By Carmen Lebar
Content warning: racism, sexism, violence, abuse
The Trials of Salahan is the debut YA fantasy novel by I. C. Nicastro. The story centres around the emergence of a mysterious smoke that threatens the Sahilian Plains. Lliam Inglorion, an elf, is instructed to set out from his home of Haven to find out what this smoke is and gain the skills to prevent this threat. He first travels to the Noble Kingdom with his friend Arianna, where he must learn swordsmanship. Unbeknownst to them, a mysterious epidemic arises in their homeland, bringing more worry to the world of Salahan. As someone who doesn’t read YA that often, this novel caught me off guard and swept me away. It’s a wonderfully entertaining fantasy novel that was hard to put down. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, especially Nicastro’s world and character building.
The success of a fantasy novel is dependent on how good the worldbuilding is, and The Trials of Salahan doesn’t disappoint. The worldbuilding in this novel is phenomenal. Throughout its pages, I was transported into the world of Salahan. Nicastro describes locations, characters, items, and much more with such expertise that it almost feels tangible. I felt like I was walking within the Noble Kingdom and could see its citizens and buildings. The world of Salahan is impressive, but the characters are what really shine in this book.
Every character in The Trials of Salahan is well thought out with their own motivations and personality. Nicastro develops multi-dimensional characters that fit well within the world. You can see the struggles Arianna has as Lliam’s companion on his journey. She tries to balance staying true to herself while also helping Lliam in his quest. Lliam, on the other hand, is dubbed the “chosen one,” but he still experiences moments of doubt, insecurity, and fear. I enjoyed seeing the characters endure their personal struggles while also living in a world on the brink of darkness.
My only critique of this novel is that the first chapter was a bit confusing. The opening immediately starts with Lliam and Arianna setting out on their quest—literally as they are heading out of Haven. There are many allusions to what is going on, but nothing is concretely said until the following, or later, chapters. I felt like the first chapter needed to be structured differently to add a bit more context and to lessen the confusion. However, no question is left unanswered, so if the first chapter seems a bit confusing, do not let it deter you from reading this excellent novel.
The Trials of Salahan is a wonderful YA fantasy novel that perfectly blends communal and personal struggles within the world of Salahan. It was refreshing to see a YA novel not focus on romantic love but rather friendship, community, and personal growth. It’s full of adventure, magic, and mystery with many great plot twists. The Trials of Salahan is a novel that will delight the avid YA reader and newcomer alike. I would especially recommend this book to those who love adult fantasy, like Game of Thrones but want a YA spin to it. I can’t wait to read more from Nicastro in the future.
Thank you to A. A. Smith Publishing House and I. C. Nicastro for my advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.