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Expected 19 Aug 25Princess Yulana has a few problems. Her late grandfather has died without naming an heir, civil war threatens to tear the Morning Realms apart, a strange waking dreamer sickness is sweeping through the land, and a plague of hungry ghosts roam the steppes. On top of all of that, Kho, her former best friend turned rival, is getting under her skin. A struggle for power divides the north, and the outcome rests on the winner of the Grand Game―a competition that will determine not just the future of her people, but the course of the entire empire.
When the world is out of balance, the Guardians of Dawn are reborn.
As the Guardian of Wind, it is Yuli’s responsibility to bring order to chaos, along with the Guardian of Fire and the Guardian of Wood. But can she restore balance to the Morning Realms when she can’t even win the political games being played at home? The fate of the Morning Realms depends on the Guardians of Dawn, and whether Yuli can manage both the demonic and political chaos at once.
When the world is out of balance, the Guardians of Dawn are reborn.
As the Guardian of Wind, it is Yuli’s responsibility to bring order to chaos, along with the Guardian of Fire and the Guardian of Wood. But can she restore balance to the Morning Realms when she can’t even win the political games being played at home? The fate of the Morning Realms depends on the Guardians of Dawn, and whether Yuli can manage both the demonic and political chaos at once.
Unknown Binding
Expected publication August 19, 2025
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About the author
S. Jae-Jones
9books2,895followersS. Jae-Jones, called JJ, is an artist, an adrenaline junkie, and the NYT bestselling author of Wintersong. 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.
NOTE: Only here to drop hints. 👀 And maybe occasionally answer questions.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 19, 2025
ARC Read- releases August 2025
Book 3 of the Guardians of Dawn Series - continues the story from the previous two, definitely not a standalone. Asian inspired fantasy about elemental warriors in a world divided fighting against ancient demons.
We see Ami, Gaden, Zhara and Han continue their quest against the evil forces in their world and continue to find more information on the demons that plague their world and on the portals they must close. Meanwhile, Yuli is trying to figure out a new evil waking illness, that leaves people apart from their souls and possessed. While also being the heir to an important family in a city on the edge of civil war. While also competing in a competition against her former best friend and flame to be the new leader of the Golden Horde to prevent another prominent family from taking power. Also while figuring out how her power as guardian of the wind fits into the guardians of dawn.
I wish I could explain this in a simplified way but it’s just not possible. Out of the books in the series, I find this one the least focused and most confusing. There are so many plot points and secondary adventures and tasks ongoing, not to mention heavy world building that is lacking some context. I just felt pulled in too many directions. Plus I have a hard time when it gets to 4-5 POVs. I think this story had a lot of great ideas - but too many ideas in one book. As per usual, the writing is good, nice flow to the story, very descriptive.
Book 3 of the Guardians of Dawn Series - continues the story from the previous two, definitely not a standalone. Asian inspired fantasy about elemental warriors in a world divided fighting against ancient demons.
We see Ami, Gaden, Zhara and Han continue their quest against the evil forces in their world and continue to find more information on the demons that plague their world and on the portals they must close. Meanwhile, Yuli is trying to figure out a new evil waking illness, that leaves people apart from their souls and possessed. While also being the heir to an important family in a city on the edge of civil war. While also competing in a competition against her former best friend and flame to be the new leader of the Golden Horde to prevent another prominent family from taking power. Also while figuring out how her power as guardian of the wind fits into the guardians of dawn.
I wish I could explain this in a simplified way but it’s just not possible. Out of the books in the series, I find this one the least focused and most confusing. There are so many plot points and secondary adventures and tasks ongoing, not to mention heavy world building that is lacking some context. I just felt pulled in too many directions. Plus I have a hard time when it gets to 4-5 POVs. I think this story had a lot of great ideas - but too many ideas in one book. As per usual, the writing is good, nice flow to the story, very descriptive.
September 9, 2024
OMG ON MY BIRTHDAY????? YES PLEASE
Read
August 7, 2024I can't wait for the new books!
March 3, 2025
A short disclaimer: Guardians of Dawn: Yuli is the third in a series - there will be spoilers for books 1 and 2 ahead, and I also do not advise reading this book as a standalone. Certain plot points, relationships, and worldbuilding elements rely heavily on an understanding of the previous 2 books. Disclaimer over - now I can gush about how much I loved this book.
