Thank you so much, Nisha J Tuli, for the chance to read and review the eARC. It's one of my favourite stories, and I was thrilled to return to the world.

It was an epic finale to an addictive story. It picks up exactly where we left off the previous book and is fast-paced. I was on the edge of my seat with certain actions from the characters and was just waiting for the shoe to drop. There was tension, adventure, and all the things I'd want from a finale. If you haven't picked up this series yet, you definitely should give it a try.

Great conclusion and may have been my favourite of the series!

🐉✨🐉✨

The premise: (Spoilers for previous books)

The book picks up right after book 3 as Zarya heads to Andhera, to finally meet her father, who Rabin believes they can trust. And perhaps his support can help save the subjugated Vanshaj once and for all!

However Zarya starts having visions, both of the Ashvin twins who first set the curse into motion and a far more sinister secret lurking in the castle!

🐉✨🐉✨

I really love how everything came together in this book, and you saw all sub stories get there own conclusions.

The plot was strong, with some good villainous activity, quests for Zarya to complete and some action!

And whilst Zarya and Rabin romantic relationship very much settled last book, there were still some very cute moments in this book between them!

And my boy Yasen! I loved seeing the development with him and Miraan! As well as seeing so much more of Yas’ depth. We adore him and he deserves the world! And he still provided all the humour, although sometimes in far too serious moments 😅

All in all, this was such a fun and unique series for me and I’ve loved seeing it from the moment Nisha announced the first book all the way to the end! Definitely worth reading if you love some romantasy but want a different world to what you are used to!

A new addition to this magical series provides us with another swoonworthy heart stopping adventure that will have you captivated from page 1.

This book started slow but once it picked up it was a decent ending for this series. The spice was decent in this book as well. Overall the series is great and looking for more from thus author.

3.75 stars

A pretty good end to the series. Perhaps a little too fast paced at times but overall great series! Thank you to net galley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an ARC!

Ahhhhh this was just such a great read. I just didn't want this book to end and I was sad to turn the last page. I'm so excited to see what's next from this author.

This was my least favorite book of the series. And I loved the first 3 so much. I loved that they hit totravel to a new place but felt they spent way too long there.

Also I was beyond irritated with them not realizing that Abishek was as horrible as he was made out to be. Kept shouting in my head at these characters for being so stupid.

3.75 - Thank you Net Galley and Nisha J. Tuli for the opportunity to read the ARC for this! Tuli continues to be one of my favorite authors, and probably my favorite romantasy author. Her writing style synthesizes the perfect balance of engaging fun, emotion, and creative magic systems that make for the perfect romantasy/fantasy read. While this is would not be my favorite series by her, it features some of my favorite characters. Found family is one of my favorite tropes in a book, and The Nightfire Quartet, and this conclusion especially, does this extremely well. When I look back at how we started the journey with our main cast of characters and how really look back at their relationships have evolved through its conclusion, it genuinely brings a smile to my face. The exploration of the bonds between Yasen + Zarya, Row + Zarya, and Rabin + Yasen + Vikram was probably my favorite part of the story. That being said, the "main" relationship of this story - Zarya + Rabin - was just not as satisfying as it is in my favorites. For some reason I was never really able to feel deeply invested in their romantic story, while their involvement in the large plot with the Paramadhar bond was engaging for me. Actually, I found nearly all the other romantic relationships in the story more engaging to read. Tuli is also so good at creating compelling twists, villians that you really hate, and other conflicts that the characters must worry about so that with exploration into their characters and the general world building, making their final demise feel so worth it.

I think my main criticisms of this installment may be due to uneven pacing. I wish that the reveal about Asha happened at the end of the previous book because it felt rushed to resolve that element in the last 50% of this after four whole books. Additionally, Rabin saving Zarya at the end was after their sacrifice was pretty unsatisfying for me. Tuli is so good at writing action fantasy scenes and I felt like it was a little quick and just didn't pack enough of a punch.

All that being said I would DEFINITELY recommend picking this up. Nisha J Tuli remains and auto-read author for me, because her stories - The Queen of Shadows and Ruin - are some of the most fun I have while reading while also hitting me in the feels and no one can take it away from me!!!

Let me start off by saying that The Nightfire Quartet is a wonderful series if you want to be submerged into an epic fantasy world full of magic, wonder, and love. It's about a woman who was secluded from everyone and just wanted to part of her world. Little did she know that she was chosen for so much more.

Story: 3.5 ⭐ (Rounded up)
Spice: 3 🌶 (There was a lot more fun added to the pages of this one)

With all that above being said.... This was probably my least favorite book out of the series. I actually though about DNF'ing it a few times because the first 50% was just slow, not what was expected based off the other books. Also, the fact that the POVs just shifted randomly through the chapters. It left you feeling a bit confused.

But, I'm glad that I stuck out the first 50% because all hell breaks loose after that. It was shocking and dramatic and just an all-around amazing ending to this series. I cried and gasped, maybe was confused a few more time but I loved the ending and how it all buttoned up.

I started reading the Nightfire Quartet after reading the first three books of Tuli's Artefacts of Ouranos series. I had to wait for the final book in that series and I just wasn't ready to leave the awesome world Tuli created. I sped through the Nightfire Quartet in much the same way to once again have to wait for the final book in the series. The Queen of Shadows and Ruin has left me both happy and sad - happy to have the final piece of this great series, but sad to have to leave this world. If Tuli writes it, I'll read it!

A beautiful ending I didn't want to happen...
LOVED this entire series. This last book continued Zara's journey, and Nisha wrapped things up with a neat bow at the end.

I love all of Nisha's work, but this book and series stood out almost as a love letter to her Indian culture. The descriptions of the food and clothing really stood out to me. And you know what? It was the first time I thought to myself, "Fantasy, and the Indian culture really do work well together!"

Anyway...
In this installment, Zara faces her biggest challenge yet. Coming to terms with a deception she never wanted to acknowledge. In the end, however, the very action she does not want to take - will be the salvation she desires.

I rated this final book in the Nightfire Quartet series 4.5⭐ rounded up!

I loved the conclusion of Zarya and Rabin's story.
The character development continues.
The relationships are spicy.
The plot twists are ravenous.

Most of all, I absolutely love supporting Nisha as a Canadian Author, and I thank her and NetGalley for this ARC.

I would hands down recommend this series to any Romantasy Lovers!

I truly love everything Nisha J. Tuli writes, and this series is so bingeable and fast paced. The characters are so easy to root for and Nisha crafted them with so much love and detail that they feel like real people. Seeing them fighting for their own bit of happy had me feeling ALLLLL the feelings. I'm so sad to see this series ending, these characters have a place in my heart. The ending felt a little abrupt but maybe that's just because I wasn't ready for it to be over. Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC!

“I’ll try. But if I don’t, just know how much I love you, Yas. Thank you for being my first best friend.”

This was the perfect thrilling conclusion to the Nightfire quartet, a fastpaced fantasy that had it all, slow burn, betrayal, sacrifice, devastating choices, and of course, love. Romantic love, yes but also deep, true love between friends and chosen family. So much so that you are floored by the extent.
Yasen is still my absolute favourite character. I loved seeing his relationship develop with Miraan, going beyond their differences in class.

I was so proud of Zarya for all she accomplished however that being said, can I also say how annoyed I was with her for being so blindly trusting? That for all her strength of will and compassion, she allowed herself to be used for a time? How she would accept the most inadequate excuse? It’s a tribute to Nisha’s writing that you come to realise that despite having largely come to terms with the trauma from her life, that she has not fully healed and is desperately seeking approval.

I do love the evolutionof her relationship with Row and how this further develops into something of beauty, something to be cherished and she realises how much he had cared for her, even when it didn’t seem like he did.

Overall, a satisfying close to a series that was an exceptional world with a fascinating magic system and characters who remain in your heart long after you close the book.

“I’ll try. But if I don’t, just know how much I love you, Yas. Thank you for being my first best friend.”

This was the perfect thrilling conclusion to the Nightfire quartet, a fastpaced fantasy that had it all, slow burn, betrayal, sacrifice, devastating choices, and of course, love. Romantic love, yes but also deep, true love between friends and chosen family. So much so that you are floored by the extent.
Yasen is still my absolute favourite character. I loved seeing his relationship develop with Miraan, going beyond their differences in class.

I was so proud of Zarya for all she accomplished however that being said, can I also say how annoyed I was with her for being so blindly trusting? That for all her strength of will and compassion, she allowed herself to be used for a time? How she would accept the most inadequate excuse? It’s a tribute to Nisha’s writing that you come to realise that despite having largely come to terms with the trauma from her life, that she has not fully healed and is desperately seeking approval.

I do love the evolutionof her relationship with Row and how this further develops into something of beauty, something to be cherished and she realises how much he had cared for her, even when it didn’t seem like he did.

Overall, a satisfying close to a series that was an exceptional world with a fascinating magic system and characters who remain in your heart long after you close the book.

I was not prepared for this series to end. I have absolutely loved getting lost in the magical world! This installment was a little bit slower at the beginning, but picked up the pace. Rabin and Zarya continued to be absolutely perfect together despite so many forces trying to keep them apart. I loved getting to see more of some of my favorite side characters like Yasen, Miraan, and Row. There were some very well done plot twists and I wasn't sure if we would get a happy ending or not at a few points. It feels bittersweet that this amazing series has come to a conclusion, but it ended perfectly.

