Throne of Glass meets Hunger Games in Trials of the Sun Queen. Ten women in a deadly contest for the Sun King. Lor has been in prison for most of her life, but a surprise release enters her into a competition for the Sun Queen Trials to become the next Sun Queen, and to win means freedom and power for her and her friends, but how far will this contest take her? I was in for this advenure, but at the same time, there wasn’t a lot that felt unique. I loved the stakes of the competition and the challenges, but it felt very similar to a SJM book with a lot of Hunger Games stakes. I feel like the romance never fully took off, although I do have hopes for it as the series goes on. It’s dark with interesting world building, and I liked Lor and her determination. She was resilient and brave, and I am really interested to see how the series unfolds. I think I was just kind of underwhelmed as whole. It does seem like there’s a lot of ways this story can grow, so I’m curious how the rest of Lor’s journey.

I loved it! Mainly because I love ToG and that's exactly what this is. I was really played by Atlas like a goddamn piano. Nadir instantly felt like Rhys so I knew that was the real love interest. I love Lor and her loyalty to her siblings. absolutely badass.

Hunger Games, meets Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, meets The Bachelor...

I could not get enough of this book. Could. Not.
I read this in 2 days because I was just so drowned in the story that I needed to consume it and when I came up for air with that cliffhanger... Damn.

There were so many times where I highlighted the "oh, there it is, there's the giveaway for all of it" moments. I love those subtle yet obvious clues, because they get me excited, engaged and eager to reach the next chapter. I internally screamed "I KNEW IT!" often.

I can't wait to read the second book! I loved Atlas so much but I'm not gonna lie, the entire time all I was thinking was, "he's perfect... But I need him to be darker...". I may have giggled towards the end.

Books like this always get an easy 5 star for me. If I can finish 300ish pages in 2 days, it's a no brainer. I couldn't put it down for even a second.

If you read enough books following the same tropes, you will start seeing very similar plots, stereotypes, and predictability. But this book was definitely it's own unique story.

Interesting!
To be honest I struggle with all fantasy book especially with first in series. I’d definitely be interested in reading the second book.

Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J. Tuli Book Review

This book is a mix of Hunger Games meets The Bachelor with Fae and ACOTAR vibes. Its seriously *chefs kiss*
Star rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️
Genre: Fantasy/Romance
Series: Artefacts of Ouranos - Book #1
POV: dual POV -1st person (Lor) and 3rd person (Nadir)
Tropes: Bride trials, enemies to lovers rags to riches, secret identity, slow burn

Thoughts:
I really like the FMC, she's resilient, confident and strong. She felt different compared to the other FMCs in all the other books I have read. This was a fast paced fantasy romance that had me on the edge of my seat. I loved reading this book and I read it in two days. I loved the characters, the world building, the trials, the mystery, ALL THE SECRETS. Seriously so happy I was accepted to read the ARC.
The Trials had me so engaged and they were so much more interesting than I thought they would be.
I really loved that the love interest was not clear right away. I had multiple theories on who it would be, and honestly, I am still not 100% sure.

The book ends with a bit of mystery and I cannot wait to continue the series.

Thank you to the author and Forever Publishing for gifting me a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own. *ARC provided to me via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review*

This was so much fun! I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but the action was strong and I enjoyed the slow development of the relationships, including the romance. Can't wait to read the rest in this series.

This book is so good! I really enjoyed reading this book, and it had a great twist at the end! I am ready to read the second book, and I cannot wait until the whole series is out!

An interesting take on a common romantasy trope. I love the mix of classic fae with the magic systems.
Lor can sometimes be a little too much of a jaded heroine. The plot twists were fantastic though a little expected given the type of story. Looking forward to finding out what happens next.

What happens when one of your book besties won't stop whining about not having someone to talk to about a book and you give in and read said book?

Two days spent sending more and more unhinged, sassy comments to said book bestie, and cackling over all the glittery, gleaming, luminous golden descriptives Nisha Tuli used throughout the book. I was promised a book that blended The Selection and The Hunger Games, and for the most part I got something that fulfilled my expectations.

