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The Trials of Divinia
Seven champions. Seven trials. Seven gods. One winner.
For centuries, the Celestial Trials have decided which regions of Divinia rise and which are left to fall. Glory, honour, and survival hang in the balance as the gods watch from above.
Talon Drakeforge, a boy from the fire-scorched land of Ferroxia, has never felt like a hero. While others train dragons for battle, he dreams of something more – freedom, fairness, and a world no longer ruled by fear.
When fate casts him into the heart of the trials, Talon must face elemental gauntlets, illusions, ancient creatures, and impossible choices. He competes not only against rival champions, but beneath the watchful eye of a god who expects greatness.
Yet beneath the spectacle of the trials, a darker game is being played. As loyalties shift and long-buried truths begin to surface, Talon realises that winning may not be enough. Some victories come at a cost the world cannot afford.
Perfect for readers who enjoy character-driven epic fantasy, elemental magic, and trials shaped by the will of the gods.
Available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook.
For centuries, the Celestial Trials have decided which regions of Divinia rise and which are left to fall. Glory, honour, and survival hang in the balance as the gods watch from above.
Talon Drakeforge, a boy from the fire-scorched land of Ferroxia, has never felt like a hero. While others train dragons for battle, he dreams of something more – freedom, fairness, and a world no longer ruled by fear.
When fate casts him into the heart of the trials, Talon must face elemental gauntlets, illusions, ancient creatures, and impossible choices. He competes not only against rival champions, but beneath the watchful eye of a god who expects greatness.
Yet beneath the spectacle of the trials, a darker game is being played. As loyalties shift and long-buried truths begin to surface, Talon realises that winning may not be enough. Some victories come at a cost the world cannot afford.
Perfect for readers who enjoy character-driven epic fantasy, elemental magic, and trials shaped by the will of the gods.
Available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook.
402 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 13, 2025
About the author
Glen Harrington
2 books2 followersGlen Harrington is the author of The Chronicles of Divinia, an epic fantasy series centred on elemental magic, divine trials, and the choices that shape both heroes and worlds.
The Trials of Divinia, the first novel in the series, is available now in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook. The story follows Talon Drakeforge and his companions as they face escalating trials, shifting loyalties, and gods whose influence reaches far beyond the arena.
Glen is currently working on the second book in the series, alongside a growing collection of short stories set across the world of Divinia. Based in the UK, he enjoys crafting character-driven fantasy with a focus on consequence, resilience, and hope.
The Trials of Divinia, the first novel in the series, is available now in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook. The story follows Talon Drakeforge and his companions as they face escalating trials, shifting loyalties, and gods whose influence reaches far beyond the arena.
Glen is currently working on the second book in the series, alongside a growing collection of short stories set across the world of Divinia. Based in the UK, he enjoys crafting character-driven fantasy with a focus on consequence, resilience, and hope.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 3, 2025
I was pretty new to the world of the fantasy genre when I picked this one up but I'm so glad it did! ❤️
From the very first page you're immersed into a fantastic world with characters that stick with you well after you turn the final page.
No spoilers here but you follow the characters as they embark on a variety of physical and mental challenges in order to be named champion and you witness first hand how it impacts who they are and their relationships with others. There are a few twists too that kept me guessing!
So if you like Greek mythology and Hunger Games then you're sure to love this! ✨️
This book made me fall in love with the fantasy genre, the world that Glen created and the characters which compliment and challenge eachother in equal measure. I can't wait for the sequel!
From the very first page you're immersed into a fantastic world with characters that stick with you well after you turn the final page.
No spoilers here but you follow the characters as they embark on a variety of physical and mental challenges in order to be named champion and you witness first hand how it impacts who they are and their relationships with others. There are a few twists too that kept me guessing!
So if you like Greek mythology and Hunger Games then you're sure to love this! ✨️
This book made me fall in love with the fantasy genre, the world that Glen created and the characters which compliment and challenge eachother in equal measure. I can't wait for the sequel!
October 6, 2026
I expected The Trials of Divinia to be a straightforward competition fantasy. Seven champions, seven regions, seven trials, elemental gods watching from above — the setup makes you think you know exactly what kind of story you’re getting.
It turned out to be much more interested in the system behind the competition than in the competition itself.
That was the point where I became properly invested.
Talon begins the story as someone who doesn’t quite fit the role he has been given. He comes from Ferroxia, a region built around strength, fire and victory, yet he never fully shares the hunger for domination that seems to define the people around him. I liked that contrast immediately. He isn’t weak, but he also doesn’t see cruelty as proof of strength, and the further the trials go, the more uncomfortable he becomes with the idea that entire regions should prosper or suffer depending on which teenager survives a contest.
That moral discomfort gave him much more personality than a standard “reluctant chosen one.”
There were several moments where I actually cared more about Talon questioning the rules than about whether he would win the next trial. The story becomes increasingly interesting when he starts realising that perhaps the real problem isn’t another champion — it’s the structure all of them have been taught to accept.
The other champions helped with that. I liked that they didn’t all feel like disposable opponents waiting for Talon to defeat them. Some are arrogant, some more thoughtful, some easier to trust than others, and that slowly changes the emotional shape of the competition. Once rivalries start becoming more complicated than “my region versus yours,” the book really finds its footing.
Lyra was probably my favourite secondary character. She brought humour and warmth without feeling like comic relief, and I enjoyed the sibling dynamic because it gave Talon a relationship that existed completely outside the trials.
Kaida also stood out to me, although I wanted more of her. She has enough personality and history that she could easily have supported a much larger role. That happened a few times with this book: I would meet a character, become interested, and then wish the story had another fifty pages to spend with them.
The gods were another element I didn’t expect to enjoy as much as I did.
They aren’t distant mythology sitting in the background. Their values actively shape the regions and the expectations placed on the champions. Talon’s relationship with the fire god in particular creates an interesting tension because the version of strength expected from him increasingly clashes with the person he wants to become.
And the trials themselves are fun.
Some are physical, some psychological, some built around survival or illusion. I liked that they weren’t just seven different fights. The best challenges were the ones that forced the competitors to reveal something about themselves rather than simply prove who was strongest.
The writing is very visual and easy to follow. Harrington doesn’t bury the story under complicated prose, which works particularly well during action scenes. I could picture most of the trials clearly, and the elemental regions are distinct enough that the world never felt completely interchangeable.
There is a slight downside to that accessibility, though. Some of the emotional beats are a little too explicit. Characters occasionally say exactly what a scene means instead of letting the reader arrive there naturally, and a few conversations felt more explanatory than organic.
The opening also asks you to remember a lot very quickly.
Seven regions. Seven gods. Seven champions. Talon’s team. The council. Family members. Rivalries. Different elemental cultures.
It took me a while to feel fully comfortable with all of it.
Once I did, the book became much easier to enjoy, but the first part definitely requires more concentration than the later sections.
I was surprised by how much I liked the political side of the story. The whole idea that one region’s success is tied to another region’s suffering becomes increasingly disturbing the more you think about it. By the end, I wasn’t asking, “Who deserves to win?” so much as, “Why does anyone accept this system at all?”
That shift gave the book more weight than I expected from the premise.
It’s not perfect. Some secondary characters could have been developed more, a few emotional moments felt too clearly explained, and the world sometimes feels like it is holding back information for future books.
But as a first instalment, it worked for me.
I finished The Trials of Divinia much more curious about the gods, the history of the trials and the cracks appearing in the political system than I was about the competition itself — and I think that is exactly why the book succeeded.
4.25/5 ⭐
Thank you to Glen Harrington, Cameron Publicity & Marketing Ltd and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
It turned out to be much more interested in the system behind the competition than in the competition itself.
That was the point where I became properly invested.
Talon begins the story as someone who doesn’t quite fit the role he has been given. He comes from Ferroxia, a region built around strength, fire and victory, yet he never fully shares the hunger for domination that seems to define the people around him. I liked that contrast immediately. He isn’t weak, but he also doesn’t see cruelty as proof of strength, and the further the trials go, the more uncomfortable he becomes with the idea that entire regions should prosper or suffer depending on which teenager survives a contest.
That moral discomfort gave him much more personality than a standard “reluctant chosen one.”
There were several moments where I actually cared more about Talon questioning the rules than about whether he would win the next trial. The story becomes increasingly interesting when he starts realising that perhaps the real problem isn’t another champion — it’s the structure all of them have been taught to accept.
The other champions helped with that. I liked that they didn’t all feel like disposable opponents waiting for Talon to defeat them. Some are arrogant, some more thoughtful, some easier to trust than others, and that slowly changes the emotional shape of the competition. Once rivalries start becoming more complicated than “my region versus yours,” the book really finds its footing.
