Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J. Tuli
Publisher: Forever
Pub Date: 9/12/2023

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J Tuli is the first book in the Artefacts of Ouranos series. This new adult fantasy follows Lor, a long-suffering captive, who gets an unexpected chance at freedom when she’s thrust into a deadly competition for the Sun King’s heart. As she competes against nine other tributes, she must not only win but also navigate the challenges of a court she doesn’t belong to and fend off rivals who want her eliminated.

I originally came across this series thanks to Forever. I was so happy to see that this book and the second book are available on kindle unlimited so I decided to give it a try. The best way to describe Trial of the Sun Queen is its A Court of Thorns and Roses meets The Bachelor. I was pleasantly surprised there wasn’t more world building in this book as that’s what typically happens in the first book of a series. It was action-packed and I found each of the trials to be intriguing. The Sun King’s behavior felt somewhat predictable, but I thoroughly enjoyed Lor’s character and her unwavering love for her siblings. As for Nadir’s perspective, I’m expecting his purpose will become clearer in the second book. Just a heads up, the first book ends on a cliffhanger.

Rule of the Aurora King by Nisha J. Tuli
Publisher: Forever
Pub Date: 9/12/2023

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rule of the Aurora King by Nisha J. Tuli is the second book in the Artefacts of Ouranos series. Rule of the Aurora King is a true sequel and I recommend reading Trial of the Sun Queen first.

Note: I would recommend reading this review after you finish reading Trial of the Sun Queen so read at your own discretion.

Book 2 continues on with Lor’s journey from book 1. Rule of the Aurora King was an enjoyable read. This one was a bit of a slower pace than the first book. I liked that we got to learn more about Lor’s family history and that she was reunited with her siblings. It was also wonderful learning more about Nadir and his complicated familial relationships as well. I really liked that the author focused more on the characters in this book, whereas the first was more plot-driven. The twists in the book were great and I had no idea what to expect for the ending. Lor and Nadir make an interesting couple and it was great that the author took a while to build their chemistry. I also loved the multiple perspectives in the book which added more depth to the story. Like Trial of the Sun Queen, Rule of the Aurora King leaves on a cliffhanger so now I can’t wait to read Fate of the Sun King which releases next year!