Trial of the Sun Queen

Trial of the Sun Queen is the first installment in the Artefacts of Ouranos series, launching a narrative arc that extends across four volumes. All four books are now published (2022-2024), and Trial of the Sun Queen made explicit references to the forthcoming sequels. In her author’s note, Tuli confirmed her plan for a four-book series, encouraging readers to look for “easter eggs scattered throughout the story” that will resolve in later volumes (ix). This trailing or teasing is characteristic of the online market, in which audiences consume large volumes of material and authors must actively compete to capture and maintain attention.

As the opening book, Trial of the Sun Queen’s structural function is to establish the foundational elements of the fantasy world and set up the beginning of the series plot arc. The narrative introduces the continent of Ouranos, a realm divided into rival kingdoms, most notably the dark, northern Aurora Court and the bright, southern Sun Court of Aphelion. This geopolitical rivalry forms the central conflict driving the plot. The novel also lays the groundwork for the series’ overarching magical framework, which revolves around powerful Fae, oppressed mortals, and the titular “Artefacts” of immense power, one of which Lor’s sister, Willow, was imprisoned for supposedly stealing (31). Key mysteries are introduced to be explored in subsequent books, including the true nature of Lor’s “shattered legacy” (5), the secrets of the cruel Aurora King, and the complex motivations of the Sun King, Atlas. By setting up these core conflicts, character dynamics, and unresolved questions, Trial of the Sun Queen serves as a crucial entry point, inviting readers into a larger, unfolding saga of magic, power, and identity that will define the Artefacts of Ouranos series. As the series name hints, the overall narrative is an overarching quest trajectory, hinging on the meaning and purpose of the “artefacts,” which Lor will discover, first alone and then reunited with her siblings. As the series continues into book two, Lor’s initial relationship with Altas will be mirrored by a new love-hate relationship with anti-hero Prince Nadir. The fuller backstory of Lor’s legacy and destiny, prefigured in the first novel through the red jewel and the mirror’s revelation, will be increasingly developed, particularly through the introduction of a parallel narrative from the viewpoint of Lor’s royal grandmother, centuries before.