Book Review: The Jasad Heir
A would-be queen, presumed dead and forced to work with her greatest enemy in order to survive? Sign me the hell up.
Sara Hashem’s The Jasad Heir follows Sylvia - aka Essiya, the would-be Heir to the kingdom of Jasad - in hiding years after a massacre claimed her entire family and burned Jasad to the ground. Her attempts to lay low are thwarted when she comes face to face with Arin, the Heir of Nizhal, who wants her to serve as his Champion in an upcoming competition between Nizhal and the other remaining kingdoms.
In truth, what Arin wants is Sylvia’s help in tracking down any Jasadi survivors, all considered criminals on sight by virtue of the stronger-than-average magic that they are able to wield. If Sylvia helps Arin track down the remaining Jasadi factions, he will grant her her freedom and conveniently forget that she herself is from Jasad. As they train for the competition though, the two find themselves growing closer in spite of themselves…a matter sure to grow more complicated if Arin finds out Sylvia is actually the presumed-dead Essiya.
With a story centered in and around a distinctly Egypt-inspired world, it’s to be expected that a large amount of the book would be given over to worldbuilding. Hashem doesn’t have the advantage of decades of similar works upon which to draw her world map and culture. Fortunately the broad strokes of familiar fantasy elements blends beautifully with the more unique and refreshing aspects of her worldbuilding. Fortunate too, that these elements directly inform things like social class and personality, and thus propelling the plot forward.
By far the most compelling aspect of the story, for me, was the dynamic between Sylvia and Arin. I am a true sucker for enemies-to-lovers and these two fit the bill beautifully, even if their slowest of slow burns had me screaming “just kiss already” more than once. This is only the first book in the saga though, and hopes for a juicy romantic arc spring eternal. Sylvia’s personal arc, too, is engaging and well-written, the mystery of her past slowly unravelling in bits and pieces, setting the stage for what will surely be a breathless follow-up.
The Jasad Heir hits shelves on July 18. Special thank you to Orbit Books for the advance copy for review purposes.
