Okay vibes train all aboard. Now. Did I start this in September and then get completely overwhelmed by life and put it down for like five months? Yes. In my defense, I knew the entire time I was going to come back to this book. It was my own brain that gave up.

Ironically, I kind of picked the perfect place to put it down. I was early enough in the book that I'd gotten through the "before" that sets the scene (which I always struggle with), and before the inciting incident. Well, last weekend I'd finished a fluffy romcom and I saw this book in my current reads, and I knew it was time.

And I'm SO GLAD I did. This book is slow burn in every sense of the word. The plot slowly gathers details, the characters are simmering, and it's somehow cozy fantasy despite the ominous details on the periphery.

This book also drew heavily on Indian mythology, which is a sad gap in my education and I found myself looking so many terms up to build my mental image. I LOVED drawing connections to the different cultural mythologies (various cultures' myths and their connections is a special interest of mine) and I haven't had that much fun researching myths to guess at foreshadowing in years.

Zarya, I loved. I wanted to shake her so many times but she makes so much sense from her background. I also love that she's always drawn to help, regardless of what that means for her. She brought the emotional maturity that I'm DYING for more authors to write, while also maintaining an innocence that makes her missteps completely plausible.

Will I be picking up book 2? In a heartbeat. I'm so excited to continue and devour the rest of Nisha Tuli's books!

I loved the magical system in this book! The writing was wonderful and I could not put it down. I loved the strong female main character, Zaraya and I'm loving that there are more books based off of Indian characters and mythology. I cannot wait for book 2!

This is a phenomenal story. The beautiful world building, the characters, the yummy tension. The plot is wild and the twists will leave you floored. I really enjoyed reading a story based on Indian Mythology. We need more of these stories in the mainstream. I was able to learn new terms and was all around enjoyable.

I loved this first instalment and I can’t wait for what’s to come! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

Thanks so much for allowing to review this title, I really enjoyed it!
I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Thanks again, and I hope to work together soon!

I couldn't put it down!
This fantasy romance series has the tropes we love, slow burn, enemies to lovers, tound tamily, ride-or-die friendships, and more. The Indian and other South Asian inspired culture and magic is a breath of fresh air in the fantasy world.
Zarya has lived her whole life secluded and protected for reasons only her capture knows. She has a little bit of magic that she has to keep hidden, even though she doesn't see why since it doesn't do much. When Row, her capture and father figure disappears, she takes this chance to escape and find a life for herself.
On the road she meets and saves two rakshasa soldiers, two beautiful, blood-drinking, immortal, rakshasa soldiers!
They bring her to the wondrous city of Dharati, where demon creatures attempt to attack the city at night. She helps the soldiers and other magical beings to keep them at bay as she tries to uncover her past and find out who she is and why she was kept hidden her whole life.
Of course she finds love and passion along the way. But I won't give any of that away...
When darkness threatens Dharati, will she be able to find the magic within herself to help save the city or will she lose everything she loves?
Thank you Nisha J Tuli and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC

My first of Nisha J Tuli's books and certainly not the last! 4.5 stars!

Since the day she was born, Zarya has been trapped in a gilded prison by those closest to her. Her magic is forbidden, a dangerous secret—though nobody will explain why. Now she is ready to break free and live the life she has only known exists from romance books she has been given to kill time, over the years. We enter a world of blood drinking raskshasa, leadership and protection under the mighty Chiranjevi, Aazheri sorcerers, the alluring, seductive peri that play hard at night ...and the magic begins...

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

The story sucked me in from the first page - this is the POC representation I've wanted to see as a child finally becoming a reality. I loved the backstory being influenced and loosely inspired by South Asian culture and mythology and the various references dotted throughout. The first half was a slow build up (probably also caused by a hangover from the previous book I'd been reading) but I'm glad I pushed through because ultimately, the author is setting the scene so we can expect more books in this Universe (and which should *never* ever end). Zarya is a fierce no-nonsense FMC. Having been trained in sword wielding from a young age to protect herself and fight against the injustices, she also wears her heart on her sleeve, wanting to be accepted and loved for who she is. Yasen, the military commander, was annoying in the start- we are living the book through first person narrative - but I loved the way Zarya' friendship with him strengthens over time to a sibling camaraderie (found family tropes ftw!) We are introduced to the love interest, mysterious tall dark and handsome Rabin, late into the story but once her arrives my oh my, the fireworks! That second book is going to tip me ove the edge.

This story really does keep you on your toes and the mystery behind Zarya's identity, why she was kept hidden away, her own understanding and exploration of who she is, this new world around her, and her ability to draw magic from the elements, and wield powers, form new relationships but also not knowing who to trust, kept me hooked. After the mid point, I could not put this book down. Definitely a series to watch out for and would highly recommend for all romantasy lovers - read it for:

- POC representation /inspired by Indian mythology
- fierce strong female MC
- slow burn romance
- found family
- magic and secrets
- friendship and banter

Thank you @netgalley @secondsky Nisha J Tuli for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest unedited review! Can't wait to read the next!

