Queen of Shadows and Ruin by Nisha J. Tuli ~ a Review

by MK French

Zarya is the only one able to save her home from the dark magic spreading throughout the land. Rabin is sure the king is able to help, but Zarya had only known of Abishek as someone eager to steal her magic or kill her. The tie between Zarya and Rabin begins to fail, and Abishek offers to help. Shadow armies are gathering as ancient magic is breaking loose. Everything that Zarya has ever loved is on the line, and she must face the darkness within.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

March 2025; Second Sky; 978-1836184164
audio, ebook, print (474 pages); fantasy

Queen of Shadows and Ruin is the fourth and final book of the Nightfire Quartet. (Heart of Night and Fire, Dance of Stars and Ashes, and Storm of Ink and Blood are the prior books in the quartet.) Definitely read those first, each book builds upon the events of the prior ones in the quartet.

Following the uprising in Ishaan that she was part of, Zarya escaped to Abishek with Rabin, Miraan, and Yasen. Abishek is at once thoughtful and caring, but also possessive and commanding. He doesn't want to discuss freeing the vanshaj of bondage and still considers the Aazheri superior in every way. Zarya wants to trust that he has her best interests and safety at heart, especially since he also cares about Rabin. But something also doesn't feel right within the kingdom, and the trouble in Ishaan escalated even further. The second half of the book deals with the betrayals and weight of the Blight and the demons that were contained for a thousand years. 

This book fully explains the source of the blight, what happened to Zarya's mother, and the truth about the tie between Zarya and Rabin. The second half of the book has the action and groups figuring out what to do. The conclusion not only ties up those questions but brings in characters from earlier books. It's tied up neatly, and several people get a happily ever after. I enjoyed seeing them happy together after the destruction and terror that they lived through. It was a fun ride and a good conclusion to the quartet. 

Buy Queen of Shadows and Ruin at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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