This book and series have some of my favorite tropes (found family). This was an excellent conclusion the series. All of the characters are very enjoyable. Having said that, there was both a lot going on and not a lot going on in this book. The first 50% dragged, plus lots of new point of views, new story lines, etc. Some loose ends felt anticlimactic, and I would have liked a bit more character growth. Overall a very enjoyable read.

★★★★
🌶️🌶️

~“Tomorrow I will lay down my life, my crown, and my heart, and I will be yours forever”~

The book’s ending had me reaching for tissues, but it wrapped up the series beautifully. While the beginning was a bit slow and felt drawn out, the action quickly pulled me in, and the trials of love and strength kept me guessing. It was easy to connect with the characters, and the backstories seamlessly tied everything together.

Lor faces some of her darkest fears after making a grave mistake that brings her face-to-face with Zerra, the God of Evanescence. To save her mate, the Aurora Prince, Nadir, she must accept Zerra’s daunting challenge.

Lor’s quest requires her to retrieve all the arks from various kingdoms as her (and their) world falls apart. Meanwhile, the Aurora King, Rion, relentlessly pursues her, driven by a thirst for revenge and in possession of the Heart’s ark. Manipulated by the underworld through the Artefacts and journals, Rion’s vengeance cannot be satisfied.

Will Lor fulfill her destiny and save the Queendom of the Heart, or will the heavy burden of fighting for her people, her love, and her crown prove too much to bear?

This isn’t the review I thought I’d be writing.

For context, I rated Books 1-3 of the Artefacts of Ouranoes 5⭐️. On the whole, I think this is an incredibly engaging series that kept getting better with each book; but, unfortunately this final installment went the wrong direction.

Tale of the Heart Queen starts off strong - Tuli drops her reader into this place of void, the Evanescence, and does it so well - makes the characters’ situation feel so hopeless - that I was a bit haunted by it. That was simply great storytelling and something I’ve not read before.

But as we get further into this book, I think we lose the plot. Most jarring, we get a brand new “villian” (when we already had three). I think that makes it harder for readers like me to connect to the story and characters: is it Zerra they have to defeat? Rion? The high priestess? Yes to all — and then they add the ruler of the underworld too?

Don’t get me wrong, a lot of these threads made sense and I could see the connection - but it was too much for one book, and especially for the VERY END of one book. When all were defeated within the final 10% of the novel, it felt way too neat/easy and, as result, way off-pace.

Again, this is still a series I can/will recommend, but it didn’t end nearly as strong as it started.

I’m so thankful to Forever and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.

"That's when an idea occurs to me. It's a risky move and probably the worst plan I've ever had, but when have I ever let that stop me?"

After Lor makes the biggest mistake of her life, she finds herself on the run from the Aurora King and decides it's time to end this, once and for all. But when a new enemy emerges to claim her freedom, the entire fate of Ouranos comes to rest on her shoulders.

And so, after three stellar entries, we reach the grand finale of the Artefacts of Ouranos series, with all the stakes and massive choices that implies. It is epic, it is sweeping, it is a worthy conclusion.

Something that really stuck me with this book was how it handles the villains. Due to the multiple POVs used throughout the series (a list that continues to grow in this final book), we learn a lot about their origin stories, what made them the villains they are. But even when we learn the tragic backstory or inciting incident, Nisha Tuli never lets that be an excuse. Really, when you think about it, heroes and villains often have pretty similar origin stories - they just make different choices. The villains are all offered second chances and redemption arcs at various points in their own stories, they just choose not to take them. That stands in stark contrast to the heroes of our tale, who could do easily turn villainous themselves but resolutely choose note to, each time. It's something Lor and Nadir struggle with throughout the book, and yet they continue to fight their circumstances to make a better world.

