The Mortal Trials

By: Megan Shunmugam

Published by Watkins Media Limited (US, CA), 2026-07-14

A new dark and spicy epic romantasy debut, perfect for fans of Shield of Sparrows and Rose in Chains.

Forced to partake in the deadly Mortal Trials, Lirah must keep a cool head, or she’ll lose it. But the heart often has a way of complicating things…

Every decade, thirteen mortals are chosen to compete in the Mortal Trials for the ultimate prize: immortality. But those who fail, die. For Lirah, survival is vital.

When Lirah is ripped from her bed in the middle of the night, she finds herself in the foreign land of the elven. Forced to participate in a series of challenges which will threaten her every survival instinct, Lirah’s been advised to guard her life, but with brooding instructor Kilian Valhan guiding her through the challenges, she should have been warned to shield her heart. Linked for the duration of the Trials, simply ignoring Kilian is not an option. He’s everywhere she goes. Even worse – he’s in her head. But as the Trials force Lirah and Kilian closer, it becomes harder to resist the undeniable chemistry sparking between them.

As Lirah competes for her life, she questions the motives behind the Mortal Trials – why is no mortal allowed to volunteer for the Trials, and why has there only been a single survivor in seven decades? The Gods are stirring and the truth surrounding the missing Goddess of War will challenge everything Lirah thought she knew about who – and what – she truly is.

An addictive and enthralling adventure for anyone who loves an enemies-to-lovers romantasy with high stakes and plenty of thrills!