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theboricuabookworm's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Back to my point about being Nadir's. I have deep respect for Lor for looking at *all that* and still being "no I am mine and mine alone". Feminism did not leave her body when she saw his. I am estressed about them going back to Aphelion but it'll be fine. Right?? Also Gabriel's POV is coming up and I am READY.
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Confinement, Kidnapping, and Violence
Minor: Pregnancy, Death of parent, and Vomit
jadeandherbunny's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Torture, Child abuse, Grief, Violence, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, and War
Moderate: Alcohol, Lesbophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
mariasmusings's review
- 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
5.0
Book blurb: "I am not his conquest. I am not his to claim. I am my own castle."
Freed from the golden clutches of the Sun King, Lor now finds herself in the hands of Nadir, the Aurora Prince.
Lor and Nadir team up to search for a lost item that holds the key to her past and her future.
As Atlas hunts her across Ouranos, Lor plots to bring down the Imperial Fae who took everything. But she soon realizes the future of the continent is about so much more than just her shattered legacy.
My Thoughts:
As soon as I finished, Trials of the Sun Queen, I opened Rule of the Aurora King and dived straight into this fast-paced and intriguing fantasy romance.
Once again, the story is told from two perspectives: Lor & Nadir, but we also have the addition of flashbacks to reveal the truth of events 286 years ago. I particularly enjoyed learning about the background to the destruction of the Kingdom of Heart.
There is plenty of action in this sequel, and indeed plenty of very spicy scenes - there's no 'fade to black' here and it does get pretty graphic. So be warned. š
Despite the pace and action scenes, there is more 'downtime' in this novel - time when we see Lor & Nadir together, and get a view into the world of the High Fae.
There's also a sense of social commentary when Lor tells Nadir the reality of her life in prison and the privileges of being a High Fae.
The world building is expanded here, as we learn the history of Ouranos and the politics at play.
I've ordered the third and fourth books in the series (there are 4 books in total) and am looking forward to sharing my thoughts.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, and Animal cruelty
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I loved this follow up to Trial of the Sun Queen, where we spend time in the Aurora Kingdom with the Aurora Prince, Nadir, and Lor is finally reunited with her siblings from Nostraza! Nadir spends the entire book pretending that Lor is just another random hookup that he is keeping in his area of the court, hiding her true identity from his father because of his elusiveness surrounding his motivations to find Lor in the first book.
Most of the book is spent in character and romance exploration between Lor and Nadir, as Lor wrestles with what Atlas tried to do to her with the bond in the last book. They decide āitās just sex, right?ā and play around with the idea of actually hooking up, but denying that thereās anything beyond this sexual tension. I actually really enjoy that setup because at least theyāre acknowledging their attraction, and now are just avoiding their romantic feelings hahaha. Itās very entertaining!
I forgot that these people are fae and that they can fly, so when Nadir flew with Lor in his arms, I giggled because I forgot this is fantasy because there has been such a huge focus on the romance, which I am a sucker for. But then!!!! Big big big spoiler
A lot of the plot movement happens in the last 15% of the book, with another ending that entices readers to get oh so excited for the next book!
Honorable mention to some sapphic romance developing between the side characters Amya (Nadirās younger sister) & Willow (Lorās sister, canāt remember if sheās younger or older lol forgive me!)
steam rating: 3 or 4/5 ā itās a lot steamier than the first book because Nadir and Lorās tension is so much better than her and the Sun Kingās!!!!! You also get a BJ scene from Nadirās POV if you sign up for NJTās newsletterš uhhhhh done and done ā š¤
see content warnings below ā a lot of Nadirās momās backstory really got to me, so fucking sad & she deserves better š
Graphic: Cursing, Pregnancy, Violence, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Confinement
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Sexual violence, Torture, and War
amgrady's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Rape, Confinement, Torture, Sexual assault, and Death of parent
booksalacarte's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Confinement, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Sexual content
kayceeisbookish's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Grief, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, and Sexual content