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The Mortal Trials
A new dark and spicy epic romantasy debut, perfect for fans of Shield of Sparrows and Rose in Chains.
Forced to partake in the deadly Mortal Trials, Lirah must keep a cool head, or she'll lose it. But the heart often has a way of complicating things...
Every decade, thirteen mortals are chosen to compete in the Mortal Trials for the ultimate immortality. But those who fail, die. For Lirah, survival is vital.
When Lirah is ripped from her bed in the middle of the night, she finds herself in the foreign land of the elven. Forced to participate in a series of challenges which will threaten her every survival instinct, Lirah’s been advised to guard her life, but with brooding instructor Kilian Valhan guiding her through the challenges, she should have been warned to shield her heart. Linked for the duration of the Trials, simply ignoring Kilian is not an option. He’s everywhere she goes. Even worse – he’s in her head. But as the Trials force Lirah and Kilian closer, it becomes harder to resist the undeniable chemistry sparking between them.
As Lirah competes for her life, she questions the motives behind the Mortal Trials – why is no mortal allowed to volunteer for the Trials, and why has there only been a single survivor in seven decades? The Gods are stirring and the truth surrounding the missing Goddess of War will challenge everything Lirah thought she knew about who – and what – she truly is.
An addictive and enthralling adventure for anyone who loves an enemies-to-lovers romantasy with high stakes and plenty of thrills!
Forced to partake in the deadly Mortal Trials, Lirah must keep a cool head, or she'll lose it. But the heart often has a way of complicating things...
Every decade, thirteen mortals are chosen to compete in the Mortal Trials for the ultimate immortality. But those who fail, die. For Lirah, survival is vital.
When Lirah is ripped from her bed in the middle of the night, she finds herself in the foreign land of the elven. Forced to participate in a series of challenges which will threaten her every survival instinct, Lirah’s been advised to guard her life, but with brooding instructor Kilian Valhan guiding her through the challenges, she should have been warned to shield her heart. Linked for the duration of the Trials, simply ignoring Kilian is not an option. He’s everywhere she goes. Even worse – he’s in her head. But as the Trials force Lirah and Kilian closer, it becomes harder to resist the undeniable chemistry sparking between them.
As Lirah competes for her life, she questions the motives behind the Mortal Trials – why is no mortal allowed to volunteer for the Trials, and why has there only been a single survivor in seven decades? The Gods are stirring and the truth surrounding the missing Goddess of War will challenge everything Lirah thought she knew about who – and what – she truly is.
An addictive and enthralling adventure for anyone who loves an enemies-to-lovers romantasy with high stakes and plenty of thrills!
298 pages, Hardcover
Published July 1, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Mortal Trials has a combination of elements that I generally find intriguing, but unfortunately this was not my cup of tea. I don’t want to discourage anyone from checking this book out though, because we all have different preferences, and the tropes that didn’t work for me here may not be bothersome for others.
Lirah is an orphan, left on the doorstep of the governor’s house, and cared for since infancy by his cook Umma. Mistaken for another, she is snatched from her comfortable life and forced to compete in the once yearly Mortal Trials where she will have to fight for her life and the opportunity to become Elven.
While not ground breaking, this is one of those tried and true plots I can usually enjoy. I remember requesting this ARC after seeing a recommendation, although I can’t remember where, but I believe it was by another author. So I do think this will be enjoyable if you don’t share the same dislikes as I do.
To start with, I had a hard time connecting with Lirah. She is one of those FMC’s that struggles with seeing past her rage and the injustice of her situation. As a result, she has quite the snarky attitude. Now I’m all for feminine rage, but I personally want more depth behind it or more of a gradual arc to show growth. To be fair, there is a plot point that adds to her anger management issues (which I won’t spoil) and she does eventually feel more rational, but the adjustment is so abrupt that it didn’t feel earned enough for me.
The next part that I didn’t enjoy is the romantic relationship between Lirah and Kilian. This partly ties into Lirah’s rage. This is one of those situations where she holds him responsible for her circumstances, and her feelings toward him are simultaneously angry and lustful. This isn’t always a bad combination, but it is also tricky to get right. For me to believe this kind of attraction I at least want some undeniable chemistry, some sassy flirting, maybe a reluctant admission that the other person isn’t as bad as we were first led to believe. I didn’t find the jump from hate to love either gradual or authentic enough.
Aside from the rage and lust, the trials didn’t grip me or keep me on the edge of my seat in a way that made the book more enjoyable. The friendships, found family, and deadliness of the trials were interesting, but didn’t evoke the heightened emotions of fear or dread I would usually hope for. With all this combined, I was more relieved than awed by the cliffhanger at the end. I do think that this book has an audience that will find the story and characters more enjoyable, and I would encourage anyone who is interested to read some of the more highly rated reviews to gain a balanced perspective.
Thank you to NetGalley, Angry Robot, and the author for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pre-read: I have a weakness for mortal trials, Gods, and elves.
Lirah is an orphan, left on the doorstep of the governor’s house, and cared for since infancy by his cook Umma. Mistaken for another, she is snatched from her comfortable life and forced to compete in the once yearly Mortal Trials where she will have to fight for her life and the opportunity to become Elven.
While not ground breaking, this is one of those tried and true plots I can usually enjoy. I remember requesting this ARC after seeing a recommendation, although I can’t remember where, but I believe it was by another author. So I do think this will be enjoyable if you don’t share the same dislikes as I do.
To start with, I had a hard time connecting with Lirah. She is one of those FMC’s that struggles with seeing past her rage and the injustice of her situation. As a result, she has quite the snarky attitude. Now I’m all for feminine rage, but I personally want more depth behind it or more of a gradual arc to show growth. To be fair, there is a plot point that adds to her anger management issues (which I won’t spoil) and she does eventually feel more rational, but the adjustment is so abrupt that it didn’t feel earned enough for me.
The next part that I didn’t enjoy is the romantic relationship between Lirah and Kilian. This partly ties into Lirah’s rage. This is one of those situations where she holds him responsible for her circumstances, and her feelings toward him are simultaneously angry and lustful. This isn’t always a bad combination, but it is also tricky to get right. For me to believe this kind of attraction I at least want some undeniable chemistry, some sassy flirting, maybe a reluctant admission that the other person isn’t as bad as we were first led to believe. I didn’t find the jump from hate to love either gradual or authentic enough.
Aside from the rage and lust, the trials didn’t grip me or keep me on the edge of my seat in a way that made the book more enjoyable. The friendships, found family, and deadliness of the trials were interesting, but didn’t evoke the heightened emotions of fear or dread I would usually hope for. With all this combined, I was more relieved than awed by the cliffhanger at the end. I do think that this book has an audience that will find the story and characters more enjoyable, and I would encourage anyone who is interested to read some of the more highly rated reviews to gain a balanced perspective.
Thank you to NetGalley, Angry Robot, and the author for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pre-read: I have a weakness for mortal trials, Gods, and elves.
Want to Read
July 1, 2026I hope this is good because it'll be my first one from Alluriel
June 20, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and Angry Robot for the eARC.
This was a decidedly average read overall. There were some good qualities and bad qualities but the majority of it was very middle of the road.
First, the good. I liked the writing style a lot. It was easy and refreshing. I also enjoyed the ending of the book. Without spoilers, we actually got a decent reveal! The reveal / ending put me solidly in the 3star range where before I was debating 2/3.
Next the average… most things. The world building was extremely basic. We got barely anything to go off of and thus when the reveal happened, it didn’t quite hit the same way. More lore should have been given to us so we could appreciate the ending to its fullest extent.
The plot itself has been done a million times. I don’t just mean deadly trials - I love trial books - but the whole thing. People taken to another realm so they can fight for the prize of immortality. The trials themselves… it was like Hunger Games for the first one, the second one was just honestly terrible. The third was frustrating and didn’t make much sense. 😅 it was all just so mediocre.
Our MMC was average. He’s a dark, brooding, exceptionally hot male obsessively in love with the FMC for no reason. 🤷♀️ Typical romantasy.
Now for the bad. Our FMC. She was a witch with a capital B. I’m not kidding, one of the worst FMCs in a book I have finished. And it’s not an “I hate her guts” thing. It’s just factual that she’s a terrible person. 😂 Every single thing she did just made me want to stab her. And the author kept trying to tell me she was working SO hard to beat the trials and protect her friends but then she would do something cocky and act like a butt for no reason.
The romance kind of sucked. There is zero reason for our MMC to like our FMC. (See above.) And what’s more: we never see our FMC fall for our MMC. We only see her lust for his body. And then suddenly, “I’m in loooove.” Ummm 🤨 These two make zero sense from my perspective because we aren’t SHOWN their falling. We are just told they love on another after they sex it up.
So… all in all, I landed at a 3. I think it’s a good attempt and I do think Megan has talent in her writing. I hope that her next book (after this series) is more original with better characters.
I’d only recommend this to readers who want a typical romantasy and don’t mind an FMC who is legit the worst person ever.
This was a decidedly average read overall. There were some good qualities and bad qualities but the majority of it was very middle of the road.
First, the good. I liked the writing style a lot. It was easy and refreshing. I also enjoyed the ending of the book. Without spoilers, we actually got a decent reveal! The reveal / ending put me solidly in the 3star range where before I was debating 2/3.
Next the average… most things. The world building was extremely basic. We got barely anything to go off of and thus when the reveal happened, it didn’t quite hit the same way. More lore should have been given to us so we could appreciate the ending to its fullest extent.
The plot itself has been done a million times. I don’t just mean deadly trials - I love trial books - but the whole thing. People taken to another realm so they can fight for the prize of immortality. The trials themselves… it was like Hunger Games for the first one, the second one was just honestly terrible. The third was frustrating and didn’t make much sense. 😅 it was all just so mediocre.
Our MMC was average. He’s a dark, brooding, exceptionally hot male obsessively in love with the FMC for no reason. 🤷♀️ Typical romantasy.
Now for the bad. Our FMC. She was a witch with a capital B. I’m not kidding, one of the worst FMCs in a book I have finished. And it’s not an “I hate her guts” thing. It’s just factual that she’s a terrible person. 😂 Every single thing she did just made me want to stab her. And the author kept trying to tell me she was working SO hard to beat the trials and protect her friends but then she would do something cocky and act like a butt for no reason.
The romance kind of sucked. There is zero reason for our MMC to like our FMC. (See above.) And what’s more: we never see our FMC fall for our MMC. We only see her lust for his body. And then suddenly, “I’m in loooove.” Ummm 🤨 These two make zero sense from my perspective because we aren’t SHOWN their falling. We are just told they love on another after they sex it up.
So… all in all, I landed at a 3. I think it’s a good attempt and I do think Megan has talent in her writing. I hope that her next book (after this series) is more original with better characters.
I’d only recommend this to readers who want a typical romantasy and don’t mind an FMC who is legit the worst person ever.
Want to Read
November 13, 2025Already waiting at the bookstore for this!
May 28, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book releasing in July 2026.
Overall a fun time, good pacing. Great FMC character, lots of fight and sass. If you like a good romantasy with trials and challenges - this is it. The only downside for me was I found the MMC and the chemistry kind of awkward at times (for lack of a better way of saying it) - I didn’t connect with them. I found it a little stilted. Still a good stubborn, grumpy protective MMC though, he has all the criteria.
Every decade, the Elven go into the human/mortal world and take 13 humans back to their kingdom to compete in the mortal trials. If you make it through - you can win immortality. But winners are extremely rare. Lirah was unfortunately taken as a competitor in a case of mistaken identity - but now she has no choice but to fight to survive. And who better to help her than the elven hosting the trials in his kingdom and who also was a part of taking her - Kilian. So whether through spite or hope, Lirah continues to push and fight - but will it be enough to see her the victor where so many else have failed?
Overall a fun time, good pacing. Great FMC character, lots of fight and sass. If you like a good romantasy with trials and challenges - this is it. The only downside for me was I found the MMC and the chemistry kind of awkward at times (for lack of a better way of saying it) - I didn’t connect with them. I found it a little stilted. Still a good stubborn, grumpy protective MMC though, he has all the criteria.
Every decade, the Elven go into the human/mortal world and take 13 humans back to their kingdom to compete in the mortal trials. If you make it through - you can win immortality. But winners are extremely rare. Lirah was unfortunately taken as a competitor in a case of mistaken identity - but now she has no choice but to fight to survive. And who better to help her than the elven hosting the trials in his kingdom and who also was a part of taking her - Kilian. So whether through spite or hope, Lirah continues to push and fight - but will it be enough to see her the victor where so many else have failed?
February 27, 2026
This book ticks everything off in the list of needs for a romantasy novel:
- High stakes
- Feisty heroine
- Dark, sexy love interest (whew!)
- A trio of friends that’ll warm your heart
- and so many plot twists!
Combined with the author’s easy-to-read writing style, it’s a quick, sexy and adventurous read.
- High stakes
- Feisty heroine
- Dark, sexy love interest (whew!)
- A trio of friends that’ll warm your heart
- and so many plot twists!
Combined with the author’s easy-to-read writing style, it’s a quick, sexy and adventurous read.
Currently Reading
July 14, 2026~Pre-Read~! DARK fantasy here I come! I am going into this blind, but fear not my dear friends, I'll give you all the juicy updates! hehe
November 11, 2025
I can’t begin to express how this book fundamentally changed my life. Get ready for an epic story
June 8, 2026
Holy shit!!! I don’t know what crack was put into this book, but I absolutely devoured it in one sitting. I was hooked from start to finish and fell asleep the second I finished the last page, clutching my kindle like a precious pillow.
This was a fast-paced read for me with an amazing plot line and characters. I absolutely LOVED Lirah and Kilian! The push and pull, the banter and the chemistry was just sooo good. I laughed so hard at Lirahs own delusions and that she was fooling absolutely no one ahahah. Lana and Septimus were also so precious and I absolutely have a lil girl crush on Lana.
I did guess like 80% of the plot twist, but even the small parts that were unknown to me kept me wholly invested and I was dying to confirm my theories. Sooo good! I NEED book 2, like just right now!
Tropes:
✨ Slow burn
✨ Found family
✨ Deadly trials
✨ Gods & Goddesses
✨ Fae & Elven
✨ Amazing female friendships
✨ “He’d burn down the world for her”
✨ Forced Proximity
✨ Touch her & die
This was an absolutely phenomenal debut novel and I cannot wait to continue this duology. If you enjoy fast paced romantasy books with a great plot line, ALL the banter, tons of chemistry and an amazing found family, I would highly recommend this one!
Thank you to Angry Robot Books and NetGalley for the ARC.
This was a fast-paced read for me with an amazing plot line and characters. I absolutely LOVED Lirah and Kilian! The push and pull, the banter and the chemistry was just sooo good. I laughed so hard at Lirahs own delusions and that she was fooling absolutely no one ahahah. Lana and Septimus were also so precious and I absolutely have a lil girl crush on Lana.
I did guess like 80% of the plot twist, but even the small parts that were unknown to me kept me wholly invested and I was dying to confirm my theories. Sooo good! I NEED book 2, like just right now!
Tropes:
✨ Slow burn
✨ Found family
✨ Deadly trials
✨ Gods & Goddesses
✨ Fae & Elven
✨ Amazing female friendships
✨ “He’d burn down the world for her”
✨ Forced Proximity
✨ Touch her & die
This was an absolutely phenomenal debut novel and I cannot wait to continue this duology. If you enjoy fast paced romantasy books with a great plot line, ALL the banter, tons of chemistry and an amazing found family, I would highly recommend this one!
Thank you to Angry Robot Books and NetGalley for the ARC.
May 18, 2026
HOLY CRAP, the chokehold this book had on me from the very beginning… it needs to be studied. I absolutely ate this up! The only bad thing about reading books before they’re released is already dying for book two when book one hasn’t officially released yet lmao, and I NEED BOOK TWO!
Kilian & Lirah are PERFECTION. all of the characters are, really. Lana & Septimus were adorable, too & I really just loved Lana’s character. But Kilian & Lirah… man, this romance will have you thirsty. their constant push and pull, the tug-of-war, the way you wanna sometimes slap Lirah upside her head because she’s not fooling anyone, not even herself was insane.
But mostly, I just really loved the plot! if the epic, slow burn romance won’t keep you, the unique plot will, like it kept me up way past my bedtime because I NEEDED answers. & while I somewhat guessed the big plot twist, it was no less such a great time reading!
⚔️ in this, you’ll see:
✧.* true enemies to lovers
✧.* deadly trials
✧.* found family
✧.* slow burn
✧.* touch her & die
✧.* “who did this to you?”
✧.* he’d burn the world down for her
✧.* strong female friendships
✧.* forced proximity
✧.* gods, fae, elven
✧.* complex magic
✧.* hidden identity
5⭐️
2🌶️
🫶🏼 huge thank you to @angryrobotbooks for this #gifted copy!
Kilian & Lirah are PERFECTION. all of the characters are, really. Lana & Septimus were adorable, too & I really just loved Lana’s character. But Kilian & Lirah… man, this romance will have you thirsty. their constant push and pull, the tug-of-war, the way you wanna sometimes slap Lirah upside her head because she’s not fooling anyone, not even herself was insane.
But mostly, I just really loved the plot! if the epic, slow burn romance won’t keep you, the unique plot will, like it kept me up way past my bedtime because I NEEDED answers. & while I somewhat guessed the big plot twist, it was no less such a great time reading!
⚔️ in this, you’ll see:
✧.* true enemies to lovers
✧.* deadly trials
✧.* found family
✧.* slow burn
✧.* touch her & die
✧.* “who did this to you?”
✧.* he’d burn the world down for her
✧.* strong female friendships
✧.* forced proximity
✧.* gods, fae, elven
✧.* complex magic
✧.* hidden identity
5⭐️
2🌶️
🫶🏼 huge thank you to @angryrobotbooks for this #gifted copy!
June 29, 2026
Thank you Angry Robot for the ARC!
Okay so I ate this UP. If you're looking for a trials based romantasy that's packed with action from the beginning (I'm talking near death experience in chapter 2), you're going to want to read this one!
This was super-fast paced--almost to a fault. When I say there's no info dump/world building, I mean it. World building is pretty nonexistent. You get exactly as much information as you need to understand what's happening in the moment, and not a single thing more. If that's the style you love, you're going to be THRIVING reading this book.
The main thing that didn't work for me was the romance aspect. Because this is so short, and the worldbuilding is so nonexistent, I just didn't buy how quickly it happened. We went from "I hate you on principle for forcing my people to do this " to "I actually super like you" SO fast. I really wouldn't classify this as enemies to lovers given how quickly everything progressed--this is really star crossed lovers at MOST.
HOWEVER. Did I devour this in one sitting? Yes. Did I have a good time? Yes. I think this is definitely a fun romantasy read and a good slump buster for folks who need one!
Okay so I ate this UP. If you're looking for a trials based romantasy that's packed with action from the beginning (I'm talking near death experience in chapter 2), you're going to want to read this one!
This was super-fast paced--almost to a fault. When I say there's no info dump/world building, I mean it. World building is pretty nonexistent. You get exactly as much information as you need to understand what's happening in the moment, and not a single thing more. If that's the style you love, you're going to be THRIVING reading this book.
The main thing that didn't work for me was the romance aspect. Because this is so short, and the worldbuilding is so nonexistent, I just didn't buy how quickly it happened. We went from "I hate you on principle for forcing my people to do this " to "I actually super like you" SO fast. I really wouldn't classify this as enemies to lovers given how quickly everything progressed--this is really star crossed lovers at MOST.
HOWEVER. Did I devour this in one sitting? Yes. Did I have a good time? Yes. I think this is definitely a fun romantasy read and a good slump buster for folks who need one!
July 4, 2026
I had a lot of fun with this one. It’s a quick, fast paced romantasy that kept me turning the pages, and I flew through it in no time. If you’re looking for something with deadly trials, action, and a broody MMC, this is an easy one to binge.
Was it perfect? No. I would have loved a little more world building and I didn’t completely connect with the romance. But honestly, I still had a good time reading it.
Sometimes you don’t need a book to reinvent the genre. Sometimes you just want a fun, entertaining read, and this one delivered exactly that.
Was it perfect? No. I would have loved a little more world building and I didn’t completely connect with the romance. But honestly, I still had a good time reading it.
Sometimes you don’t need a book to reinvent the genre. Sometimes you just want a fun, entertaining read, and this one delivered exactly that.
June 21, 2026
If there’s ever a way to deliver a debut Megan Shunmugam delivers the master class with The Mortal Trials. From the start, it grips you by the throat and compels you to not walk away until the trials are done!
In a world where mortals are selected once every 10 years to participate in the most brutal, high-stakes trials that pushes every competitor to their limit, often fatally, for a chance at immortality, competitors are compelled to participate with the support of the Elven who captured them. But there is so much more to these trials and the Elven in a whole world of gods and monsters, something more is most definitely lurking beneath the surface.
Megan Shunmugam has created an intriguing world that is nuanced and layered and populated it with a strong well-developed characters that bring the story, pluses and multiple twists to life!
The FMC Lirah is empathetic and believable, she’s raw, there are no insta-powers that suddenly develop, her arc and journey are organic as she transitions from angry and resistant to something else, retaining her anger, snark and protectiveness for her friends/found family.
The Elven, Kilian is most definitely Lirah’s opposite - controlled, separate and distant, he maintains his stance and position until he doesn’t and then the sparks truly fly! And I can’t not refer to the other characters in the story, Elven, mortal and sprite, particularly the sprites! I loved Calendula - who was truly Lirah’s perfect helper match.
Yes. There is romance that does follow existing tropes but maintains an edge throughout as it plays out across the foundation of deception, mistrust and the unknown. So if you love those familiar tropes, like enemies to lovers, competitive trials, morally grey characters, survival stakes, slow-burn tension, forced proximity, instructor/trainee, found family, and of course all the snarky banter your dark heart desires, then this is the next read for you!
The Mortal Trials is a fast paced, compelling ‘just one more chapter’ read that will have you grumbling and groaning if anyone disturbs your reading! Even with that ending, I’m all in and desperately waiting for the second part in this duology!
Thank you so much Angry Robot Books and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest and sincere review.
June 8, 2026
I’ve been stuck in such a bad reading slump lately, so I went into this hoping it would finally pull me out of it… and honestly? It completely did. The mix of deadly trials, tension, slow-burn romance, and morally grey characters had me hooked ridiculously fast and I ended up flying through this book way quicker than I expected.
This book was such a fun read. We’ve got deadly trials, slow-burn enemies to lovers, tension, betrayals, found family, hidden secrets, and an MMC that had me suspicious and obsessed at the same time. Every chapter ended in a way that made me go “okay one more” and then suddenly I was way too far in to stop.
Lirah was such an easy FMC to root for. She’s strong and stubborn but still emotional and vulnerable, which made her feel really believable. And the MMC?? Broody, morally grey, secretive, and constantly acting like he knew more than everyone else. I ate that up every single time he was on page. The tension between them was honestly one of my favourite parts of the book.
What I really loved though was that this book became so much more than just surviving trials. The second half completely changed the direction of the story and those reveals genuinely caught me off guard. That ending had me sitting there like “wait WHAT??” because everything suddenly clicked into place.
I also loved the friendships throughout the book. In books with trials I always love when the characters actually care about each other instead of everyone only looking out for themselves, and this had such good found family vibes.
Overall this was such an addictive romantasy read and I’m honestly so glad it pulled me out of my slump. If you love deadly trials, slow-burn romance, morally grey MMCs, tension, twists, and found family, definitely give this one a go
This book was such a fun read. We’ve got deadly trials, slow-burn enemies to lovers, tension, betrayals, found family, hidden secrets, and an MMC that had me suspicious and obsessed at the same time. Every chapter ended in a way that made me go “okay one more” and then suddenly I was way too far in to stop.
Lirah was such an easy FMC to root for. She’s strong and stubborn but still emotional and vulnerable, which made her feel really believable. And the MMC?? Broody, morally grey, secretive, and constantly acting like he knew more than everyone else. I ate that up every single time he was on page. The tension between them was honestly one of my favourite parts of the book.
What I really loved though was that this book became so much more than just surviving trials. The second half completely changed the direction of the story and those reveals genuinely caught me off guard. That ending had me sitting there like “wait WHAT??” because everything suddenly clicked into place.
I also loved the friendships throughout the book. In books with trials I always love when the characters actually care about each other instead of everyone only looking out for themselves, and this had such good found family vibes.
Overall this was such an addictive romantasy read and I’m honestly so glad it pulled me out of my slump. If you love deadly trials, slow-burn romance, morally grey MMCs, tension, twists, and found family, definitely give this one a go
June 20, 2026
Imagine Powerless meets From Blood and Ash meets Serpent and The Wing of Night. Mix them all together and I present to you The Mortal Trails. Every decade 13 Mortals are taken by the Elves to compete in the mortal trials where 1 will have the chance to become Elven. We follow Lirahna as she is taken away from her life and placed into a world where she has to fight for her life, but as always that’s just the tip of the iceberg .
This was a fully enjoyable read, it was fast paced with lots of plot, brilliant world building and fantastic characters that we love and dread reading anything bad happening to them. I could sense at times where the plot was going, because there are a good few books with a similar style/plot/feel, but this by no way took anything away from the book. Rather it made it feel more familiar.
It’s a read that you can sink into to lose some hours if you need a distraction, or if you’re looking for a fast paced plot filled read. It is one of those books where you don’t realise at how many pages you have read, at how absorbed into the story you were until you put it down.
Thank you very much to Angry Robot for a physical proof for me to read and review!
This was a fully enjoyable read, it was fast paced with lots of plot, brilliant world building and fantastic characters that we love and dread reading anything bad happening to them. I could sense at times where the plot was going, because there are a good few books with a similar style/plot/feel, but this by no way took anything away from the book. Rather it made it feel more familiar.
It’s a read that you can sink into to lose some hours if you need a distraction, or if you’re looking for a fast paced plot filled read. It is one of those books where you don’t realise at how many pages you have read, at how absorbed into the story you were until you put it down.
Thank you very much to Angry Robot for a physical proof for me to read and review!
May 25, 2026
3.5* - thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for approving me for this arc.
For what I liked about this book:
. Banter - really enjoyed the banter and sparring interactions with Lirah and Kilian. I actually found myself laughing at points, because I enjoyed the back and forth between them.
. Steamy scenes - they were good and felt different to what I’ve read before.
. The trials - they were given enough time for you to feel the stakes and what the characters were going through.
. Lana - I enjoyed the dynamic of Lana with another character (I don’t want to say and spoil it). I do wish there was more of them.
For what I wasn’t a fan of:
. Lirah - I just felt that she swore unnecessarily and there were F words left right and centre (even if one of the characters states that they like her sailor mouth). I will say, I did prefer her when she wasn’t near her love interest.
. The romance - I never truly feel like Lirah’s feelings were genuine and that she was just saying what her love interest wanted to hear. His were genuine and you could see the natural progression for him (I’ve actually highlighted some of his), but I wasn’t a huge fan of hers.
. Tropes - I love a trope, but when a character is taking his shirt off 40 pages in and our FMC is heart eyes and feeling attraction, it just feels way too soon. There were other elements throughout the book that felt like the author was ticking off a list of tropes.
I wouldn’t say this was enemies to lovers, as it felt too insta lovey/attraction for me - like they were both heart eyes from the get go which isn’t something I particularly enjoy. It felt as if it was written as more hate to lovers than enemies to lovers.
I do think this is a good book, and I did enjoy the other characters. The ending is very interesting and I would be intrigued to read the sequel. If you like trials, elves, gods, and magic - then no doubt you will enjoy this.
For what I liked about this book:
. Banter - really enjoyed the banter and sparring interactions with Lirah and Kilian. I actually found myself laughing at points, because I enjoyed the back and forth between them.
. Steamy scenes - they were good and felt different to what I’ve read before.
. The trials - they were given enough time for you to feel the stakes and what the characters were going through.
. Lana - I enjoyed the dynamic of Lana with another character (I don’t want to say and spoil it). I do wish there was more of them.
For what I wasn’t a fan of:
. Lirah - I just felt that she swore unnecessarily and there were F words left right and centre (even if one of the characters states that they like her sailor mouth). I will say, I did prefer her when she wasn’t near her love interest.
. The romance - I never truly feel like Lirah’s feelings were genuine and that she was just saying what her love interest wanted to hear. His were genuine and you could see the natural progression for him (I’ve actually highlighted some of his), but I wasn’t a huge fan of hers.
. Tropes - I love a trope, but when a character is taking his shirt off 40 pages in and our FMC is heart eyes and feeling attraction, it just feels way too soon. There were other elements throughout the book that felt like the author was ticking off a list of tropes.
I wouldn’t say this was enemies to lovers, as it felt too insta lovey/attraction for me - like they were both heart eyes from the get go which isn’t something I particularly enjoy. It felt as if it was written as more hate to lovers than enemies to lovers.
I do think this is a good book, and I did enjoy the other characters. The ending is very interesting and I would be intrigued to read the sequel. If you like trials, elves, gods, and magic - then no doubt you will enjoy this.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
1.25 stars
According to the reviews bestowed upon this book, the majority of people loved this book. Which is great, because the author deserves it; they wrote a fucking book! Unfortunately, I am not one of those people.
Upon finishing this book, I have been left in a state of confusion so severe that it would take a miracle to fix it. This book had such incredible potential, yet fell flat in a manner resembling Flat Stanley's encounter with a board.
Izzi's list of plot holes/things forgotten:
1) Everything mentioned in the blurb
2) Unofficial trials... there were two. We just gave up on them
3) The entire spiritual world
4) Worldbuilding in general
5) The incredible personality transplants
6) Sylina
6.5) Characters that just disappeared and were forgotten
7) The governor's daughter (specifically Lirah's rage to her, I'm sure she'll be some nefarious force later on)
8) Lirah's mother
9) The apparently long grudges held that disappeared within a day
10) Who Augustine was meant to be
My issue was mainly how nothing made sense. Which is a pretty darn big problem to have when the entire premise of the book is about logic. We're told that the purpose of the trials is to . Yet, the people that would benefit the most from the mortals passing these trials... are making it harder?
There was no purpose to anything. The trials, the MAIN SELLING POINT OF THIS NOVEL, made no sense whatsoever. If I squint, I can see the point of the third, but what about the first and the second? We're told that the elves need these people to finish the trials to make it to the Rite, which is supposed to be oh so important. So what on earth was the purpose of putting these people through "unofficial" trials to make it harder? Especially if these "unofficial" trials are under the domain of these elven who need these mortals to succeed.
So again, WHAT THE FUCK IS THE POINT OF THESE TRIALS??? What is the point of the book? Of the gods that are mentioned in the blurb and made out to be far more important than they are? There is no purpose to anything and that itself is an issue.
Now, though that's the main, overarching, terribly hard to ignore problem, there were a lot of other relatively large grievances I had.
First of all, this book was made to seem like enemies-to-lovers. Spoiler alert... it wasn't. They spend one page hating each other then start lusting after each other. Which they then seem to confuse as love, because they quite literally don't know anything about each other. I doubt Killian even knows Lirah's biggest fear. And we're supposed to believe this is the love story of the century.
And the plot twist. We are given no context for it. It just doesn't make sense. The gods that are completely ignored for 75% of the book turns out to have far too much of an impact for so little coverage. Most of the plot twist was guessable 50% in. The rest wasn't only because the entire world made no fucking sense.
ALSO. The riddle trial?
I swear to fucking god anyone with a shred of common sense can figure out that riddle. It's not even a riddle anymore; more like a known fact. It's... not complicated.
Even if they had never heard of this riddle before, shouldn't it have been pretty simple to deduce that there wasn't any other possible answer? After all, if there's so many choices, it's illogical to think that the answer has something to do with one of them. So what else could it be? Oh! The fucking WORDING!
Honestly, I didn't give enough of a shit about any of the characters to notice anything they were doing. Lirah was pretty mediocre and Killian was just a boring placeholder for some hot guy. The character deaths had no impact on me whatsoever.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
According to the reviews bestowed upon this book, the majority of people loved this book. Which is great, because the author deserves it; they wrote a fucking book! Unfortunately, I am not one of those people.
Upon finishing this book, I have been left in a state of confusion so severe that it would take a miracle to fix it. This book had such incredible potential, yet fell flat in a manner resembling Flat Stanley's encounter with a board.
Izzi's list of plot holes/things forgotten:
1) Everything mentioned in the blurb
2) Unofficial trials... there were two. We just gave up on them
3) The entire spiritual world
4) Worldbuilding in general
5) The incredible personality transplants
6) Sylina
6.5) Characters that just disappeared and were forgotten
7) The governor's daughter (specifically Lirah's rage to her, I'm sure she'll be some nefarious force later on)
8) Lirah's mother
9) The apparently long grudges held that disappeared within a day
10) Who Augustine was meant to be
My issue was mainly how nothing made sense. Which is a pretty darn big problem to have when the entire premise of the book is about logic. We're told that the purpose of the trials is to . Yet, the people that would benefit the most from the mortals passing these trials... are making it harder?
There was no purpose to anything. The trials, the MAIN SELLING POINT OF THIS NOVEL, made no sense whatsoever. If I squint, I can see the point of the third, but what about the first and the second? We're told that the elves need these people to finish the trials to make it to the Rite, which is supposed to be oh so important. So what on earth was the purpose of putting these people through "unofficial" trials to make it harder? Especially if these "unofficial" trials are under the domain of these elven who need these mortals to succeed.
So again, WHAT THE FUCK IS THE POINT OF THESE TRIALS??? What is the point of the book? Of the gods that are mentioned in the blurb and made out to be far more important than they are? There is no purpose to anything and that itself is an issue.
Now, though that's the main, overarching, terribly hard to ignore problem, there were a lot of other relatively large grievances I had.
First of all, this book was made to seem like enemies-to-lovers. Spoiler alert... it wasn't. They spend one page hating each other then start lusting after each other. Which they then seem to confuse as love, because they quite literally don't know anything about each other. I doubt Killian even knows Lirah's biggest fear. And we're supposed to believe this is the love story of the century.
And the plot twist. We are given no context for it. It just doesn't make sense. The gods that are completely ignored for 75% of the book turns out to have far too much of an impact for so little coverage. Most of the plot twist was guessable 50% in. The rest wasn't only because the entire world made no fucking sense.
ALSO. The riddle trial?
I swear to fucking god anyone with a shred of common sense can figure out that riddle. It's not even a riddle anymore; more like a known fact. It's... not complicated.
Even if they had never heard of this riddle before, shouldn't it have been pretty simple to deduce that there wasn't any other possible answer? After all, if there's so many choices, it's illogical to think that the answer has something to do with one of them. So what else could it be? Oh! The fucking WORDING!
Honestly, I didn't give enough of a shit about any of the characters to notice anything they were doing. Lirah was pretty mediocre and Killian was just a boring placeholder for some hot guy. The character deaths had no impact on me whatsoever.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
Review of advance copy received from Storygraph
This book was entertaining enough while I was reading it, but the moment I finished, I realized how little of it would actually stay with me. It's the literary equivalent of a palate cleanser: fast-paced, easy to consume, and instantly forgettable.
The biggest issue is that there's not an original bone in this story. The Mortal Trials feel like a mix of every survival competition fantasy you've already read, with elements that reminded me of Harry Potter, The Mortal Instruments, Kingsman, ACOTAR, From Blood and Ash, and Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Even the worldbuilding staples feel more borrowed than inspired. Nothing here feels fresh, and most plot developments are predictable long before they're revealed.
The romance didn't work for me either. We get the usual "touch her and you die" energy, the inevitable "only one bed" situation, the brooding instructor, forced proximity, and the magical connection that keeps the characters together. The problem isn't the tropes themselves, I enjoy tropes when they're executed well. The problem is that the chemistry simply isn't there. Instead of feeling genuine emotional tension, it felt like the book was mechanically checking boxes off a fantasy-romance trope list. I've read this love story hundreds of times before, and this version didn't bring anything new to the table.
That's ultimately how I feel about the entire novel. All the elements are there: deadly trials, mysterious gods, hidden identities, romantic tension, shocking revelations. These are all things the internet loves. Yet somehow they never come together into something emotionally engaging. The life-or-death situations should have been intense, but I rarely felt worried for anyone. The emotional beats landed flat, and the characters never felt fully alive. Everything felt oddly robotic, as if the story understood the ingredients of a successful fantasy romance without understanding what actually makes readers care.
In a world increasingly dominated by the fast-fashionification of books, this feels like another example of "let's write a book based on what BookTok reads." It's designed around familiar trends and popular tropes rather than a unique vision. It's fun enough in the moment, but once I turned the last page, there was very little left to think about.
Not terrible. Not memorable. Just another trope-heavy fantasy romance that blends into the crowd.
The biggest issue is that there's not an original bone in this story. The Mortal Trials feel like a mix of every survival competition fantasy you've already read, with elements that reminded me of Harry Potter, The Mortal Instruments, Kingsman, ACOTAR, From Blood and Ash, and Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Even the worldbuilding staples feel more borrowed than inspired. Nothing here feels fresh, and most plot developments are predictable long before they're revealed.
The romance didn't work for me either. We get the usual "touch her and you die" energy, the inevitable "only one bed" situation, the brooding instructor, forced proximity, and the magical connection that keeps the characters together. The problem isn't the tropes themselves, I enjoy tropes when they're executed well. The problem is that the chemistry simply isn't there. Instead of feeling genuine emotional tension, it felt like the book was mechanically checking boxes off a fantasy-romance trope list. I've read this love story hundreds of times before, and this version didn't bring anything new to the table.
That's ultimately how I feel about the entire novel. All the elements are there: deadly trials, mysterious gods, hidden identities, romantic tension, shocking revelations. These are all things the internet loves. Yet somehow they never come together into something emotionally engaging. The life-or-death situations should have been intense, but I rarely felt worried for anyone. The emotional beats landed flat, and the characters never felt fully alive. Everything felt oddly robotic, as if the story understood the ingredients of a successful fantasy romance without understanding what actually makes readers care.
In a world increasingly dominated by the fast-fashionification of books, this feels like another example of "let's write a book based on what BookTok reads." It's designed around familiar trends and popular tropes rather than a unique vision. It's fun enough in the moment, but once I turned the last page, there was very little left to think about.
Not terrible. Not memorable. Just another trope-heavy fantasy romance that blends into the crowd.
July 15, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the arc 🫶🏼
I started this book last night with the intention to read a chapter before bed to wind down before going back to work. 2 hours later and I was already 40% into the book 😂 I was HOOKED.
This story starts so well, and jumps almost straight in which is great because you’re instantly transported into the feelings of our characters. The banter - well, I was absolutely obsessed with it and how stubborn our FMC is, I kept chuckling to myself on my morning commute because I couldn’t keep it in. I did assume the twist at the end, but I read a lot of fantasy so it’s hard to surprise me now.
I really loved the friendships built, it’s rare to see in fantasy trial books the friendships because usually there are none. Whereas this book offers a fresh and trusting perspective from the get go, and I am obsessed 🫶🏼 The trials were also really enjoyable! Not necessarily high stakes, I never felt huge danger BUT they were really unique and creative.
I think for me the author has wrote some really strong characters and the friendships within the story really made it.
I would’ve liked more mini ‘trials’ like it was initially stated, and I would’ve been happy for the book to have been longer to include them. I also felt like some things felt easier than they should’ve been, hence the lack of danger. I’m super curious about a couple of characters that came into play, and I’m curious about the fae. I’m hoping these curiosities will be answered in book 2. Otherwise it feels like they are just placed in randomly.
Despite a few flaws that maybe could’ve been built on, I was immersed fully, it’s a fairly easy read and I wouldn’t say there was loads of story building (as opposed to some fantasy) but it was highly enjoyable and I think I read it in about 5 hours because I couldn’t put it down!!
I’ve given this book 4 stars, this is for the pure fact that some parts did feel random (the person who saved her?) The ‘enemies’ felt like it changed to lovers fairly quickly and although I throughly enjoyed the back and forth digs, they almost didn’t align with the lust and love the characters also felt?
But this book really did have me hooked. The concept was great and I loved that fae weren’t the focal point. The monsters/creatures in the trials were pretty cool AND the sprites 🥹 I just want one of my own!
I started this book last night with the intention to read a chapter before bed to wind down before going back to work. 2 hours later and I was already 40% into the book 😂 I was HOOKED.
This story starts so well, and jumps almost straight in which is great because you’re instantly transported into the feelings of our characters. The banter - well, I was absolutely obsessed with it and how stubborn our FMC is, I kept chuckling to myself on my morning commute because I couldn’t keep it in. I did assume the twist at the end, but I read a lot of fantasy so it’s hard to surprise me now.
I really loved the friendships built, it’s rare to see in fantasy trial books the friendships because usually there are none. Whereas this book offers a fresh and trusting perspective from the get go, and I am obsessed 🫶🏼 The trials were also really enjoyable! Not necessarily high stakes, I never felt huge danger BUT they were really unique and creative.
I think for me the author has wrote some really strong characters and the friendships within the story really made it.
I would’ve liked more mini ‘trials’ like it was initially stated, and I would’ve been happy for the book to have been longer to include them. I also felt like some things felt easier than they should’ve been, hence the lack of danger. I’m super curious about a couple of characters that came into play, and I’m curious about the fae. I’m hoping these curiosities will be answered in book 2. Otherwise it feels like they are just placed in randomly.
Despite a few flaws that maybe could’ve been built on, I was immersed fully, it’s a fairly easy read and I wouldn’t say there was loads of story building (as opposed to some fantasy) but it was highly enjoyable and I think I read it in about 5 hours because I couldn’t put it down!!
I’ve given this book 4 stars, this is for the pure fact that some parts did feel random (the person who saved her?) The ‘enemies’ felt like it changed to lovers fairly quickly and although I throughly enjoyed the back and forth digs, they almost didn’t align with the lust and love the characters also felt?
But this book really did have me hooked. The concept was great and I loved that fae weren’t the focal point. The monsters/creatures in the trials were pretty cool AND the sprites 🥹 I just want one of my own!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Give me a set of deadly trials, and you have my attention. So this sounded right up my alley, and it certainly was a fun, fast read. We have nonstop action, danger, death, slow-burning enemies-to-lovers, banter and wit, strong friendships, training scenes, sprite companions, and an MMC who knows more than he is willing to reveal.
But writing a review for this one is hard, because the things I *really* want to gush about are things I don't want to spoil. The most pared-down, spoiler-free way to say it is that Lirah originally resents the elven for putting humans through these Trials, and as the Trials reach their conclusion, we learn *why* they exist. The resentment she feels over the lives lost in these Trials is largely why she fights her attraction to the MMC. So having this deeper plot-line where the Trials *mean* something more than just the opportunity to attempt to become elven absolves her in a way and makes the book that much more enjoyable and meaningful. It also ramps the story up significantly - not that it needed it, but it certainly elevated everything. It's like we spend the first 90% of the book thinking we're reading a book about *just* a set of trials and that last 10% flips everything on its head and reveals SO much, and now I have to wait for book 2?! Wait, really? The twists, the build-up in the plot that comes with the reveal, the ending - THAT ENDING... I was not prepared, but I ate up every single crumb and am *begging* for more. I *need* to know what happens next, and I predict book 2 will be even bigger than this one.
I also loved the friendships in this book. I always appreciate it when characters in books about trials refuse to care only about themselves and form friendships and cooperate with those going through the trials with them, and we have that here. The friendship between Lirah, Lana, and Moric gives us a found family feel. "Home," Lirah tells us "no longer felt like Serila, but like a girl with cornsilk hair and fierce loyalty, a soft boy who loved his brother, and a pair of silver eyes that haunted me."
I can tell you, this book is going to haunt *me* until I can read the next installment, lol. A huge thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and have my sanity absolutely shattered. ;)
But writing a review for this one is hard, because the things I *really* want to gush about are things I don't want to spoil. The most pared-down, spoiler-free way to say it is that Lirah originally resents the elven for putting humans through these Trials, and as the Trials reach their conclusion, we learn *why* they exist. The resentment she feels over the lives lost in these Trials is largely why she fights her attraction to the MMC. So having this deeper plot-line where the Trials *mean* something more than just the opportunity to attempt to become elven absolves her in a way and makes the book that much more enjoyable and meaningful. It also ramps the story up significantly - not that it needed it, but it certainly elevated everything. It's like we spend the first 90% of the book thinking we're reading a book about *just* a set of trials and that last 10% flips everything on its head and reveals SO much, and now I have to wait for book 2?! Wait, really? The twists, the build-up in the plot that comes with the reveal, the ending - THAT ENDING... I was not prepared, but I ate up every single crumb and am *begging* for more. I *need* to know what happens next, and I predict book 2 will be even bigger than this one.
I also loved the friendships in this book. I always appreciate it when characters in books about trials refuse to care only about themselves and form friendships and cooperate with those going through the trials with them, and we have that here. The friendship between Lirah, Lana, and Moric gives us a found family feel. "Home," Lirah tells us "no longer felt like Serila, but like a girl with cornsilk hair and fierce loyalty, a soft boy who loved his brother, and a pair of silver eyes that haunted me."
I can tell you, this book is going to haunt *me* until I can read the next installment, lol. A huge thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and have my sanity absolutely shattered. ;)
June 25, 2026
3.5⭐️
I feel like this book would be absolutely fantastic for someone wanting to get into the romantic fantasy genre. It is fast-paced, action-packed, and has some really likeable characters. Easy to understand, and a quick read. I loved the trials, and they were a little bit of a change from the usual trials in romantasy books which was nice.
However…I felt a little though like the whole book could have been given more depth. The world building was lacking a little bit, but seemed to also be fairly vital to the plot but only towards the end, same for the magic system. We didn’t really have time to sit with information and build on it as the story went, there was only the occasional bit of information that felt like throwaway comments until suddenly it wasn’t.
I really liked the FMC, she was understandably angry at the situation she was in, but she was strongly loyal and kind to the people she cared about. The MMC was great, albeit he seemed to not have much…personality…beyond broody, grumpy, simp for FMC.
Their relationship was verrrryyyy insta-lust and I couldn’t see the chemistry between them. They were declaring love after what felt like incredibly shaky foundations, and the majority of their conversations comprised of: “I hate you.” “No you don’t” “yes I do (but actually you’re right I don’t hate you, you’re hoootttt)” and I got kinda bored of it after a while and then he went and fell absolutely head over heels with her from this.
The side characters were well-fleshed out, and special shout out to Lara. But again, sometimes it felt like the reactions of some characters in certain situations relating to other characters were very extreme in relation to the actual level of interaction and relationship that had been shown in the book (insta-die-hard-friends if you will).
The plot twists at the end were unexpected and added more stakes to the game, and the cliffhanger definitely encourages readers to want to continue on with the series. Did I truly understand the purpose as to why there was trials? Not entirely if I thought about it too hard, but it was a fun read nevertheless.
Thank you to Net Galley for the arc. All views are my own.
I feel like this book would be absolutely fantastic for someone wanting to get into the romantic fantasy genre. It is fast-paced, action-packed, and has some really likeable characters. Easy to understand, and a quick read. I loved the trials, and they were a little bit of a change from the usual trials in romantasy books which was nice.
However…I felt a little though like the whole book could have been given more depth. The world building was lacking a little bit, but seemed to also be fairly vital to the plot but only towards the end, same for the magic system. We didn’t really have time to sit with information and build on it as the story went, there was only the occasional bit of information that felt like throwaway comments until suddenly it wasn’t.
I really liked the FMC, she was understandably angry at the situation she was in, but she was strongly loyal and kind to the people she cared about. The MMC was great, albeit he seemed to not have much…personality…beyond broody, grumpy, simp for FMC.
Their relationship was verrrryyyy insta-lust and I couldn’t see the chemistry between them. They were declaring love after what felt like incredibly shaky foundations, and the majority of their conversations comprised of: “I hate you.” “No you don’t” “yes I do (but actually you’re right I don’t hate you, you’re hoootttt)” and I got kinda bored of it after a while and then he went and fell absolutely head over heels with her from this.
The side characters were well-fleshed out, and special shout out to Lara. But again, sometimes it felt like the reactions of some characters in certain situations relating to other characters were very extreme in relation to the actual level of interaction and relationship that had been shown in the book (insta-die-hard-friends if you will).
The plot twists at the end were unexpected and added more stakes to the game, and the cliffhanger definitely encourages readers to want to continue on with the series. Did I truly understand the purpose as to why there was trials? Not entirely if I thought about it too hard, but it was a fun read nevertheless.
Thank you to Net Galley for the arc. All views are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Soooo I went into The Mortal Trials expecting a dark romantasy with high stakes, deadly competitions, forbidden romance, and plenty of tension. While it definitely delivered on the fast pace and kept me turning the pages, it didn’t fully live up to its potential for me.
The premise immediately caught my attention. A group of humans forced into a brutal competition where losing means death is the kind of setup that hooks me pretty quickly, and I enjoyed uncovering the mysteries surrounding the Trials, the gods, and the politics woven throughout the story. The world has a lot of promise, and the ending left me genuinely curious about what comes next.
Lirah was a determined heroine, and I appreciated her resilience in impossible circumstances. I also liked the friendships that developed throughout the story, which added some heart to an otherwise dangerous journey. Kilian checked all the boxes for a broody, protective love interest, and I could definitely understand why readers will love him.
Where the book lost me was the romance. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic had all the ingredients I usually love, but the emotional progression felt rushed. I wanted more slow burn tension, more meaningful moments between Lirah and Kilian, and a stronger foundation before their relationship shifted into romance. The attraction was there, but I never fully believed how quickly their feelings developed.
I also found myself wanting more from the Trials themselves. While they were entertaining and dangerous on paper, they rarely had me on the edge of my seat the way I’d hoped. The stakes were clear, but I didn’t always feel the suspense or emotional weight behind each challenge. Overall, The Mortal Trials is a mostly entertaining read with an intriguing world, compelling elements, and an ending that sets up the sequel well. Although the romance and competition didn’t quite hit the mark for me, I still enjoyed the ride enough to be interested in seeing where this series goes next, so there’s definitely a chance I’ll pick up the next book!
Thank you to Angry Robot and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The premise immediately caught my attention. A group of humans forced into a brutal competition where losing means death is the kind of setup that hooks me pretty quickly, and I enjoyed uncovering the mysteries surrounding the Trials, the gods, and the politics woven throughout the story. The world has a lot of promise, and the ending left me genuinely curious about what comes next.
Lirah was a determined heroine, and I appreciated her resilience in impossible circumstances. I also liked the friendships that developed throughout the story, which added some heart to an otherwise dangerous journey. Kilian checked all the boxes for a broody, protective love interest, and I could definitely understand why readers will love him.
Where the book lost me was the romance. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic had all the ingredients I usually love, but the emotional progression felt rushed. I wanted more slow burn tension, more meaningful moments between Lirah and Kilian, and a stronger foundation before their relationship shifted into romance. The attraction was there, but I never fully believed how quickly their feelings developed.
I also found myself wanting more from the Trials themselves. While they were entertaining and dangerous on paper, they rarely had me on the edge of my seat the way I’d hoped. The stakes were clear, but I didn’t always feel the suspense or emotional weight behind each challenge. Overall, The Mortal Trials is a mostly entertaining read with an intriguing world, compelling elements, and an ending that sets up the sequel well. Although the romance and competition didn’t quite hit the mark for me, I still enjoyed the ride enough to be interested in seeing where this series goes next, so there’s definitely a chance I’ll pick up the next book!
Thank you to Angry Robot and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 13, 2026
3.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC.
Overall this was a decidedly average read and I struggled a bit with how to rate it.
I thought that I would eat this book up, but instead it took me weeks to get through it, reading it in small doses here and there. Nothing really compelled me to pick it up, but there was also nothing glaringly bad to make me want to DNF. I love books that feature trials, and humans in a magical world are always a fun concept, but I felt like the book’s biggest flaw was that nothing made it stand out from the rest.
The FMC, Lirah, was kind of a badass in that she was driven and genuinely didn’t seem to care what she had to do to survive. She was also just petty sometimes. One of my favourite moments from her was when she was challenged to steal something from Killian (the MMC) and broke into his bedroom to do so, but also proceeded to trash his room just because she was angry about being taken for the trials. Yeah, girl, I get that.
Regarding the romance part of this romantasy. I think we’ve got a solid foundation of lust and banter between the two, but the flip between lusty enemies to in love happened a bit too quickly and I wish that there had been more of a slow burn foundation built.
Killian didn’t stand out for me as a MMC, he felt a bit bland and underdeveloped, but I think he had potential to be great. All the right pieces are there, they just needed to fit together better and I wanted more personality from him.
I think the author did a good job making what feels like a complex world easy to read, but I would have liked to see more world-building. I felt rather lost in the world honestly. The start of the book was so fast paced that there was no time for explanations. I’m the type of reader who would rather sift through chapters of info dumping so I can understand the world rather than hop into a world blind.
A solid debut and definitely written for fans of books like The Hunger Games, The Games Gods Play, and other trials-based romantasies. I think the author could be one to watch as she continues writing, but I would encourage her to focus on creating a standout MMC.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC.
Overall this was a decidedly average read and I struggled a bit with how to rate it.
I thought that I would eat this book up, but instead it took me weeks to get through it, reading it in small doses here and there. Nothing really compelled me to pick it up, but there was also nothing glaringly bad to make me want to DNF. I love books that feature trials, and humans in a magical world are always a fun concept, but I felt like the book’s biggest flaw was that nothing made it stand out from the rest.
The FMC, Lirah, was kind of a badass in that she was driven and genuinely didn’t seem to care what she had to do to survive. She was also just petty sometimes. One of my favourite moments from her was when she was challenged to steal something from Killian (the MMC) and broke into his bedroom to do so, but also proceeded to trash his room just because she was angry about being taken for the trials. Yeah, girl, I get that.
Regarding the romance part of this romantasy. I think we’ve got a solid foundation of lust and banter between the two, but the flip between lusty enemies to in love happened a bit too quickly and I wish that there had been more of a slow burn foundation built.
Killian didn’t stand out for me as a MMC, he felt a bit bland and underdeveloped, but I think he had potential to be great. All the right pieces are there, they just needed to fit together better and I wanted more personality from him.
I think the author did a good job making what feels like a complex world easy to read, but I would have liked to see more world-building. I felt rather lost in the world honestly. The start of the book was so fast paced that there was no time for explanations. I’m the type of reader who would rather sift through chapters of info dumping so I can understand the world rather than hop into a world blind.
A solid debut and definitely written for fans of books like The Hunger Games, The Games Gods Play, and other trials-based romantasies. I think the author could be one to watch as she continues writing, but I would encourage her to focus on creating a standout MMC.
July 13, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ 4/5
I mean… how hard is it to read 298 pages in a few hours? 😂 Apparently not hard at all because I absolutely flew through this one.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Mortal Trials. The plot was easy to follow, the trials were entertaining, and I definitely got some serious Hunger Games vibes. Every challenge had me thinking, “May the odds be ever in your favor.” ⚔️
I loved the banter between Kilian and Lirah and Lana and Septimus. But honestly? The friendships stole the show for me. Lirah, Lana, Moric, and Andema really felt like a little found family, which made Andema’s death sting… and then Moric during the Rite? Excuse me?! I was not emotionally prepared for either one. 😭
Then we find out Lirah is actually embodying the goddess Aerie, and Kilian is Azariel, the God of Death. Okay… I can get behind that. It definitely added another layer to their relationship and made me even more curious to see where their story is headed.
My biggest critique is that I just wanted more. I wanted richer world-building, more depth from the characters, and a little more breathing room between some scenes. A few transitions felt a bit clunky, and I caught a handful of grammar errors that pulled me out of the story for a second.
That being said, this is Megan Shunmugam’s traditionally published fantasy debut, and I think that’s worth recognizing. Writing a book is hard. Getting one traditionally published is an incredible accomplishment. You can absolutely see the potential here, and I genuinely think this series has a lot of room to grow.
Will I be picking up Book 2? Absolutely. I want more of this world, more of these characters, and I’m hoping we get deeper world-building, higher stakes, and even more character development because I think this series could become something really special.
Final verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ A fast, entertaining fantasy with dystopian trial vibes, fun banter, found-family friendships, and enough twists to keep me invested. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a really enjoyable read, and I’m excited to see where Megan takes this series next. 📚✨
#BookReview #TheMortalTrials #MeganShunmugam #FantasyBooks #Bookstagram
I mean… how hard is it to read 298 pages in a few hours? 😂 Apparently not hard at all because I absolutely flew through this one.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Mortal Trials. The plot was easy to follow, the trials were entertaining, and I definitely got some serious Hunger Games vibes. Every challenge had me thinking, “May the odds be ever in your favor.” ⚔️
I loved the banter between Kilian and Lirah and Lana and Septimus. But honestly? The friendships stole the show for me. Lirah, Lana, Moric, and Andema really felt like a little found family, which made Andema’s death sting… and then Moric during the Rite? Excuse me?! I was not emotionally prepared for either one. 😭
Then we find out Lirah is actually embodying the goddess Aerie, and Kilian is Azariel, the God of Death. Okay… I can get behind that. It definitely added another layer to their relationship and made me even more curious to see where their story is headed.
My biggest critique is that I just wanted more. I wanted richer world-building, more depth from the characters, and a little more breathing room between some scenes. A few transitions felt a bit clunky, and I caught a handful of grammar errors that pulled me out of the story for a second.
That being said, this is Megan Shunmugam’s traditionally published fantasy debut, and I think that’s worth recognizing. Writing a book is hard. Getting one traditionally published is an incredible accomplishment. You can absolutely see the potential here, and I genuinely think this series has a lot of room to grow.
Will I be picking up Book 2? Absolutely. I want more of this world, more of these characters, and I’m hoping we get deeper world-building, higher stakes, and even more character development because I think this series could become something really special.
Final verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ A fast, entertaining fantasy with dystopian trial vibes, fun banter, found-family friendships, and enough twists to keep me invested. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a really enjoyable read, and I’m excited to see where Megan takes this series next. 📚✨
#BookReview #TheMortalTrials #MeganShunmugam #FantasyBooks #Bookstagram
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2026
“There’s no hope. There’s only gruesome death, painful death and semi-painful death. You should take your hope and place it on the third.”
✨ Deadly trials
✨ Broody instructor
✨ Found family
✨ Gods & goddesses
This one had so many elements I normally love.
Deadly trials, gods, and a mystery surrounding the Mortal Trials made for a really intriguing premise. I enjoyed slowly uncovering what was really happening and how everything connected.
“You can’t hope to stay alive and save your friends. There are no winners. No friendships. There are only survivors.”
For me, the biggest thing that held this back was that I never fully connected with the characters, so some of the emotional moments didn’t land as strongly as I wanted them to.
The sprites were such a fun addition to the story, and I also really enjoyed the found family that developed throughout the book.
“I had been worried about the challenges when I should have been worried about Killian Fucking Valhan. I was not going to make it out of this room alive. When Lana eventually came looking for me, she’d find me melted in a puddle of desire on Killian’s bedroom floor.”
The chemistry between Lirah and Killian definitely had its moments, and I liked seeing their relationship develop alongside the increasingly dangerous Trials.
“I’m still a pawn in this game, my life reduced to nothing but the hope of some obscure ability to break a curse.”
The wider mythology and the secrets behind the Trials kept me reading, and I was always curious to see where the story was heading.
“I can’t stop looking for you, waiting for you to spare me a glance, even if it’s only to scowl at me. I want to hear your voice, even if you only use it to curse me. You’re always there, like a tune I can’t get out of my head.”
Overall, this was an enjoyable romantasy with a strong premise. While I didn’t connect with it as much as I’d hoped, I can definitely see it working well for readers who love deadly trials, gods, and slower-burn fantasy romance.
Chaos, vibes, and opinions are all my own ✨ please give credit if you share.
✨ Deadly trials
✨ Broody instructor
✨ Found family
✨ Gods & goddesses
This one had so many elements I normally love.
Deadly trials, gods, and a mystery surrounding the Mortal Trials made for a really intriguing premise. I enjoyed slowly uncovering what was really happening and how everything connected.
“You can’t hope to stay alive and save your friends. There are no winners. No friendships. There are only survivors.”
For me, the biggest thing that held this back was that I never fully connected with the characters, so some of the emotional moments didn’t land as strongly as I wanted them to.
The sprites were such a fun addition to the story, and I also really enjoyed the found family that developed throughout the book.
“I had been worried about the challenges when I should have been worried about Killian Fucking Valhan. I was not going to make it out of this room alive. When Lana eventually came looking for me, she’d find me melted in a puddle of desire on Killian’s bedroom floor.”
The chemistry between Lirah and Killian definitely had its moments, and I liked seeing their relationship develop alongside the increasingly dangerous Trials.
“I’m still a pawn in this game, my life reduced to nothing but the hope of some obscure ability to break a curse.”
The wider mythology and the secrets behind the Trials kept me reading, and I was always curious to see where the story was heading.
“I can’t stop looking for you, waiting for you to spare me a glance, even if it’s only to scowl at me. I want to hear your voice, even if you only use it to curse me. You’re always there, like a tune I can’t get out of my head.”
Overall, this was an enjoyable romantasy with a strong premise. While I didn’t connect with it as much as I’d hoped, I can definitely see it working well for readers who love deadly trials, gods, and slower-burn fantasy romance.
Chaos, vibes, and opinions are all my own ✨ please give credit if you share.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
So I actually wished for this on netgalley and was so lucky to get it and what a book it was.
The story follows Lirah who is a servant girl in a governor’s house and gets herself a bit of mistaken identity and gets thrown into the mortal trials when 3 elves come to collect the mortals for the trials. They collect 13 people from the different towns to compete in 3 trials but also multiple un trials where they learn and study what could help them later. And then at the very end of it all there is a rite which lo and behold you also might not survive….. enter some great side characters and some brilliant friends along the way and then our MMC Killian who is our lead elf… and the owner of where the trials are taking place.
The story is fast paced there is action pretty much from the get go, with jumping straight into the trials. The world building is interesting and keeps you on the edge of your seat as there is so much more to come and more to learn throughout the book. It keeps you guessing.
The characters are brilliant I looooved the main character she was sarcastic she was angry and she did not take it lying down, but she’s also caring and the bonds with her friends were just so heartfelt and loving. Killian and Septimus our male characters are opposite one is hard, cold but cares more than he tries to show and the other is light fluffy and funny.
The romance has a lot of yearning and burn between them with them both pulling away at times, but the Banter between them is just PERFECTION, had me laughing out loud.
The story itself was so well thought out and honestly I could not put it down, and I didn’t want too I absolutely devoured it and now I’m just angry it’s over 😭
The ending I did not see coming and had me shocked…. Gutted…. And worried but also so so excited for what is going to come next….. absolutely incredible throughout
Incredible and a must read
The story follows Lirah who is a servant girl in a governor’s house and gets herself a bit of mistaken identity and gets thrown into the mortal trials when 3 elves come to collect the mortals for the trials. They collect 13 people from the different towns to compete in 3 trials but also multiple un trials where they learn and study what could help them later. And then at the very end of it all there is a rite which lo and behold you also might not survive….. enter some great side characters and some brilliant friends along the way and then our MMC Killian who is our lead elf… and the owner of where the trials are taking place.
The story is fast paced there is action pretty much from the get go, with jumping straight into the trials. The world building is interesting and keeps you on the edge of your seat as there is so much more to come and more to learn throughout the book. It keeps you guessing.
The characters are brilliant I looooved the main character she was sarcastic she was angry and she did not take it lying down, but she’s also caring and the bonds with her friends were just so heartfelt and loving. Killian and Septimus our male characters are opposite one is hard, cold but cares more than he tries to show and the other is light fluffy and funny.
The romance has a lot of yearning and burn between them with them both pulling away at times, but the Banter between them is just PERFECTION, had me laughing out loud.
The story itself was so well thought out and honestly I could not put it down, and I didn’t want too I absolutely devoured it and now I’m just angry it’s over 😭
The ending I did not see coming and had me shocked…. Gutted…. And worried but also so so excited for what is going to come next….. absolutely incredible throughout
Incredible and a must read
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you for this ARC which I received through NetGalley. Please proceed with caution as there is a potential spoiler in my review.
I enjoyed the concept of this book and quickly fell into the rhythm of the writing style. The concept of the trials and uncovering the reasons for them was well paced and allowed for the elements of mystery and discovery right until the end. There is a twist at the end which did come unexpectedly to me, something that doesn’t happen often; which was enjoyable and left us in a really strong position for the next book. I’m excited to find out how they get past their current predicament! (Trying not to give too much away).
I enjoyed the relationship the FMC built with Lana, the exploration of female friendship and found family was really lovely and heartwarming. I felt that this tailed off a little at one point, almost like there was a focus on either friendship or romance but the balance between the two happening simultaneously wasn’t found for me. I’d have liked a few more conversations in the middle- later stages of the book between the two women to keep their friendship and bond strong rather than a bit more of a background friendship, e.g ‘I’d filled them in at another time’, ‘we had caught up on that’
The development of the relationship with the MMC Killian was enjoyable at first. There was a strong dislike from the FMC, with some great banter and clear tension and slow burn building. However I felt that it went too quickly from this into ‘I’d die for you’ territory and I felt that I would’ve liked more scenes of their relationship changing and blossoming into this rather than just one moment on a mountain that then because an all consuming relationship. This did dampen the romance aspect for me a bit as I found that to be a bit unbelievable.
