Queen of Shadows and Ruin is the fourth and final book in The Nightfire Quartet and closes the series out with quite a bang. This series must be read in order as each picks up where they left off. I was so excited to start this book and it grabbed me from the get go and just kept going. Like every book in this series this one also had me snacking along with the book as all the food mentioned made me so hungry I ate so many samosas! I loved how in this book we got to see the cast of characters and the different areas of the world visited on previous books again. If you want a wonderful fantasy romance this is a great completed series to pick up.

Nisha J. Tuli is an auto-buy, auto-read author for me and this series is fantastic. I have ARC read 3 books in this series and each one has been an incredible journey. Rabin? RABIN? Do I need to say more? The chemistry between him and Zarya is top tier and honestly, Nisha write tension between characters like it's nobody's business.

Thank you so much for the continued opportunity to ARC read for AMAZING authors like Nisha!

This series has me hooked. Especially this book. Thia ending worked so beautifully.

The characters are layered with their unique traits. The world is full of details that I as the rewader want to hear about more and more. The plot twists forced me to finish this book asap.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an epic fantasy series with romance.

Includes:
Romance
Dragon shifter
Intriguing magic system
Tattoos
War

4.5 stars

I can't believe this series has already come to an end. The Nightfire Quartet quickly found its way into my heart as one of my favourite series, and Queen of Shadows and Ruin delivers a pretty decent conclusion. The story pretty much picks up from where we left off, as we see Zarya and Rabin travelling to the kingdom of Andhera and meeting Zarya's father, even as deadly armies are hunting them and their friends.

I was suspicious of Raja Abhishek from the get-go. He just seemed like he was always keeping a secret, and something about his behaviour was triggering alarm bells in my head. That's why I was side-eyeing Zarya and Rabin and how quickly they trusted him, though I understand why they did. The book also brings together different plot threads from the previous books in the series and gives us even more lore about the world. I'm sure there is a ton of foreshadowing that I didn't notice, so I'm definitely going to try and reread the series to catch everything I've missed. The pacing starts off slow, but feels like the calm before a storm. And when it picks up, it picks up.

I've always liked how the battle scenes have been done in this series, and the one in this book was no different. They're fast-paced, full of action, and always keep you on your toes. Zarya has always been a badass, and in this book she really shines through. She really comes into her own with her magic, and shows such incredible bravery throughout. When you think back to where we first met her, and her at the end of this book, Zarya's character arc feels very well rounded and complete. She's changed a lot, of course, but at the heart of it, she is still who she used to be.

Of course, her romance with Rabin was delicious and the spice was sooo good. Their chemistry has only grown throughout the series, and this particular book shows them dealing with all these difficult challenges together. Honestly, this two are so good for each other and I'm so glad they get a happy ending.

I did think the last few chapters, including the climax, got resolved a little too quickly and I would have loved a slightly longer battle scene. But honestly, I did really like this book a lot, especially the ending. It feels like every character got what they truly deserved, and all plot threads from the previous books were neatly wrapped up.

Queen of Shadows and Ruin delivers a thrilling conclusion to what has been a really incredible quartet of books. Thank you Nisha J Tuli for blessing with your incredible writing and giving us this masterpiece of a desi fantasy series!

I didn’t think Nisha could outdo the ending of The Artefacts of Ouranos, but this finale absolutely delivered. I was nervous because I’ve loved this series so much, but it wrapped up beautifully—raising the stakes higher than ever while making the romance even sweeter. I devoured every page and already can’t wait for whatever she writes next.

Carissa Broadbent, Danielle Jensen, and Nisha Tuli have officially become must-read authors for me!

This is coming a little late I apologize, but it did take me awhile to finish. With the previous books in the series I found myself truly enraptured in the story, and in this last book I didn't have quite the same experience. This book still has all the action, plot twists, magic, Nisha writes multiple POVs incredibly well! I love these characters so much, and it's crazy to think that the series is over because HOW DO YOU SAY GOODBYE?! Overall very solid ending to an epic series! I highly recommend this to anyone and everyone!

