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The Scales of Lost Harmony
Not yet published
Expected 18 Mar 26
“To you, who hears the music of life, it must sound like the world has lost its harmony . . .”
Asana Vaun can hear people’s souls; their discordant melodies reveal both bodily injuries and emotional turmoil alike. But after a vicious war between humans and mythical creatures—a conflict Asana blames herself for—the cacophony of shattered songs threatens to overwhelm her.
Unable to bear the world’s brokenness, she leaps at the opportunity to use her magic to heal victims of the war in Nalyindi, a nation of creatures particularly devastated by violence.
Despite her desire to help, Asana faces relentless prejudice as the only human in the country. Her only reprieve is her boss, Sugishta, whose silent soul piques Asana’s curiosity. As their professional relationship crescendos into something deeper, she begins to find a home inside the hardened hearts she came to heal.
But an unexpected act of violence forces Asana to choose between saving the ones she loves, or preventing the outbreak of another racial war. Is life the price of peace, or can harmony be found another way?
Asana Vaun can hear people’s souls; their discordant melodies reveal both bodily injuries and emotional turmoil alike. But after a vicious war between humans and mythical creatures—a conflict Asana blames herself for—the cacophony of shattered songs threatens to overwhelm her.
Unable to bear the world’s brokenness, she leaps at the opportunity to use her magic to heal victims of the war in Nalyindi, a nation of creatures particularly devastated by violence.
Despite her desire to help, Asana faces relentless prejudice as the only human in the country. Her only reprieve is her boss, Sugishta, whose silent soul piques Asana’s curiosity. As their professional relationship crescendos into something deeper, she begins to find a home inside the hardened hearts she came to heal.
But an unexpected act of violence forces Asana to choose between saving the ones she loves, or preventing the outbreak of another racial war. Is life the price of peace, or can harmony be found another way?
472 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 18, 2026
56 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you Jasmine Willis for the ARC.
The cover of this book is sooo pretty-- it's what immediately made me want to read this. I wasn't expecting this book to hit me the way it did but The Scales of Lost Harmony completely pulled on my heart strings.
From the beginning, Asana's inner monologue felt so incredibly raw and honest. She went from 1960s America to navigating a whole new world, Iridia, divided by the Hynoles and the Mochnas, both worlds facing prejudice, r@cism, and lack of trust. Having grown up without her parents on Earth to living in a new place, she went on a journey of trying to understand her place in the world and where she belongs. Because of the hurt she faced, she felt like it was her duty to help heal a broken world, all of which felt super relatable. I do wish we got more background of the Shattering and how it truly impacted the world. Especially more on how Julio and Thesi played a part, rather than their outcomes of it.
One of my favorite aspects of the story was the magic system. I loved how souls have color and with Asana's unique ability she can hear the music of the soul and ultimately heal through music and song was such an amazing concept. I love how she can hear the broken notes, the pain, and see the memories of those she healed and was able to rewrite their pain into something beautiful. I loved how each chapter began with a poem and even the prose throughout is lyrical and soft, which strengthens the cozy atmosphere while still handling heavier topics like grief, shame, and resentment with grace.
I absolutely LOVED the romance. Full warning: this book does NOT have spice (and that's okay! they don't have to hunch all the time) Asana and Sugishta have the sweetest slow-burn relationship built on respect, emotional honesty, and genuine care for each other (he literally makes her a necklace of him to help ground Asana when the noises of the world become too much to bear 😭😭). Their connection doesn't seem rushed or forced and grows naturally as they work together and work on their own struggles.
I also loved the character growth throughout the story, and it deeply resonated with me and my own grief and struggles. All the adults are dealing with trauma and complicated emotions. I felt each one have their own lil arc and their healing journeys feel so authentic. Even Lygi's. Asana and her parents have had their troubles but something as simple as hearing "I'm proud of you" from her father healed something in me too.
