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The Holy Bloodlines #1
The Elysean Trials
Elyseans are so wise…
Elyseans are so beautiful….
Elyseans are divine…
Elyseans are power hungry assholes with a god complex.
Yes *gasp* I said it. Sue me and bring out your pitchforks.
Unfortunately for me, the deadly Elysean Trials are right around the corner. Despite my unpopular opinion on them and anything Olympian-gods related, when they unleash their strange blue birds to select mortals around the country as candidates, one of them chooses me.
Naturally, I politely tell them to shove it, but that’s the thing about Elyseans: they’re not used to taking no for an answer. So together with my legal guardian, they force me to go to their trials just two days shy of my eighteenth birthday—and for what?
A chance to attend the Academy of Divine Light and Beauty. A chance to become Elysean… What a joke.
They can keep their Academy and their magic, but I will finish their trials because I have no other choice. I will survive these monsters disguised as gods because my freedom has never been closer.
My own kind can’t stand me, but that’s nothing new. The Elyseans despise me—especially Shade, a descendant of Hades, who commands darkness with a wave of his hand and is sinfully beautiful, even when he's reminding me of how perfectly powerless against them I am.
But the more I get to know him, the harder it gets to ignore who he really is, and the more impossible it gets not to give in to my attraction for him.
And the deeper into the trails I go, the more I learn, and the more I realize that Elyseans are not the perfect god-like people the world paints them to be.
Worst of all, my past might not be quite like I remember, either…
***This book contains very explicit romantic scenes.
Elyseans are so beautiful….
Elyseans are divine…
Elyseans are power hungry assholes with a god complex.
Yes *gasp* I said it. Sue me and bring out your pitchforks.
Unfortunately for me, the deadly Elysean Trials are right around the corner. Despite my unpopular opinion on them and anything Olympian-gods related, when they unleash their strange blue birds to select mortals around the country as candidates, one of them chooses me.
Naturally, I politely tell them to shove it, but that’s the thing about Elyseans: they’re not used to taking no for an answer. So together with my legal guardian, they force me to go to their trials just two days shy of my eighteenth birthday—and for what?
A chance to attend the Academy of Divine Light and Beauty. A chance to become Elysean… What a joke.
They can keep their Academy and their magic, but I will finish their trials because I have no other choice. I will survive these monsters disguised as gods because my freedom has never been closer.
My own kind can’t stand me, but that’s nothing new. The Elyseans despise me—especially Shade, a descendant of Hades, who commands darkness with a wave of his hand and is sinfully beautiful, even when he's reminding me of how perfectly powerless against them I am.
But the more I get to know him, the harder it gets to ignore who he really is, and the more impossible it gets not to give in to my attraction for him.
And the deeper into the trails I go, the more I learn, and the more I realize that Elyseans are not the perfect god-like people the world paints them to be.
Worst of all, my past might not be quite like I remember, either…
***This book contains very explicit romantic scenes.
564 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 12, 2023
2683 people are currently reading
6053 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 291 reviews
August 23, 2024
no spoilers
Feel a like I’m apart of the minority of people who didn’t like this book. It was an easy read but the characters fell flat and were 1 dimensional to me. Although the MC is written to be a baddass that doesn’t back down Every chapter either begins or ends with the MC crying and running away from other characters or passing out somehow. Every plot twist is predictable. Every. Single. One. I found myself skimming over some chapters knowing I wouldn’t miss much because again it was predictable and almost every chapter was the same. Try to get to the library, run away from bullies, help the lady with the cart, eat, sleep, think of shade. Repeat. I hate leaving series unfinished but I feel like I already know what’s going to happen, so what’s the point ?
Feel a like I’m apart of the minority of people who didn’t like this book. It was an easy read but the characters fell flat and were 1 dimensional to me. Although the MC is written to be a baddass that doesn’t back down Every chapter either begins or ends with the MC crying and running away from other characters or passing out somehow. Every plot twist is predictable. Every. Single. One. I found myself skimming over some chapters knowing I wouldn’t miss much because again it was predictable and almost every chapter was the same. Try to get to the library, run away from bullies, help the lady with the cart, eat, sleep, think of shade. Repeat. I hate leaving series unfinished but I feel like I already know what’s going to happen, so what’s the point ?
September 8, 2023
If you’re a fan of Greek Mythology, the Hunger Games, or both, then this is the book for you! I enjoyed that this book was set in a modern/dystopian setting but still incorporated the lore and worship of Greek gods. Sera’s hatred for the Elyseans, descendants of the Olympian gods, is apparent from day one. I loved how strong-willed she was and how she didn’t waiver or question herself. When she is “chosen” for the Elysian trials, Sera is put to the test and no one is on her side. When a mysterious and stormy-eyed boy named Shade helps Sera, they start to become unlikely friends. As Sera undergoes the trials, she realizes not everything is as it seems.
Sera has a mysterious past and I loved how we got glimpses of that throughout the book. I also loved the tension between her and Shade- we all love a man with shadows and he didn’t disappoint. The spice level for this book was a perfect amount. I did, however, wish we got a little more from his character, we know almost nothing about him. I think this will be explored more in the next book. The prose was simple and easy to follow. I think the world-building and plot development was great for the first book in a series and I am excited to read more of the Holy Bloodlines!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Sera has a mysterious past and I loved how we got glimpses of that throughout the book. I also loved the tension between her and Shade- we all love a man with shadows and he didn’t disappoint. The spice level for this book was a perfect amount. I did, however, wish we got a little more from his character, we know almost nothing about him. I think this will be explored more in the next book. The prose was simple and easy to follow. I think the world-building and plot development was great for the first book in a series and I am excited to read more of the Holy Bloodlines!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 29, 2023
Okay but like … WOW. I like many characters from series but this FMC takes her past and even though it starts to define who she is, she never denies it. I think that was SO important because we all can have past difficulties that shape us, so we should not ignore them. Also, adding Shade to my forever growing list of book boyfriends😂
I received this. ARC for an honest review all thoughts/opinions above are my own!
I received this. ARC for an honest review all thoughts/opinions above are my own!
September 4, 2023
To say it simply, I LOVED this book. This was my first time as an ARC reader and I couldn’t be more happy that this was the book to start out with.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Sera has wonderful character development but also stays true to who she is. Shade!!!!!! I can’t wait to find out more about what’s going on in that beautiful mind 👀 the world building is fantastic. It’s very descriptive but not in a boring or repetitive way. This is a great introduction to this modern but also fantasy world. The spice is slow building and just the right amount as well.
It was hard to put down because I just wanted to keep going but also never reach the end. I’m so sad there isn’t more so that I can keep going with this story. These opinions are my own and I will be recommending this book to anyone that will listen. If you enjoy books that involve the Gods, this book IS for you.
D.N. Hoxa.. if you’re reading this. Wonderful job and I cannot wait for more 🫶🏻
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Sera has wonderful character development but also stays true to who she is. Shade!!!!!! I can’t wait to find out more about what’s going on in that beautiful mind 👀 the world building is fantastic. It’s very descriptive but not in a boring or repetitive way. This is a great introduction to this modern but also fantasy world. The spice is slow building and just the right amount as well.
It was hard to put down because I just wanted to keep going but also never reach the end. I’m so sad there isn’t more so that I can keep going with this story. These opinions are my own and I will be recommending this book to anyone that will listen. If you enjoy books that involve the Gods, this book IS for you.
D.N. Hoxa.. if you’re reading this. Wonderful job and I cannot wait for more 🫶🏻
January 21, 2024
Good but…
I’m giving 3 stars because the plot is good but the amount of typos and repetition in this book seriously made me consider giving it a 2. The main character was also so frustrating and whiney at times, I’m still hooked enough to read the next book but I hope there’s some improvement.
I’m giving 3 stars because the plot is good but the amount of typos and repetition in this book seriously made me consider giving it a 2. The main character was also so frustrating and whiney at times, I’m still hooked enough to read the next book but I hope there’s some improvement.
January 13, 2024
Did Not Finish....
I read this book up to 50 percent and then I gave up. The premise of the story is really good, but the main female character was beyond stupid and unlikable. I tried to push through and keep reading but I could no longer take it, if she isn't running and hiding because people are laughing at her she does something stupid. Why would you are about spilling wine on a BLACK dress..and then run out cause people laughed...so what..but then a few pages later she is so brave standing up for a girl who isn't even her friend...she doesn't take her stupid self in the room when shade asked her to while they guys were under the influence of a spell..but wants to talk to him to ask about the wine..enough is enough..immediately returned..the end!!!
I read this book up to 50 percent and then I gave up. The premise of the story is really good, but the main female character was beyond stupid and unlikable. I tried to push through and keep reading but I could no longer take it, if she isn't running and hiding because people are laughing at her she does something stupid. Why would you are about spilling wine on a BLACK dress..and then run out cause people laughed...so what..but then a few pages later she is so brave standing up for a girl who isn't even her friend...she doesn't take her stupid self in the room when shade asked her to while they guys were under the influence of a spell..but wants to talk to him to ask about the wine..enough is enough..immediately returned..the end!!!
October 12, 2024
The plot twists at the end of this book!!! WHAAAAT! Trials. Greek mythology. Enemies to lovers. This world and plot was very different than anything I’ve read. Also- talk about a sloooooow burn. Geez Louise. Ate this up. On to book #2!
March 17, 2025
All the "bile" rising is very annoying. Throw up or shut up already. Skimmed through to the end, very "Hungry game"-ish mixed with a bit of a Four and Triss dynamic. Not a fan of the FMC or the storytelling tbh.
April 6, 2025
Overdone on angst..
No characters development or purpose. The FMC was unlikable, boring, and angry at the trial for no reasons. Could not connect to the characters or storyline. Lots of telling without showing. DNF..
No characters development or purpose. The FMC was unlikable, boring, and angry at the trial for no reasons. Could not connect to the characters or storyline. Lots of telling without showing. DNF..
November 14, 2025
Can anyone please explain to me why the fuck this series is not viral? Blows my mind!
One of the best series I have read in a while! This book was absolutely epic, I couldn’t put it down! From the very first page I was hooked and I haven’t slept for days because I cannot put those damn books down! As I am writing this review I just started last book and so far it’s consistently mind blowing in epic proportions. Like, all 5 stars epic. This series will be ending on my shelf at home on paper- that good. Like I will re-read this- that good.
All the tropes are there which I love:
🔸 world stopping love story
🔸 guy who will burn down the world for h
🔸 fantastic side characters
🔸 emotional rollercoaster
🔸 so well thought through storyline
🔸 hot AF smexy times
🔸 angst and betrayal without ow/om/cheating
🔸 twists and turns I did not see coming
Nothing is ever 100% perfect. If I will complain here, lots of crying from h ( like 70x mentioned in this book) and the times her hair raised up on her body was concerning. I usually cannot tolerate crying in books, but she was more like emotional cryer but got shit done meanwhile, so that was okay 😅
🔸 h is 18
🔸 H age is not mentioned ( I think he is mid 20s)
🔸 kind of like Hunger Games meet Harry Potter meet Greek mythology
🔸 h is virgin
🔸 no om/ow drama
🔸 no cheating
🔸 betrayal
🔸 j/p H
🔸 3 months separation ( end of book/start of the second book)
🔸 explicit hot AF smex scenes
🔸 no apparent triggers
🔸 4 book series of same couple
One of the best series I have read in a while! This book was absolutely epic, I couldn’t put it down! From the very first page I was hooked and I haven’t slept for days because I cannot put those damn books down! As I am writing this review I just started last book and so far it’s consistently mind blowing in epic proportions. Like, all 5 stars epic. This series will be ending on my shelf at home on paper- that good. Like I will re-read this- that good.
All the tropes are there which I love:
🔸 world stopping love story
🔸 guy who will burn down the world for h
🔸 fantastic side characters
🔸 emotional rollercoaster
🔸 so well thought through storyline
🔸 hot AF smexy times
🔸 angst and betrayal without ow/om/cheating
🔸 twists and turns I did not see coming
Nothing is ever 100% perfect. If I will complain here, lots of crying from h ( like 70x mentioned in this book) and the times her hair raised up on her body was concerning. I usually cannot tolerate crying in books, but she was more like emotional cryer but got shit done meanwhile, so that was okay 😅
🔸 h is 18
🔸 H age is not mentioned ( I think he is mid 20s)
🔸 kind of like Hunger Games meet Harry Potter meet Greek mythology
🔸 h is virgin
🔸 no om/ow drama
🔸 no cheating
🔸 betrayal
🔸 j/p H
🔸 3 months separation ( end of book/start of the second book)
🔸 explicit hot AF smex scenes
🔸 no apparent triggers
🔸 4 book series of same couple
July 27, 2024
READ THIS NOW, especially if you love Greek mythology, The Hunger Games, and, of course, romance
August 31, 2023
Do you have what it takes to be a god? ✨
Possible spoilers.
I have been so lucky to receive and read The Elysean Trials which is book One of The Holy Bloodlines by @author_d.n.hoxa . This is my honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Hunger Games meets Percy Jackson.
