Thank you to Nisha J Tuli, Noelle Holten and Second Sky for the arc!


5⭐️

This book was everything I wanted it to be. It built perfectly on the first book and answered several lingering questions while still leaving room for you to generate theories for the future books. As Nisha continues to write novels, she seems to be getting even better at laying Easter eggs throughout her stories which is one of the most fun aspects of reading for me.

Also thank you for including a guide to everyone and everything in the world. That was so lovely and helpful.

The romance between Rabin and Zarya built with a really well laid pace that made the tension believable. People gripe about slow burn stories but if the love happens too quickly, I’m not buying it. I’m still curious how the dream forest happens and why there was much less of it in this book.

The Indian lore 😍😍😍😍 It could be because my bff in high school was from India but I absolutely LOVE the world building in this story. The mythology is beeaaauuuutiful. I just continue to want more of this world.

Small small spoiler below for the ending but it needs to be mentioned.












Ugh. The ending with Yasen going with her. I cannot freaking wait for book three. Their friendship is one of my favorite things.

In this book, Zarya and the rest of the Chiranjivi continue to battle the blight and the darkness causing it to grow. We see Amrita become queen with Vik as her faithful steward. The group goes on a little journey and they all fight some demons. There is a lot more spice in this one and the plot moves forward a bit but, overall, it felt kind of like deja vu to me.

The main character, Zarya, is starting to grow on me. Her friendship with Yasen is one of the best parts of this whole series. One of the weaknesses of the series is the lack of development when it comes to side characters. There are quite a few who play a major role in the story yet none of them really comes to life on the page besides Yasen and, in this book, Rabin. Her relationship with Rabin was one of the focal points of this book and I think the author did a good job with it.

This still isn't gripping me like some of my favorite fantasy series has but I'm enjoying reading it and I plan to read the next installment. I find that I am always very aware that I'm reading a book; I'm not immersed in it like I love to be when reading fantasy. The cultural representation is amazing and the world building is very cool. This would be a fantastic book for someone looking to get into the fantasy genre but wanting something simple but still very entertaining.

Summary:
Zarya's journey continues in the second book of this incredible series. After falling for the man who helps unlock her power within her dreams, Zarya is reeling from the truth of who is and the sensations he makes her feel, even if she wishes she could forget them. With events converging at the same time to protect Dharati and its people, Zarya remains focused on her friends, protecting the city she now calls home, and figuring out the origin of the piece of magic she keeps hidden. But everything keeps drawing her and Rabin together again and again.

Wow!! This book blew me away. I really enjoyed book 1, but this one took it up a notch!! The banter between Rabin and Zarya was incredible and fun to see how it changed throughout the book. So many different events coming together at the same time kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Zarya is a force of nature and it was so great to see her diving into her past and magic. Loved learning more about Rabin in all his grouchiness, and well let's just say I fell hard for him. Yasen and Zarya's friendship is one of my absolute favorite parts of this series, because of their love and support of one another. Nisha's world-building was woven throughout the plot of this book with so many twists and turns that it made it hard to put this book down. I cannot wait to see where life takes Zarya next on this adventure.

I was lucky enough to receive this as an arc and I absolutely loved this!! I loved this more than the first one; this series just keeps getting better and better! This book picks up I think about a few weeks after the first one. The city is preparing for the ceremony to crown the new queen and Zarya and her friend Yas decide to take the queen to be out on one last night of experiences but things don't go to plan.

I loved Zarya in this book. She is starting to learn more about her magic and where she comes from. We also get to see a lot more of the mysterious Rabin. Their romance was definitely worth the wait! I loved it in this book!! I loved the little bits of backstory we got about Rabin. That ending though!! So many feelings! I can't wait for the next book!!

Thank You NetGalley, Nisha J. Tuli and Second Sky for providing me a copy of this amazing book!
Dance of Stars and Ashes is book 2 in The Nightfire Quartet series by Nisha J. Tuli and I have to say, the author did it again!
The story is incredible and captivating. I love the world-building and atmosphere of this book so much!

Zarya is a great character and she has so much to offer. I love the tention between her and the Rabin. I was a little bit suprised how fast they relathionship changed but I'm not complaining!

If you're searching for epic fantasy romance series with a lot of political plotting, magic, and tention, this book is definitely for you!

