I absolutely inhaled The Mortal Trials, another one I finished in a single day and I’m luckily on a great streak from Netgalley arcs with great bingeable, debut romantasies.

This follows a brutal, high-stakes trial system in a elven world where mortals are pushed to their limits for survival and the chance for immortality with something more lurking beneath the surface. From the start, it throws you straight into a world of competition, constant tension, and it does not let up.

The trials were a highlight for me — fast-paced, ruthless, and full of twists that kept me hooked the entire time. There’s that addictive “just one more chapter” energy because you need to know who makes it through and what is happening next (particularly between the main characters)

The characters really carried this (and side characters - loved the sprite helpers!) Strong, determined, and layered with just enough vulnerability to keep them grounded. The dynamics between them added to the tension, especially with the underlying mistrust and power plays woven throughout. The romance had that darker, slightly dangerous edge which I love and twists on twists, that I did not see coming!

It leans into familiar tropes, but in a way that just works. Enemies to lovers, Competitive trials, morally grey characters, survival stakes, slow-burn tension, forced proximity, instructor/trainee, found family, banter —it hits all the right beats without feeling flat or overdone.

Overall, such an addictive, fast-paced read that completely pulled me in. If you love deadly trials, tension-filled dynamics, and that feeling of being unable to put a book down, this absolutely delivers!

Thanks Netgalley for the e-arc, Angry Robot Books for granting the wish to read it for a honest review and Megan for writing this great and addictive book. I am very ready for the next one in this Duology (ugh that ending!)

4.75 stars!

This was a good read! You get thrown into everything pretty quickly, so it definitely had my attention from the beginning.

The trials… perfection.

Some twists I saw coming and some I didn’t, but it’s full of them! The characters are lovable, which made it even better.

I really recommend you read this book. I can’t wait for what’s next!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the e-ARC. All thoughts are my own.

Keep an eye on this series. Megan is coming out of the gate STRONG with an incredible first novel. The Mortal Trials pulls you into a world where being selected for the trials means stepping into something intense, competitive, and not entirely what it seems. The story follows characters as they are pushed through a series of high-stakes challenges that test their abilities, decision-making, and resilience under pressure.

Lirah stands out as an FMC because she is not written as effortlessly powerful or overly polished. She is sharp and observant, but also emotionally reactive in a very human way. At first, she is hesitant and resistant to the structure forced on her, but as things escalate, she makes an intentional shift, not into someone new but into someone who understands what survival demands. Her anger, frustration, and protectiveness consistently drive her choices in a grounded and engaging way.

Kilian is her contrast. Controlled and guarded, he is careful about what he reveals, keeping most of himself just out of reach. There is an edge to him that makes him hard to fully read, not as a gimmick but as someone who stays intentionally distant. That distance makes his moments with Lirah stand out even more, especially when he acts in ways that do not quite align with the image he projects to others.

The magic system is tightly structured with clear rules and limitations that matter in practice, not just in theory. Unlike systems where magic can feel convenient or loosely defined, this one stays consistent and forces real problem-solving within its boundaries. That makes the training and trials more intense with no "easy" out.

There are several quotable lines, a strong plotline with twists and turns I did not see coming, and excellent character building that sets up future storylines. Wow, wow, wow. I was captivated by this book and could not put it down. Well done!

If you love Fourth Wing, this is a book for you. It is a familiar-ish story line, it reminded me a lot of Empire of Flame and Thorns (book 1), but it's formula is definitely a lot different. There is great character development. The imagery is great. It's an easy read, and definitely less intense than Fourth Wing of Empire of Flame and Thorns, but just as good. I really enjoyed it and I can't wait for book 2!!!

Thanks Angry Robot and NetGalley.
Great debut book, I finished it in a day. You get thrust straight into the action where every decade 13 mortals are forced to complete in trials with an end goal of potentially becoming one of the elven. If the FMC and MMC aren’t fighting they’re flirting and the end sets up the premise for a great book 2.

I really enjoyed reading this, the world building was brilliant, the character development was believable and to feature Elven instead of Fae, was a unique idea. The FMC Lilah is instantly likeable, she's a gutsy heroine who likes a drink or two, I thought from the start there would be more to her story but I didn't see the twist at the end. That was clever. The sprites I think added such a good element to the narrative, the way they mirror the instructors and the participants in the trials. There was no fear in killing off characters which is always a good sign, as it keeps the story moving. Overall the only thing I'm disappointed with is that I now have to wait for book two. This will do well as it differs from the other books out there. I'll give it 4.5 out of 5.

WOW Buckle up and enjoy the ride. This book is SO good is a mantra that was repeated to myself throughout. The author grips hold of you from page one and does not let go.
With a gritty, epic feel, familiar tropes are present with enough twists and turns to make the journey anything but predictable. The Romance element is fire and the life or death stakes are very high, making you feel connected as a reader not only to Lirahna our sassy fmc but also equally as invested in what happens to the side characters too. I need the second book NOW!

The Mortal Trials - Arc
Released 14th July
Oh my word! This book is everything!
A perfect combination of daring, fantasy, terror, friendship and romance. This book had me in a chokehold! Sometimes an Arc will come along and knock you clean off your feet.
This is that Arc.
Elven hotties, creepy Gods and fiercely loyal mortals. There’s a little bit of everything.
I cannot wait for this to be released so I can grab a physical copy for my bookshelf!
This deserves a read from everyone.
6⭐️ because I am on my knees wanting to know what happens next

Spellbinding, high stakes romantasy that I could not stop reading. It is delightful and pulse racing. I loved the plot and the input of the characters.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

The story follows Lirah as she is kidnapped by the Elven and forceably enrolled in the Mortal Trials which take place every decade. A deadly set of trials followed by The Rite where any mortal who survives will become Elven.

The trials were different to the usual you read in these books and shocking that no characters were safe. I enjoyed the blossoming friendships - Lirah and Lana in particular. I had suspicions about Lirah's heritage and thought maybe she was fae but no - the twists and turns in the last 20% of this book wow did not see them coming. Can't believe I've got to wait for book 2 after that cliffhanger!

OMG I absolutely loved this book! It was a great read from start to finish. It was like The Hunger Games meets Lord of The Rings (The Elves anyway). I loved the concept of the book and I was hooked from the start. 13 people are taken every decade to participate in The Mortal Trials - a deadly trio of trials that ends in death - or immortality. And with one human only ever winning in centuries, the outlook is bleak. But that doesn't stop Lirah from wanting to win. As the trials progress, we see friendships and relationships come and go. It was a fast-paced read, with a huge twist at the end I just didn't see coming. I cannot wait for the second book.

Holy shit!!! I don’t know what crack was put into this book, but I absolutely devoured it in one sitting. I was hooked from start to finish and fell asleep the second I finished the last page, clutching my kindle like a precious pillow.

This was a fast-paced read for me with an amazing plot line and characters. I absolutely LOVED Lirah and Kilian! The push and pull, the banter and the chemistry was just sooo good. I laughed so hard at Lirahs own delusions and that she was fooling absolutely no one. Lana and Septimus were also so precious and I absolutely have a lil girl crush on Lana.

I did guess like 80% of the plot twist, but even the small parts that were unknown to me kept me wholly invested and I was dying to confirm my theories. Sooo good! I NEED book 2, like right now!

This was an absolutely phenomenal debut novel and I cannot wait to continue this duology. If you enjoy fast paced romantasy books with a great plot line, ALL the banter, tons of chemistry and an amazing found family, I would highly recommend this one!

Thank you to Angry Robot Books and NetGalley for this phenomental ARC .