Overall, this was such a beautiful story about healing, grief/loss, self-discovery, and learning to see past initial prejudice and beyond the division that keep people apart. If you enjoy cozy fantasy with emotional depth, thought-provoking themes, and a slooooooowwww-burn romance that'll remind you of Spirited Away, this is THE ONE to add to your TBR 🎶 (Also Jasmine... I am STILL recovering from Evyen 😢🐦⬛)
What to expect:
🎼 music-based, magical healer FMC
🐉 she’s constantly surrounded by music, and the MMC’s soul sounds like silence
🪞 she’s trying to move forward through grief and trauma, but is too afraid to open up about it
🎼 a MMC who’s self-conscious about his body and struggles to accept who he is
🐉 they both carry the scars of racial prejudice and fight for peace
🪞 learning to trust again
🎼 found family and a focus on deep friendships
🐉 a slow burn romance that steeps like a cup of tea
🎼 a unique spin on elemental magic
🐉 an ancient, magical mirror with the power to shatter the world
🪞 poems at the start of every chapter
The cover of this book is sooo pretty-- it's what immediately made me want to read this. I wasn't expecting this book to hit me the way it did but The Scales of Lost Harmony completely pulled on my heart strings.
From the beginning, Asana's inner monologue felt so incredibly raw and honest. She went from 1960s America to navigating a whole new world, Iridia, divided by the Hynoles and the Mochnas, both worlds facing prejudice, r@cism, and lack of trust. Having grown up without her parents on Earth to living in a new place, she went on a journey of trying to understand her place in the world and where she belongs. Because of the hurt she faced, she felt like it was her duty to help heal a broken world, all of which felt super relatable. I do wish we got more background of the Shattering and how it truly impacted the world. Especially more on how Julio and Thesi played a part, rather than their outcomes of it.
One of my favorite aspects of the story was the magic system. I loved how souls have color and with Asana's unique ability she can hear the music of the soul and ultimately heal through music and song was such an amazing concept. I love how she can hear the broken notes, the pain, and see the memories of those she healed and was able to rewrite their pain into something beautiful. I loved how each chapter began with a poem and even the prose throughout is lyrical and soft, which strengthens the cozy atmosphere while still handling heavier topics like grief, shame, and resentment with grace.
I absolutely LOVED the romance. Full warning: this book does NOT have spice (and that's okay! they don't have to hunch all the time) Asana and Sugishta have the sweetest slow-burn relationship built on respect, emotional honesty, and genuine care for each other (he literally makes her a necklace of him to help ground Asana when the noises of the world become too much to bear 😭😭). Their connection doesn't seem rushed or forced and grows naturally as they work together and work on their own struggles.
I also loved the character growth throughout the story, and it deeply resonated with me and my own grief and struggles. All the adults are dealing with trauma and complicated emotions. I felt each one have their own lil arc and their healing journeys feel so authentic. Even Lygi's. Asana and her parents have had their troubles but something as simple as hearing "I'm proud of you" from her father healed something in me too.
Overall, this was such a beautiful story about healing, grief/loss, self-discovery, and learning to see past initial prejudice and beyond the division that keep people apart. If you enjoy cozy fantasy with emotional depth, thought-provoking themes, and a slooooooowwww-burn romance that'll remind you of Spirited Away, this is THE ONE to add to your TBR 🎶 (Also Jasmine... I am STILL recovering from Evyen 😢🐦⬛)
What to expect:
🎼 music-based, magical healer FMC
🐉 she’s constantly surrounded by music, and the MMC’s soul sounds like silence
🪞 she’s trying to move forward through grief and trauma, but is too afraid to open up about it
🎼 a MMC who’s self-conscious about his body and struggles to accept who he is
🐉 they both carry the scars of racial prejudice and fight for peace
🪞 learning to trust again
🎼 found family and a focus on deep friendships
🐉 a slow burn romance that steeps like a cup of tea
🎼 a unique spin on elemental magic
🐉 an ancient, magical mirror with the power to shatter the world
🪞 poems at the start of every chapter
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC for this story in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. Thank you so much to the author for providing an ARC!
The Scales of Lost Harmony is a wonderfully fantastic take on real-world problems with a heartstring-pulling slow-burn romance. Asana is a character that is easy to relate to. Her desire to find her place in the world is a chilling aspiration that many of us seek these days. I loved watching her develop into a stronger person and felt that every person she opened up to offer another layer of emotional healing to myself. Music is a powerful tool for healing, and I thought it was absolutely brilliant to approach it from that angle as these characters navigate their own traumas.