This series is addictive, I read this book so fast I almost inhaled it. I love the slow-burn romance and tension/angst that had the perfect amount of teasing before spice delivery. Aside from this the gathering darkness and demons make for a good plot with enough peril to make you unable to put this down. Yasen is an amazing side-character that becomes a main character. The friendship and banter within that is witty and also heartwarming. I love this vivid and beautiful world that Nisha J. Tuli has created. This series is fun, spicy, action-packed and the Indian/South Asian cultural influences continue to give it that richness I am adoring. Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky for an E-ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

We rejoin Zarya in the middle of some shenanigans with her besties and things go about how you might expect even with her own personal shadow/nemesis Rabin catching them and following along...

There’s never a dull moment as it’s time for the princess to become queen and there’s the continued demon threat happened outside the city walls. Zarya is trying to understand her magic and how to properly use it while attempting to keep her new home and found family safe... A mission outside the city leads to some things changing and the discovery of betrayal and loss...

Of course I loved this... even though Zarya got on my nerves a bit but I suppose she’s young and spent her life very sheltered so it can be excused... About halfway through the book I knew exactly what was going to happen between Zarya and Rabin it was rather obvious how that would go... can’t wait till the next one comes out and see what Zarya and Yasen get up to and if she might find what she’s looking for...

Dance of Stars and Ashes is book 2 in The Nightfire Quartet series by Nisha J. Tuli.
I really enjoyed reading Heart of Night and Fire so I was a little too excited to start her newest title in the series and it didn’t disappoint.
A captivating epic fantasy romance series. With its rich world-building, engaging characters, and amazing storyline. This story that is full of magic, mystery and romance was a truly wonderful fantasy.

Thank You NetGalley and Second Sky for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

First things first, I got so excited to have a glossary at the beginning of this book, it helped keep track of everything and I was able to fill in all the things I didn’t grasp from the first book.

The found family theme in this series is so strong and I love it, they stick with each other, fight for each other, and few have died, and they forgive so easily as well. Zarya had a rough upbringing and when she finally found her people, she found some of the best.

I loved the romance between her and Rabin and I can’t wait to see how that plays out in the next book. Their forest scenes are my favorite but I like every scene they are in together.

However my favorite part of this book was the suspense, the ticking clock and just how every fight scene felt real and high pressured. It felt exactly as if I was anxiously watching the battles and I loved it!

I had been dying to dive into this world after book one of the Nightfire Quartet had been a success hit for me. And the beginning doesn't disappoint. There's so much found family vibe with Zarya and her people already, it warms my heart. I probably could have just followed their lives for a whole book, but of course there's also high stakes and deep secrets. Also romance and betrayal. Basically all you need for a good fantasy saga.
Which is also kind of my criticism with this book 2 - again it seems to hit all the tropes like a checklist. The author even added spice to make it Romantasy, however it seems more like fan service than anything else. The spice is a bit generic and doesn't do anything for the plot. At times it even seems to break character - so to me personally this was superfluous.
But there's definitely enough 'there' there you make this fully entertaining and I will follow the rest of the tetralogy, and I'm invested in the world and characters.

Luckily I was granted both the ebook and audiobook, and both are engaging. They come with additional info about the book, a glossary and trigger warnings. The narration is really great and I enjoyed it a lot.

3,5/5 stars

Thank you @nergalley and @dreamscape_lore and @hachetteuk for the eARC!

#NightfireQuartet #Netgalley #Bookstagram

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely LOVE this series. The South-Asian inspired setting - incredible. The magical system - complex and gorgeous. The characters - loveable, relatable and beautiful.

These books are such easy reads, I could genuinely just sit and devour the whole series in one sitting. Sadly for me, I have to wait for all the books to release, which is a complete inconvenience to me.

I love our headstrong FMC Zarya, who really has gone on quite the journey of self discovery over the first two books in the quartet. And may I just say: Rabin will have all the romantasy girlies swooning. I am so ready for what comes next!

4/5

Dance of Stars and Ashes is the continuation of Nisha J Tuli’s Nightfire Quartet series. We continue following Zarya’s journey as she begins learning more about herself, while also trying to reconcile with those who’ve hurt her. Not to mention deciding what to do with the brooding commander who can’t stop looking at her, whether she should avoid him at all costs, or give in to her desires.

A solid instalment of the series! I think Zarya has a reallly good foundation for a character, and I’m interested to see how much more she’ll grow in the upcoming novel. The added world building in this novel was nice, but I hope there’s even more in the next. Also, big thank you to adding the glossary at the beginning, I definitely needed it with all the fantasy vocabulary.

The pacing throughout was decent. The beginning was fast and there was a lot more fighting action, which was fun. The only weird pacing was towards the climax at the end. I can’t really say more without spoiling, so I guess you’ll just have to read to find out.

