The Scythian Trials by Elizabeth Isaacs is a fast-paced urban fantasy thrill-ride! Anya Thalestis must win her local championships in order to partake in the next Scythian Trials, where fierce female warriors are presented with the finest males the Society has to offer. From among them, they must choose a mate, a rovni, who is their equal. For Anya, Nya to her friends, this is a terrifying prospect. More than just introversion, Nya hates to be touched, and suffers from PTSD, though she doesn’t remember why. But her memories are starting to return, and with them, a harsh reality fraught with betrayal.

Though the cause, once known, is a far cry from my own, I totally understand Nya’s distrust and her dislike of being touched. I’ve come a long way, but I’ll never be fully carefree and trusting. Her behaviours rang true to me. I also really liked Xari, Nya’s best friend, and Jax, who serves as one of Nya’s therapists. Zander, too. He’s the leader of the Tovaris. Jax belongs to that group, though his behaviour doesn’t really match how they are described. Neither does Zander, for that matter. They are the fiercest of the Scythian warriors, often brutal, and are said to take what they want.

The bad guy, Sarkov, dude… psychopath much? That, mixed with spoiled brat. Geez. I think his father, although still ruthless, was at least sane. There’s a procedure that the Drahzda soldiers go through that sounds kinda like ‘the Cure’ from A Clockwork Orange. But like, worse if that’s possible. They were doing their own sorts of genetics experiments, too. I’m hoping there’s a sequel coming cause I really want to know what happened with that research.

Among the Scythians, eugenics is par for the course. Nya is actually a descendant of the original line of Scythians, the blood of Ares and Otrera. They’ve managed to naturally evolve in centuries in ways it might take normal humans thousands of years to accomplish (except we force it on animal breeds, yea? And plants.) The Scythians are faster, stronger, and more intelligent than regular humans, evolved to the point of being an incompatible species. It makes sense that this proud warrior people hold trials of skill and strength to help promote those traits in the young, and I loved that the women are the ones who take the lead. Indeed, there seemed a small degree of stigma attached to the Claiming Season, which is when the males take the lead.

I find the theory of eugenics fascinating. I’d agree with it actually, were humanity capable of using it responsibly. History shows we aren’t, and many fiction books written about eugenics shows that actual gene manipulation can have unforseen consequences, usually with the augmented humans displaying unintended traits, ruling or attempting to rule regular humans, or both. Then there’s the New Lyons Cycle, by JT Nicholas, that flips the opposite. The genetically enhanced humans are enslaved, programmed to be unable to attack normal humans. Yet, with the Scythian Society, not only are they known to regular humans, but they aren’t trying to rule. The normal humans seem nosy, not frightened. Kinda a nice change. All in all, a fantastic urban fantasy read!

***Many thanks to the author for providing an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. Reviewed for the JBN Tours.