Disclaimer: I received this e-arc and finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: The Blood Trials

Author: N.E. Davenport

Book Series: The Blood Gift Book 1

Rating: 3.5/5

Diversity: Black MC, Biracial side character

Recommended For...: young adult readers, sci-fi, fantasy, revenge

Publication Date: April 5, 2022

Genre: YA Sci-fi

Age Relevance: 16+ (alcohol consumption, violence, torture, gore, death, language, racism, misogyny)

Explanation of Above: The book has a lot of violence, including torture, and gore in the book, especially blood and vomiting. The book shows alcohol consumption and mentions death. There is a lot of cursing in the book as well as racism and misogyny shown.

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Pages: 448

Synopsis: It's all about blood.

The blood spilled between the Republic of Mareen and the armies of the Blood Emperor long ago. The blood gifts of Mareen's deadliest enemies. The blood that runs through the elite War Houses of Mareen, the rulers of the Tribunal dedicated to keeping the republic alive.

The blood of the former Legatus, Verne Amari, murdered.

For his granddaughter, Ikenna, the only thing steady in her life was the man who had saved Mareen. The man who had trained her in secret, not just in martial skills, but in harnessing the blood gift that coursed through her.

Who trained her to keep that a secret.

But now there are too many secrets, and with her grandfather assassinated, Ikenna knows two things: that only someone on the Tribunal could have ordered his death, and that only a Praetorian Guard could have carried out that order.

Bent on revenge as much as discovering the truth, Ikenna pledges herself to the Praetorian Trials--a brutal initiation that only a quarter of the aspirants survive. She subjects herself to the racism directed against her half-Khanaian heritage and the misogyny of a society that cherishes progeny over prodigy, all while hiding a power that--if found out--would subject her to execution...or worse. Ikenna is willing to risk it all because she needs to find out who murdered her grandfather...and then she needs to kill them.

Mareen has been at peace for a long time...

Ikenna joining the Praetorians is about to change all that.

Magic and technology converge in the first part of this stunning debut duology, where loyalty to oneself--and one's blood--is more important than anything.

Review: Overall, this was a good book. I love a good revenge-seeking book and this one had it locked down! I loved how the action kept rolling in the book and the book blended fantasy magic elements with sci-fi. The book had well written characters and the world building was amazingly well done as well. I flew through the book and liked it well enough.

However, the beginning of the book is super confusing and it immediately jumps into the story with little backstory. I feel like some of that backstory is in the synopsis, which is unfortunate. And while the action was rolling continuously in the book, I felt like there was a lot of slow moments.

Verdict: It was good!

Thank you Harper Voyager and NetGalley for an arc, here is my honest review.

Give me book 2 now!!

The blood trails put me through so much stress and I loved every second of it. This was an anticipated release of mine and is the first adult black fantasy book I’ve read and I was disappointed. Everything about this book is bloody and violent. The author doesn’t hold back about details on violence or racism/sexism.

Ikenna is one of the best female characters I’ve read in a while. She never holds back and at times makes rash and selfish choices that she deals with throughout the book. None of the female characters hold back and instead push toward even with all the sexism thrown their way.

There is also a small romance plot line that doesn’t take away from the main focus of the story.

If you’re looking for a fantasy/sci-fi book that’s like blood scion but adult, then The Blood Trials is the perfect book.

I love a bold female in a fantasy or sci-fi tale. This book definitely has that. I am a big fan of our hero (Kenna) and think she is written perfectly. The world is written perfectly. I needed all that world building because 1) I love world building and 2) this world was so interesting. I'm glad the romance was not the center of the book because honestly Kenna kicks butt all on her own.

WOW. I was initially drawn to the cover (do I have a thing for hot strong women holding pointy weapons on covers? yes, yes I do) and intrigued by the blurb, but I tried to keep my expectations low. That was completely unnecessary as this is easily one of my favorite books so far this year. Full of action, a flawed-but-trying heroine, and lots of twisty intrigue, it’s impossible to put down.

