Review of ‘Zhara’

Zhara is the first novel in the Guardians of Dawn series that is sweet and wholesome while offering readers some beautiful characters and thrilling action.

Characterization

The characters are the driving force behind the novel. Zhara is a shining star here, in keeping with the Cinderella theme; she has a wicked stepmother but loves her step-sister, always trying to find a way to help her. Her sister is blind, or rather nearly blind, and Zhara feels indebted to her, offering her kindness where her mother is scornful.

Zhara is such a charming character; her giggles are infectious, and her love for cheap romance novels makes her lovable. She is very much reminiscent of Usagi, without being a “crybaby” and also wholly unique.

That was what I loved about this book. Not only the non-binary and LGBTQ representation but how the characters shined. They made me laugh. The prince continuously referring to his muscles for aesthetic purposes was just perfection. Even his own love for the cheap romance serials shined.

These characters had light, breath, and life, making reading the story engaging. I absolutely loved them.

And the animal companions? They may not have had voices, but Jae-Jones’s description made them matter to the story. They weren’t just there to fit a trope; they were important. And her cat is Luna; you can’t tell me otherwise.

Storytelling

The story gives off “magical girl” and Sailor Moon vibes, so if you love either of those, you’ll love this story.

It moves effortlessly, flushing out the character development and dynamics alongside the plot. The magic system and the mythos behind it capture many of those tropes in anime and manga, but it doesn’t feel like a copy-paste. The story feels unique, true to the author’s heritage and culture, and wholesome and sweet, which I loved so much.

Final Thoughts

Zhara is such a brilliant start to a new series. It is wonderfully developed, full of fun characters that all shine and make reading the adventure enjoyable. Absolutely loved this novel.

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About the Author

Cynthia Bujnicki graduated from Emerson College with a BA in Writing, Literature and Publishing. She has always loved to read since she was a child. A contributing writer for YA Fantasy Addicts, she is also the Editor-in-Chief for Cyn's Workshop. She lives in sunny South Florida with her husband, two kids (the perfect pair), and their two cats Mr. J the Kitten and Nyx (aka Girl).