The Jasad Heir (The Scorched Throne, 1) Paperback – July 18, 2023

5 Stars ✨“You think your mind is a blank slate, where you can build your own networks of information from scratch, through pure logic and reason. You ignore that each child enters a completely unique world, founded on different truths. We build our reality on the foundation our world sets for us.”Sylvia, the Heir of Jasad, was young when she witnessed her family being massacred by the Nizahls. Jasadis were known for their powerful magic and the Nizahls wanted to be rid of it. Sylvia realized she had no family left, and went into hiding so that the Nizahls would continue to think she was dead.Ten years later, Sylvia, now orphaned, is still in hiding and works as an alchemist’s apprentice, all around her though, Jasadis are still hunted and killed if found with magic, by the Nizahlis. One day Arin, the heir of Nizahl, comes to town, something happens and he and Sylvia cross paths. He tells her that he has chosen her to help him find the rebel Jasadis, left with no choice, and to keep her identity safe, Sylvia agrees and the deadly game begins.This was SO GOOD. Probably one of my favorite reads of the year. It’s an Egyptian inspired fantasy, with a super slow burn enemies to lovers romance. I couldn’t believe this was a debut.World building/PlotThe writing was effortless and so engaging, all I wanted to do was take in every single word- slowly so that I didn’t miss anything. Plus there are lots of Egyptian words and names that I had to go a bit slower than normal to learn the language and dialects. I did go back and forth between the book and audiobook, I found that helped a lot with the pronunciation of some things, but it’s not necessary. It was full of political intrigue, wars between kingdoms and some deadly trials -full of monsters and magic.Audio 🎧 Narrator 5/5 ✨Characters:I loved the characters and the side characters. Sylvia was a fantastic FMC, she was strong and loyal and set on making her own identity for herself, regardless of who she is, or her past. She had, what I would like to call, 2 of the best ride or die friends. They are the type of friends that would drop anything, no matter what- and be there for you. Arin the MMC was very strategic, rigid, mysterious and oh so smart!Romance:The romance was not the focus of the book- it hides in the background of everything going on. It was the perfect slow burn and you’ll be on pins and needles waiting to see if him and Sylvia will kiss or kill each other.Overall, There were a few things that I think could have been explained a little better, but honestly - my issues with it, didn’t make it any less enjoyable for me. I think this book is totally underrated and doesn’t get enough hype. Would definitely recommend if looking for a good fantasy. The ending left me shook and I can’t wait until the next book! 😜Content:There wasn’t any language that I can recall and no sex - There is only one intense angsty moment, but nothing really happens. So besides some violence, this was a pretty clean read.

It's a decent story.

"In the measure of monster or man, what tips the scales?"Ten years ago, the kingdom of Jasad burned. Its magic outlawed; its royal family murdered down to the last child. At least, that’s what Sylvia wants people to believe. As the lost Heir of Jasad, Sylvia never wants to be found.Nizahl’s armies continue to hunt its people—treating them as less than human. But when Arin, the Nizahl Heir, tracks a group of Jasadi rebels to her village, staying one step ahead of death gets trickier. In a moment of anger Sylvia’s magic is exposed, capturing Arin’s attention. Now, to save her life, Sylvia will have to make a deal with her greatest enemy. If she helps him lure the rebels, she’ll escape persecution.A deadly game begins. Sylvia can’t let Arin discover her identity even as hatred shifts into something more. Soon, Sylvia will have to choose between the life she wants and the one she left behind."I would rip his head from his shoulders with my teeth before I took his shackles."4.5 rounded up. I cannot believe this is a debut and also WHY IS THE SECOND BOOK NOT OUT YET????Some will not like the pacing of this book. It's a hefty 500+ pager and it drags slightly between 30-40% though I very much maintain it is worth it. Hashem has put a lot of thought into her world and the first portion clearly gives you a great feel for how Sylvia's current life is: stressful, hidden, always watching, always hiding, never able to be herself or make connections...she's not living, just surviving. And this is very much a mentality that is shared with her people as a whole as her people are hunted to the ends of the earth, put into sham trials, and executed. Hashem really wants to steep you in her world and the world's struggles."There is no such thing as a worthy sacrifice. There are only those who die, and those willing to let them."Sylvia is a delightfully complex character. Early on, it's clear she is very much a survivor as life has beaten her down into her most base form: survive or die. However, despite her best efforts, there are a few attachments she's made. When they are threatened, her magic leaks free from her magic restraining cuffs for the first time in ten years and lands her in a whole lot of trouble. Deeply conflicted by her new circumstances of collaborating with the very kingdom that slaughtered hers, she struggles with her guilt and her past. Throughout her journey, she unravels troubling details about Jasad that force her to question all she knew of her family, her cuffs, and her kingdom. With two different groups vying to recruit her or kill her for Jasad's future, and the constant danger of training with Arin to fulfill her bargain without revealing her true identity, it's no wonder this was a win for me."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?"Arin is a villainous delight. He is icy, shrewd, emotionally distant, utterly brilliant and able to sniff out lies like a bloodhound. Cast as the direct opposition to Sylvia, it is the PERFECT recipe for enemies to lovers...and in fact, they are quite fond of trying to kill each other. Multiple times. Forced proximity continues bringing them closer against their will and results in the slowest slow burn I've experienced. It is believable as it is exquisite because while they grow, they do not change fundamentally. Every moment is earned. The two slowly learn to trust each other as reluctant allies and then friends...with feelings coming into play only towards the end of the novel."I won’t say you were right, only that you weren’t as wrong as usual."Recommended for those that love a character driven story and sloooooow burn romances.

I wanted to love this book, but the plot was so hard to follow sometimes, I did enjoy the mystery of her magic and her ancestors but the plot was all over the place.

I preordered this based on the review of it in Lightspeed Magazine – once I realized it was out, I zipped through it. An easy, satisfying read that ripples with nuance, detail and a fantastic, satisfying plot. Author Sara Hashem did a fantastic job with this. The plot and characters are layered, onion-like, with successive strata of depth that Hashem slowly and skillfully peels away. There’s an overlay of Arabic culture sprinkled lightly through the volume, which adds flavor and texture. The ending has particular dramatic depth, and sets the stage nicely for a tense opening to the next volume.The faults are generally subtle. The world building was a bit sparse in spots, although the story sticks to the good side of the show vs. tell continuum. The writing could also have been a little tighter: now and then I had to look back to figure out what given name went with what character, and there’s too much use of my least favorite SFF word "smirk" in lieu of more subtle descriptors. This is balanced by otherwise excellent writing and superb storytelling. It was hard to believe it was a first novel, and I’m looking forward to more.8/10