A review by searchingforhappilyeverafter
Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J. Tuli

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. 
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