Rating: 5/5
Spice: 2/5 (we get some, but honestly they've got a world to save)

Tropes:
- Fated mates
- Fae
- Chosen one
- Spicy romantasy
- Men with wings
- MMCs who support their badass women
- Meddling gods
- Deadly trials

Thank you SO MUCH to NetGalley and the publishers for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review (the faint hope that I might be chosen is honestly the reason I joined NetGalley in the first place).

literally 6 stars, this was my favorite of the entire series.

Lor grew so much along the series and especially in this book, her and Nadir’s relationship was unmatched literally if you touch her you 💀 + doing any and everything for her.

There were so many amazing scenes mixed with tribulations, fight scenes and reflections. i’m so glad i stumbled upon this series it’s amazing and will be in my Heart forever 🫶🏻❤️

Gosh dang I feel lucky I got to read this one early!! This series has had me in a chokehold since the summer. Absolutely loved it!!! A satisfying conclusion to the series.

Lor and Nadir, I just love you! So much character growth on both sides. I feel like every loose end was tied up. There was so much action happening in this one. It picked up right were the last left off, thank goodness! You got to know so much more about some of the side characters. Multiple points of view, time lapses.

If you Like:
👑 Found Family
👑Fated Mates
👑Action/Adventure
👑Magic


Parts of the ending really gutted me, and some made me laugh. Thank you so much @nishajtwrites for this series, and this arc.
Thank you @netgalley And @grandcentralpub

Amazing- I can’t thank Nisha enough for this wonderful ending to such a beautiful romance. My heart feels so fulfilled. A wonderful story with an even better ending. Thank you for the advanced copy.

I appreciate NetGalley for granting me the chance to read the ARC ahead of its release. This series has always captivated me, and I was looking forward to its conclusion. Regrettably, this final installment did not meet my hopes. It meandered with too many character interactions and dialogues that resembled lectures rather than engaging storytelling. The author appeared focused on emphasizing emotional ties, overlooking the crucial "show, don't tell" approach that I cherish in quality writing. I found myself skimming through parts that felt monotonous. The buildup to the climax was lengthy, yet the resolution came across as hurried and lacking depth. While I usually favor a tidy conclusion, this one left me feeling unsatisfied. Moreover, the romantic aspects often felt contrived and out of sync with the narrative.

What a ride! It’s hard to believe the series is already coming to an end. This was exceptionally crafted, blending the right amount of tension, swoon, and plot to create an epic finale. I won’t spoil but what team I’m on but let’s just say it made me even more hardcore. I wish I could real ten more books in this series, but for now will be looking for more Nisha J. Tuli books.

While I really enjoyed this series, I do feel like this last book fell a little short for me. I found the plot interesting but the writing felt different from the previous books and I’m not sure what changed, but it did make it a little less engaging. At times the dialogue felt awkward to me and it seemed like any difficulties were overcome too easily. Overall I’m happy I got to see the conclusion to this story but I do wish it finished a little stronger.

This series was SUCH a journey this was my 7th book to read by Nisha J. Tuli and she absolutely has a unique writing style that I enjoy. While the spice throughout this series felt a little forced, the romance plot overall was so good! I loved Lor & Nadir in this series, but I also loved the found family aspect. Nisha J. Tuli does found family SO WELL. This was a great conclusion to this series and I’m sad to say goodbye to Lor🥲 She is a strong FMC and I preferred her to other NJT’s female characters! Her personal growth through the story was so inspiring and I loved following along!

3 stars was due to the spice feeling forced and a few awkward plot points, but still a great read!

I received an ARC from @netgalley and @readforeverpub for an honest review.

Okay, hold up. Remember when I was in a book slump and nothing was helping me get out of it? WELL, SHUT THE FRONT DOOR! This series was so good! This is the final installment in the Artefacts of Ouranos series. When trying to find something to read I didn’t want Fae, but it had trials and so I went for it. And I’m so glad I did! Once I finished the first three I went on my Netgalley account so fast to see if the fourth and final book was available and it was just my luck that it was. I waited three excruciating long days waiting to see if I would be approved and with that lucky streak still going I was! I finished this book in two days. It was a perfect wrap up! Any questions I had in the previous books were answered, it was fast paced, I cried, I laughed, I yelled. It was everything I wanted. The author did an amazing job keeping everything relevant. There are multiple POVs which most times I typically don’t like but each character and timeline made everything make sense. It was all needed! But poor Lor just couldn’t catch a break in this book! 😂 the one thing I like best about this series is that it’s a slow burn at first, enemies to lovers, but there was so much to the plot that the spicy scenes never took over the story line and I typically feel like there is a fine line between the two. The author did an amazing job balancing everything so well. Nisha, you now have a forever fan and I cannot wait to start reading the other series you have. I rated this book 5 stars and overall the series is a 4.5 for me. Definitely add to your tbr. On November 26th, 2024 this book will be released and you will be able to binge read the whole series like I did! Thank you so much for letting me have this opportunity!

This was BEAUTIFUL. She tied everything up so nicely and I’m just so happy with how this final installment ended. Thank you for this ARC, I can’t wait for everyone to read it!

3.5 stars
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Tale of the Heart Queen is the fourth and final book in Nisha J. Tuli’s Artefacts of Ouranos series. It’s mostly a solid conclusion, although there are some issues in execution.
The highlight for me has always been the characters and their journeys. Lor and Nadir’s romance grows even more in this one, and I loved how they persevered together through the obstacles against them. Lor also has really come into her own, as far as her magic and legacy as the Heart Queen are concerned, and it’s wonderful to reflect on her growth over the past several books.
But this book is also the longest in the series (possibly also Tuli’s longest book to date), and I felt it really suffered for it. The various character subplots and how they tied into the world building, while sometimes interesting, were often meandering and really impacted the pacing. And while there is an attempt to tie everything up, there’s just a lot to cover. One aspect I had mixed feelings about is Rion’s backstory and arc, as he is a compelling character, but I sometimes felt like his arc wasn’t well-balanced with the main romantic arc.
However, in spite of some of the issues I had, I mostly enjoyed this, and am somewhat satisfied with how this series ended. I’d recommend the series overall to readers who enjoy “romantasy.”

Ugh my whole heart 😭 the fourth and final book and I can’t believe it’s over! I REALLY dragged out finishing this book because I did not want it to end, and it was a struggle because I just wanted to binge it. I want more of Nadir and Lor. And Amaya and Willow. And Gabriel, that sneaky, sweet man! This series is such a great balance of fantasy and romance! Their love is constantly there at the forefront but the fantasy aspects and fast paced plot melt together seamlessly.

This book is full of every thing you can imagine and you’ll go through the gauntlet of emotions! I couldn’t tell you how many times a cried out of frustration or happiness for them all. Or for the peace of all of Ouranos! It’s so fast paced and constantly kept my attention with the amazing and vivid details of storyline/plot. Also, the spice 😮‍💨 Nadir and Lor LOVED each other I’ll tell ya that lol.

Though it ended beautifully, I just don’t want it to be over and I’m going to need a solid week before I can pick up another book. Book hangovers suck but honestly, highest praise to Nisha Tuli for creating a world that I’m going to miss so much!

♥️ “I am the fucking heart queen!”
🖤 burn the world down for each other
♥️ bonded/fated mates
🖤 sibling bonds
♥️ found family
🖤 multiple POV
♥️ HEA (or I wouldn’t read it)

3.5 stars!

I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of Tale of the Heart Queen by Nisha Tuli from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) through NetGalley. As the fourth and final installment in the Artefacts of Ouranos series, it offers a satisfying conclusion, tying up loose ends and leaving no plot lines dangling, which is exactly what you hope for in a series wrap-up.

I’ve really enjoyed this series, and while the second book remains my favorite, I appreciated the way this book brought the story full circle. However, I found myself struggling through the first 40-50% due to the pacing. The book, the longest in the series, could have benefited from a bit of trimming—there was a lot of telling instead of showing, and some context that felt extraneous.

Another challenge I encountered was with the final trial. I found myself rereading certain scenes to visualize what was happening, as the action felt a bit confusing at times. But despite these hiccups, I was ultimately pleased with the resolution of the story. Nisha Tuli has wrapped up everything so that fans of the series get closure on the characters and plot lines.

If you’re a romantasy lover, I’d still recommend this series! Tale of the Heart Queen may not have been my favorite of the four, but it’s a fitting end to an enchanting world.

Tale of the Heart Queen was simply an amazing conclusion to the Artefacts of Ouranos series and is a series that I will always love! I was torn between wanting to devour this book and also savor it so it would never end!

Nisha takes us on a wild ride in this book and I felt the full range of emotions as I read it, but it couldn’t have been more perfect! There is so much that happens in this book and I was surprised by a few twists. I fell in love with the characters even more and I would love to see a return to Ouranos for some spinoffs in the future….(psssst…. Nisha, I’m talking to you here!)

If you enjoy fantasy and romantasy, this series is a MUST read!! I literally will be thinking about this book for the foreseeable future and have a book hangover!

Thank you so much to Nisha and her team, Forever, and Netgalley for the physical and eARC of this book!!

I went into this last book with high hopes and some hesitation about saying goodbye to these characters who’ve carved such a place in my heart—and Tuli did not disappoint!

After a devestating event at the end of book three (Fate of the Sun King), Lor's running from the vengeful Aurora King and she knows she has to finally face him and once and for all. But just as Lor gears up for the battle of her life, an unexpected new enemy appears, and the stakes rise even higher. The entire continent of Ouranos now rests on her shoulders. Watching Lor grapple with her responsibilities, make gut-wrenching sacrifices, and question her own identity was as exhilarating as it was heart-wrenching.

One of the highlights of this series has been the relationship-building and found family. In this book, Lor’s relationships feel like they’ve reached their fullest bloom, and seeing her surrounded by people who have truly become her family is incredibly moving. The last 20% of this book had me in UNCONTROLLABLE TEARS—partly because this beloved series was coming to an end, but also because Lor’s journey had come full circle in such a satisfying way. I felt like I got the closure I needed as a reader, and it was beautiful.

And let’s talk about the romance! If you've been cheering for Lor and Nadir since the early days of this series, you’re in for a treat. The slow burn between them has been painfully, deliciously slow, but Tuli knows exactly how to reward our patience. By this book, they are unstoppable. Watching Lor and Nadir's relationship hit its stride is beyond satisfying. They’re a power couple for the ages, and I am head-over-heels for them.

In the end, Tale of the Heart Queen is everything you’d want in a series finale. It’s adventurous, intense, and filled with all the feels. Nisha J. Tuli has created an unforgettable world with unforgettable characters, and she has given them an ending worthy of the epic journey they’ve taken us on. This is a must-read for fans of the series, but a fair warning—keep those tissues close!

The most sincere thank you to NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Nisha J. Tuli for the delighted honour of getting to receive an advanced readers copy of this book. This review was free and willingly given, and all opinions are of my own.

Nisha literally never misses.

She gave us the happy ending like she said she would, but dang was it a quest to get there. This one definitely feels a little different than the rest of the series which is not really surprising considering how many loose threads needed tied up. I think, however, that made this one a little bit harder to get through because at times I just didn't really care about the plot that was being presented because I found myself more interested in things that I knew were going on in the background.

Thank you Nisha and Forever Publishing for this eARC. Love you lots, mean it! <3

I'm writing this while wiping tears from my face. THIS BOOK UGH it's been awhile since I've cried in a book other than something written at Kate Stewart. This...it was beautiful and heartbreaking and the perfect ending. This series was FANTASTIC and I can't wait for everyone to read this last book. AND THE GIFT AT THE END hahah I was cracking up. Just perfect.