ending to the Guardians of the Dawn series!

As the girls race to the Azure Isles trying to find the final Guardian, the Guardian of Water, they must also locate Min Suhwa, rhe rightful heir of the Isles and convince her to lead her ships to block the blockade and gain them the upper hand in the civil war. Suhwa, meanwhile, has snuck off to see the Bangtan Brothers when shenis nearly caught by Kestrels. Together she and the brothers meet up with thr Guardians to face The Ancient One, Suhwa’s aunt, and seal the final portal to Tiyok. Once they succeed they must race back to the Capital City to fight the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons.

I absolutely loved seeing the girls come together and display new magical powers. Throughout the series they have grown and matured, become confident in themselves and their friends, so it was a pleasure to get to see it all come together for the finale. It honestly felt like being catapulted into the final episode of a bishoujo anime from my childhood. I really enjoyed that everyone had their own part to play and not just the four girls and their animal companions.

I felt that Suhwa’s story was a little rushed (honestly wish Goodreads had half star ratings because this was the only reason that I didn’t rate this one five stars) but I guess there was so much to wrap up in this final book (another book’s worth if I am being serious) that there wasn’t a lot of time to become familiar with her character and her plight like the other girls. However, we get a good glimpse of her personality and her pov amongst the other girls’ scenes.

Overall I had a blast reading this series! It’s funny, it’s adventurous, magical, romantic, and really draws you in with a plethora of relatable characters that each get their own plots or subplots through the four books. It’s perfect for anime and fantasy fans, but it is also a wonderful intro into Asian-inspired stories for anyone looking for something new and different from Western-style fantasy. I cannot reccomend it enough!

[Cynthia Langley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well… we’ve finally reached the end.👀

Anddddd I have pretty mixed feelings about this one.

One thing I’ve consistently appreciated about this series is that it’s fun. The characters are lovable, the world keeps expanding, and every book adds a little more lore and history. It’s very much a comfort-read kind of fantasy series.

But I think this final installment highlighted some of the things that weren’t quite working for me.

The biggest issue is that it felt like about 75% 🥲of this book was setup. We spend so much time building toward the final confrontation and then when the big boss fight finally arrives (after THREE books) it feels surprisingly rushed. I was honestly shocked by how quickly it was over.

In a weird way, it felt like we spent more time on the aftermath and where everyone ended up than on the actual climax itself.

I also struggled with Suhwa’s abilities throughout the book. The other characters’ powers generally made sense to me, but I never felt like I fully understood what Suhwa could actually do or how her powers connected to ki. Maybe that’s on me, but I found myself confused more than once.😅

And while I know this is YA, I’m no stranger to YA fantasy. Some of my favorites are books are by Suzanne Collins and Stephanie Garber. So it wasn’t the age category that held this back for me.

I think I just wanted more stakes.

This series is probably one of the lowest-stakes fantasy series I’ve read in a while. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, it definitely contributes to the feel-good atmosphere. But by the end I found myself wanting a little more tension and a little more depth from the villains.

That said, I really am happy with where everyone ended up. The ending itself was satisfying, and I liked seeing all of these character arcs come full circle. I just wish we’d gotten a little less epilogue and a little more substance from the final conflict.

Overall, I enjoyed the journey more than the destination.

Thank you goodreads and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own :)

[Hillary · Rating 4 out of 5]

💜🩵 Guardians of Dawn: Suhwa ARC Review 🩵💜

Thank you so much to S Jae-Jones and Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Guardians of the Dawn: Suhwa is a YA fantasy and book four in the Guardians of Dawn series. After being sheltered in a convent since childhood for her safety, Suhwa longs to see the outside world. So when a traveling band of performers arrives, she can’t resist going to see them. But will she find more in the outside world than she ever imagined?

This was a cute read and a solid ending to this series. I enjoyed Suhwa as a character and her growth in this book! She went through a lot of trials and it was enjoyable to see her growth into her powers. This is a fun world and I liked the expansion of the magic system established in previous books. I also enjoyed cameos of side characters that were featured from previous books as well

Overall this was a fun four star read. I enjoyed this series and its characters. This book does have some potential triggers, so please check if you’re sensitive. This book doesn’t have a romantic subplot, so no rating will be given for spice

If you’re a fan of YA fantasy with strong characters, beautiful world building and Eastern Asian mythology, then absolutely pick up this series! As this is a continuation of the story started on Zhara, I absolutely recommend reading these books in order.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

This 4th and final installment in the "Guardians of the Dawn" series follows Suhwa, the water guardian, as the team unites to take on the final and ultimate demon, "The mother of all demons". Suhwa's path collides with Zhara, Ami, and Yuli as they aim to close all the portals to the demon realm and defeat chaos once and for all.

For the first part of this book, I enjoyed and was on board with what was going on. I felt like I flew through the first 70% of the book (read that much in one day!). Then I got to part 3, and man what a slog. I had a hard time rooting for the guardians as they make a SUPER stupid decision that has major repercussions that they ultimately never get in trouble for. The last hour/50 pages of the book is like 6 chapters of epilogue - the ending was WAY too long. While I liked where the characters ended up and the finale, I was frustrated by too many things in this novel/series which led to me rating it a bit lower than the previous book. Even after 4 books, I still had a hard time grasping the magic and the politics. I found a lot of things were introduced in previous books and then not talked about again until they were needed, or just never talked about again at all. Occasionally I felt a conversation felt really stilted and unnatural, or juvenile. For these reasons I am rating 3.5/5 stars, but leaning more towards a 3 star rating.

If you enjoyed the other 3 books in the series, you'll like where this one ends up, and if you're the target age range, you'll probably love this series. But after reading a bunch of 5 star reads in a row this month, this one was lacking for me.

Thanks so much to the publisher(St. Martin's Press) and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Debra Devin · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I would like to thank Wednesday Books and Austin Adams for reaching out and giving me the chance to read the final conclusion of this series as an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I would like to also thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Publishing Group. And of course, a big thank you to S. Jae-Jones for writing this wonderfully unique story.

Where to start. At the end of the last book, the world has been thrown into chaos. This book picks up at that point and the Guardians are on their way to try to find the Guardian of Water. Han and Gaden have stayed behind to deal with politics. We see more of the Bangtan Brothers, which is an added bonus. And we also get to meet the beautiful self-conscious, Suhwa.

This book is literally and figuratively chaos. There is so much going on as the world is falling apart around everyone. The bouncing back and forth is something that not many authors can do, but S. Jae-Jones pulls it off beautifully and captures all the emotions at every moment. I love seeing how all the characters have grown and changed. How each one of their experiences has shaped them into who they have and will become. In the end, it all knits back into one seamless picture. The only sad thing is we don't get to know Suhwa as much as we have the other characters.

It's really hard to say goodbye to this lively group of characters. I would love (and would buy) an illustrated version of this story. Throughout, S. Jae-Jones keeps the anime feel going and would also love to see this book (and would watch) an animated version. The Guardians of the Dawn will be the next great craze. Love this group and world so much. I would love to see where their story goes next. I hope S. Jae-Jones also continues to write in this world.

[Evie Oliva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a fan of S. Jae-Jones since Wintersong and had been waiting for ages for a new book by the time Zhara was announced. I was determined to read it and while it wasn't an instant favorite, I still loved the fact that Jae-Jones was writing and publishing again so I kept going with the series. So of course, it turned out that each book was better and better than the one that came before it and overall, I LOVED this series and Suhwa was exactly the book I needed to close out the whole storyline.

Suhwa follows the title character, Min Suhwa, a young woman with a gift for illusions who has been living in a convent for the last decade. When the Bangtan Brothers come to a town not too far from the convent for a performance, Suhwa decides to take the chance and sneak out to go see them. Except Suhwa has walked into a world that is more than what she expected as the Morning Realms are in a civil war and Hunstmen are occupying towns, searching for magicians and the Guardians of Dawn, the fabled elemental warriors. Suhwa ends up almost captured by the Huntsmen and flees into the forest to try to figure out her next move and stay safe. The story also follows Zhara, Ami and Yuli, the Guardians of Dawn, who are trying to keep the north from claiming the throne and destroying all magicians while at the same time, trying to find a way to defeat the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons. The Guardians are on a quest to reach the Azure Isles to find the Guardian of Water so that they may save the Morning Realms and bring balance to the world.

Writing style wise, Jae-Jones has a way with words that make these books fun to dive into with each story. I was trying to find the time to read the first three books again but that plan quickly went up in flames so when I opened Suhwa, I was happy to see an opening that summarized the first three books, giving key story details that were needed to be able to read this book and yes, THANK YOU, I needed to read that, just a little refresher, no big deal. At the same time, Jae-Jones has created this entire world that is so easy to step back into, to recognize the aspects of the fairytale that is woven into and then also see all the various details that were made to make the Guardians of Dawn world its own creation. Everything felt familiar because of past books and gave a sense of comfort because, let's be honest, if you're reading book four of a series, you already know that you want to step back into this world and see what comes next for the characters you've come to know and love and it was just a delight to see how everything was finally going to be settled once and for all in this final installment. Jae-Jones had so many threads to weave for the overall plot and each was handled expertly, giving details when they were needed and hitting reveals at just the right moment to keep the pages moving.

In terms of characters, I grew to really love Suhwa over the course of the book. Knowing what I did because of the other stories, I was a little frustrated with her when she decided to leave the convent for a performance despite having been warned of the danger but she quickly grew on me. I loved how she was this girl who really wanted to know people her own age, to experience the world and have new adventures and I couldn't fault this kid for having big dreams and then trying to finally have a new experience. Then we get to see the rest of the Guardians and their banter is just as fun as I've come to expect because each girl is so unique and the way they meld together makes for a joyful reading experience. I loved how each girl was so strong, with Zhara trying to find a way to lead them, Ami working on her translations to find a solution to their problems and Yuli being a little brash at times but still so loyal to her friends and loved ones and the addition to Suhwa to their mix was just the right amount of a new level-headed and thoughtful personality to make these girls complete. I loved seeing all our previous leads back, Han, Gaden, Xu, and Jiyi, amongst others, and it goes to show how much each of them are essential to the outcome of the whole series that they are all back in this book. Each character had a role to play, a way to move the storyline where it needed to go and while the cast is kind of a lot, there was not a single unnecessary character in the bunch. When you have a cast this big, it takes talent to make each one important in their own way and I loved that about the way Jae-Jones developed these books.

I'm just going to go right out there and admit this now, this book made me tear up. There's a point in the story where everything seems to be going wrong and Jae-Jones takes a step back and only describes the characters and what they are doing without naming names and it was this moment that just made me choke up a little because I have spent so much time with these characters, years at this point, that those little details to explain who each person was and what they were doing to fight just filled me with so many emotions. I know who these characters are, I don't need their names anymore, and the imagery that those lines evoked just felt so all-encompassing in a way that I was just a little overcome because they were going into the end of the story, the big battles were culminating and I, hand to heart, got misty-eyed. The whole of this adventure had so many highs, so many reveals and twists and moments of triumph coupled with unexpected lows and I was just happy to be along for the ride one last time. I wanted to see how everything would play out and the entire journey was just, as I said before, exactly what I needed to close out this series. I love these girls and while I could have spent a little more time with Suhwa on her own before she joined the rest of the group, I can't complain about how this book manages to wrap everything up.

Read this book if you like fairytales, Sailor Moon and people trying to save the world all mixed together.


Rating on my Scale: 10 Stars. It made me cry, automatic 10 Stars when a book does that. I tested it, actually, and went back to read the scene again two more times and yep, still get teary. So there you have it, the end of a series of great adventures. I really hope S. Jae-Jones has something else in the works because I am ready for more books by one of my favorite authors.


My thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books and S. Jae-Jones for the eARC of this book in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Heather B · Rating 4 out of 5]

It felt a little bittersweet to finish this series. It was beautifully written and the vivid imagery of the scenery and characters made me feel like I was alongside the girls for their journey. Overall this was an excellent conclusion and felt like all of the hard work and trials and tears everyone had gone through was for a better world.

I really enjoyed Suhwa. One of my favorite things about this series is that each guardian was unique. The theme of being extraordinary and being ordinary was absolutely something that resonated within me. I also loved Suhwa's drive to explore and how she struggled with not knowing what she wanted to do with her life. An all too common issue regardless of age or gender.

It was incredibly satisfying seeing how the girls not only solved their problems, but also getting to see the aftermath of their decisions. Not everything went their way and they made mistakes and then they worked together to fix them.

The final book was heart-warming and heart-wrenching. I loved being able to watch all of the puzzle pieces come together and too see just how much each girl had grown over their journey. I am incredibly thankful the author let us see the characters after the conclusion of the main story. I always appreciate an epilogue, but this one felt especially important. The world was incredibly different and I had so many questions at the end of the book that I was incredibly thankful that the author gave us those answers.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Vlada · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great conclusion to this series. I was excited to finally meet Min Suhwa, the final guardian, and see how the conflict would be resolved. I was never the biggest fan of this series, but there have been parts I've enjoyed and I love the overall concept. This final book focuses mainly on Suhwa's storyline, but also switches perspectives to all the characters from the previous books and brings focus to more of the political conflict of the world, focusing less on romance which was a big aspect of the previous books. I enjoyed this theme shift, as it gave this book more of a sense of importance. This book is also very heavy on the Bangtang Brothers' POV, which I'm really not a fan of since I've never cared for them throughout this series and always thought it confusing to establish which member is which; I know they're inspired by a real group but having seven additional names to keep track of always trips me up when there's already so much going on.

Though I've had some ups and downs with this series as a whole, most likely because I am not the biggest YA reader anymore, this final installment had a lot of moments that I enjoyed. I really liked Suhwa's character and wish we got more time with her! Although this book was not my personal favorite of the series, it serves as a good conclusion for the characters' story. If you loved the previous books, you will love this one as well!

Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book early in exchange for a review!

[Michelle (Bamamele.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to SMP and Wednesday Books for the preview. All opinions are my own.

This was exactly what a series finale should be. High stakes, action, a wrap-up of all the story lines, reunions, and closure for our characters. I've really loved the journey in this series--all the characters bring something different to the table, there's always something fun and lighthearted to balance the bad or sad, and there's been an overall sweetness to the books too.

I also have loved how inclusive the series is. While there has been romance in the preceding books, Suhwa is here to show us that not everyone needs a romance to be fulfilled, and she can have adventures and find her way on her own and with friends. That said, I did love the HEAs that Zhara, Ami, and Yuli got. They were all very fitting for each of them.

The messages in these books is about love, belonging, balance, justice, and the greater good. Guardians of Dawn is a great series for all ages. And I adored the throughline we got in all the books about The Maiden Who Fell in Love with Death (this is your sign to read Winter song if you haven't yet). I'm sad to say goodbye to these characters, but I also can't wait to see what S. Jae-Jones writes next!

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the final instalment in this epic fantasy series from S Jae-Jones, readers follow Min Suhwa as she dreams of seeing the world outside the convent she was raised in for her own safety. When the Bangtan Brothers come to town to give a performance, she sneaks out to see the show, but the Morning Realms are experiencing a civil war and Huntsmen prowl across the realms searching for magicians and the Guardians of Dawn. When her illusion magic gets her in trouble with a Huntsman, Suhwa must flee as the Guardians and their allies fight both the northern insurrectionists and the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons while searching for the Guardian of Water. Packed with a ton of details and a fascinating magic system, readers will love the satisfying conclusion to this epic fantasy series and the end of the Guardians’ war for the Morning Realms. The characters are well-written, detailed, and complex, and Suhwa is a fascinating protagonist with unique powers and relatable emotions, as her dreams of seeing the world will definitely resonate with readers. With its high stakes and immersive setting, fantasy fans will love the expansion of Jae-Jones’s world-building in the final novel in this magical series.

Thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for the advance copy.

[Mackenzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so sad that this series is coming to an end, but I'm glad to say that Suhwa's story was a perfect ending.
Suhwa, her powers are unique and I found them to be enjoyable in figuring out what the "secret" was. I think once she really came into herself, and found out what she looked like after all of these years of not looking at herself and having everyone tell her how beautiful she was.. resonated with me. She was terrified of looking in mirrors, to the point she forgot what her own image was. But she found her image and became strong, I loved that.
The girls interactions with each other are extremely strong and profound in this book, and they all mesh together very well. Watching Yuli and Kho fight to be together was also amazing. I love those two together.
I'll miss my favourite magical girls!
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Andrea Stoeckel · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Once upon a time there was a dreamer,a scholar, a warrior, and an explorer who saved the world together..."

In this, the final book in the series Guardians of the Dawn, S. Jae-Jones introduces us to Suhwa, a young girl who lives in a covenant away from the bustle of the "real world".

Eager to get a chance to see her favorite entertainers, Suhwa sneaks away to go to another town, and so her adventures begin.

The Bangtan Brothers become her protectors as they bring her to her destiny working with the other guardians to conquer The Mother of Ten Thousand Demons and restore order from chaos.

This book concludes the series. However, with patience, one does not need to have read the earlier books to be immersed into this fast past wonderful tale. I thank both St Martin's Press and Goodreads for this awesome book. Highly Recommended 5/5

[Andrew Brosset · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a stunning finale!! I’ve loved this series from the very beginning, each character having their own tribulations and the heavy sailor moon vibes were a huge draw for my reading this series! From learning to believe in themselves, developing their powers, getting their guardian forms, and following love and friendship throughout the whole thing was nothing but magic! And upon finishing the last few bits of this book the song Golden by Huntr/x came on the radio absolutely adding the cherry of the top of this feel good series!!

[Stephanie Wilkison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great ending to a fun series. My daughter and I read this together. The ending was longer than a lot of books usually are, but that really didn't bother us. It's nice to finish out a long series and tie everything up. I loved seeing the girls all working together. It really is a beautiful book of discovery for Suhwa. Seeing yourself for who you really are can be really hard at times. Rectifying how you vision yourself and who you are can be challenging. I think this book handled that really well.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the conclusion to this series! I was very concerned for certain characters after the ending of Book 3, but I am pleased with how things have wrapped up. Like with previous installments, we had POVs from all the previous main characters and their closest friends/companions. Since this was the last book, that meant there were a lot of POVs, but it never felt overwhelming or confusing, and I enjoyed seeing everyone's thoughts again. I even warmed up to the Bangtan Brothers in this one (they still aren't my favorite characters though). Overall, this was an enjoyable series.