A review by fictionalcass
The Blood Trials by N.E. Davenport

adventurous hopeful tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was such a great read!! It truly had a little bit of everything, and is filled with interesting characters who make some ~unexpected~ turns. The war training academy and some of the overall plot moments had me thinking that The Blood Trials is the book that another book I shall not name thinks it is. 

Ikenna is an enjoyable main character to follow, and I really grew to love her throughout the course of the book. Some of her decision making and ability to ignore clues that are slapping her in the face had me yelling at the book, but it makes her much more believable. I love that she wants to believe in the good in things even when faced with seemingly undeniable proof, and I love her fighting spirit. 

This story starts just before graduation and the bulk of it takes place in the very extreme training setting, before taking a sharp turn for the last stretch. This felt a bit discordant at times with the pacing in the big picture, but it feels like the perfect setup for the second book and I’m excited to see how things play out. 

Highly, highly recommend this one if you are looking for a vibrant SFF read with a great crew of characters, mystery, and even a little dash of romance. Exceptional 4.5⭐️ read!
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