I loved that this book starts fast and stays fast paced! Zarya annoyed me most of the time 🤣 she has a rough start but came across as selfish and cold. That being said, I didn't hate her by the end haha. I adored Yasen and look forward to his character in the rest of the series. 👀
Oh one of Zarya's redeeming qualities was her love of romance novels 🤣
.
It was an interesting story and plot definitely stood out amongst the other fantasy books I've been reading!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this Advanced Readers Copy of Heart of Night and Fire by Nisha J. Tuli!

In "Heart of Night and Fire" by Nisha J. Tuli, the brilliance shines through in its meticulously constructed world and multifaceted characters. Tuli adeptly intertwines diverse cultures and magical systems, immersing readers in a vivid and captivating story.

The book encounters some challenges when it comes to the handling of romance and pacing. The romantic aspect appears underdeveloped, lacking the depth and chemistry you would expect from a
"romantacy" Additionally, the plot experiences moments of uneven pacing and occasional confusion, oscillating between intense moments and slower intervals.

Despite these limitations, "Heart of Night and Fire" remains an engaging read for those who relish well-crafted worlds and complex characters. It's a literary journey worth embarking on, despite the occasional bumps in the narrative.

Thank you to Netgalley and Second Sky for the chance to review this ARC!

Nisha J. Tuli is a one click buy for me now. I trust her to do slow burn romantasy RIGHT. I love that this book is inspired by Indian and South Asian mythology and culture. It's well written, with great characters, an engaging plot, and a pretty good twist! I'd like book 2 immediately, please and thank you.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me this sneak peak at Heart of Night and Fire. Sadly this one was a no for me and I DNF’ed at 20%.

I found myself bored and completely unconnected with the characters. There was a lot of narration and info dumping which was off putting too. However the weirdest vibe I got was the random, abrupt details that Zarya was inexperienced at sex and kissing and only could understand things through romance books etc etc. Very tropey YA stuff I guess, but it was sprinkled throughout the text in the most awkward way.

If you’re more into YA, perhaps this could appeal to you.

"For every brown girl who wanted to be the chosen one too"

5/5

When I read books like this I wish I could go back to the past and tell my teenage self that brown girls would one day be the main characters in novels, I just know younger me would be so happy. This book itself was a treat and I did not want to finish it because that meant it would be over. There are some books that are genuinely just so much fun to read and it is so easy to immerse yourself in this world-building and from the beginning I was hooked. Also the beginning really reminded me of Rapunzel being locked away, which was a very interesting take to bring to the fantasy genre and I love the mystery that enshrouded that entire plotline.

I love the found family trope. It feels like home, there's seriously something so special about going from feeling so alone to finding people who are worth fighting for. This book executed that so well! I loved Zarya's dynamic with everyone and it's so nice to read about someone who is genuinely so kind-spirited. She easily could have been closed off after what she went through being isolated for her whole life, but she always sees the good in people, which is a really underrated trait. Yasen and his dynamic with Zarya was so sweet, they remind me of siblings and their banter and protection of one another was special to read about as the book progressed. To me that dynamic really added a whole other layer to the story because they brought out the good sides of each other and really solidified that Zarya was like family to those she interacted with.

Zarya herself as a protagonist was genuinely someone who is likeable. Her reactions to certain things make complete sense at times, she was after all locked up for an ungodly amount of years. Getting to see her try new things, meet people worth fighting for, stand up for herself, grow into her power, and discover herself was a whole treat in itself. She is kind-hearted, but I liked that she stood up for herself without hesitation and she was really fiery and she fights very well with courage and no hesitation. I also loved how unflinchingly she loved her culture and being South Asian myself that really stood out to me and made me connect with Zarya on a deeper level. She grows throughout the novel as she is presented with various experiences, but what I loved was that she was smart and stayed true to herself throughout. Also she paused her escape to obtain a romance novel, which is incredibly relatable and I can very much understand that.

The mythology, world-building, and adventure throughout is sustained and it gripped me in a way that had me guessing what would come next. The wonderful thing about this is that it felt impossible to predict what would happen next. It really is rooted in creativity and it's something new altogether unlike anything I have ever read before. I love when books are rooted in mythology, as it makes for a very vivid picture in my head. Additionally, there was a lot of hope in this book, she found a better life, people worth fighting for, new experiences and it really refreshed me to read about the beauty of life and the descriptions/writing make you feel exactly what Zarya is feeling.

The romance is certainly in development and I just know it's going to hit in the later books and I will be reading them and I need them as soon as possible. It is certainly going to be a slow burn that I know is worth waiting for. Even then, the glimpses we were given were so good and did I mention I need the next one like now?

Special thanks to Netgalley, the author, and Second Sky for the arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Just like with her titles of Trial of the Sun Queen & Rule of the Aurora King- this completely took me away! I couldn't stop reading! Nisha J Tuli style of writing is absolutely mindblowing and breath taking. I can not wait for the next book in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I unfortunately DNF 50% through. I loved the characters and world building in the beginning, but as the story progressed I just couldn’t connect with the characters. I felt like there was little character growth and the relationships were so confusing.

I also felt like the relationship with Zarya and Vikram felt very superficial. She had so much more chemistry with Yasen, which was part of the reason I stopped reading.

It really wasn’t a bad story overall! I just couldn’t connect with the characters enough to enjoy it fully.

Nisha!
I have come back to Nisha Tuli time and time again. She captures my heart and soul everytime I read her work.

I am just patiently waiting for the day when her books explode like Fourth wing did.

By far, my favorite indie author.

Heart of Night and Fire is book 1 in The Nightfire Quartet series by Nisha J. Tuli.
An amazing paced plot with lush worldbuilding, a slowburn romance and deadly trials
The slow burn between the two MC's was INCREDIBLE.
One of the best fantasy romance novels I’ve read all month!
Zayra was absolutely incredible. I freaking loved her.
A unique story with forbidden magic, a dangerous secret and a romance that set my soul on fire!
I can’t wait for book two!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Second Sky for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Thank you Netgalley and Second Sky for providing me with this ARC for an exchange of an honest review


4.5/5*


“Rage and loneliness were her only loyal friends.
The only constants she could remember.”

The story follows 20 year old zarya who has been confined her whole life by the man who raised her, row, who has been keeping her and her magic hidden from the outside world until one day row goes missing and so is the magic bound keeping her imprisoned in there. Zarya takes the opportunity and doesn’t waste any time before escaping, and she soon learns of the dangerous world row was trying to keep her from and discovers hidden secrets and her past



this was my first book by the author and i can delightedly say that i was not disappointed! Heat of night and fire had everything and beyond what i was looking for. and i LOVED and ate up every bit of it

i loved how zarya was exquisitely well written and quite literally realistic too in my opinion, shes a strong and heart kindend person, her reaction to certain things were completely valid seeing as she was locked up her whole life all alone in that cottage with no one except row and aarav and thats fine after all she just a girl!


i loved zarya and yasen's moments so much and the build up in their friendship was everything they truly were meant to be platonic soulmates. the world building and character building were well written and balanced i was so invested in the mythology and was glad it didn't overwhelm any of the other themes that were being explored in the book. the found family's dynamic is quite emotional and uplifting and was probably one of best things in this book for me and i love how Nisha executed it .honestly cant wait for the second book and see more of zarya and rabin and them serving enemies to lovers!! since this book was mainly focused on the world building and zarya"s character (which i absolutelyyy loved ) we dont really get to see the enemies to lovers part until the very end of the book. (like literally)


the only infuriating thing is that i'll have to wait for the second book to come out next year overall this book was good and i highly recommend it!

If you love and enjoy romance fantasy, found family, enemies to loves with slow burn, south Asian mythology and a strong badass independent female lead who is discovering her own true self and story in a foreign new world then this book is just for you!

I really liked this book but there were a few issues. I loved Zarya - her determination, her loneliness, her frustration at being in a cage for so long, I got all that. However it did feel like she was a bit younger - maybe 18 instead of her 21 but that's true of most characters in this book. I also felt that there were too many characters introduced and it took a while to understand the world building.

Speaking of which, I was charmed by the world building - I could picture it so clearly once I understood it and I loved the food and culture, especially Zarya's dresses. Loved reading a book where they mention lehengas and sarees and it was depicted so prettily.
Coming to the characters themselves, there seemed to be too many contenders for Zarya - Aarav, Vikram, Yasen etc until finally Raben came into the picture. They were well-written though I read the Aarav-Zarya vibe totally wrong for the first few chapters but I'm glad their relationship didn't improve in a jiffy but took its time. It was also interesting to read about the other sorcerers and the magic itself. That took some time to understand as well and why Zarya's magic was contained. At one point, I remember asking myself Why, Why? and it was answered in the next chapter so that was a fun time for me.
The reveal at the end was interesting and I'm definitely going to read the next 3 books.
Yay to another Indian fantasy read

I truly loved this book and cannot wait for the next book in the series!

