Synopsis:
The novel “The Jasad Heir” by Sara Hashem tells the story of Sylvia, the lost heir of the kingdom of Jasad. After her kingdom was destroyed and her family murdered, Sylvia hides in anonymity, avoiding the Nizahl armies that continue to hunt her people. When the Nizahl Heir, Arin, discovers her magic during a chance encounter, Sylvia is forced to make a deal with him to save her life. If she helps Arin capture the Jasadi rebels, she will be granted safety from persecution.
A dangerous game begins as Sylvia tries to keep her identity a secret while working with her enemy. Despite their hatred for each other, their relationship begins to shift into something more. However, Sylvia must choose between the life she wants and the one she left behind as the kingdom of Jasad begins to rise once again, in need of a queen.
Thoughts:
First of all I found it very hard to believe this was Sara’s debut novel because from the opening lines, I was immediately drawn into the story, thanks to her captivating writing style. Despite being a new author, Hashem’s writing skills were impressive, and her ability to weave a complex and engaging tale was remarkable. I loved the way in which she fashioned the five kingdoms, each with its distinctive customs and traditions, as well as how the ruling systems diverged from one another, yet were interconnected. The author executed this skillfully. Additionally, the plot was expertly woven, with unexpected developments, and the tempo of the story was appropriate. I was especially fond of Sara’s witty and sarcastic humor.
The world-building in the novel was great to a point, with vivid descriptions and attention to detail that made the setting come alive. Yes, there were certain ups and downs when it comes to world building but it didn’t distract me much from my overall reading experience. As someone who is new to Egyptian mythology and folklore I would have loved a little bit more explanation about certain terminologies used in the book Also I would have loved to know more about their clothing because at some points I couldn’t picture them at all. There was a lot going on in the story, so I kind of understand why the author didn’t want to go into too much details about trivial things to take away the reader’s attention from important things.
Sadly the magic system in The Jasad Heir was kind of a downer to me because nothing was well explained. I didn’t understand how Sylvia’s magic worked or what exactly she could do with her magic. Same goes for Arin. I can’t go into much details without spoiling the story but overall, I was confused with the magic system.
However, I was impressed by the level of Sylvia/Essiya’s character development throughout the story. She was unique and multi-dimensional, with her own motivations, flaws, and strengths. I would have loved to know more about Arin because I have a feeling he’s going to be very, very, VERY popular among ladies when the book comes out. There were only a few chapters from his perspective and I wanted more because I don’t think Sylvia’s perspective did him justice and I would have liked him to be more fleshed out and learn more about his past.
Likewise, I wanted to see more of Sefa and Marek too. They appear and disappear very quickly throughout the book and I wanted to feel more connected to their characters in order to understand the gravity of Sylvia’s connection to them. Soraya was a great antagonist and Hanim too was a great addition to the story and provided a lot of depth to Sylvia’s traumatic past.
I loved the chemistry between Sylvia and Arin and how their relationship slowly progressed throughout the story. Their sarcastic banter had me giggling at times too. It was truly a slow burning romance so hats off to the author for that.
I am really excited about this series and looking forward to reading upcoming installments.
Rating:
The Book Cover
