A fantastic duology that is not being talked about enough! It may be the slowest of slow burns but oh my, the chemistry between Sylvia and Arin is off the charts. Sara Hashem has built up the tension between these two perfectly and it was great to see how these two navigated all the drama and big reveals of book one, both balancing their sense of duty to their people, and what that means for magic in the future, as well as for themselves. This book has a great mix of politics, found family, character development, action, and romance. It's a really well crafted plot with plenty of different elements unfolding to both move it forward and hold our attention. It builds on the world of book one but we also learn more of the history and the magic system that was really intriguing. I also liked how there was this big obstacle in the mix and I really couldn't see how they were going to be able to get past it - I was kept on my toes and there were plenty of surprises and twists to build up to the big ending. The last page or two was a little too much of a fizzle rather than a bang for my tastes which was a shame but otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed this book and watching Sylvia adapt to her new circumstances, tackle the challenges that come with her title and her magic, and also her fierce attraction to a certain enemy commander... A truly brilliant book and I can't wait for whatever Sara Hashem writes next as I guarantee I'm going to devour is just like I devoured the Jasad Heir books! You don't want to miss these.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

whilst i adored ‘the jasad heir’ so much, i have to say this second book is where my heart lays. the yearning, the slow burn, the friendships and the fucking plot???? it superseded ALL the expectations that i had.

essiya and arin urghhhh <3 they have my heart 🫶🏽 the fact that they spent so much time physically apart and yet we still got the yearning, the loyalty, the “MY WIFE” moment — best couple fr fr. i will say i did miss the banter from the first book tho </3 and that ending, i fear we needed MORE 🗣️🗣️🗣️

WHAT YOU DID TO ONE OF MY BELOVED CHARACTERS I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU FOR SARA 😭💔 i will never recover from that heartbreak :(

i HAVE to say that my beloved, diya, is such an underrated character and even though we only got one scene with her in this book— i LOVED LOVED LOVED her friendship with essiya. i wish we had more of them 😩😩 i will say that one scene had me ON MY KNEES for diya and sorn 🧎🏽‍♀️‍➡️ sara, pretty PLEASSSSEEE will you give them a novella 😫

The Jasad Crown 👑 is an epic conclusion to the Scorched Throne Duology. Firstly this series has absolutely everything, a fugitive queen, a lost kingdom, forbidden alliances, political instability, ancient powers and magical beings! The first book offered a high stakes journey and I wasn’t even sure where it would go, but this blew me away. I love a book that’s unpredictable and wild and this delivered!
There is nothing I dislike about this duology, the settings are vivid and beautiful (inspired by Egyptian mythology) and the characters complex and interesting. This is a fantasy romance so the romance is a subplot to the larger plot, but the way the romance is so important and the yearning so intense it’s almost a full on romantasy. For that reason I think this book will appeal to those who prefer fantasy but also highly entertaining for those that enjoy romantasy.
The Jasad Crown is about being who you are destined to be, leading from the heart and acceptance. The writing is amazing and brings out raw emotions from happiness to sorrow. Read this for epic storytelling, unique world-building and immersive fantasy.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

How do you even express your gratitude towards a book that made you feel all the things possible in this world?
How can you even recover after reading those last words?? How can you go on from this?
The real answer is i’ll never recover.
If there was even a question about how jasad crown will play out after the end of jasad heir, it exceeded all my expectations.
I went through all the stages possible : amusement, hope, love, sadness, grief, more love, pure despair, another stage of love, another stage of despair and fulfilment. I have very very few female characters that i truly enjoy and adore and
Essiya is one of them. She is such a fierce force, she survived a lot and even though we can call her a little morally grey, her sense of helping and duty is very present. There are not enough words to describe how much love i have for her and her crazy behind.

And Arin of Nizahl.. i have never seen a man that yearned like him. And I fear no one will ever be like him. This man throughout the whole book yearned, even though his sense of duty had a battle with his feelings. Every interaction he has with Essiya either made me laugh, smile, kick my feet with how cute they were while sparing with swords or sob my heart out for 47 minutes.
The last 10% were a rollercoaster that malfunctioned and made me fall from 50 metres above ground. But man it was all worth it in the end.

Even now as i am writing this i cry remembering all of it, who am i kidding i keep going back to reading those last 2 chapters to cry some more.
I WOULD LITERALLY DIE FOR THEM AND ALSO THE FOUND FAMILY?? Crying
Thank you to the publisher for the arc

I read a fair amount of fantasy and I believe this is one of the genre's best kept secrets.

Firstly, I love the fact The Scorched Throne books are a duology. I think it's refreshing to not have to pencil off years to an extensive series. I also think this means we are getting quality over quantity rather than following the usual pattern of making authors publish entries year on year. This is such a breath of fresh air in the genre. The rich world building is infused with Egyptian mythology alongside thrilling characters, perfidious politics and an enchanting magic system.

Jasad is the apex of culture- bountiful in riches and magic. It is the beating heart and stronghold of the land. Until a coup lead by the Nizhal army means Jasad is decimated. Houses burned, people slaughtered or made refugees and magic restricted. All the royals of the house of Jasad are killed...or so they thought.
The Jasad Heir focuses on the escaped Jasad princess Essiya, who has adopted the alias of Sylvia in a provincial village in Omal- here she has surrounded herself by found family in the shape of Malek and Sefa. She apprentices under the chemist, Rory and has found a sanctuary in the local orphanage where she was raised. All she knows is survival. Her precarious peace is shattered when Arin, the Nizahl heir, arrives at the village pursuing Jasad fugitives. The Nizahl kingdom continue to hunt the Jasad and outlaws the use of their magic. Sylvia wears cuffs that moderate her magic but in emotional distress, her magic flares. When one of her favourites from the orphanage is threatened, her magic makes a dramatic display. Arin uses this as leverage to enter Syliva in The Alcalah, a tournament between the four kingdoms, as his champion. This is done to lure out the remaining Jasad rebels so Arin can quash any hope of revolution. The relationship between Syliva and Arin is *true* enemies-to-lovers with some blisteringly good banter. And whilst there are the usual romantasy tropes in there, it is done in such a fresh way.

If the Jasad Heir is about identity, legacy and allegiance then The Jasad Crown is about what it is to accept your birthright. What it is to lead. To follow the path laid at your feet and the strength needed to divert from it. What it is to know that the answer to all your people's problems may lead to your end. Sylvia has been adbucted by the Urabi who wish to reclaim Jasad and resurrect the fortress that will keep their people safe. But whilst Sylvia is keen to provide salvation for her people and a place to call home, she is also struggling with the weight of that expectation. The life Sylvia dreams of must be sacrificed in order for Essiya to take her place as queen. She is also overwhelmed with the level of magical powers she now possesses. Arin, too, through his relationship with Sylvia questions what it is to be blindly loyal, to be a soldier when he is a natural ruler. He has a sharp mind and once he starts to unpick the doubts that have crept upon him, he realizes the levels of deception that have been involved in Nizahl's consolidation of power. The character arc that Arin goes through in this book is beautifully constructed. The ending was again innovative and emotional. Have the tissues ready!

I raced through these two books in a matter of days. And considering The Jasad Crown is 672 pages long that is some going. Sylvia and Arin are morally grey and not always likeable. But you cannot but help to root for them to overcome their strife. We all love dragons and wyverns and hippogriffs and direwolves and witchy cats. But it was great to be exposed to some new creatures. This duology has become one of my fantasy favourites! If you haven't already, get your copy now.

Thank you Little Brown Book Group UK for my advanced copy of The Jasad Crown. Please note, my opinions are my own.

The Scorched Throne duology by Sara Hashem
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I came across The Jasad Heir in 2023 when I was looking for fantasy books which were different, coz all of them seemed so predictable. The Jasad Heir was a pleasant surprise, I enjoyed it. When I heard @bookstersisters raving about the sequel I knew I had to read it.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC
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I loved the sequel more than the first part. It is fast paced, once you start it is hard to put down. You will definitely swoon over Arin in this book. Definitely recommended for readers who love romantasy. I didn't see most of the twists coming, so I was awed throughout.

A solid read! A great ending to the duology

Thank you Netgalley & Little brown Book Group for a copy of the e-arc

Let me talk about my shattered, broken into million pieces, heart and how that is The Jasad Crown’s fault. I read the last 20% of this book twice. TWICE. The first time I was in shock. The second time I cried desperately. After hours, days, I can’t still believe in what I just read. It’s no exaggeration to say that, The Jasad Crown, was the first final book to ever exceed my expectations. Never, in a million years, I would believe this book would break me in such a way.

If The Jasad Heir took some time to win me, its sequel wasn’t here to play around. From the first page to the last, peace was an unknown word for me and, believe me, it was glorious. The two years of waiting were so worth it. The plot twists, the pace, the political intrigue, the worldbuilding, everything here, improved so so much and I was completely addicted to it. While I was reading it, I breathed it, when I wasn’t, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Sara Hashem created an extraordinary story, and I’m still marveling about it.

As for the characters… as I have in my bio, I have a soft spot for not so madly crazy characters. I can’t resist them. I just can love and support them, specially if they drive everyone mad. Specially each other. Sylvia and Arin are my weakness. As individual characters, they’re so otherworldly. Together? The world aka my heart is theirs. The way these two got to me is insane. I don’t know how or when, I fell so deeply in love with them but oh, it hit hard.

My heart still hurts you know? The Jasad Crown was such an emotional experience, such an unexpected love that closing that page still physically hurts. I don’t know, but I think this how favorite books are made.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Group UK for giving me an eARC in exchange of an honest review 💜

I thoroughly enjoyed The Jasad Heir and couldn't wait to dive back into this story with these characters. The Jasad Crown is an action-packed, enemies to lovers that will have you hooked from the very beginning. While it is a chunky book, the story flowed really well, and I loved the development and world-building throughout this book.

I adore the main characters in this story, and the tension between the two is just pure perfection. Sylvia is such a head-strong, badass female main character who grows so much in this duology. She is faced with so many tough decisions in this book, and I honestly just wanted to put her in a bubble and protect her. Her relationship with Arin is my absolute favourite thing about this series as it is just swoon worthy. He would do anything for her, despite the fact that she stands for everything he's against. I really liked that we got to see more of Arin's point of view in this one and that we got to see more of his character development.

Overall, this is a fantastic duology with amazing storytelling, characters, and world-building. I absolutely recommend picking it up!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was one of my most anticipated sequel releases of 2025. And boy this did not disappoint! I dived into it the minute I got it and got immersed in Essiya/Sylvia's and Arin's misguided-almost-on-doomsday's-threshold-world.
I loved Sylvia's character in the first book and it just led to even more love in this finale! Such a brilliantly written character and I loved Arin too a bit more in this book. The slow burn struggle that these relevantly young protagonists have to go through is put forth in such a masterful manner. I was rooting for them throughout! Simply brilliant and what a way to end the duology! I do not want to give away any spoilers but if anyone is an epic fantasy fan, they need to pick this up asap! And now I will scurry to look for the paperbacks!

I was a little unsure when I started this book. I remembered loving the first book but despite much googling couldn't find a recap and couldn't remember exactly what had unfolded at the end (am I the only girl standing in front of a publisher asking them to please always include a recap?). Also a stunning debut is all too often followed by a disappointing sequel. So it took me a while to get around to reading. And the beginning was a little slow (accompanied by more frantic googling for a recap). But the more I read the more immersed I was and by the end it was a reading far too late because I just couldn't put it down affair. Highlights for me were the incredible worldbuilding, the really clever and satisfying plotting and character development, the other POV chapters which really added a richness to the story and of course the main character romance which is so much more mature, nuanced and real than so many other romantasy fated lover plot lines and a real master class in how you don't need twenty pages of wardropbe destroying love scenes to create real sexual tension. Highly recommended.

Okay, so The Jasad Crown by Sara Hashem just *ruined* me in the best, most soul-ripping, utterly magical way - and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I was already obsessed with *The Jasad Heir* (Sylvia and Arin have had permanent residence in my brain for *two years* now), but this sequel? It’s not just a follow-up, it’s a whole *experience*. A breathtaking, heart-wrenching, scream-into-your-pillow kind of ride that took everything I loved and cranked it up to eleven.

And that *epilogue*? Don’t even look at me. I was fine, I swear I was *fine*, and then suddenly I wasn’t. Cue the ugly crying. The kind that requires a Costco-sized pack of tissues and some emotional support snacks.

Sara Hashem levelled *everything* up in this book. The world-building? Richer. Deeper. It felt like wandering through golden deserts, stone cities, and a culture so steeped in Egyptian lore that it breathed life right off the page. The magic system, too - cleaner, more defined, and *soooo* satisfying to see in motion. It felt *earned*, which I always appreciate.

And can we talk about the multiple POVs? Not just more Arin (who I will get to in a *second*, because whew), but also Marek and Sefa! Their voices added such strength and nuance to the story - I could *feel* each of their arcs unfolding with every choice and sacrifice. Their platonic love? Absolute poetry. The kind that aches in your bones.

But oh. *Arin and Sylvia*. This is enemies to lovers done *right*. No insta-shift, no sudden softness...they clung to their resentment and fury all the way through, even while their hearts were betraying them in the best, most devastating ways. The pining was so sharp, it physically hurt. Spice Meter: 🌶️ - not graphic, but loaded with slow-burn tension and so many almost's I thought I’d combust.

That ending? Devastating. Unexpected. It gave me *C-drama finale energy*...bittersweet and beautiful and not what I was hoping for but somehow still exactly what it needed to be. I will never emotionally recover, and yes, I’m absolutely begging for a novella, or just *something* to fill this Jasad-shaped hole in my heart.

5 out of 5 stars. No notes. Just tears. If you haven’t read this duology yet…what are you doing??

This book blew all my expectations out of the water, when I say I cried, laughed and swooned. As always, the writing was impeccable, the plot had good pace and kept me hooked all the way to the end
Would recommend for anyone who likes fantasy, mythological creatures, and angsty romance

The conclusion to this beautiful duology shattered me and barely put me together again. It was heartbreaking, and I need more! Honestly, it pulls no punches, no ones survival is guaranteed, and that meant the emotions hit hard. The stakes were high, knowing that death was permanent and not just a plot device that characters would then magically recover from.

The character development, of Arin in particular, was exceptional. I thoroughly enjoyed watching him struggle to deal with his foundations being smashed to pieces and the way he had to pull himself back together.

The pace was a little slow for me at the start, which I expected given the ending of Book 1 - I always hate it when the MCs get separated. But it became unputdownable by the second half. I was so desperate to unravel all the mysteries, and I was not disappointed. Whilst I had worked out most of it, there were still some surprises. It has to be said that it is the character studies and the emotional depth that really make this book shine.

“There is no if you survive. There is no future where it is my hand that ends your life.” This close, I could make out the austere lines of anguish twining around his rage. “If your magic takes you, I will drag you back. It cannot have you.”

I'M CRYINGGGG, I'M CRYING AND I CAN'T STOP, SOMEONE GET ME ANOTHER PACK OF TISSUES RIGHT NOW!!! I really thought I could hold it together, but that epilogue got the water works going and now I'm just a mess, send help.

The Jasad Heir is one of my favourite books, its characters have been living in my head for two straight years, and after The Jasad Crown they are never leaving, never ever.

The first book broke me, this one fixed me only to break me again, and again...there's already a Jasad shaped hole in my heart, two books aren't enough!!!

Honestly, with the amount of worldbuilding we got, it could've been a trilogy. I loved getting to know this world better. I had no complaints about it the first time around (it was perfect), but you can see that the author really worked hard on it.

I feel like I understand the magic system better too, it's so much clearer. And!! I love all the Egyptian culture woven into every single aspect of this book, that's how it's done!!

We also got an expansion in the form of character PoVs. Not only did Arin get a bunch more PoVs, but Marek and Sefa did too. All of those, along with Sylvia's, made the story even stronger.

It was a lot easier to see each of their growths that way, and made the times they were in pain even more impactful.

This brings me to an event at the end of the book which I can't talk about, but it makes me want to scream, and keep screaming until my throat is raw because what the what. No. Why??? When you get to it, you'll feel the same way, trust me.

To circle back to a lighter topic, more Arin PoVs also means more pining!! He was pining for Sylvia and she was pining for him whenever they were apart and it made my little heart sooo happy.

Their romance is one of the best I've read, and I've read loads, okay, but so few times has it been this effective.

They're TRUE enemies to lovers, they didn't suddenly drop the enemies act oh no, they kept it up until the very end, as they should.

I'd like to mention Marek and Sefa's relationship again too, because I love it just as much as I do Arin and Sylvia's. Sara Hashem captured the beauty of platonic love so accurately, I felt in in my bones.

The ending...I will never recover, I fear. But I do want to say that it was completely unexpected, I was hoping for something a lil different, but I'm okay with how it ended (and the pain it caused me). It reminded me of a C-Drama, in a good way.

Hopefully we can get another book set in this world, or a little novella maybe? PLEASE GIVE US SOMETHING TO MAKE UP FOR ALL THE PAIN!!

If you haven't read this duology yet, what are you doing with your life?? This is your sign to pick it up, it's absolutely amazing and worth your time (and tears).

*Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I think it was a good thing that I reread book 1 before starting The Jasad Crown because oh my god, reading these two books together was an experience. The Jasad Crown was everything I could ever want in a book. It was a wild ride; like getting on a rollercoaster that you didn't want to get off from. This is a masterpiece that deserves to be in a museum. Everything ties together so well and comes together in the utmost perfect manner, giving a very satisfying conclusion to this story. This duology now solidly sits as one of my favourite series ever and trust I will be recommending it to every single person that I know. (especially since I work as a bookseller lol)

The political machinations in this book are a masterclass; they were some of the best depictions of scheming and planning that go on in a book, and I was completely obsessed. The book does an incredible job at portraying the complexities and the intensity of everything that goes in planning a rebellion and the effects that it can have. There's not much I can say without spoiling things, just know there are many moments that will leave you gasping for air.

I loved the inclusions of other perspectives, but my favourites, by far, were Sylvia and Arin's. Sylvia truly shines in this book, and when read simultaneously with book 1, you can see how far she has come. Her character development is incredible and so fulfilling, leaving no strings untied. She comes into her own, slowly accepting her magic as the story progresses. In contrast, with Arin's POV, you can tell he's clearly different from book 1 Arin. He's more frazzled and chaotic, affected by the dynamic of his and Sylvia's relationship. But he is still Arin of Nizahl, a deadly commander and a vicious fighter and his character development, too, is done masterfully.

Once more, I can't say much without spoiling, but the last 30% of this book was some of the most intense battle scenes that I have ever read. Everything culminates in a way that leaves you in awe of Sara Hashem's writing and the way she brings it all together. And that epilogue?? Well, let's just say I was glad I kept a tissue box next to me because tears were shed.

The Jasad Crown was an absolutely incredible read, offering a gripping conclusion to what has been an amazing series. Sara Hashem's writing was absolutely incredible and I cannot wait to see what she writes next!

It honestly pains me to say this, but this book just wasn’t for me.

Maybe it’s because I’ve been reading different genres lately, but there were a lot of things that didn’t quite work for me here.

I loved The Jasad Heir—it was one of my most anticipated reads this year. I was checking NetGalley daily to see when I could request it. That’s how excited I was.

But unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy this one nearly as much.

I really wish there was a glossary or a quick recap at the beginning. Since I read the first book as an e-ARC a while ago, I had a hard time catching up with the characters and remembering who was who. This could've also happen as the story unfolded.
There were also some new characters introduced, but they felt kind of glossed over, so I didn’t really get invested in them.

The pacing was really tough. It started off super slow, almost dragging, and then suddenly everything just happened way too fast. There wasn’t much buildup to the big moments, and scenes that should’ve felt intense or emotional just... didn’t.
The action was minimal and over way too quickly, and the magic/world-building felt underdeveloped.

Also, the transitions were kind of confusing. Sometimes a chapter would start and the characters were suddenly in a whole new place. I kept thinking, Wait—how did you get there so easily? Wasn’t anyone trying to stop you? It just didn’t make sense.

I was excited to get back to characters like Malek and Sefa, who I really liked in the first book, but this time around I didn’t feel connected to them at all. They didn’t seem to add much to the story—Malek especially just felt like a filler character.

That said, Sarah’s writing is still beautiful, and she’s clearly a talented storyteller. Arin, for example, is such an amazing male character. His loyalty, confidence, and love for Sylvia were some of the best parts of the book. Sylvia herself goes through a lot, but I didn’t see much character growth. She was often frustrating, infuriating and made some really questionable choices, just like in the first book.
There is no denial that there is tension and love. And although I loved their story and relationship, some of their encounters felt forced. Almost just to apease the readers that they still have a connection and scenes together.

Overall, this one was a struggle to get through. But even though it didn’t work for me, I’m still really excited to see what this author does next. Her ideas are so creative, and her writing is fantastic—I’ll definitely keep reading whatever she publishes

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publishers for the opportunity to read this book!

You know that feeling when you just know from the first chapter that this was gonna be a five star read? Yeah, that was me🙂‍↕️. This book has multiple POVs and GUESS WHAT?! I ENJOYED EVERY SINGLE POV!!!😌 I think each pov gave more depth to each character who had a pov which I loved.

We meet new characters in this book while also revisiting old characters from the first book. I truly think everything that happened in the first book was a massive build up for all the INSANE REVELATIONS🤯 and all the pieces of a massive puzzle came together perfectly from unanswered questions in the first book.

This book made me panic so much towards the end that I ended up having nightmares that thankfully didn’t actually come true in the book😃. I did end up sobbing though😭, but it’s up to interpretation whether they were sad or happy tears after you finish reading this book😙.

OBVIOUSLY, I have to talk about Arin and Sylvia. They somehow have even more DELICIOUS TENSION than the first book and I was eating it all up. They are everything I want in an enemies to lovers development and the push and pull was quite Jude and Cardan coded😏. Also, Arin? I think he skyrocketed to my top 10 fav book bfs after this book🙂‍↕️.

Thanks so much to Little Brown Book Group UK for the e-arc!

What an amazing breathtaking sequel!!

I adored The Jasad Heir soo much and held my breath every second of every page of The Jasad Crown. To be back in this beautiful world with all of these incredible characters was such a special moment.

The world is so lush, so full of live and culture. The characters feel real and flawed and compassionate and oh so human. They laugh and they cry and they are angry and desperate and loud and they care so much. And it´s so very easy to fall in love with them, to want them to be your friends and family, cause you know with them you would never be alone again.

The plot stands on his own! Make no mistake this is no romantasy and that´s a good thing! The plot of this book stand totally on it´s own while the romance is a sub-plot which could not have been handled better. Could not have been more tragic and consuming. Filled with tension and longing and a delicious slow-burn.

This book is exactly what i yearn for.

The Jasad Crown (The Scorched Throne #2) by @shashemwrites - ♾️/5

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First of all, thank you @orbitbooks_uk @orbitbooks_us for approving my request for an ARC (I boldly emailed them (dare I say I was desperate to read book 2) requesting to approve my ARC request). Thank you thank you thank you.

Second of all, Sara Hashem, the Malika of the Scorched Throne Duology, may you live a beautiful life and please (don't die) and write more????? (Although can we ask for a bonus chapter about Essiya and Arin, and Sorn and Diya????) I'm so glad I found your Jasad Heir being recommend on my FYP just this year and thankful that I don't have to wait for two years for this book)

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NOW.

The Jasad Crown opens up the aftermath of Sylvia's revelation as the lost Jasad Heir in Book 1.

The premise sets up the backdrop for the revival of magic, once feared but also once coveted, in the form of Sylvia, or rather Essiya of Jasad, the Malika, the magic and destruction herself (🧎‍♀️).

Sylvia, or rather Essiya of Jasad, is thrust upon with the burden of leading her scorched kingdom and people to come back with a vengeance. But with the threat of magic-madness, she must choose — her life or her people.

Arin, the Commander of Nizahl and the Harbinger of Death of magic, must pick up the pieces of himself after Essiya's betrayal to prepare his kingdom for war against magic, Essiya herself. But he must also choose — his duty to his kingdom or his heart (the one that belongs to Essiya 😩)

So, the book itself is a masterpiece. It's the perfect story of war between self versus self (like literally AND WAIT FOR THE PLOT TWIST?) — two souls trying to navigate a path to each other while their conflicting duties to their kingdoms hanging on a balance.

What's the perfect recipe for a disaster when the hunter and the hunted falls in love? Ugh the tension is everything — I can't count how many times they shoved each other against the wall or the ground while threatening each other) I MEAN 👀

Not to mention the fact that the politics in this book is superbly written. SO SUPERB. The mind games, like how one decision can kill thousands (a stark reminder of our reality of today). Each ruler has their own skills that characterize them as their own, whether it be an illusion or charm, calculative or deceptive, logical or cunning. The flaws that they embody is reflective of their characters. What they decide also reflects on their governance (Arin 🧎‍♀️). Just know that the mind games they play with each other are certainly entertaining.

And before I forget, Arin may have little sense of humor, but damn his poetic side is just. Only he can make his grief devastatingly beautiful (yes I said grief because you will be grieving when you've finish this) and there are many deaths (a certain death that overjoyed me and a certain death that also devastate me, WHY SARA WHY)
This book will toy with your emotions. One moment you're giggling the second you're crying (LITERALLY?!) I can safely say that this duology is one of my fave books this years. It made me feel excited to open another chapter, which is an accomplishment for me since I've been in a reading slump ever since?! I've felt all the things I've felt when I've first read the Shatter Me series. And Sara, I love you please write more stories because I'll gladly spend money for them. 🥹

So if you love:
1. Egyptian folklore (yes there is)
2. The hunter and the hunted 👀
3. Kingdoms vying for power (magic)
4. A fallen kingdom rising from the ashes (SLAY)
5. Found family (Idk about Efra tho but I understand where he's coming from)
6. OH AND DEATHS, yeah many deaths. A certain death that overjoyed me but also a certain death that devastated me.
7. And while this also serve as a political book, I can tell you that the enemies to lovers trope in this one IS TO DIE FOR?! They are literally enemies from birth. LIKE REAL "I WILL KILL YOU BECAUSE I CAN AND I WILL" NOT LIKE "I WILL KILL YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE ANNOYING."
Then this duology is for you!