The romance never comes across as awkward and is comfortably paced. It's always a breath of fresh air when I read a story with a male lead who respects the female lead's boundaries. Green Flag MCs for the win! I enjoyed how they each had their own struggles to overcome, but it wasn't an obstacle that was resolved quickly. It was a constant point of tension that helped push that "will they, won't they" in a way that was masterful. Most "will they, won't they" stories annoy me because there's too much pull, but this novel had just the right amount of tension.
The worldbuilding is easy to understand, and I thought it was great to see it draw parallels to the real world. The only elements that kept me from rating it a complete 5/5 were the clunkiness of earlier chapters that could be tightened for smoother readability and the amount of similes used to describe emotions. The former improved drastically as the story progressed. Although the similies were meaningful, it became too much at times and could be resolved with more sentence variation. But nonetheless, this was an absolutely beautiful story, and I think it’s something that everyone should read if they ever reach a point where they feel they don’t belong or don’t like who they are. After finishing The Scales of Lost Harmony, a greater appreciation for life is sure to rub off on the reader. I await the author’s next release with bated breath.
4.75 stars rounded to 5
The Scales of Lost Harmony is a wonderfully fantastic take on real-world problems with a heartstring-pulling slow-burn romance. Asana is a character that is easy to relate to. Her desire to find her place in the world is a chilling aspiration that many of us seek these days. I loved watching her develop into a stronger person and felt that every person she opened up to offer another layer of emotional healing to myself. Music is a powerful tool for healing, and I thought it was absolutely brilliant to approach it from that angle as these characters navigate their own traumas.
The romance never comes across as awkward and is comfortably paced. It's always a breath of fresh air when I read a story with a male lead who respects the female lead's boundaries. Green Flag MCs for the win! I enjoyed how they each had their own struggles to overcome, but it wasn't an obstacle that was resolved quickly. It was a constant point of tension that helped push that "will they, won't they" in a way that was masterful. Most "will they, won't they" stories annoy me because there's too much pull, but this novel had just the right amount of tension.
The worldbuilding is easy to understand, and I thought it was great to see it draw parallels to the real world. The only elements that kept me from rating it a complete 5/5 were the clunkiness of earlier chapters that could be tightened for smoother readability and the amount of similes used to describe emotions. The former improved drastically as the story progressed. Although the similies were meaningful, it became too much at times and could be resolved with more sentence variation. But nonetheless, this was an absolutely beautiful story, and I think it’s something that everyone should read if they ever reach a point where they feel they don’t belong or don’t like who they are. After finishing The Scales of Lost Harmony, a greater appreciation for life is sure to rub off on the reader. I await the author’s next release with bated breath.
4.75 stars rounded to 5
Review of advance copy received from Author
The world needs this book. I needed this book. What a beautiful, thoughtful exploration of what it is to exist in a world divided by prejudice and injustice and how people on all sides can begin to heal within themselves, mend the wounds made by others, and stop the cycle of violence and hate.
Beyond that, this is, of course, a love story--and such a soft, heartfelt one in which the two main characters are able to love and forgive themselves as they come to love each other. Their love is such a soothing balm in the midst of the scars left behind by a genocidal war.
So much sensitivity was put into every word. So much thought and care was put into every detail of the fantasy world, the supporting characters, and the plot. I loved all the little moments that connected back to previous things that had happened. The author has said she spent over a decade crafting this story, and it really shows.
This feels like a book that I've always wanted to see written even though I couldn't have described it to you. Just...having grown up in a place where there is so much prejudice, both the subtle kind and the overt kind, I've always felt kind of powerless to do anything that matters beyond my small circle of influence. How do you undo an entire system and way of thinking that has been in place for so long? How can there ever be a form of justice that doesn't result in more pain and hatred?
I don't have the answer to these things, and sometimes I feel like I should because I think about it so much, and I'm a writer, so it's my job to say something meaningful. But I loved this book, and this book is probably the closest thing that I've read to an answer. I'm in tears right now, so I'll leave you with this quote:
"You say people will only listen to power, but you forget that violence is not the only kind of power. There is power, too, in love. An unfathomable strength in bearing injustice and refusing to right it by creating another wrong."
Beyond that, this is, of course, a love story--and such a soft, heartfelt one in which the two main characters are able to love and forgive themselves as they come to love each other. Their love is such a soothing balm in the midst of the scars left behind by a genocidal war.
