Trial of the Sun Queen (Artefacts of Ouranos, 1)

Rachel McDonald

Love a Competition Narrative!

"Spoilers ahead… I’ve been meaning to reread Trial of the Sun Queen so I can review it properly for awhile, as this series is a favorite of mine! Trial of the Sun Queen starts off with a bang. Our protagonist, Lor, is a prisoner who gets in a fight over a bar of soap. Right away, I loved this girl’s attitude! When we get a look at the horrible situation she’s in, especially when she didn’t actually commit a crime, you can’t help but feel for her as well. She’s sentenced to two weeks in the hollow, a big hole in the ground with no food or water and monsters lurking around, when she’s kidnapped by a fae and taken from The Aurora to Aphelion, to compete in the Sun Queen trials. The King, Atlas, is looking for his Queen. And Lor is to be the Final Tribute. A poor citizen of the slums, The Umbra, chosen to compete to show anyone can improve their lot in life….except she’s not from The Umbra. She doesn’t know why she’s there. Why she was taken to compete in this. Or what the hell is going on at all, frankly. Lor is a charismatic character right away, and you really can’t help but like her. Even when she’s being frustratingly oblivious to the giant holes in the story she’s been told. She’s very good at keeping her secrets, even from us! Only letting little hints sneak through until the end. Especially when those secrets explain so much. But Nisha does such a fabulous job of weaving this story so Lor can basically lie to us and it all makes sense! We follow Lor as she goes through quite a lot. Her time in the prison and her punishment are brutal, and you can truly feel it wearing her down. When she wakes up to a completely different world, the whip lash of it hit me just as hard for her. She comes to not knowing what is going on, and everyone is being so vague. I’m honestly surprised she didn’t lose it completely! Lor is hard edged from her 12 years at Nostraza. Over her time in Aphelion, competing to become Queen and Atlas’s bonded, she slowly begins to soften. Becoming used to luxuries like food and water, comfortable bedding, and clothing that isn’t falling apart and gross. She also begins to fall for the ever charming King Atlas. The man is a golden beacon. Gold everything, and seemingly sweet and wonderful. Even if he is…um…tasting the wears? Exploring his options? Among the tributes competing. But I didn’t like him immediately. Those too good to be true men are usually too good to be true! And Atlas has the practiced fake persona down pat. Little hints of the true him peek through now and again, mostly in hints from another character talking about him, but they’re there. Plus, I never trust a man who tries to hook up with a stables worth of woman at once. Even on a reread though, the climax still hit just as impactfully! Mostly because of Lor and her journey to this point. The revelations we get, in conjunction with this, are amazing! Lor has a spark of hope and destiny now, and you can tell she is not going to let anyone keep her caged ever again. Not for long. Even behind bars, she is unbroken. She spent 12 of her most formative years in the worst prison there is. She’s not cracking now. I love her strength and willfulness. It’s what got through Nostraza, what got her through the trials, and it’s what will get her through the rest of her journey. And oh! The trials! They are fabulous! Each one was so interesting to read, and I loved watching Lor find a way to overcome her disadvantages. Each trial showed us a new facet of her, and brought out a hidden strength for us to discover. Plus, completion stories are some of my favorites! They are always so much fun! We got to see illusions, historical testing paired with vicious mermaids, a gauntlet where Lor had to compete physically, and a ball where the tributes had to seduce an item from a target on the crowd. I loved seeing how each different test was made to test how they would do as Queen in different categories. The gauntlet had to be my favorite just with how exciting it was, but its neck and neck with the illusion that was so harrowing for Lor. Then there’s Nadir. The Prince of the Aurora. We don’t see as much of him in book 1, but his chapters set the stage for what’s coming. His father, the same King who locked up Lor and her siblings, is a horrible king and father. Nadir has been trying to find a way to get rid of him for years, and when the warden lets slip in front of him about prisoner 3452’s potential death, he’s immediately intrigued by what his father is hiding. He sets about finding Lor, doing so in the last place he expected. But he has his suspicions about what she’s so important. Anything he can use to take down his father, he’s going to jump on it. Of course, when he meets her…well, the two of them fall into one another’s eyes in a way that instantly tells you there’s more under the surface here. A bond of some sort that is deeper than anything either has ever felt. This book hooked me on the series the first time, and managed to do it all over again! I’m so excited to jump into my reread of Rule of the Aurora King, as I remember it being even better! Mostly because of Lor and Nadir and Lor’s quest! I can’t wait honestly. But I truly loved going back and reading Trial of the Sun Queen. We get so many great side characters in this one with Gabriel, Lor’s warder for the trials, and the other tributes, and I hope they all come back around again! I was reminded how much I loved Lor and Nadir once again, and how I can’t wait to see where their story leads. We get so many fun scenes with the competition itself, plus the ending with the Mirror! I’m going to go run and jump into the next one, but I’ll definitely be rereading this again before Fate of the Sun King comes out! ["

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December 1, 2023 Verified Purchase

Megan B

A thrilling journey of love, power, and redemption

"Rating: ★★★★☆ "The Trial of the Sun Queen" by Nisha J. Tuli takes readers on an enthralling and emotion-filled adventure through a world where power, love, and revenge collide. In this fierce competition among ten women, Lor, a victim of the oppressive rule under the Aurora King, finds herself thrust into the unexpected role of a Tribute, vying for the affections of the Sun King. The story immediately hooks readers with its compelling premise and the complex character of Lor. Having endured years of suffering, Lor dreams of freedom and seeks vengeance against her tormentors. However, Lor's path to liberation is paved with unexpected challenges. Released into the hands of the rival Sun King, she must navigate the treacherous landscape of the Sun Queen Trials, where winning his heart means gaining her freedom and the opportunity to exact her revenge. One of the standout aspects of this book is its well-crafted world-building. The author brings the Sun King's court and the realm surrounding it to life with vivid descriptions and intricate detail. The political intrigue, encompassed by the competition, adds another layer of depth to the narrative, immersing readers in a world where loyalty and survival are paramount. Lor's character development is exceptional throughout the story. As a non-citizen and an outsider, the other Tributes despise her presence, creating dangerous obstacles in her path. Yet, Lor's resilience and determination shine through as she faces each challenge head-on. Readers will find themselves rooting for her, admiring her strength and vulnerability. The pacing of the plot is well-maintained, keeping readers engaged and eager to uncover the secrets lying within the Sun King's court. The author skillfully balances moments of intense action with quieter, introspective scenes that delve into Lor's motivations and desires. These quiet moments allow readers to connect with Lor on a deeper level and understand the complexities of her journey. While the book excels in many aspects, there are a few areas where it could be further developed. The supporting characters, while intriguing, could have been given more depth and exploration. Additionally, some plot twists and resolutions felt slightly predictable, taking away from the element of surprise. Overall, "The Trial of the Sun Queen" is a riveting tale filled with suspense, romance, and redemption. It explores themes of power, freedom, and the strength of the human spirit. With its immersive world-building, compelling protagonist, and engaging plot, this book is sure to captivate fans of fantasy and adventure. Readers will eagerly await future installments in this thrilling series. ["

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October 29, 2023 Verified Purchase

Megan Bajorek

Hold on for one heck of a ride!!!

""Note: this review is after a reread of the novel in August of 2024; it was originally read for the first time in April 2023." The opening line of this fantastic book captures the entire essence and personality of this rich, creative and "cannot stop reading" adventure. The main character, Lor is a deeply complex character who surrounded in mystery and is thrust into a world she can't "fake it" in. She is enveloped in a lavish world of decadence and comfort; a striking contrast to the majority of her life living in a hellscape that is prison. Lor uses her voice frequently and says exactly what she means and thinks which is refreshing. Upon her arriving in her new circumstances, she is excited to have a chance at freedom but is cautious and weary as the adventure progresses as no one will give her a straight answer to any question AND nothing about the situation adds up no matter how much time passes. The real story, that captures the reader immediately is what is "between the lines" of the superificial Bachelor meets the Hunger Games primary plot. The story that continues to stay with me is the one which focuses on learning ones value and worth and accepting the path laid before you; even if it's not easy, straightforward or whar you originally wanted. Lor considers herself selfish and wild but rarely acts selfish and instead focuses on helping, saving and protecting others. She is smart, sensible especially when dealing with the blinding affects of " love" and recognizes that life requires balance and knowledge. Unlike the main character of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Lor questions every kind word, thoughtful gesture and confession of desire, want, lust and love coming from the MMC even if she is a willing participant because frankly it all seems too good to be true and her life up until this point does not prove that "good things come to those who wait". She is open but suspicious; anxious yet determined and far stronger physically, mentally and emotionally than she gives herself credit for. Lor is a strong female character that is an expectational addition to the genre. Read this book for a fun, warm, mysterious journey with 3 more to follow! ["

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August 4, 2024 Verified Purchase

Heather Andronovich

great start to the series!

"Lor has suffered twelve years under the Aurora King's rule, longing for escape and revenge from Nastrasa. Suddenly freed by the rival Sun King, she must compete against nine Tributes for the queen's crown. Winning means freedom and vengeance, but Lor is an outsider in the Sun Queen Trials. The other Tributes resent her and will do anything to eliminate her. Lor must win, face death, or return to the vengeful Aurora King. This was recommended to me by a friend, and it was soo good and I'm so glad I read (listened to) this! The characters were so well developed, and so funny, which is a huge plus for me in a book! The world building and pacing of the book were also really strong and all I wanted to do was keep reading. The trials to "win" the Sun King were very unique and really brought the whole story together. The plot twists were twisty and the villians were unexpected, but all the elements worked so well together to make this book what it was. Lor was the perfect FMC, and she played her role in this book so well. She's so resilient and determined, especially when it comes to her family. Atlas was also a great MMC, he fit being a king to a TEE. Then we have Nadir, who we get bits of pieces from but I cannot wait to see what happens in the following books. Overall, definitely recommend and onto book 2! Rating: 4/5 Spice: 2/5 Tropes: Strong FMC Enemies to Lovers Who Did This to You Hidden Identify Deadly Trials Magic ["

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June 19, 2025 Verified Purchase

Ellen

Not bad, but nothing new

"If you want a fun book to keep you entertained but don’t need to be wowed, this is a good choice. It’s highly predictable and not the freshest take, but I still enjoyed it. It’s quick, readable, and a nice escape for a few hours. Our main character, Lor has been an inmate in a notorious prison for the last 12 years due to the actions for the Aurora King. One day she is kidnapped from the prison and brought to a different kingdom to compete in a series of trials to be the kingdom’s new queen. As you can tell from the plot overview, it’s a pretty standard tournament type read. My favorite part of the book was actually the beginning when she was still in prison. After that my interest dropped a bit since it’s similar to every other tournament book I’ve read. Lor was ok as a main character, but I didn’t really form a connection with her. I wish the author had made her character more hardened and pessimistic after spending life in prison, but that’s a personal preference. Some chapters are told from the perspective of the Aurora Prince, Nadir. It’s a bit jarring since those are written in third person rather than first person like Lor chapters. I didn’t really think those chapters helped us get to know him any better and could have probably been left out. The other male main character is Atlas, the sun king. He pretty unlikable from the start and it was annoying to see Lor start to fall for him. The remaining characters are pretty bland. You have the classic mix of snobbish, condescending competitors and ones that become her friends. I wish there was a bit more nuance to “enemy competitors” such as Apricia. I did like Lor’s guard, Gabriel, and hope to see more of him in the next book. If I were to choose one main complaint, it’s that as soon as something is “sneakily” mentioned, you know exactly how it fits into the plot. It’s so easy to guess who Lor really is once the first hint is dropped and as soon as the author mentioned “fated mates” I knew exactly where that would lead. I really don’t like fated mates relationships so that may ruin the next book for me. Overall, this book is worth a try, especially if you get it for free from Kindle Unlimited. I’ll check out the next one in the series but don’t have high hopes that I’ll finish it. ["

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May 18, 2023 Verified Purchase