Nisha J. Tuli

Ten women. A deadly contest. Only one can win the Sun King's heart. Lor has endured twelve long years of torment under the Aurora King's rule. Her only desire is to escape and pay him back for every moment of misery she's endured. When a surprise release finds her in the hands of the rival Sun King, Lor is thrust into the spotlight as she competes against nine other Tributes for the role of queen. If she wins his heart, she'll earn her freedom and finally get her revenge. But Lor doesn't belong in the Sun Queen Trials. Not only does she not understand why she was freed, she isn't a citizen of the Sun King's court. The other Tributes resent her presence and will stop at nothing to ensure Lor is removed from the competition, permanently. Now Lor must win, because if she loses, she dies. Or worse, she'll be returned to the evil--and now vengeful--Aurora King.

Trial of the Sun Queen

Cassidy Nolan

From what he could tell, she was beautiful with smooth brown skin, but for the tail end of a scar that ran from the middle of her cheek and disappeared underneath the mask.

When he bonded to his queen, he would settle for nothing less than someone who set his blood on fire.

The only way Aphelion’s king could get anyone to bond with him was to trick her into thinking it was some great honor.

it took her 15 whole minutes to get through the knife part????

The bell dings, its metallic chime cheerfully counting down to the moment of my expiration. Half my time is up. I have to keep moving.

quality smut here that i can’t fully enjoy bc i hate him :)))

Still feasting on me, he adds a second finger, pumping in and out as he curls his fingers, sending flutters vibrating through my body. I’m so close to the edge, my head tips back and I let out an extravagant moan. I feel the first signs of my edges fraying and then, in a sudden flash, I tear apart and cry out over and over as release twists through me in rolling waves.

why is everyone acting like men physically cannot control themselves!! this is gross!!

“Don’t worry, Lor. I am giving due attention to all the Tributes, as is my duty. But I am only a male and I am searching for my queen. I’m allowed to have my favorites.”

it is going to fuck her all the way up when he betrays her

Atlas must truly be a worthy ruler, and the type of king every citizen of Aphelion deserves.

“What happened? Who did that?” he asks, his tone suddenly fierce. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he was being protective.

the concept of purity is outdated and misogynistic. soooooo gross to bring it up like this.

“…So you’d do well to remember that if you want to warm the king’s bed for the long term, you’ll forgo doing so now, no matter how charming and handsome he is. He’s just a male and can’t be held responsible for his actions. It’s up to you to ensure your relationship remains appropriate.”

“…With any luck, Aphelion has nothing to do with this. I’m sure Atlas is far too busy fucking a stable full of eager young females under the guise of finding a bonding partner. He’ll have his hands quite full.”

“…Compared to the other Tributes, I’m so ignorant and… uncultivated. You can put me in this beautiful gown but you can’t hide what I am.”

He tips my chin up again, his mouth now so close to mine, I feel the nips of his breath against my lips. He tastes like berries and lemon and a hint of the smoky wine he just drank.

Though Nadir had been alive for nearly three hundred years, the sight of those ribbons of light would never cease to feel like home.

I stg if this is another old ass fae “falling in love” with a 20 something mortal girl, I will burn this book.

Nadir’s father was nearly eight hundred years old, but as a High Fae, he had the hardened physique of a warrior and appeared little more than thirty in mortal years.

Definitely fast-paced, which is what I think saved this book for me a little bit. I’m annoyed by the FMC and I think I’m starting to get tired of uber tough, fly off the handle angry FMCs. There are other ways to show toughness and anger, and this is the most base, unfleshed out way to accomplish it. You could argue that because she was jailed from 12 to 24 maybe she never matured but honestly, it reads as a bit lazy writing. Everything was telegraphed pretty clearly and early on, though I did like that Lor actually said no to the Atlas at the end, I wasn’t expecting her to do that. 

Katie Allard

Not the hand held shower - that took me out 

It's insane how many of this genre are just. The same book. Again. No originality, nothing inventive. Just prose that were rushed across the line, and characters to match the quality.

Alex T Hughes

Honestly, this book wasn’t my favourite. I liked it enough to continue the series, but I probably wouldn’t recommend it to a friend. It felt a bit like all of the popular romantasy tropes mashed into one book, without anything that really made it unique.

That said I enjoyed the way the story was told from dual POV. Primarily we see through Lor’s eyes where everything is new and confusing, but occasionally we have a scene from Nadir’s perspective that illustrates more of the realms politics and intricacies through his more experienced eye. I think it was a nice way to fill the reader in on some of the world-building without things being explicitly explained to the main character.

Alissa 

Honestly, this book wasn’t my favourite. I liked it enough to continue the series, but I probably wouldn’t recommend it to a friend. It felt a bit like all of the popular romantasy tropes mashed into one book, without anything that really made it unique.

That said I enjoyed the way the story was told from dual POV. Primarily we see through Lor’s eyes where everything is new and confusing, but occasionally we have a scene from Nadir’s perspective that illustrates more of the realms politics and intricacies through his more experienced eye. I think it was a nice way to fill the reader in on some of the world-building without things being explicitly explained to the main character.

Voices ruined this book. Plot was good and ended on a good cliff hanger but inner monologue was droning

Breonna Canova

Okay so the concept of this is giving The Selection, The Bachorlette, and add in a mix of trials and you have this book. I really enjoyed my whole reading experience. I think it was a great introduction book to the series to help you learn the basics. I do say this lightly but this first book reminds you ever so lighting of Throne of Glass. Don’t get me wrong TOG is better but it kind of just gives those vibes for me. Now I will say that it was predictable from the reveal that happened near the end of the book but I still enjoyed the reading experience. 

Priscilla Stanfield

4/5⭐️ • 2/5🌶️

Okay so the concept of this is giving The Selection, The Bachorlette, and add in a mix of trials and you have this book. I really enjoyed my whole reading experience. I think it was a great introduction book to the series to help you learn the basics. I do say this lightly but this first book reminds you ever so lighting of Throne of Glass. Don’t get me wrong TOG is better but it kind of just gives those vibes for me. Now I will say that it was predictable from the reveal that happened near the end of the book but I still enjoyed the reading experience. 

Jillian Roberts

Was addicted from page one! I really like the author’s use of figurative language and really enjoyed the main character. Lor was definitely a bit chaotic but she’s great. 

Hannah Williams

gracyn neely

I struggled to get into this book. I felt like there wasn't that much holding me in the story and I feel like the plot twists that should have been punching me in the face in the last chapter I could see in the first 1/3 of the book. 

Katie Avila

it was okay! vvvvv predictable but it was fun

This was very “The Selection” meets the “Hunger Games” type book. I was hooked by the concept so much I read it in 2 days. I like the idea of this series, that I’ll continue. But my feelings are still murky about the characters. 

Lor and her elder brother and sister have been incarcerated for over a decade.  Their crime... being seen as an "enemy" by the Aurora King.  She has faced the worst that prison can subject a young female to and she come out mentally stronger.  She never backs down from a fight and she'd rather fight to the death then let anything happen to her siblings.

But another "timeout" in The Hollow leads to her being abducted and transported to another part of the world.  And they somehow expect her to take part in the weirdest games ever.  They want her to compete to marry the Sun King.  She's just a prison rat from The Aurora - she has zero chance at winning, even with the Grumpy Gabriel assisting her.

Nostraza just gave me the ick.  The guards and Warden are worse than the other prisoners.  SA is a way of life for the inmates.  Starvation is the norm.  I would have happily razed the place to the ground and laughed as it burned!

Atlas, the Sun King.  Gabriel, Captain of the Guard.  They both seem to want her to win but they both have their own agendas.  These two I'd trust about as far as I could throw them!  

The Trials are the deadliest kind of "Bachelor" game I've ever seen.  The girls are cutthroat, determined, and ready to do whatever to win.  But Lor does have a few allies and she'll need them if she ever hopes to survive! The plot is twisty, little nuggets of info are dropped here and there to lead you through the story.  The world building is really good and no huge info dumps to ruin the pacing of the story and a map to help you keep everything orderly.

I seem to be on a fantasy kick at the moment and really enjoyed finding this little gem by a new to me author.  I'm about to happily dive into book 2 and see where Lor and Co. end up next!

Tropes: Slow Burn/Low spice (few smexy scenes), enemies to lovers, competition to survive, forced proximity/morally grey MC

TW: Abduction/Kidnapping/SA alluded to/death of parents/false imprisonment

Nicola Sarah Brooks

Lor and her elder brother and sister have been incarcerated for over a decade.  Their crime... being seen as an "enemy" by the Aurora King.  She has faced the worst that prison can subject a young female to and she come out mentally stronger.  She never backs down from a fight and she'd rather fight to the death then let anything happen to her siblings.

But another "timeout" in The Hollow leads to her being abducted and transported to another part of the world.  And they somehow expect her to take part in the weirdest games ever.  They want her to compete to marry the Sun King.  She's just a prison rat from The Aurora - she has zero chance at winning, even with the Grumpy Gabriel assisting her.

Nostraza just gave me the ick.  The guards and Warden are worse than the other prisoners.  SA is a way of life for the inmates.  Starvation is the norm.  I would have happily razed the place to the ground and laughed as it burned!

Atlas, the Sun King.  Gabriel, Captain of the Guard.  They both seem to want her to win but they both have their own agendas.  These two I'd trust about as far as I could throw them!  

The Trials are the deadliest kind of "Bachelor" game I've ever seen.  The girls are cutthroat, determined, and ready to do whatever to win.  But Lor does have a few allies and she'll need them if she ever hopes to survive! The plot is twisty, little nuggets of info are dropped here and there to lead you through the story.  The world building is really good and no huge info dumps to ruin the pacing of the story and a map to help you keep everything orderly.

I seem to be on a fantasy kick at the moment and really enjoyed finding this little gem by a new to me author.  I'm about to happily dive into book 2 and see where Lor and Co. end up next!

Tropes: Slow Burn/Low spice (few smexy scenes), enemies to lovers, competition to survive, forced proximity/morally grey MC

TW: Abduction/Kidnapping/SA alluded to/death of parents/false imprisonment

Def a hunger games type book, but I found it a little hard to follow. Interested to see what happens in the next book though

Shelby Brooks

Cameryn Wright

this book really did not do it for me. felt like 4 other books smushed together, not in a fun way

abi a

Exciting read that leaves you with a lot of questions

Sasha

Enjoyed more than I thought I would? Still easy read with easy writing. The description is correct, it is like the Bachelor meets Hunger Games but with fae. 

Some odd choice with POV, switching between third and first. But overall it was fun, will probably read the next one. 

taryn

Enjoyed more than I thought I would? Still easy read with easy writing. The description is correct, it is like the Bachelor meets Hunger Games but with fae. 

Some odd choice with POV, switching between third and first. But overall it was fun, will probably read the next one. 

Trial of the Sun Queen

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