After cherishing cameos from Princess Yulana, aka Yuli, in both the previous books, I was so thrilled to see her have her own adventures and romance in the third installment of Guardians of Dawn. Yuli is a strong heroine, a warrior inside and out, and someone who cares deeply about her friends. She's a delightful main character and can more than carry her own book (something I had struggled with a bit in Zhara's book). Kho, Yuli's love interest, is her former friend and the daughter of a rival clan leader; their paths unexpectedly cross again when the patriarch of the five ruling families dies, and a competition (The Grand Game) is called to determine who shall take the throne next. As daughters of the two strongest contenders, Yuli and Kho must endure three trials--one physical, one mental, and one spiritual--to determine who is most fit to take the throne. That alone is enough plot to carry the book, but intertwining with the Great Game plotline is the other side of Yuli's life--the Guardian side. While Yuli is trying desperately to win the Grand Game, she's also trying to figure out the mysterious sickness plaguing her continent: the Waking Dreamer sickness. As the Guardian of Wind, only Yuli can see that those afflicted by this sickness have become empty vessels, their souls wandering untethered from their bodies like ghosts. But why is this? And could this mysterious affliction be connected to the Moth Demon, the next villain the Guardians know they must defeat?
Like in previous installments, I think S. Jae-Jones does a great job of balancing the multiple plotlines and the multiple POV characters. As in Guardians of Dawn: Ami, the other Guardians get a few chapters here and there, but the majority of the book is spent on Yuli and Kho, and I like both of them a lot. Their arcs are beautifully done, and I especially like Kho's tangled relationships with her family. Although her family's tie-in to the larger plot is a bit obvious, I thought the arc itself was fantastic. Being someone who really, really likes plague books, I absolutely ate up the Waking Dreamer sickness scenes, and I enjoyed the twist with those as well. I really like how the series is progressing in terms of each individual book's Demon, and their connection to the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons (who I assume is Book 4's villain).
For me, the biggest weakness here is I wanted so much more from the romance. It's not bad by a long stretch, but I guess I just wish the characters had spent more time on the page together -- of the 3 main couples in the series, I'd say that Yuli and Kho were physically with each other the least, although they do have the most history as childhood friends/rivals. I feel like the book would've actually benefited from being longer, just so there's more room for the romance -- it's tautly plotted in every other aspect, so I can't even say that something should get cut. That is such a little nitpick, though.
I know reviews for this series are kind of inconsistent, but I've found myself consistently enjoying every book. It's not a perfect series, not by far, but it perfectly fills that Magical Girl niche that YA is seriously lacking. As someone who grew up on Sailor Moon, Winx, and W.I.T.C.H, this feels nostalgic in all the right ways, and reading a few chapters after a rough day totally transported me to the Guradians' world.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books, and S. Jae-Jones for gifting me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review! I really love how this series is shaping up and cannot wait until we get to meet (fingers crossed) the Guardian of Water in Book 4.
After cherishing cameos from Princess Yulana, aka Yuli, in both the previous books, I was so thrilled to see her have her own adventures and romance in the third installment of Guardians of Dawn. Yuli is a strong heroine, a warrior inside and out, and someone who cares deeply about her friends. She's a delightful main character and can more than carry her own book (something I had struggled with a bit in Zhara's book). Kho, Yuli's love interest, is her former friend and the daughter of a rival clan leader; their paths unexpectedly cross again when the patriarch of the five ruling families dies, and a competition (The Grand Game) is called to determine who shall take the throne next. As daughters of the two strongest contenders, Yuli and Kho must endure three trials--one physical, one mental, and one spiritual--to determine who is most fit to take the throne. That alone is enough plot to carry the book, but intertwining with the Great Game plotline is the other side of Yuli's life--the Guardian side. While Yuli is trying desperately to win the Grand Game, she's also trying to figure out the mysterious sickness plaguing her continent: the Waking Dreamer sickness. As the Guardian of Wind, only Yuli can see that those afflicted by this sickness have become empty vessels, their souls wandering untethered from their bodies like ghosts. But why is this? And could this mysterious affliction be connected to the Moth Demon, the next villain the Guardians know they must defeat?
Like in previous installments, I think S. Jae-Jones does a great job of balancing the multiple plotlines and the multiple POV characters. As in Guardians of Dawn: Ami, the other Guardians get a few chapters here and there, but the majority of the book is spent on Yuli and Kho, and I like both of them a lot. Their arcs are beautifully done, and I especially like Kho's tangled relationships with her family. Although her family's tie-in to the larger plot is a bit obvious, I thought the arc itself was fantastic. Being someone who really, really likes plague books, I absolutely ate up the Waking Dreamer sickness scenes, and I enjoyed the twist with those as well. I really like how the series is progressing in terms of each individual book's Demon, and their connection to the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons (who I assume is Book 4's villain).
