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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
jasfa'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
reka111's review against another edition
challenging
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
1.5
Hunger is a language I know. A script I've written a thousand times.
Gods, it's finally over! Well, that was terrible, honestly, some really fucked up intersection of Hunger Games, Selection & ACOTAR. I struggled incredibly hard by the time it ended, oh my goodness.
Lor wasn't that terrible, by the way, although one would think that prison years would make a person distrustful, weak and maybe a little unpredictable, both mentally and physically, but not her. That would be fine, but the fact that she was so terribly naïve (after all of that!) is not. She keeps saying she doesn't need anyone, etc., but she's still helping others — which no sane person would do. I can't figure her out — and I honestly don't want to — but I liked that she had an animalistic rage and a willingness to act. Either way, this martyr role went terribly wrong for her. Atlas, I knew — I felt — that we were going to get another Tamlin, even with a not-so-big change lol. A red flag for everyone, another toxic alpha male that no one needs. When it comes to Nadir, I can't decide what the hell he's doing or who he's having what relationship with, to be honest. He has a goal — an infinitely vague and unnecessary goal — that he pursues like a hound, but I cannot figure out why he does it, and I honestly don't care why he (and everyone else) needs Lor so much. Of the other characters, Gabriel was surprisingly quite tolerable with his duality, but I didn't like him either. Maybe it was Halo who grew a bit close to my heart.
The love story (can I even call it that?) was just so out of the blue that I shook my head. There was no chemistry between them, as if we were trying to put a stone and ice together — there are similarities, but not much. (And by the way, it seems okay to spread your legs the very first time after being raped and abused repeatedly for years at the first opportunity???? What the hell was that??? Who writes such a thing??)
The plot was horribly messed up. No beginning or end, everything was so tuggy and still too fast (a bit counterproductive, but I can't say it any better) all at once. The author should have spent a lot more time and energy building the world (I never thought I'd say that, lol) and leaving eroticism in the background for once in a lifetime. Otherwise, the pace was quite good - not the best, but still not so bad. The wording was fine, although I read it on my mother tongue, so I can't add much. And the end; What was that? I felt the author tried – unsuccessfully – to add a Rhysand rescue expedition (why I don't know) so that if it had fairies, it wouldn't miss the ACOTAR reference. It made no sense or any use.
Overall, there are no gods that would make me volunteer to continue this series, that was more than enough (maybe even a lot) for a lifetime.
PS: that map was terrible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Bullying, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
travistyaverted's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Death, Blood, and Police brutality
Minor: Rape, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
spicycronereads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book starts out really strong! Lor the FMC is imprisoned with her siblings and is known for getting into trouble. She is smart and funny and indomitable. And she loves Tristan and Willow, her two older siblings.
When she is the human tribute selected to participate in the sun queen trials, every move she makes is to protect them. Trials test physical strength but also reveal Lor’s character.
We also get POV chapters from Nadir, the prince of Aurora, which is the territory that held Lor as prisoner for half of her life.
Th pacing is quite good and the writing is often sharply funny. Some plot points are quite predictable but it is fun getting there all the same. I saw the book described as ACOTAR meets The Hunger Games and that seems pretty spot on.
The secondary characters are fairly flat, with the exception of Gabriel, around whom there is a bit of mystery.
There is a slow burn love interest and some spice. I’d give it two chili peppers. 🌶️🌶️
There is a fair amount of diverse representation with almost every character having some shade of brown skin and many secondary characters in queer relationships or flings. Lor and Nadir are both brown-skinned with dark wavy hair.
Overall it is a fast, fun read that sets up events for the next book (which is less predictable imo). ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 🌶️🌶️
When she is the human tribute selected to participate in the sun queen trials, every move she makes is to protect them. Trials test physical strength but also reveal Lor’s character.
We also get POV chapters from Nadir, the prince of Aurora, which is the territory that held Lor as prisoner for half of her life.
Th pacing is quite good and the writing is often sharply funny. Some plot points are quite predictable but it is fun getting there all the same. I saw the book described as ACOTAR meets The Hunger Games and that seems pretty spot on.
The secondary characters are fairly flat, with the exception of Gabriel, around whom there is a bit of mystery.
There is a slow burn love interest and some spice. I’d give it two chili peppers. 🌶️🌶️
There is a fair amount of diverse representation with almost every character having some shade of brown skin and many secondary characters in queer relationships or flings. Lor and Nadir are both brown-skinned with dark wavy hair.
Overall it is a fast, fun read that sets up events for the next book (which is less predictable imo). ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 🌶️🌶️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping and Gaslighting
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Child death, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
kemikemi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Body horror, Rape, and Alcohol
bailey0414's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
inspiring
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I tore through this book so fast. It's like if Hunger Games, Divergent, and ACOTAR all had a baby and put it into one book. Though this book is a simple read and I did see quite a few things coming, I couldn't put it down because I just wanted to know I was right every step of the way. Lor is a great main character with her temper, her lack of self control after growing up in a prison, and even her conflicting feelings we see first hand. I loved also reading the small moments of Nadir and knew he would have a much bigger role coming up for future books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
This was an absolute blast in a glass! I went in with zero expectations and had such a great time😛 This is the first in a series of at least four books, I zoomed through it because it felt familiar (The Bachelor meets Hunger Games is pretty spot-on marketing) yet stood strong on its own, adding its own unique and playful twists.
I thoroughly enjoyed Lor as the main character (we receive her 1st person narration); she was scrappy, bold, fearless, unimpressed, and to her core, a fighter. She fought for her survival and kept pushing through the trials to hopefully find a way to save her siblings Tristan and Willow in any way she could. Lor logically knew that her odds as the Final Tribute were not in her favor, but that never stops her from fighting tooth and nail to live to see another day in the Sun King’s court. She was also hilarious and I would be friends with her, even if she would be a little abrasive to me & bring me to tears😂
Due to other romantasies, I almost never fully invest in the love interest introduced to us in first books in series. I am glad that I was correct in my predictions about Atlas, but it was still entertaining to watch as that connection built and eventually unfolded in the tumultuous way it did. Lor is not some naive, sheltered, lovesick kid though; she had enough self-awareness and skepticism about people/Fae to recognize that ‘hey, this is probably just lust and passion, but omg, have you *seen* how smokin’ hot this guy is? Don’t mind if I ride that real quick!’ I also generally appreciated that after a lifetime of sexual assault at the hands of the corrupt prison guards at Nostraza, Lor *chooses* to be intimate with Atlas. It’s a powerful feeling to be in charge of your body after it has not been for so long.
I know Gabriel pulled some shiesty bullshit, but I actually thoroughly enjoyed his banter with Lor. I wouldn’t doubt if these two were each other’s best friends by the end of this series! I can’t wait to see him rebel against Atlas; I was going to say, ‘I’d pay money to read that!’ & what a goofy thing to say because I absolutely *will* be buying whatever books are in this series hehehe. Anyway, don’t count Gabriel out, there’s my two cents!!
The magic system is pretty elementary; I’d say this is a fantastic book to recommend to someone who is new to romantasies & any kind of fantasy. It’s so easy to follow! Regarding the mystery of Lor’s true identity and why she is of paramount importance, I think most readers could have guessed something was afoot after reading the title. Though she does not come out as the “Sun Queen,” I pretty much knew she would be revealed as some royalty in a Jon Snow kinda way lol.
Nadir’s third-person chapters were interesting because we were introduced to the Aurora courts & the Princess Amyra too, & this is where Lor is originally from. I thought the format of the Final Tribute being from their rival court was so funny, like those rulers from hundreds of years ago were just men who “like to watch the world burn,” amirite?! Anyway, I can’t wait to see what happens next now that Lor is in the Aurora courts & with Nadir & Amya now!
steam rating: 2/5
This was an absolute blast in a glass! I went in with zero expectations and had such a great time😛 This is the first in a series of at least four books, I zoomed through it because it felt familiar (The Bachelor meets Hunger Games is pretty spot-on marketing) yet stood strong on its own, adding its own unique and playful twists.
I thoroughly enjoyed Lor as the main character (we receive her 1st person narration); she was scrappy, bold, fearless, unimpressed, and to her core, a fighter. She fought for her survival and kept pushing through the trials to hopefully find a way to save her siblings Tristan and Willow in any way she could. Lor logically knew that her odds as the Final Tribute were not in her favor, but that never stops her from fighting tooth and nail to live to see another day in the Sun King’s court. She was also hilarious and I would be friends with her, even if she would be a little abrasive to me & bring me to tears😂
Due to other romantasies, I almost never fully invest in the love interest introduced to us in first books in series. I am glad that I was correct in my predictions about Atlas, but it was still entertaining to watch as that connection built and eventually unfolded in the tumultuous way it did. Lor is not some naive, sheltered, lovesick kid though; she had enough self-awareness and skepticism about people/Fae to recognize that ‘hey, this is probably just lust and passion, but omg, have you *seen* how smokin’ hot this guy is? Don’t mind if I ride that real quick!’ I also generally appreciated that after a lifetime of sexual assault at the hands of the corrupt prison guards at Nostraza, Lor *chooses* to be intimate with Atlas. It’s a powerful feeling to be in charge of your body after it has not been for so long.
I know Gabriel pulled some shiesty bullshit, but I actually thoroughly enjoyed his banter with Lor. I wouldn’t doubt if these two were each other’s best friends by the end of this series! I can’t wait to see him rebel against Atlas; I was going to say, ‘I’d pay money to read that!’ & what a goofy thing to say because I absolutely *will* be buying whatever books are in this series hehehe. Anyway, don’t count Gabriel out, there’s my two cents!!
The magic system is pretty elementary; I’d say this is a fantastic book to recommend to someone who is new to romantasies & any kind of fantasy. It’s so easy to follow! Regarding the mystery of Lor’s true identity and why she is of paramount importance, I think most readers could have guessed something was afoot after reading the title. Though she does not come out as the “Sun Queen,” I pretty much knew she would be revealed as some royalty in a Jon Snow kinda way lol.
Nadir’s third-person chapters were interesting because we were introduced to the Aurora courts & the Princess Amyra too, & this is where Lor is originally from. I thought the format of the Final Tribute being from their rival court was so funny, like those rulers from hundreds of years ago were just men who “like to watch the world burn,” amirite?! Anyway, I can’t wait to see what happens next now that Lor is in the Aurora courts & with Nadir & Amya now!
steam rating: 2/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
amanda_reads13's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
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? No
2.5
Lor has spent 12 years imprisoned, though she has committed no crime. One day she wakes up to find herself in a castle far from the prison and her siblings. She becomes one of the ten women who are competing in a deadly contest to become bonded to the Sun King.
This is a very predictable book. I was able to see the big surprise pretty early on. The character and plot are pretty unoriginal. It is basically a mashup of other popular books and characters (think The Selection + Hunger Games + ACOTAR + Red Queen) but not as well written or developed.
This is trying very hard to be ACOTAR. The Aurora= Night court, Atlas=Tamlin, Nadhir=Rhys etc...
Lor started out very independent and strong willed, but ended up being extremely naive. She is supposed to be a strong woman shaped by her tough life, but she just crumbles at the smallest setback.
I found the way that the dual POV was written to be interesting. Lor was written in 1st person where as the Aurora Prince was written in 3rd. It threw me off at first.
Tropes: slow burn, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, fantasy
This is a very predictable book. I was able to see the big surprise pretty early on. The character and plot are pretty unoriginal. It is basically a mashup of other popular books and characters (think The Selection + Hunger Games + ACOTAR + Red Queen) but not as well written or developed.
Lor started out very independent and strong willed, but ended up being extremely naive. She is supposed to be a strong woman shaped by her tough life, but she just crumbles at the smallest setback.
I found the way that the dual POV was written to be interesting. Lor was written in 1st person where as the Aurora Prince was written in 3rd. It threw me off at first.
Tropes: slow burn, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, fantasy
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
kayceeisbookish's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Death of parent, and Alcohol