It’s a good length book but I do feel than extra 50-100 pages spent deepening bonds would’ve been worth it. It was still enjoyable and I will definitely want to read what comes next.
I enjoyed the concept of this book and quickly fell into the rhythm of the writing style. The concept of the trials and uncovering the reasons for them was well paced and allowed for the elements of mystery and discovery right until the end. There is a twist at the end which did come unexpectedly to me, something that doesn’t happen often; which was enjoyable and left us in a really strong position for the next book. I’m excited to find out how they get past their current predicament! (Trying not to give too much away).
I enjoyed the relationship the FMC built with Lana, the exploration of female friendship and found family was really lovely and heartwarming. I felt that this tailed off a little at one point, almost like there was a focus on either friendship or romance but the balance between the two happening simultaneously wasn’t found for me. I’d have liked a few more conversations in the middle- later stages of the book between the two women to keep their friendship and bond strong rather than a bit more of a background friendship, e.g ‘I’d filled them in at another time’, ‘we had caught up on that’
The development of the relationship with the MMC Killian was enjoyable at first. There was a strong dislike from the FMC, with some great banter and clear tension and slow burn building. However I felt that it went too quickly from this into ‘I’d die for you’ territory and I felt that I would’ve liked more scenes of their relationship changing and blossoming into this rather than just one moment on a mountain that then because an all consuming relationship. This did dampen the romance aspect for me a bit as I found that to be a bit unbelievable.
It’s a good length book but I do feel than extra 50-100 pages spent deepening bonds would’ve been worth it. It was still enjoyable and I will definitely want to read what comes next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2026
The Mortal Trials
by Megan Shunmugam
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
First of all, thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for the opportunity to read an advance copy of The Mortal Trials. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
Okay, I don’t know what was put into this book, but I absolutely flew through it.
The Mortal Trials is exactly the kind of fast-paced romantasy that makes you say “just one more chapter” until suddenly it’s 2 a.m. Deadly trials, fae, elves, forced proximity, found family, and a grumpy MMC? Yes, please.
Lirah is taken to the Elven realm by mistake and thrown into a competition where thirteen humans must fight for the chance at immortality. She is stubborn, fiery, and definitely not someone who quietly accepts her fate. Did she frustrate me at times? Absolutely. But she was never boring, and I appreciated how fiercely she fought for herself and the people she cared about.
Kilian brought all the classic brooding, protective MMC energy, and I loved the banter and tension between him and Lirah. Their dynamic had plenty of push and pull, and watching them challenge each other was one of the most entertaining parts of the book. I just wanted a little more time spent building their emotional connection.
The trials themselves kept the story moving, and while some elements felt familiar, I was still completely invested. The ending especially pulled everything together and left me very interested in what comes next.
The found family was also a major highlight. Lana and Septimus were fantastic additions, and I loved the friendships and bonds that formed throughout the story.
Overall, this was a fun and addictive debut with deadly competitions, magic, romance, and characters I’m excited to spend more time with. I guessed some of the twists, but I still couldn’t stop reading because I needed to know if I was right.
Now I need book two immediately. ✨
by Megan Shunmugam
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
First of all, thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for the opportunity to read an advance copy of The Mortal Trials. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
Okay, I don’t know what was put into this book, but I absolutely flew through it.
The Mortal Trials is exactly the kind of fast-paced romantasy that makes you say “just one more chapter” until suddenly it’s 2 a.m. Deadly trials, fae, elves, forced proximity, found family, and a grumpy MMC? Yes, please.
Lirah is taken to the Elven realm by mistake and thrown into a competition where thirteen humans must fight for the chance at immortality. She is stubborn, fiery, and definitely not someone who quietly accepts her fate. Did she frustrate me at times? Absolutely. But she was never boring, and I appreciated how fiercely she fought for herself and the people she cared about.
Kilian brought all the classic brooding, protective MMC energy, and I loved the banter and tension between him and Lirah. Their dynamic had plenty of push and pull, and watching them challenge each other was one of the most entertaining parts of the book. I just wanted a little more time spent building their emotional connection.
The trials themselves kept the story moving, and while some elements felt familiar, I was still completely invested. The ending especially pulled everything together and left me very interested in what comes next.
The found family was also a major highlight. Lana and Septimus were fantastic additions, and I loved the friendships and bonds that formed throughout the story.
Overall, this was a fun and addictive debut with deadly competitions, magic, romance, and characters I’m excited to spend more time with. I guessed some of the twists, but I still couldn’t stop reading because I needed to know if I was right.
Now I need book two immediately. ✨
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I absolutely inhaled The Mortal Trials, another one I finished in a single day and I’m luckily on a great streak from Netgalley arcs with great bingeable, debut romantasies.
This follows a brutal, high-stakes trial system in a elven world where mortals are pushed to their limits for survival and the chance for immortality with something more lurking beneath the surface. From the start, it throws you straight into a world of competition, constant tension, and it does not let up.
The trials were a highlight for me — fast-paced, ruthless, and full of twists that kept me hooked the entire time. There’s that addictive “just one more chapter” energy because you need to know who makes it through and what is happening next (particularly between the main characters)
The characters really carried this (and side characters - loved the sprite helpers!) Strong, determined, and layered with just enough vulnerability to keep them grounded. The dynamics between them added to the tension, especially with the underlying mistrust and power plays woven throughout. The romance had that darker, slightly dangerous edge which I love and twists on twists, that I did not see coming!
It leans into familiar tropes, but in a way that just works. Enemies to lovers, Competitive trials, morally grey characters, survival stakes, slow-burn tension, forced proximity, instructor/trainee, found family, banter —it hits all the right beats without feeling flat or overdone.
Overall, such an addictive, fast-paced read that completely pulled me in. If you love deadly trials, tension-filled dynamics, and that feeling of being unable to put a book down, this absolutely delivers!
Thanks Netgalley for the e-arc, Angry Robot Books for granting the wish to read it for a honest review and Megan for writing this great and addictive book. I am very ready for the next one in this Duology (ugh that ending!)
This follows a brutal, high-stakes trial system in a elven world where mortals are pushed to their limits for survival and the chance for immortality with something more lurking beneath the surface. From the start, it throws you straight into a world of competition, constant tension, and it does not let up.
The trials were a highlight for me — fast-paced, ruthless, and full of twists that kept me hooked the entire time. There’s that addictive “just one more chapter” energy because you need to know who makes it through and what is happening next (particularly between the main characters)
The characters really carried this (and side characters - loved the sprite helpers!) Strong, determined, and layered with just enough vulnerability to keep them grounded. The dynamics between them added to the tension, especially with the underlying mistrust and power plays woven throughout. The romance had that darker, slightly dangerous edge which I love and twists on twists, that I did not see coming!
It leans into familiar tropes, but in a way that just works. Enemies to lovers, Competitive trials, morally grey characters, survival stakes, slow-burn tension, forced proximity, instructor/trainee, found family, banter —it hits all the right beats without feeling flat or overdone.
Overall, such an addictive, fast-paced read that completely pulled me in. If you love deadly trials, tension-filled dynamics, and that feeling of being unable to put a book down, this absolutely delivers!
Thanks Netgalley for the e-arc, Angry Robot Books for granting the wish to read it for a honest review and Megan for writing this great and addictive book. I am very ready for the next one in this Duology (ugh that ending!)
July 8, 2026
So I really debated between three and four stars. This book had a good storyline and it definitely kept me engaged and wanted to know what happens next. Do I think it was completely original no but it wasn’t a repeat of all the books I’ve read which I feel a lot lately however I feel like this book would have made it four stars no doubt if it was longer I feel like the book was a little rushed, the romance definitely, our main male character just out of nowhere is in love and so is in our female character and like nothing happens for them to be that in love. It’s just attraction so I feel like if they just kept it like they were attracted to each other and liked each other that would be more sense but they were like undoubtedly in love now warning do not continue reading this review if you have not read the book because there’s a little bit of a spoiler
now our female main character has known our male character in her past life now if they were in love in their past life, then maybe it would make a little bit more sense as to why they fell in love so quickly, but there’s nothing that indicates that they were in fact this guy was in love with another mortal at some point or infatuated with her so I’m just a little confused on how it happened so quick and I feel like major parts in the story were super short, and it should’ve been a little bit more in-depth because it was such a major turning point or a major event in the story so whereas I did enjoy this, the book left off on an extreme cliffhanger, which naturally I know it would I most likely will pick up the second book just because it’s a quick easy read, and it was a good enough read.
Please excuse any grammar or spelling errors as I use Talk to text to do these reviews because I’m lazy and I don’t wanna type them out.
now our female main character has known our male character in her past life now if they were in love in their past life, then maybe it would make a little bit more sense as to why they fell in love so quickly, but there’s nothing that indicates that they were in fact this guy was in love with another mortal at some point or infatuated with her so I’m just a little confused on how it happened so quick and I feel like major parts in the story were super short, and it should’ve been a little bit more in-depth because it was such a major turning point or a major event in the story so whereas I did enjoy this, the book left off on an extreme cliffhanger, which naturally I know it would I most likely will pick up the second book just because it’s a quick easy read, and it was a good enough read.
Please excuse any grammar or spelling errors as I use Talk to text to do these reviews because I’m lazy and I don’t wanna type them out.
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