Jennie's Reads

“The scars left behind by those we love will never leave us. They become a reminder of who they were, and who they helped us become in life and in death.”

⭐️ 4
🌶 2
⚔️ Strong FMC
⚔️ Entertaining Banter
⚔️ Slow Burn
⚔️ Deadly Trials
⚔️ Forced Proximity
⚔️ Second Chance Romance

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Hello friends, I’m finally returning to Book Reviewing! We’re starting off with an ARC Read. Author M.K. Deoradhan popped into my DM’s early this year with a book title and description I simply could not resist!

Are you a fan of the Gladiator and the Hunger Games? Trial of Blood and Bronze is most definitely right up your alley. Oh, let’s also throw a little bit of ✨ magic ✨ into the mix.

*note- I’m trying a more editorial style of writing, please let me know if you preferred my previous reviews!

Blurb

Four deadly trials will reunite them. One secret will tear them apart.

Drusilla Valerius has been loyal to the Faithless in their fight against the tyrannical Imperium since they found her beneath the rubble of her village as a child. When a mission goes wrong and ends with her best friend dead, she’s rescued by someone she never expected to see Marcus Scaevola. The only man she’s ever cared for—the man who spurned her feelings six years ago.

And the only person who’s ever defected from the Faithless, despite his claims otherwise.

Review

The Trial of Bronze and Blood immerses us in a slightly magical yet highly secretive world set in what feels like Ancient Rome. Gladiators, Politics, Secrets, Priestesses and a sprinkling of magic set our scene. M.K. Deoradhan masterfully takes us on a dual POV adventure, swapping between our FMC Drusilla and MMC Marcus. Our story is set as all typical power hungry empires do what they do — attempt to grow their borders by force or coercion.

Drusilla our FMC, and her best friend Ovi starts off on a mission for the Faithless, a group that was built in opposition to the Imperium, the tyrannical empire who ravaged and destroyed everything in its path to power and glory. Dru finds herself in a tidbit of trouble and is rescued by Marcus. The very same Marcus who initiated her into the Faithless and is thought to have betrayed their group by desertion, and coincidentally is her ‘first love’. Once convinced by Marcus to go help train King Cato of Anziano due to his upcoming participation in the Valorem Blood Trials; a Durevolian tradition that was practiced in secret but now on the main stage to attempt to bring together the Durevolians and Phaedrans.

Through out the book, we are immersed in the hatred the Durevolian people and the Phaedrans have towards one another. We’re tossed left and right in the political area (not only in the trials) because of the scheming, backstabbing, and fluctuating alliances. Dru and Marcus are at the center of it all-the politics, testing the fates, competing in the trials all the while the slow burn of their second chance romance burns in the air between them.

The Trial of Bronze and Blood is a wonderful book, filled with twists and turns I did not expect. It took me a little while to get through because I felt as though I couldn’t follow the story line at points, but ultimately was able to get reeled in again. I love the strength that Drusilla has, and how faithful and inquisitive of a character she is. Overall, I definitely recommend reading it if you’re a fan of the Gladiator and anything roman. Also, the interweaving of Italian and Latin in the book is top tier. I spent a year in Italy and the exclamation and phrases used, really brought me back to Italy and my adventures through Fontana Di Trevi and Campo Di Fiori.

Notable Quotes

“Are the Tredici normally so…” Dru trails off. “Naked?”

“Even when death is the expectation,” Cato says quietly, “it comes as a surprise.”

“Those who seek glory will do everything in their power to obtain it.”

“She is wise beyond her years,” Cato defends her. “Only because our way of life ages us.” Sitting down again, she points between Marcus and herself. “Physically, I’m twenty-four, but mentally, I’m somewhere between forty and sixty, depending on the day.” Cato snorts softly. “No wonder you go to bed so early.”

Theme Song

Read Trial of Bronze and Blood

Dropping April 15, 2025 and on Kindle Unlimited for your reading pleasure.

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