Zarya is 20 years old and is being guarded on the southern coastline of Rahajhan. The cottage on the beach is her own personal prison. Her guardian, Row, set a magical border to keep her in and the demons out. Waking one morning, she finds Row missing and the boundaries of her confinement gone. She is free. But who can she trust? Where can she go? She has so many questions and no one to answer them.

This is the first book in the Night Fire Quartet and I think Tuli did a great job capturing my interest! The world building was great and I’m new to fantasy so I felt like I had to reread some things to make sure I was getting it right. Tuli has a way with words and her descriptions of the world make you feel like you are right there with the characters.

I did feel like it took a bit to get the love interest introduced in the book but I think it’s definitely setting up for the next book. It does end on a slight cliffhanger and I can’t wait to see what the characters do in the next book.

Thank you NetGalley and Second Sky for an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.

Absolutely phenomenal read; I love the character growth and how each experiences growth. The clothing and culture is described so vibrantly I can see it! I can't wait to read the next book!

big thank you to netgalley, the publisher and author for this arc.

5 stars.

wow this was so good!! i so thoroughly enjoyed this book, and i literally cannot wait for the next one. like i want it NOW. i'm so serious.

despite not having seen much of the world, i feel like enough has been established already. i'm excited to see what places this story is going to take us, beyond the walls of dharati.

i also just loved the characters so much. yasen??? one of my favorite book best friends. the way he warmed up to zarya was everything. and just in general, the character arcs, watching the relationships grow between zarya and all of her friends was so heartwarming. i loved it. AND OMG i really need the next book purely for rabin!!!! i need to know what he's going to be like, and i just need to read more of him in general!! give me all the tall dark handsome broody vibes!!!!!

ANYWAYS. i need the next book and i need it now. i needed it yesterday. miss nisha you have a new fan, and i am definitely reading your other books.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this arc.

The premise for this book was so interesting and hooked me from the start! Our FMC, Zarya, has been hidden by her guardian for 20 years, for reasons he refuses to explain. She is magically kept within a small plot of land and trains, along with her guardian's mentee, in physical combat. Fairly early on, Zarya is able to 'escape' her magical imprisonment and leaves for the wide unknown world, ready to experience all it has to offer. This is where the story really picked up, and Zarya meets many fascinating and important characters.

The pacing and slow-burn romance were great, and the characters are dynamic and do change throughout the story. That said, Zarya was a bit childish at times, even up through the end, and I'd love to see her mature in the next volume.

Overall, a great story and start to a series that I look forward to continuing!

Thanks for Netgalley and Second Sky for providing me with the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows the story of our FMC Zarya who was kept in some beachside cottage for most her life by two dudes without any explanation as to why. Suddenly the magic that kept her in place disappeared and she was free to discover new grounds and who she really is.

Although it took me a while to get into this book (roughly 35%) I fell in love with this vibrant, exciting and wonderful world. The world building is spectacular and the magic system is original and so very interesting and I got extremely hooked into the story and couldn’t wait to find out more.
I found the magic wielders really intriguing and can’t wait to read more about them and their talents in future books in this series, as I am sure this will be developed further.

Generally the FMC was sympathetic and reasonable with her decision making and although things kept happening around her without her being the main impetus I did like her a lot and found myself rooting for her to succeed. Not a big fan of Vikram/Aarav but can’t wait to find out more about Rabin and his backstory and what’s his connection with the FMC.

I say things kept happening but things REALLY kept happening permanently, this was a true page tuner and I wasn’t able to put this down at all especially towards the end. I enjoyed the romance aspect, pacing, but most of all I enjoyed the magic and the world, especially the world. It was amazing

As a first installment of this series I genuinely can’t wait to return to this vibrant and exciting world and progress through the adventure with the characters that have grown on me so much. This was a solid foundation and I can’t even imagine where the story could even go from here - all I know is that I may have found an author to add to my favs list and I will defo be looking at her other works in short order.

>> Review also posted on Goodreads

I was excited to read this since I really enjoyed the trial of the sun queen and to have it be heavily influenced with Indian culture and folklore But I felt like the pace was a lot slower in this book. I’m hoping it’s only like that because it’s the first book I the series. I wish the magic system was alittle but more explained throughout the story instead of waiting til the end. I’m hoping to see the characters more fleshed out as the series continues.

