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library0fjen's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
searchingforhappilyeverafter's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
Trial of the Sun Queen is the first book in Nisha J. Tuli’s Artefacts of Ouranos series.
Lor and her siblings have endured twelve long years of torture and imprisonment under the Aurora King’s rule. Her only desire is to free her family and get revenge for every moment of torment inflicted upon them. Unforeseen circumstances find her in the perilous Sun Queen Trials, where she is to compete against nine others to become queen of Aphelion. The stakes are high. If Lor loses, she dies or will be returned to the Aurora King. While Lor doesn’t fully understand how she ended up in the trials, she wants nothing more than to win the competition so that she can gain her freedom, help her family, and become one step closer to getting revenge.
This story is romantasy entertainment at its best, filled with almost nonstop thrilling action, intriguing politics, magic, fae, romance, and thoughtful social commentary. The writing style feels more YA, though content-wise this book is definitely adult or NA.
The worldbuilding is excellent. Lor has been imprisoned since childhood, so she is practically seeing the outside world for the first time. Basically, the readers are learning everything about this world at the same time Lor is, which I thought was really well done.
Lor is definitely one of my new favorite fantasy FMCs. She is feisty, resilient, intelligent, and willing to do whatever is necessary to save those she loves.
Tuli has brilliantly crafted a story that kept me turning the pages well into the night.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and Kidnapping
rachel_jones03's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
itsmecalib_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent
taylordoran's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
I had a great time reading this book. I went in blind besides knowing that the premise is Hunger Games meets the Bachelor and that explanation did not disappoint.
It was a great start to the series and it's making me want to pick up the next one immediately. The first few chapters were rough, content-wise and it is definitely rated R, but the mystery had me turning the pages quickly. There are so many Easter eggs and clues that I feel like I have some great theories about what will happen next. I love books like that!
It was a great start to the series and it's making me want to pick up the next one immediately. The first few chapters were rough, content-wise and it is definitely rated R, but the mystery had me turning the pages quickly. There are so many Easter eggs and clues that I feel like I have some great theories about what will happen next. I love books like that!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault and Violence
jasbirshah's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Child abuse, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
mfendley's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault
heartsandthrillers's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-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
Excellent first book in a series and it gets better and better with each book. You won’t want to put this series down!
What to expect:
✅ Fae
✅ Fated mates
✅ Dual perspective
✅ 🌶️ (1.5)
✅ Hidden identity
✅ Is it all that it seems?
✅ Incomplete series (Book 4 releases 11/26/24)
What to expect:
✅ Fae
✅ Fated mates
✅ Dual perspective
✅ 🌶️ (1.5)
✅ Hidden identity
✅ Is it all that it seems?
✅ Incomplete series (Book 4 releases 11/26/24)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Kidnapping
Minor: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Death of parent, and Murder
Series gets spicer with each bookwait_whoissheagain's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I enjoyed this book! I liked the bachelor / deadly competition vibe and the FMC Lor came with a good dose of female rage. Despite this, I feel like this book didn’t quite hit the spot I thought it would.
The action throughout the book was fast-paced and the trials were exciting, but I feel like nothing happened to advance the actual plot of the series, and it was confusing at some points. It was mentioned throughout the book that Lor didn’t understand why she had been taken and placed in the Trials, but right at the end she announced that she did have a secret, but she didn’t tell us what that secret was! I do think that the rest of the series will be good when we get to explore the deeper plot and all the secrets that have been foreshadowed are revealed.
Like I said before, I really like Lor, and we all know I love a bit of female rage, but we didn’t really get to see that rage when it mattered. Again, I hope we get to see more in the coming books. Her story was heartbreaking though, and I’m excited to see her character develop even more.
Gabriel gave me conflicting feelings throughout the book. I kept hoping for some redemption, but as soon as he got the chance to get some, he acted like a complete ass again and it infuriated me! Lor’s relationship with him is something I’m hoping to see develop in the next book.
We don’t really know too much about the other main characters yet, and I’m looking forward to learning more about them. In the next book, I hope to have some questions answered and I’m hoping that we get to see the cunning, powerful character that Lor has the potential to be.
The action throughout the book was fast-paced and the trials were exciting, but I feel like nothing happened to advance the actual plot of the series, and it was confusing at some points. It was mentioned throughout the book that Lor didn’t understand why she had been taken and placed in the Trials, but right at the end she announced that she did have a secret, but she didn’t tell us what that secret was! I do think that the rest of the series will be good when we get to explore the deeper plot and all the secrets that have been foreshadowed are revealed.
Like I said before, I really like Lor, and we all know I love a bit of female rage, but we didn’t really get to see that rage when it mattered. Again, I hope we get to see more in the coming books. Her story was heartbreaking though, and I’m excited to see her character develop even more.
Gabriel gave me conflicting feelings throughout the book. I kept hoping for some redemption, but as soon as he got the chance to get some, he acted like a complete ass again and it infuriated me! Lor’s relationship with him is something I’m hoping to see develop in the next book.
We don’t really know too much about the other main characters yet, and I’m looking forward to learning more about them. In the next book, I hope to have some questions answered and I’m hoping that we get to see the cunning, powerful character that Lor has the potential to be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault
ginac's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault