Genres: Fantasy Romance, NA Fantasy, Fantasy | Release Date: 15 September 2023 | Series: The Nightfire Quartet | Series Book: #1 | Pages: 379 | Publisher: Second Sky | Review
“Hope was a potent thing.”
Nisha J. Tuli
Overview:
I cannot thank Nisha J. Tuli enough for this ARC of Heart of Night and Fire! Book one of The Nightfire Quartet, this gorgeous tale is the start of Nisha’s latest fantasy romance series and features a rich world full of colour and vibrancy. We are in the presence of greatness here, bookworms. I’m not even kidding. So let’s dive into an overview before I excitedly talk about everything I’m loving, okay?
Zarya has never tasted freedom. Hidden away, so that no one can ever learn of her magic, she longs to escape her shackles. When an opportunity finally presents itself, Zarya escapes to Dharati and finds herself in the company of an immortal rakshasa and Aazheri sorcerers. But her new home is under siege from demons, and the magic protecting the city is dying. Searching for answers to her heritage, even as she battles for those whom she loves, Zarya can’t stop dreaming of a mysterious stranger named Rabin. How does he fit into her battle to find herself? What can Zarya do, to save the people and city she’s come to love? Will she be safe if she reveals her magic to save Dharati?
Happiness Boost:
This is one of the best worlds I’ve seen created in fantasy, and yes, I am fully aware of how big a call that is. But I’m over the moon with how Nisha’s been inspired by her heritage to create such a rich and colourful realm, the likes of which this genre has been sorely missing! Delicate, vicious and brimming with magic, Heart of Night and Fire sparkles with intensity. I’m telling you glitterbugs, Nisha’s well and truly spoiled us with this new lore and I couldn’t be happier!
Can we talk about the characters? Even secondary or periphery characters have their own unique personality, and that’s not something you see too often! But if we’re talking about Zarya (and we are), there’s nothing more exciting than seeing a young woman fighting against the system. Our heroine is aching to break free from the shackles, and yet even when she gets a sense of freedom, Zarya is loyal to the core. When the city comes under threat, does Zarya run away? Nope! Volunteering to fight demons, Zarya plants roots and dives into her new endeavours with absolute zeal. I love her and personally think Zarya makes an incredible role model.
Heart of Night and Fire feels completely unique to me, and it’s a rare day when I get to say that about a fantasy novel! Yes, Nisha has given us our well-loved tropes of slow burn romance, enemies to lovers, found family (and so much more)… But the way they’re shaped to create this exquisite fantasy romance? What a gem of a story this is! I am absolutely obsessed with this tale and just wish the rest of The Nightfire Quartet was available to read right now! I’m not asking the impossible, right? (I know I am.)
Downside:
I *cannot* fault this fantasy romance! Heart of Night and Fire is a story I’ll be holding close to my heart for years to come.
Final Thoughts:
Heart of Night and Fire by Nisha J. Tuli is a fantasy romance which will utterly captivate your heart with its vivid imagery and fascinating characters. I so badly want to have a physical copy here on my bookshelf, and have already marked the calendar for when this beauty will be released! Love what you’ve heard from my review? Just click on either of the links below to pre-order this incredible story! Happy reading, glitterbugs!
You can pre-order Heart of Night and Fire via these links:
