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.

I am so glad I finally got to read this book after it came highly recommended to me. It didn't take long for this story to grip me. I can't wait to read more.

5/5 stars!
I’m obsessed with this book.
It’s everything I expected and more!
Tropes: Royalty, deadly content, revenge, fae, Adult romance, Romantasy.
The plot was intriguing and kept me engaged throughout the whole book. The characters were well-developed and had depth, so it was easy to fall in love with them. I highly recommend it. Can’t wait to read the next one!

This is such a well written story. When I first read the synopsis I wasn't sure but after reading only just a page I knew this was going to be a hit. A great add for libraries with a romantasy readership.

World is a little confusing, but this had a lot of elements that I enjoy. Totally consumable in one sitting!

"There are moments when we're surrounded by the decadence of Aphelion when it's easy to forget why we're really here.... I need to remember they brought me here against my will to die in a contest I never entered."

Lor has spent half her life locked in the Aurora King's prison, when she is unexpectedly stolen away to the rival Sun King's palace instead, where she is tossed into a deadly competition with nine other women to win the Sun King's favor and become his Queen. If Lor can win, she will gain her freedom and the power to take her revenge upon the Aurora King. This is the first in a slow-burn, enemies to lovers, spicy romantasy quartet (The Artefacts of Ouranos series). 

We open with the iconic first line: "That bitch took my soap." and then we are off to the races. This is the second series I've read by Nisha J Tuli, and I just love her writing style. She blends beautiful description and emotion with raw, blunt, foul-mouthed and saucy language in a way that feels utterly captivating and real. There are so many books out there with good ideas and characters but uninspired writing, but this is not one of them. Her writing is a joy to read. She also makes an interesting choice here - the book is Dual POV, but only Lor is in first person. Oh, and lest you think the Sun King is the second POV, he's not. It's the Aurora Prince. Quel intrigue... 

I really enjoyed Lor as a FMC. She's wildly out of her depth, and she makes her fair share of stumbles attempting to land on her feet in high Fae society, but she makes smart choices and learns and evolves as she faces challenges. She's not a pushover, she gets righteously angry whenever it is called for, and even after being hardened by a life in prison she retains a moral compass and the fortitude to do the right thing. Plus, she's funny as heck. We don't see too much of Nadir, the MMC, but there's enough there to be intriguing. He tries to come across as a heartless badass, and we see more than a few flashes of a morally grey center, but he has a suspicious soft spot for his dogs. And he and Lor might not know it yet, but they share a burning hatred of his father the Aurora King. 

I really really recommend this book (and everything I've read by this author thus far). It is an engaging read and a fully rounded story in and of itself, but it also serves to set up what I expect will be a very good series. And, just to really round things off, we also have two of my favorite microtropes: luxurious bathrooms and grand libraries. 

Star Rating: 5/5 -- Spice Rating: 2/5

Tropes:
- Enemies to lovers
- The slow burn before the spice
- But still a little spice
- Stabby FMC
- Fae
- Bride competition
- Female rage
- Deadly trials
- Shadow Daddy-adjacent MMC
- Court intrigue 

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

My Thoughts:
Y’all this book was so good I finished it in one day! I mean I was hooked. I honestly love the FMC! It was so nice being able to read how she has overcome so much. (Although she was a bit naive at times) I couldn’t stand Atlas from the beginning. He was giving major Tamlin vibes. But Nadir 👀 & Gabriel 👏 I’m already super excited to start book 2. I’m literally so giddy about this. Why aren’t people talking about this series?!
Also the covers for this entire series are so pretty! 😍
I feel like it was written so well and had the perfect pace for the plot.
Comparisons:
This is like if TOG, The Selection, ACOTAR, and Blood and Ash all had a baby.

Lor reminds me so much of Celaena from TOG.

Cons:
If you’re a fantasy lover, it’s a little predictable? But in the best way!

This fast-paced fantasy definitely delivers on excitement! With vibes similar to The Hunger Games and The Bachelor, it’s an easy and entertaining read that keeps you hooked from start to finish. I almost rated it 3.5 stars, but the narrative, action, and high-stakes competition pushed it up to a solid 4 stars for me. Lor’s journey through the deadly trials to win her freedom is full of intense moments, and the enemies-to-lovers dynamic adds to the drama. If you’re into fantasy action with fae magic and a fierce competition, I’d highly recommend giving this one a try!

Bachelor meets Throne of Glass meets Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in this awesome romantasy. Was Trial of the Sun Queen extremely original? No. Did I love it anyway? Absolutely!

We follow Lor, a prisoner in the Aurora kingdom. She gets kidnapped and forced to compete in the Sun Queen Trials to win the hand in marriage to the Sun King - the Aurora kingdoms enemy.

Tropes:
* Deadly Trials
* Faes
* Secret Identities
* Dual POV
* Arranged Marriage

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and am excited in the way this set up future books!

5 stars

I am so proud of Nisha J. Tuli for all her great success with this series! I can't wait to binge read this series again and have the time of my life. The premise of this Artefacts of Ouranos series is so chaotic and intense! I'm excited to see how each book improves on the last.

The chemistry and the romance is unparalleled! Fake dating? Enemies? Royalty? The height of romantasy truly! I love seeing an author of colour succeed and create a fantastical world that so extremely fun! Cannot wait to read book 3 and 4!

Thank you so much Forever Publishing for the opportunity to read and review!

"That bitch took my soap." ~ Lor

First Read - 4.5⭐
Second Read - 4⭐

Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an e-ARC.

Trial of the Sun Queen is the first installment in the Artefacts of Ouranos Series by Nisha J. Tuli which is perfect for fans of ACOTAR, The Selection and Hunger Games.

The first book in the series has to always have an impact. And sure does the first line too. To say the first line hooked me from the beginning is an understatement.

I enjoyed this read. I will admit, this is a reread of my favourite series before the release of the final installment and I could pick up the hidden easter eggs that were revealed in the third book.

There's a lot of tension and secrets everywhere. We don't know what or who Lor is and neither does she (or we think).

This book serves a perfect introduction to the series with the brilliantly crafted world and characters whom we will slowly explore their journey.

I enjoyed Nadir's pov a lot the second time around. It was interesting to take a break from Lor's side of the story and see the MMC's side.

There are several important themes explored in this book. We see Lor go from a prisoner to resilient and strong human who is finally putting her priorities first. I think this was something that was magnificent in showing.

Overall, this is a fantastic beginning to the series with a promising future to the books! Can't wait for the next book!

I saw someone say this was The Selection but spicy and dark and it was all I needed to be sold!!! I loved this one. Ten girls competing for the kings eye/heart... but make it life threatening like The Hunger Games. It has fae, magic, incredible world building, morally grey characters, and my absolute favorite: enemies to lovers (bonus slow burn).

This was a great start to a fantasy series! I loved the intrigue, danger, and fierce competition. I love fierce female main characters. Tuli’s world-building is rich and immersive, with layers of political intrigue, mythical elements, and a plot full of twists. It was a high-stakes and fast-paced adventure that kept me hooked!