Rating: 3.75

A Mix of Action, Romance, and Fantasy

I read this book in one sitting, captivated by the author's blend of witty banter, engaging trials, and a unique twist on popular themes.

The world-building is intricate, though occasionally confusing. However, this didn't detract from my overall enjoyment. What sets this book apart is its accessibility, making it an excellent choice for those new to the romantasy genre. The writing is consistently strong, with just the right amount of spice to keep things interesting.

Overall, I found this book to be an enjoyable read, and I'm excited to see where the series goes from here.

If The Hunger Games and The Selection had a romantasy baby, this would absolutely be it! Full of secrets and memorable characters that I loved to love and hate, I can't wait to dive head-first into this series!

3.5 rounded to 4!

While I wouldn't say this was the most original book, I really enjoyed reading it. It gives ACOTAR, Throne of Glass, Hunger Games, The Bachelor, vibes but in a way that keeps it intriguing instead of stale. I loved Lor. Her character development is a beautiful mix of frustrating and relatable. The dual-POV was done very well—you knew just enough to piece things together and still be confused. I also really liked that Lor's chapters were in first-person and Nadir's were third person! Interesting choice, but I think it worked.

One of my major gripes was with the pacing. It was super slow and a number of scenes could have been sped up or cut without impacting the story in any way.

Either way, I'm excited to read the rest of the series!

The beginning felt a bit slow, but it was so worth it. I absolutely loved Lor’s development, and I am so exited to read the following books! The trials were actually interesting and I like how while clearly Lor would pass the trials (because if she didn’t there wouldn’t be a book) it didn’t feel like she had thick plot armor. It genuinely felt like she could be just as injured as the other characters or worse. I also appreciate how as the reader I could grasp the idea of her being “special” but I like how the big news was left to be discovered at the end, which made me want to read the next book instantly.

This book was absolutely incredible! Before diving in, I’d heard it described as The Hunger Games meets The Bachelor but with magic and fae. While that comparison is intriguing, it doesn’t even begin to capture the magic and depth of this story.

From the very first sentence, I was hooked. The world-building was immersive and vivid, drawing me into a realm of high-stakes trials, fae politics, and sharp-witted characters. Speaking of characters, Lor’s sass and resilience made her an instant favorite. Every trial she faced had me on the edge of my seat, stressing over the dangers she encountered and cheering her on as she persevered.

The dual POV added a fascinating layer to the story. Initially, I found myself wondering why we were following a character who didn’t cross paths with Lor, but as the pieces started falling into place, it became clear how cleverly the author had woven their perspectives together. The Easter eggs scattered throughout the narrative were a delight for a detail-oriented reader like me, and they added an extra layer of intrigue.

While I managed to guess the ending, it didn’t detract from the experience one bit. The journey to get there was so thrilling that I flew through the pages, eager to uncover every twist and turn.

I can’t wait to immediately dive into book two and see where this story takes me next!

This series is absolutely phenomenal and I cannot wait to continue it!!! everyone should read this book.

Book Review
Book Title by Author Name
⭐️⭐️

I really wanted to love this book, and I found the cover appealing—but unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my expectations.

While the first 45–50% of the book was, at the very least, enjoyable, things started to unravel after that. It felt like a mishmash of familiar elements from Throne of Glass, The Hunger Games, Divergent, and even Harry Potter (Goblet of Fire). These similarities weren’t subtle, and instead of feeling inspired, they came across as distracting.

Finishing the book was a struggle. I’ll admit I skimmed parts, and the more time I spent reflecting on it afterward, the more flaws I found. That’s never a great feeling. While I can see the effort the author put into building this story, there were just too many aspects that didn’t work for me.

I doubt I’ll continue with this series, but I can see why it might appeal to readers who don’t mind books that lean heavily on familiar tropes. Unfortunately, this one just wasn’t for me.

What an intriguing start to a series!
Lor grew up in prison, hiding a secret about why she was there. Then she is abducted by Fae rulers from another land to compete for the hand of the King as essentially a sacrifice. However, the king is more than a little interested in her. Meanwhile, a moody prince investigates why his father is obsessed with a prisoner who has suddenly gone missing.

I really loved the world-building here! We learn about the world at just the right pace and it keeps you locked in on the two different storylines. The characters are so tricky! Lor is an unreliable narrator, but in a really deft way that makes you mostly trust her anyway. While this book has a lot of romance novel elements, it does end on a cliffhanger that makes you question who is endgame with Lor and I loved it! I am really to keep guessing through the rest of the series!

