I couldn't put this down. I am thrilled for Nisha to be hitting bookstores. She is a hidden gem. I've read just about everything she has released thus far and I have not been disappointed.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. Wow! I loved this fantasy book. The story was different than other fantasies I have read and I was immediately drawn in. I love the complexities of the characters and the twists throughout the stories. Looking forward to the next book in the 4 part series.

This was an action packed book! If you love a fully developed fantasy world this is the book for you. I really enjoyed how each character has thier own journey that helps make them feel real.

The writing was good. I enjoyed the characters and setting but the plotline felt like many other popular series (ACOTAR, TOG and more)

This book was amazing! The mystery aspect was super engaging throughout the book. It’s in first person so we were really able to see the amazement through Lor’s eyes. The plot twist was great however it was somewhat easy to guess. The foreshadowing is a bit out on the open in my opinion, but it is still an amazing book! I love Lor’s character! She is incredibly determined, and so caring! Nadir is interesting for sure… 👀 I can’t wait to see where this series goes!

the bachelor but make it with a twisty and murderous... ok, I'm in. Totally interesting and captivating and kept me intrigued.

Very excited to have been given a chance to review this. All of Nisha Tuli's work is phenomenal. I actually read the Heart of Night and Fire first, then this series. Still amazes me how intricate and beautiful the worlds that she creates. This story is exactly that as well.

Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J. Tuli brings a lot of themes you like in Fantasy, Dystopian worlds, and high stakes dating into a beautifully crafted world, plot and cast of characters.

Nisha did an amazing job of building the world at a great pace so you didn't feel overwhelmed with details or you had a character outlet to help express some potential stress you might have about missing information, letting us live through her getting angry we don't have all the answers yet. The cast of characters is also absolutely charming and raw I didn't feel like we tried to sugarcoat some of the things the FML has to deal with and she is strong, but not made of stone.

This book and series I think will be great for readers who liked Hunger Games, Divergent, and The Selection but are also willing to go into a much more fantasy world.

I'm devastated that I can't experience this book for the first time again. And HIGHLY encourage you to pick it up.

THIS! THIS RIGHT HERE IS HOW YOU WRITE A BOOK! Are you kidding me ? I’m so sorry if this isn’t the proper way to do a review , but this blew me away. From the beginning, this book gave us something to cling on to . A strong female lead with the drive to survive . Multiple characters with their own depth. There were so many twists and turns . It kept me on the edge of my seat. I’m literally sitting up and looking for the next book. The pacing was well thought out. The author gave us details ; down to the flecks of gold and blue from the iris’ of the characters. This is a book that you don’t want to go without reading . Call me exaggerating but I can’t describe this book any other way.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

TLDR: yes, read it. Cool story that will leave you wanting to read the next to get some answers!
•Deadly trials •BIPOC main characters •Fae Courts/Politics •Strong FMC • Hunger games meets the Bachelor •First Person dual POV

I thought this was a fun first book to a new series. The world building was really cool and easy and the plot has a good pace. Her writing didn’t feel like it was information heavy, while still giving us a good glimpse at this new world. I thought the writer’s ideas were creative for the fae courts and magic and not the common seasons and time courts. Also, writing dual POVs for characters who don’t know each other yet was another unique aspect I really enjoyed. Creatively giving us more background story using an outside view. Lor is a smart and resilient FMC. And. Ok. That opening line. Haha so funny but also sets a tone of Lor’s life in prison. Book 2 Rule of the Aurora King is on my October TBR!!

Anytime a fantasy book hooks me from page one I get extremely giddy and find it hard to do anything else but read. This book did just that. Fantasy can be so hard sometimes to really grab and hook you from the start due to the world building, history, magic system explanations etc. but this book did a fantastic job of slowly introducing the complicated stuff while also keeping the plot racing forward. I found myself looking at the percentage I had left of the book not wanting to get close to the end as I was so enthralled with it! There was a lull in the trials for me where I did start to back off on interest, any book with trials I struggle to keep my attention but I will say that the "lull" did not last long. The ending had me immediately downloading book two which I am now 20% in and it has be hooked more than the first book. I am heavily romance driven and book two has more of the romantic tension. This book of course had a romance aspect in it but it was not the main focal point and the relationship was definitely one I was not rooting for in the least bit. I will say that I could have had more of a build up with her relationship with the Warder, her training and such was skimmed over and I could have used more detail, I found them similar to Celeana and Chaol in TOG which I enjoyed their dynamic a ton so I was hoping for her and Gabriel to be similar.

As far as character development Lor is easily going to become one of my favorite FMCs, I can tell. Her attitude isn't too much and just enough. She is tough, head strong and I enjoy reading from her POV. I am excited to see her character develop throughout the series. Nadir's character is one of the biggest reasons I could not put the book down. I was ready to see his place in the series as him and our FMC don't even meet until the end, however I found myself wanting to gobble down the whole book just to get to the part where him and Lor meet. I can't wait to learn more about him!

Overall I give the book four stars and would absolutely recommend to any fantasy lover. Best way to describe this I would say is The Bachelor meets Throne of Glass.

“Every second. Every minute I’m focused on the day I finally get free. I live it in my dreams and see it when I’m awake. I feel it in the shivering marrow of my bones. One day, I’ll get out of here and pay back the Aurora King for everything he’s taken. For everything he’s done.”

This. Book. I devoured Trial of the Sun Queen in less than forty-eight hours. This is perfect for fans of The Selection, Throne of Glass, and Fourth Wing. It was as if Nisha J. Tuli took the elements of all three of those romantasies, put them in a blender, added an extra dash of salt on the rim (for the hilarious sass of Lor, the heroine), and crafted the perfect cocktail of a book. If you need to find me, I will be reading Rule of the Aurora King!

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ( 5 Stars)

Maturity Rating: 
Mature

Trigger Warning: 
Imprisonment, Mentions of Trauma, Assault/Rape (off-page)


A huge thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review! So far The Artifacts of Ouranos has three books. The sequel to Trial of the Sun Queen, Rule of the Aurora King, is out now! The third book, The Fate of the Sun King is expected to be published in summer of 2024.

Great for anyone who enjoyed the Selection series but wanted a little more spice. Interested to see how the second book expands on the world building! I think the story has a lot of potential, and would like to know how Lor fares without walls confining her.

I really wanted to like this series but I couldn’t get past all the sexual assault informing and hanging over everything. There’s a content warning at the beginning that makes it sound like there’s a brief mention of a past experience, but it’s actually described as early as the first few pages and a constant threat throughout. I actually tried the second book to see if it’s better, but Lor’s love interest repeatedly wants a medal for not raping her? He also calls her “inmate” the whole book? This one left a sour feeling in my stomach, but if you’re not bothered by the pervasive threat of SA, the magic and concept of the story are pretty cool.

"Trial of the Sun Queen" by Nisha J. Tuli is an enthralling and action-packed start to the "Artefacts of Ouranos" series. This novel effortlessly combines elements of romance, fantasy, and competition, resulting in a thrilling and captivating story.

The tale introduces readers to Lor, a strong-willed and resilient character who has endured twelve years of suffering under the oppressive rule of the Aurora King. Her desire for freedom and revenge sets the stage for a high-stakes competition when she unexpectedly finds herself competing in the Sun Queen Trials.

The Sun Queen Trials, a contest involving ten women vying for the affections of the Sun King, serve as the central focus of the story. Lor's participation in this perilous competition, despite not being a citizen of the Sun King's court, adds an intriguing layer of tension and complexity to the plot.

The dynamics between the Tributes, each with their unique backgrounds and motivations, create a sense of rivalry and suspense that keeps the reader engaged. As the competition unfolds, alliances are formed, secrets are revealed, and betrayals occur, all while the looming threat of death or return to the Aurora King's clutches hangs over the Tributes.

Nisha J. Tuli's writing is immersive and vivid, bringing the world of Ouranos to life with its detailed descriptions and imaginative settings. The author excels at portraying the emotional turmoil of the characters, especially Lor, who undergoes significant growth and transformation throughout the story.

The concept of the Sun Queen Trials is a captivating one, and Tuli explores themes of power, survival, and resilience in a world filled with political intrigue and danger. The plot is well-paced, with plenty of twists and surprises to keep readers on the edge of their seats.

"Trial of the Sun Queen" is a thrilling and compelling read that will appeal to fans of fantasy and romance. It sets the stage for an epic series, promising further adventures, challenges, and revelations in the world of Ouranos. Lor's journey is just beginning, and readers will undoubtedly be eager to follow her as the series continues to unfold.

In a deadly competition to win the Sun King's Heart, how will Lor, a former lifetime inmate of the Aurora Kings high security prison, survive?

People looking for their next Fae romance, look no further than Trial of the Sun Queen. This book had me hooked from start to finish. I loved the main character and that she was not too overpowered; This is often an issue for me in fantasy books. I liked that she really had to work for her status and life in the games. The plot lines that are developing outside of the romance are also very interesting. The world is becoming well developed and I can't wait to see where it goes in the next book. Readers who liked the Hunger Games and The Selection would love this book as it has elements of both dystopian novels except set in a fantasy fae world. Overall, this book was a fun fantasy romance read, and I can't wait to continue the series!

3.75 stars
Trial of the Sun Queen was pretty good for a quick fantasy read! I felt like there was a lot of unique elements and the cliffhanger makes me want to read the sequel.
The reason it’s not rated higher is because a lot of the plot and characters are similar to other fantasy books. Because it’s so similar it made the plot very predictable and I guessed the plot twist from the very beginning. It also didn’t give enough information for the world building, but I still really enjoyed it and I’m excited to see where the rest of the series takes us.

If you love Hunger Games, The Bachelor and a fiery female main character this series is for you.

The female main character, Lor, has been locked in prison with her siblings for 12 years. One day she is rescued from the pit(a punishment she was forced to endure) and taken to a different kingdom to compete to win the hand of the King.
However nothing is as it seems, and Lor must make a choice and decide what, and who, she truly wants.

I devoured this book in one sitting and immediately raced to read the second.

5/5 ✨ 1.5/5 🌶️

WOW! I absolutely loved this!!! It was perfectly fast paced and I seriously couldn't put it down!
I immediately picked up book 2 and am already half way through LOL.
I love Lor as a main character, she is perfectly feisty and strong while also caring so much for her siblings. I can't wait to see where things go in book 2 and how the world will expand!

Thank you NetGalley and Forever for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

(4.5 stars) Even though I had added Trial of the Sun Queen to my TBR recently and was very excited to receive an ARC, I still wasn’t exactly sure what to expect; however, this book was SO exciting! There was action, violence, interesting character dynamics, kingdom/fae court politics, and of course, spice. It was reminiscent of a big mix of series including The Selection, ACOTAR, Hunger Games, and the Triwizard Tournament in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, while still having its own unique flair. The competition/games/trials trope is one of my all-time favorites, and I believe that Nisha Tuli did a fantastic job of executing that in her book. I personally cannot wait to read book two, Rule of the Aurora King!

If you’re an adult who absolutely loved The Hunger Games and The Selection series in your teen years, this explosive first book in Tuli’s adult fantasy romance series will have you obsessed and binging the book as fast as possible!