Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J. Tuli, ARC Review

About the book

Ten women. A deadly contest. Only one can win the Sun King’s heart.
Lor has endured twelve long years of torment under the Aurora King’s rule. Her only desire is to escape and pay him back for every moment of misery she’s endured.

When a surprise release finds her in the hands of the rival Sun King, Lor is thrust into the spotlight as she competes against nine other Tributes for the role of queen. If she wins his heart, she’ll earn her freedom and finally get her revenge.

But Lor doesn’t belong in the Sun Queen Trials. Not only does she not understand why she was freed, she isn’t a citizen of the Sun King’s court. The other Tributes resent her presence and will stop at nothing to ensure Lor is removed from the competition, permanently.

Now Lor must win, because if she loses, she dies. Or worse, she’ll be returned to the evil—and now vengeful—Aurora King.

My thoughts

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Enthralling and addictive seem to be the words I associate with Nisha J Tuli’s stories. Trial of the Sun Queen is an addictive fae romance with a brown heroine you’re gonna love, a brown fae you want to trust, and a brown fae who is going to surprise you! When I say that I cannot wait to read more is an understatement!!

If you enjoy reading about fae, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers, court politics, and a brown girl going against all odds, come here. This is going to be a faentastic book journey with “I don’t trust you but should I?”and “I really shouldn’t but I want to kiss you” in the next book.

I loved the romance, I loved the worldbuilding, I loved the prose, but most of all, I think I loved how the author portrayed the characters.

Lor is truly a heroine you’re going to root for, a young woman who has survived the most unthinkable situations with her mind intact and her priorities unwavering. She fights for herself and for her family and uses all means necessary to protect them and herself, and I do mean all means. She doesn’t sugarcoat anything; she sees the big picture. She really is the epitome of long-term thinking. I also liked how she criticized the beautiful Aphelion aka Sun King’s palace even though she admired its beauty and sparkle. It’d be so easy to close your eyes and be grateful you’re surrounded by gold and not the dirt you previously had. But Lor never takes the easy road. She criticizes and speaks the truth even though it’d be more prudent to say nothing.

But the author’s brilliance shines on her portrayal of Atlas and the scenes between him and Lor. You want to believe in him and trust him, but there’s always something tiny-may be a tiny hint or just a tiny feeling-that makes you hold back, just like Lor holds back a little. AND I LOVED EVERY FREAKING SECOND OF IT! This tug-of-war of my feelings “Believe in him!” and “Um, let’s get the heck out of here!” was so addictive!!!!!

Some people will certainly say that the slow-burn is too slow, but isn’t that the best kind of slow-burn? For me, a quick slow-burn is an oxymoron and a way of avoiding saying that this just wasn’t for me 🙈 This series IS FOR ME, AND I LOVE IT VERY MUCH!!!

It’s written in dual POV-of Lor’s and Nadir’s- but it’s mostly Lor’s. Who is Nadir, you might wonder. Oh, he’s the other mc & my obsession! Nadir, a brown fae who is angry at the world, mistrusting, fiercely protective, smart, ruthless when needed (and it’s truly needed), and who happens to have two white hounds he likes sleeping next to. I didn’t know what to think of him in his first POVs, but I liked him more and more as time went. I really loved him by the end, and I want to protect his angry self as much as his fierce hounds.

The next book will be PERFECTLY AND PAINFULLY DELIGHTFUL!!!!

I’m a big, big fan of Nisha J. Tuli’s, and I just want MORE.

A great twisting and compelling first book that sets off one of the delightful fae romance series that will set its claws in you. You’re not going to stop thinking about this series; I promise 😈

See also my Instagram review!