In "Heart of Night and Fire", we follow Zayra, who has been trapped in a cottage her entire life. When she can finally escape, she finds herself in the city of Dharati. However, the city is threatened by attacks that are only getting worse, risking the life of all those inside its walls. Throughout the book, Zayra fights to save the city and discovers her magical abilities.
This book is, I believe, the first book I've read that is based on South Asian mythology. I greatly enjoyed the mythological aspects of the story and how they were intertwined with the world.
In the beginning, for around the first half of the book, the world building is heavy, so the plot progresses slower. The world building is truly beautiful however, and sets a very promising basis for the books to follow. So, if you're snuggling in the first half - please push through! There are so many intricate details of the world, the different queendoms and magic users. The magic system is also well thought out, although it might get a little confusing at the beginning. Tuli also takes great care in describing clothing and meals, which I also enjoyed, as they helped to bring out not only the setting, but also a lot about the characters.
The characters were also well thought out and felt real. Their relationships also progressed nicely throughout the book, so I was able to connect with multiple characters and started rooting for them. They are not without their flaws, though this only adds to their realistic feel. The 'found-family'-trope is a focal point of the book. Again, I found this to be beautifully done, the characters had authentic connections and their relationship progression did not feel rushed.
This is definitely (speaking for this first book only) a slow-burn. I'm a little picky with romantic fantasy books, as I feel like the romance can easily take away from the fantasy plot or the world building. That is certainly not the case with this book, it's an epic fantasy with a subplot of romance (though I suspect this part may get a bigger role in the following books). The tension was well executed and I'm excited to see where their relationship is going!
There were two things I was a little concerned about whilst reading the book, though I am happy to report that these concerns were unfounded!
1) for a majority of the book, Zayra only has male friends. These relationships are well done, but I was a little scared that this would go into the direction of her being "not like other girls" or "being unable to be friends with women, because xyz". These types of friendship always seem (internally) misogynistic, so I'm very glad that this was not the case in the book! Not only does Zayra form a close friendship with another woman, she also against stereotypes such as "you cannot be friends with the opposite gender". Again, I can only praise the friendships in this book!
2) my second concern was the LGBTQIA+-rep. Though this was not heavy in the book, there is a gay character that plays a large role! The representation felt very natural and is also shown on page without any shame, which I appreciated. Yesen is very close with Zayra, so I was a little afraid that he would become a stereotypical portrayal of the "gay best friend", but that is not the case!
The only thing I might've wished for was a little more diversity in the characters, e.g. disability rep.

Long story short: While I was a little slow reading the first half, I ate the second half up! I loved the world, the magic system and the characters and am really excited for the second book! Again, this is definitely a fantasy book, not a romance with a slight element of fantasy. The writing was beautifully done, easy to read and kept me really involved. There were many twists in the story. Some, I saw coming, others I did not. However, all of them were well done and the book really kept me guessing what would happen next and how some characters and elements were connected.

Thank you so much to Second Sky and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC for this book in exchange for an honest review, I was truly honored to have been able to read this book ahead of its release.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

This was an easy, dreamy fantasy and I can't wait to read the rest of this series! I have fallen in love with these characters and I really hope we don't have to wait too long to find out what happens next.

Most of this book was scene setting but at no point did it seem boring or that not enough was going on. Nisha has introduced us to the incredible world and characters in the first part of this quartet while keeping it very interesting and easy to read.

I am so invested in Zarya's story and can't wait to learn more about her and the other characters as this world continues to grow and adapt in the rest of the series.

Please don't make us wait too long for the next book!

I am not usually a fantasy, even fantasy romance girl. However Heart of Night and Fire was an incredibly cool and interesting read.

I loved the Indian mythology and culture woven in. The world building was hard for me, as a non fantasy reader, to get into but the world was so unique that I kept pushing through it. It made the first half of the book a little slow for me but I really thought the second half of the book was incredible.

Zayra definitely read young. She was determined and strong but there was one moment where in the middle of catastrophe she literally stopped to think about sex and that was weird for me. I loved her relationships and honestly was a little disappointed that her and Yasen are going to be just friends but am excited to see how the enemies to lovers plots play out in the next books.

So even though I found the first half of this book a little slow for me personally , by the end I really wanted to know what was happening and where everything was going. I’ll definitely be continuing the quartet as it comes out.

Thank you to Second Sky and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Heart of Night and Fire by Nisha J. Tuli dazzeled with its meticulously crafted world and multifaceted characters. Tuli's ability to weave an intricate tapestry of cultures, landscapes, and magical systems is nothing short of impressive. Readers will find themselves fully immersed in a vibrant and enchanting realm where every detail adds depth and texture to the narrative. The characters, too, are a highlight, with their rich histories and complex motivations that breathe life into the story. You'll undoubtedly form strong connections with them as you follow them throughout the story.

However, where this book falls short is in its handling of romance and plot progression. The romantic element, which was heavily featured in the synopsis, feels disappointingly underdeveloped. The chemistry between Zarya and Rabin lacks all level of depth, leaving a void in what could have been a compelling aspect of the story, while her romance with another character is pure misdirection. Furthermore, the plot suffers from inconsistent pacing and a narrative that features peaks of high tension followed by valleys of stagnation, resulting in a bit of frustration.

While "Heart of Night and Fire" is a tale of remarkable world-building and character development, the romance may leave something to be desired, and the plot has its moments of confusion and uneven pacing, but the book still holds appeal for those who appreciate the depth of immersion that a well-crafted world and characters can provide. It's a journey worth embarking on, despite the occasional bumps along the way.

I quickly got through this NetGalley so that I could post this review in time before release day. I have not yet read anything by this author, but have book one of her Artefacts of Ouranos series on my kindle, which I have seen on Instagram consistently, so I was excited to read something of hers.

Zarya feels trapped as she cannot leave the home she has lived in for her whole life as the man who has raised her had warded the land. But when he disappears and she is free to leave, she undergoes a journey where she discovers magic, her past, and her future.

The first 3/4 of the book I felt were quite slow. Perhaps it was due to my busy work schedule and reading while exhausted at night, but the last 1/4 picked up and left me needing more. I am not one for love at first sight or quick to trust friendships so I struggled with that. But overall, the characters were enjoyable to follow. Nightfire=night court magic vibes for sure

"Thank you..... for reminding me I’m worth noticing.”

This book caught me off guard, in a good way. This is my first read from this author and I can happily say she did a great job!

This felt like a mix up of Disney's Frozen and The Plated Prisoner Series, with a whole bunch of secrets.

The magic systems and world building were fun to read and although I didn't give this a 5 star, I still highly recommend for our book lovers who appreciate:

🗡 Romance Fantasy
🗡 Enemies To Lovers
🗡 Found Family
🗡 Secrets upon secrets
🗡 Protective MMC

Heart of Night and Fire follows Zarya, our mysterious female main character who has lived her life in isolation until the fateful day she’s able to go beyond the border that had kept her contained. Now that Zarya has made it to Dharati, she’s ready to start living her life. However, she still clings to the rule Row drilled into her, no one can know about her magic. However, Zarya quickly learns that the city she fled to is regularly under attack. Determined to learn more about her past and join the fight, can Zarya keep her secret or will she be forced to reveal her magic?

Tuli crafted an unputdownable story full of political intrigue, magical mysteries, jaw dropping twists, and edge of your seat action sequences. You’ll be gripped from the very first page and find yourself trying to turn the page after the story ends to see what happens next. You won’t be able to help but root for Zarya. Watching her try to learn her past and understand why Row locked her away was absolutely heartbreaking. Although, the heartbreak was balanced nicely against the inspiring friendship that blossomed between Zarya and surly Yasen. Their relationship was my favorite part of the first installment in the quartet. One other element I found fascinating was the ritual and bond between the queen and her steward. I can’t wait to see where the relationship between Zarya and Rabin goes. The interactions between the two was my other favorite aspect of the story. If you’re a fan of complex magical systems, mysterious family backstories, grumpy sunshine friendships, and slow burn romance, I highly recommend checking out Heart of Night and Fire.

Thank you to Netgalley and Second Sky books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Heart of Night and Fired is the first book in Nisha J. Tuli's new The Nightfire Quartet series. The series introduces Zarya a young woman who has lived her entire life confined to a small bit of land by Row who has been hiding her magic from the world. Never given reasons for this captivity, Zarya constantly pushes the boundaries until one day Row goes missing and her boundaries evaporate. Suddenly on her own with just her other guardian Aarav, Zarya takes the opportunity to run. She escapes to the beautiful city Dharati where demons attack every night and a force of magic and fighters is the only thing that keeps it at bay. As Zarya accepts her new freedom, she also becomes a fighter of the Khada and learns of these demons who attack and continue to grow into more menacing forces. She also encounters a mysterious man in her dreams who she is inexplicably drawn towards. As Zarya learns more of her background and magic, she is pulled into trying who to decide to trust with her secrets.

My very favorite part of this story was the found family aspect. Zarya has always had a rocky relationship with Aarav her other guardian, but as they are both no longer confined, there relationship is finally able to be mended into more of a sibling bond. Of all of the characters that Zarya formed relationships with, her friendship with Yasen, the surly lieutenant, was my favorite. You could tell early on that Vikram and Zarya had some chemistry, but Yasen and Zarya's friendship held the place of honor for my favorite. I didn't need the romance in this book as long as I had more of their friendship. While I somewhat enjoyed the chemistry between Vikram and Zarya, something felt off about the relationship early on. The mysterious man in her dreams, Rabin, was the one you envisioned Zarya eventually falling for..

The world building in the story with the basis of Indian mythology was so fresh and original. I loved the bright and colorful world that I wanted to be immersed in. I found myself making myself a cup of Chai just to sit down and immerse myself even more. The magic system was elemental based but felt more original in its concept.

I would highly recommend this book if you like Slow burn romance, found family, Indian mythology and world building, and hidden/forbidden magic. I cannot wait for the rest of the books in this quartet!