My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Title: Dance of Stars and Ashes (The Nightfire Quartet, #2)
Author: Nisha J. Tuli
Format: eBook (NetGalley)
Pages: 379
Publication Date: 2/16/24
Publisher: Second Sky
Categories: Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
Thank you to Second Sky for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
A love that burns brighter than starlight. A gift that could leave her world in ashes. It’s time for Zarya to release the fire within.
In the jeweled city of Dharati, Zarya found passion and adventure for the first time. A mysterious stranger named Rabin helped to free the power within her—a dark, ancient magic that should not exist.
Now, Zarya learns Rabin’s true identity. A warrior prince, born to rule, he is as deadly as he is beautiful. He’s also insufferable. Arrogant and superior, with dangerous secrets of his own.
Zarya wants nothing to do with him. Terrifying demons are gathering beyond the walls and Zarya’s friends are rushing to complete a ceremony that will protect the city. Her mind is fixed on saving her home and finding the origin of her magic.
But every discovery and every dream pulls her back to Rabin. Does an enchantment bind them, or is it pure desire? Will opening her heart give Zarya the power to turn back the demons, or will it let the darkness to devour her?
Content Warning: violence
+ I really wanted to read this book after the ending of book one: Heart of Night and Fire, mostly because what happens at the end of the book when Rabin makes an appearance. Rabin is Vikram’s brother and the guy who Zarya has been seeing in her dream forest (in her dreams). The tension between them was enticing and I wanted to see where it took them in book two. It’s a continuous slow burn, with lots of tension but we get rewarded with some steamy action by the end of the book – so I’m glad we didn’t have to wait until book three. There is some drama again between Rabin and Zarya at the end, so we will see what happens there in the next book.
+ I still find this world-building so fascinating especially with Amrita’s position as queen and basically the tree of life. I’m still very curious about her and Vikram and their special roles and rituals they have to do to keep the kingdom thriving. This story is filled with monsters and magic!
+ I absolutely love Zarya’s platonic relationship with Yasen. It’s become one of my favorite parts of this series! Yasen and Zarya have become best friends and with her past of growing up isolated from the world, you can tell their relationship is special to her. They also bring humor to the story because their exchanges are so funny.
~ There is still more drama Rabin and Zarya have to work through because of what is revealed, even though they are finally together. I believe in the next book we get to learn more about her father. There is a lot still that we don’t know about Zarya’s family background so it’s going to be very interesting I think!
My Thoughts:
This was a great sequel and I think I liked this book better than the first one because Zarya and Rabin get to interact in real life. There are a lot of steamy moments between them after the initial slow burn in the first half of the book. Also, I just love the friendship between Yasen and Zarya. Will definitely be reading book three to see if we learn more about Zarya’s father.
Book Links:
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Heart of Night and Fire by. Nisha J. Tuli | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Trial of the Sun Queen by. Nisha J. Tuli | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rule of the Aurora King by. Nisha J. Tuli | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️