A fast-paced, entertaining, and thrilling beginning to a story about an amazing heroine and her fight for freedom and justice.

The Bachelorette meets ACOTAR meets The Hunger Games in this first book of the fantasy series! Ten women, one deadly contest. One must win the Sun King’s heart! Lor has been imprisoned and tortured for 12 years, almost as long as she can remember. When she surprisingly ends up in the hands of the Sun King, Lor is thrown into the spotlight and a deadly competition. If she wins, she also wins her freedom. But she doesn’t belong in the competition, and if she loses, she loses her one chance at freedom.

This was a lot of fun and the ending left me running to download the second book asap. I found this world easy to understand, with an extremely lovable heroine you just have to root for! It also had some spice! It is the perfect beginner book for people wanting to get into romantasy & a fun series.

Lots of magic, an intense competition, a badass fmc, lots of secrets, friends & foes and a sun king who can’t get enough of Lor… a great first book of this series & I can’t wait for the rest!

A fun approach to fantasy. I look forward to reading the entire series! I enjoyed the characters! Tuli has a great start to a series here.

Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J. Tuli is an addictive read that had me hooked from start to finish. The world is vivid and full of danger, the romance is the perfect slow burn, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Tuli’s writing pulls you right into the action, and every twist kept me on edge. If you’re into fantasy with court intrigue, deadly challenges, and just the right amount of tension, this one’s a must-read. It’s perfect for fans of action-packed fantasy books!

3.75⭐️

Trial of the Sun Queen is a fun read that blends high-stakes competition with court intrigue, Fae politics, and a touch of slow-burn romance.

The story follows Lor, a twenty-something human who, after enduring half her life in a prison with her siblings, is suddenly thrust into the Sun Queen Trials. These deadly competitions pit ten women against one another in a fight to win the hand of the Sun King and Imperial Fae, Atlas. Lor is a feisty fighter with a sassy mouth and plenty of secrets of her own. The stakes are high—not only for Lor’s survival but also for the chance to uncover the mysteries of her past and secure a future for her siblings.

The plot is definitely action packed and engaging. The whole story is filled with high stakes gripping adventures. The trials are intense, filled with action, betrayal, and a few unexpected twists.

Although there is very little world building, it is not completely unexpected since the story is mostly told from Lor’s perspective and she has been imprisoned since she was a child.

Atlas, the Sun King, is a mix of charm, mystery, and possessiveness that kept me guessing…is he genuine or fake?!?

The writing style, though vivid and creative, does have its flaws. Some of the dialog was a little cringe, and the audiobook narrator’s delivery adds an unintentionally whiny tone to Lor’s voice, so I switched to reading just my ebook.

Despite its imperfections, the Trial of the Sun Queen is an entertaining if not slightly predictable read. It delivers the kind of fast-paced, romantic fantasy that’s easy to get lost in. The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger, but the kind that makes you want to immediately dive into book two and continue the journey.

Troupes:
✨Games and trials
✨Secret identity
✨Slow-burn

Overall, this book is a great start to what feels like a very promising series that I will definitely read.

I would like to thank Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for gifting me the ARC through NetGalley. Opinions are my own.

I was hooked after the first line of the book!! I devoured this book, read it almost one sitting! Romantasy books are typically my favorite genre to read at the moment, while this book wasn’t super romantic- yet, I know that is coming in the next books in the series. And I have my suspicions of who Lor’s love interest might be! This was my first novel by Nisha J. Tuli and I am definitely going to be exploring some her other books.

I loved Lor and her fiery personality! She was smart and witty, funny, resilient and doesn’t take no for an answer. She fought for her life everyday and tried to keep her siblings safe while in Nostraza prison, and then when she gets kidnapped to be the only human to fight in the trials to become queen, she fights for her life at each stage of the trials, and she does it will out giving up. Atlas…ugh. I wanted to like him..I really did, but as the book went on… he gave me the ick. And by the end of the book, I was mad at him. Still mad at him… and dont think I’ll ever be happy with him. He gave me King Midas vibes from the Plated Prisoner Series.

But the plot, it was really intriguing! Ten females are picked from the finest, richest and most well know Fae families to compete in 4 different challenges over the course of 8 weeks, and theres one human who joins the trials- all hoping to become the new Sun Queen. The plot twist at the end of the book, the trials and then Atlas… It was everything you weren’t expecting… yet expecting all at the same time, if that makes sense. But I was definitely ready for something bad to happen!

