The Tarot Trials

The Tarot Trials #1

by Katee Robert, Lindsey Dorcus (Narrator)

In the tarot trials, betrayal is always in the cards . . .

Kestrel has trained to compete in the Tarot Trials her entire life. Winning means becoming one of the five Cinque – a position of influence and power that could reshape the lives of people living in her hometown slum, the Dregs. The position Kestrel’s mother should have had when she won the Trials twenty-two years ago as the Champion of the Moon. Instead, she was executed for treason after allegedly attacking the Minor Court.

Determined to find out the truth, Kestrel joins the trials as the Moon’s new champion, desperately trying to master her new powers of shadow and illusion – and find allies she can trust (or trust enough) to
survive both the Trials and the schemes of the Minor Court. Though enemies abound, she soon strikes some unlikely the coy and unnaturally lucky Wheel of Fortune, Vesper, and the arrogant powerhouse Sun, Cato. She’s equally drawn to the mysterious and brooding Tower — whose alliance with Death, the man who killed Kestrel’s mother years ago, may lead to the answers she seeks.

But in the Trials, betrayal is a question of “when,” not “if.” Kestrel will come to learn that winning the game isn’t about what she must do to win, but who she needs to survive.

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Dark Olympus series, this high-octane, fast-paced epic fantasy of tarot magic and deadly competition launches an explosive new series, perfect for fans of V.E. Schwab and Carissa Broadbent.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Audiobook, Fiction, Queer, LGBT

Audible Audio

Expected publication October 20, 2026

About the author

Katee Robert is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of spicy romance. Entertainment Weekly calls her writing “unspeakably hot.” Her books have sold over two million copies. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, children, a cat who thinks he’s a dog, and two Great Danes who think they’re lap dogs.

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Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to rate this book higher, but it is SUCH a glaringly obvious semi-plagiarized Hunger Games.

[EmJustReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a well blended masterpiece. It had many concepts and ideas that I’ve enjoyed before, but with unique aspects that make The Tarot Trials feel very new and one of a kind.

The story was very interesting; I loved how the old gods have temples on the island and they give the champions enough power to prove they are still around. I also appreciate when in a fantasy world people can be so accepting of traits and things that are still problematic/ issues in reality. For example, the rings system to demonstrate the preferred pronouns.

I’ll admit that in the beginning it felt like there was a lot of information to learn and retain, which made it feel sluggish at points. I felt the urge to make a “cheat sheet” like I was studying for a test — to reference info about the courts/ colors/ roles/ etc. I feel like that and a map would do wonders for my comprehension at the beginning.

The power imbalances and struggles between the Minor courts and the Dregs (also the Minor courts vs the Gods) is very well written. In the past I’ve read Katee Robert’s books for very different reasons, but when reading this I didn’t feel any disappointment to be reading something so different.

I’m excited to see where the next book takes us! Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC through NetGalley

[M. Stevenson]

I really enjoyed this and could easily see it becoming the next big thing. It has the vibes, the aesthetics, the factions, the multiple potential love interests, and of course, the titular trials--but none of that feels forced or contrived, and it's all very seamless and extremely readable. I'm often a little iffy about trial-based stories, but this one held my attention and didn't follow the typical predictable patterns. Evocative of The Hunger Games in the best ways.

I don't think you need to know tarot to follow this, but familiarity with the deck would certainly make the world building and main players clearer--even being very familiar with tarot, it took me a bit to understand the courts as part of the world building. I really enjoyed some of the author's interpretations of the cards' powers and the nods to the meanings scattered throughout.

I'll definitely be looking out for the next in the series--I wouldn't call this a cliffhanger ending, but it definitely left me with some questions I want answered and one thing in particular I want very much to happen.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

[Mella aka Maron]

DNF at 22%

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ALC.

This book is a confusing mess. So her mother was a former champion but was tried to treason after winning. No one knows that the FMC is her daughter. BUT her father trained her based on information from her mother. So… her mother had to have contact with her father after winning. And not a single person knew that this WINNER who has POWER had a daughter??? It just makes no sense.

The FMC is angry at her mother for leaving her to enter the trials… but she does the same thing to all of her younger siblings…. 🤦‍♀️ Hypocrite. She keeps saying that she will make life better for the Dregs and her siblings when she wins… but why does she fault her mom for wanting to do the same thing for her??

Then there’s supposedly a minor court that has quite a lot of power… is our FMC really going to be able to change anything when she wins? It doesn’t sound like the winners get to just do whatever they want. 😐 Maybe she should have researched this whole thing more before entering a death game.

This entire society is just so flimsy. It doesn’t really make sense. There’s a wall keeping monsters out and that wall hides sunlight from the Dregs… it feels like if the gods and their champions had power, why not just do something about the monsters? That monster plot feels like a completely different book. ☠️

To top it off, the actual trials are basically “throw the people together in an area while they kill each other” - but oh, they got magic from their god. 😂 I love a good death game but this is suuuuper boring.

All in all, I don’t really know what this book is trying to accomplish that multiple other books have already done and done better. 🤷‍♀️

[Joseandbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and Macmillan Audio for the advance audiobook copy. All thoughts are my own.

I had a really good time with The Tarot Trials. Going in, I expected a romantasy, but this leans much more into epic fantasy with deadly trials, political intrigue, shifting alliances, and just a touch of romance. The slow-burn romance is definitely there, but it’s the trials and the world-building that take center stage.

The trials were easily my favorite part of the story. Every challenge had real stakes, and I never felt like anyone was safe. I loved seeing the different powers each champion received from the gods because it kept every trial feeling fresh and unpredictable. Kestrel was also a great main character to follow. Watching her dig into the mystery surrounding her mother’s death while trying to survive the competition kept me completely invested.

The audiobook was so good. Lindsey Dorcus did a fantastic job bringing Kestrel to life, and her narration really pulled me into the story.

And that ending… I honestly didn’t see one of those deaths coming. It completely caught me off guard and left me needing the next book immediately.

If you love fantasy with deadly competitions, unique magic, plenty of twists, and a romance that doesn’t overshadow the main story, I definitely recommend picking this one up. I can’t wait to see where Katee Robert takes this series next.

[Audiobooksgirlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deadly competitions are one of my favorite fantasy tropes, and the tarot themed magic system made this one feel fresh. Between the political intrigue, shifting alliances, hidden agendas, and betrayals, there was always something happening.

Kestrel has trained her whole life to enter the Tarot Trials, but winning is not her only goal. She is also trying to uncover the truth behind her mother’s execution. I enjoyed watching her adjust to her new shadow and illusion powers while figuring out who she could trust. The mystery stayed at the center of the story, while the romantic tension simmered more in the background.

Lindsey Dorcus did a good job with the single narration. The pacing kept me engaged, and the different characters were easy to follow.

Overall, this was a strong start to a new fantasy series, and the ending left me curious about what comes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance listening copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Krystle Rouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read many of Katee’s books and this is by far the most plot driven books that she has written. The Tarot Trails book has a unique take on trials while intertwining them with tarot cards, which makes it an intriguing read. This was such a bingeable read that I got it read in one day! Loved it and want more!!
I want to thank NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

[Kaycee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so unexpected. The world I found myself in was dark and fully of lies and betrayal. Kestrel is set on vengeance against her mother's murderer as she enters into the Tarot Trials with a goal of seeking revenge. The goal of the trials is to be one of the last five standing, and competitors murder and scheme their way through each night, while playing politics during the day.

I was lucky enough to have a copy of both the audiobook and ebook, and with it being an epic fantasy I was thankful to have both. I find that I really prefer to immersive read (read and listen at the same time) when I read epic fantasy books. The book is told from Kesterels POV and is narrated by Lindsey Dorcus. Lindsey brought Kestrel's personality to life. Her pacing was perfect and consistent. I was able to set my speed and didn't need any further adjustments. The emotion that Lindsey was able to bring to the various situations connected to me, and brought me to tears at the end.

This book is full of lies and betrayals, and shocking plot twists that destroyed me. I did not expect this book to hurt so much, and boy I did not see all the plot twists coming. The world is developed through Kestrel's references to her past and her interactions with the other champions. I didn't feel a strong connection to the characters in her family and I'm hoping we get more from them in the next book. I really enjoyed her references to Mouse.

We spend the most time with the champions and as they navigate the events put on by each region to try to create alliances and while they try to kill each other each night. The alliances among the champions changes with the wind, and there is a lot of flirting among different people, and so much scheming! Kestrel really doesn't know what she's gotten herself into and watching her navigate all of this is griping... I didn't know how things were going to work out. This is a real slow burn and the romance doesn't pick up until the later quarter of the book. I absolutely fell in love with these characters (especially those in Kestrel's alliance, and the two powerful men who (maybe) had her back). There is a strong focus on the story and world building during the first half of the book and I really enjoyed that I wasn't sure who the love interest would be as the story progressed. It kept things interesting and focused on the plot. There were subtle comments along the way, I loved how the relationships developed.

Going into this I didn't realize it was an epic fantasy when I requested it, but I was familiar with Katee Robert's Dark Olympus series, and started it expecting that type of fantasy. I was pleasantly surprised with what I found instead! These book are such a different vibe and I absolutely loved the magic system and the world I found myself in.

Read this book if you love:
Epic Fantasy
World Building
Tarot Magic
Plot Twists
Political Intrigue
Plotting and Scheming
Deadly Trials (basically just open murder - think The Purge but in a fantasy setting)

Thank you Macmillan Audio and Tor Publishing for the early copies from Netgalley in exchange for the honest review.

[Alyx Gough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Tor for the ARC!

OH. MY. GOSH.

Katee Robert can officially do no wrong because I was obsessed with every single second of this book.

The Tarot Trials grabbed me from page one and refused to let go. It was dark. It was twisty. It was emotional. It was spicy. And somehow Katee managed to make me question absolutely everyone while desperately flipping pages to find out what would happen next.

Kestrel is the kind of heroine I immediately rooted for. She’s fierce, determined, and carrying the weight of her mother’s legacy while trying to uncover the truth behind her death. Watching her navigate the deadly Tarot Trials, shifting alliances, betrayals, and secrets was completely addictive.

And the magic? INCREDIBLE.

The tarot-based magic system felt fresh, unique, and so immersive. Every challenge felt dangerous, every victory felt earned, and every reveal had me sitting there with my jaw on the floor.

But what really got me was the emotional depth underneath all the action. Beneath the deadly competition and political intrigue is a story about grief, family, trust, and deciding who you’re willing to become when everything is stacked against you.

And yes… the spice absolutely delivered. Katee knows exactly how to write tension, chemistry, and those moments that make you immediately need to read “just one more chapter” at 2 a.m.

The ending left me reeling, desperate for answers, and already counting down until the next book.

Dark fantasy lovers, competition lovers, morally gray characters, political scheming, betrayal, magic, and spice? This one is for you.

Katee Robert has me completely hooked on this new series and I need the next book immediately.

[Sierraaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, i would like to thank NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and Katee Robert for the opportunity to read and review this book early. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

~~~
I love a good trials story, and The Tarot Trials definitely did not disappoint! This book follows Kestrel, a woman living in the impoverished shadows of a regal city known as the Dregs, trying her best to keep her found family alive. Every 22 years, the Tarot Trials are held in order to determine which champions of the gods of the Major Arcana will make up the Cinque, a semi-ruling body of five individuals who get to vote on council meetings about how the city of Caelria will be ran.

And what makes the Trials more important to Kestrel is that the previous champion of the Moon who made it to the Cinque was her mother— who was executed shortly after she won the Trials, betrayed by her very own alliance. Kestrel is determined to both find answers about the mother she never knew, and fight for a way to help her family and the other poor citizens of the Dregs.

I really enjoyed Kestrel’s character; she was determined to succeed, but also very human and didn’t want to hurt anyone she didn’t have to. she made the best of the situation she was thrust into, and the Trials showed how much of a survivor she truly is. I also liked some of the other Trials participants, and i’m curious to see what’s going to happen in the next book!

For a very fantasy-focused book, i think Katee Robert did an excellent job with both the characters and world building; they really can write multiple genres well!

[DandelionWished · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, this book was a miss for me. I kept hoping it would get better. It was a bunch of telling versus showing. Kestrel was angry. So angry. And sick of all the waste of the Minor Court. As a reader, I was bludgeoned with the fact she was sick of all the extravagance. It was brought up over and over.

I can see the comparison to the Hunger Games, but with magic and five winners. Definitely don’t read this for the romance, it was a very small part of the story.

Political intrigue
Epic Fantasy
Trial/competition
Shifting alliances
Gods and Tarot magic
Disability representation

The narrator does a good job with what she’s given. I loved all the accents of the different characters, and did an especially good impersonation of the male characters.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC

Blurb: “The deck has always been stacked against her. Kestrel has trained her whole life to compete in the Tarot Trials. Her mother won once, earning a place among the five ruling Cinque-then paid for it with her life, executed for alleged treason against the Minor Court. But fortune favors the bold. Now it falls to Kestrel to take up her mother's mantle as Champion of the Moon, enter the Trials, and face her fate. If she can master her new powers of shadow and illusion, navigate the poisonous game of alliances and lies, and corner the fellow Champion who dealt the killing blow to her mother years ago, she may uncover the truth she's seeking without losing her head... or her heart. But in the Trials, betrayal is a question of when, not if. And winning the game isn't about what she must do to win, but who she needs to survive.”

[bookishbunna]

This was sadly a DNF for me 😭 I was expecting a mature dystopian epic fantasy read and was so hyped for the death trials and MC trying to discover the mystery behind her mother's death, but I just couldn’t mesh with the writing style. It felt like endless exposition with too much telling rather than showing. A lot of the scenes felt like I was just reading summaries of events, especially the first trial where we basically get a run down of what each champion did to win their match and a description of what they looked like.

The MC also felt oddly uninvolved with the plot, with her trial successes coming down to plot conveniences that didn't require the use of any of her skills or wits, so her achievements felt unearned. MC's thoughts and motivations were also constantly brought up in a repetitive way and the narrative voice sounded like she was constantly explaining worldbuilding things to the reader like she was a tour guide.

I DNF'd @ 20% so maybe things get better. Overall, this premise was very intriguing and I wished I could mesh with the writing style, but I'm sure there are others who would enjoy it!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this ARC with me!

The Tarot Trails is such a unique take on trials while intertwining tarot cards into the world. I loved the characters, the plot and kept wanting more! This is my first book I’ve read from Katee Robert and I will be definitely be reading more of her and I cannot wait for more books in this series!

This perfect bingeable read where you can’t put it down and left with wanting more the most delectable way! Come October 2026 be sure to pick The Tarot Trails up as your next read!

[emily wright · Rating 2 out of 5]

audiobook arc provided by libro.fm!

listen, have I ever read a book about tarot cards personified, no! Which was the only thing I found to be unique and/or interesting about this book. holy hunger games wannabe, some of it felt straight up plagiarized. we love another red queen/powerless situation.

let’s start with what I liked: the concept of random people fighting to become the champion for different tarot themed gods, upon securing your spot for your chosen god, they then grant you specific “powers” mostly related to the god you serve, THATS COOL. interesting.

I also found that the other champions were interesting in both how the characters were written and the powers they possessed. Outside of our FMC, Kestrel.

Kestrel is entirely insufferable, falling in love instantly and/or having one interaction with a fellow champion and feeling a weird loyalty to them for the rest of the book, (even though they’re supposed to kill each other AND they literally only interact for a total FIVE days? bffr) her inner monologue and what she actually does doesn’t make sense, sometimes she’ll say/do something that makes NO sense just for the “plot” but it definitely falls flat most of the time. AND she has supposedly trained her whole life to compete in these “trials” to win one out of the five spots as part of the Cinque (an elite class of champions with influence and political power over their area of choice.) but she simultaneously sucks at everything and complains about anything one could complain about. She quite literally only survives the trials because SO many champions support her. She 100% would’ve died the first night if not.

