What a joy this book was! I really enjoyed not only the storyline and the fun characters but the setting in the world building was out of this world. It was a super fun and entertaining ride and looking forward to reading many more. The writer did a phenomenal job With a fast paced story and plenty of twists to keep you entertained and not want to put the book down !

Zarya has learned the identity of the mystery man from her dreams; however, now that she knows who he is, she wants nothing to do with him. However, as demon attacks are ramping up, Zarya finds herself repeatedly drawn to Rabin. With threats looming at every turn, Zarya has to decide whether she can trust secretive Rabin.

Tuli did a wonderful job of pulling out all the emotions in this book. There’s a great balance between laugh out loud moments, heartbreak, high tension, and steam to keep any reader engaged. I am banter obsessed whether it’s between the love interests or even just banter between friends. Tuli is a master at weaving banter into her storytelling. While I love the banter between Zarya and Rabin, the banter between Zarya and Yasen exceeds it. One of my favorite moments from this story results in this amazing quote from Yasen, “What? His dagger was happy to see you? His dragon was stiff? His phoenix was rising?”. Yasen must be protected at all costs because he’s truly a gem. I also enjoyed how this book expanded the world building and went deeper into the lore with Amrita’s transition. Be prepared, though, to be kept on your toes because the betrayals run deep and plot twists abound. I can’t wait to see where Tuli goes with the next book, because I firmly believe we’ve been mislead on a few key truths, and everything isn’t as it seems.

I was glad to see that now that we’re into the second book we were able to flesh out a lot more of the story and get into the nitty gritty parts. I enjoyed the progression of the relationship between Zarya and Rabin though I did feel like Rabin went from hating her to chasing after her super quick and without much explanation as to why.

There’s plenty of drama and action as they battled monsters both known and unexpected. Again, I loved the cultural aspects woven through the story and I was googling trying to work out what is real and what was created for the story.

You’re not left hanging off a cliff at the end but you’re definitely left wanting more. Excited to see where Zarya’s next adventure takes us.

Thanks to #NetGallery and publisher for a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Genre: Romance/Fantasy
Format: Digital
POV: Single
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ /5
Age suggestion: 18+

I have been provided with a review copy of Dance of Stars and Ashes from NetGalley for an impartial review. This book was just so easy to get lost in. I completely got lost in the story and I just loved getting to see these new characters come together. I just absolutely love this story and I just didn’t want to put it down. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

4.5 ⭐️

I was so excited to read the next instalment of this series and I was not disappointed. I didn't love it quite as much as the first but it was still an excellent read.

Loved the world, the unique magic system, the growth in the characters. The banter/friendship between Zarya and Yaseen, learning more about Rabin. I did find it dragged a little at points but mostly I was utterly enthralled.

Absolutely love this series though and I would definitely recommend it.

“Dance of Stars and Ashes” by Nisha J. Tuli is a fantasy romance read, inspired by South Asian culture and Indian mythology and is the second book in the Nightfire Quartet. Just as captivating as the first book, Tuli continues the story of our heroine, Zarya, a magically gifted bad-ass who’s finally coming into her own self in this part of the series, after having been sequestered from the rest of the world for a large part of her young life.

This sequel was a wonderful follow-up to the first book in the series. I enjoyed seeing Zaraya’s character and relationships develop and deepen. Not only do you see her growth throughout the story, but her companions (and secondary characters) also have their own self-revelations and growing pains as well. In this sequel, Zaraya begins to learn more about her own heritage and why she was spirited away as a young child and raised by Row (who, despite all his short-comings is really making an effort to get back in Zaraya’s good graces!)

The action and story development in this book definitely picked up more than the first book and - in my opinion - remained relatively on pace for most of the sequel. The surprise/not-so-surprise villain in the story and the subsequent take-over that happened was emotion-inducing - like, I wanted Zaraya to kick their ass so bad! It was almost maddening.

Finally, the developing romance between Zaraya and Rabin was EVERYTHING! You see each become vulnerable in their feelings for each other and it’s truly magical to see where their vulnerability and trust in one another takes them. His fierceness in wanting to protect Zaraya and keep her safe, while also giving major Dragon Daddy vibes just checked all the right boxes in this romantasy!

I absolutely enjoyed this book as much as I did the first one - maybe even more so. I look forward to the next book in the series!

“Zarya moved like nightfire itself, with vengeance in her blood and love in her heart.”

The second installment of the Nightfire Quartet did not disappoint!

This is a great follow up to Heart of Night and Fire. Dance of Stars and Ashes is action packed with tons of twists & turns (and some betrayals!!!) I found this book to be perfectly paced and a great mix of world building, found family, romance, & action scenes.

“…every eye in the room turned to the ceiling as the anguished roar of a mighty dragon rang out over the city so loud it shook every star in the sky.”

This world is STUNNING and has such a unique magic system! The intertwining of eastern traditions is so well done. The characters are also awesome (specifically Zarya) & there is so much angst and tension in this book!! I can’t wait to see where the next book will go!!

Dance of Stars and Ashes releases on Feb 16. Thank you to NetGalley & Second Sky for the ARC!

That was SO GOOD. I mean the slow burn was 100% worth it 🥵.

I loved Zaryas development in her relationship with Row, but I’m heartbroken by the diminishing friendship with Amrita (you know, the whole tree thing).

I don’t want to give too much away since this is the second in the series….but Rabin 🫠🫠🫠 I mean COME ON GIRL just forgive the man he is a dream (figuratively and literally). I just need them to be together, fighting demons and bad guys, and rule the world. Is that so much to ask for?

This story is so good, the writing is so entertaining, I just love it and I can’t wait for the rest to come out!

I’m so glad that I received an ARC of Dance of Stars and Ashes.

After I finished Heart of Night and Fire, I was (im)patiently waiting for this book and it did not disappoint. I really enjoyed the first book, but this one was even better!

I found every second of this book riveting. There wasn’t a slow part for me, which made me fly through the book. I’m also extremely attached to the characters, specifically Zarya and Yasen.

Zarya’s growth throughout this book was amazing and I can’t wait to read the rest of her story. I’m definitely looking forward to the 3rd book!

So glad I was able to get the chance to continue this series.

As book 1 I like this as well, but I really wished there were more from Rabin's point of view. Would love to know what went through his mind, feelings and thoughts before and during it started to heat up between them. Guess it's because I love to know the emotions from both sides when it comes to romance stories :)

That part I missed. This series stay as a solid 3 ⭐ for me.

Okay, so I LOVED book one. By MY GOODNESS... This one was even better!!!

The Nightfire series is easily becoming one of my favorite series.

The plot was super engaging, I could hardly put the book down. I love learning along with Zarya. It is exciting to feel like the MC is not keeping any secrets from us, as she is discovering the world herself. The relationship building is so realistic (both romance and otherwise). The slow burn... ugh, so freaking good! And the familial/friend relationships hit me straight in the feelings.

I absolutely love the Eastern fantasy world-building in this book.

Now to the disappointing part... I have to wait idk how long for the next books!! That is my only criticism (hahaha).

Dance of Stars and Ashes is book 2 in the Nightfire Quartet.

This book starts where book 1 ended. Zarya now knows exactly who Rabin is but it seems like he doesn't want anything to do with her; and yet he's constantly around her, watching her. There are multiple betrayals and newfound powers and knowledge.

I was looking forward to reading this book as I lived the first book so much and was delighted to be invited to read an advanced copy. But I was slightly disappointed.

The bad things first:
- Some of Zarya's decisions throughout the book were just stupid and immature
- I didn't like Vikram at all, him still wanting Zarya and his reaction to Zarya's decision
- I'm getting tired of male protagonists acting like they're not interested in the heroine but constantly staring at her but with eyes that show they care

Some good things:
- I was glad to see the "Cast of Characters" section as I did need a reminder and it was very helpful
- Zarya and Yasen's friendship! Their scenes were written very well, I loved it

I do want to find out what happens next in Zarya's journey and see her grow and embrace her powers.

"Love comes in many forms, even if its not one you immediately recognise."

4.5🌟

I absolutely love this world, the magic system is so novel, and I love the inclusion of eastern traditions, cultures and lifestyle. Nisha has such a flowing writing style that just makes her books devourable. The fantasy, world building, magic systems are top tier. Definitely on the reread list!

Thank you to Nisha J. Tuli, Second Sky and NetGalley for providing me with an E-Arc in exchange for my honest review.

Dance of Stars and Ashes is the second installment in the Nightmare Quartet and picks up right where the first book ended. Nisha has a true knack for not falling to the second/middle book syndrome, keeping the audience captivated and engaged with the story and not bogging the reader down with word vomit that some fall prey to in trying to quickly world build. Also, the Glossary in the introduction? that was both quite informative and hilarious in its playful writing.

I would recommend this book alone on its heavy inspiration of South Asian culture, which is found in every aspect of this series to date. The setting, the foods, the clothing, weapons mentioned, it is respectful of the culture that inspired the world as well as still keeping true to the Romantasy genre it is written for.

Secondly, I thoroughly enjoyed watching the relationships grow within this book, particularly the platonic soulmates that are Yasen and our leading lady Zarya. The found family within this friendship circle is a welcoming breath of fresh air and is not to be outdone by the action scenes.

Zarya is truly grappling with the discovery of her hidden powers, and the revelations that surround her identity. All on the eve of the rejection from her warrior prince/Dragon shifter that has been a feature in her dream forest. The darkness is quickly closing in on the cit and Amrita is preparing to take her place as the queen before all is lost. We fall into a world of betrayal, new journeys, acceptance and loss. I am honestly so excited to see where Zarya's journey continues as we say a (hopefully) temporary goodbye to some focal characters and expand further into the world Nisha has introduced us to so far.

I highly recommend this series to all Romantasy readers.

Dance of Stars and Ashes is the second book of The Nightfire Quartet by Nisha J. Tulli. I was also granted an e-ARC for the first installment by NetGalley and was fortunate to receive the second one, too.
I want to start by saying I'm so happy I chose to continue with the series. I wasn't the biggest fan of the first book, Heart of Night and Fire, and had my issues with it. I really struggled with the first part of the book, not so much with the terminology (which was vast), but more so with the description and the narrative. The second part of the book was significantly faster in terms of plot and character development. My main problem with the story is that I couldn't seem to connect with any of the characters. They were well written, but I just missed something (some depth, maybe) to form a connection with them. And then I got to the second book and was amazed! It felt as if it wasn't the same series almost. The pace was good, the relationship between characters more profound and deep and I felt I could understand their motives and needs. Zarya and Robin, the MCs, were much better in this book and their relationship wasn't rushed, which I truly appreciate. Yasen was great as a side character and I just want the best for him. Vikram felt much more interesting as a character and I got to understand his actions better, be it good or bad. And that betrayal in the end.... I was left speechless!
All in all, Dance of Stars and Ashes was so so good, and I really recommend The Nightfire Quartet series. I feel positive the third book will reveal so much more and hopefully, mend some relationships as well. I cannot wait for it!

What a great second installment to this series! So many times the second book of a quartet, the middle book is a filler, but I felt that this book set up so much for what is to come. It was a fast paced adventure with a satisfying amount and level of spice, while not taking away from the overall plot.

We start off where the first book picked up, with the citizens of the city reeling after the destruction and death of their queen. Zarya is struggling to come to terms with her hidden power, her friendship with Amrita and her growing feelings for Rabin. That is what the first half of the book is about, Zee balancing all of this while trying to figure out to help the country as a whole.

It is the second half where the plot of the story starts to move along and set up the next book. Zarya and the rest of the group, including Rabin, go in search of a solution to the darkness. It is on this adventure that Rabin and Zee finally give in to their growing tension and admit their feelings for one another, and consummate those feelings. The spice between these two is HOT! The wait did not disappoint. Rabin is so completely obsessed with Zarya, and it makes me melt. He truly has the whole “touch her and die” vibes down. It is so sweet how he shares his insecurities with her, and she continues to support him. Plus, he grovels!!!

It wouldn’t be a good story though without some deception and betrayal. We get a double whammy. The first betrayal was a twist but was not the gut wrenching betrayal. The second one though hurt. I will not go into too much detail because major spoilers, but it hurts. While I was sad by this one, I did not find it all that shocking. Things seemed to be going too well, and therefore we needed some turmoil and hurdles in the next book. The ending was not a major cliffhanger, but does have you needing to know what happens next. the next book in the series is sure to keep you on your toes and reading until midnight.

The found family trope is still strong in this book. Zee and Yasen are the ultimate BFF goals. Yasen continues to be my favorite in the series, and when he was hurt I was willing to fight on his behalf. I found the growing relationship and healing between Row and Zee to be emotional and necessary. He just wanted what was best for her, but clearly went about it wrong. I am happy that by the end of the book she seemed to forgive him.

Overall, the second installment in this book was *chefs kiss.” I loved how Nisha included a brief overview of the characters and classifications in the beginning of the book as it gave me a reminder of who was who. The characters I loved in book one, I continued to love in book two, looking at you Yasen. I laughed, I cried, I swooned and I yelled while reading. Such a great book. Once again, this book had me hungry for Indian food with the way Nisha described the aromas and flavors. I may have had to order some take out because of it.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Second Sky and Nisha J. Tuli for an e-ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

Tropes:
Found Family
Enemies to Lovers
Slow Burn
Nicknames
Dragons
Touch her and Die

There are a lot of things I loved about this book such as the plotline, the romance, and the friendship developments. There are a few things I really did not like. A few times I felt like "don't they have a way to escape this with their magic?", and some other unexplained things. I felt like Rabin was a little inconsistent and went from 100% hatred to 100% in love a little too quickly. Also I found it odd when he catches Vik cornering her and Rabin tells him to leave her alone, just to immediately do the exact same thing the moment she walks out of the room. I also felt like some of the dialogue was a bit cringe. But, overall it's not purely a romance book so I rated it a 4 star because the story itself is still very fascinating and fun to read!

Absolutely amazing second installment, love the main characters. When is the next one coming out? Cannot get enough!!

**4.5-4.75 stars rounded up to 5**

Thank you @netgalley @secondskybooks & @nishajtwrites for early access to this book! It publishes on February 16th. 🫶

HEY, GUYS! LISTEN UP 🗣️

This series needs so much more hype than it’s currently getting. Book 1 of this series was great, but book 2 is EVEN BETTER. For all Sarah J. Maas lovers, this is your next romantasy series - trust me.

The first book was a slooooow burn romance (like so slow essentially nothing happened in that regard), and it focused a lot more on the worl- building. This book was where a lot more action and A LOT MORE romance occurred. It was SPICYYYYYY, y’all 💋🌶️

And as I mentioned in the review of the first book, the south Asian mythology, types of magic, and social hierarchy are all really interesting.

There are going to be 4 books in this series, and I will, without a shadow of a doubt, be getting the next 2 as soon as humanly possible. AND YOU SHOULD TOO!!

Just as good as the first book! I enjoyed the further exploration of the world that was developed in the first book. The growth of the characters continued to be strong. Kept me reading and engaged throughout.

I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley.