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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
4.5! This was a magical and un-put-downable first book in what I know is going to be an absolutely explosive quarter, and I am seriously debating jumping right in to book two. Seriously. The side characters are all chef’s kiss. I wished we had a little more backstory pacing, but I think that’ll come as we go further. The twists and the revelations were incredible. I will read anything Nisha writes at this point!
slow-paced
Once again, Nisha has done an amazing job writing a book! I absolutely loved this story!!
In this book, we follow our strong headed FMC Zarya, who unfortunately lives in confinement by her "father figure" Row and his apprentice Aarav. She is stuck in a cabin in the middle of the forest bound by magic to not be able to leave the area.
Zarya wakes up one morning to realize Row has up and gone missing. When Aarav goes to look for him, Zarya decides to test the boundaries around the house she is bound to, only to find out she is no longer bound and free to go! So she does what anyone else would have done and packs up and flees the cabin, only she encounters Rani's Vasvi's commander and lieutenant guards. This is where her entire life flips upside down.
I thought this book was so interesting to have the Indian lore in a book. I knew nothing of any of this lore or lifestyle, so it was interesting to read along and even look up some of the things being spoken of and learn new things!! That being said, even if you don't know the lore or lifestyle, it is not hard to follow at all, and you can still enjoy it!
I really enjoyed the world building Nisha gave us, i love books with amazing world building to it. The relationships we get to experience along the way are enjoyable also. We get a beautiful found family trope.
I started out hating Yasen(like I'm sure almost everyone else), but he did grow on me, and i absolutely love him now! I am very curious what shall happen with Rabin and Zarya in book 2 as that was something so unexpected!
After the ending, we got such a plot twist. I can not wait for book 2 already. I am so excited!!!
Thank you, Nisha, for allowing me to be part of the ARC team and street team for such an amazing book in exchange for my honest review.
In this book, we follow our strong headed FMC Zarya, who unfortunately lives in confinement by her "father figure" Row and his apprentice Aarav. She is stuck in a cabin in the middle of the forest bound by magic to not be able to leave the area.
Zarya wakes up one morning to realize Row has up and gone missing. When Aarav goes to look for him, Zarya decides to test the boundaries around the house she is bound to, only to find out she is no longer bound and free to go! So she does what anyone else would have done and packs up and flees the cabin, only she encounters Rani's Vasvi's commander and lieutenant guards. This is where her entire life flips upside down.
I thought this book was so interesting to have the Indian lore in a book. I knew nothing of any of this lore or lifestyle, so it was interesting to read along and even look up some of the things being spoken of and learn new things!! That being said, even if you don't know the lore or lifestyle, it is not hard to follow at all, and you can still enjoy it!
I really enjoyed the world building Nisha gave us, i love books with amazing world building to it. The relationships we get to experience along the way are enjoyable also. We get a beautiful found family trope.
I started out hating Yasen(like I'm sure almost everyone else), but he did grow on me, and i absolutely love him now! I am very curious what shall happen with Rabin and Zarya in book 2 as that was something so unexpected!
After the ending, we got such a plot twist. I can not wait for book 2 already. I am so excited!!!
Thank you, Nisha, for allowing me to be part of the ARC team and street team for such an amazing book in exchange for my honest review.
Rich and colorful story telling, beautiful food and clothing descriptions and characters that are lovable. I grew to love Zarya right from the beginning. She's strong willed, defiant and is at a point in her life where she wants to escape her confinement to explore the world. The problem is she's magically bound to a small cottage and cannot step past a magical barrier put in place by her captor who claims to be her protector.
Zarya finds that one day she is able to strut right past that magical barrier because her protector, Row, has gone missing. She ventures to the city of Dharati where her true adventure begins.
If you are a POC, especially one who identifies as a woman, you NEED to read this story! The care and time the author put into weaving a story filled with traditional south asian clothing, food, culture and mythology. Zarya also isn't one to sit around waiting to be saved. She's out there kicking ass and taking names! I love the aspect of forbidden magic and not knowing why her magic is forbidden. She has spent many of her years trying to learn who she really is and why it is of the utmost importance to keep her magic hidden from all.
I cannot wait to dive into the next book! I also cannot wait to see where Zarya and Rabin end up...
Zarya finds that one day she is able to strut right past that magical barrier because her protector, Row, has gone missing. She ventures to the city of Dharati where her true adventure begins.
If you are a POC, especially one who identifies as a woman, you NEED to read this story! The care and time the author put into weaving a story filled with traditional south asian clothing, food, culture and mythology. Zarya also isn't one to sit around waiting to be saved. She's out there kicking ass and taking names! I love the aspect of forbidden magic and not knowing why her magic is forbidden. She has spent many of her years trying to learn who she really is and why it is of the utmost importance to keep her magic hidden from all.
I cannot wait to dive into the next book! I also cannot wait to see where Zarya and Rabin end up...
In "Heart of Night and Fire" by Nisha J. Tuli, the brilliance shines through in its meticulously constructed world and multifaceted characters. Tuli adeptly intertwines diverse cultures and magical systems, immersing readers in a vivid and captivating story.
The book encounters some challenges when it comes to the handling of romance and pacing. The romantic aspect appears underdeveloped, lacking the depth and chemistry you would expect from a
"romantacy" Additionally, the plot experiences moments of uneven pacing and occasional confusion, oscillating between intense moments and slower intervals.
Despite these limitations, "Heart of Night and Fire" remains an engaging read for those who relish well-crafted worlds and complex characters. It's a literary journey worth embarking on, despite the occasional bumps in the narrative.
Thank you to Netgalley and Second Sky for the chance to review this ARC!
The book encounters some challenges when it comes to the handling of romance and pacing. The romantic aspect appears underdeveloped, lacking the depth and chemistry you would expect from a
"romantacy" Additionally, the plot experiences moments of uneven pacing and occasional confusion, oscillating between intense moments and slower intervals.
Despite these limitations, "Heart of Night and Fire" remains an engaging read for those who relish well-crafted worlds and complex characters. It's a literary journey worth embarking on, despite the occasional bumps in the narrative.
Thank you to Netgalley and Second Sky for the chance to review this ARC!
"Heart of Night and Fire" pulls readers into a richly imagined world brimming with magic, mystery, and heartache. In this realm, a queen ascends to the throne by transforming into a sentient tree, communicating through her king as her voice, and using her powers to shield her people from the encroaching darkness. From the start, the main character’s potential for greatness is undeniable, but her story is wrapped in layers of secrets waiting to be unraveled.
At first, she’s essentially trapped in her own home, bound by a spell that prevents her from leaving. But is her captor protecting her or controlling her? Why has she been hidden away from the world? And what happens if she breaks free? These questions drive the story as we follow her journey from a sheltered young woman to a fierce warrior—and perhaps something even more.
I was completely captivated by the vivid storytelling and the narrators’ ability to bring the characters to life. I can’t wait to dive into the next installment of the series!
At first, she’s essentially trapped in her own home, bound by a spell that prevents her from leaving. But is her captor protecting her or controlling her? Why has she been hidden away from the world? And what happens if she breaks free? These questions drive the story as we follow her journey from a sheltered young woman to a fierce warrior—and perhaps something even more.
I was completely captivated by the vivid storytelling and the narrators’ ability to bring the characters to life. I can’t wait to dive into the next installment of the series!
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
The writing itself could be better but I really liked the south Asian influence - going to keep reading this series
big thank you to netgalley, the publisher and author for this arc.
5 stars.
wow this was so good!! i so thoroughly enjoyed this book, and i literally cannot wait for the next one. like i want it NOW. i'm so serious.
despite not having seen much of the world, i feel like enough has been established already. i'm excited to see what places this story is going to take us, beyond the walls of dharati.
i also just loved the characters so much. yasen??? one of my favorite book best friends. the way he warmed up to zarya was everything. and just in general, the character arcs, watching the relationships grow between zarya and all of her friends was so heartwarming. i loved it. AND OMG i really need the next book purely for rabin!!!! i need to know what he's going to be like, and i just need to read more of him in general!! give me all the tall dark handsome broody vibes!!!!!
ANYWAYS. i need the next book and i need it now. i needed it yesterday. miss nisha you have a new fan, and i am definitely reading your other books.
5 stars.
wow this was so good!! i so thoroughly enjoyed this book, and i literally cannot wait for the next one. like i want it NOW. i'm so serious.
despite not having seen much of the world, i feel like enough has been established already. i'm excited to see what places this story is going to take us, beyond the walls of dharati.
i also just loved the characters so much. yasen??? one of my favorite book best friends. the way he warmed up to zarya was everything. and just in general, the character arcs, watching the relationships grow between zarya and all of her friends was so heartwarming. i loved it. AND OMG i really need the next book purely for rabin!!!! i need to know what he's going to be like, and i just need to read more of him in general!! give me all the tall dark handsome broody vibes!!!!!
ANYWAYS. i need the next book and i need it now. i needed it yesterday. miss nisha you have a new fan, and i am definitely reading your other books.
I admit, the cover made me select this book, me love a nice cover, plus the plot seemed interesting. The story grabbed me from the beginning and the world building was beautiful.
4 stars
~ I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own ~
4 stars
~ I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own ~