Grab yourself a little drinky drink, your comfiest blanket, and maybe a fan to cool yourself down, because this Egyptian-inspired fantasy debut is a five-star SCORCHER that’ll leave you swooning, screaming, and begging for the sequel like it’s your high school crush’s phone number. I devoured this book like a plate of baklava at a family gathering, and let me tell you, it’s a masterpiece that deserves all the starry eyed hype and then some.

Let's begin with Sylvia, our prickly, stabby, morally grey queen-in-hiding. She’s the lost heir of Jasad, a kingdom that got torched to a crisp a decade ago, its magic outlawed and its people hunted like they’re the last clearance rack dresses at a Nordstrom sale. Sylvia’s out here living her best (stressful) incognito life as a chemist’s apprentice, trying not to accidentally magic her way into an early grave. I relate to her on a spiritual level: her vibe is like me trying to hide my snack stash, except her stakes involve, y’know, execution. Her snark is sharper than my eyeliner wing on a good day, and her internal struggle between “I just want a nap” and “I GUESS I have to save my people” had me cackling. Sylvia’s not your typical chosen-one princess—she’s messy, fierce, and so real you’ll want to grab her by the shoulders and scream, “YOU’RE DOING AMAZING, SWEETIE!”

Then there’s Arin, the Nizahl Heir, who’s basically the human equivalent of a perfectly tailored trench coat: cold, precise, and unfairly hot. He’s the enemy, the magic-hunting prince who catches Sylvia’s slip up and drags her into a deal that’s shadier than a used car lot. Help him hunt rebels by using her as bait as his Champion, and he’ll keep her secret. Cue the most delicious enemies-to-lovers slow burn since Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet, but with more knives and political intrigue. Their banter? Chef’s kiss. Their tension? I needed to open a window.

The world-building is where Hashem flexes so hard, I’m surprised she didn’t pull a muscle. Inspired by Egyptian lore and the Arab Spring, Jasad’s history of magic, rebellion, and colonization is so vivid, I could practically smell the desert sand and hear the marketplace chatter. The four kingdoms—Omal, Lukub, Orban, and Nizahl—are distinct, with politics so twisty, I felt like I was watching a telenovela. The forbidden magic trope? Handled with such finesse, I was obsessed. There are monsters straight out of Egyptian mythology, rebel factions, and a deadly tournament called the Alcalah that’s like The Hunger Games but with more cultural flavor and fewer mockingjays. 

The first 100 pages are a smidge exposition-heavy (okay, Sara, we get it, you built a whole universe), but once Sylvia’s thrust into Arin’s schemes, it’s full-throttle. The plot twists hit like a mom’s slipper when you talk back—unexpected and unforgettable. And that ending? I gasped so loud, my roommate thought I saw a spider. I’m still recovering, and I'm glad I already went ahead and requested the sequel (I got approved, BTW. Thanks Netgalley). 

Sylvia’s journey—grappling with what she owes her people versus what she wants for herself—felt like a gut punch wrapped in velvet. It’s about identity, survival, and the messy cost of power, but it never feels preachy. Plus, the found-family vibes with Sylvia’s village friends, Sefa and Marek, had me soft as a marshmallow. I’d die for them, no questions asked.

In short, The Jasad Heir is a dazzling, witty, heart-wrenching ride that’ll make you laugh, cry, and scream into your pillow. Sara Hashem, you absolute genius, how dare you write something this perfect as your DEBUT when us mere mortals exist? If you love epic fantasy, enemies-to-lovers romance, or just a story that grabs you by the heart and doesn’t let go, run to get this book. Five stars, a million fangirl squeals, and all my love.