To gain her freedom, she must first lose her mask. Orla Blackthorn has never truly belonged among the Maidens of the Seven, devoted followers of gods who have long since abandoned them. Raised to be obedient, observant, and objective, she has spent her life hidden—behind robes, behind rules, and behind the careful mask of the Maiden she was told to be. Quietly dreaming of the wings that could carry her far from the life she didn’t choose.

When the Orb of Fate travels through her town and she is unexpectedly Chosen, everything changes.

In an instant, Orla is cast onto Trial Island, where humans once faced divine challenges to claim power and join the ranks of the hiarks. But for the last three and a half centuries, no one has survived the Trials. The island is no longer a path to glory; it is a death sentence.

To survive, Orla must endure not only the deadly Trials, but also the entanglement of new friendships and spiteful enemies, while facing new revelations about herself she never expected. As the fight wears on, she learns the Trials demand far more than strength. The Trials demand the courage to strip away the mask she has worn all her life.

There are secrets etched in her eyes, a past burned into her skin, and a fate she never saw coming. One that could allow her to finally fly free—if she’s willing to embrace who she truly is.

On Trial Island, masks shatter. And for Orla Blackthorn, the greatest trial may be deciding whether to cling to the Maiden she was told to be...or rise as the woman she was meant to become. Seven Trials of Aloria is the debut novel by Kirsha Hutchcroft and the first in a gripping fantasy trilogy. Perfect for listeners who crave epic adventures, perilous trials, divine prophecies and the unshakable power of friendship.