THAT BEING SAID- aside from some conversational scenes that were literally verbatim to various hunger games moments, just adjusted for this book’s context. I enjoyed this mostlyyy, it kept my attention for what it was.

[J. L. Linn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so excited for this one.

Deadly trials. Tarot-inspired magic. Katee Robert. It sounded like it was going to be everything I love in fantasy.

Unfortunately… I kept waiting for it to become the book I thought I was reading.

The premise is fantastic. I loved the idea of champions representing tarot cards in a deadly competition, and there were enough mysteries surrounding Kestrel’s mother and the gods to keep me reading.

But the actual trials?

I don’t know what we were doing there.

For a book centered around a deadly competition, there just wasn’t much tension. The action scenes never felt particularly exciting, the stakes rarely felt urgent, and by the second half I realized I wasn’t invested in who won. I wasn’t eagerly turning the pages. I was trying to finish.

The romance also didn’t quite work for me. It felt rushed and underdeveloped, and I never really bought into the emotional connection.

I also found myself wanting more from the worldbuilding. There are some really interesting ideas here, but I kept feeling like they weren’t explored deeply enough to make the world feel fully realized.

That isn’t to say I disliked the book. Katee Robert always has creative concepts, and there were enough twists and unanswered questions that I’m curious where the series goes from here.

I just expected more. More intensity, danger, emotional investment, something.

Instead, I finished feeling disappointed because the potential was there, but it never quite came together for me.

If you enjoy:
🃏 Deadly Trials
🌙 Tarot-Inspired Magic
⚔️ Political Intrigue
🤝 Shifting Alliances
🖤 Morally Gray Characters
📖 Series Starter

Maybe my expectations were simply too high, but I wanted to be obsessed with this one, and instead I walked away feeling underwhelmed.

[Chief Dark Smut · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the chance to listen to the audiobook ARC of this book! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am really bummed now that I have to wait even longer for the next book! Based on the title name and the phrase on the cover I assumed that actual tarot would be more involved, It is not. Knowing the card names helps with understanding the champion names and some of their powers.

The political system is briefly described in the beginning but I would have liked a little more description of the courts and guilds.

The story itself flows well and you get invested in the FMC right away. She is relatable and struggles with the difficult decision she has to make and weighs the consequences of them. There are multiple love interests that develop throughout the story despite the FMC focusing on her commitment to her goal. My predictions of the characters and their roles were off but I was happy with how they turned out! The Tarot Trials have some good twists at the end that leave you ecstatic for another book.

I have seen several readers compare this book to The Hunger Games which I disagree with. Lots of books that have deadly competition themes have similarities. This world is unique and the book ending sets the stage to build a significant world where this book focuses mostly on one city.

Definitely worth reading!

[Taylor Piatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me early access to this eAudiobook.

4.5 stars. This was a very fun addition to the fantasy romance genre. This book follows Kestrel who is from a poor district who decides to try to enter the tarot trials following in the footsteps of her mother. She does this in an effort to contribute to leadership and make changes in her world and find out what happened to her mother.

This book was fast paced. The concept was very unique and I enjoyed it immensely. I love seeing how each of the different champions had talents related to the tarot they represented. I was surprised how much I enjoyed the relationships that were built during this book. Not only was there sparks of romance, but there was very strong friendship dynamics that were built.

The narrator was great in this audiobook, and I would recommend people listen to it. I definitely recommend this book for people looking for a fast paced, unique fantasy romance. I look forward to seeing how the story continues in the next book.

[Cher Van Der Woude · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review — The Tarot Trials
4 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

The Tarot Trials was such a fun surprise. Fast‑paced, full of tension, and the tarot‑based magic system? Loved it. The Trials themselves were chaotic in the best way,shifting alliances, group tension, and that constant feeling that everyone is two steps away from betrayal.

I will say: it took me a little while to fully understand how the whole system worked. The magic is tied so closely to tarot arcana that, if you’re not familiar with tarot cards, it can feel pretty complex at first. It took me some time to figure out how everything connected and how the powers balanced each other. But once it clicked, the story became so much more exciting.

The group dynamics were honestly one of my favourite parts. The rivalries, the uneasy alliances, the way loyalties kept shifting, it gave the book such good tension and made every Trial feel unpredictable. Kestrel’s determination to uncover the truth behind her mother’s death added a strong emotional thread that grounded all the chaos. Even though sometimes you want to shake Kestrel because she can be a bit annoying.

That ending though?!!!!

Overall, this was a fast, dramatic fantasy with great vibes, a unique magic system, and characters who keep you guessing. Can't wait for the rest of the series!

[Bree]

Unfortunately this is a DNF at 43%. I tried and tried to get into this one but just found the narrative and characters so two dimensional and repetitive. Like did you know her mum was the last moon champion and Kestrel has been waiting 22 years for answers? You did? That might have been because it was mentioned a billion times.
This was such a shame and could have been so so much more engaging, especially with the tarot magic building, which was so intriguing. I have seen plenty of other positive reviews and can only question whether I have read the same book as others 🤷‍♀️

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

Thank you to Edelweiss for an advanced electronic reader copy in exchange for a fair, but honest review! 🤍

[Jane B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review to come

[Lysandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Pan Macmillan/Tor for inviting me to read this ARC. Equal thanks to NetGalley. The review is personal and unaltered by external factors.

5/5

“The Tarot Trials” by Katee Robert is an adult dystopian fantasy novel which centres around the advancement of the heroine, Kestrel, into an elite political and religious group named the Cinque. Kestrel not only seeks a better life for her found family, but also desires to find answers surrounding her mother’s death and have her revenge. The elements encountered in this novel are quite typical to the dystopian fantasy sub-genre — the grim reality of polarised social classes resulting in a broken and fractured society, brutal authority from those in power, surveillance through corrupted magic which offers nobody any privacy and, last but definitely not least, the struggle of survival and, ultimately, rebellion by working towards changing the system from within. I presume this is the first book of a longer instalment, and for what it represents, it is both strong yet quite symbolic for the sub-genre.

I generally take each structural element and analyse it separately in my reviews but, for this one in particular, I will combine the prose and plot. I am not a fan of first-person narration and I rarely find myself enjoying it, however, the plot being immensely action-packed has made me gloss over completely this particularity of mine. The cadence of the prose is particularly strong: short, punchy lines and sentences which speed the mental tempo are beautifully blended with the use of rhetorical techniques which allow the reader to be both skeptical and trusting of our main heroine and her train of thought. Ergo, the introduction and exposition are direct and swift, the author definitely not wasting any time in diving into the action — something always happens and the thrill of it made me not want to put the book down. It has an addictive charm, even more so for a fan of the genre. As a result, the book was genuinely extremely fun! Not one boring moment, yet it has a culminating point which honestly was an amazing and actually unexpected plot twist.

All the characters are well-sketched and developed throughout the novel, and even the morally grey ones were rather charming to explore. Our main heroine, Kestrel, is quite dualistic, being both naive and distrustful of her surroundings. She’s doing her best to survive the trials while also understanding the mechanics of the world she is stepping into; coming from an underprivileged background, she only knows how to survive, but as a champion of the Moon, she adapts and learns and delicately opens up her heart to new connections. I particularly enjoyed her interactions with Vesper and Cato, and their work as a trio throughout part of the trials. Nero and Adder were intriguing characters from start to finish, and I am rather keen on finding out more about Adder and his own circumstances.

A special shout-out to the magic system; it is actually layered at the societal level, being split between the deities of The Major Arcana and the primordial elements. There seems to be some sort of religious and magical conflict brewing, a struggle of power; perhaps we will find out more in the following novel, as it promises to be more of a political thriller than an action-packed dystopian survival. Very much looking forward to it!

In the “Acknowledgements” afterword, the author states that she drew inspiration for the series from “The Hunger Games”, “A Song of Ice and Fire” (in particular the first novel, “A Game of Thrones”) and “The Arcana Series”. While I could see some familiarities, perhaps the structure and execution of the elements made me think of other series and not these ones in particular — I personally would describe this novel as “Six of Crows” meets “Divergent” but with a very clean and extremely well-planned magic system reminiscent of Brandon Sanderson’s style. Similarly, while I can see how Kestrel could be inspired by Katniss and Daenerys, I found myself yet again thinking more of Inej Ghafa but with some elements of Paul Atreides. I suppose, I emphasise once more, it could be a matter of execution of exposition combined with my own subjectivity. Regardless, I would definitely recommend “The Tarot Trials” not only to fans of the series mentioned above, but also to all enthusiasts of the dystopian fantasy genre in general.

Again. This 👏🏻 was 👏🏻 so 👏🏻 much 👏🏻 fun 👏🏻 !!

[Em ☽✦ღ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a really fun time with this!!!! The Tarot Trials was such an interesting combination of deadly competition, political intrigue, and fantasy, and while I had a few issues that kept it from being a full four stars for me (I’ve rounded my 3.5 stars up) I am absolutely interested in continuing the series.

I can definitely understand the comparisons to The Hunger Games. You have a competition where champions are thrown together, alliances are formed, people are very much trying to figure out who they can trust, and there is a huge divide between the wealthy ruling classes and the people living in the Dregs. But Kestrel feels VERY different from Katniss to me. Kestrel is much more openly angry, confrontational, and has a clear plan for entering the trials rather than misfortune. I actually found myself getting frustrated with her at times. Her anger made complete sense given everything she had experienced, but there were moments where her constant bluntness felt a little performative to me. Then again, anger isn’t exactly a logical emotion, so I could understand why she behaved the way she did!!!

The thing I REALLY loved was the magic system. The idea that the gods of the Major Arcana grant their chosen Champions powers based around their tarot card was so creative, and I loved seeing how differently those abilities manifested. Kestrel’s connection to the Moon and her shadow abilities were particularly fun, and I was constantly interested in learning more about how this world worked.

The political intrigue was probably my favourite part of the story, though. There are SO many secrets surrounding Kestrel’s mother, the Cinque, the Courts and the gods, and I loved watching Kestrel try to work out who she could trust (but also girl come on, TRUST!!!) while simultaneously trying to survive the Trials. The shifting alliances and hidden agendas kept me invested even when I wasn’t completely sold on the actual trial sequences. I think that’s where my biggest issue came in. I went into this expecting the Trials themselves to feel absolutely TERRIFYING, but for quite a lot of the book, the stakes didn’t feel particularly high. I kept waiting for that feeling of oh my god, someone could actually die here, and it wasn’t really until closer to the end that I felt the danger properly ramped up. Once it did, though, I was MUCH more invested and flew through those final sections.

I also wasn’t completely convinced by the love triangle aspect either. I could see what the book was trying to set up, but the emotional side of it didn’t quite land for me yet. That said, I am VERY willing to give this more time because I can absolutely see the potential, and I’m hoping the sequel(s) strengthens those relationships and gives us more development.

I did, however, really enjoy Kestrel’s relationships with Vesper and Cato. Vesper in particular was such an interesting character, and I really appreciated the disability representation and the way their character wasn’t reduced to it. The developing friendships and alliances were one of the things that made the book feel much warmer underneath all the political manipulation and deadly competition.

Overall, this was a really promising start to a series. The tarot magic is genuinely unique, the world has SO much potential, and the political intrigue had me far more invested than I expected. I definitely want to know more about the gods, the Cinque, Kestrel’s mother and, most importantly, what the hell is going to happen next.

I might not have been completely obsessed with every aspect of The Tarot Trials, but I absolutely enjoyed the story enough that I will be there for book two!!!

Thank you so much to Katee Robert, Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for reaching out with the eARC!!

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let the cards fall as they may…

Katee Roberts is favored by fortune for her bold, 4.2⭐ romantasy that pulls inspiration from tarot to deliver a high-stakes, diverse, and fresh read.

The deck has always been stacked against her. Kestrel has trained her whole life to compete in the Tarot Trials. Her mother won once, earning a place among the five ruling Cinque – then paid the ultimate price for her stances against the minor courts. Now it's Kestrel’s turn as Champion of the Moon to enter the Trials and face her fate. If she can master her new powers of shadow and illusion, navigate the poisonous game of alliances and lies, and corner the fellow Champion who dealt the killing blow to her mother years ago, she may uncover the truth she’s seeking without losing her head… or her heart. But in the Trials, betrayal is a question of when, not if. And winning the game isn’t about what she must do to win, but who she needs to survive.

Let’s talk about what this book did well because I was IMMEDIATELY sat for a plot that promised “Hunger Games”-esque challenges with a unique magic system.
- Gorgeous cover and stunning fanart really showcasing Roberts’ push to have a diverse cast in identities and abilities
- The architecture of a magic system based on tarot and “the old gods” in contrast to the minor courts which control the politics of the land
- A mysterious world beyond the wall that supposedly protects the citizens
- Going in, I thought this would be a heavy romantasy, but I found the romance to be more of a subplot, especially due to the multiple potential love interests, where the plot itself leaned into more high fantasy and political intrigue
- Kestrel as a character, specifically one who doesn’t want to harm the other champions, brings such a human quality to the story

However, the book fell a little flat for me - and it could be because I listened rather than read it - especially when it came to pay off. I can see the set up for the following books, and I’m so excited to see the world continue to grow, but it felt disappointing in the end. My major problems:
- Katee, I have a grievance to file with you over Nero. I’m being so for real. How dare you. I haven’t felt this way since Liam in “Fourth Wing”
- I would have loved to explore the magic gifted to the other champions a bit more or even their personalities

The audiobook was so captivating and cinematic. Lindsey Dorcus did a fantastic job bringing Kestrel (and the other characters) to life, and I barely could tell there was only one narrator. Her pacing was perfect and consistent!

🔮 High-Stakes Trials
🔮 Tarot-Inspired Magic
🔮 Diverse characters
🔮 Enemies-to-Lovers
🔮 Political Intrigue

A HUGE thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and the author - Katee Roberts - for the ALC in exchange for my honest opinions! Directly to the author: I’m gonna need you to write the second installment faster.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Tarot Trials
Katee Robert

Publication Date: October 2026

Thank you to Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The second I saw "deadly trials" and "tarot-inspired fantasy," I knew I needed this book in my life.

And let me tell you... it absolutely delivered.

This was my first Katee Robert book, and now I completely understand why so many readers love her work. The Tarot Trials hooked me from the very first chapter and refused to let go.

Kestrel comes from the Dregs, one of the poorest regions in this world, and enters the Tarot Trials as the champion of the Moon. The goal? Survive a series of increasingly dangerous trials while competing against champions tied to the other tarot cards. Easy, right?

Absolutely not.

The trials were brutal, unpredictable, and incredibly entertaining to read. I loved how the tarot elements were woven into both the worldbuilding and the competition itself. It felt fresh and unique compared to other competition-based fantasies I've read.

What surprised me most was how quickly I became attached to the characters. In a book where literally anyone could die, I found myself constantly worrying about who would make it through the next challenge. The alliances, friendships, betrayals, and found family elements were some of my favorite parts of the story.

And can we talk about the tension?

Because wow.

There's a lot of flirting happening throughout this book, and I was absolutely here for it. The romance takes a backseat to the trials and larger plot, but every interaction had me wanting more.

The world itself felt incredibly immersive. The divide between the wealthy and the poor was easy to see, and I loved how the story explored those inequalities while still delivering plenty of action, mystery, and high-stakes competition.

If I had one small complaint, it's that the final portion of the book felt a little faster than the rest. I would have happily spent another hundred pages with these characters and this world.

That ending, though?

RUDE.

The kind of ending that immediately has you searching to see when book two comes out because there is absolutely no way I'm leaving these characters behind now.

What to Expect:
🃏 Deadly Trials
🌙 Tarot-Inspired Magic
⚔️ High-Stakes Competition
🖤 Found Family
✨ Political Intrigue
🔥 Flirty Characters
🌈 Queer-Normative World
💀 Danger Around Every Corner
👑 Complex Alliances
📚 Series Starter

This was one of those books that made me lose track of time because I kept telling myself "just one more chapter."

If you're a fan of competition fantasies, unique magic systems, found family, and characters you'll immediately become emotionally attached to, put The Tarot Trials on your October TBR immediately.