This book was amazing!!! I loved the characters and the romance was top notch, set in an interesting world with lots of action! I would highly recommend this book to everyone!,

Rating - 3.5 stars

Heart of Night and Fire by Nisha J. Tuli is a wild ride into a fresh fantasy realm inspired by South Asian mythology. Big thanks to the publisher for the advance copy!

The story takes us right into a world teeming with rakshasas, vetalas, dakinis, and more. Zarya, our protagonist, breaks free from a life where her magic is forbidden and she grew up hidden from everyone. In a twist of fate, she finds herself in the bustling capital, Dharati, uncovering the mysteries of magic amidst a demon onslaught that's straight out of stories. It was action-packed with cool magic and creatures in the mix. The characters are well-written with strong backstories.

As for the enemies-to-lovers hype – the marketing oversold it. The chemistry needed a bit more spark. This story leans heavier on fantasy than romantasy, contrary to the pitch. Not bad, but the marketing missed the mark. The final stretch amps up the action, leaving me hungry for more of Zarya's magic and crossing my fingers for an electric romance with Rabin.

This was an exciting book! It took me a bit to get into but I’m excited for the next one! A great romantasy with the perfect amount of tension and spice. Loved it!!

Nisha J. Tuli, one of my favorite authors, has once again woven a tapestry of enchantment and intrigue in Heart of Night and Fire- book one in the Nightfire Quartet. This epic fantasy romance is a breathtaking beginning to a series that promises to captivate readers with its enemies-to-lovers tension, heart-pounding action, and devastating twists.

Heart of Night and Fire is a beautiful and captivating start to what promises to be an epic fantasy romance series. With its rich world-building, engaging characters, and a narrative that seamlessly blends magic, mystery, and passion, Tuli has crafted a novel that will linger in the hearts of readers long after they turn the final page. Prepare to be enchanted and transported into a glittering new world that will leave you eagerly anticipating the next installment.

This book was a delightful surprise! I love it when I'm not quite sure how a book is going to turn out. It felt like this book was setting up a really exciting story and I can't wait to see where it goes, and for the romance to unfold. I appreciate a good slow burn!

Magical and enthralling from the first to last page! An epic fantasy adventure begins - a complex world of magic, politics, secrets, and action that our heroine could never have imagined. Richly developed characters and reality, a true delight.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

I wanted to like this but struggled to get into the world. The pacing was off and the world building was challenging. I love diverse fantasy and romtanasy but this just wasn't for me.

"Heart of Night and Fire" by Nisha J. Tuli is a captivating tale of magic and desire. Zarya, a heroine in a golden jail, has her power outlawed and unknown. The story begins slowly, creating suspense to draw readers into a magical world of enemies-turned-lovers, heart-pounding action, and surprising turns.

The tale takes us to a realm of magic and intrigue in Dharati, a beautiful city. Zarya seeks truth, meeting enticing rakshasas and Aazheri sorcerers. Dark monsters are constantly attacking the city, increasing stronger since Zarya's arrival. She grudgingly fights for her new home.

Zarya dreams about a mystery man while she fights on the city walls and explores old libraries. Rabin, strong and attractive, sees her secrets and captivates her. Trust complicates the story.

The work seamlessly blends Indian mythology into its sparkling universe, producing an immersive experience for readers. Slow-burning romance adds dimension, while Dharati's oncoming darkness raises the stakes. Zarya must decide whether to expose her power to rescue the city or risk losing all she loves, which the author does well.

"Heart of Night and Fire" is a captivating fantasy-romance novel. Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Carissa Broadbent fans will love this epic story. Tuli's prose and fully created universe make The Nightfire Quartet's start fascinating.

This book is would give a solid 3.5 stars. The pacing was both slow and too fast and certain parts. Also the information dump of characters made it hard to connect with them and their magical abilities.
Too much of the wording was contrite. Like the characters would say something but the meaning wouldn't be in the words the said. I don't know how to explain, but I wish the speaking parts has more of the descriptive words.
Of all the characters I liked Yasen the most.

I just reviewed Heart of Night and Fire (The Nightfire Quartet Book 1) by Nisha J. Tuli. #HeartofNightandFire #NetGalley

I found this interesting enough to want to read the next one. I thought the plot and characters were well done and I read it pretty quickly. Hopefully don’t have to wait too long on the next one.

The Author takes you on a thrilling journey through a world of magic and secrets. The main character, Zarya, breaks free from a golden cage and discovers a fascinating world of magic and puzzles in the cool city of Dharati.

The story, starting with a bit of tension, evolves into a truly captivating fantasy romance with action and surprising twists. The idea of the "Found Family" is really wonderful and adds an extra layer of charm to the book. Of course, it has a few flaws here and there, but overall, I really enjoyed "Heart of Night and Fire."

It's perfect for laid-back reading, especially if you're a fan of authors like Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Carissa Broadbent.

Thanks for NetGalley and Second Sky for providing me the ARC.

Unfortunately I can't say I really liked this book. I thought it was often difficult to follow the story because there were a lot of cultural names in it for items, which weren't explained. This made it hard to understand what they were actually talking about.

Also the ending felt a bit rushed for me. Like the info you were waiting for the whole book just got spilled in like a few pages and than that's just it.

However, I did like the character and relationship development between Zarya and Yasen.