So much sensitivity was put into every word. So much thought and care was put into every detail of the fantasy world, the supporting characters, and the plot. I loved all the little moments that connected back to previous things that had happened. The author has said she spent over a decade crafting this story, and it really shows.
This feels like a book that I've always wanted to see written even though I couldn't have described it to you. Just...having grown up in a place where there is so much prejudice, both the subtle kind and the overt kind, I've always felt kind of powerless to do anything that matters beyond my small circle of influence. How do you undo an entire system and way of thinking that has been in place for so long? How can there ever be a form of justice that doesn't result in more pain and hatred?
I don't have the answer to these things, and sometimes I feel like I should because I think about it so much, and I'm a writer, so it's my job to say something meaningful. But I loved this book, and this book is probably the closest thing that I've read to an answer. I'm in tears right now, so I'll leave you with this quote:
"You say people will only listen to power, but you forget that violence is not the only kind of power. There is power, too, in love. An unfathomable strength in bearing injustice and refusing to right it by creating another wrong."
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for the chance to read this early!!
I love the concept of this story. I majored in music in college and loved the idea of music playing a focal point in the story. The little poems at the start of each paragraph were also nice touch!
If you enjoy inner monologue, very descriptive scenes, and how beautiful you can make sentences and paragraphs sound, this could be for you!
However...
I tried so so hard to get into this... unfortunately the writing style drove me insane. It's overly descriptive to the point of redundancy. Beautiful sentences have their place, but when they're over used they lose their beauty and just become annoying. For example: "Just when I was beginning to most deeply regret my choices, suddenly and altogether unexpectedly, the oppressive darkness of the towering trees receded, replaced by sunlight streaming down into a clearing overflowing with a rainbow of wildflowers." This happens constantly.
You're dropped into the middle of the story, which is generally fine as it automatically establishes tension. I struggled with it here in particular because there were flashbacks (ish) but the flashbacks didn't make sense. They occurred randomly and were jolting to the story line. I reread multiple paragraphs multiple times trying to place when the flashback was actually happening, who the people were, and what exactly was happening.
A main theme is racism and discrimination towards people who are different. As a reader, I want to experience this as the characters are experiencing it. I don't want to be "told" hey this race is being discriminatory to this other race and continually told with those words. Show me don't tell me. All this book seemed to do was "tell".
I love the concept of this story. I majored in music in college and loved the idea of music playing a focal point in the story. The little poems at the start of each paragraph were also nice touch!
If you enjoy inner monologue, very descriptive scenes, and how beautiful you can make sentences and paragraphs sound, this could be for you!
However...
I tried so so hard to get into this... unfortunately the writing style drove me insane. It's overly descriptive to the point of redundancy. Beautiful sentences have their place, but when they're over used they lose their beauty and just become annoying. For example: "Just when I was beginning to most deeply regret my choices, suddenly and altogether unexpectedly, the oppressive darkness of the towering trees receded, replaced by sunlight streaming down into a clearing overflowing with a rainbow of wildflowers." This happens constantly.
You're dropped into the middle of the story, which is generally fine as it automatically establishes tension. I struggled with it here in particular because there were flashbacks (ish) but the flashbacks didn't make sense. They occurred randomly and were jolting to the story line. I reread multiple paragraphs multiple times trying to place when the flashback was actually happening, who the people were, and what exactly was happening.
A main theme is racism and discrimination towards people who are different. As a reader, I want to experience this as the characters are experiencing it. I don't want to be "told" hey this race is being discriminatory to this other race and continually told with those words. Show me don't tell me. All this book seemed to do was "tell".
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to Jasmine Willis for providing an arc for The Scales of Lost Harmony!
