A review by headertime1981
Queen of Shadows and Ruin by Nisha J. Tuli

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.25

 

I can always count on Nisha to deliver a heart-pounding, exhilarating adventure, and Queen of Shadows and Ruin (The Nightfire Quartet) was no exception. It bleeds intensity, rich storytelling, and edge-of-your-seat tension from start to finish.

Book three picks up right where we left off, bringing us face-to-face with Zarya’s father. But is he the noble figure Rabin believes him to be, or the dangerous man Row and her mother warned about? The first half of the book unravels this mystery with masterful suspense.

Nisha excels at building tension, and Shadows and Ruin is no exception. If you love that nail-biting, anxiety-driven energy, this book delivers in spades. The sense of unease is palpable—something feels off, and with every turn of the page, the clues keep stacking up, feeding the reader’s paranoia in the best way possible.

Meanwhile, you are whisked into a snowy, magical world that feels equally oppressive, powerful, and beautiful, just like Zarya’s father. And when the adventure kicks in, and Zarya is forced on a harrowing adventure to complete her quest, the story meets its stride. Aside from her ability to write incredible visual landscapes, what Nisha does better than most is write adventures or trial sequences so well. She weaves crucial story and character elements into rising action, raising the stakes and making those moments much more emotionally heightened.

Our cast splits into groups and POVs at times so we can see what’s going on in the rest of the world. Row has been my favorite character from the start, and he and Yaren get to shine in this story. They are both genuinely wonderful, supporting characters.

When all seems lost, victory is impossible, and all the characters seem doomed. We walk right into the finale, where we are gifted the peace of loose ends everywhere being tied up. Nisha does not miss details, and I notice when they are.

If you’ve loved the rest of the series—or any of Nisha J. Tuli’s books—then The Nightfire Quartet is an absolute must-read! This series is a thrilling, fast-paced ride through dazzling new worlds, filled with characters as flawed as they are irresistibly charismatic. And let’s not forget the villains—scheming, terrifying, and nearly unstoppable. Every page crackles with tension, magic, and intrigue, making it impossible to put down.

Loved this!