“To every brown girl who wanted to be the chosen one too.”
I love this dedication. (even though i’m very white lol) This book is based on Indian mythology and I am here for it. I personally didn’t know much of the lore before reading this book, but i had fun researching as I read.
Zarya was held hostage in a cottage by the sea, raised by Row. The only guardian/ parent she had ever know, he trained her how to fight and defend herself. Her only other companion was Aarav, who was more like a brother she never wanted. When Row disappears and she realizes she could leave, she runs for it. She has so much anger for both Row and Aarav, but she’s able to push past that and all of the trauma she had in order to help people. I loved being able to watch her mature and figure things out, and make friends and connections throughout the book. The only issue I had was it took so long to introduce the main love interest (rabin), and it’s very much giving slow burn/ enemies to lovers vibes especially for the second book. And when she finally revealed who rabin actually is?? What a plot twist. I can’t wait to see how everything unfolds in the next book.
I received this as an ARC for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the world building and culture in this book!

-Enemies to Lovers
-Found Family ♥️
-Soo many secrets & Lies 👀
-Slow burn 🔥

Zarya is a strong FMC who takes absolutely no shit off anyone which I LOVE!
Vikram was very sweet and accommodating from the minute he came into the picture which did make me wonder if he was what he seemed, after finding about everything that has been planned for him and Amrita I really did feel sad as he really is just as lovely as he appears!
Yasen- I loved Yasen, there was just something about him that made me want to read more about him and I hope to see so much more from him in the next book!
When Rabin showed up I was literally sat here like 😱 what a plot twist! I can’t wait to see what happens between Zarya and Rabin!
I loved the slow burn and all the secrets! I was constantly trying to guess what might happen and surprised when actually something completely different happened!

The fantasy element pulled me right in. I really enjoyed it. I especially enjoyed reading the great cultural representations. The big thing that kept this from being a 5 star book was how hard it was to keep the names of characters, towns, and types of magic. There really needed to be a glossary to review to. It was super easy to get mixed up and confused. I did end up not wanting it to end so I could keep reading about Rabin! His story line coming in at the end kept this from 3 stars. Especially intrigued about him being a black dragon. That seems so casually figured out. So I’ll definitely be reading the second book. Thanks NetGalley for the copy.

When it comes to rating this book, I am uncertain where I could rank this book when it comes to the first in a series. The potential is there with a promising premise. A young woman never allowed past a magical barrier. Forced to remain within, she has no idea of what the world outside is like. That is until Row leaves and the barrier falls. Seeing this as her one and only chance of escape, Zarya takes it. But when Aarav finds her and wants to drag her back, a convenient cast of male characters shows up. Our female lead helps them and she is given the chance to see a city from inside of its walls. But with secrets of her past hidden and the city on the verge of collapse, Zayra has to find the answers and protect the world she has come to love.

I want to say I liked Zarya's character in the beginning, but I would be lying. There was nothing about her character that I found appealing. I saw her bratty and sometimes ungrateful. Her character lacked depth, connection, and any likable substance that I felt the near necessity of ending the novel, but I wanted to press on and see how this entire plotline played out. There were other characters. Other players out in this new world could be promising. There were secrets and reasonings behind Row's need to protect Zarya's life from the rest of the world.

So you're getting married," Zayra said, something prickly loosening in her chest.



This felt quite convenient. A plot device created by the author to prevent any of the readers from investing in a possible potential relationship that could suggest a romantic link between Zayra and Vikram. And while that was what had possibly happened to many of the readers, this did not endure any connection I felt for Rabin. He had come in just in glimpses and thus I did not feel it was substantial enough to make him a player in the game for Zayra's heart. To the author, she might have seen this as a literary technique to control the relationships that seemed to be already established by Zayra and Vikram by not only introducing a sudden marriage but also allowing Rabin to enter without having to challenge Vikram and making it a love triangle.

The lack of chemistry between Zayra and Rabin could be chalked up to the fact there interactions are few and wide. As far as the reader can be made to believe, there was nothing happening between them. So, this potential relationship seemed to lack the necessary formula that would give the relationship its needed chemistry that the reader could feel when the two finally managed to finally meet. It was not there at all.


Fire. Water. Air. Earth. Spirit. Five. She had all five of them.


All five of these sudden abilities remind me of a cartoon that used to be popular on Nick, Avatar: The Last Airbender. The only difference is that these abilities were quick to appear in our female lead's hands while Aang worked hard to make them appear. Many female leads in the fantasy romance genre have become into their powers quite easily without having to really work on them to appear. While we do see Zayra trying to work with her magic, it did not feel as it should be. I would have liked to see her work with what she had to harness the abilities allotted to her. This would have made things a lot more believable.


Final Thought:

As I reiterate my thoughts on the book, I also want the readers to form their own opinions on the book. I believe that any first book in a series opens the door to a world yet to be uncovered. There will be some inconsistencies in the novel, but all those have been a bit miner which I am sure will be explained within the next books to come.

"Zarya hoped that this would be a night to remember. The kind of night someone could write about in one of his books."

Zarya is twenty living with guardians, "protecting" her, when in reality, she feels trapped in a prison. When the opportunity to escape arises, she grabs it. As she ventures into the city and meets new people, she is uncovering more and more secrets about the world and herself. The city is under attack by a blight and demons, and no can figure out the cause - but Zarya steps up to help protect the city. Through all of this, Zarya is forming relationships with powerful warriors, nobles and royalty, and meets a mysterious figure in her dreams.

Nisha Tuli, once again, delivers a strong and creative story. Her world-building is exquisite and I was immediately drawn into the world. The fantasy is inspired by South Asian mythology, and it was extremely captivating. Our FMC is multi-dimensional and we saw a lot of character development from her already, and I can't wait to see more in the rest of the series. Tuli provided us with a storyline that was adventurous, emotional, and action-packed - as well as with a plot-twist that had my head spinning.

Zarya is so relatable - and I appreciate Nisha's small nods to her book-loving audience with Zarya's love of romance books. I feel seen - so thank you.

It took to about halfway through the book until we met who will (we are assuming) the main love interest. The slow burn is very, very slow - but I am SO looking forward to seeing how this will develop in the next book. I have a feeling it will definitely be worth it.

I am so captivated by this world and all of the characters. I will be very (im)patiently waiting for the next book!

You'll enjoy this book if you like:
🔥Found family
🔥Slow burn
🔥Enemies-to-lovers (future books)
🔥Hidden identity

Star Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating:
🌶.5 / 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶


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

I liked a lot of things about Heart of Night and Fire, but ultimately, I found the story pretty mundane and it was a drag to get through for me.

Zarya has been imprisoned all 21 years of her life by two men who swore to her mother to protect her, but they never tell her why. Foul-mouthed and hot-tempered Zarya is trained to fight and defend herself, and escapes into her beloved romance novels, longing for a family of her own some day. One day Row’s magic barrier locking her inside her swamp cottage breaks down and he goes missing.

She saves two soldiers and raksashas, described as a sort of Hindi vampire, from attacks by demons and they take her into the city.

She goes to the city, accompanied by Aarav, Row’s companion, a city that’s been walled off for years against demon attacks, only protected by a queen’s fragile magic.

In the city the naive young Zarya becomes enamored with the city’s charms and temptations, including Vikram, the raksasha who rescued her, and a mysterious stranger who haunts her dreams in a magical forest.

I loved the Indian-inspired elements of this story and the character of Zarya, who was very relatable as a restless 21-year-old longing for adventure and romance. But her naivete became gratingly annoying in the end - I had to wonder what the two older men who were her love interests saw in her. She’s the type to leap into danger, be constantly melodramatic and make stupid decisions but not necessarily in a charming way. Instead of changing, she just became more that way.

And ultimately I found the story kind of boring. The same basic YA plot arc you see over and over.

It handled the genre well so fans of the genre will appreciate this book but there is nothing new or overly compelling here for my tastes.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

In Heart of Night and Fire, Nisha J. Tuli weaves a beautiful fantasy world based on Indian culture, history, and mythology. As a reader, you are just as intrigued and excited to learn more about this world as the main character is.
The main character Zarya has spent most of her life locked away in the middle of a swamp by the man who raised her. Her story takes off when she is brought to the city after this man disappears.
One of my biggest struggles with the story is that the main character reads very young and naive. She feels like a teenager even though she is 21. This made it hard to get into the story at first although she began to grow on me as I continued read.
Also the ending felt a little forced and too convenient.
Overall, the story was entertaining and engaging and I would pick up the next book.

"Heart of Night and Fire" is the first book in The Nightfire Quartet and is a strong start to a captivating journey into a world of magic where the rich tapestry of Indian history and mythology weaves into a fantasy. The setting and culture are a breath of fresh air for fantasy lovers, offering a unique cultural perspective that sets it apart from the usual fare. The book not only draws readers in with its fantastical elements but also resonates with the heartwarming theme of found family, adding depth to the storyline.
What sets this book apart is its immersive incorporation of Indian culture. Unlike many fantasy novels that often draw inspiration from European settings, "Heart of Night and Fire" takes us to a city of magic called Dharati, where Indian mythology is vividly brought to life. The addition of rakshasas and Aazheri sorcerers into the narrative adds a layer of mystique, while the author's attention to detail in describing the city's enchanting atmosphere immerses readers in a world that feels simultaneously fresh and enchanting.
My only issue with this book is that is described as an enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn romance. While intrigue around the main love interest in the book, there is very little resolution to the romance and we are not given much info at all on our male love interest until the book is mostly over. While I didn’t mind this at all as I was thoroughly enjoying the worldbuilding and characters, it came as a bit of a surprise considering the marketing. I anticipate the romance will be much more prominent in the second book (which I look forward to reading very much and will be pre-ordering).
"Heart of Night and Fire " doesn't just offer an engaging story—it transports readers to a world brimming with vibrant imagery, intriguing characters, and a fusion of history and fantasy. The book's foundation in Indian mythology adds a refreshing flavor that fantasy enthusiasts will relish. If you're a fan of authors like Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros's “The Fourth Wing” this book is poised to become your new obsession.

Heart Of Night And Fire by Nisha J. Tuli is the first book in a quartet of fantasy-romance novels inspired by Indian mythology. Her use of both Indian and South Asian culture across history give a beautiful and detailed visual of a magical story gripping from the first page.

20 year old Zarya, has lived near the southern ocean her whole life. Believed to be possessing a forbidden magic, she has been kept captive by the only father figure she has ever known. When he one day mysteriously goes missing, Zarya makes her big break, fueled by an unwavering desire to be free.

While on this quest, her path is met by Lieutenant Yasen Varghese and Commander Vikram Ravana after saving them from the Naga. She is then escorted to the velocious city of Dharati where she finds the citizens in desperate need of help against the demons attacking the city. To save her new home, Zarya must discover her true identity or the city will be lost.

Heart Of Night And Fire is described as a slow-burn, enemies to lovers fantasy romance. And while I will agree there is slow-burn, it’s not too slow where the book wasn’t enjoyable. My favorite part about the book was how easy it was to read and I literally couldn’t put it down. Tuli’s descriptive writing, worldbuilding, and character development will captivate readers attention from the first page and the conclusion will have them yearning to dive straight into the next book.

Releasing on September 15, 2023, I anticipate Heart Of Night And Fire being one of the most anticipated fantasy books for September releases. I can’t wait for the release of the second book in the series to see where Tuli takes Zarya’s story next.

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

HEART OF NIGHT AND FIRE
Wow!!! I tried to think of some catchy title but I am just so excited to write this review that I don’t want to take the time to do it. Lazy? Maybe. But I loved this book!!!! I loved the characters. I loved the setting. I love the different-ness from other stories like it. I thought it was just absolutely wonderful. Thanks so much to #Netgalley for the chance to read this!

Heart of Night and Fire (#HeartofNightandFire) by Nisha Tuli appears to be the first of 4 and I am so happy that it is. But I will admit it will be a long wait for the next ones. Last book I read that left me this anxious and eager for the next was Empire of the Vampire…

Zarya here is approaching her 21st birthday but she has lived a sheltered life, not able to stray to far from home due to a magical spell that keeps her with Row (the man raising her). One day he disappears and so does the magic keeping her stuck in her little hut. She escapes and finds herself in a city where she meets the Captain of the Guard who is also a rakshasas (kind of like a vampire) and his best friend. She and Aarav, who was an apprentice to Row, end up meeting the queen and settling in the city. And that’s where the story really takes off.

There is something going on magically and the city is in danger. It wasn’t hard to guess that Zarya will be important in the grand scheme of what ever that is – otherwise, would she really be the main protagonist – but it was still a wonderful adventure to find out why.

The story was colorful, filled with rich world building, wonderful character development and descriptions that despite me not know so many of the words was a joy to read. I could not put this down. There was action, mythology, magic and because this was from a very different mythological system (one that I have not ventured into reading before)it was amazingly fresh and, well, just wonderful. The images were so vivid I felt like I was watching the scene from What Dreams May Come where Robin William’s character is walking through a painting.

Ms. Tuli was compared to Sarah Maas and that was part of why I requested this title. And while I really enjoyed the Throne of Glass series and the first 3 of the Court of Thorns and Roses, this was so very different. The distinct differences in the mythology which serves as an inspiration and the culture that influences this gives it a very unique (at least based on the things I have read before) feeling. The closest thing I have read to this type of mythology was the Priory of the Orange Tree and even that (while wonderful as well) was very different.

There is so much fodder in the culture and mythology that serves as the starting point that it was easy to picture the lush green forest, it was easy to imagine all the wonderful smells from the food, and it was easy to see the characters and their colorful costumes. All because of the wonderful story telling found on the pages of this book. Not to mention, the descriptions used here lead to the instant ability to picture vibrant scenes with characters that were easy to like – even Aarav despite his issues.

And, I will admit I was also thankful for the author’s note in the beginning. Despite my (shameful) lack of knowledge of the mythology in play here it was nice to know that there was both a basis and “just” inspiration in that. Unlike the last book I reviewed where there were terms used that had no meaning and I spent all sorts of time looking thing up to no avail, here I spent time looking up much so I could have a picture, but not only found them but found the author’s use of the basis made it possible to read without stopping every few minutes because I was still able to form a mental picture from her wonderful descriptions and then looked stuff up when I could bring myself to take a break.

I would suggest, however, that if readers like me are part of the target market that a short glossary of terms might be a helpful add. I did hit a point where I was not looking up some things – if it was obviously foo or clothes or weapons (which most of the time it was obvious so a fuzzy idea was totally ok) or even the demons/creatures (like the naga – which I easily figured was a snake, but maybe the similarity to Nagini from Harry Potter helped since JKR once explained that Nagini’s name came from the word…) I found I hit a point where I was skipping it but if there had been a glossary I might have had a better picture. Not the end of the world there isn’t one, but often in books like this, there is one to help with just this type of thing. I will note, however, that I LOVED that the words were not italicized and I would NOT change that.

Bottom line: I loved this book!

This was a wonderful start to a new high fantasy romance series! The FMC, Zarya, has been hidden away in a small cottage on the coast for her whole life. Her guardian put up barriers around their cottage for her protection but it also makes it so she can't leave. Despite asking many times throughout the years, Zarya doesn't know who her parents are or even why she has been hidden away. She spends her days training and reading books until one day, when she is alone, she notices that the barriers are down. She takes this as an opportunity to finally leave and explore the world she has dreamed about for so long.

This was a super interesting read and I really enjoyed it! I'm excited to see what happens next and how Zarya develops her powers and learns more about her family. And hopefully some more scenes with her and Rabin!!

*3.5/5*

“Heart of night and fire” follows Zarya as she escapes imprisonment and tries to find answers behind her story. Zarya has been stuck in the same house with Row and his apprentice, however one day Row leaves without returning and the spell that keeps her confined breaks. When she leaves she discovers that the rest of the kingdom is plagued by monsters attacks and it’s on the brink of collapsing. Alongside Vikram and Yasen, two vampires met by chance, she decides to help and try to save the place where she can finally be free and herself.

I really enjoyed the world building of this novel, it was a bit complicated in the beginning especially since there are a lot of characters, but once you’re in the story there’s no turning back.

The characters were quite good, Yasen is my personal favorite, and I have an hunch that Rabin will be one of my favourites, too. I liked Zarya; however at some point she got a bit annoying and I wanted her to get a grip. I’m sure she will get there eventually, however Vikram needs to go away and not come back.

The magic system was great, the setting as well. it seemed to come out of the pages in certain scenes. The ending was also good for it being the first book in a new series as it gave partial closure, but also left it open for the sequel which I’m super excited to read.

In this book you can find: enemies-to-lovers, high stakes, found family, super cool magic system, vampires.

Thank you NetGalley and Second Sky for allowing me to read a copy of this book.

I want more! The scenery and the character development was some of the best in fantasy. I would love to now read more of Hindu mythology.
Nisha is turning into a favorite in Fantasy. Found Family, Chemistry. Lady has got it!

OMG I AM PRACTICALLY CRYING BECAUSE I WANT BOOK TWO LIKE RIGHG NOW AND THIS ONE ISNT EVEN OUT YET.

Okay so. I really like this book. Like quite a bit. This series is definitely one I plan to continue.

So, the first half of the book might seem a bit slow to some, but personally, I enjoyed the complex world building and the development of an AMAZING found family.

There are so many secrets and twists and turns throughout this book — I straight up gasped and yelled out loud towards the end. I just couldn’t put this book down. I would have probably read it in one sitting had I not convinced myself that sleep is a necessity.

The romance is definitely one I expect to be a slow slow burn stretched out through the series, but honestly I’m totally here for it. Sign me up for book two babes.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC of this book. This in no way impacted my review.