Hello gorgeous cover, they just look so pretty ❤️
This story is definitely character driven with our FMC trying to find her place in the world on top of the immense guilt she feels about her involvement with the start of a devastating war known as “the shattering”. She wants to give back to those that were affected and becomes a healer in another country
Despite the shattering being the biggest event that occurred in this world we get bits and pieces of how it occurred. The reader drops into the story where the war has been over for months, so it’s sort of like tuning into a show mid season, we play catch up with the bits and pieces we get of the event while continuing our FMC’s journey
I feel that our FMC showcases her emotions and thoughts via questions for the reader to digest. As there is a lot of questions about life, pain, love, loss that I say she almost internal monologues about. (I did highlight a lot of “thought provoking” quotes that I quite liked lol)
Music and references to sounds is a heavy plot device for the story! 🎶
It’s rather descriptive when describing places, environments, culture, magic, and people which I felt was easy to get a picture of the setting
I do think the writing takes a bit to get used to after reading for a while as there were some bits in the story that I got confused and had to reread to get the context correct
The romance is definitely a slow burn between our two main characters and it’s sweet
Hello gorgeous cover, they just look so pretty ❤️
This story is definitely character driven with our FMC trying to find her place in the world on top of the immense guilt she feels about her involvement with the start of a devastating war known as “the shattering”. She wants to give back to those that were affected and becomes a healer in another country
Despite the shattering being the biggest event that occurred in this world we get bits and pieces of how it occurred. The reader drops into the story where the war has been over for months, so it’s sort of like tuning into a show mid season, we play catch up with the bits and pieces we get of the event while continuing our FMC’s journey
I feel that our FMC showcases her emotions and thoughts via questions for the reader to digest. As there is a lot of questions about life, pain, love, loss that I say she almost internal monologues about. (I did highlight a lot of “thought provoking” quotes that I quite liked lol)
Music and references to sounds is a heavy plot device for the story! 🎶
It’s rather descriptive when describing places, environments, culture, magic, and people which I felt was easy to get a picture of the setting
I do think the writing takes a bit to get used to after reading for a while as there were some bits in the story that I got confused and had to reread to get the context correct
The romance is definitely a slow burn between our two main characters and it’s sweet
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Scales of Lost Harmony by Jasmine Willis is a gut wrenching novel of tough decisions.
Oh my gosh. This book wrenched my heart, the inner dialogue of the FMC was so eye opening. It brought much perspective into my world, and it also made me think a lot of what could be. The answers to the many questions of r4cism, trusting the world, and seeing past each others differences. The world is split into two between the hynoles and the mochnas. All of the characters are faced with the prejudices of past grievances and having to find the power to be able to trust again. This story was beautiful.
🎼music-based, magical healer FMC
🪞FMC trying to move on from trauma
🎼a MMC who’s self-conscious
🐉fight for peace in a world full of h@tred and resentment
🪞learning to trust again
🎼found family
🐉a slow burn romance
If I had one thing to say the beginning seemed a bit disconnected with so much of the world facts coming in at once, but then it also made sense writing as well. The FMC having so much information bombarding her on all sides, she needs to make a decision, be in a place where she can see her situation from a different perspective. I loved the dedication of the FMC and her effort into making the world better. I love the beautiful MMC, the candid conversations, and the love between them. This was beautiful.
If you want your heart to be wrenched out and healed this is the book for you.
Thank you to Jasmine Willis for the free book.
Oh my gosh. This book wrenched my heart, the inner dialogue of the FMC was so eye opening. It brought much perspective into my world, and it also made me think a lot of what could be. The answers to the many questions of r4cism, trusting the world, and seeing past each others differences. The world is split into two between the hynoles and the mochnas. All of the characters are faced with the prejudices of past grievances and having to find the power to be able to trust again. This story was beautiful.
🎼music-based, magical healer FMC
🪞FMC trying to move on from trauma
🎼a MMC who’s self-conscious
🐉fight for peace in a world full of h@tred and resentment
🪞learning to trust again
🎼found family
🐉a slow burn romance
If I had one thing to say the beginning seemed a bit disconnected with so much of the world facts coming in at once, but then it also made sense writing as well. The FMC having so much information bombarding her on all sides, she needs to make a decision, be in a place where she can see her situation from a different perspective. I loved the dedication of the FMC and her effort into making the world better. I love the beautiful MMC, the candid conversations, and the love between them. This was beautiful.
If you want your heart to be wrenched out and healed this is the book for you.
Thank you to Jasmine Willis for the free book.
February 12, 2026
This was such a strong adult fantasy — and I mean truly adult. These are grown characters dealing with real trauma, real consequences, and complicated emotions. The story beautifully weaves themes of self-love, healing, self-awareness, and learning how to love others in a healthy way. Watching the character growth unfold felt authentic and earned.
The worldbuilding was immersive without being overwhelming, and the emotional depth really carried the story. There’s tension, inner conflict, and relationships that feel layered and mature.
Tropes you can expect:
• Healing journey
• Self-discovery
• Emotional scars / past trauma
• Slow-burn romance
• Found family
• High stakes
• Morally complex characters
• Light vs. darkness themes
Please check the content warnings before starting.
Overall, I really enjoyed this and would definitely recommend it to readers who love adult fantasy with emotional depth and meaningful character growth.
Thank you to the author for sharing this ARC!
The worldbuilding was immersive without being overwhelming, and the emotional depth really carried the story. There’s tension, inner conflict, and relationships that feel layered and mature.
Tropes you can expect:
• Healing journey
• Self-discovery
• Emotional scars / past trauma
• Slow-burn romance
• Found family
• High stakes
• Morally complex characters
• Light vs. darkness themes
Please check the content warnings before starting.
Overall, I really enjoyed this and would definitely recommend it to readers who love adult fantasy with emotional depth and meaningful character growth.
Thank you to the author for sharing this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I arc read The Scales of Lost Harmony for Jasmine Willis.
Definitely 4.25 stars. I loved how the storyline was written. I loved the characters. I loved everything about this book. The world-building was amazing! It was so creative and unique that I could feel myself in the book. I loved that the romance wasn't the center; it really was to the side.
I really loved Asana and her courage. She is everything that I want to be. The way Asana found her way and the way she found friends who became her family. All the other characters were very lovable, and I loved how they all contributed to the story.
This was a really great read with no spice and found family. I highly recommend you reading this book when it comes out.
Release Date: March 18. 2026
CONTENT WARNINGS:
PTSD, nightmares, flashbacks, and panic attacks
Grief and loss
Violence (weapons, arson, blood, and injuries)
On-page depiction of character death
Mention of stillborn children
Genocide and racial war
Racial prejudice and discrimination
Definitely 4.25 stars. I loved how the storyline was written. I loved the characters. I loved everything about this book. The world-building was amazing! It was so creative and unique that I could feel myself in the book. I loved that the romance wasn't the center; it really was to the side.
I really loved Asana and her courage. She is everything that I want to be. The way Asana found her way and the way she found friends who became her family. All the other characters were very lovable, and I loved how they all contributed to the story.
This was a really great read with no spice and found family. I highly recommend you reading this book when it comes out.
Release Date: March 18. 2026
CONTENT WARNINGS:
PTSD, nightmares, flashbacks, and panic attacks
Grief and loss
Violence (weapons, arson, blood, and injuries)
On-page depiction of character death
Mention of stillborn children
Genocide and racial war
Racial prejudice and discrimination
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Scales of Lost Harmony is one of the sweetest and most charming stories I have ever read! The worldbuilding was seamless and easy to understand. I loved that the FMC's magic allows her to heal through music. And the settings were beautifully described, creating a soft, cozy fantasy vibe. The emotional growth was lovely to experience with the main characters. They explore grief, shame, resentment and prejudice throughout the book, demonstrating a realistically gradual change. The other characters are also well-developed. I especially enjoyed seeing how Asana and her mother repaired their relationship. Sugishta and Asana have the sweetest love story with flirtation, emotional intimacy and healthy communication. All this is illustrated through lyrical prose and poetry. Definitely have your annotation tabs ready. I highly recommend for any reader who enjoys cozy fantasy, loves love and emotional depth.
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February 26, 2026I was really drawn to this because I loved the idea of magic based on the music your soul makes! That’s so wonderful and so different.
I loved that Asana strived to look past her prejudice and actively tried to unlearn what she knew. It was a great way to pull similarities from our world and put them in a book in a way that isn’t overly preachy, but still teaches. The love story was a really nice touch to show hope during times that are tough.
The imagery that Jasmine created was phenomenal. Reading the instrument descriptions for the character’s emotions was 10/10 for me.
It does have kind of a slow start, and it takes a bit to get into. Overall though, it was a nice book, but not really for me hence will I will be giving it a 2..5 heart rating.
Thank you again to the Author for the ARC
I loved that Asana strived to look past her prejudice and actively tried to unlearn what she knew. It was a great way to pull similarities from our world and put them in a book in a way that isn’t overly preachy, but still teaches. The love story was a really nice touch to show hope during times that are tough.
