Trial of the Sun Queen

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel is part of the popular “romantasy” subgenre, sharing elements with books like Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses. How did Trial of the Sun Queen meet your expectations for this genre? What elements felt familiar, and what, if anything, did it do to stand out for you?

2. What was your immediate reaction to the cliffhanger ending, which sees Lor captured by Prince Nadir? What do you think or hope will happen in the next instalment?

3. How did you respond to the four different trials? How did they shape the structure of the novel and your understanding of the characters and setting?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Lor’s identity is defined by her resilience, especially by the privations of life in Nostraza. When have you found that a difficult experience gave you unexpected strengths or skills? What did these help you to achieve?

2. Throughout the book, two powerful Fae princes, Atlas and Nadir, take an interest in Lor. Think of a time that you have had to determine whether someone was trustworthy. How did you decide and, looking back, do you think you made the right decision?

3. Lor, Halo, and Marici form an unexpected alliance in a competition designed to pit them against each other. Have you ever formed a supportive connection in a competitive environment? In what ways did it change your experience?

4. The novel increasingly hints at family secrets which will determine Lor’s identity and legacy. Have you ever learned unexpected things about yourself or family history, and how did this alter your perspective?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The world of Ouranos is built on a rigid social hierarchy separating the powerful Fae from the oppressed mortals. What parallels do you see with social structures in our world? Do you think this is allegorical?

2. The Sun Queen Trials are treated as celebrated social entertainment. What real historical examples of bloodthirsty entertainment do you think the novel draws on here? Do you think modern society has moved away from this, or is it manifested differently? Why?

3. The nature of the Sun Queen Trials and social behavior in the novel presents a fairly rigid power structure based on traditional binary and hetero-normative ideas of gender difference. Do you think the novel upholds or critiques gendered power structures? Why?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. The narrative alternates between Lor’s first-person perspective and Nadir’s third-person point of view. How did this structural choice shape your reading experience and understanding of the plot, especially the pace that information was revealed/withheld?

2. How do the contrasting settings of the Aurora kingdom and the Sun Court function symbolically? Consider what they indicate about power, society, and morality.

3. In what ways does Lor’s character draws on the “dispossessed princess” trope from folklore? How does the novel indicate that Lor’s true nature and destiny are in contrast to her situation?

4. What role does the erotic content of the novel have in the narrative? How is it used to explore the characters’ natures, their feelings about each other, and the choices they must make?

5. Gabriel acts as a foil to Atlas, offering brutal honesty where Atlas offers charming reassurances. In what ways did the novel prefigure the reveal that Gabriel would seek to protect Lor, even at his own cost?

6. The story concludes with Lor’s true destiny being revealed and her capture by Nadir, setting up the sequel, Rule of the Aurora King. For those who have read other works by Nisha J. Tuli, how does this setup compare to the way she structures her other series openers?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you had to design a fifth trial, what would it be, and why?

2. Write an account of a trial from the perspective of a Tribute other than Lor. What do they feel and choose, and why?

3. Design a personal sigil for Lor as the lost heir to the realm of Heart. Consider what images and symbols you would include to represent both her past in Nostraza and her newly discovered destiny.