Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by selina_airey
Heart of Night and Fire by Nisha J. Tuli
5.0
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.