Book Review #59: Deadly Trials by Lorelei R. Jensen

Hello Dear Reader!

This week, I’ve got an indie book for you written by the amazing Lorelei R. Jensen, otherwise known as @lorelei.r.jensen_author on Instagram, so if you like my review and want to give her book a shot, be sure to check her out!

Deadly Trials follows the stories of the fun, unique characters of Leah, Cassian, Aeron, and Sebastian, whose separate lives ultimately lead to them meeting in the trials, an event who grants those who succeed access to the mysterious and dangerous Neforian Abyss. Full of action and adventure, this book also takes a dive into the emotional and mental states of each character as they learn to trust each other to succeed in the trials as a group. But before I get into that, here is the back-cover summary (from Goodreads):

The deadly trials have opened up again, and many seek to pass them for exclusive access into the Neforian Abyss, a place of wonder and riches, but not everyone seeks the fame, wealth, and knowledge buried deep within the ruins and sectors. Leah is searching for something far more precious than any metal or jewel. She never expected to drag around someone other than herself, let alone a group of people.

The missing pages in his father’s journal don't add up, and Cassian needs to know why. Was his dad’s death more nefarious than what he’d originally thought? Following Leah in the trials would lead him one step closer to finding closure, or so he’s hoping.

Boredom kills Aeron. Taking on missions only dulls the feeling for a short time before becoming unbearable once again. That is until he finds the trials. What better way to kill time than risk your life?

Anything would be better than what Sebastian has to endure. Anything. He doesn’t even want to participate in the trials. It’s suicide since his vows restrict him from causing intentional harm to others, but it’s his last chance to escape Silas. As coincidences lead them together, they have to learn to trust each other, or face the Trial alone.

Time for the review!

As mentioned in the back-cover summary, Deadly Trials centers around the strong yet emotionally worn Leah, her kind brother-figure Cassian, the handsome and deadly Aeron, and the sweet and knowledgeable Sebastian as they make their way through the trials. They’re all very distinct characters and are consistent in their actions throughout the book, which I really love! Somehow, my personal favorite became Aeron… which may or may not be concerning since he’s the one most out for blood compared to the others.

I feel like the world of Deadly Trials has only had the surface of it scratched in this book. Really, most of the book takes place on the island on which these trials take place, and the deep and mysterious Neforian Abyss isn’t really described in great detail until the end of the book… for reasons I won’t say because they’re definitely spoilers. From what was mentioned, there are many different regions with many different species of people, and it’s also a world full of magic.

I also like the concept of the transcendence, a type of power that only unlocks if you’ve been through a traumatic experienced or intensely felt a negative emotion. I was able to see a handful in the book, and they’re all really cool! It’s also interesting seeing how each got their own transcendence. How one person got theirs was rather heartbreaking.

While I enjoyed reading this book, there were a handful of things that stuck out to me that disrupted my personal experience with it, and I think they all fall under how I personally wish it was longer. Things went by a bit too fast for me, to the point where details flew by me and I had to go back to read certain scenes, especially action scenes, a second time just to confirm I understood what had just happened.

I also would’ve loved to have learned more about the world surrounding the main characters. There was some description of it and the specific settings featured throughout the book, but not enough for me to build a concrete picture. Finally, I would’ve loved to have spent more time with each character. While the book explored each of their backgrounds, mentalities, and emotional stabilities, I personally feel like they could’ve been fleshed out more. Still, that doesn’t change how much I love their dynamic, especially by the end of the book. And with the addition of a little black fox named Nyx, well, I imagine there’s a lot of potential for more wholesomeness and fluff in Book 2.

In addition to the overall criticism above, I personally feel the writing was a bit clunky at times, but it did feel like it became smoother the further I got into the book.

Before I get to giving Deadly Trials a rating, I do want to say there are a few things some people may be uncomfortable reading about, such as trauma, torture, domestic abuse, human experimentation, blood, and death. Many of these were written in a way that they weren’t too graphic and also didn’t dive too deep into the mentality of victims of trauma, torture, domestic abuse, etc., but it’s something to take note of in case you don’t prefer reading about sensitive topics such as these.

So, Deadly Trials rating:

3/5 and recommend if you like an action-packed, fast-paced read with uniquely distinct characters with a fun friendship dynamic.

Thanks for reading!