What can I say about this series? I have been absolutely living in this world since book one! Tuli has created one of the best romantasy stories of the time and I will be rereading it again and again.

I have absolutely loved the first three books in the NightFire Quartet but this book was a disappointment.

Nothing really happens until the 50-60% point. I almost DNF’ed this book twice but pushed through because I have loved the series up to this point.

The second half of the book made up for the slow first half. I honestly think the first half could have been shorter and we could have gotten more of the battle and aftermath. This could have been 5 star if we only got the second half.
1 like

Queen of Shadow and Ruin is the conclusion to the Nightfire Quartet focused in Indian/Asian mythology. Zarya is prophesized to be the one to free them all. With her found family, she has defended against the dark and started a revolution. Now it is time to bring the story to a close and figure out what it means really means to free them all.

Zarya is wanted in multiple lands now. In hiding from her murderous sister she has gone to the one place Rowe, the man who raised her, always warned her would mean her death. In this conclusion to the story, she will need to face her father and determine if he really is the bogey man she was raised to believe in or if he is just a father who was denied a relationship with his daughter. Rabin, the love of Zarya’s life and husband, believes in her father and is sure she will be safe; it is only because of his trust that she is willing to travel to meet her father.

Yasen, is a great side character and helps to carry the story when he and Zarya are forced to split. I love the plutonic friendship that has formed between the two and he is always someone who can be depended on. That is probably why his character description describes him as “Emotional support companion and King of our Hearts”, which is so true. He adds some levity and comic relief to the story to lighten some of the more emotional moments.

The reader will also get some tender and steamy moments with Zarya and Rabin. I do like them as a couple and it doesn’t hurt that Rabin can shift into a dragon, which makes him all the sexier. Their relationship remains strong though out the book even when they are put into some dire situations. I love the idea of the bond between them and how it was magically enhanced through tattoos binding them together.

Queen of Shadows and Ruin was a decently strong conclusion to the quartet. I never trusted the king, but being in the palace added some additional tension to the story as I waited to see, with Zarya, if he would help her in her efforts with the revolution or end up being the disappointment and danger she was always led to believe. There were still some surprises to be had there as his motivations were revealed. I didn’t expect how the prophecy would be fulfilled and so that was a great twist to the story.

The ending wrapped up well and tied together most of the loose ends of the series. The epilogue was also a nice touch to let the reader know how all surviving characters were doing ever the events of the book, which I think is a must for a series like this. I also appreciate that Nisha J Tuli gave a character list at the beginning of the book to help the reader remember who all the characters were and some of the important plot points from the other books. I needed some of the reminders as it has been a few months since reading the last books.

Solid overall romantasy series with interesting magic, cool world building and unusual foundational lore.

I can't believe this is the end of the Nightfire Quartet! This series remains one of the few epic South Asian fantasy series in traditional publishing, and it makes me so happy to see this series be so beloved. Zarya's story was a wild ride, and I can't believe how far she and our cast of characters have come since Heart of Night and Fire. Zarya especially had excellent character development an I'm so proud of everything she accomplished. The romance between Rabin and Zarya in this book was very high heat again, with a very angsty subplot towards the middle-end of the book. I can't recommend this series enough for my romantasy lovers seeking more diverse stories in the genre!

Beautiful conclusion to the Nightfire Quartet. All good things must come to an end, I guess.

This book started of calmly. Zarya and company arrive in Andhera, ready to meet Raja Abishek. While everything seems to be going OK, we, as a reader, are just waiting for all hell to break loose. This part is a bit predictable but luckily things are more exiting when, you know, all hell breaks loose.

While I missed the banter between Zarya and Yasen, this book was filled with beautiful, heartfelt moments which make you love the characters even more.

I'm sad this story is over. It is still my favorite series of Nisha J. Tuli. I can't wait for her next books.
Thank you Nisha, Second Sky and Netgalley for the copy I received. This is my honest review.

This book was a captivating final installment in the Nightfire Quartet.
There were a lot of intertwined storylines that needed to come together and find closure, and Nisha did a great job of accomplishing that.

