The Elysean Trials Review

Hi friends! I hope everyone had a great first week of 2024. This is my third book I've read so far this year (which 3 books in 4 days is awesome), so I'm hoping this is a good sign I'll surpass my yearly goal of reading 25 books in 2024 ☺️

Without further ado, here's a synopsis of The Elysean Trials (book 1 in the Holy Bloodlines series) and my review! I've included a synopsis because it's a fantasy book, which I know can be confusing because of how many aspects are included. I feel like a background will be helpful in understanding my review better 🫶🏼

---

Synopsis:

Elyseans are so wise…Elyseans are so beautiful….Elyseans are divine…Elyseans are power hungry assholes with a god complex. Yes *gasp* I said it. Sue me and bring out your pitchforks.

Unfortunately for me, the deadly Elysean Trials are right around the corner. Despite my unpopular opinion on them and anything Olympian-gods related, when they unleash their strange blue birds to select mortals around the country as candidates, one of them chooses me.

Naturally, I politely tell them to shove it, but that’s the thing about Elyseans: they’re not used to taking no for an answer. So together with my legal guardian, they force me to go to their trials just two days shy of my eighteenth birthday—and for what? A chance to attend the Academy of Divine Light and Beauty. A chance to become Elysean… What a joke.

They can keep their Academy and their magic, but I will finish their trials because I have no other choice. I will survive these monsters disguised as gods because my freedom has never been closer. My own kind can’t stand me, but that’s nothing new. The Elyseans despise me—especially Shade, a descendant of Hades, who commands darkness with a wave of his hand and is sinfully beautiful, even when he's reminding me of how perfectly powerless against them I am.

But the more I get to know him, the harder it gets to ignore who he really is, and the more impossible it gets not to give in to my attraction for him. And the deeper into the trails I go, the more I learn, and the more I realize that Elyseans are not the perfect god-like people the world paints them to be. Worst of all, my past might not be quite like I remember, either…

---

The Elysean Trials (The Holy Bloodlines - book 1)

By: D.N. Hoxa

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ /5

This book pleasantly surprised me, and I say that because I didn’t think I was going to enjoy the book. I liked the premise and story, but I wasn’t the biggest fan of the main character for the first 20%. I’m not sure what it was about her that I didn’t like (maybe she felt too whiny at times and she’s a bit younger than other main characters I normally follow?), BUT she did grow on me as the book went on and I devoured the rest of the book once it got into the actual trials. I legitimately could not stop reading this book.

I think Sedorah, the main character, had a nice character growth/arc over the book. She’s someone who puts her all into what she’s doing and doesn’t give up, even when she can barely stand. She’s independent, strong, and funny, and I can’t wait to see where the next book takes her. The love interest, Shade, was written perfectly. I honestly think the development of their relationship and their conversations was what really drew me into the book. I loved the dynamic and chemistry between them. His magic ability is shadows and we love a dark and mysterious love interest 🔥

The trials were super interesting and unique to follow along with. When Sedorah was going through them I was so intrigued. For background, she hates the gods and everything they stand for, so she found her own way to get through the trials, rather than relying on her faith in the gods. The last trial was insane, and I will say I did see part of the ending coming, but I think that’s just because I’m good at picking up clues. I am happy with how it ended though, and I’m super excited to follow Sedorah into the academy in the next book 🤩