Enchanting, dangerous worlds of magic, intrigue, and romance are built within the pages of Nisha J Tuli’s book series, The Artefacts of Ouranos. Tuli sat down with Bookstr to dig into the particulars of these stories and her own writing process, an insider look allowing readers to get to know to the author behind the books’ beloved characters, and get excited for her projects still upcoming. Read on for a glimpse of Ouranos through Tuli’s eyes!
About the Author
Nisha J Tuli is a USA Today and international bestselling author of glittering fantasy worlds, steamy rom-coms, and kissing scenes full of angst. Her book, Trial of the Sun Queen, went on to become a BookTok hit, finding its way into the hands of A-list celebrities like Katherine Heigl.
In 2025, look for her debut contemporary romance, Not Safe for Work, featuring rivals to lovers trapped together at a corporate retreat where they find themselves with only one bed and one pillow to share.
In 2026, Nisha will shift gears into her first YA dystopian romance, set in a post-apocalyptic Manhattan plagued by violent storms and deadly secrets.
When she isn’t writing or reading, she can be found in the gym or the kitchen (to eat, not to cook) or maybe knitting scarves to survive a Canadian winter. She lives in Manitoba with her husband, their two kids, and their fluffy Samoyed.
Thank you, Nisha. Let’s get started.
For those who may not be familiar with this series, could you provide a brief introduction to The Artefacts of Ouranos series?
I always like to describe the first book as if The Bachelor meets The Hunger Games. Fast-paced trials. Lots of secrets. A strong but slightly feral main character. The world expands with each book, layering in more lore and characters who help shape the series.
What inspired the world of Ouranos and its magic system? Did you draw from any real-world cultures, histories, or folklore while building them?
Initially, Ouranos was inspired by the sky. The Sun Power of Aphelion and the Aurora Power of the Aurora were intended to play off the idea of elemental magic, but in a way I hadn’t seen before. Ouranos is actually a Greek word for sky. I also tend to write the book and build the world around the plot, so a lot of what you see was derived from the plot, rather than the other way around.
What do you think sets The Artefacts of Ouranos apart from other fantasy romance series today?
My goal when I wrote the series was to create something that felt familiar but with my own voice and unique stamp on it. I think one of the main things that sets it apart from a lot of books in the genre is the fact that both the main characters are brown fae, written by a brown author.
It is so much harder for Black and brown authors to earn acclaim and accolades in the publishing world, and the romantasy genre is still incredibly white.
Your depiction of relationships — romantic, political, and adversarial — is complex and layered. How do you approach writing interpersonal tension?
I try to put myself into people’s shoes and think about ways they might react to different situations. I obviously also read a ton, from varying and diverse perspectives, to help me learn about human emotion and ways to ensure my characters feel authentic.
Have any characters taken on a life of their own, becoming fan favorites in ways you did not expect?
I think Gabriel is one character that, at the beginning of the series, you either loved or hated. But then, when you get to book 3, you begin to understand him more, and I think most people come out of that book a huge Gabriel stan.
Was there a particular scene that solidified the character arc of Lor, your female protagonist, for you as a writer?
I think there are a lot of moments where she grows and becomes the woman she wants to be. The Trials are a huge test of her character and grit. There’s a moment in book two where she stakes a claim on her body and her autonomy and what she will not tolerate from anyone that I think really shows what she’s made of. I also think there’s a scene in book three where she argues with her sister that gives us some insight into how she’s trying her best, even if she’s making so many mistakes along the way. I think Lor’s character growth throughout the series is one of my favourite things about it, and I hear from readers a lot that they felt the same way.
What’s the biggest risk you took in this series creatively, and did it pay off the way you hoped?
Definitely the mixing of tenses and POV. In each book, the main characters are written in the first-person present POV. But in each one, there is also a third past POV of someone who isn’t considered a main character. One of these POVs shifts as he becomes a main character in book 2, indicating his important role in the story going forward. I think some people loved it, some people didn’t even notice, and it definitely bugged some people. I think either way, it was just something I wanted to play with, and I enjoyed the challenge of it.
If your series were adapted into a show or film, who would you cast as the main characters?
I’m not sure. I suck at celebrity casting, lol. Obviously, Lor and Nadir and their siblings would have to be played by South Asian actors, though.
Do you see yourself returning to the world of Ouranos in future projects?
I have loose ideas for a couple of spin-offs — mostly Tristan or Gabriel’s story, but I’m not sure if or when that might ever happen. I’ve got a lot of projects coming in the next few years, and I’m trying to do better about not overloading myself with too many things. Perhaps someday!
Lastly, what’s something you have not written yet, but deeply want to explore in your next book or series?
Well, it is written now, but earlier this year, I really wanted to write something dystopian. I was such a huge fan of the dystopian era back in the Divergent/Hunger Games era, and with the world in the current state it is, it felt like the moment for a revival. I think others agree because there have been so many dystopian books announced lately. So we pitched a dystopian romantasy to Entangled, which became Stormbreaker, and it will be released in May of 2026.
The fine balance of building worlds beyond a reader’s wildest imagination, as well as characters anyone can relate to and understand, make the Artefacts of Oranus books a perfect addition to your romantasy bookshelf! All our gratitude goes to Nisha J. Tuli for such thoughtful reflections on her work — make sure to keep up with her at her Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Pinterest, as well as on her personal website.
Want more insights from authors practiced in the masterful intertwining of romance and fantasy? Read our interview with Invi Wright here!
Get these Nisha J. Tuli titles and others to satisfy all your fantasy desires on our Bookshop Fantasy Lovers Paradise: Epics, Romances, and More! list!