For me, the biggest weakness here is I wanted so much more from the romance. It's not bad by a long stretch, but I guess I just wish the characters had spent more time on the page together -- of the 3 main couples in the series, I'd say that Yuli and Kho were physically with each other the least, although they do have the most history as childhood friends/rivals. I feel like the book would've actually benefited from being longer, just so there's more room for the romance -- it's tautly plotted in every other aspect, so I can't even say that something should get cut. That is such a little nitpick, though.
I know reviews for this series are kind of inconsistent, but I've found myself consistently enjoying every book. It's not a perfect series, not by far, but it perfectly fills that Magical Girl niche that YA is seriously lacking. As someone who grew up on Sailor Moon, Winx, and W.I.T.C.H, this feels nostalgic in all the right ways, and reading a few chapters after a rough day totally transported me to the Guradians' world.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books, and S. Jae-Jones for gifting me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review! I really love how this series is shaping up and cannot wait until we get to meet (fingers crossed) the Guardian of Water in Book 4.
January 1, 2025
The saga continues!
As Zhara and Ami travel north to reunite with Yuli and close the portal to Tiyok, Yuli is dealing with her own brewing battle. After her Grandfather, the Warlord’s, death the five ruling families are in chaos. The Lady of the Wild Things, the mother of her childhood best friend, seizes her chance of taking control of the Golden Horde, the army of the North, to make her play for the Imperial Throne. To stop her, Yuli must compete against Kho, her former best friend in three challeges. But there is something worse afoot as the demons have started possessing anti-magicians in a bid to create their own army to release the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons.
I absolutely loved all the new lore we got in this third installment of Guardians of the Dawn. It continues to grow and expand while still giving the nostalgia of the magical girl animes we grew up loving.
It was harder for me to connect with Yuli, more of a tomboy who alwaya grew up privileged, than it was for me with Ami, the scholar, or Zhara, the dreamer. She still has the personality and qualities of a teenage girl, but her interests didn’t align with mine like the other girls. For this reason I struggled to finish this book as quickly as I did the other two. However Yuli is headstrong and brave, compassionate, with a spiritual power unlike the other Guardians. She was a lot more serious in this book, despite Kho’s disbelief that she could take anything seriously, and perhaps I enjoyed her playful attitude in the previous books a bit more? Either way it was nice to have a deeper look into her character and see her bonding in person with Ami and Zhara.
The stakes are higher, the romance has taken a back seat (for the most part as the previous couples have split to take care of different plot arcs), and there are many more characters to keep up with now. I loved the foreshadowing of discovering the Guardian of Water in the Azure Isles (not going to spoil anyone with my theories) and the heartbreaking ending as the world around them tumbles into civil war. I feel like book four will be a lot darker than the previous three; but that makes sense as the girls grow not only into their powers but mature as their experiences can only force them to do. I eagerly await it (soooo long!!!! 😭😭😭😭😭). In the mean time everyone go read this series immediately!
As Zhara and Ami travel north to reunite with Yuli and close the portal to Tiyok, Yuli is dealing with her own brewing battle. After her Grandfather, the Warlord’s, death the five ruling families are in chaos. The Lady of the Wild Things, the mother of her childhood best friend, seizes her chance of taking control of the Golden Horde, the army of the North, to make her play for the Imperial Throne. To stop her, Yuli must compete against Kho, her former best friend in three challeges. But there is something worse afoot as the demons have started possessing anti-magicians in a bid to create their own army to release the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons.
I absolutely loved all the new lore we got in this third installment of Guardians of the Dawn. It continues to grow and expand while still giving the nostalgia of the magical girl animes we grew up loving.
It was harder for me to connect with Yuli, more of a tomboy who alwaya grew up privileged, than it was for me with Ami, the scholar, or Zhara, the dreamer. She still has the personality and qualities of a teenage girl, but her interests didn’t align with mine like the other girls. For this reason I struggled to finish this book as quickly as I did the other two. However Yuli is headstrong and brave, compassionate, with a spiritual power unlike the other Guardians. She was a lot more serious in this book, despite Kho’s disbelief that she could take anything seriously, and perhaps I enjoyed her playful attitude in the previous books a bit more? Either way it was nice to have a deeper look into her character and see her bonding in person with Ami and Zhara.
The stakes are higher, the romance has taken a back seat (for the most part as the previous couples have split to take care of different plot arcs), and there are many more characters to keep up with now. I loved the foreshadowing of discovering the Guardian of Water in the Azure Isles (not going to spoil anyone with my theories) and the heartbreaking ending as the world around them tumbles into civil war. I feel like book four will be a lot darker than the previous three; but that makes sense as the girls grow not only into their powers but mature as their experiences can only force them to do. I eagerly await it (soooo long!!!! 😭😭😭😭😭). In the mean time everyone go read this series immediately!
