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jadeandherbunny's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
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? Yes
4.25
This book has been a great time for me. It was certainly better than TOTSQ. Lor was a bit insufferable at the start but she evolved in a very satisfying way. I love Nadir, he might be one of my rare book boyfriends if the sequel is going to be as good as this book. I love that he knows his wrongs and I think he might try to not replicate them next. Also love that he is a feminist despite his nature. Only down side to the book is that the writing at times is unrealistic. Like Lor, a woman that has been in prison most of the time, has a complex vocabulary. At times I had to look up the words she uses even if she has not read a single book (or at least she didn't say so) in her life. Her vocab is even larger than people living in castles! Like only Lor uses words like "surreptitious" or "anti-climatic". Oh and also Lor has been a bit homophobic towards her sister and Amya
Content Warnings
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
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- 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
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
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 “it’s just sex, right?” and play around with the idea of actually hooking up, but denying that there’s anything beyond this sexual tension. I actually really enjoy that setup because at least they’re acknowledging their attraction, and now are just avoiding their romantic feelings hahaha. It’s 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 omg Lor’s magic awakens! ahhhhhh then I remembered ‘yup, this is *fantasy*, not just romance, buckle UP!’ I appreciated how she discovered it & am interested to see how she will learn to control it in the next book!
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 (Nadir’s younger sister) & Willow (Lor’s sister, can’t remember if she’s younger or older lol forgive me!)
steam rating: 3 or 4/5 — it’s a lot steamier than the first book because Nadir and Lor’s tension is so much better than her and the Sun King’s!!!!! You also get a BJ scene from Nadir’s POV if you sign up for NJT’s newsletter👀 uhhhhh done and done ✅ 🤭
see content warnings below — a lot of Nadir’s mom’s backstory really got to me, so fucking sad & she deserves better 😭
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 “it’s just sex, right?” and play around with the idea of actually hooking up, but denying that there’s anything beyond this sexual tension. I actually really enjoy that setup because at least they’re acknowledging their attraction, and now are just avoiding their romantic feelings hahaha. It’s 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 (Nadir’s younger sister) & Willow (Lor’s sister, can’t remember if she’s younger or older lol forgive me!)
steam rating: 3 or 4/5 — it’s a lot steamier than the first book because Nadir and Lor’s tension is so much better than her and the Sun King’s!!!!! You also get a BJ scene from Nadir’s POV if you sign up for NJT’s newsletter👀 uhhhhh done and done ✅ 🤭
see content warnings below — a lot of Nadir’s mom’s backstory really got to me, so fucking sad & she deserves better 😭
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Pregnancy, Violence, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Confinement
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Sexual violence, Torture, and War
sadielouise's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
This book filled the role of rising action in the series. It’s all building up to the next book and I cannot wait for June!
Content Warnings
Minor: Torture
teaand_tomes's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
5.0
Highly praised for its engaging elements of wit, humor, and tension, particularly in the 'enemies-to-lovers' relationship between Lor and Nadir. The exploration of familial bonds, especially between Lor's siblings and between Nadir and his sister Amya, adds depth and relatability. The narrative also delves into Lor's past and the history of the world of Ouranos, enriching the story. I eagerly anticipates the next installment in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault, Rape, and Torture
amgrady's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Rape, Confinement, Torture, Sexual assault, and Death of parent
eventualghost's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Three words: Spice. Spice. Spice.
It’s an okay book, but it does focus on the main love story above anything else. The writing could be better. The steam took away from an actual plot line. My guess is they will end up with a “fated mates” trope, but I found it hard to believe the main characters motivations for the relationship. It’s a bit repetitive in terms of the characters, and they don’t really have a lot of growth. I hope the third book provides a better arc. I do love the constant cursing at comically timed moments. Not a lot of authors can get away with that.
It’s an okay book, but it does focus on the main love story above anything else. The writing could be better. The steam took away from an actual plot line. My guess is they will end up with a “fated mates” trope, but I found it hard to believe the main characters motivations for the relationship. It’s a bit repetitive in terms of the characters, and they don’t really have a lot of growth. I hope the third book provides a better arc. I do love the constant cursing at comically timed moments. Not a lot of authors can get away with that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Cursing, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Slavery, Torture, and Rape
taylormshipley's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Sexual content and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault and Torture
bzliz's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
3.25
Lor’s adventure continues as she finds herself locked away yet again, this time by the Aurora Prince Nadir and his companions. He wants information from her so he can bring down his evil father but she won’t share anything until her “friends” aka her siblings are safe from Nostraza. Nadir’s companions make it happen and Lor reluctantly admits she’s the heir to the destroyed land of Heart. She and Nadir team up to find the missing Heart crown and unlock her magic to claim her rightful place, but the Aurora King is never far behind.
This books had some really great spicy scenes if you like a lot of banter and reluctant attraction between two people who don’t understand why the other gets under their skin so much. There’s also a bonus chapter you can read if you sign up for the author’s newsletter of one of the spicy scenes told from Nadir’s perspective instead but honestly, you can skip it. It was really repetitive of the actual scene and didn’t give any further insight into his character.
Like this first book, we get chapters in Lor and Nadir’s perspectives- written in first person- but now we get Serce’s perspective almost 300 years in the past, written in third person and giving a glimpse into how Heart came to be destroyed. Serce and Wolf are pretty terrible people so it makes sense that Lor and Nadir would be their mirrors in the present day.
There are some references back to what the Mirror told Lor at the end of the Sun Queen trials but I really needed the reminders of what exactly it said. This is something I find frustrating about fantasy books; I can’t remember the exact words of this inanimate object to see how it lines up with what the characters are doing now! I also have to dock some points for the section at the Keep because all these two dummies had to do to avoid being found out was to give Lor a fake name. That section also had little to contribute plot-wise and served more as spicy fan service than anything of substance.
Despite my criticisms, I did really enjoy this and I’m excited for the third one when it comes out.
This books had some really great spicy scenes if you like a lot of banter and reluctant attraction between two people who don’t understand why the other gets under their skin so much. There’s also a bonus chapter you can read if you sign up for the author’s newsletter of one of the spicy scenes told from Nadir’s perspective instead but honestly, you can skip it. It was really repetitive of the actual scene and didn’t give any further insight into his character.
Like this first book, we get chapters in Lor and Nadir’s perspectives- written in first person- but now we get Serce’s perspective almost 300 years in the past, written in third person and giving a glimpse into how Heart came to be destroyed. Serce and Wolf are pretty terrible people so it makes sense that Lor and Nadir would be their mirrors in the present day.
There are some references back to what the Mirror told Lor at the end of the Sun Queen trials but I really needed the reminders of what exactly it said. This is something I find frustrating about fantasy books; I can’t remember the exact words of this inanimate object to see how it lines up with what the characters are doing now! I also have to dock some points for the section at the Keep because all these two dummies had to do to avoid being found out was to give Lor a fake name. That section also had little to contribute plot-wise and served more as spicy fan service than anything of substance.
Despite my criticisms, I did really enjoy this and I’m excited for the third one when it comes out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault, Torture, and Pregnancy
tspice24's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Sexual content
Minor: Kidnapping and Torture
thecajunbookworm's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
*Thank you to Nisha Tuli for an ARC, here is my honest review*
This was SUCH a great continuation of the first book! I’m one of those people who love political intrigue in my fantasy books and this one absolutely delivered that and more!
Lor has survived the Sun Trials and now has to survive being in the clutches of the Aurora Prince. They hate each other but are inexplicably drawn to each other.
Lor know she’s needs to find the Heart Kingdom artefact in order to secure her destiny.
I loved the dual pov and really liked the flashbacks as well! It helped to understand what exactly happened in Heart. I felt so many strong emotions reading the story and when that happens it’s definitely a special one.
Lor setting her boundaries and sticking to them was also a breath of fresh air! And I will say that Nadir is a consent king! The slow burn is *chef’s kiss*.
I cannot wait for the next installment!
This was SUCH a great continuation of the first book! I’m one of those people who love political intrigue in my fantasy books and this one absolutely delivered that and more!
Lor has survived the Sun Trials and now has to survive being in the clutches of the Aurora Prince. They hate each other but are inexplicably drawn to each other.
Lor know she’s needs to find the Heart Kingdom artefact in order to secure her destiny.
I loved the dual pov and really liked the flashbacks as well! It helped to understand what exactly happened in Heart. I felt so many strong emotions reading the story and when that happens it’s definitely a special one.
Lor setting her boundaries and sticking to them was also a breath of fresh air! And I will say that Nadir is a consent king! The slow burn is *chef’s kiss*.
I cannot wait for the next installment!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Sexual content, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Rape
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