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georgiemay7's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This book did nothing I haven’t seen before in fae fantasy book. In fact I was hoping to be wrong about everything, but I wasn’t.
I also wish they wouldn’t put all the intrigue into the second book. I want a full story in this one please.
If you’re considering this book, consider instead ACOTAR, Prison Healer, or Lightlark.
The smut was decent though.
I also wish they wouldn’t put all the intrigue into the second book. I want a full story in this one please.
If you’re considering this book, consider instead ACOTAR, Prison Healer, or Lightlark.
The smut was decent though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Death, Gore, Rape, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
anastaciaknits's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Book was okay. Dragged a lot in the middle. Would’ve liked to have seen more of the competition between the women.
Minor twist st the end.
Too dark for me to continue this series. I would’ve DNFd if I realized book was part of a series.
Minor twist st the end.
Too dark for me to continue this series. I would’ve DNFd if I realized book was part of a series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Medical trauma and Death of parent
mo_mo92's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Definitely an interesting read. It does follow your standard romantasy formula with a no one girl who is deemed special. It’s very SJM inspired with how the story flows. It’s like if From Blood and Ash was written better in my opinion with a less annoying MFC. Ngl, Lore is THAT GIRL. I also love the first line in the book. It’s definitely going to grab your attention. There’s subtle themes of the unfairness of capitalism and classism within the backdrop of the book. Lore makes it a point to show the difference between her and other contestants just based off life experiences. I’m on to the next book 🫡
Content Warnings
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
ivi_reads_books's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
If The Hunger Games and A Court of Thorns and Roses had a love child, it would be Trial of the Sun Queen. This gripping fantasy throws readers into a brutal competition where survival means outwitting both ruthless rivals and the whims of a powerful court.
The protagonist is instantly compelling—a survivor plucked from prison and forced into a deadly game she never signed up for. She’s smart, resilient, and just self-aware enough to know she’s being used as a pawn, but she refuses to go down without a fight. The court’s extravagance and the stark class divide add to the tension, making every moment feel high-stakes.
With a touch of steam, a dash of queer romance/lust, and an ending that leaves you desperate for book two, Trial of the Sun Queen is a thrilling ride from start to finish. If you love high-stakes trials, cunning heroines, and dangerously alluring Fae, this one’s for you!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Blood
Moderate: Confinement, War, and Injury/Injury detail
picklelady's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Enemies to lovers romantasy with fae, a lost princess, deadly Olympics, and “good guys” you know are up to no good. Sons who vow to be better than their fathers. Weak nobody FMC who has amazing stamina and skills. “Plain” looks but desired by all…
Still quite enjoyable.
Still quite enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
unicornofthesea's review against another edition
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape
msalexnicole's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
I love this book!
I could not put it down and finished it fast.
The writing is excellent, the story is excellent, the characters are fun.
The only reason I knocked off .25 stars if that the ending felt a bit rushed compared to the rest of the book.
I cannot wait for book 2!
Expect:
-training
-trials
-mystery
-mouthy FMC
-broody men
-fae
-magic
Overall 4.75/5 stars
Spice 1.5/5
I could not put it down and finished it fast.
The writing is excellent, the story is excellent, the characters are fun.
The only reason I knocked off .25 stars if that the ending felt a bit rushed compared to the rest of the book.
I cannot wait for book 2!
Expect:
-training
-trials
-mystery
-mouthy FMC
-broody men
-fae
-magic
Overall 4.75/5 stars
Spice 1.5/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Violence, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Trafficking, and Lesbophobia
rdaacvhiesl's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I enjoy the banter and the layers of plot. I go back and forth on liking Lor, but I find myself mostly rooting for her. It was a quick read with a good balance of description and dialogue.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape and Death of parent
bananathemuffin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I was going to give this book 3 stars, because despite my following review, I did enjoy this book. It was, at the very least, a fast and entertaining read. But the more I think about it the more annoyed I'm getting.
The attempts at foreshadowing and an unreliable narrator were certainly an attempt. Maybe it wasn't supposed to be a reveal and I'm getting worked up over nothing, but everyone is just so secretive throughout this book, and the ending was certainly written like it was supposed to be an "Aha!" moment. But it was so obvious from the very beginning who Lor is supposed to be, despite her claiming she has no clue what anyone is talking about.
Flat and predictable, the plot barrels on ahead despite the many many holes it has. Why must we hold trails for the choosing of the Sun Queen? Why must the trials be deadly? Why can't we just stick a bunch of women in front of the Mirror until it picks somebody? Nobody knows! That's just the way things are, DUH!!
And I don't think I've ever read a book where the FMC's POV is in first person, present tense, while the MMC's POV is third person, past tense. Certainly another choice on the author's part. I've read my fair share of books that swap between first and third person for the different characters' chapters, but shouldn't we be sticking to the same timely narrative? Unless we're looking at a flashback or something? I thought mayyybe the reveal would be that Nadir's chapters happened a long time ago and Lor is the only one in the present, but nope. Just sloppy writing. There's scene where their POVs are back to back of the same event, and it was still like that there as well. A narrator was recalling his side of the story, and Lor was telling us her side as it was happing. I found it jarring, to say the least.
Was this book the worst thing I've ever read? No absolutely not. Was it just a clash of the plots of SJM's entire writing collective and The Selection series? Absolutely yes. And do I have the next book sitting on my holds shelf? For now, but that's subject to change seeing as I have a projected several months wait. I may change my mind between now and then.
The attempts at foreshadowing and an unreliable narrator were certainly an attempt. Maybe it wasn't supposed to be a reveal and I'm getting worked up over nothing, but everyone is just so secretive throughout this book, and the ending was certainly written like it was supposed to be an "Aha!" moment. But it was so obvious from the very beginning who Lor is supposed to be, despite her claiming she has no clue what anyone is talking about.
Flat and predictable, the plot barrels on ahead despite the many many holes it has. Why must we hold trails for the choosing of the Sun Queen? Why must the trials be deadly? Why can't we just stick a bunch of women in front of the Mirror until it picks somebody? Nobody knows! That's just the way things are, DUH!!
And I don't think I've ever read a book where the FMC's POV is in first person, present tense, while the MMC's POV is third person, past tense. Certainly another choice on the author's part. I've read my fair share of books that swap between first and third person for the different characters' chapters, but shouldn't we be sticking to the same timely narrative? Unless we're looking at a flashback or something? I thought mayyybe the reveal would be that Nadir's chapters happened a long time ago and Lor is the only one in the present, but nope. Just sloppy writing. There's scene where their POVs are back to back of the same event, and it was still like that there as well. A narrator was recalling his side of the story, and Lor was telling us her side as it was happing. I found it jarring, to say the least.
Was this book the worst thing I've ever read? No absolutely not. Was it just a clash of the plots of SJM's entire writing collective and The Selection series? Absolutely yes. And do I have the next book sitting on my holds shelf? For now, but that's subject to change seeing as I have a projected several months wait. I may change my mind between now and then.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Vomit, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
sarahhgrayy's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail