Fate of the Sun King

Artefacts of Ouranos #3

by Nisha J. Tuli

Lor taucht immer tiefer in die Welt der Fae ein und setzt dabei ihr Leben und Herz aufs Spiel
Lor ist in das Reich des Sonnenkönigs zurückgekehrt. Und sie hat Großes vor: Mithilfe der Herzkrone will sie ihre Magie entfesseln, um endlich das Erbe ihrer Familie zurückzugewinnen. Doch am Sonnenhof wird schnell deutlich, dass nicht alles Gold ist, was glänzt. Und Aphelions High Fae und Sonnenkönig Atlas ist alles andere als erfreut, sie wiederzusehen.

Mit dem Aurora-Prinzen Nadir und weiteren Verbündeten an der Seite muss Lor die Gefahren meistern, denn sie weiß, dass mehr als ein machthungriger Herrscher hinter ihrem Blut her ist.

Vergangenheit und Gegenwart prallen aufeinander und Lor deckt Stück für Stück die Wahrheit über die Artefakte von Ouranos und ihr Schicksal auf. Ihre Zukunft steht auf dem Spiel und Lor ist ihrem Ziel zum Greifen nahe. Wird sie es schaffen, alles zu bekommen, was sie jemals wollte oder wird sie bei dem Versuch, alles verlieren, was ihr wichtig ist?
Unterhaltung pur!

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Audiobook, Fae, Fantasy Romance, Magic

512 pages, Paperback

First published June 4, 2024

About the author

Visit my website to sign up for my newsletter and download a bonus chapter from Rule of the Aurora King!
---
Nisha J Tuli is an international bestselling author of glittering fantasy worlds, steamy rom-coms, and kissing scenes full of angst. Her book, Trial of the Sun Queen, went on to become a BookTok hit, finding its way into the hands of A-list celebrities like Katherine Heigl.

When she isn’t writing or reading, she can be found in the gym or the kitchen (to eat, not to cook) or maybe knitting scarves to survive a Canadian winter. She lives in Manitoba with her husband, their two kids, and their fluffy Samoyed.

Reviews

[madeline · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think we can all agree lighting bug is a terrible nickname

[♥︎ Heather ⚔ (New House-Hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ 4 Stars ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

Alright... this book gave so much of what I wanted and needed and in the same breath bombarded me with so many new revelations that now I'm sitting over her with a ton of new questions!

I am having such a good time in this world. I did not expect half the things that happened, and I keep grinning to myself whenever something new comes up. At the same, it’s super interesting to see the characters take off, closer to their destinies now, alliances shift, and romances bloom.

This one was spicier than the other books so those waiting for 🌶️🌶️ are going to love it, especially Lor and Nadir stans.

The wait is certainly on for book four now. And the ending! Criminal!

💙Spicy Romantasy
💙Multi POV
💙Fated Mates
💙Fae
💙Burn the World Down For Her
💙Touch Him/Her and Die
💙Chosen One

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷
♡•°`. "'I don't need you to carry me. Besides, you're covered in blood.'
She waves a hand over me and I grin.
'The blood of your enemies, Lor. Ask me and I'll slay anyone for you. I'll burn the world to ash if you so desire.'"

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷
♡•°`. " 'If anyone dares lay a hand on you , I will make them bleed.
I once broke a woman's arm for stealing my soap, imagine what I'd do if someone hurt my mate.'

[Emmy Rosam · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️ cliff hanger at the end was crazy

[alyssa✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

if i hear the name lightning bug ONE MORE TIME i will scream

[Gry ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ★'s
THAT ENDING SHOULD BE ILLEGAL
It's the cliffhangers of all cliffhangers. I cannot believe I have to wait until November to finish this. My heart is in shambles.

The ending aside… I did really enjoy myself reading this.

Nisha knows her craft. I love how she has built these characters, relationships and dynamics throughout this series, and continues to add more depth and complexity. I was particularly captivated by Lor, Willow & Tristan as they navigated their new dynamic, started their healing journeys and looked towards their future. The nuance and authenticity in their interactions genuinely tugged at my heartstrings. ❤️‍🩹

Another one of my favourite aspects about this book was reading from Gabriel's pov.
I love a grumpy man, and Gabriel is the epitome of lovable grumpy man. I am gnawing on my fingers to read more of his story in the next book.

I’ve mentioned this briefly in a previous review, but it bears repeating: I am thrilled to see bi/gay characters play such prominent roles. It’s not just a token side character here; their presence is normalized and celebrated. It makes me happy to see each time they're mentioned and finding love with each other. 🏳️‍🌈

The plot was also very intriguing. Schemes upon schemes upon schemes, not knowing who to trust, and additionally added depth to the world of Ouranos and it's magic systems.
I like that the story (mostly) picks up right where the last chapter ended, with no significant time jumps. However, this also means that the pacing feels a bit slower. I usually prefer my fantasy books to be more action-packed, but here, I did not mind the slower pacing at all, especially as this book was quite information-heavy. Plus, I think those slower in-between moments can be just as important for building dynamics and characters as those more action filled scenes.

A part of me feels a bit conflicted about the romance between our mc's in this book.
On one hand, a simple moment of them holding hands felt like the most magical moment ever, and I loved their evolving dynamic and inside jokes. However, after so much build-up and tension from the previous book, their "grand moment" felt almost a bit sudden(WHICH IS CRAZY BC IT WAS SUCH A SLOW SLOWBURN). It felt like they fell into it too easily? Idk if this is me being insane and just craving more drama, but that moment didn't quite live up to my expectations. (Someone pls validate me👉👈 lol). Nevertheless, I deeply cherish and adore them plenty.<3

Gonna be gnawing on my fingers, updating Nishas website and dream about the finale every day until November 26th and the release of Tale of the Heart Queen.

Artefacts of Ouranos #1 - Trial of the Sun Queen Review
Artefacts of Ouranos #2 - Rule of the Aurora King Review
Artefacts of Ouranos #4 - Tale of the Heart Queen Review
_________
Pre-read:
I can't wait any longer. (I finished the 2nd one like 1h ago, patience is not my strong suit ok)

[Karma · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm finding it hard to care guys

[Madeline Gutierrez · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed in this third installment. I thought the characters completely lost their shape, the dialogue was dumb and cheesy and if I read Nadir calling Lor ‘lightning bug’ one more time I was gonna vomit. I’ll still read the 4th to finish the story but am not very excited about it.

[naz · Rating 4 out of 5]

“𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒛𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆, 𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒉𝒆’𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒂 𝒈𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒏.”

Since this is book 3 of the series, I am going to be as spoil-free as possible (including the quotes), BUT OMG THIS AUDIOBOOK!!!!!!! 🔥🎧 INSANE. I have to say that Lor is such a badass FMC 👑 who not only is a warrior trying to overcome everything that is thrown at her but is also someone who deeply cares for her family and loved ones ❤️ At this point in the series, Lor is battling with her destiny 😭 and is trying to fulfill it with a precise mission. Nadir accompanies her and OMG THIS MAN 😮‍💨 has it SO BAD for her, and you see it throughout the entire book. 🫠🔥

“𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒆𝒔, 𝑳𝒐𝒓. 𝑨𝒔𝒌 𝒎𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰’𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒍𝒂𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑩𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒔𝒉 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒓𝒆.”

LIKE?????? THIS MAN IS INSANE FOR HER. 🫠🥵

You will find tension, battles, declarations of love, and so much intensity throughout this book 😭🔥 as well as gaining even more understanding of the past of Ouranos. 👀 The way this series keeps getting better and better??? I’m OBSESSED 😭❤️‍🔥 I loved every second of it and will forever recommend it. The only reason this was a 4 vs a 5 was that me and missions plots have a love hate relationship and sadly I felt it dragged a little bit in the middle. Either way I am in love and will continue to the next

NOW ON TO THE LAST ONE!!!!!!!!! 😭📖🖤

⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
➳ 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ we back with audiobooks for commute and what better welcome than #3 of this BEAUTIFUL SERIES!!!

[évieane · Rating 3 out of 5]

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . 3.6 - 3.8 ☆ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ˋ°•*⁀➷ㅤmight contain spoilers ❗

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ Now, this is exactly what I am referring to. I was genuinely engrossed in the novel and again found myself wondering about the plot and the characters because this book is such a pleasant improvement over the first two. This was still by far not a mind-blowing novel, but this was honestly a quite entertaining book.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ “Never underestimate the enduring fragility of a man who suffers from a lack of confidence.”

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ short summary
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ Following the disappointing revelation of the final book, Lor is once more needed to travel back to Aphelion in order to release her magic. Of course, nothing can stop her from achieving her goals, especially with her family and new allies on the way. However, Lorand Nadir must overcome numerous obstacles to ensure their safety, and some unexpected findings may turn out to be far more stunning or more unsurprising than others.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ Atlas's obsession with Lor remains strong, and his desire for power drove him to make terrible choices that no one else could have predicted. However, it is possible that these choices will ultimately lead to his demise. Furthermore, his schemes might only end in disaster if his closest friends turn against him.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ Despite things seemingly working in their favour, danger is never too far, and the very last pages of this book might really leave you entirely heartbroken.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ honest thoughts
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⋅ ☾ This book actually has several improvements, which pleasantly pleased me. After the first two books' incredibly cheesy displays of pure smut and poor character development, this one's plot really shines, and I finally felt like the action and the story were moving forward.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⋅ ☾ The chapters detailing the past and the events leading up to the Ouranos of today are ones that I truly enjoyed. Although I was already engrossed in this series' historical elements, I can now say that they rank among my favourite story points overall.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⋅ ☾ Despite being fairly slow-paced, the action of the novel was not dull or monotonous, and it actually made me want to read further, to find out more about the events, the characters, and their secrets. However, I must say that some of the disclosures in this book were not as devastating as one would hope, and while this is perhaps my fault for reading so many fantasy books that plot twists rarely surprise me, I would have preferred something more to be included in this work.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⋅ ☾ Fortunately, the romance became a subplot in this book instead of the main focus. If you have read my past reviews, you will know that I did not particularly enjoy the romance, which I felt was cringe-worthy and forced. While this novel concentrated more on the plot and character development, I was glad to be forced to read less about the two main characters' inconceivable lust.


ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ characters
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ Even while I still dislike these characters and would probably like to forget about them once I am done with this, I began to genuinely care about a lot of them, and I became interested in them.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ✧ Lor - She is finally starting to be likeable in this book, and I could spot some characteristics in her that might indeed prove her to be a really good leader in the future. I, however, still do not agree with more than half of her actions, and she is, unfortunately, still really forgettable as a main character. She doesn't really have anything to stand out, but I am truly hoping the last book in the series will bring her some justice.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ✧ Nadir - Despite starting this series with a big interest for his character and huge hopes for his development, he was absolutely destroyed in terms of personal progress and development. As a primary character and love interest, he repeatedly left me feeling bored, and it is quite disheartening to see how little uniqueness he has; everything about him is mainly presented in direct relationship to Lor.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ✧ Amya, Mael, Willow, Tristan, Etienne, Hylene - I can't stop from being so intrigued by them as side characters. I would have loved to get way more of them and their stories in this series, but unfortunately, I understand this might not really happen.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ✧ Gabriel - He was, without a doubt, my favourite character in this novel; therefore, I wanted to mention him specifically. His chapters thrilled me, and I found everything about his experience fascinating. I really, badly need him to get his happy ending!!!!


ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ should you read this?
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ It is quite likely that you should read this if you have the strength to persevere through the first two volumes and dare to have hope for this series. To be honest, I believe this was one of the best endings this series could have had thus far, setting the stage for the final book. Since there is only one more book left, you can definitely finish it, and the cliffhanger that is left after the very final few chapters effectively manages to stimulate your curiosity.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ I liked the plot of this book the most. Was it slow?Yes. Did it also did a great job at finally bringing way more information about this entire history and characters of the book?Absolutely, and that was by far the best thing this book managed to bring. I did not feel like I was getting bored for one second, and the chapters presenting the history of Ouranos were so good.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ Now, I am honestly curious about the last book, and while I still mainly want to read it just to be finished with this series, I can admit that I am also intrigued to find out where all of this is leading.




⊹₊┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ✿ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈₊⊹
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ᯓ ✿ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍pre-reading ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⪼ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ moving right on to the next one because I need to be done with this series as soon as possible.

[Southern Lady Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is just really good. I think if I hadn't read ACOTAR and found this series - it still would've pushed me into wanting to read more fantasy and that's saying something!! I took a break from reading fantasy for a while, and this is the series that got me back into it after a serious ACOTAR-like Kindle Unlimited reading binge.

I highly recommend that anyone who's looking for a series with great world-building, a slow-mutlitple-books-burn, and characters with a little more grit - try out the Artefacts of Ouranos series!!

**Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Forever& NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤

[✩ Yaz ✩ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

My ribcage cracks, my heart imploding and leaking out on a crimson flood of all my mistakes.

Oh it had to end on a painful cliffhanger didn't it?

This is how you write a penultimate book in a series.

We get more lore, more angst, more romance, more steam, more high stakes and plot twists! The last quarter of the book was one hell of a rollercoaster ride of emotions.

Gabriel took over my #1 favorite character spot in this series. I KNEW there was more to him!

Can't wait for the grand finale in the Tale of the Heart Queen

[Jaime Fok · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s just a very tropey romantasy. It’s fine, but doesn’t really stand out for me. Could have been shorter.

Ugh but that ending.
For those of you who have finished this series, do I read the last one?

[Zoë · Rating 4 out of 5]

whatever drugs are in these books I’ll gladly keep taking lol

[Katie Weiler · Rating 1 out of 5]

I should have DNF’ed after I read the dedication but, alas, I blow past red flags like I’m Lightning McQueen. Ka-chow.

[Jasmine Redington · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, first of all, idk if I'm just in a different headspace or what, but when I read the first two books earlier this year I loved them. But reading this third book, I just felt like I was reading ACOTAR all over again. This entire book felt like ACOTAR. From the different kingdoms (or courts) with their specific vibes (Woodlands/Fall, Aurora/night, Aphelion/Summer, etc.), to the fucking high fae mates who can communicate telepathically. This fucking story is so overdone, it's insane. I'm SO sick of reading the word "mate." It was a sweet sentiment the first time I read a series with that concept, but after reading it in a dozen more books, I'm FED up. It is the most unoriginal piece of literature I have ever read. Between basically being a series that is ACOTAR with the names changed, the heroine having a gift for lighting (Violet), and Lor being a "final tribute," it just feels like a gallimaufry of all books the author has ever read.

That said, I did read this book fairly quickly because it was such an easy and honestly enjoyable read, even if I did feel like I was re-reading ACOTAR.

Some things I enjoyed about the book are that we get more POVs and get to understand other characters a lot better. I enjoyed the romance between Nadir and Lor. I loved that Nadir kept his promise to himself not to push her again, and to let her come to terms with everything on her own.

Something I am a bit miffed about (though in a fun way), is that I now have to wait until November to see what happens after those major freaking cliff hangers at the end. Like HUGE. However, considering how much this series is like ACOTAR, I'm honestly not too stressed out about it because I feel like it's just following the same story as ACOTAR, so everything will be okay.

Okay, editing with some additional thoughts:

Perhaps because there are so many elements from different books, it would be hard for one single person to go after her, but I feel like Suzanne Collins, Sarah J. Maas, and Rebecca Yarros need to team up and sue that girl. I mean, listen, I know at this point in time, it is really difficult to create new art that has never been done before. I get that. But this felt absolutely blatant. Like no attempt at originality was made in the slightest.

And I really do feel bad saying all this, because Nisha Tuli is a person with thoughts and feelings. But I think this needs to be said. Rather than consuming a bunch of fantasy novels and then regurgitating the parts you liked from each, perhaps try thinking up your own story to tell. Give the readers quality. This feels cheap. Like, "oh, I'll just do this because I can and I know some poor saps will eat this up and I'll make a bunch of money."

So, Nisha, I truly loved the first two books. But please for the love of God, give us something original for the fourth book.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I SUFFERED AND IM HAPPY ABOUT IT. INFINITY STARS.

[Victoria Werngreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25-4.5⭐️ uhm excuse me what the actual freak.. how am I supposed to form coherent thoughts after reading those last pages??🫢😧🥲

this series quickly became one of my favorites are reading the first 2 books back in Dec 2023- and holy guacamole a lot of exciting stuff happened in this book! I loved the different timelines and POVs and I’m so happy we got one from Gabriel as well😍

so many things happened - it felt a bit slow sometimes, but that’s only because I was so curious/excited about that would happen next! there are so many amazing characters in this world and Lor is just 🤌🏼🤌🏼! she is such a strong and fierce FMC and I cannot wait to see what happens in the final book - I have so many questions I need answered! I'm also a little afraid 🙈

I love the growth/character development these characters have and the found family is like a big warm hug!🥹

also, YAAYYY!! it finally happened!! #iykyk #inmate hehehehehe🤭

I don’t understand how this series isn’t more hyped because it truly deserves to be!

side note, I loved the glossary!! why do more books not include one? it’s genius!😍


I was so lucky to get an ARC (BIG thank you Nisha!!) - all thoughts and opinions are my own and honest ones 🙌🏼✨

[Kimberlylovesreadingbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

That ending?!😶 JAIL TIME!!!!!💀

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

All that angst and the absolute slowest, slow burn, and it finally paid off. Absolutely worth it too.

Also. How does one recover from an ending like this????

[Krysta ꕤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ☆

“I can say with the most undeniable certainty that the moment when you said you loved me was the first time I’ve ever known what it’s like to be free.”

i have not stopped thinking about the ending to this book since i read it. this is 100% the best book of the series so far, it gave me that same adrenaline rush as book one but the romance development + added povs made everything so much better. i loveddddd Nadir in this, he was very much giving down bad and will do whatever Lor asks of him if that means she’ll stop fighting their bond.. (i’ll just have to ignore the absolutely horrendous nicknames he keeps giving her.) there was just so much going on— Tristan, Gabriel, Atlas being the scum of the earth on a level that i honestly thought he couldn’t have reached.. i’m just at a loss for words, i was experiencing 80 emotions all at once.

“The blood of your enemies, Lor. Ask me, and I’ll slay anyone for you. Burn the world to ash if you desire.”

i had always been intrigued by Gabriel, but now i can say with complete certainty that he’s my favorite character. not only was his inner monologue and side comments taking me out, but that whole situation between him and Tyr.. help me cause i’m suffering right along with them!! the last couple chapters had me so damn stressed it’s not even funny, i didn’t think i would get invested again like this after the disappointment of book two but i was wrong. now im scared and anticipating the final book, i don’t know what direction the plot will take from here but i have to find out.

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fate of the Sun King is book 3 in the Artefacts of Ouranos series. Those with stellar memory may recall that Trial of the Sun Queen (book 1) wasn’t my favorite, but then by Rule of the Aurora King (book 2) I was eating it up! As I sat down to read book 3 I was very eager to be back in this world and find out what next is in store for Lor, Nadir, and crew, especially after where things left off when we last saw them.

What I loved so deeply about book 2 was Lor and Nadir’s banter. The true capital E enemies to lovers of it all. The tension! The will they won’t they! THE SLOW BURN!! I knew heading into book 3 that we were finally going to get to see these two be together and man oh man was the wait going to be worth it!! Except unfortunately, when that moment finally came, I found myself puzzled and wishing we could slow things back down and pump the brakes.

During book 2 when we learned about Serce and Wolf’s love story and the fact that they were mates, it was an ah-ha! moment as the reader. SURELY Lor and Nadir must also be mates too! And *spoiler alert* yes they are. The only problem is that for all of the build up, when Lor finally learns about mates and realizes Nadir is her’s… she almost immediately accepts this? We go from 0 to 100 SOOOO FAST. She puts two and two together, they have their conversation about it, FINALLY sleep together (PRAISE BE), and then it’s like a flip is switched. Lor and Nadir go from resisting one another for two and a half books to almost instantly after one conversation being so in love, outwardly showing it, and telling nearly everyone that they are mates (????). I want them to be happy, I do! But this felt too sudden for my personal preference, incongruent with the previous slow build, and as a result it took me out of the story a bit. 

Apart from our main couple, in Fate of the Sun King, there is a lot of other ground covered. We learn a great deal about the shady doings of Atlas, the backstory of Gabriel (poor Gabe!!), and are introduced to a plethora of new characters. Similarly to book 2, there is a dual timeline and multiple POVs. This time, during the flashbacks we glean information about the origin of the Artefacts and each kingdom’s ruler’s ascent to high fae. I think Tuli has done an impressive job building this world over the course of this series, and book 3 is no exception on this front. 

However, though I do find the world building and history in these books remarkable, it does not lend to these books being particularly short. Fate of the Sun King specifically sits at 556 pages and man it FELT like it. The reason I mention this is not because I hate long books (not true!) but because a long book works for me when it doesn’t feel tedious to get through. Book 2 in this series is shorter, but still sizable, and it went QUICK. I was turning the pages to find out what happened next. In contrast, my experience with book 3 was that it felt like more of a trudge to get to the end.

In summary, Fate of the Sun King was a bit of a mixed bag for me. While I was happy to be back in Ouranos and with these characters, I found myself missing the tension and animosity between our leads, and the page-turning feeling I felt from book 2. The beauty of reading is that it is subjective, and I do not think that everyone will share my opinion. Readers that enjoyed the first two installments in this series will likely enjoy book 3 just as much! With only one book in the series remaining, I will likely pick it up to see how this story ends. However, I will be doing so with some trepidation as I have just learned that the final installment is the longest in length. Perhaps an audiobook may be the format I decide to go with instead :)

Thank you Forever and NetGalley for access to an early copy in exchange for an honest review! 

[Candy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nadir and Lor oh my goodness! Lor has grown so much since book 1. But this cliffhanger now has my head spinning!
🌶️🌶️🌶️🥵👑👑 time for book 4!

[mag_book_ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5
Z bólem serca muszę przyznać że 3 tom mnie zawiódł. Mam wrażenie że jest tu ogromny chaos gdy akcja książki nie jest zamknięta na konkretnym dworze jak w poprzednich tomach. Do tego sporo nieścisłości i wątek romantyczny poszedł w stronę w której nienawidzę. Lore straciła swój pazur i poczucie humoru i mam wrażenie że czytam książkę o innych bohaterach.

[Jerusa Frederick · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first book was actually pretty funny. Then the second book was ok. THIS had me hate reading towards the end to finish and I have absolutely no desire to read the last book.

Inmate? 🙄. Oh wait let’s scratch that and go with Lightning Bug…. 🤮.

Their love story is beyond ick. It’s sooooo cheesy and cringe I was skipping chapters. It’s sold as this enemies to lovers slow burn but in reality it’s weird instalust that does not make any sense with her trauma from prison. Also I’m sorry but even after he finds out what happened to her in prison he STILL talks to her that way about wanting to F her until she can’t talk it’s a hard no bro… like major red flags. Major.

The plot? I have no idea what’s happening. It made sense and then it just didn’t and got weirder and weirder and kept adding POVs and it was a hot mess. It’s like when people can’t stop adding ingredients when they’re cooking; less is more people. You add everything in the pantry and eventually you won’t even know what you’re actually eating.

The magic? You shoot red lightning? Like does red lightning do something regular lightning doesn’t? Idk cause you never fucking explained it. It was also stated originally that she can make people bleed death from the outside. Yet she NEVER does this nor is it ever mentioned again. Oh AND she can heal people… but apparently ONLY when she can see a wound??!!! Make that make sense… you can’t. Cause it’s nonsensical.

Oh and Nadirs magic?? No idea. I think essentially he can like shoot the northern lights.. sorry “Aurora” at people from his hands and can enter their bodies or something… at least that’s what i understood from trying to decipher it. Not one person in this story had cool magic or magic that even made sense.

This had potential from the first book but no.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fate of the Sun King (Artefacts of Ouranos #3) by Nisha J. Tuli
With the Heart Crown now in her possession, Lor must navigate the dangers of being an heir on the run, knowing more than one power-hungry ruler is after her blood.
Rating: *****
Feels: Invigorated, Excited, Motivated, Devastated !!!
Style: Fantasy, Romantasy, Fae, Magic, High Fantasy
First published June 4, 2024 by Forever / 556 pages

I keep falling more in love with this series. The way the characters are written and evolve. Seeing Lor come into her own and the amazing slow burn romance .. *swoons*. This book was more fast paced and really had so much more of the puzzle pieces fall into place which made it so satisfying to read. I felt like we were being given the story plus pieces of what we would need to fit everything together and it just fit together so seamlessly. Some truly staggering revelations about the history of Ouranos and some of the players in this story. I had a hard time putting this book down. Cant wait for the final installment because ... THAT CLIFFHANGER !!!!


Favorite quote: "He makes me feel things I never expected to feel. Safe. Wanted. Beautiful. Like my flaws aren’t a series of mistakes but rather the essential pieces that make me who I am."

This book has:
Strong FMC (Stabby)
Morally Gray MMC
Touch her and you die
Fated mates
Slow Burn
Enemies to Lovers
Hidden Identify
Found Family
Revenge Plot
Forced Proximity
Magic
Cliffhanger !!!!

[Anniebananie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 Sterne

Auch der dritte Band der "Artefacts of Ouranos"-Reihe konnte mich wieder komplett von sich überzeugen!

Wir starten dort wo Band 2 aufgehört hat und wir begleiten natürlich weiterhin Lor. Allerdings gibt es in diesem Buch noch sooooo viele andere POVs. Einige hat das glaube ich im Lesefluss gestört, aber ich habs absolut geliebt. Vor allem wie erst alles nach und nach Sinn ergibt. Anfangs hatte ich kurz das Gefühl, dass die Autorin den roten Faden in diesem Band verloren hat, aber nein am Ende fügt sich alles wieder logisch zusammen.

Der Schreibstil war auch wieder sehr gelungen. Man hat in den unterschiedlichen POVs richtiggehend andere Erzählstimmen rauslesen können. Die Story an sich ist auch weiterhin spannend. Es gab einige Plottwists und auch einige Knoten, die gelöst wurden, dafür aber noch mehr neue Rätsel, die aufgeworfen wurden. Dahingehend sei gesagt: das Ende ist fies, Leute! Ich zweifle grad an allem und jedem und muss es jetzt irgendwie bis Dezember aushalten. I´m not okay!

[Vaidehi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Screaming. Crying. Throwing UP.

WHAT DID I JUST READ! I have so many thoughts yet none at all. I just… I need a minute to process. Full review coming when my brain can form coherent thoughts.

——— ——— ——— ——— ———

Update: my brain still can’t form coherent thoughts about this book, but here I am. Everything about this book was so well done! From the glossary of characters at the beginning to remind us who’s who, the impeccable storytelling, and most importantly all the twists along the way (almost none of which I predicted) especially the one at the end. Nisha… ma’am how dare you leave me like this until November 😵‍💫

If you haven’t read this series yet, what are you waiting for? Go run to read Trial of the Sun Queen and Rule of the Aurora King then snatch this up when it publishes on June 4!

Big thank you to NetGalley, the alarm I set so I could snag this while it was “read now”, Nisha, and Orbit for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Lindsay (pawsomereads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
I liked this but didn’t love it. It was a fast-paced book and the writing was really similar to the previous books. The plot of the series advanced a bit but not all that much so I’m hoping for a lot more to happen in the final book of the series but I’m glad the romance did progress in this one. I like Lor and Nadir together. I enjoyed this group of characters a lot. They’re fun and funny and the dialogue they have keeps things lighthearted through the tense situations they’re put through. The end left off on a huge cliffhanger but I have a strong feeling it’s not actually going to be something that impacts a lot of the next book…

[Muffinsandbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

J’avais beaucoup aimé les deux premiers tomes malgré que ça soit un peu tiré par les cheveux à certains moments… or là j’ai eu plus de mal à accrocher. Ce troisième tome était un peu brouillon a mes yeux, on avance pas dans l’intrigue, on nous balance plein d’infos ou d’éléments qui certes deviennent importants pour le world building mais qui sortent de nulle part et arrivent un peu tard à mes yeux… les personnages sont attachants même si Lor fait constamment la girouette mais bon.
Pas une mauvaise lecture donc mais pas du niveau addictif des deux premiers :( peut-être que je n’étais pas dans le mood, peut-être aussi que ce qui faisait l’attrait de la saga a finit par me lasser… ? I don’t know.

[Karly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am UNWELL after that ending!! My heart goes out to all readers who had to wait for the fourth and final book after finishing this book.

This series has me in a chokehold. I can’t say I was bored for a single second when reading this book — the secrets? Plot twists? New POVs?!

I LOVE the growth of Lor’s character throughout these books. I also love the development of side characters, such as Gabriel.

I will be immediately starting book 4 as soon as I stop crying.