The Sunbearer Trials is about Teo, the demigod son of Quetzal, goddess of birds. He is stronger than a full human, and he has wings! But his mother is a Jade, the lower rank of gods, and so he goes to a regular high school instead of getting to train to be a hero with the children of the Gold ranked gods. It's not fair but at least he doesn't have to worry about being chosen for the Sunbearer Trials, a competition that comes around once a decade, in which 10 Gold demigods are chosen to compete for the honor of Sunbearer, ...or the honor of being the demigod whom the Sunbearer has to sacrifice to prevent the end of the world. Significantly less fun. However, unsurprisingly given the title of the book, Teo is chosen to compete! He's got his best friend and a new friend by his side, but the odds are stacked against him since he does not have the years of training the Gold demigods do. He does have his wings, if he can face using them, and the somewhat unwanted advice of a former friend, so maybe his odds aren't as terrible as they seem at first. It's going to be a competition to go down in history, whatever ends up happening!

This book was so much fun. Teo is a great character, he's funny and mischievous, loyal to his friends but still with his own drive to succeed. His mother is a god, but he has a great relationship with her. He's trans, but his gender is accepted without question. The side characters are just as good, Teo's friend Niya is a force to be reckoned with, and all the other competitors have interesting and diverse attributes. The plot keeps moving but still has time for character building moments in between the action. And while there are plenty of books involving high-stakes competitions, this one felt unique in both the set up for it, and the events themselves.

In short, I loved this book and definitely recommend it. My only complaint is that I now have to wait for the sequel, and I really really want to know what happens.

Thank you Feiwel & Friends for the eARC of The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas in exchange for my honest review.

I've loved everything I've read by Aiden Thomas, hands down -- and this is no exception. I really love the world building -- it feels different from anything else I've read. The characters have such dimension and you truly get to know them in this book. It feels very much like a magical Hunger Games -- and you're captivated by Teo as he's chosen for The Sunbearer Trials.

The only thing I wanted from this book was a little more -- of everything. I wanted to spend multiple chapters on each part of the tournament. I can't wait until the next book in this series and to see how Teo and the rest of the characters grow and develop.

5/5 for me.

I was thrilled to get the opportunity to read this book early because I LOVED Cemetery Boys. My favorite thing about Aiden Thomas is the representation of Latinx and trans characters. These groups are not represented enough in literature.

This story reminded me of the Hunger Games right away. Children fighting against each other and a sacrifice at the end. There was an element similar to Percy Jackson as well with all the different "gods."

I really enjoyed the storyline. The underdog story of Teo, Niya and Xio was great. The competitions were interesting and the love interest was cute.

My favorite part of the book was the ending. In this case, the ending did a lot to set up the sequel of the book. Overall, I enjoyed the action in this story as well as the inclusion of trans and Latinx characters.

I first learned of Aiden Thomas through a recommendation from one of my students. This author is well worth reading and they display a keen sense of observation, along with the creative force needed for damn good science fiction, in this new book. I would gladly recommend this for readers new to and familiar with Thomas’s work and will most definitely share about this book with my future students.

Although I felt that Thomas' debut Cemetery Boys was much stronger, this was still an excellent book. The 'Hunger Games meets Percy Jackson' marketing is spot on when describing the plot and atmosphere in the book, especially the humor Thomas naturally weaves into the writing and the existential dread of what going through these trials would entail.

One thing I really like about Thomas is his focus on making distinct characters, no matter how little attention they may receive at any point of the story. Teo was a great protagonist; seeing him grow from someone who has never trained a day in his life to pulling incredible feats later on is very satisfying. And the relationships he has throughout the book are the most enjoyable part, especially the scenes he shared with Niya, Aurelio, or his mother. Niya was definitely my favorite, because she was so humorous and an absolute joy; she's basically the mash-up between Luisa from Encanto and Julian from Cemetery Boys is the greatest. The rest of the side cast are amazing, too, as they are filled to the brim with unique characteristics and diversity that make them stand out.

The only thing that kinda grated me throughout my read was the modern references or lingo thrown in every now and again. One in particular was that the characters were constantly saying something about 'vibes', like 'the vibes aren't right' or 'you're killing the vibes'. I know they're a group a teens and that's how teens talk nowadays, but it just made meraise a brow all the same whenever I saw the word.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable read and I'm immensely looking forward to the sequel in the future.

Can’t wait to put this in my school library! This has a bit of everything: mystery, adventure, drama, representation, romantic potential, and friendship.