This book has a little of everything in it, actions, adventure, magic and romance. While it has romance with spice its not the main theme of this book.
The story follows Sedorah Sinclair (Sera) a young woman who is chosen for a set of cruel games called the Elysean Trials . The trials are hosted by the Elyseans, a race that is descendant’s of the Olympian Gods every 4 years. Every ‘mortal’ dreams of being picked to participate, everyone apart from Sera. Sera would do almost anything not to take part, she knows how dark and un-god like the Elysean can be. However her choices are to participate or die, she chooses to live.
Sera has to either make friends or become invisible, the latter is easier due to her open opinion on her dislike of the Elysean. She becomes godless scum to the people who are meant to be mentors to her. Even with all the hate she manages to find her trusted circle, but can she really trust them? Can she really trust anyone within the city? This is including herself….
Honestly I could not put this book down even when I knew I should be sleeping I just needed to know what happened next. There is just so much to take in, so much world building and story telling for a first book to a series. None of it felt rushed, I understand the world both modern and fantasy put together. The incorporation of the true stories of Olympus just made this book perfect. I cannot wait to see where the rest of this series goes. And yes it ends on a slight cliffhanger
Possible spoilers.
I have been so lucky to receive and read The Elysean Trials which is book One of The Holy Bloodlines by @author_d.n.hoxa . This is my honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Hunger Games meets Percy Jackson.
This book has a little of everything in it, actions, adventure, magic and romance. While it has romance with spice its not the main theme of this book.
The story follows Sedorah Sinclair (Sera) a young woman who is chosen for a set of cruel games called the Elysean Trials . The trials are hosted by the Elyseans, a race that is descendant’s of the Olympian Gods every 4 years. Every ‘mortal’ dreams of being picked to participate, everyone apart from Sera. Sera would do almost anything not to take part, she knows how dark and un-god like the Elysean can be. However her choices are to participate or die, she chooses to live.
Sera has to either make friends or become invisible, the latter is easier due to her open opinion on her dislike of the Elysean. She becomes godless scum to the people who are meant to be mentors to her. Even with all the hate she manages to find her trusted circle, but can she really trust them? Can she really trust anyone within the city? This is including herself….
Honestly I could not put this book down even when I knew I should be sleeping I just needed to know what happened next. There is just so much to take in, so much world building and story telling for a first book to a series. None of it felt rushed, I understand the world both modern and fantasy put together. The incorporation of the true stories of Olympus just made this book perfect. I cannot wait to see where the rest of this series goes. And yes it ends on a slight cliffhanger
September 9, 2023
Rcvd an advanced reader copy from the author for giving my two cents. Whoa...what an epic ride of trials and tribulations with a side of sarcasm. We meet Sera, 17 almost 18 yr old who yearns for freedom. Her parents died when she was a child and a distant uncle took her in after fosters and orphanages. Today is the day the the Elysean city opens its doors every 4 years and seeks students to take the challenge to become a God. Sera doesn't believe any of the hokey pokey God stuff...they are not immortals and she's vocal about it. When the Elysean releases their robotic birds to find their challengers...one picks Sera as she yells that the God are pretty much fake....so what does she do...she runs. But when an Elysean is at her house to take her to the city...she knows her life is pretty much over. She encounters bullies, intimidating elyseans and a very sexy male whose shadows make him irresistible. Sera finds a target on her back. The challengers learn do 3 tasks that need to be done in the dome...each one harder than the other so they must study the knowledge to prepare themselves. Sera's memories of the orphanage when she had to learn everything and I mean everything about the gods comes back to her...but why now? A laundry lady Edea seems to be her only friend who will listen. Sera must remember nothing is as every as it seems and you can only trust one person....yourself!
June 1, 2025
This girl mutters too much, runs, screams, cries and flails or faints her way through everything. She's terrible. She'd be dead in a heartbeat.
This book lacks creativity, ingenuity and competence. The FMC acts like someone just entering her teen years, not leaving them.
The author took the Greek history used in Percy Jackson, where the person is chosen by what is basically a muttation, to have Greek myth based Hunger Games-like.trials where the survivors may be selected to join Harry Potter-like houses to become gods and learn magic.
To be different from the Fae-based romantasy subgenre that is so popular today, the author oped for a god to be the MMC eye candy, instead of a fae... Otherwise, you have just another dark, broody male with a perfect body and terribly unrealistic anatomy.
Her 'spicy' scenes will make you cringe and suffer from second-hand embarrassment. Dude just smashes her their first (and only) time having sex and it's played off as minor discomfort. No....just, no. I was shocked to learn she was an adult with two children.
She needs to slow tf down. You can't write 5+ GOOD books in a year. Get beta readers, get an editor, get SOMETHING.Quality is worth waiting for. Quantity is for the money
This book lacks creativity, ingenuity and competence. The FMC acts like someone just entering her teen years, not leaving them.
The author took the Greek history used in Percy Jackson, where the person is chosen by what is basically a muttation, to have Greek myth based Hunger Games-like.trials where the survivors may be selected to join Harry Potter-like houses to become gods and learn magic.
To be different from the Fae-based romantasy subgenre that is so popular today, the author oped for a god to be the MMC eye candy, instead of a fae... Otherwise, you have just another dark, broody male with a perfect body and terribly unrealistic anatomy.
Her 'spicy' scenes will make you cringe and suffer from second-hand embarrassment. Dude just smashes her their first (and only) time having sex and it's played off as minor discomfort. No....just, no. I was shocked to learn she was an adult with two children.
She needs to slow tf down. You can't write 5+ GOOD books in a year. Get beta readers, get an editor, get SOMETHING.Quality is worth waiting for. Quantity is for the money
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2023
One word: Captivating!
I story was engrossing and drew me in immediately. It definitely gave off Hunger Games vibes but with a different spin on the challenges, which I loved! The trial are obviously a huge part of the storyline but surviving between the trials was definitely made apparent from the survival of the fittest mindset of the Academy students and eventually the candidates.
I wasn’t a huge fan of how many times Serah was afraid or screamed and seemed a little much in this department. It seemed that at every turn, death was waiting for her and she sure did black out a lot which made it seem like she skated through some of these trials.
This book definitely read like the first in a series. There are so many things alluded to and at the end, not many of those questions were answered or addressed or more questions were added on. The ending definitely was predictable but her reasoning for doing so is so specifically driven that it makes sense why she is doing it and the real questions come from what happened to her that made her special enough to be chosen for the Elysean Trials?
I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series!
I story was engrossing and drew me in immediately. It definitely gave off Hunger Games vibes but with a different spin on the challenges, which I loved! The trial are obviously a huge part of the storyline but surviving between the trials was definitely made apparent from the survival of the fittest mindset of the Academy students and eventually the candidates.
I wasn’t a huge fan of how many times Serah was afraid or screamed and seemed a little much in this department. It seemed that at every turn, death was waiting for her and she sure did black out a lot which made it seem like she skated through some of these trials.
This book definitely read like the first in a series. There are so many things alluded to and at the end, not many of those questions were answered or addressed or more questions were added on. The ending definitely was predictable but her reasoning for doing so is so specifically driven that it makes sense why she is doing it and the real questions come from what happened to her that made her special enough to be chosen for the Elysean Trials?
I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2025
You know the episode of Big Bang Theory where Sheldon refuses to sleep and he says, “I don’t need sleep, I need answers!” That’s how I feel right now after finishing this book!
I was lucky to read this as an ARC and it was my first ARC read too and I really really enjoyed it! I’m a sucker for Greek mythology and this also gave me the Hunger Games/Divergent fix I was looking for. I really liked that we didn’t learn about the big backstory of Sera until the climax of the story, definitely worth the build up to the reveal!
I will say though maybe add a trigger warning for description of a young child being burned. Personally I don’t have a problem reading stuff like that. I can pretty much handle anything except for animal harm, but I know other people don’t like reading about harm coming to children. Even though it wasn’t heavily detailed, I think it would help to have a warning beforehand.
Overall I really enjoyed this books and I’m already dying to get my hands on the next book!!
I was lucky to read this as an ARC and it was my first ARC read too and I really really enjoyed it! I’m a sucker for Greek mythology and this also gave me the Hunger Games/Divergent fix I was looking for. I really liked that we didn’t learn about the big backstory of Sera until the climax of the story, definitely worth the build up to the reveal!
I will say though maybe add a trigger warning for description of a young child being burned. Personally I don’t have a problem reading stuff like that. I can pretty much handle anything except for animal harm, but I know other people don’t like reading about harm coming to children. Even though it wasn’t heavily detailed, I think it would help to have a warning beforehand.
Overall I really enjoyed this books and I’m already dying to get my hands on the next book!!
