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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
nisha is my queen of delicious, bite-sized romantasy stories that are fun and packed full of all the best tropes — found family! enemies to lovers! slow burn! — and heart of night and fire delivers.
the story focuses on zarya, a woman with mysterious magic, kept under lock and key by her guardian for almost her entire life. without a ‘why’, without a ‘when can i go free?’, without understanding herself, her history, or her magic. like a f*cked up rapunzel situation, but one where the FMC is less stockholmed by her guardian and more get me the f*ck out of here.
which happens, of course, when her guardian goes missing, and the wards around the cottage she’s called home for twenty years fall.
AND THE ADVENTURE BEGINS.
while the pacing of this one was a lot slower for me than trial of the sun queen, it doubled up on the worldbuilding with fun south asian mythological elements, and is chock full of cultural references that fully immerse you into the story.
we get VAMPIRES! little mini faeries! dragons! giant birds! undead things with big heads and weird bodies! SO MANY FUN CREATURES and so many interesting characters that — through the found family trope — help flesh out the rest of the story in a meaningful way.
i enjoyed this immensely, though i truthfully have no idea where it’s going. there’s so much happening in this story that at times the plot gets a little muddled, making it hard to follow when your head’s on a constant swivel trying to absorb the next plot twist. it’s absolutely delicious, though — fun, easy to read, exciting, and an utterly enchanting and immersive world.
definitely check this one out if you’re interested in south asian culture and mythology, a classic ‘who am i?’ romantasy story, and a cast of characters that feel like home.
the story focuses on zarya, a woman with mysterious magic, kept under lock and key by her guardian for almost her entire life. without a ‘why’, without a ‘when can i go free?’, without understanding herself, her history, or her magic. like a f*cked up rapunzel situation, but one where the FMC is less stockholmed by her guardian and more get me the f*ck out of here.
which happens, of course, when her guardian goes missing, and the wards around the cottage she’s called home for twenty years fall.
AND THE ADVENTURE BEGINS.
while the pacing of this one was a lot slower for me than trial of the sun queen, it doubled up on the worldbuilding with fun south asian mythological elements, and is chock full of cultural references that fully immerse you into the story.
we get VAMPIRES! little mini faeries! dragons! giant birds! undead things with big heads and weird bodies! SO MANY FUN CREATURES and so many interesting characters that — through the found family trope — help flesh out the rest of the story in a meaningful way.
i enjoyed this immensely, though i truthfully have no idea where it’s going. there’s so much happening in this story that at times the plot gets a little muddled, making it hard to follow when your head’s on a constant swivel trying to absorb the next plot twist. it’s absolutely delicious, though — fun, easy to read, exciting, and an utterly enchanting and immersive world.
definitely check this one out if you’re interested in south asian culture and mythology, a classic ‘who am i?’ romantasy story, and a cast of characters that feel like home.
adventurous
fast-paced
I first read the Artifact of the Ouranos series and then explored more books by Nisha because I thoroughly enjoyed that series. Although I wasn’t certain what to expect from this book, I’ve noticed that Nisha’s debut novel often receives mixed reviews, but the overall quality of the story improves with each subsequent book.
This book is fast-paced, which I appreciate, but I found myself struggling to keep track of all the characters. I had to mentally note their names and descriptions, which made it difficult to follow the plot. I wish there had been a glossary at the back of the book to assist me in remembering who each character was.
The book features a diverse cast of characters, including demons, fairies, vampires, and mages, all of whom have different names in the book (like Aazheri and Rakshasa).
The female protagonist, Zarya, is a compelling character who is easy to root for. She’s a young woman who has been essentially locked away her entire life and yearns for a family, friendship, and love.
I can’t wait to read the next book because at the end, they answer many of the questions that Zarya was trying to resolve throughout the book. I’m eager to see how she learns to use her magic, how Rabin’s story unfolds, and how the romance develop. I believe this marks the beginning of an extraordinary and captivating narrative.
This book is fast-paced, which I appreciate, but I found myself struggling to keep track of all the characters. I had to mentally note their names and descriptions, which made it difficult to follow the plot. I wish there had been a glossary at the back of the book to assist me in remembering who each character was.
The book features a diverse cast of characters, including demons, fairies, vampires, and mages, all of whom have different names in the book (like Aazheri and Rakshasa).
The female protagonist, Zarya, is a compelling character who is easy to root for. She’s a young woman who has been essentially locked away her entire life and yearns for a family, friendship, and love.
I can’t wait to read the next book because at the end, they answer many of the questions that Zarya was trying to resolve throughout the book. I’m eager to see how she learns to use her magic, how Rabin’s story unfolds, and how the romance develop. I believe this marks the beginning of an extraordinary and captivating narrative.
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I felt nothing between the mcs and it felt very underwhelming. But then, at like 75-80% you get why.
I received an ARC of this book, but my review is honest and voluntary.
After taking a month-long break from reading, this book was exactly what I needed to get back into it. I was completely hooked from start to finish.
While Heart of Night and Fire covered most of my favourite romantic fantasy tropes, I found the plot to be original and wonderfully presented. This was also the first story I read that was inspired by Indian mythology and culture, and I am now hooked. The world building is amazing and presented in a way that is neither overwhelming nor difficult to understand. Nisha described the settings and characters perfectly so that I could picture them clearly in my mind and be instantly transported to a vibrant place rich with culture and fantasy creatures.
I found that I immediately loved all the characters, and their individual characteristics and personalities shone through right from the start. I love Zarya as a main character, and I related to her on a deep level: Like her, I also grew up in a rural area isolated from others, and her tenuous relationship with Aarav reflects the relationship I had with my own brother growing up.
I adore the way the slow-burn romance is presented in this book. The fleeting scenes between Zarya and Rabin were both teasing and tantalising, giving enough just to keep you thirsting for more. While there wasn't much interaction between them, there is a promise of many more scenes to come in the following books—and I can't wait to read them!!! Rabin is such a mysterious character, and there's still so much we don't know about him. That ending left me filled with intrigue.
Enemies-to-lovers aside, I want to mention that I also adored the enemies-to-friends relationship between Zarya and Yasen. It is heartwarming watching their friendship bloom as they learn to open themselves up to each other.
The magic system was really interesting to learn about, and we have only been shown the tip of the iceberg. Zarya has only just begun to explore her abilities, and I know there's much more to see in her adventure of self-discovery. While some answers are revealed at the end of book one, there are many secrets and mysteries left unravelled. Book two really can't come soon enough. Big props to Nisha J. Tuli for writing this compelling story.
For me, the best way to describe this story is that it's like sitting in a comfy chair on a rainy autumn day with a blanket and a cup of warm chai or a pumpkin spice latte. It has the ultimate cosy, warming vibes with an intriguing story that keeps you hooked. The characters are all relatable and loveable, and I found it easy to be swept up in their lives and become emotionally invested in their own personal problems and experiences.
My only negative point to make about the story is that it left me wanting much more, and I hate the idea of having to wait for the next book.
After taking a month-long break from reading, this book was exactly what I needed to get back into it. I was completely hooked from start to finish.
While Heart of Night and Fire covered most of my favourite romantic fantasy tropes, I found the plot to be original and wonderfully presented. This was also the first story I read that was inspired by Indian mythology and culture, and I am now hooked. The world building is amazing and presented in a way that is neither overwhelming nor difficult to understand. Nisha described the settings and characters perfectly so that I could picture them clearly in my mind and be instantly transported to a vibrant place rich with culture and fantasy creatures.
I found that I immediately loved all the characters, and their individual characteristics and personalities shone through right from the start. I love Zarya as a main character, and I related to her on a deep level: Like her, I also grew up in a rural area isolated from others, and her tenuous relationship with Aarav reflects the relationship I had with my own brother growing up.
I adore the way the slow-burn romance is presented in this book. The fleeting scenes between Zarya and Rabin were both teasing and tantalising, giving enough just to keep you thirsting for more. While there wasn't much interaction between them, there is a promise of many more scenes to come in the following books—and I can't wait to read them!!! Rabin is such a mysterious character, and there's still so much we don't know about him. That ending left me filled with intrigue.
Enemies-to-lovers aside, I want to mention that I also adored the enemies-to-friends relationship between Zarya and Yasen. It is heartwarming watching their friendship bloom as they learn to open themselves up to each other.
The magic system was really interesting to learn about, and we have only been shown the tip of the iceberg. Zarya has only just begun to explore her abilities, and I know there's much more to see in her adventure of self-discovery. While some answers are revealed at the end of book one, there are many secrets and mysteries left unravelled. Book two really can't come soon enough. Big props to Nisha J. Tuli for writing this compelling story.
For me, the best way to describe this story is that it's like sitting in a comfy chair on a rainy autumn day with a blanket and a cup of warm chai or a pumpkin spice latte. It has the ultimate cosy, warming vibes with an intriguing story that keeps you hooked. The characters are all relatable and loveable, and I found it easy to be swept up in their lives and become emotionally invested in their own personal problems and experiences.
My only negative point to make about the story is that it left me wanting much more, and I hate the idea of having to wait for the next book.
Thank you to Netgalley and Second Sky for the ARC of Heart of Night and Fire. A Heart of Night and Fire is a thrilling fantasy (light) romance story filled with tension, action, and surprises. It starts slowly and becomes more intense. Zarya has been trapped in a luxurious prison for years, and her magical powers are a forbidden secret that no one will explain. Now, she's determined to break free and uncover the truth. This was a stunning world inspired by Indian mythology. I enjoyed the novel (to me) setting, creatures and plot. I am very much looking forward to the next book.
One of the fastest 5 stars I've ever given this book was excellent. Predictable? Sure! But I LOVED how things came to pass. I'm so glad the second book is on hoopla I would pass out if I had to wait
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No