March 19, 2025
While *Guardian of Wind* continues the sweeping fantasy narrative of *The Guardians of Dawn* series, it struggles under the weight of its own world-building and political intrigue—an issue that feels particularly frustrating given that this is the third installment. Rather than building on the momentum of previous books, a significant portion of the story is dedicated to explaining the empire’s political structure, court dynamics, and historical context, often at the expense of character development and plot progression.
Yulana’s struggles—ranging from the civil war to the supernatural threats—should provide a compelling foundation for the narrative, but much of the book is bogged down in the mechanics of governance rather than the emotional stakes of her journey. While some readers may appreciate the depth of the world-building, it often feels like the story pauses to deliver dense exposition, making the pacing drag. Given that this is book three, one would expect the political and historical framework to be more integrated into the action rather than repeatedly re-explained.
The Grand Game, which should be a thrilling, high-stakes competition, is undermined by its own complexity. Instead of offering a tightly woven, suspenseful conflict, the competition often feels secondary to prolonged discussions of alliances, treaties, and bureaucratic maneuvering. Yulana’s relationship with Kho—one of the most intriguing elements of the book—is unfortunately sidelined in favor of more political posturing, leaving emotional beats underdeveloped.
The novel does have its strengths—Jae-Jones� prose remains evocative, and the blend of mythology and political fantasy is ambitious—but *Guardian of Wind* ultimately feels more like an extended history lesson than a climactic continuation of an epic saga. For readers already invested in the series, it may still be rewarding, but those looking for a more balanced mix of action, character depth, and world-building may find themselves wading through too much setup with too little payoff.
Yulana’s struggles—ranging from the civil war to the supernatural threats—should provide a compelling foundation for the narrative, but much of the book is bogged down in the mechanics of governance rather than the emotional stakes of her journey. While some readers may appreciate the depth of the world-building, it often feels like the story pauses to deliver dense exposition, making the pacing drag. Given that this is book three, one would expect the political and historical framework to be more integrated into the action rather than repeatedly re-explained.
The Grand Game, which should be a thrilling, high-stakes competition, is undermined by its own complexity. Instead of offering a tightly woven, suspenseful conflict, the competition often feels secondary to prolonged discussions of alliances, treaties, and bureaucratic maneuvering. Yulana’s relationship with Kho—one of the most intriguing elements of the book—is unfortunately sidelined in favor of more political posturing, leaving emotional beats underdeveloped.
The novel does have its strengths—Jae-Jones� prose remains evocative, and the blend of mythology and political fantasy is ambitious—but *Guardian of Wind* ultimately feels more like an extended history lesson than a climactic continuation of an epic saga. For readers already invested in the series, it may still be rewarding, but those looking for a more balanced mix of action, character depth, and world-building may find themselves wading through too much setup with too little payoff.
February 9, 2025
"Yuli" is the 3rd installment in the YA Guardians of the Dawn series and it did not dissapoint! Each book we get to follow a new Guardian of the Dawn as they try to defeat the demons that plague their world.
Yuli's story was great! We see how strong of a woman Yuli has become as she deals with the death of her grandfather, while fighting her former best friend in trials to see who can be the next ruler of the kingdom. Don't worry, we also get to see the perspectives of the other guardians of the dawn (Ami and Zhara) as they do their best to help translate the language of flowers to learn more about sealing the demon portals, and help magicians escape the perils of Yuli's kingdom.
I think this is a great series for teens as it features strong, independent women, and all sorts of romantic entanglements. There is a very large LGBTQ presence in this series - we have a few non binary characters, F/F relationship, a M/F relationship where the guy identifies as asexual/aromantic, etc and I feel like the author is trying to be very inclusive and show to the teens reading this novel that love is love no matter who you're interested in. I also like how different the guardians are from one another-Zhara and Yuli are both headstrong, while Ami is quite and intellectual, and most likely on the spectrum as she often has a difficult time reading people.
I look forward to the conclusion of this series and can't wait to find out more about the final guardian of dawn.
4/5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Yuli's story was great! We see how strong of a woman Yuli has become as she deals with the death of her grandfather, while fighting her former best friend in trials to see who can be the next ruler of the kingdom. Don't worry, we also get to see the perspectives of the other guardians of the dawn (Ami and Zhara) as they do their best to help translate the language of flowers to learn more about sealing the demon portals, and help magicians escape the perils of Yuli's kingdom.