January 5, 2024
It was so dull and boring for me. I did try but meh. And why do I find the heroine annoying as hell?😩
October 12, 2023
This is book one of The Holy Bloodlines series and the main character is orphan and mortal Sera (Sedorah) Sinclair, who after losing both her parents in a traumatic fashion aged just five, hates Elyseans with all of her heart. Even when everybody around her and even her best friends, James and Layla, as well as her young cousin Miles, are mad about anything to do with the Gods and the Elyseans. Those who have gone through the Elysean Trials, which take place every four years, who survive and then attend the Academy of Divine Light and Beauty, before being chosen to receive Godstones, suddenly are given powers and the looks of the divine, almost unnaturally beautiful! She thinks of them as power hungry and behind their outward beauty, they can be completely evil. They show a good face to the commoners, the mortal as they call others, even though they themselves are not gods and thus not immortal. Her memories of the orphanage are traumatic, with one lady there treating her cruelly for trying to tell the truth of what happened as her parents died and the presence of an Elysean there. She would make her answer questions about the gods for hours on end, not allowing her to eat until she got all of them correct, often leaving her going past meal times, but also hitting her with a stick if she wasn’t fast enough, or was wrong. She was there until age twelve, when she was taken in by her long lost uncle Gary, but that was for the monthly sum her received from her trust fund, left to her by her parents, which she would receive when she was eighteen, not for any kind of love or family feelings.
Days before her eighteenth birthday is the opening day for the latest Elysean Trials and the day when the Elysean City is open to mere mortals and the fourteen Iriade mechanical birds are sent out to choose the next lot of candidates who are going to be fortunate enough to have the chance to become an Elysean! Not that Shea sees it that way at all and wants nothing to do with it. As they leave the Elysean City after the open day, one of the Iriade flies almost straight at her, but thankfully doesn’t stop. As she leaves high school after classes the next day, she gets annoyed about all the talk of gods and the Elyseans and has a bit of a rant, which her fellow students record on their phones! Just as one of the Iriades comes and hovers right above her. She refuses to go the trials, but her uncle is given a large sum to sign her life over, since she is still days from becoming an adult and he still has the final say on her life. She is dragged to the city and she finds out exactly what one of the Elyseans is like in the back of the limo. Yuck! It adds to the confirmation of what they are really like from her early childhood and the accident that took her parents. Now she is one of the fourteen, no one can enter or leave the palace until the first two trials are complete. The warning is that the candidates can be killed in these trials, no matter how simple or deadly they are. The trials are meant to test them all deeply, physically, mentally, and on their knowledge of the gods. Her attempt to run away at the start is stopped by Shade, an instructor at the Academy apparently, but who keeps himself separate from the others.
There are a handful of Elysean students from the Academy who are supposed to be there to aid them as needed, to gain the knowledge they will need to get through the challenges. Sera’s problems are that the students share her godless rant to one and all, leaving her as an outcast, with no allies or helper. Whilst the other candidates pair up or group together, going off to the library and elsewhere, Sera finds her attempts to get into the library thwarted by the quietest of the Elysean students, whose magic produces something terrifying and driving Sera to run and hide! She helps a servant, a lower level Elysean, who doesn’t have a godstone and dresses in grey rather than the brighter colours of the students and others they have met. She helps her carry her laundry basket up the stairs and is offered some words of advice in return. She meets this elderly woman every day and helps her out, not expecting anything in return. Being kept out of the library could hurt her in the first trial, but she had years of being tortured about knowledge of the gods so it is unlikely she could ever forget, even if she would love to. She keeps running into Shade and finds another source of research materials, even if she shouldn’t have access to them. Three of the male Elysean students have decided to pick on her as well, making life even more dangerous. She starts to find it ever harder to ignore Shade, even with him telling her it is dangerous for her to be anywhere near him! The further into the series of trials she goes, the more her attraction to Shade increases and her need for him makes her almost forget the challenges ahead.