Rabin’s character is interesting. I’m hoping we’ll learn a lot more about him in the next novel. I was a little surprised at some of Rabin’s choices in the middle, again I can’t go into detail. But I guess I can say that it felt like a weird switch in personality to me. Yasen will forever be my favourite character, and I will never change this opinion.

To be honest, I was going to give this book a 3.5, but then I remembered the intimate scenes. And boy were they intimate. And descriptive. And long. As a first time reader of Tuli, I did not know she had it in her. Consider me hooked.

I am very much looking forward to continue this series when volume 3 comes out. I can’t wait to see how the story progresses.

I enjoyed the first book in the series but this one was even better! Since the world building and character introduction was already established, it jumped right into the story. It was fast paced with just the right amount of spice.

I freaking love Rabin. There’s still so many mysteries surrounding him that I’m dying to know. I’m really hoping we get to dive into his past in the next book. Also there were some ✨incredible✨ groveling scenes😏

Overall, a great sequel and highly recommend to all romantasy lovers!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a copy to review!

Book two of the Nightfire Quartet was such an exciting addition to the series! The story begins pretty soon after the events of book one, and while it starts with an intriguing hook, it is a bit slower at first and builds throughout the book, leaving the reader itching for more.

Dance of Star and Ashes continues the tale of Heart of Night and Fire with more world building and history, and thank goodness, a glossary! Honestly, everyone needs to include a reintroduction to characters, places, and magical creatures. I CANNOT keep these things straight, so that refresher was so helpful!

The plot is a bit of a slow build, but has quite a few twists that I wasn’t expecting, and was a good balance of action and character development. It also ends in a way that isn’t quite a cliff hanger, but sets the reader up well to anticipate book 3!

While learning more about the world and history, the reader also learns a lot more about Zarya’s past and her family! She was kept in the dark for so long, so the reader is on an adventure with her in learning who she is and where she came from. While she is still a bit young and naive in the book, she continues to be a badass and learns more about her magic and powers. I love that her character is multifaceted.

We also got to see so much more of her relationship with multiple characters in the series. We still are building of the ‘found family’ trope, and I quite love her and Yasen’s relationship! They are seriously (second) best friend goals and I love how much banter they have together. We also got to see a lot of growth and healing in the relationships between Zarya, Row, and Aarev, and the forgiveness that came with it. The evolution of these relationships really stood out to me in this installment, and I was so happy to see them working through their problems.

We also got to see a lot more of the Chiranjivi and what they can do, which is SO much fun! I love seeing them working together and learning more about their powers as well.

Lastly, we got the BEST slow burn with Rabin and Zarya. It 100 percent paid off in the end! I will add a sidebar that some of the language used in the spice scenes and between them threw me off as it felt very modern/contemporary and the setting of the book is not, but it was hot either way. I will gladly let the dragon roast me 🥵

Overall, a solid second installment for the series, and makes me excited for what is in store for Zarya and gang in the future!

T R O P E S
South Asian Mythology
Bad Ass FMC
Broody MMC
Elemental Magic
Magical Creatures and Demons
Found Family
Slow Burn Spice

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Dance of Stars and Ashes is such a bop sequel.

After the jaw-dropping ending in the first book, I wanted to know about the future of Zarya and all the other characters.
The overall plot maintains a measured pace but it compensates with heightened action and I loved the slowburn enemies to lovers romance (there’s much spicy than the first book).
I am really excited to see what comes next.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for allowing me to read this book as an ARC so I could give an honest review.

I am not okay.

This book was such a perfect continuation of Zarya’s story. It was emotional and fast paced. Nisha’s command of detail is just exquisite to be honest. The culture and world building are so rich and colorful. Yasen continues to be my spirit animal and I loved seeing their friendship evolve more. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

Nisha J. Tuli's "Dance of Stars and Ashes" is a masterful tale of passion, magic, and fate that completely enthralled me. Tuli skillfully crafts an engrossing story that takes readers to a universe where emotions and stars dance together in a beautiful waltz from the first page onward.

The story traces the journey of Ava, a complex character who comes alive in each chapter. Through her deft narrative, Tuli creates a vivid image of a society on the verge of transformation, full of complex political machinations, supernatural powers, and a love that knows no bounds to time or place. The author's ability to generate emotion through words is truly captivating, and her style is poetic.

"Dance of Stars and Ashes" has a complex and engrossing world-building that skillfully combines the fantastical with the everyday. A memorable reading experience is provided by the author's creation of a universe in which readers can lose themselves and find themselves captured in vivid descriptions of characters, landscapes, and the dancing stars overhead.

The characters' complex emotional dance is what really makes this tale unique. The story is replete with themes of love, sacrifice, and the unbreakable human spirit, making it an incredibly poignant and thought-provoking read.

The most remarkable aspect of Nisha J. Tuli's tale is how she skillfully ties the characters' destinies to the heavenly dance of the stars. The story takes unexpected turns that had me gripping the edge of my seat in anticipation of discovering the next chapter in this exquisitely designed tapestry.

"Dance of Stars and Ashes" is an immersive experience that stays with you long after the last page is turned. It's more than just a book. Nisha J. Tuli’s masterwork is a must-read if you’re looking for an engrossing adventure in a universe where magic, love, and fate collide. A heavenly symphony of masterful narrative!

I really enjoyed book one so I was really looking forward to reading the second installment of The Nightfire Quartet. Dance of Stars and Ashes is a fantastic sequel and I was completely sucked in by the rich mythology, the incredible world building and wonderful writing style. I really enjoyed the romance in this book; fans of romantasy will love this series.

I was so excited to return to the city of Dharati, and to see where Zarya’s story was heading and this did not disappoint. This story was full of action, angst, secrets, betrayal and heart wrenching sadness. The plot twists towards the end have me questioning everything and although the story ended on a lighter note, I’m interested to see what happens to Zarya. Although this story was a bit of a slower pace, I still think it was action packed.

The tension between Zarya and Rabin was EVERYTHING. The dream forest scenes were so good and I found myself waiting for them. The secrets and slow burn in this story were SO GOOD. The friendships are so warm and delightful.

I can’t say too much about how I felt without giving a lot of plot points away, but I will say that if you enjoyed the first book, you will love the second!

Thank you to Nisha J. Tuli, NetGalley and Second Sky for the eARC of Dance of Stars and Ashes, available February 16th!

If the first book set the tone, the second book brought the rage and fire!

We continue on the journey with Zarya as she navigates her way around life as an Aazheri, learning more about her identity and fine-tuning her magic; those five natural elements and the secret that she harbours, the rare sixth she hasn't told anyone else about - darkness. With Amrita establishing herself as a new Queen, and the blight and demons getting stronger with each passing day, can Zarya learn how to channel her powers, become an asset and assist the Chiranjevi and fight off the threat? With the darkness that swirls within her, the cage that contains that sixth element tempting to break free, is there a lesson of self control Zarya needs to learn first before it takes everyone with her, not just herself? What about her attraction to Rabin? With his return to the kingdom, will they finally get to the bottom of their initial meetings in the blossoming forest that exists beyond the realms of their consciousness? Dance of Stars and Ashes is the second book in the Nightfire Quartet.

This series has me hooked!! The anticipation that had built up after I finished reading the first book was re-ignited as soon as I started reading Dance of Stars and Ashes. We see Zarya's relationships developing in this book - her animosity to camaraderie to close bonding /friendship with Yasen is heartwarming and one to watch out for (everyone needs a best friend like Yasen in their support system), the chemistry with Rabin just burns through the page and the character/story development is so seamless. With a well written strong narrative, I was invested in learning about the ghost/dark army like it was taking shape before my very eyes and the trepidation and fear of the unknown with the Chiranjevi plotting on how to resist the blight and strengthen their forces. That battle in the last few chapters was powerful! Definitely a page turner and I could not put the book down at all in the last 20%. From a first person narrative, the reader can empathise with Zarya whether it is how she develops the new relationships she has (which is difficult given she was brought up in hiding/isolation) or how she can help her new found family - it is easy to relate to. Zarya is super likeable as a FMC shes a strong, resilient and fierce FMC and you are rooting for her to win in the book. I was so engrossed with knowing more about this fantasy world - major round of applause and heartfelt appreciation for the POC representation/Indian mythology inspired themes which add all the extra points to this book, I LOVE IT SO MUCH and can't get enough! It is so refreshing to read this series, I feel a sense of belonging and so cosy when I get into them. The only thing I was abit confused about (without giving spoilers) was a lack of sensitivity in the last couple chapters and it felt abit rushed to the end, rather than soaking up moments and in hindsight it felt like the first half and second half were two different stories - I can imagine more will be revealed as we go on so I still highly recommended this book. These point do not take away from the overall fun and thrill this book was! Thank you @secondskybooks and @netgalley for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest unedited review! Eagerly awaiting book 3!