The night before she graduates from the Mareen Republic’s premier military academy, Ikenna learns that her grandfather’s death was actually an assassination, one that had to be perpetrated by the highest echelons of their government in order to remove him from power. The only way to get justice (or revenge) is to enter the Blood Trials, a deadly series of exercises, where surviving wins you the right to join the elite ranks of the Praetorian soldiers. But the trials are more horrific than Kenna ever imagined. Surrounded by enemies on every side and afraid to get her two best friends involved, Kenna’s faced with a conspiracy that goes farther than she could ever imagine. And that’s not even counting her own deeply held secret, the revelation of which could cost her everything.

“We are forged by adversity. We are tempered in perseverance. We are Amaris. We are as strong as Khanaian steel. We do not bend. We do not break. We do not bow. We do not yield.”


Kenna is, frankly, everything. She’s brash, hot-tempered and more inclined to rely on her strength rather than her smarts, and the book doesn’t pull any punches as to how those choices affect herself and those around her. She’s far from perfect, but she learns from her mistakes, and she absolutely stole my heart. One of her greatest qualities is her sense of justice. She believes deeply in the vision of Mareenian ideals, the more equal Mareen her grandfather was trying to bring about. Her love for a country that, frankly, hates her for her mixed heritage (and would hate her even more if they knew her secret) was both heart-breaking and admirable. Even worse is her growing dread that the strength and boldness she’s relied on so far isn’t enough to get her through the trials, and the growing sense of unease at finding out that her grandfather had a Praetorian protege that she knew nothing about.

The worldbuilding was interesting if a bit uneven. Gods and goddesses, once a large part of their world but now exiled, gift certain people with special powers, among them Kenna’s blood-born powers. The only problem? Her gift is associated with the Accacian empire, led by a murderous and tyrannical ruler. Mareenian military might is the only thing keeping them from rolling over the entire continent, or at least that’s what most Mareenians believe, and most of her people have a deep mistrust and hatred of any sort of god power, the blood-born even more so. Not all of Mareen’s ills can be traced back to racism or misogyny, as there’s also a warmongering faction that seems almost eager for another skirmish with the Accacians. There’s a lot of violent content, especially in regards to the Praetorian trials. It escalates as the book goes on, until I was left wondering if there was anything, indeed, worth saving in Mareen.

The pacing is solid. While I feel like the core of the story was driven by Kenna, the plot was nearly equally as good. It’s fast-paced, rattling along at a breakneck speed through the simultaneous paths of the trials and Kenna’s murder investigation. The plot is full of twisty betrayal and secrets, though some things, like the romantic interest, were a bit more simplistic… initially. As the book and Kenna’s trials progresses, her viewpoint changes, and certain things become more clear to her. Strangely enough, it’s these increasingly desperate survival situations that make her aware of how focused she’s been on her own survival. I’d hesitate to call her selfish, but the way these experiences shape her view of the world (and through that, how the reader sees it) is masterful and works very well. And that’s really all I’ll say about the plot without revealing too many spoilers!

“Grandfather tried to minimize the spill of blood wherever he could. He tried to curtail the amount of violence he had to unleash. I relish both. Any past, present, or future enemies I have would do well to remember that.”


Overall, I was blown away by this book and completely hooked by the ending, and I simply cannot wait to read the conclusion! Highly recommended for anyone looking for a fast-paced story that doesn’t pull its (incredibly bloody) punches about the effects of racism and misogyny and one woman’s quest for justice.

I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I. NEED. MORE. this book was insane, especially the last 20%. the start for me was a bit slow, but it's understable as it had to set up the whole plot and worldbuilding. some concepts were continuously repeated to make sure the reader really understood how everything worked. the types of characters and dynamics aren't anything new, but for me it was part of the charm of this book, and i absolutely loved ikenna as a main character, she was selfish and she had every reason to be, i can't wait to read more about her journey with her powers. there were a lot of things happening in the plot, ikenna trying to figure out who killed her grandfather while trying to survive the trials at the same time. the trials were violent, described in details, and at times (i have no other word to describe them other than this one) disgusting (you'll know when you'll read it, trust me). i don't want to say much because i would end up into spoilers territory, but in this book nothing really is the way it looks. the wait for the next book is going to turn me into the joker.

arc provided by netgalley and avon and harper voyager.

Ikenna Amari finds herself with a tough decision on the eve of her graduation from one of the most prestigious military academies in Mareen. Her two close friends, Selene and Zayne, will be declaring themselves as Praetorians and going through the grueling trials. It had been her plan to join them, until three months ago when her grandfather, the Legatus Commander, was found dead. Upon learning that her grandfather’s death was not an accident, she makes the quick decision to go with her friends so she can hunt her grandfather’s killer. The trials turn out more dangerous for her than they are for her friends: someone does not want her to make it through the trials alive. Battling monsters, the elements, and friends and enemies alike, will Ikenna survive the trials long enough to find out who murdered her grandfather?

The Blood Trials is an amazing mix of science fiction and fantasy, with a battle between advanced technology and ancient magic. It takes place in an entirely new world, with political rules and religions all its own. Mareen also has its own prejudices that have weeded their way into society, including racism, misogyny, and classism; the main character, Ikenna, has to deal with most of these. Like our world, these prejudices have leaked their way into politics and government. It’s everything fantasy should be: an imagined world with magic and futuristic technology, but with people, events, and feelings that we in our world can relate to.

Some of the main themes the author integrated into this new society are interesting reflections of our own. Those prejudices that exist in Mareen are bred into the traditions and government structure of the country. Individuals that come from powerful war houses not only have a seat on the governing council, but their children have access to more resources, training, and aid than those who do not. Traditionally, that means that you are part of the old guard: white, rich, and male. In this way, the book investigates not just individual prejudice, but prejudice on a systematic level, in a way that all readers can understand. Another huge theme was how you can love your country, but still want reforms and change to take place. This hit home for me, as I love my country but also see all the changes that have to be made in order for it to be better.

As with any good story, The Blood Trials is character-driven. Ikenna is a powerful main character with a complicated past. She’s had to survive in a world that wants to tear her down simply because of the prejudices it holds; in addition, she has a secret she’s been trying to hide since birth. In order to survive the military academy, she has found solace in her friend Selene, who balances being the daughter of a powerful war scion with trying to make her own way forward. During the Praetorian trials, many friends and foes alike are introduced; sons of war houses, surprise love interests, and even one of her grandfather’s secret mentees all populate the new world Ikenna finds herself in. Together, these characters form a unique and complex world that is a delight to read.

Featuring a dizzying amount of plot twists and a cliff hanger reminiscent of Ninth House, The Blood Trials ending had me wanting to pick up the next book immediately. The writing and story was superb; it had me wanting to stay up all night to continue reading - a rare feat for someone who normally is in bed by 11pm. I’d highly recommend this book to anyone who loves science fiction or fantasy; the world and story will delight you.

Thanks to the publisher for an ARC copy!

4 stars

Wow, what a great debut! I really liked Ikenna as a main character. She was such a bad ass. I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book and then other works from this author. I'm so impressed!

This book is FANTASTIC!

Thank you to Avon and Harper and Net Galley for the digital ARC Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Ikenna Amari is a 19 year old black woman grieving the death of her grandfather, the Legatus Commander of the Mareen Republic, the person who raised and trained her..her only family. Following his death Ikenna, fueled by grief and violence, engages in a violent bar fight with a soldier. This opening scene has this book off and running!! Ikenna is passionate, strong, stubborn and loyal to a fault. At times you want to hug her and shake her, but you will cheer her on all the way through. N.E Davenport combines science and magic resulting in incredible powers and intrigue.

The Blood Trials is the perfect read for lovers of Fantasy and Sci-Fi. Well written characters and vengeful gods make this book impossible to put down. Fans of The Hunger Games, Divergent and Red Rising will enjoy this book. That being said this is NOT a YA book. This book is violent.

TW: Violence, blood, gore, racism, misogyny, gas-lighting and cannibalism.

NOW THIS! IS ADULT FANTASY!

First of all, Kenna is my girl. I love her.

Now let's talk about the story, this was a whirlwind. A lot of up and downs, betrayals, and gorgeously described fight scenes. I have never been one for very politically driven stories but this was done tastefully and did not take away too much from the action packed ride we had in The Blood Trials. N.E. Davenport has a hit on her hands and I am SO EAGER for the next book.

This story did not shy away from the blood and gore expected of adult fantasy. It leaned into it and that made for a compelling read. So much so that several times, I had to take breaks and let friends know they just had to pre-order it. A majority of the book reads like a training/combat montage and I absolutely loved it! The last 10% of the book was also PHENOMENAL.

I rate this book a 4.5 stars instead of 5 because at times it was repetitive, especially in the middle. Also, the use of the word "bigotry"- I will be relieved if I never have to see or hear that word ever again. It was a lot. Aside from those minor qualms, this was an amazing amazing debut and start to what I know will be an amazing duology. I cannot wait to read more!

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

As soon as I saw this cover, I knew I had to read this book. Ikenna, the MC, is looking SO FIERCE on the cover, especially with the blood knives coming out of her knuckles. YES! You read that right. Blood knives!!! Knives made out of blood. Ikenna is blood-gifted and can manipulate anything that has blood. How badass is that? The only problem is that she has to keep it secret. Being blood gifted is a trait that is most commonly associated with the enemy. And the people of Mareen have no tolerance for those associated with the Blood Emperor. But Ikenna isn’t just different because of her secret ability. She is also dark-skinned due to her Khanaian heritage. Raised in a society that values gender, race, and wealth above all else, Ikenna faces non-stop scrutiny and racism from her peers as she tries to uncover those responsible for the murder of her Grandfather.

How Ikenna is treated by the people of Mareen has shaped her significantly. She doesn’t take shit from anyone, and she certainly isn’t quiet about it. I really loved her attitude, but the habit of being controlled by her emotions came off as a little juvenile. It wasn’t until the last 25% of the book that she starts to show some growth and properly think things through before jumping the gun. Her inner monologue, which takes up the majority of the story, leaned towards the repetitive side. It almost made me wish the author had added another POV for the story because I was getting tired of Ikenna’s rash and repetitive thoughts.

It gave me Red Rising/The Hunger Games/Blood Scion vibes right off the bat. To become a Praetorian soldier, Ikenna must first survive the vicious and deadly trials. One thousand enter the trials, and you can only guess how many will actually make it out alive. The Trials take up the first 70% of the book, and while it was exciting and violent, the pacing started to wane after 50%. I was happy once the focus of the story shifted, and honestly, the last 20% of the book had me on the edge of my seat. Certain aspects of the story were a wee bit predictable. However, there were a few twists and betrayals that I didn’t see coming and one that really took me by surprise. I loved the ending. It will make you wish you had book two in your hands to find out what happens next. But not because it’s a cliffhanger!

This story is very violent with some descriptive gore. I certainly wasn’t expecting that going in! If you check my Goodreads update, you can see at 15% I posted: “Oh shit!”. LOL. I’m here for it, though! But keep in mind that this is definitely NEW ADULT and not YOUNG ADULT. If you’re not a fan of f-bombs, then this certainly won’t be the book for you as there are tons of them. There is also a descriptive sex scene. Most notably for content warnings: The story in The Blood Trials is shaped heavily by Ikenna’s race. The story is full of racism (on almost every page in some parts) with the majority of the characters being racists bigots and misogynistic assholes. There are plenty of characters that you will love to hate.

Overall, I would say this is a very solid debut. The stars that I knocked off were purely for pacing and lack of character development as a whole. But the last part of the book really hooked me! So, all critique aside, I am eagerly looking forward to the next installment.

Thank you to Harper Voyager & Turn the Page Tours for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

3.8/5 stars

Didn't think it was possible, but finally found an author who drew me into the plot even though I hated the characters. This is a very, very rare occurrence. It was around 40% when I still disliked Kenna but needed to know if my predictions where right that I realized I was somehow tricked into being here for the plot.

First let's talk characters. Kenna is INSUFFERABLE!!! Omg I thought I was reading about a 16 year old with the constant childish refrain of her inner thoughts. Like girl do you have even one OUNCE of rational thought inside that brain of yours? The ONLY time I didn't want to punch her was during trials. Irrational characters are my kryptonite and Kenna was no different. She made me feel like I was reading a YA pretending to be an adult novel.

And the side characters do nothing to bolster any inkling of liking towards Kenna. They get minimal screen time that isn't shrouded in Kenna whining about something. I do think the author made some daring choices that I loved. It was bold and not many others choose to take that path but I'm glad she did. That aside, I wanted so much more from the characters and don't get it.

Now the plot! Holy hell. Usually authors struggle to have two plots going on at the same time. And while that struggle is REAL here it's not as bad as it could be. The trials are very real, intricately described, and provide multiple adrenaline rushes. Usually test and trial plots are boring, but the author does well with keep it fresh, even paced, and exciting.

Due to this our murder mystery takes a back seat until about 75% into the book. The little bit into that Kenna does sus out is inconsequential, boring, and a bit juvenile as certain characters involvement or non involvement are pretty obvious early on. There are some well planted red herrings that play out well, but her investigation is lackluster until after the trials. I almost would've preferred we just focused on the trials first and the hunt after. It didn't fully work out trying to do them both together.

I will say when we got to the end, I had guessed some of the outcomes but the author did throw me a couple of curve balls. I liked that there were a few tricks up her sleeve and it made the story interesting. I hated the last paragraph of the book and I just couldn't get jiggy with the vibe but I am READY for book 2.

A young black woman must navigate her way through I highly racist and misogynistic society to became an elite warrior. Ikenna Amari enters into the bloody Praetorian trials, determined to find out who killed her grandfather. While also keeping her blood gift a secret, which if discovered would mean her execution.

I thought this was a pretty solid debut. It was action packed and exciting, and a great crossover for YA readers wanting to get into adult fantasy. The racism and misogyny that Ikenna face are central to the overall plot in the story, and thematically this was done really well. I loved the use of magic in here, and the explosive ending has me wanting to pick up the second book.

However, there are a few things I didn’t really love. One being Ikenna as a main character. She was extremely hotheaded and stubborn, which I have to say got on my nerves at times. I feel like she would have discerned a lot more if she wasn’t always led by anger.
I also found the plot to be incredibly predictable, which hindered my enjoyment a great deal. And despite the extreme violence and bloody descriptions, this read on the young side for me.

Overall I think this was a good story and I see a lot of potential for the following book, and the author’s writing in the future.

The Blood Trials by N.E. Davenport

Let me start off by thanking NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

I absolutely devoured this one! Love love love Ikenna's story. This story has it all - fantasy, magic, friendship, loyalty, betrayal, competition, war, secrets, intrigue.... and throw in a little bit of sexual tension for good measure.

This story is told from Ikenna Amari's perspective, who is the granddaughter is her country's recently passed supreme leader. Ikenna had been training to be one of the elite soldiers and was set to graduate three months after her grandfather's death. To fully become part of the elite squad, prospects have to succeed in the deadly blood trials. Her grandfather wanted nothing more than for Ikenna to exceed to become an elite warrior - a Praetorian Guard - but the night before she is supposed to graduate and declare her interest in participating in the blood trials, she finds out that her grandfather was assassinated. With the prime suspect being a Praetorian Guard, Ikenna has to navigate her rage as she tries to pass (and stay alive) the blood trials.

I couldn't put this one down. The story flowed and made me want to keep reading. The characters made me laugh out loud at some parts, which I typically don't do, so it was very enjoyable. I will definitely be checking out the second book of the duology and can't wait to find out what Ikenna gets up to next!

Overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publication date is April 5th, so be sure to check it out!

Happy Thursday y’all! Man, can y’all believe that it’s already the last day of March? Where is the time going??? The last week or so has been so busy! I feel like I haven’t had that much time to read (I hosted a bachelorette party for one of my friends from high school, I’ve been working crazy hours, and it’s March Madness time!) but I was able to read The Blood Trials this past Monday for my stop today on the Turn the Page Tours blog tour for The Blood Trials and OMG y’all- if this book isn’t already on your TBR, you need to add it!

The Blood Trials 4/5 Stars

Summary from Goodreads:

Blending fantasy and science fiction, N. E. Davenport’s fast-paced, action-packed debut kicks off a duology of loyalty and rebellion, in which a young Black woman must survive deadly trials in a racist and misogynistic society to become an elite warrior.

It’s all about blood.
The blood spilled between the Republic of Mareen and the armies of the Blood Emperor long ago. The blood gifts of Mareen’s deadliest enemies. The blood that runs through the elite War Houses of Mareen, the rulers of the Tribunal dedicated to keeping the republic alive.
The blood of the former Legatus, Verne Amari, murdered.
For his granddaughter, Ikenna, the only thing steady in her life was the man who had saved Mareen. The man who had trained her in secret, not just in martial skills, but in harnessing the blood gift that coursed through her.
Who trained her to keep that a secret.
But now there are too many secrets, and with her grandfather assassinated, Ikenna knows two things: that only someone on the Tribunal could have ordered his death, and that only a Praetorian Guard could have carried out that order. Bent on revenge as much as discovering the truth, Ikenna pledges herself to the Praetorian Trials–a brutal initiation that only a quarter of the aspirants survive. She subjects herself to the racism directed against her half-Khanaian heritage and the misogyny of a society that cherishes progeny over prodigy, all while hiding a power that–if found out–would subject her to execution…or worse. Ikenna is willing to risk it all because she needs to find out who murdered her grandfather…and then she needs to kill them.

Mareen has been at peace for a long time…
Ikenna joining the Praetorians is about to change all that.

Magic and technology converge in the first part of this stunning debut duology, where loyalty to oneself–and one’s blood–is more important than anything.

I really, really liked The Blood Trials. It was definitely a violent book and there was lots of death, but I loved the actual trials to become a Praetorian- it reminded me in some ways of An Ember in the Ashes and the trials the the trails that they had to partake in to become emperor/blood shrike, but of course, those were on a much smaller scale than the trials in The Blood Trials. I really liked the elements of magic and fantasy that were woven in. Ikenna was a great main character and it was so interesting to see how the story panned out and where betrayals happened and who turned into unlikely allies- there were so many betrayals in this book. Like don’t get me wrong, it makes for great reading, but that would suck if it were real life. Character wise, besides Ikenna, I really liked Reed and the whole Gamma squadron. Plot and pacing wise, I think there were certain parts that felt a little repetitive and sometimes it was a little annoying that things just seemed to just work out for Ikenna, but neither of those things really impacted how much I enjoyed this book and how excited I am for the next book! 2023 cannot get here soon enough! The Blood Trials comes out on April 5th from Harper Voyager, so make sure you go out and grab it then!

These days one of the easiest ways to get me to read a book is to set it in a military academy. Anything that reminds me of my obsession with The Poppy War by RF Kuang has to be worth a read.

Ikena is such a fierce and amazing protagonist. Her inner dialogue was just amazing and her character arc was immaculate. I loved seeing her form alliances and interact with her friends.

The blood trials were just so beautifully gruesome and the conflict between classic, old world magic and the newer world’s technology had me on the edge of my seat for hours.

Wow, what a story! Terrible while at the same time, hopeful. Ikenna Amari, the main character, is about to give up on her training when she learns that her hero grandfather was very likely murdered. With renewed determination to bring down the killer, she pledges to the most elite branch of service, the Praetorian Guard.

The training is horrendous. The trainers are seasoned Praetorians following the long-established tradition of weeding out those they consider to be weak. It is pretty much every person for themselves even when they are teamed up.

Those that do not survive will end up dead.

I can’t help thinking that this was a most despicable way to train loyal soldiers. The trainers seem to have no regard for the lives of the trainees. I was appalled at the first death (killing) and my disgust never really quieted. Still, the book blurb warned me, sort of, so I kept reading.

Ikenna has the blood gift, a fact which must be kept from everyone or she risks everything. This complicates her training, but while she and the pledges endure the training, the investigation into Verne Amaris’ death proceeds. Added to the trials and the investigation is the blatant racism against Ikenna and her grandfather from the large majority of the Praetorians, the government and even her fellow trainees.

With each bit of evidence Ikenna uncovers, the plot widens. The peace of Mareen and its allies is threatened and Ikenna have a pivotal role when the decision of war or peace, harmony or rebellion, is decided.

Blending science fiction and fantasy, this book is a bit difficult to categorize. I feel that fantasy comes out on top, but the non-earth setting gives it a scifi feel. Technology is not highly advanced and I found the lack of communication technology a major missing piece, though it made the trials even more dangerous. Ikenna’s blood gift and the presence of other supernatural forces is what makes this a fantasy. The characters are very young, so this book may appeal to young adults, but I would not categorize it as such.

Racism, elitism, war, disregard for life, hope, diversity, heritage, and self are the themes that are woven through the story. Sadly, friendship, and cooperation do not seem to be important. The Blood Trials ends just as things are getting interesting. No, not a cliffhanger, but there is much more to the story. I have every intention of reading book two when it comes out.

Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Gritty, dark, violent, and chock-full of action, I was completely enthralled by The Blood Trials, the first in a duology and author N.E. Davenport's debut.

The Blood Trials is an excellent blend of fantasy and sci-fi that gave me the high stakes rebellion vibes of the early 2000s dystopian age, but far more mature and with recognition of systemic issues as well as political ones. I loved the world building, the magic system, and all of the characters: the flawed protaganist, Ikenna, and her friends, Zayne and Selene, and later, Dannica and Reed.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for the eARC of The Blood Trials, I am already eagerly awaiting the sequel!

<I>Thank you Harper Collins publishing for an advance copy of this book I am choosing to leave this review

<b>Magic and technology converge in the first part of this stunning debut duology, where loyalty to oneself—and one’s blood—is more important than anything. </I></b>

Okay problem number one is the first book isn't even out yet and I am already hyped for the next one.

The blood trials is fast paced and full of action. I never felt bored or confused why a scene was happening it all made sense for the story line to move along. The magic system was well described and allows for enough mystery for you to connect the dots together to figure out some of the major plot points.

Ikenna is a strong willed protagonist that you are constantly routing for. She is a character that is constantly making bad choices and you get to see not only the gain from these actions, but also the consequences of those actions. Ikenna has an incredible group of friends that you can't help but also love! Davenport introduces you to many characters along the way that you can't help but route for. One big thing to clarify is that this book is NA/Adult and should be checked for TW there are some gruesome moments that are fully described (its honestly amazing).

The world building is strong and vibrant! You felt like you are genuinely apart of the world and it was interesting to see the different aspects of our society reflected back into the book. I think it is important to point out that although the book reflects some of the heavy topics that our world faces today, Davenport does not make you feel like you are reading a book on todays present world. Each conflict mentioned is a valid way to drive the plot. Some of the real world reflections are: politics, racism, and sexism.

SEQUEL PLEASE.


Also Harper Collins? I’m gonna kiss you. I love you for indulging me and sending me a copy. I’d been wining about it for a while so I died when it was delivered to my door step.

Aaaaanways…


I reply enjoyed The Blood Trials like I thought I would. Ikenna was such a hot headed bad-ass protagonist. I fucking adored her and her anger. I liked how unpredictable and reckless she was because I didn’t always know what she was planning. She was a protagonist that sort of kept me on my toes.

Secondly I liked the world. It was an flower that blossomed over time and revealed the more complex elements that weren’t visible at the start. I liked that the simplicity of the world at the beginning really made for a refreshing ending when the world began to expand. I love all of the history and lore surrounding it, it was peeeerfect. And of course I love the hint of magic too 😉

The characters? Yes. I love Ikenna obviously, I loved Selene and her sex positivity. I loved Reed even if he was a broody stickler for the rules. (I loved him as a love interest if that makes more sense). Also Dannica was cool! I see myself really liking her in the second book, but her introduction and friendship with Ikenna really intrigued me. Didn’t expect to like Caiman but here we are, and Chance is a bitch.

The plot was great. I didn’t know what to expect besides a typical who-done-it but I love how vicious and detailed the trials were. Also I loved how the murder mystery didn’t overshadow the tournament arc which embodies most of the story. The trials were bloody and gory and just as brutal as described in the beginning of the book. I’m just so happy Davenport managed to surpass my expectations with that alone. The plot twist were GREAT too. I’m a bit gullible to be so honest, but even I can predict a simple plot twist, and this one was quite unique and complex even, but I DEFINITELY didn’t expect it.

Overall this was beautiful, action-packed, exciting, and has a dash of smut for you trashy humans out there (like myself) so GO READ IT 04/22 or you’ll regret it!!!!

"Bood is my gift. And blood is what they'll get if anyone gets in my godsdamned way."

At a glance:

Debut author
Strong female lead
Sci-Fi/fantasy
Action-packed

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Voyager and N.E. Davenport for allowing me to read the eARC in return for an honest review!

The Blood Trials by debut author N.E. Davenport is a story packed with action, politics, hidden magic, revenge, world-building and a bit of spice!

Ikenna (Kenna) is an elite warrior who has trained the past eleven years to be a Praetorian, an elite solider on the planet Iludu. But the death of her grandfather sets her on a course of revenge. To accomplish her goal of discovering her grandfather’s murderer, she goes forward with her plan to enroll in the Praetorian Trials to discover who murdered her only family member. Her grandfather left quite the legacy for Kenna to fill and she faces not only the deadly trials (i.e., many people die participating in them in efforts to show they’re worthy to be named a Praetorian) but racism, sexism, and prejudice from other solider recruits (aka aspirants) and instructors running the Praetorian Trials. With other mysteries at large including her heritage, how far will Kenna go to learn the truth?

Kenna is such a badass and she handled all of the obstacles thrown at her with intelligence and attitude. Supported by her loyal friends, Selene and Zayne, she’s unstoppable in the trials and dealing with the bigotry and racism from fellow aspirants. The supporting characters in this story were my favorite part! While I love a passionate, strong female lead, it was hard to get a read on Kenna’s personality other than her being hell-bent on revenge. It’s not until the last 25-35% of the book do we get to know her a bit better.

Weaving together sci-fi and fantasy is no easy task but Davenport did it well. The world-building and plot are very slow at first but both started to pick half way through the book. My one complaint with this was I really wanted more world-building in the beginning as things were unclear and as the reader, I had so many questions. I do read a lot of fantasy, but it was a little difficult to follow some of the random terms the author threw into the dialogue as they felt a bit unnecessary. Thankfully, the eARC was a perfect format to read this book as it made searching the terms in the book much easier!

As I mentioned earlier, this book is VERY action-packed and the author does not shy away from being descriptive about the violence. Just when you think things may be calming down – BAMM! Something bloody happens to our main character. I didn’t mind the gore but I would have preferred the author to be more descriptive about the setting the characters were placed in but that’s just a preference of mine when reading fantasy/sci-fi!

I mentioned spice and there was a hint of enemies to lovers between our main character and a supporting character. Their relationship kind of came out of nowhere but that scene in the dorm room was a breath of fresh air so I didn’t mind it.

The ending really picked up in pace and made up for the slow-pacing of the first half of the book. While I enjoyed the supporting characters, ending, and the main character, I’m only giving this a 3.75 star review. I plan on reading book 2 and can’t wait to see how Kenna handles everything on her plate at the end of this book!

CW: blood/gore/graphic depictions of violence/grief/racism/sexism