I know there is so much more to unfold about Lor and her past, the different Fae courts and definitely the side characters. Im looking forward to her story! I can’t wait to read the next book!

If you enjoy The Plated Prisoner, hunger games, fae fantasy and bachelor type vibes.. you’ll love this book!

The overall story of the book was so good! The main character, Lor, was a woman that fought like hell to get what she deserved and I loved that. She never backed down and fought through fear. She made a really lovely main character. I loved how it ended and left so much to question. It is giving maybe the villain is the good guy, that brings a whole other level to the story. I feel as though this will be a really good foundation to build the next books off of.

This setting was described in a tangible way that I really enjoyed. I felt what it was like to be in the Hollow when Lor was in there. As she found her way around the Sun King’s kingdom the description of everything was wonderfully done. My only complaint is that there was times that I has to go back and look to see if I missed something because of plot holes. It felt like a page was ripped out sometimes while I read along. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this kick off to this series.

Trial of the Sun Queen (Artefacts of Ouranos #1) by Nisha J. Tuli
Ten women. A deadly contest. Only one can win the Sun King's heart.
Rating: ****
Feels: Excited, Nervous, Swooning, Determined
Style: Fantasy, Romantasy, Fae, Magic, High Fantasy
First published September 12, 2023

So let me start by saying I really enjoyed this book and couldn't wait to get back to reading it every time I had to put it down. It definitely has "the Selection" crossed with "Hunger games" vibes thrown in with Fae and I am here for it !!! Our FMC pulls on your heart strings with the life she has lead and then is thrown into the court of the Sun King to compete for the honor of being the Sun Queen. Why was she chosen? What forces are working against her? How will she rise? You will have to read to find out !!!

Favorite quote: Pain is a language I know. A script I've written a thousand times.

This book has:
Strong FMC (Stabby)
Morally Gray MMC
Touch her and you die
Fated mates
Enemies to Lovers
Who did this to you
Hidden Identify
Deadly competition
Magic

Such a fun and exciting fantasy book! I had seen so much hype and it definitely lived up to my expectations. Good writing, thrilling, and kept my attention throughout. Definitely will be reading the rest of the series!

This was such an addictive read! I couldn't put it down and it was both entertaining and gut wrenching at the same time. Picking up the next one immediately!

“When he bonded to his queen, he would settle for nothing less than someone who set his blood on fire.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

Thank you forever for the gifted copy!!

Okay I have some mixed feelings about this one! It was enjoyable and gripping, yet extremely predictable. I did thoroughly enjoy most aspects of this book though 🤭 I’m obsessed with any book with high stakes trials so this was def the book for me!

The world is intriguing and I really look forward to seeing more of it! Our fmc has been inside a prison most of her life so our knowledge of this world is extremely limited, but I think it makes sense here. We learn about the courts and see some of the magic system along with her.

Lor has been a prisoner since she was a child which has led to her being built to survive. She’s impulsive and easy to anger, yet incredibly caring to her few loved ones. Everything she does is to save them 😭 I think she is such a wonderful fmc!

“Tears are only useful when they’re brandished as a weapon.”

The plot/romance was incredibly predictable, yes, but I still had a really fun time! There’s high stakes trials (my fav) and political intrigue which had me on the edge of my seat. I think the predictability could’ve been avoided by holding off on the second pov we get bc it’s just a flashing neon sign for the plot twist.

4.5 stars!! OH MY GOSH. I LOVED THIS. Seriously so good. This is like a mix of The Selection/Red Queen and The Prison Healer! ✨👏🏼 If you like those series, you HAVE to read this one.

10 women enter a deadly contest to see who can be the next Sun Queen. The story follows Lor as she competes in the trials, but mysteries unravel as we learn why she isn’t meant to be there and what’s really going on.

I will say that there was a bit too much foreshadowing, so it was easy to see where the story was going and what information would be revealed. I wish it was a little less telling, and that there’d be more of a shock factor as well as world-building—which is why I couldn’t rate it 5 stars.

Besides that, I just really enjoyed it overall!! Thank you to NetGalley, @ReadForeverPub, and Nisha J. Tuli for the e-copy they sent!

🌶️🌶️(.5) Only a couple of more detailed scenes: 1 kissing, 1 spicy one (21), and 1 walking in on a couple (29)
🫢 multiple F words throughout


--

Will post to IG @cocos.book.nook next week!

Unfortunately, I had to DNF. I can’t handle another “I have to take care of everything and I’m edgy not like other girls” FMC. There was also already sexual content within the first chapter and I just was not prepared for that.