The second book in this series and it did NOT disappoint. Book one was such a fun incredible journey and book two was just as amazing if not even MORE amazing. Fantasy books can be so daunting and tough to read, this is not the case here at all. I feel like Rule of the Aurora King held it's own, a lot of the times in series books begin to just blur and blend together which as of now is not the case here. This series is so far from a "You have to just get past book one" and it did not fall victim to having a "lull" in book two like some series. Both books are complete stand outs and hook and draw you in the whole time.

This book starts off a little bit past where book two left off. It begins with Lor being with Nadir in a secluded house right along the outskirts of his kingdom. Some I know prefer books to begin at the moment the previous book ended, I am glad that wasn't the case here. She has been with him already for two weeks when the book begins and in finishing the book and looking back, I preferred that route, it made it much faster paced. The world building/politics starts to get heavier but it's done very nicely. We get introduced to characters from the past from both Lor and Nadir's families which helps us readers begin to understand the magic system and current structure of the world they are in. The world building is always the hardest part for me to get through and this was a complete cake walk and enjoyable to read! There was no having to go back to re-read to better understand like I have to in some fantasy books.

Another HUGE plus is, while the ending does leave you wanting more it's not a HUGE cliffhanger. Those are great sometimes but also painful so it's really nice when I am reading an unfinished series to not be completely distraught when finishing a book.

All in all another SOLID 5 star read. These books are consuming my thoughts and I cannot WAIT for book three!

I love this author and her books so much. Tuli has a way of creating such rich and interesting characters and storylines, you cannot help but be enchanted. Rule of the Aurora King is the second installment in the series, and this one is MUCH spicier. The first book had a little, so I was not prepared for the amount of spice in this book, which I found detracted from the overall story a bit. Though I am not opposed to it, I usually skip over the juicer bits. There are also some obvious plot lines in this that the characters refuse to admit or recognize, which I find curious knowing the MMC is almost 300 years old. However, I enjoyed this story SO much, and I really hope I can get an ARC of the 3rd book before April. I am DYING to know what happened after that banger cliff-hanger. Lor is one of my favorite FMCs in the romantasy genre - she is kind but so, so strong.

Tropes include: fake dating, one bed, one horse, enemies to lovers, found family, and more.

Absolutely fantastic sequel to Trial of the Sun Queen. It answers almost all of the questions you've gained from book one as well as leaving you with SUCH A CLIFFHANGER. I can't wait for the third book to come out.

Rule Of the Aurora King- 3.75⭐️ 2.75🌶️

New Adult
High Romantasy
Romantic Fantasy
Multi POV
Bipoc
Flashbacks
Fae Courts
Magic
Politics
Feuding Kingdoms
Secrets
Slow Burn
🏳️‍🌈 Side Character Rep
Reluctant Allies to Lovers
Open Door Spicy Scenes

This was a great second book. I am so glad that the plot was so definitively different from the first book. There wasn’t any confusing first romance and second. Thankfully the FMC was fighting herself enough to know that she was growing from the person she was in the first book.

However, the pace did slow down quite a bit, and the stakes came down a peg or two. While not bad, it allowed the plot to get some breathing room that I feel was really necessary for the character arcs of the MC’s. But the hot and cold pendulum between the MC’s also got old really fast.

The world building was nice with the addition to the flashbacks, bringing a new POV into the fold. However, I didn’t find myself liking the characters in the flashback…

The magic system was laid out a little more, but I’m still at a loss as to what ANY of the high face’s powers actually are or how they manifest.

As far as individual character development goes, the blatant rage from the FMC died down, giving us a better look at Lor when she isn’t starving or afraid she is going to die. That’s probably really important. Nasir felt a bit too much like a doormat, which I can’t imagine anyone likes… I’ll be interested to see his continuing character arc in the next book now that he is a bit freer, in the same way Lor did in this book.

I didn’t love “Inmate” as a sexy nickname… especially since she told him many time to not call her that. They weren’t very good at keeping anything secret or under wraps… their fake dating was in fact terrible cover for their true purpose because there wasn’t a fake name or anything that they used. What kind of spy’s are they?!… bad ones.

But I still enjoyed myself and was drawn in, so I will be reading the next book in the series.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an Advanced eReader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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

(4.5 stars) I honestly think this is becoming one my new favorite fantasy series and I’m very quickly becoming a Nisha J. Tuli fan! I was worried that without the trials from the first book, the second book in the series would fall short (like the case of some other series); however, I was just as drawn in to the world and characters in Rule of the Aurora King!

This second book does focus a little less on the plot, but MUCH more on the politics and the spice/romance, which I definitely enjoyed. This book had enemies to lovers, forced proximity, fake dating, and so much more, with scenes that will equally make you blush and also want to throw the book across the room. I definitely cannot wait to see where Lor and Nadir’s relationship will go from here and I’m so sad that we have to wait until mid-2024 to get more of this story! This is a series that I DEFINITELY plan to continue, once the books are out.

I enjoyed this one more than book 1, the chemistry and tension between Lor and Nadir is 🔥. I found this one less predictable than book 1 though I did get lost one some of the details around the world and it’s artefacts. I can’t wait for book 3

Spoilers: They don't fuck in this one. (IT NEEDS TO BE SAID)

But they do just about everything else, and the anticipation is worth it. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the Artefacts of Ouranos is an amazing series to read if you're feeling the Fourth Wing hangover. This one definitely has more worldbuilding than the previous installment and adds a veeeery interesting PoV into the mix. Learning Ouranos's history made me appreciate the world much more and how much effort was put into crafting it. Lor's position in this world also begins to make sense and we see her begin to come into her magic (YAY!). I wasn't a huge fan of Nadir calling her "Inmate", even when he means it as a sexy pet name, and I enjoyed the discussion he and Lor had about his insistence on ownership of her. (Hopefully he gets over himself in that regard). I'm still very happy that we ditched Atlas, but I'd also like some less possessive men around plz.

*Thank you to Forever and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

This second addition to the Artifacts of the ouranos series was deliciously torturous. Very plot driven and the world building was immensely consuming. I was on my toes the whole time!

As much as I loved the first book I think this book number 2 regressed a little bit. It was still fun and still had all the fantasy elements we all love but the romance development and the spice slightly smothered the advancement of the plot. The love interest in this book is as darkly dreamy as we all like them (hm hm ACOMAF, IYKYK) and I preferred the balance of POVs in this one but the first 75% of the book turn in circles a little with a ‘will they or will they not’ dynamic. The end fortunately brings us back on track and I’m ready and impatient for book 3.

The second book in the Artefacts of Ouranos series takes a different direction than the first book, but I still found myself unable to put this book down. Thankfully we get more Nadir (who is my favorite character), and a few more tropes added to the mixed bag. If you enjoy enemies to lovers, SLOW burn (fr I need the love interests to get TOGETHER), close proximity, one horse, and fake dating, then this book is for you.

This book is WAY more angsty and full of longing than the first book. I think Ms. Tuli does a great job of really letting you feel her character's emotions. I am still rooting for Lor (even though I'm starting to suspect there's more to her backstory that hasn't quite come out yet). I am devastated the third book isn't coming out until August, because it is not currently August and that means I have to wait.

“He will not have my heart…”

🌹 TROPES & THEMES 🌹
✔️ enemies to lovers
✔️ fated mates (maybe 🤞)
✔️ found family
✔️ forced proximity
✔️ fake dating
✔️ hate BJ
✔️ the best 🤌🏽 🌶️ tension 🤌🏽
✔️ “who did this to you?”
✔️ daddy Nadir 🧎‍♀️

Remember how much harder ACOMAF slapped than ACOTAR? That’s how this book was to its first. HONEYYY. Nisha didn’t have to go as hard as she did on that steamy tension but she did, fam. She did it for us readers. 🥹

This book picks up pretty much after the fiasco that happened in book 1. Lor discovers Nadir, Aurora Prince and alphahole, has taken her in and is hiding her from not only the Sun King - but his dad too, the Aurora King.

Lor comes clean about her heritage, kinda. But only after Nadir and his gang rescue her siblings who were stuck in the prison. I shall NOT say what the big reveal was, but it was hinted at throughout and I was hype when it was confirmed.

So now Lor and Nadir must work together to try to and find a certain relic to take down a certain king… 👀

The steam was dialed up, and while we didn’t get to home base - I ain’t even mad. What we got was a five star chef’s rendition of THE PERFECT APPETIZER. The forced proximity and fake dating tropes were excellent ingredients added to this soup pot of romancy goodness and left me satisfied but also at the same time I’m over here ON MY KNEES beggin’ for the next book. 🤣🫠

THIS SERIES IS SO GOOD! It’s so fun, it’s adventurous, easy to follow and understand. It makes you laugh, swoon, rage, and I couldn’t put it down. Every romantacy reader NEEDS to read this series.

There's something about the second book in a series... It either falls flat, running short of the excitement of the debut, or it makes the first book look like a fun opener for the main event (the second book).
Rule of the Aurora King is the second kind of sequel. I read this book in less than 24 hours on a holiday. I couldn't stop. The tension between the romantic leads is spectacular and despite the plot moving slower than the first book, you still feel fully involved and engaged in the story.
The characters that seem a bit hollow in the first book are intentionally and satisfactorily fleshed out. The main character is still keeping secrets from the reader (which I LOVE). The descriptions of the locations are so vivid and unique. I am literally so excited to read the remainder of this series. Way to go, Nisha.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for this honest review!

I was much more into book one and felt this one fell a little more flat for me. I wanted a bit more and didn't quite feel the development I was expecting

A beautiful sequel and now I really want the third book already. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this. I definitely will be waiting anxiously for the next one. Tuli's ability to go through and create these worlds that are gripping and intoxicating for the readers, I feel like that I am right there with them and wanting things to go faster!

This book was EVEN BETTER than book 1 if that is even possible. This series is perfect for fans of the plated prisoner series! This is a dark fae fantasy romance that follows the story of an imprisoned woman who longs to escape her cage, it has everything! A fast placed plot with high stakes, lush worldbuilding, a slowburn enemies to lovers romance and deadly trials.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Welcome back to Ouranos in The Rule of the Aurora King! We find Lor making the most unsavory of alliances with the son of the Fae King who ruined her life. With Lor’s help, Nadir is hoping to end his father’s reign. But, as they begin working together, they cannot but help to be drawn to one another. Perfect for fans of SJM, and those looking for a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers.

<b>“To every woman who’s been told they’re too wild. Too impulsive. Too much. May you always stay that way.” </b> I mean the book dedication alone is *chef's kiss*.

This book did seem to move at a bit of a slower pace than the first book in the series, but I am still anxiously awaiting for book 3, The Fate of the Sun King, coming out June 4, 2024!

<b>Favorite Quote:</b>
“She’s mine. I don’t know why I believe it with such conviction, but deep in my bones, I know she belongs to me. And I’ll die before anyone else touches her.”

<b>Star Rating:</b>
4.5/5
<b>Maturity Rating:</b>
Mature
<b>Trigger Warnings:</b>
Mention of abuse, explicit scenes, language, death

A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Forever Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review!

The Sun Trials had a hunger games type trope while the rule of the aurora king was all enemies to lovers and a quest to find something! I definitely preferred the former! The constant back and forth was exhausting and predictable. Now, that doesn’t mean I won’t read a third one bc I have to know what happens to Lor and her family! I could care less about the romantic relationship with her Nadir. So many red flags! There is a a dual timeline that gives the heart queens backstory. I could have done with a little less than that but I’m guessing it will be important for the next book.

Rating - 4.5 stars
Spice - 3

This is book 2 of Trial of the Sun Queen, and while I devoured Trial of the Sun Queen in roughly 2 sittings, this book was somehow even better! It picks up right where book 1 leaves off, and you follow along with Lor's internal battle of 'trusting' the Aurora Prince Nadir while looking for the crown of Heart.

This book has a bit of everything trope wise; enemies to lovers, forced proximity, one bed, dual POV, he falls first, touch her and you die.

I simply adore Nadir and Lor's dynamics, and I love having the dual POV to really see into each character more throughout the storyline. Nadir goes from a somewhat hidden/hated figure in book 1 to being such a soft and empathetic character that grows on you. Spice scenes in this one are picked up I will say, but not over the top.

Another aspect of this book I really enjoyed was getting to see a bit more of the backstory of the Serce and Wolf. This helps tie up some loose ends you really don't know much about in book 1 and see more of some of the history of the past rulers. Book 2 ends with a mild cliffhanger, definitely making me curious for more.

Overall, very excited to continue the series and can't wait to read more! Definitely recommend.

Just like I hoped, this one is SO much better than the first book! It still was missing some meat, but we finally get some holes from the plot line filled that was missing in the first book. I can’t wait to see what happens in the third book!

I enjoyed this follow up more than the first book in the series and think it was a good follow-up and sets up the final installment well. However like the first book, it falls a little flat to me just because like so many romantasy books it just feels like a regurgitation of the same ACOMAF story structure and characters over and over again. Not really a critique of the author, that's what is popular right now, but more of just a general complaint about romantasy right now.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the chance to read. Opinions are my own.