🎧 Audiobook Review 🎧

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I want to thank NetGalley for approving me for an ARC of this book.

As a final book this delivered on angst, emotion and tension. Knowing that a final battle is brewing you fear for the survival of characters you've grown to love. As we drew closer to the end every chapter ending left me even more worried.

I felt for Zarya and Rabin on numerous occasions. It felt like so much was against them and as a reader you could only hope they'd find a way to survive it all.

There were a few twists along the way that I didn't see coming and the final third felt like it went by in a flash. Overall a great conclusion to a brilliant series.

Here's a 3-star review focusing on those points:

"Queen of Shadows and Ruin" concludes the Nightfire Quartet with a mix of intriguing concepts and familiar tropes. I genuinely enjoyed the world-building and the core idea of [mention a specific concept, e.g., the shadow magic or the political intrigue]. The characters, particularly [mention 1-2 characters], remained enjoyable and their personal journeys were compelling.

However, the dialogue often felt stilted and unnatural, pulling me out of the immersive experience. Conversations frequently lacked the flow and nuance of real interactions, which was a shame because the characters themselves were well-developed.

Furthermore, the plot, while engaging, followed a predictable trajectory. Many of the twists and turns were telegraphed well in advance, lessening the impact of the climactic events. While I appreciate the effort to tie up all the loose ends, the resolution felt somewhat rushed and lacked the emotional punch it could have had.

Overall, "Queen of Shadows and Ruin" is a decent conclusion to the series, offering a satisfying end for beloved characters. But the stilted dialogue and predictable plot prevented it from reaching its full potential."

This is the final book in the Nightfire Quartet (🥲) and did such a good job in wrapping up Zarya and Rabin’s story! It picks up right where the last one left off and drops us right into the journey (quite literally). I actually went and reviewed what happened at the very end of the previous book and it was such a seamless transition between them, so I really suggest doing so if you have time!

Zarya has so much on her shoulders and she is doing her best not only to learn more about her magic, but about her role in everything that is to come. There were multiple times where I was questioning Zarya’s choices, like are you SURE that’s a good idea? Nisha had me STRESSING throughout this book and I kept waiting for everything to go up in flames. It had me eating it up too because I NEEDED to know what was going to happen! The beginning of the book was a little slow, but it took some time to develop some of the newer characters we met, and once we got halfway through it was really going!

I just love Zarya and Rabin’s relationship. They are hot as always, but they also have such a soft and tender love. I’m so sad their story is now over, but I love love loved how they grew throughout this whole quartet! And we can’t forget about Yasen. I loved that he had his own storyline in this book as he is really the star of the show (top 10 character there for me!). He really was such a backbone to this series and I love that he got his happy ending as well!

This series is such a fantastic romantasy series! It’s full of action, unique magic, and a perfect love story! I loved how many twists were thrown at us throughout the series and am so sad that it’s finally over! I cannot recommend this one enough!

4.5/5 Stars

Absolutely obsessed with the incredible writing and this gorgeous world!
Saying goodbye to my little loves was hard but the ending was so perfect and it was absolutely what was needed. I will miss this world and all the chaos that comes with it.
Definitely a book and series I’d recommend reading k anyone!

3.75 stars if we’re being specific.

I’ve truly thoroughly enjoyed this entire series. I think it progressively got stronger as the story progressed and the characters have continued to grow and evolve in a realistic way. The characters struggle and learn and make questionable decisions but that’s what makes them endearing.

I did find myself wondering when something was going to happen though. I don’t feel like the story really had any action until half way through which I found frustrating for the conclusion of the quartet. I kept thinking how is this possibly going to wrap up in such a short amount of time?! I just couldn’t quite figure out how it was all going to come together. I do think Nisha did a good job of keeping me guessing. I could figure out the individual pieces and I knew what to expect at the end of the puzzle but the how is what I was craving.