I think this is a great series for teens as it features strong, independent women, and all sorts of romantic entanglements. There is a very large LGBTQ presence in this series - we have a few non binary characters, F/F relationship, a M/F relationship where the guy identifies as asexual/aromantic, etc and I feel like the author is trying to be very inclusive and show to the teens reading this novel that love is love no matter who you're interested in. I also like how different the guardians are from one another-Zhara and Yuli are both headstrong, while Ami is quite and intellectual, and most likely on the spectrum as she often has a difficult time reading people.
I look forward to the conclusion of this series and can't wait to find out more about the final guardian of dawn.
4/5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
February 9, 2025
Thank you Net gallery for this ARC!
It’s important to know that this is the third book in a series, I was not aware of that when I made the request. I was so confused reading the first two chapters that I had to stop and search the book on Google. I had to find out on ŷ that this was the third book. It was not mentioned anywhere on the book cover or description. I didn’t want to review a third book without reading the first two and so I did.
In the third instalment,, Yuli has to process the death of her grandfather while having to deal with her ex-bestfriend turned rival in trials.
I loved the world building in this series and the magical lore. I also loved the LGBTQA+ representation in the book, it is so important to have this kind representation in books. Especially in today’s reality.
I liked the pacing of the story but the multiple POV not so much. It felt like we were switching characters every a few pages. I would have preferred longer chapters in the same POV. This is also a very predictable plot. I guessed a lot of what was gonna happen before it did. I still enjoyed my read but this isn’t a reading on the hedge of my seat type of book. This is more turn off my brain and just enjoy the vibes. I will probably give book four a try.
It’s important to know that this is the third book in a series, I was not aware of that when I made the request. I was so confused reading the first two chapters that I had to stop and search the book on Google. I had to find out on ŷ that this was the third book. It was not mentioned anywhere on the book cover or description. I didn’t want to review a third book without reading the first two and so I did.
In the third instalment,, Yuli has to process the death of her grandfather while having to deal with her ex-bestfriend turned rival in trials.
I loved the world building in this series and the magical lore. I also loved the LGBTQA+ representation in the book, it is so important to have this kind representation in books. Especially in today’s reality.
I liked the pacing of the story but the multiple POV not so much. It felt like we were switching characters every a few pages. I would have preferred longer chapters in the same POV. This is also a very predictable plot. I guessed a lot of what was gonna happen before it did. I still enjoyed my read but this isn’t a reading on the hedge of my seat type of book. This is more turn off my brain and just enjoy the vibes. I will probably give book four a try.
February 17, 2025
3⭐⭐�
I was happy to receive an arc of this book since I quite enjoyed Zhara and Ami's books and was really anticipating Yuli's. I always thought her guardian power was cool and so was her flirty personality.
Now, to put it simply: I liked this book, but it isn't my favorite.
There were a lot of good ideas here that added to the lore of demons and magicians that elevated the worldbuilding. I particularly enjoyed the journey of clues that led to discovering how to cure the waking dreamer sickness as well as the reveal of the Moth Demon. Was it predictable? Yes. But I enjoyed it anyway. It made the world feel more real, the threat of demons more dangerous, and the overall stakes a bit higher with talk of a potential civil war.
But I did have a slight issue with the pacing/narrative structure. There were certain plot points or action scenes that were too dragged out between multiple chapters of alternating character povs. This really stalled the momentum of the action and, when coming across these types of chapters, I often found them to be unneccessary or simply too long.
One of the things I really liked about the first two books were the main heroines, but with Yuli, I felt a bit disconnected from her. There was very little about her that stood out to me. She gave off an "all brawn no brains" type of vibe which I didn't find very appealing, and Kho being the very opposite "all brain no brawn" - them having an opposites-attract dynamic - was... still not my favorite because of how cookie-cutter it felt to me. I think Kho had a lot of potential as a character with her conflicting feelings on morality, loyalty, and doing things "for the greater good", so I'm interested to see what will happen with her in the next book. But because I couldn't connect with Yuli as much, their relationship dynamic didn't feel as balanced to me and I wasn't as invested in them as a couple as I was with the previous ones. 🥲
Very rarely do I find a book with trials in it that adds substance or tension to the story in a way that I like. For me, there needs to be a very good reason for the trials to exist in the first place and the trials themselves have to be filled with tension and angst, and most importantly, page-turning action. The trial of strength definitely gave me that feeling, but I think the lead up to the Grand Game with the Lady of the Wilds' manipulations (and the various power dynamics there) were probably the most interesting part. Unfortunately, that excitement did not extend to the remaining trials in the Grand Game. I think, in general, everything the characters were doing outside of the trials were far more interesting than the trials themselves.