Lyra was probably my favourite secondary character. She brought humour and warmth without feeling like comic relief, and I enjoyed the sibling dynamic because it gave Talon a relationship that existed completely outside the trials.
Kaida also stood out to me, although I wanted more of her. She has enough personality and history that she could easily have supported a much larger role. That happened a few times with this book: I would meet a character, become interested, and then wish the story had another fifty pages to spend with them.
The gods were another element I didn’t expect to enjoy as much as I did.
They aren’t distant mythology sitting in the background. Their values actively shape the regions and the expectations placed on the champions. Talon’s relationship with the fire god in particular creates an interesting tension because the version of strength expected from him increasingly clashes with the person he wants to become.
And the trials themselves are fun.
Some are physical, some psychological, some built around survival or illusion. I liked that they weren’t just seven different fights. The best challenges were the ones that forced the competitors to reveal something about themselves rather than simply prove who was strongest.
The writing is very visual and easy to follow. Harrington doesn’t bury the story under complicated prose, which works particularly well during action scenes. I could picture most of the trials clearly, and the elemental regions are distinct enough that the world never felt completely interchangeable.
There is a slight downside to that accessibility, though. Some of the emotional beats are a little too explicit. Characters occasionally say exactly what a scene means instead of letting the reader arrive there naturally, and a few conversations felt more explanatory than organic.
The opening also asks you to remember a lot very quickly.
Seven regions. Seven gods. Seven champions. Talon’s team. The council. Family members. Rivalries. Different elemental cultures.
It took me a while to feel fully comfortable with all of it.
Once I did, the book became much easier to enjoy, but the first part definitely requires more concentration than the later sections.
I was surprised by how much I liked the political side of the story. The whole idea that one region’s success is tied to another region’s suffering becomes increasingly disturbing the more you think about it. By the end, I wasn’t asking, “Who deserves to win?” so much as, “Why does anyone accept this system at all?”
That shift gave the book more weight than I expected from the premise.
It’s not perfect. Some secondary characters could have been developed more, a few emotional moments felt too clearly explained, and the world sometimes feels like it is holding back information for future books.
But as a first instalment, it worked for me.
I finished The Trials of Divinia much more curious about the gods, the history of the trials and the cracks appearing in the political system than I was about the competition itself — and I think that is exactly why the book succeeded.
4.25/5 ⭐
Thank you to Glen Harrington, Cameron Publicity & Marketing Ltd and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
October 23, 2026
I’d like to thank Glen Harrington & Cameron Publicity for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Trials of Divinia is a gripping epic fantasy, full of trials, tribulations and celestial beings. It’s a lovely coming of age story that focuses a lot on personal growth and development, and how building up relationships with those around you can make you a much stronger and even individual. It actually gave me Percy Jackson x The Legend of Zelda vibes.
I thought it had a very clear, easy to follow writing style, perfect for younger YA audiences or those that are new to the fantasy genre. However I didn’t find it so simplistic that isn’t wasn’t enjoyable for myself as a person in their late 20s.
I thought the world building was done very well and felt very natural without it being over the top and over-explained, which is something that I think can be very difficult to do in an epic fantasy book, particularly when it is aimed at a younger audience.
I thought Talon himself was absolutely adorable and I felt very connected with him and was rooting for him right from the very beginning. I’d love to see more development between him and his father in the next book.
On the subject of characters, I also loved watching the team and their relationships develop. I thought this was very well written and felt very natural as well.
I thought that the creativity of this book was insane. From things as simple as characters’ names, all the way to the storyline as a whole. I think trials within fantasy books is a trope that is very commonly done, but this book still felt like it held its place because the trials themselves were so unique.
There was one scene in particular that I thought was written really well! There was a juxtaposition between two things that occurred and it just made the bomb drop hit so much harder and honestly my jaw was on the floor.
Overall, a very well written, enjoyable and gripping book. Definitely felt targeted towards a younger audience, but I still enjoyed it nevertheless and will avidly await the sequel!
The Trials of Divinia is a gripping epic fantasy, full of trials, tribulations and celestial beings. It’s a lovely coming of age story that focuses a lot on personal growth and development, and how building up relationships with those around you can make you a much stronger and even individual. It actually gave me Percy Jackson x The Legend of Zelda vibes.
I thought it had a very clear, easy to follow writing style, perfect for younger YA audiences or those that are new to the fantasy genre. However I didn’t find it so simplistic that isn’t wasn’t enjoyable for myself as a person in their late 20s.
I thought the world building was done very well and felt very natural without it being over the top and over-explained, which is something that I think can be very difficult to do in an epic fantasy book, particularly when it is aimed at a younger audience.
I thought Talon himself was absolutely adorable and I felt very connected with him and was rooting for him right from the very beginning. I’d love to see more development between him and his father in the next book.
On the subject of characters, I also loved watching the team and their relationships develop. I thought this was very well written and felt very natural as well.
I thought that the creativity of this book was insane. From things as simple as characters’ names, all the way to the storyline as a whole. I think trials within fantasy books is a trope that is very commonly done, but this book still felt like it held its place because the trials themselves were so unique.
There was one scene in particular that I thought was written really well! There was a juxtaposition between two things that occurred and it just made the bomb drop hit so much harder and honestly my jaw was on the floor.
Overall, a very well written, enjoyable and gripping book. Definitely felt targeted towards a younger audience, but I still enjoyed it nevertheless and will avidly await the sequel!
August 27, 2026
I listened to this book on audio on a recommendation from the narrator, so I went in blind!
You join the story as Talon Celestial Trials are beginning, these trials are used to decide which regions of Divinia will rise, all under the watchful eyes of the gods.
Obviously being a trial their is quite a few characters in the story, but they are all well rounded & interact aptly with each other, each one having their own mystery / backstory that's gradually drip-fed to you throughout the book, gives it depth. The pacing is mid-range, with the story flowing well. The world building was good, bringing facets of the narrative together, along with all the weird & vibrant creatures, along with DRAGONS!! that grace the pages.
Overall, it was a good easy ready, with enough action & trials to keep you engaged in the storyline. I would definitely say with it being targeted at the YA market it would also be good for adults that either aren't used to the genre, or want a fun fantasy pallet cleanser that has flavours of hunger games training facility & Inheritance Games for the over-coming games & trials aspect of the plotline.
You join the story as Talon Celestial Trials are beginning, these trials are used to decide which regions of Divinia will rise, all under the watchful eyes of the gods.
Obviously being a trial their is quite a few characters in the story, but they are all well rounded & interact aptly with each other, each one having their own mystery / backstory that's gradually drip-fed to you throughout the book, gives it depth. The pacing is mid-range, with the story flowing well. The world building was good, bringing facets of the narrative together, along with all the weird & vibrant creatures, along with DRAGONS!! that grace the pages.
Overall, it was a good easy ready, with enough action & trials to keep you engaged in the storyline. I would definitely say with it being targeted at the YA market it would also be good for adults that either aren't used to the genre, or want a fun fantasy pallet cleanser that has flavours of hunger games training facility & Inheritance Games for the over-coming games & trials aspect of the plotline.
December 2, 2025
I've always loved a story with a tournament arc so this trial-based story really intrigued me. After reading it, I can safely say this was so much more than just a tournament- it's a magical mysterious adventure with tons of world building to sink your teeth into.
The characters were a joy to read, and their dynamics keep the less action paced chapters flowing really well.
There's so much weight to the trials themselves, I found myself really rooting for Ferroxia ( and honestly Tempestus too).
So excited to see what the sequel holds!
The characters were a joy to read, and their dynamics keep the less action paced chapters flowing really well.
There's so much weight to the trials themselves, I found myself really rooting for Ferroxia ( and honestly Tempestus too).
So excited to see what the sequel holds!
December 2, 2025
Absolutely loved this book - such a fun read!
If you grew up on Percy Jackson and The Hunger Games, this feels like the perfect mix of both - a YA fantasy combining Greek mythology with trials, tournaments and adventure. Honestly couldn't put this one down, definitely worth a read.
If you grew up on Percy Jackson and The Hunger Games, this feels like the perfect mix of both - a YA fantasy combining Greek mythology with trials, tournaments and adventure. Honestly couldn't put this one down, definitely worth a read.
February 10, 2026
Wow! What an incredible book! It pulled me in and didn’t let go. The world building was amazing. The characters and their personalities were done extremely well. The plot was immersive and the pacing was perfect. If I could give this more than 5 stars I definitely would. I’m ready for what comes next!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews