The Imrati Trials – Sisters of Magic and Shadows, #1
by Lizzy Gayle
⭐ 3.75 stars

If you like your fantasy with high stakes, morally gray charmers, and a sprinkle of “are we saving the kingdom or falling for the enemy?”, this one delivers.

Nyah has never been the center of attention—not surprising when you’re the illegitimate daughter of a cruel sorcerer king and your magic barely registers. Her half-sister Leuruna, the true princess, is the one cursed with both real power and their father’s wrath. But when Leuruna shoves all that magic into Nyah for safekeeping, Nyah’s life goes from “quietly surviving” to “running for her life.”

Enter Rivven—rescuer, kidnapper, assassin, and owner of suspiciously good cheekbones. His goal? Get close enough to kill the king by winning the Imrati, a brutal tournament with a prize of both the legendary powerstone and the princess’s hand. It’s the perfect setup for treachery, and Nyah’s caught right in the middle, magic buzzing at her fingertips and trust running in short supply.

This book packs in all the YA fantasy candy: deadly trials, secret agendas, magical creatures, and just enough romantic tension to keep you squinting at the page wondering “will they or won’t they?” Lizzy Gayle’s worldbuilding is easy to sink into, and the pacing moves with a steady pull toward the climax.

That said, I saw a few twists coming before the reveal, and Nyah occasionally made choices that had me side-eyeing her (rookie magic user problems). Still, there’s a solid character arc forming, and I’m curious to see her confidence—and her power—grow in the sequel.

Not the most groundbreaking plot you’ll ever read, but it’s fun, fast, and has enough bite to keep you invested. I’ll be back for book two, because with that ending? Yeah, I need to know how this all shakes out.

Thank you NetGalley and City Owl Press for the ARC!

I really wasn’t a fan of this book because the plot and the characters were lacking for me. I really thought this book would be good but unfortunately it wasn’t for me.

I liked it!

The twist at the end didn't surprise me because of the many hints, but it was definitely an impressive turn. There were several parts in the book that I really liked (especially the forest meeting and the magic learning camp) but things happened too easily.

Nyah made friends with helpful people all too quickly and utilizing magic was too easy. However, I liked this start to the series and I want to continue to hear more about the new dragon and how the story continues, 3.5 stars.

Thanks to City Owl Press and NetGalley for the early review copy.

Nyah is the overlooked illegitimate daughter of the sorcerer king. Until her full-blooded powerful sister Leuruna transfer her magic to Nayh to protect the magic from their tyrannical father. Nyah flees and meet Rivven who wants to enter the Imrati to save the realm...

Love the competition plot. Terrific characters... Love all the relationships here... The plot is exciting and filled with actions. A terrific and mesmerizing book.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

An amazing read!
The twist and turns in this book will keep you guessing. Just when I thought it would be another love triangle with a escape ending, the author gave us a gasp moment where everything we built up on is not what it seems. I need book 2 to know what happens and what else this author has up her sleeve.

It was the most Dangerous of Tournaments, a Forbidden Magic, and the Choice that Could in the end Destroy Nyah's entire World.

As the illegitimate daughter of the sorcerer king, Nyah has lived her entire life in the Shadows. She's only ever had a touch of magic and no power at all that she could call her own, she's gotten used to being overlooked – especially compared to the beauty that is her full-blooded sister, Leuruna, the princess who sadly now has to suffer at the hands of their cruel father.

It's only when Leuruna transfers all her magic to Nyah, wanting to protect it from their father's tyranny, that Nyah is forced into fleeing their kingdom. But, in her bid to escape things take an unexpected turn when Nyah is either saved, or kidnapped (she can't figure out which one) by Rivven.

Rivven is a many of mystery, this charismatic warrior who has dangerous secrets of his own. And his mission? It appears to assassinate Nyah's father. But, Rivven's plans come with heavy risks that Nyah isn't willing to allow. Rivven is determined to enter the Imrati, a tournament where only the winner is able to claim the legendary powerstone and more than that, the hand of the princess.

In Rivven's mind this is his perfect opportunity to get as close to the king as possible and finally find his moment to strike. But, even Nyah couldn't have imagined how high the stakes were going to be. And as Nyah finds herself being pulled deeper and deeper into the trials – and being drawn closer and closer to Rivven – she discovers that she's torn between the duty she has towards her sister and the desire she has for Rivven, the man who is risking life and limb to give them all a better life and create a better world for them all.

This is a contest where the betrayal runs just as deep as the magic that fuels it. And Nyah has to decide if she will embrace the power she's been gifted that now lies inside her and take this opportunity to change everything? Or, will Nyah risk not only losing herself, but also all the people she loves, including Rivven, to a power hungry King whose cruelty knows no bounds?

Enter the Imrati if you dare – where only the strongest will ever survive, and the prize may cost far more than anyone is ever willing to pay.

The Imrati Trials is the 1st book in the Sisters of Magic and Shadow series by Lizzy Gayle. This was the first book by Lizzy Gayle that I have been privileged to read and I have to say that even though it was more of a YA focus I still really enjoyed it and I found it to be a diamond among the rough.

From the very first page I was hooked on the characters, the storyline, the plot and even the subplot. I loved the way that Lizzy wrote the story with such captivating twists and turns that helped move the story forward but also helped to tell the story naturally as well. The added elements of suspense kept me on the edge of my seat as I read wondering what was going to happen next.

This story tells of the journey of the illegitimate daughter of the sorcerer king, Nyah. To keep her magic safe from their father, her sister transfers her power to Nyah and suddenly Nyah finds herself thrust into a world she's never been a part of before. A world of danger and intrigue.

After running from the only home she has ever known Nyah finds herself saved/kidnapped by this warrior who is on a mission of his own, to kill her father and save the kingdom from his tyranny.

Suddenly Nyah finds herself navigating the treacherous waters of the Imrati tournament, where upon winning, the winner is blessed with not only the mythical powerstone but also the hand of the princess.

I really enjoyed this book and I found that if you enjoyed books like The Immortality Trials and Throne of Glass them you'll also enjoy this series as it blends magic, dragons, elves and love all together beautifully.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed Throne of Glass and/or Immortality Trials. I am really looking forward to the next book and finding out what happens next in the series.

I also really enjoy Lizzy Gayle's writing style, character development, world building, and story telling and I look forward to reading more of her other books that have already been published.