Despite each book in this series getting a consistently 3 star rating from me, I still plan on reading the next book when it comes out. I think there is so much about the overall story and the world this author created that I find intriguing and I'm curious to know what will happen from here on out.
Side note: I love how the Bangtan Brothers are slowly becoming more and more integral to the plot. As a BTS fan, it's nice to see authors mention them in their books or acknowledgements, but this is the first time I've seen them as actual characters! Idk I think it's kinda fun. 😌🤷♀�
[Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!]
I was happy to receive an arc of this book since I quite enjoyed Zhara and Ami's books and was really anticipating Yuli's. I always thought her guardian power was cool and so was her flirty personality.
Now, to put it simply: I liked this book, but it isn't my favorite.
There were a lot of good ideas here that added to the lore of demons and magicians that elevated the worldbuilding. I particularly enjoyed the journey of clues that led to discovering how to cure the waking dreamer sickness as well as the reveal of the Moth Demon. Was it predictable? Yes. But I enjoyed it anyway. It made the world feel more real, the threat of demons more dangerous, and the overall stakes a bit higher with talk of a potential civil war.
But I did have a slight issue with the pacing/narrative structure. There were certain plot points or action scenes that were too dragged out between multiple chapters of alternating character povs. This really stalled the momentum of the action and, when coming across these types of chapters, I often found them to be unneccessary or simply too long.
One of the things I really liked about the first two books were the main heroines, but with Yuli, I felt a bit disconnected from her. There was very little about her that stood out to me. She gave off an "all brawn no brains" type of vibe which I didn't find very appealing, and Kho being the very opposite "all brain no brawn" - them having an opposites-attract dynamic - was... still not my favorite because of how cookie-cutter it felt to me. I think Kho had a lot of potential as a character with her conflicting feelings on morality, loyalty, and doing things "for the greater good", so I'm interested to see what will happen with her in the next book. But because I couldn't connect with Yuli as much, their relationship dynamic didn't feel as balanced to me and I wasn't as invested in them as a couple as I was with the previous ones. 🥲
Very rarely do I find a book with trials in it that adds substance or tension to the story in a way that I like. For me, there needs to be a very good reason for the trials to exist in the first place and the trials themselves have to be filled with tension and angst, and most importantly, page-turning action. The trial of strength definitely gave me that feeling, but I think the lead up to the Grand Game with the Lady of the Wilds' manipulations (and the various power dynamics there) were probably the most interesting part. Unfortunately, that excitement did not extend to the remaining trials in the Grand Game. I think, in general, everything the characters were doing outside of the trials were far more interesting than the trials themselves.
Despite each book in this series getting a consistently 3 star rating from me, I still plan on reading the next book when it comes out. I think there is so much about the overall story and the world this author created that I find intriguing and I'm curious to know what will happen from here on out.
Side note: I love how the Bangtan Brothers are slowly becoming more and more integral to the plot. As a BTS fan, it's nice to see authors mention them in their books or acknowledgements, but this is the first time I've seen them as actual characters! Idk I think it's kinda fun. 😌🤷♀�
[Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!]
March 1, 2025
Book 3 of the Guardians of Dawn Series - continues the story from the previous two books and is not a standalone but rather a continuation. Youll be confused if you haven’t read them and I also think wouldn’t understand the depth of the story line. This series and this specific book are Asian inspired fantasy about elemental warriors in a world divided fighting against ancient demons. The balance of Good vs Evil. Ultimately I really did enjoy this story line, but at times was a bit confused as there seems to be a lot going on and multiple POV. But it was really well written and very descriptive. I found this specific book to have a lot of inclusion, which was really nice to see incorporated. I especially liked that all the guardians although are very important, are also different with their own uniqueness. I love that despite how strong they are, they still remain so very human. If you’ve read the first time, definitely keep continuing! Zhara, Ami and Yuli � cant wait for the next! Thanks to Netgalley for this opportunity to read this as an ARC!
March 10, 2025
I rated 4.5 stars and rounded up to 5 stars.
This was a great continuation of the series. Three of the four Guardians are together to fight off another high demon in the north, where Princess Yuli lives. I really enjoy how they help each other and are researching ways to fight the demons and help their people. The politics in each region are getting more fraught with tension as the leaders are dying off and the Sunburst Throne is vacant without a known heir.