I already need book two.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook Review | The Tarot Trials by Katee Robert
Narrated by Lindsey Dorcus

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, Tor Books, and Katee Robert for providing an advance listening copy.

The Tarot Trials is the first book in a new fantasy series from Katee Robert, and it delivers everything I was hoping for: deadly magical trials, political intrigue, complex alliances, fascinating characters, and a tarot-inspired magic system that immediately captured my attention.

Every twenty-two years, champions compete in brutal trials for a chance to join the ruling Cinque. Kestrel enters the competition as the Champion of the Moon, wielding powers of shadow, illusion, and deception. While survival is difficult enough, she is also determined to uncover the truth about her mother's execution following the previous Trials.

One of the strongest elements of this novel is the worldbuilding. The tarot-based magic system feels fresh and creative, with competitors representing different Major Arcana cards and drawing power from gods and goddesses connected to those archetypes. I especially loved seeing how Kestrel's Moon powers contrasted with other champions throughout the competition.

The cast was another highlight. Kestrel is determined, intelligent, and easy to root for. I was equally invested in the alliances she forms with Cato, Champion of the Sun, and Vesper, Champion of the Wheel of Fortune. Vesper may have been one of my favorite characters in the entire book. Their strategic thinking, luck-based abilities, and unpredictable nature added an extra layer of tension to every scene.

I also appreciated how gender diversity and fluid identities are seamlessly integrated into the world. These aspects feel naturally woven into society rather than becoming the focus of conflict, which allowed the story to concentrate on power, politics, survival, and relationships.

Lindsey Dorcus did an excellent job bringing the story to life. The narration kept me fully engaged, and the distinct voices helped make the large cast easy to follow. The audiobook format worked especially well for the fast-paced action and intense competition.

What kept me listening was the constant sense that no alliance was completely safe and no character was entirely what they seemed. The Trials themselves feel genuinely dangerous, and the combination of mystery, competition, and court politics creates a compelling story that is difficult to pause.

If you enjoy:

deadly magical tournaments
tarot-inspired magic systems
political fantasy
found alliances
morally gray characters
high-stakes survival stories

then The Tarot Trials should absolutely be on your radar.

As the first book in a series, it lays a strong foundation for what is to come, and I am already looking forward to returning to this world.

[Chira · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up because I was really enjoying myself by the end, the narration is great, and I will definitely be looking out for the next book in the series. I do think it's difficult to write a death-game trial in a districted society, especially one that starkly separates rich from poor, and not draw comparisons to The Hunger Games, but I feel like Katee Robert has given it a good go. The twist here is basing the districts and segments on tarot cards - the minor arcana are the real ruling class, with their power coming from the elements, and each major arcana represented by a single god whose Champion takes a place on the council. Except there are only five seats on the council, and every 22 years, those seats are up for grabs.

There's a lot of creativity and thought put into how each major arcana card would be represented with powers or have drawn worship, and it's neat to see it come out at different times throughout the book. There's clearly been a shift in the last few generations, of the minor courts solidifying their power and pushing out the old gods, and again, the little glimpses we see of how things used to be really make you wonder at what changed and what the tipping point was.

The problem is Kestrel, mostly. I just don't know why I should be rooting for her (or why everyone is in love with her). Yes, her mother was the previous Moon, but she /chose/ this. For her to then turn around and be shocked and appalled at the things she'll have to do in the Trials to survive and get a seat just feels off. It also feels lazy at times for people to be explaining the history of the city and the world to her and for her to brush it off with that she doesn't know because she doesn't have an education. Except she clearly knows how to read, so........what history was she taught? How big is this city that there are four minor courts AND four guilds that run it? Why does she think she can change the city without knowing anything about it or how it's run? It just felt very "root for her because she's the main character" instead of actually making her a main character we want to see succeed.

It also started to get to me that while there's a lot of diversity on-page, Kestrel only has male LIs, and the main players are all light-skinned (I'll be honest, I don't know where "beige" skin falls into anything, especially when it's versus "pale", but honestly, kudos for quite the range described). I haven't read anything else by Robert to know if that's a common trend or not, but it was something that really started to stick out by the end.

In the end though, it was interesting and engaging, and Lindsay Dorcus did a fantastic job narrating a huge cast of characters to the point that even before a speaker was identified, I could tell who they were. I'm definitely keeping an eye out for the next book.

[Brittney · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Tarot Trials • Katee Robert

One phrase: deadly trials with tarot card chaos 🃏🌙

OH. MY. GOSH.

Katee Robert can officially do no wrong because I was obsessed with every single second of this book.

The Tarot Trials grabbed me from page one and refused to let go. It was dark, twisty, emotional, spicy, and full of the kind of deadly competition that makes you question everyone while desperately flipping pages to see who survives.

Kestrel is the kind of heroine I immediately root for. She comes from the Dregs, one of the poorest regions in this world, and enters the Tarot Trials as the Champion of the Moon. She is fierce, determined, and carrying the weight of her mother’s legacy while trying to uncover the truth behind her death.

The goal sounds simple.

Survive the trials.
Navigate alliances.
Find answers.
Do not lose your head or your heart.

Easy, right?

Absolutely not.

The tarot based magic system was INCREDIBLE. It felt fresh, immersive, and woven so well into the world, the competition, and the politics. Every challenge felt dangerous, every victory felt earned, and every reveal had me sitting there with my jaw on the floor.

What surprised me most was how quickly I became attached to the characters. In a book where literally anyone could die, I was constantly worried about who would make it through the next challenge. The alliances, betrayals, friendships, and found family pieces were some of my favorite parts.

And the tension?

WOW.

There is so much flirting, so much chemistry, and so many moments that made me immediately need “just one more chapter” at 2 a.m. The romance does not overtake the trials or larger plot, but every interaction had me wanting more.

Beneath the competition and political scheming, this is also a story about grief, trust, class inequality, survival, and deciding who you are willing to become when everything has been stacked against you.

And that ending?

RUDE.

I need book two immediately.

✨ Tropes and vibes:
🃏 tarot inspired magic
🌙 Champion of the Moon
⚔️ deadly trials
🔥 high stakes competition
🖤 found family
👑 political intrigue
🌈 queer normative world
💀 danger everywhere
👀 betrayal and alliances
😮‍💨 flirty tension
🧠 class inequality
😭 cliffhanger ending

📚 Read this if you like:
Competition fantasies, tarot magic, morally gray characters, queer normative worlds, found family, political scheming, deadly trials, and books that make you lose track of time because you cannot stop reading.

This was bold, addictive, magical, and such an explosive start to a new fantasy series.

#TheTarotTrials #KateeRobert #RomantasyBooks #FantasyRomance #BookReview @Tor

[Carly Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I say The Tarot Trials was one of my most anticipated books of the year, I mean I had been counting down the days until I could get my hands on it. So when I got that NetGalley approval email, I genuinely couldn't believe my luck. The excitement was real, and thankfully this book absolutely lived up to the hype.

From the very first chapter, I was hooked. The concept of the Trials, where champions represent the tarot cards in a deadly competition for power, was impossible to resist. Katee Robert has created a world that's packed with political intrigue, secrets, shifting alliances, and just enough chaos to keep you constantly guessing who can be trusted.

Kestrel was exactly the kind of protagonist I love reading about. Determined, stubborn, brave, and carrying the weight of her mother's legacy on her shoulders. Her determination to uncover the truth behind what happened twenty-two years ago gave the story so much emotional depth beyond the competition itself. I found myself completely invested in her journey and desperately wanting her to succeed.

One of the things I loved most was the cast of characters surrounding her. Every alliance felt fragile, every interaction seemed layered with hidden motives, and the tension was incredible. I was constantly trying to work out who would betray whom and still managed to be surprised. The relationships between the competitors were easily one of the strongest parts of the book for me.

The tarot magic system was fascinating and unlike anything I've read recently. It felt fresh, unique, and added so much atmosphere to the story. Combined with the relentless pace of the Trials, it made for a book that was genuinely difficult to put down. Every time I thought I'd stop for the night, another revelation appeared and suddenly I was reading "just one more chapter" again.

The only reason this wasn't a full five stars for me was that there were a handful of moments where I wanted just a little more depth and breathing room with certain characters and relationships. I became attached so quickly that I found myself wanting even more from them.

That said, this was an absolutely fantastic start to a new series and exactly the kind of fantasy I love: high stakes, dangerous competition, morally complicated characters, shocking twists, and plenty of emotional investment. The ending has left me desperate for the next book, and honestly, the wait is already going to feel far too long.

Thank you to Del Rey (publisher) and Katee Robert for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. The Tarot Trials was every bit as addictive, twisty, and exciting as I'd hoped it would be.

[Ally Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 🎧
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listener copy!

This is epic fantasy with romance, trials, betrayals, a mystery, unique magic and a fascinating political landscape.

Kestrel is determined to enter and win a seat on the Cinque, the group of 5 champions, each representatives of the old gods and familiar entities of the Tarot. Kestrel’s mother was formerly the Champion of the Moon, but was murdered by Death twenty-two years ago - and Kestrel wants to know why.

Lindsay Dorcus does a fabulous job with the narration! I loved her cadence and her use of voices. It was such a fun listen, so highly recommend the audiobook experience for this book!

The story was EPIC. The mind games!! The betrayals!!! The mysteries!! I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out who was trustworthy. Katee Robert does such a great job at keeping the reader on their toes. I truly felt like I was in Kestrel’s head evaluating the competitors to see who could help her achieve her goal of getting answers about her mother’s death, as well as wanting to win so she can advocate for the Dregs.

The creativity of the matching the Tarot with specific magical qualities was very refreshing and new. For example, the Chariot’s power relating to their ability to gain speed and momentum was so creative! It felt different out of the box which as an avid fantasy reader I absolutely loved. The trials were also very well done; Katee’s writing was so beautiful I felt like I could picture the intense action in every fight scene.

The political games and trickery were just as intense as the actual violence in the trials. Sometimes when there is too much political backstory it’s easy to get bogged down and it reads as info dumping, but it was not the case here at all. The politics was seamlessly woven throughout the action of the trials and I felt like it enabled me to both learn the landscape as well as formulate more questions about what it’s going to happen next.

There was SO much flirting in this book and with almost every character, I loved it! I couldn’t figure out which character I was rooting for. And the tensions between multiple characters?! Katee Roberts balances this so well.

The ending was so emotional and I have SO many questions!! Also the reveal at the end was just insane I really really can’t wait to know where this series goes next!!




Favorite Quotes:

“But I’ve never met a beautiful mistake that I haven’t wanted to make mine.”

“The danger doesn’t end with the trials. It just wears a different face.”