I wanted to smack Zarya for the entire first half of this story. We all knew that she was being lied to and manipulated and delayed. I kept thinking “you're smarter than this girlfriend!!” But had to keep reminding myself that this girl is only 20, she’s been isolated and alone most of her life dreaming of a picture perfect family. She wanted so much to believe the best in those surrounding her. I can’t help but think if Rabin has been a little bit more honest and communicative about his misgivings things might have turned out differently. But then again, this was all fated so maybe not. As Zee says at the end, everything had to happen or she wouldn’t have found Asha, the world wouldn’t have been saved etc etc

I also knew we were going to get a HEA but it did feel a little too neat and tidy for me personally. Yes it boiled down to good vs evil and of course good won but it didn’t feel like there were any real consequences. Zarya was basically saved from the brink of death/actual death twice. We didn’t loose anyone of any importance, all the bad guys were wholly defeated quite easily and all of our found family got the absolute ultimate HEA.

Despite this big fancy bow tying everything together I have loved this journey. I read this book in 2 sittings and needed to know what was going to happen next. I do wish we’d gotten some more about the world post-collared slaves. We got some brief info about the governments all working together hunky dory to get everyone on equal footing. Perhaps I’m just cynical in today’s world but that seems like the most unrealistic thing in this fantasy story.

Wow! I am blown away by this entire series and all these characters!

I fell in love with Zarya from the moment I met her in the swamps. I’ve enjoyed watching her learn and grow and find herself.

And Rabin? I wasn’t sure if his intentions were nefarious at first, but I quickly fell in love with his big, broody self. I love that he looked out for Zarya before he was even certain that what he was feeling was true.

I also fell in love with Yasan and Row, as I’m sure many others would! I think I’d like to see a spin off of Yasan’s story and how things work out for him and his king.

Overall, I loved every second. And as much as I love a good ending, I’m so sad to see this story come to a close.

4.25 ⭐️

This was one of my most anticipated reads, and it did not disappoint! I’ve been completely obsessed with Zarya, Rabin, and their found family, and this finale delivered so many of the moments I was hoping for. I especially loved seeing Zarya fully step into her power, with some truly spicy, shadow mommy scenes 😮‍💨

One of the highlights for me was getting Yasen’s POV and his side romance, which added extra depth to the story. The unique magic system remains a standout to me amongst romantasy, and I really enjoyed watching Zarya figure out how to wield her power strategically to overcome the final conflicts.

That said, the pacing at the beginning felt a little slow, and I wish Rabin had trusted his instincts more early on. I think we could have spent less time in that part of the story and more time fleshing out the final conflicts, but overall, the conclusion was satisfying and true to the journey these characters have been on. While I’m happy with how it all wrapped up, I can’t help but feel a little sad that it’s over!

Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky Books for the arc in exchange for my honest review!

🗡 Aɾƈ Rҽʋιҽɯ 🗡

Title: Queen of Shadows & Ruin (Book #4 in the Nightfire Quartet series)
Author: @nishajtwrites
Pub Date: March 6, 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

"ꜱʜᴇ ᴡɪʟʟ ꜰʀᴇᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴀʟʟ."

Thank you so much, @nishajtwrites and team, for the gifted eArc of Queen of Shadows and Ruin. This series has altered my brain chemistry.

The Nightfire Quartet will forever be one of my favorite series. Zarya and Rabin are one of the most amazing couples I've read. The trials and tribulations these two have faced and come out even stronger is astounding. The love they have for one another is outmatched.

There was so much that went on in this last book. I was absolutely captivated. All emotions flowed right through me, and I sobbed so hard.

QOSAR had twists and turns, betrayal, dragons, demons, banter, an epic battle scene, spice, magic, and loads more. My heart was pounding right out of my chest during some chapters. The adrenaline while reading this one had me pacing my house. I could not stay still and HAD to keep reading to figure out more and more. I tried to hold off on finishing, knowing that it was the last book, but I just couldn't.

I still can't believe this series is over. I had to take a few days in order to process it all. I'm so glad I got to experience Zaryas' story. Everything she went through, the love she found, the friendships she made, the growth.. Zarya is definitely a top fmc for me. I dont know if I could withstand all she did and still be standing strong.

If you have not read this series yet, please do! Can we please get a book about our boy Yasen? 🥹 👉🏻👈🏻 I love him, and he deserves the world.