I love the Sailor Moon vibes and the beast companions. I also like how each high demon has a Guardian that can defeat them so each Guardian's power is important, while working well together. Overall, I really enjoy this YA series and cannot wait for the fourth book to come out.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a great continuation of the series. Three of the four Guardians are together to fight off another high demon in the north, where Princess Yuli lives. I really enjoy how they help each other and are researching ways to fight the demons and help their people. The politics in each region are getting more fraught with tension as the leaders are dying off and the Sunburst Throne is vacant without a known heir.
I love the Sailor Moon vibes and the beast companions. I also like how each high demon has a Guardian that can defeat them so each Guardian's power is important, while working well together. Overall, I really enjoy this YA series and cannot wait for the fourth book to come out.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 27, 2025
🌅� Guardians of Dawn: Yuli is a stunning, high-stakes fantasy brimming with elemental warriors, ancient demons, and breathtaking world-building! Even though I hadn’t read the first two books, I was hooked by the rich Morning Realms, emotionally complex characters, and immersive writing. (Though I’d definitely recommend starting from book one for the full experience!) 📚💫
Yuli’s arc shines—torn between her own insecurities and the heavy weight of restoring balance to a fractured world. Her dynamic with Kho? Spicy with history, rivalry, and raw tension. 🔥 Add in court politics, layered POVs, and a gorgeously diverse cast, and you’ve got an epic fantasy that hits hard in all the right ways.
🌀 Asian-inspired fantasy
👑 Political intrigue
🌊 Elemental magic
❤️ Rivals with history
📖 ARC from NetGalley + St. Martin’s Press
Yuli’s arc shines—torn between her own insecurities and the heavy weight of restoring balance to a fractured world. Her dynamic with Kho? Spicy with history, rivalry, and raw tension. 🔥 Add in court politics, layered POVs, and a gorgeously diverse cast, and you’ve got an epic fantasy that hits hard in all the right ways.
🌀 Asian-inspired fantasy
👑 Political intrigue
🌊 Elemental magic
❤️ Rivals with history
📖 ARC from NetGalley + St. Martin’s Press
February 10, 2025
� Book Review: Yuli (Guardians of Dawn, #3) by S. Jae-Jones �
After the death of Yuli’s grandfather, the warlord, the five ruling families are on the brink of war. The Lady of the Wind seeks to seize the imperial throne, forcing Yuli to compete in three deadly challenges against her childhood best friend, Kho. Meanwhile, demons are possessing anti-magical individuals to build a terrifying army.
I loved seeing all three Guardians working together throughout the book (plus, a hint at the next Guardian!). This installment is definitely more intense, though it felt a bit less cohesive than the first two. The multiple POVs were sometimes tricky to follow, but the trials brought Yuli and Kho together in unexpected ways. The ending? Absolutely heartbreaking. 💔
After the death of Yuli’s grandfather, the warlord, the five ruling families are on the brink of war. The Lady of the Wind seeks to seize the imperial throne, forcing Yuli to compete in three deadly challenges against her childhood best friend, Kho. Meanwhile, demons are possessing anti-magical individuals to build a terrifying army.
I loved seeing all three Guardians working together throughout the book (plus, a hint at the next Guardian!). This installment is definitely more intense, though it felt a bit less cohesive than the first two. The multiple POVs were sometimes tricky to follow, but the trials brought Yuli and Kho together in unexpected ways. The ending? Absolutely heartbreaking. 💔
February 20, 2025
The Guardians of Dawn books have always delivered when it comes to strong female leads and fantastic storytelling. This third book in the series, told Yuli’s story and it did not disappoint!
I was thrilled to see Ami and Zhara in Yuli’s tale of loss and determination. She must fight for her right to rule, against a former friend, all while navigating emotional and romantic connections. She shows her independence and strength and, like other books in this series, is a great example to teens and YAs of what a strong woman looks like. There’s also lots of LGTBQ representation and it’s just a breath of fresh air in the genre.
Highly recommend Yuli and I cannot wait to read what comes next!
Thank you to NetGalley for this opportunity to read this ARC!
I was thrilled to see Ami and Zhara in Yuli’s tale of loss and determination. She must fight for her right to rule, against a former friend, all while navigating emotional and romantic connections. She shows her independence and strength and, like other books in this series, is a great example to teens and YAs of what a strong woman looks like. There’s also lots of LGTBQ representation and it’s just a breath of fresh air in the genre.
Highly recommend Yuli and I cannot wait to read what comes next!
Thank you to NetGalley for this opportunity to read this ARC!
January 9, 2025
⭐⭐
CW: grief, war, violence
Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillanusa for this eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is the third installment of the Guardians of Dawn series , and unfortunately to me it was just okay. I feel like Yuki's story is much more disjointed than Zhara's and Ami's. There were definitely things that kept getting repeated over and over but it made me feel a bit dumb. The plot was a bit too predictable and I just didn't feel as much for Yuli as I did the other girls. I feel like this was just setting up for the next book, which does the series and the character such a disservice. I still really like the world and the Bangtan brothers though.