The imagery that Jasmine created was phenomenal. Reading the instrument descriptions for the character’s emotions was 10/10 for me.
It does have kind of a slow start, and it takes a bit to get into. Overall though, it was a nice book, but not really for me hence will I will be giving it a 2..5 heart rating.
Thank you again to the Author for the ARC
March 6, 2026
First, thank you to Jasmine for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The world-building in this story is fantastic. It’s immersive without being confusing or overwhelming, which made it really easy to sink into the story. The characters were also wonderfully written. They each carry trauma, emotions, and real consequences for their actions, which makes them feel authentic and layered.
This is a powerful story that touches on themes of racism and genocide, while also exploring self-love, healing, and romance. I especially appreciated how boundaries within the relationships were respected - something I always love to see represented.
Overall, this was an engaging and thoughtful read with meaningful themes and strong character development.
The world-building in this story is fantastic. It’s immersive without being confusing or overwhelming, which made it really easy to sink into the story. The characters were also wonderfully written. They each carry trauma, emotions, and real consequences for their actions, which makes them feel authentic and layered.
This is a powerful story that touches on themes of racism and genocide, while also exploring self-love, healing, and romance. I especially appreciated how boundaries within the relationships were respected - something I always love to see represented.
Overall, this was an engaging and thoughtful read with meaningful themes and strong character development.
March 15, 2026
Oh my god, y’all, I don’t know how to describe how much I love this book. Like, you know those books that make you sit back afterwards and just digest? It was sweet, it was heartbreaking, it was heartwarming and it was so so pure and full of goodness.
The FMC Asana is definition of “beautiful cinnamon roll, too good for this world, too precious”. And the girl went through hell. Growing up as a black girl in 1960s America and then getting thrown into a race war in another dimension? The woman cannot catch a break. And she really really deserves one.
And Sugi?? Probably my new favorite winged book man. And I LOVE my winged book men.
I will say, this book had a lot of stuff going on and I was kinda confused for the first chapter or so. It’s written with a lot of survivors guilt/ PTSD representation, so the MC flashes back a lot and I really thought I had accidentally skipped a prequel book or something. But it all comes together very neatly once you get a bit further in.
10/10 if you want a fantasy Grey’s Anatomy with cool powers, interesting species, and social commentary on racism, love, forgiveness and survivors guilt, then definitely read this.
*please note: I received a copy of this book as an ARC from the author. This is exactly the review I would have given regardless.*
The FMC Asana is definition of “beautiful cinnamon roll, too good for this world, too precious”. And the girl went through hell. Growing up as a black girl in 1960s America and then getting thrown into a race war in another dimension? The woman cannot catch a break. And she really really deserves one.
And Sugi?? Probably my new favorite winged book man. And I LOVE my winged book men.
I will say, this book had a lot of stuff going on and I was kinda confused for the first chapter or so. It’s written with a lot of survivors guilt/ PTSD representation, so the MC flashes back a lot and I really thought I had accidentally skipped a prequel book or something. But it all comes together very neatly once you get a bit further in.
10/10 if you want a fantasy Grey’s Anatomy with cool powers, interesting species, and social commentary on racism, love, forgiveness and survivors guilt, then definitely read this.
*please note: I received a copy of this book as an ARC from the author. This is exactly the review I would have given regardless.*
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a really good read. I truly enjoyed the way it was written and how the author depicted the racial disparity between to two races.
Asana's magic is super cool. I love how she can hear everyone's souls. I would have liked to see a bit more of this and how everyone sounds differently.
The ending gets wrapped up just a little too nicely?
But this was a great slow burn with no spice (only kissing and cuddles)
Asana's magic is super cool. I love how she can hear everyone's souls. I would have liked to see a bit more of this and how everyone sounds differently.
The ending gets wrapped up just a little too nicely?
But this was a great slow burn with no spice (only kissing and cuddles)
Review of advance copy received from Author
a master of a book where people are valued at what or how much they contribute to society. Asana is heartbroken because of her - The Shattering has occured and broken apart worlds. Through Asana, two gods fought to overtake the world. To "undo" her grievings Asana takes a trip to Nalyindi to offer her healing magic to those in need.
Review of advance copy received from Author
African inspired romance fantasy with a beautiful world and great elemental magic system connecting the colors and sounds of the soul. I enjoyed the writing, it was an easy, slow paced read, with family, love and so much positivity and passion infused in a heartbreaking story. Set between two wars created a disconnect with the characters, yet this was good read!
March 16, 2026
The Scales of Lost Harmony by Jasmine Willis was pretty good. It is a book packed full of representation and healing.
I think the concept was really cool. I loved the representation and the spotlight this book shone on racism, trauma, and autism. The characters were interesting and diverse, as was the world. The magic is probably the most unique system I have ever read. Lastly, we got to talk about the romance! This romance was pretty cute and definitely felt well-paced and natural.
However, where this book fell a little flat for me was the writing. I wanted to love it so much, but there was such a heavy focus on making every sentence feel profound or like poetry that it made the book feel a bit dense.
TL;DR: Even though this wasn’t my favorite, I can see how it could be well-loved and a favorite of someone’s. Plus, it has a great message!
I think the concept was really cool. I loved the representation and the spotlight this book shone on racism, trauma, and autism. The characters were interesting and diverse, as was the world. The magic is probably the most unique system I have ever read. Lastly, we got to talk about the romance! This romance was pretty cute and definitely felt well-paced and natural.
However, where this book fell a little flat for me was the writing. I wanted to love it so much, but there was such a heavy focus on making every sentence feel profound or like poetry that it made the book feel a bit dense.
TL;DR: Even though this wasn’t my favorite, I can see how it could be well-loved and a favorite of someone’s. Plus, it has a great message!
March 8, 2026
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
The Scales of Lost Harmony is a touching examination of what can happen when racism runs rampant…and the first steps that can be taken to begin healing. As a Black Hynole woman, Asana experiences racism growing up in the 1960s South and discrimination when she is transported to the fantastical land of Cahokia, giving her a perspective well-suited to empathizing with the mochna she’s sent to care for. Although the hardships she faces clearly wear on her, Asana doesn’t take it out on those around her. She takes time to unlearn her prejudices against mochna and helps them to do the same with Hynoles, fostering a safe environment in the hospital where she works. Of course, this isn’t a “one person can solve racism” story, so nothing ends quite as neatly as one might hope for in an ideal world, but that’s part of the beauty of it. Asana and her partner Sugishta work to make a kinder world than the one they came into. Weaving a fantasy version of music therapy to heal souls is a beautiful touch.
The Scales of Lost Harmony is a touching examination of what can happen when racism runs rampant…and the first steps that can be taken to begin healing. As a Black Hynole woman, Asana experiences racism growing up in the 1960s South and discrimination when she is transported to the fantastical land of Cahokia, giving her a perspective well-suited to empathizing with the mochna she’s sent to care for. Although the hardships she faces clearly wear on her, Asana doesn’t take it out on those around her. She takes time to unlearn her prejudices against mochna and helps them to do the same with Hynoles, fostering a safe environment in the hospital where she works. Of course, this isn’t a “one person can solve racism” story, so nothing ends quite as neatly as one might hope for in an ideal world, but that’s part of the beauty of it. Asana and her partner Sugishta work to make a kinder world than the one they came into. Weaving a fantasy version of music therapy to heal souls is a beautiful touch.
Review of advance copy received from Author
March 13, 2026This book took my breath away.
So much heartbreak but also joy and hope. So many real life themes were central to this story, namely racism, trauma, and redemption.
This book is perfect for those looking for a book with:
MC seeking redemption
Complicated relationship with parents
Powers the MC feels she has to keep secret
Found family
Kind and gentle MMC
Healing powers
Outsider theme
Mirrors as a major theme: literally and metaphorically.
**This ARC was given to me for free by the author and I am reviewing this book voluntarily
So much heartbreak but also joy and hope. So many real life themes were central to this story, namely racism, trauma, and redemption.
This book is perfect for those looking for a book with:
MC seeking redemption
Complicated relationship with parents
Powers the MC feels she has to keep secret
Found family
Kind and gentle MMC
Healing powers
Outsider theme
Mirrors as a major theme: literally and metaphorically.
**This ARC was given to me for free by the author and I am reviewing this book voluntarily
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