Lor was a delightfully sarcastic, take no crap FMC, who still managed to maintain some sense of naivety and innocence even with everything she's been through. And I absolutely loved being just as confused as Lor was when she first woke in Aphelion. One of my coworkers asked me what was going on and all I could say was 'I don't know yet!'.

Is Trial of the Sun Queen groundbreaking in it's writing or premise? No. In fact, there are some times where the it felt like parts of the story were missing, or Lor, who's POV we mostly follow, just didn't feel like certain things were important so she glosses over them.

That being said, I highly enjoyed reading Sun Queen, and as of writing this I am 50% of the way through Rule of the Aurora King. And I'm excited to continue on to book 3 and 4 of the series. Sun Queen is definitely a fun read for fans of The Selection who want a little more spice with their competition to marry an eligible bachelor.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the eARC!

And thank you Nisha for my current favorite description of a character - Unrelenting Luminosity!

I LOVED this book! It's an ACOTAR x The Bachelor x a spicy Hunger Games mash up! I really enjoy Nisha J. Tuli's writing. She creates rich fantasy worlds without overcomplicating them. Lor is a strong female character who has fought for survival everyday for the last twelve years, not just for herself but the ones she loves.

This is a great start to a fantasy series and I couldn't put down!

ohKAAAAY. I was unsure on this series but really really enjoyed it. While the premise was somewhat familiar, it was such a fun read, had some truly lovable (and loathe-able) characters, and I will definitely be checking out the rest of the series.

This whole book definitely gave what it offered with the Bachelor meets Hunger Games vibes and I absolutely loved that aspect! Any book that has a competition for anything - truly don’t care what it is - count me in. I loved that while Lore was learning all of the dynamics of the world, the reader was right there with her. I think what made this more fun to read was that Lore was learning that her anger, while appropriately placed, will get her no where outside of the prison. And seeing her growth through this was really something lovely.

As a fantasy/romantasy reader, I think I’ve ruined myself because I never trust any of the characters and this almost guarantees a surprise be ruined…because nothing is surprising that way.

There were a couple things that read odd to me. The first was the shift from first to third person between each of point of views. The second was some of the pacing was slower than the rest of the book, but once it picked up there were short scenes where the pacing was odd - not slow, or fast - just odd comparatively.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it. Especially if you want a read where the cliffhanger leaves you with questions but not a book hangover.

After all the hype I've seen for this book, I had to give it a try and I'm glad I did!

While Lor was a difficult pill to swallow, I couldn't get enough of her story. Hunger Games meets the Bachelor? Kinda. There was definitely a King whose hand had to be earned through deadly trials. But was he really worth it?

From the age of twelve, all Lor knew was the isolation, degradation and abuse she suffered in the prison of The Aurora—a kingdom full of secrets and shadows. Every day, she did all she could to protect herself and her family. But her smart mouth and poor impulse control led her to being punished. When she's kidnapped and brought to the Sun Kingdom, full of luxury, fresh air and sunshine, she can't decide if it's a boon or a curse.

I'm not the only one who pretty much guessed everything early on, right? Atlas grossed me out, but I guess if I was desperate for kindness, maybe I'd be into all of that. I only wish I felt some sort of sympathy for Lor.

While I didn't really like Lor, I was entertained by everything that happened in this story (aside from her silly decisions). I did want the world building to be more fleshed out. Actually, I expected it, but alas, these details were nowhere to be found. I hope to learn more about the different kingdoms, the different types of fae, and the different kinds of magic in the books to come.

I've been reading so many of these "contest" type novels lately that sometimes it feels hard to keep them straight. but Nisha Tuli's Trial of the Sun Queen was very unique with it's characters and their motives and I rather liked the dynamic storyline.

Magic, action, fae court politics, romance, morally grey characters, spice, violence...this book has it all! Feels very much like ACOTAR/TOG vibes. Easy to read, the writing flowed very well. I will be diving right into the next book in this series! Nisha Tuli has quickly become one of those authors I will line up to buy any of her books!
I really love the MFC, Lor. Her character was well developed and I appreciated her growth throughout the book.
The plot was very predictable, without too many twists and turns. Hopefully there's a few surprises in store for us in the next one, since I have so many questions!

This book was great! I really enjoyed reading it. The story follows the main protagonist, Lor, who has spent twelve years as a prisoner under the tyrannical rule of the Aurora King. Lor's only goal in life is to escape and get her revenge on the man who has caused her so much pain and suffering. But when she is unexpectedly released and thrown into the Sun Queen Trials, Lor's plans take an unexpected turn.
As one of ten Tributes vying for the role of the Sun Queen, Lor must compete against others who have been training for this their whole lives. But Lor doesn't belong in this world, and she must navigate through the complex political games and rivalries in order to survive and win the competition. With her freedom and revenge on the line, Lor must use all her strength, cunning, and determination to come out on top.
One of the standout aspects of this book is the world-building. Tuli has created a vivid and intricate world that is both fascinating and terrifying. The contrast between the luxurious and opulent Sun King's court and the bleak and oppressive Aurora King's domain is expertly portrayed. The author has also created a well-developed and diverse cast of characters, each with their own motivations and secrets.
Lor is a complex and compelling protagonist. Her journey is one of self-discovery and growth, as she learns to trust others and find her place in a world she never thought she belonged in. Despite her tough exterior, Lor's vulnerability and determination make her a relatable and likable character.
This book is a must read for those who are fans of dystopian novels.

I love diving into new fantasy series! As a fantasy reader this was largely predictable but that didn’t take away from me enjoying the story. Pacing seemed a tad slow but I usually expect that in the first book given world building etc.

I kept comparing this to the hunger games, the last 25% of ACOTAR and the fourth Harry Potter. We’ve got competition, trials, The Bachelor-esq vibes fighting for the same man and more. And the typical down-on-her-luck-not-like-the-other-girls main character was actually pretty relatable and bad ass, which I always love!

Read if you like:
🧚 fantasy/romantasy
😤 competition games
🤔 questioning everything
🤭 likeable (but also sometimes not likeable at all) side characters

I am stoked for the second one! I have a feeling (I hope) that we are about to learn so much more!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever(Grand Central Publishing) for the chance to read this arc which has been available since Sept 12,2023!

This book is like the Bachelor with Fae, deadly political games and a female main character that is an utter bada**. Lor is here to win at first for the King’d hand and to be named the Sun Queen then to find out why she a lowly mortal is even competing for the Sun king’s hand in marriage. She spent 12 years in a prison people do not survive, she tossed in the hole then saved to play in a high stakes marriage contest.


I dug this book. I dug the characters. I dug the concept. I did not dig the cliffy but I have the arc for book 2 so I won’t have to wait long to find answers to my questions. Book 2 is also available NetGalley just gave me arcs way late in the review game.

Anyhoo read this book. There is spice for those who can’t read books without spice. But I’m here for the plot and the plot of this book never disappointed me.

Thanks to Forever for the copy of this book!

Do you like unwinding by having a glass of wine and watching The Bachelor? Are you looking for another beginner fantasy read after finishing Fourth Wing or reading A Court of Thorns and Roses? This is the book for you. I enjoyed this because it's a romantasy that doesn't require a lot of brain power, and is just an entertaining story. I listened on audio while working and finished in a day!

Trial is the Sun Queen and it’s sequel Rule of the Aurora King are in my top five of the year with Fourth Wing and Iron Flame. Beyond excellent world building and storytelling that is powerful, emotive, compelling to the point you want to read all night and not sleep. The story is original yet resonates with comfort vibes of the past with undertones that are reminiscent of The Selection, Hunger Games and even an element of the Bachelor. It's thoughtful and creative with an intricate plot you can follow easily but also leave you in suspense in a way that pushes you forward as the story propels itself through heartache and trauma to healing to lust to love. I rank these among the best you'd ever pick up.