CW: grief, war, violence
Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillanusa for this eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is the third installment of the Guardians of Dawn series , and unfortunately to me it was just okay. I feel like Yuki's story is much more disjointed than Zhara's and Ami's. There were definitely things that kept getting repeated over and over but it made me feel a bit dumb. The plot was a bit too predictable and I just didn't feel as much for Yuli as I did the other girls. I feel like this was just setting up for the next book, which does the series and the character such a disservice. I still really like the world and the Bangtan brothers though.
March 30, 2025
Guardians of Dawn: Yuli is the third book in the Guardians of Dawn series by S. Jae-Jones. I found it a little more difficult to get into compared to the first two, but I think that it is building up for the fourth book in the series. Some of the settings are great, and it really has the “magical girl� style, though the political intrigue didn’t quite work for me. I feel this book is more setting the stage for the fourth. As a side note, I was introduced to this series from Illumicrate, and the physical books for this series are so lovely. Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and S. Jae-Jones for a copy of this ARC.
February 3, 2025
By far the strongest in the series so far! I liked the first and second installments, but this one resonated with me so much more. The romance arc is by far the best out of the three; I genuinely loved both Yuli and Kho. I kept asking myself "is Kho the fourth guardian?" "what fairy tale is this supposed to be?" and my god. The ending. I am devastated, but it was so good.
I have some predictions for book four, but there's a year til the next arc will be out. The wait begins.
I have some predictions for book four, but there's a year til the next arc will be out. The wait begins.
March 25, 2025
A genuinely fun series. Do not seek grimdark here. It’s funny, it blends action and romance, and it fully has my attention wanting to know what comes next.
The guardians are almost all together as a group, like we’re really close to the big boss battle. The narrative does recap some exposition. I needed that (poor short term memory), but I know that some readers find that annoying.
Another caveat is that there is lots of “telling�, but there is also an expansion of mesmerizing world-building. The book is great at “set dressing.� Every setting had its own characteristics, culture, weather, vibes, etc. We get to see the North in this one, where vies for power are fracturing the aristocracy.
We get to see how our characters see themselves and see others, such as each Guardian thinking they’re the worst one, that the others have cooler powers and better personalities.There are more POVs in this one, so if that’s not your thing, just warning you.
My favorite element of the book is its humor. Funny interactions between characters. Subtle modern pop culture references: the totally-not-BTS Bangtam Brothers, references to Squid Game and those Korean sweets, and I swear there were others, those are just the two I made note of.
There is awkward wording in the ebook ARC I read (so not the final printed version) regarding the one explicitly Black character, usually referring to him as “black-skinned� with few other descriptors. It feels weird, maybe a little racist. It’s definitely not intended racism, and the narrative doesn’t include anything racist. It would be an easy fix for editing.
The story ends on a massive cliff hanger, but it also feels like a complete story told. I can’t wait for the finale.
A highly subjective 9/10. Still an enjoyable read for everyone else.
Review copy of ebook ARC provided but NetGalley. Not sponsored.
The guardians are almost all together as a group, like we’re really close to the big boss battle. The narrative does recap some exposition. I needed that (poor short term memory), but I know that some readers find that annoying.
Another caveat is that there is lots of “telling�, but there is also an expansion of mesmerizing world-building. The book is great at “set dressing.� Every setting had its own characteristics, culture, weather, vibes, etc. We get to see the North in this one, where vies for power are fracturing the aristocracy.
We get to see how our characters see themselves and see others, such as each Guardian thinking they’re the worst one, that the others have cooler powers and better personalities.There are more POVs in this one, so if that’s not your thing, just warning you.
My favorite element of the book is its humor. Funny interactions between characters. Subtle modern pop culture references: the totally-not-BTS Bangtam Brothers, references to Squid Game and those Korean sweets, and I swear there were others, those are just the two I made note of.
There is awkward wording in the ebook ARC I read (so not the final printed version) regarding the one explicitly Black character, usually referring to him as “black-skinned� with few other descriptors. It feels weird, maybe a little racist. It’s definitely not intended racism, and the narrative doesn’t include anything racist. It would be an easy fix for editing.
The story ends on a massive cliff hanger, but it also feels like a complete story told. I can’t wait for the finale.
A highly subjective 9/10. Still an enjoyable read for everyone else.
Review copy of ebook ARC provided but NetGalley. Not sponsored.
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