The final trial reveals something to her that gives the truth of what happened in the accident that killed her parents and why she has always blamed an Elysean for what happened. What she didn’t know, was the true extent of what had happened to her in that accident and how it had obviously changed her. She has huge choices ahead of her and a final trial to survive, with numbers of candidates already highly reduced. She has gotten too emotionally attached to Shade and should have stuck with her initial thought of Elyseans and not to trust any of them. Does she want to die, well at parts of the trials it sometimes seems it would be easier, but she also has to overcome the hatred from her fellow candidates. One direction may lead her to the answers she has sought for most of her life, the other will have her wondering if she made a huge mistake. Only time will tell! A fascinating tale, with a world where Sera is at odds with nearly all of the population who are almost brainwashed to believe in the godlike status of the Elyseans, not direct descendants of the gods themselves, but granted power and magic by the gifting of godstones which give this to them. They were normal mortals before this, unless they were born from Elysean bonding, or succeeded in these trials. Nothing about that process makes them gods or immortal, but most believe they are. Sera’s own childhood made her experiences so different to all of her peers and made her question matters all the time. Something that stands her in good stead at times, but her mouth gets her in more trouble than it should as she speaks her mind without stopping to think how others will react. Hopefully her desire to live and find out the truth about the Elyseans and her parents death, will allow her the strength to carry on and show others exactly what most Elyseans are like, with their powers allowing them to do whatever they wish, with little to no backlash! I can’t wait to grab the next book in this series and see what happens next and also what happens to Maia, her only semi-friendly face in the trials. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
Days before her eighteenth birthday is the opening day for the latest Elysean Trials and the day when the Elysean City is open to mere mortals and the fourteen Iriade mechanical birds are sent out to choose the next lot of candidates who are going to be fortunate enough to have the chance to become an Elysean! Not that Shea sees it that way at all and wants nothing to do with it. As they leave the Elysean City after the open day, one of the Iriade flies almost straight at her, but thankfully doesn’t stop. As she leaves high school after classes the next day, she gets annoyed about all the talk of gods and the Elyseans and has a bit of a rant, which her fellow students record on their phones! Just as one of the Iriades comes and hovers right above her. She refuses to go the trials, but her uncle is given a large sum to sign her life over, since she is still days from becoming an adult and he still has the final say on her life. She is dragged to the city and she finds out exactly what one of the Elyseans is like in the back of the limo. Yuck! It adds to the confirmation of what they are really like from her early childhood and the accident that took her parents. Now she is one of the fourteen, no one can enter or leave the palace until the first two trials are complete. The warning is that the candidates can be killed in these trials, no matter how simple or deadly they are. The trials are meant to test them all deeply, physically, mentally, and on their knowledge of the gods. Her attempt to run away at the start is stopped by Shade, an instructor at the Academy apparently, but who keeps himself separate from the others.
There are a handful of Elysean students from the Academy who are supposed to be there to aid them as needed, to gain the knowledge they will need to get through the challenges. Sera’s problems are that the students share her godless rant to one and all, leaving her as an outcast, with no allies or helper. Whilst the other candidates pair up or group together, going off to the library and elsewhere, Sera finds her attempts to get into the library thwarted by the quietest of the Elysean students, whose magic produces something terrifying and driving Sera to run and hide! She helps a servant, a lower level Elysean, who doesn’t have a godstone and dresses in grey rather than the brighter colours of the students and others they have met. She helps her carry her laundry basket up the stairs and is offered some words of advice in return. She meets this elderly woman every day and helps her out, not expecting anything in return. Being kept out of the library could hurt her in the first trial, but she had years of being tortured about knowledge of the gods so it is unlikely she could ever forget, even if she would love to. She keeps running into Shade and finds another source of research materials, even if she shouldn’t have access to them. Three of the male Elysean students have decided to pick on her as well, making life even more dangerous. She starts to find it ever harder to ignore Shade, even with him telling her it is dangerous for her to be anywhere near him! The further into the series of trials she goes, the more her attraction to Shade increases and her need for him makes her almost forget the challenges ahead.
The final trial reveals something to her that gives the truth of what happened in the accident that killed her parents and why she has always blamed an Elysean for what happened. What she didn’t know, was the true extent of what had happened to her in that accident and how it had obviously changed her. She has huge choices ahead of her and a final trial to survive, with numbers of candidates already highly reduced. She has gotten too emotionally attached to Shade and should have stuck with her initial thought of Elyseans and not to trust any of them. Does she want to die, well at parts of the trials it sometimes seems it would be easier, but she also has to overcome the hatred from her fellow candidates. One direction may lead her to the answers she has sought for most of her life, the other will have her wondering if she made a huge mistake. Only time will tell! A fascinating tale, with a world where Sera is at odds with nearly all of the population who are almost brainwashed to believe in the godlike status of the Elyseans, not direct descendants of the gods themselves, but granted power and magic by the gifting of godstones which give this to them. They were normal mortals before this, unless they were born from Elysean bonding, or succeeded in these trials. Nothing about that process makes them gods or immortal, but most believe they are. Sera’s own childhood made her experiences so different to all of her peers and made her question matters all the time. Something that stands her in good stead at times, but her mouth gets her in more trouble than it should as she speaks her mind without stopping to think how others will react. Hopefully her desire to live and find out the truth about the Elyseans and her parents death, will allow her the strength to carry on and show others exactly what most Elyseans are like, with their powers allowing them to do whatever they wish, with little to no backlash! I can’t wait to grab the next book in this series and see what happens next and also what happens to Maia, her only semi-friendly face in the trials. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
September 2, 2025
Very clever and captivating way to keep a readers attention. One of the most fascinating ways to keep me reading about the "Gods of Old". All of the characters in this book are fun. Even the crotchety old Madam/Headmistress. Eeda: the mother we wish we could have with all the wisdom and love we need in a time of need. Elliot I could really do without. Gets on my nerves. Insert a eyeroll here for him. I kept picturing him as the guy on stage from the movie the hunger games. Shade you just kinda love till you don't.
Great friends are hard to come by. True friends. Sera does have those.
I am starting the next book so I can't wait to see what kind of interesting adventures that Sera ends up finding next.
Great friends are hard to come by. True friends. Sera does have those.
I am starting the next book so I can't wait to see what kind of interesting adventures that Sera ends up finding next.
September 4, 2023
I am screaming and crying and throwing up bc I need book 2 RIGHT NOW. I could not put this book down. It gripped me almost immediately. I loved Sera, how real and relatable she felt. Also Shade???? I love him. He gives me a little bit of Rhysand from ACOTAR and Casteel from FBAA vibes and I am here for it. This book was like if the Percy Jackson books met The Hunger Games for adults. So good. So so so good.
I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review and my review is that everyone needs to read it.
I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review and my review is that everyone needs to read it.
September 5, 2023
✨ Arc Review✨
This book gives Fourth Wing vibes. Given the opportunity to run trials to become a god; would you take the chance? I think I’m with Sera on this I’m not sure I’d go willingly! This books has so much action and a little romance. The tension between Sera and Shade have me waiting for them to just give into it! Holy gods what an ending!! I’ve never wanted a second book more in my life!
This book gives Fourth Wing vibes. Given the opportunity to run trials to become a god; would you take the chance? I think I’m with Sera on this I’m not sure I’d go willingly! This books has so much action and a little romance. The tension between Sera and Shade have me waiting for them to just give into it! Holy gods what an ending!! I’ve never wanted a second book more in my life!
September 6, 2023
Greek gods meets the Hunger Games? Yes, please!
The Elysean Trials has a slower start but another world is being built for you. Sera, the mfc, seems to kind of drawn the short straw in life. Her reactions most of the time made sense but there were times where she was incredibly frustrating. Shade is our shadow daddy that we all love. I want to know all his secrets.
Even thought there was a slow start, that ending! I’m hooked and can’t wait for the next book. I need to know what happens!
The Elysean Trials has a slower start but another world is being built for you. Sera, the mfc, seems to kind of drawn the short straw in life. Her reactions most of the time made sense but there were times where she was incredibly frustrating. Shade is our shadow daddy that we all love. I want to know all his secrets.
Even thought there was a slow start, that ending! I’m hooked and can’t wait for the next book. I need to know what happens!
December 16, 2023
❤️❤️❤️
🌶️🌶️— minimal, but what’s there 👌👌
📖📖📖📖📖
🌶️🌶️— minimal, but what’s there 👌👌
📖📖📖📖📖
July 18, 2024
If you love Greek mythology, you’ll love this book !
It stays intriguing :))
It stays intriguing :))
November 21, 2024
I’m obsessed. Greek mythology mixed with trials and magic. Tell me more. The character developments. The enemies to lovers. The plot twists. I am here for it.
November 25, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
I love the plot of an academy, college, etc. when it comes to fantasy! the beginning was slow but once you got to the trials it really picked up! I liked it but I didn’t love it 🤪
I love the plot of an academy, college, etc. when it comes to fantasy! the beginning was slow but once you got to the trials it really picked up! I liked it but I didn’t love it 🤪
February 1, 2025
I absolutely love this series. It’s like Greek mythology hunger games in order to go to grown up Hogwarts, with a little bit of Fourth Wing drama and a sexy shadow wielder. Like yes please, gimme more. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and 🌶️🌶️
October 28, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed, I am worried about it being a long series and potentially full of filler in future books
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