Thank you to Second Sky and NetGalley for the ARC!

An Anticlimactic Farewell to Zarya and Rabin

First of all, I’d like to express my gratitude towards Netgalley, Second Sky and Nisha J. Tuli for generously providing me with a free advanced reader copy. This review is entirely voluntary, and I want to emphasize that it truly reflects my genuine emotions and thoughts about the story.

Star rating ⭐⭐⭐ Spice rating 🌶️🌶️🌶️(½)

“Queen of Shadows and Ruin” delivers a somewhat lackluster conclusion to the series for me. The story starts off slowly, and while certain key moments deserved more depth and development, they felt rushed, especially the ending. After so much buildup in the third and final book, the resolution felt like an afterthought, neatly wrapped up but lacking the weight it deserved. With the third book centering on freeing the Vanshaj, building a rebellion, and the prophecy, and the final book focusing on strength and fulfilling the prophecy, the ending of the series ultimately felt anticlimactic.

Over the course of four books, Zarya has grown into a strong woman, but I still found her frustratingly naive and overly trusting at times especially when it came to her biological father. When both the person who raised you and your own mother warn you about someone, you’d think that would warrant more caution. Additionally, the way Zarya and Rabin seemed completely oblivious to the bond “weakening” the moment they arrived in Andhera didn’t feel realistic. Trusting so easily, despite all the warnings and instincts, it made them seem more foolish than fierce even though it was for the plot.

That said, I still enjoyed the overall story and Zarya and Rabin’s journey. I think the author masterfully created a rich world infused with Indian mythology and culture, which I absolutely loved exploring.I would have loved to see more of Zarya and Rabin’s future together, but perhaps that’s just me being greedy. Despite my mixed feelings on this finale, I’m still looking forward to exploring the author’s other series and works.

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Queen of Shadows and Ruin
Author: Nisha J. Tuli

Thank you so much Second Sky for this copy of the amazing finale of a wonderful series! Zarya and Rabin’s story continues. Meeting her father at last, Zarya is extremely wary. Rabin has assured her it is fine, and her father means well, but even he has a strange feeling crawling under his skin as soon as they arrive. Also they are hiding their relationship from her father… what is really going on here? However Zarya is willing to do whatever it takes to save her home, even if it means taking a chance and putting her trust in something she is wary about. This book was an amazing conclusion to this beautiful quartet. My favorite series of Nishas to date, it is so underrated and needs to be more known!! I’m so sad it’s over. Nisha always wraps up her series with a perfect bow.. like a cherry on top of an ice cream sundae. Rabin is my absolute favorite MC! 🥵. Please do me a favor and read this now if you are looking for a new romantasy,

5⭐

Thank you @netgalley for this #ARC.

This book delivered an absolutely stunning conclusion to the Nightfire Quartet! I'm still reeling from it. This book was a masterpiece, seamlessly blending everything I love in a fantasy romance.

This book picks right up from the end of #3. Zarya journeys to meet her mysterious father, Raja Abishek. As she works to continue spreading the rebellion, unknown threats are gathering. Her relationships are tested, and she must decide who to trust as ancient magic threatens to shatter everything.

This book had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The pacing was perfect, keeping me completely engrossed. The suspense and twists, as Zarya navigated treacherous alliances and ancient prophecies, were expertly woven into the narrative, providing constant surprises. But it wasn't just the plot that captivated me. The character development was phenomenal. Zarya's journey was powerful and emotional, and I loved seeing her grow and evolve as she faced her destiny. But also Yasen, my boy, oh man. He may be a side character but that makes it even more amazing the growth we see here.

And let's talk about the spice! Tuli delivered those moments with perfect heat, adding another layer of depth to the relationships. The blend of romance and intense fantasy action, as Zarya fought for her kingdom and her heart, was flawlessly executed.

This was everything a conclusion to a series should be. It's a thrilling adventure, a heartfelt romance, and a deeply emotional story all rolled into one. I am sad to say goodbye to these characters and praying Yasen gets his own series!

Spice 4/5
Plot 5/5
Pace 5/5
Character Personality 5/5
Character Growth 5/5
Writing Style 5/5
World Building 5/5

Queen of Shadows and Ruin is the fourth and final book in The Nightfire Quartet and closes the series out with quite a bang. This series must be read in order as each picks up where they left off. I was so excited to start this book and it grabbed me from the get go and just kept going. Like every book in this series this one also had me snacking along with the book as all the food mentioned made me so hungry I ate so many samosas! I loved how in this book we got to see the cast of characters and the different areas of the world visited on previous books again. If you want a wonderful fantasy romance this is a great completed series to pick up.