💚 I’m just a jade. I’m not a real hero. 💙
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FOLKS WHEN THIS BOOK RELEASES ADD IT TO THE TOP OF YOUR TBR!!! When @aidenschmaiden first used the phrase “percy jackson meets hunger games” I knew I had to read it as soon as possible. This book is so so SO good. It has humor, dramatics, found family, and the plot twists!!! I adored it.
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Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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From the Book: As each new decade begins, the Sun’s power must be replenished so that Sol can keep traveling along the sky and keep the evil Obsidian gods at bay. Ten semidioses between the ages of thirteen and eighteen are selected by Sol himself as the most worthy to compete in The Sunbearer Trials. The winner carries light and life to all the temples of Reino del Sol, but the loser has the greatest honor of all―they will be sacrificed to Sol, their body used to fuel the Sun Stones that will protect the people of Reino del Sol for the next ten years.
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Teo, a 17-year-old Jade semidiós and the trans son of Quetzal, goddess of birds, has never worried about the Trials…or rather, he’s only worried for others. His best friend Niya―daughter of Tierra, the god of earth―is one of the strongest heroes of their generation and is much too likely to be chosen this year. He also can’t help but worry (reluctantly, and under protest) for Aurelio, a powerful Gold semidiós and Teo’s friend-turned-rival who is a shoo-in for the Trials. Teo wouldn’t mind taking Aurelio down a notch or two, but a one-in-ten chance of death is a bit too close for Teo’s taste.
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But then, for the first time in over a century, Sol chooses a semidiós who isn’t a Gold. In fact, he chooses two: Xio, the 13-year-old child of Mala Suerte, god of bad luck, and…Teo. Now they must compete in five mysterious trials, against opponents who are both more powerful and better trained, for fame, glory, and their own survival.

I absolutely loved this book. I had high hopes based on the blurb and this blew them out of the water! I'm a big fan of books with deadly competitions and when you add the mythology and magic, you've got my attention. I also thought the mix of fantasy and modern technology was done well and made the story more relatable to readers.

Teo is a lot of fun, he likes pulling pranks and getting into trouble. He also steps up when he has to and does everything in his power to help his friends. His best friend Niya is my favorite character in the book and nothing better hurt her ever. She's adorable, with so much energy and enthusiasm. She reminds of Luisa in Encanto since she's so strong and loves her family fiercely.

This was a nonstop ride, with so much action, drama, and a few sweet moments too. Bravo to Thomas for an amazing story that is sure to sweep readers off their feet!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley, Feiwel & Friends, and Fierce Reads for the copy

This book had me engaged from cover to cover.

Every ten years Reino del Sol chooses ten competitors from the ages of 13-18 to compete in the Sunbearer Trials to re light Sol's flame in order to keep their civilization from falling In to chaos. There are five trials that competitors must face and despite our protagonist, Teo, not being trained for the competition the pages are packed with adventure to make you want to keep reading.

There are also incredibly tender moments in between trials that humanizes every character and make you care for their arc.

This book also had a lot of humor intertwined in any situation weather Teo is fighting for his life in a trial or asking gods to make him and his friends hot chocolate , there's always a quip to keep you engaged and wanting more.

I am anxiously awaiting the release of the sequel!

Everyone said it’s Percy Jackson X The Hunger Games and they really weren’t wrong huh.

This was so fun and creative and unique and also WINGS??? We love a MC with wings. The whole concept of the trials was brutal and harsh and horrible and I love the internal conflict the characters went through trying to process that. I need book 2 asap.

SO SO GOOD! Such a gripping introduction to a series that will no doubt continue to deliver! Can't wait for book 2.

After reading the wonder that was Cemetery Boys, I knew Aiden Thomas would essentially become required reading for the rest of my life. Thomas continues to amaze me and publish story after wonderful story that deal with difficult topics while still retaining an upbeat atmosphere. The Sunbearer Trials is a perfect example of the fact that only the best is yet to come from him. I love this book and can’t wait to read more!

i loved this book so much! though i knew almost nothing about it going in, i had such high hopes, and it lived up to every one of them. the characters were everything, i loved all of them so so much! i can't believe how long i have to wait for the conclusion of this duology!

The best word to describe this book was fun. It was so, so, SO much fun to read all the way through. I was captured in the storytelling the whole time and felt like I was with the characters throughout the trials. I was fully transported into the incredible Mexican inspired world that was so different from anything I have ever read. Usually I don’t like books with magical trials, as I find them repetitive after a while, but within this Mexican inspired world they were all so vastly different and well done that I had no complaints. The diverse characters throughout made the book feel so much more real and plausible, a part often missing in a lot of books. The heavier topics in the story were covered very well and respectfully which I was a huge fan of.

The one thing I wasn’t totally a fan of was the more modern references that didn’t blend as well as they could have. They took me out of the story a bit but I was quickly reimmersed.

Overall, loved the friend dynamics in this book and although there were a few moments that made me cringe, every other incredible thing about this book made me forget about it. I never was bored and had so much fun reading it. Thank you so much for the galley!





MINOR SPOILERS-
That cliffhanger was definitely not what I was expecting and I am dying for the sequel already! I thought I had the ending figured out but I was pleasantly surprised. Also, do I feel a begrudging friends to enemies to lovers coming? I’m along for the wild ride that is sure to be book 2.

This is the queer magical Mexican hunger games with significant trans and non-binary representation that the world didn’t know it needed! I can’t wait for the next book in the series AND the major motion picture event this absolutely needs to be adapted into! Just start handing over all the book awards now.

Fantastic!! I loved the characters, the world, and the story. Amazing ending. I can't wait for more!

4.5/5

I am so grateful to have been provided with an ARC of this one from FierceReads YALLWest sweepstakes. Thank you!

I fell in love with Aiden Thomas' books when I read Cemetery Boys which I randomly preordered after finding it on Twitter. I was really, really excited for Sunbearer Trials, and it didn't disappoint. I started reading this on my lunch break, and practically devoured it as soon as I was done with work. I will acknowledge that this is a concept that has been done before; I can definitely see how it compares to the Hunger Games. However, there were several things that made this stand out. I thought it was very smart that the book didn't begin with the selection process. The pacing allowed it to feel very lived in and familar. I understood the characters and their motivations and relationships much better, and I had reasons to care about them. The cultural elements are so well done and add so much to it; I love the world I was introduced to in this book. Most of the descriptions especially of the characters appearances and settings were beautifully written and very rich. I especially love Niya so much. However, some of the exposition stood out as feeling like a little too thick, especially in the first chapter. I felt like it could've been distributed more evenly. Another thing that I love about this book is that LGBTQ people, especially trans people, are not represented in these types of stories very often, if at all. Teo's top surgery and hormones were brought up very naturally; his dysphoria surrounding his wings was a really nice detail. This type of representation is so important, and it was beautifully executed. I also enjoyed the little modern references and jokes, the social media platforms, and "two bros chilling in a sauna five feet apart bc they're not---" were absolutely hilarious. Or: "it's literally a man bun my guy." They added an extra layer to this book, making it feel realistic and very fresh. The descriptions and dialouge surrounding the way the scoring worked, the food, and the outfits became repetive, especially as I started to get near the end.

i'm so glad I got to read an early copy! the world was super interesting and well developed without being hard to follow. the characters were also well developed and I'm excited to continue reading about them. the twists were super exciting and unexpected so that was really fun as well.

thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Fierce Reads Yallwest Sweepstakes and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for an electronic ARC of this title.

I wasn't sure what to expect from The Sunbearer Trials. I had heard of Aiden Thomas and his book Cemetery Boys, but I hadn't read it. This book reminds me a cross between the Hunger Games, the Percy Jackson series and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, but even with the reminders of other franchises, I enjoyed it overall.

Teo is a 17-year-old trans son of the goddess of birds, who is eager to attend the Sunbearer Trials, where children of the gods would compete in 5 trials to determine the Sunbearer, who will protect the world from the evil Obsidian gods and replenish the power of Sol, the sun. The loser of the trials is sacrificed by the winner to help keep the Sun Stones lit throughout the world and help protect it when the sun goes down at night.

Surprisingly, Teo is picked as one of the ten contestants, even though he is a member of the less powerful Jades. The Gold opponents are the strong competitors who are usually picked for the competition and who have trained their whole lives to compete, but he is also joined in the competition by his friend Niya, a Gold, and Xio, another Jade who is the son of the god of bad luck. Teo starts off thinking he has no chance against the strong Gold contingent, but Teo is determined to make sure he and his friends survive the trials.

I enjoyed reading it, but please note the ending has set up the potential of a sequel.

I received an eARC from the FierceReads YALLWest sweepstakes.

This is my first e-arc on NetGalley and I feel incredibly lucky and privileged to have been able to read and early copy of The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas, so thank you FierceReads. I have a few thoughts. I enjoyed the book immensely but there were some issues that I saw within the book as well. Overall, I would probably rate this more of a 3.5 star, but rounding it up to a four simply because of that ending. I'm not saying I called it, but I really did.

Starting off with what I really enjoyed about the book, was the plot itself. Did I get hints of other pieces of media while I was reading this? Yes. But did this story do something totally different so that the very common trope of "deathly competition" was made interesting and flowed well throughout the story? Also yes. The trials were each unique and special and gave the reader an opportunity to see and learn about the world. It also gave the reader a chance to get to know the various characters that are in this book, that I suspect will be very important in the sequel. There were some things that didn't really make sense to me, like the rankings and how the competitions were decided, but if you ignore that you can just vibe with the book and enjoy yourself as you experience the trials.

I also really liked how Teo interacted with his mother. Instead of being dismissive or off-putting, his mother is very loving and affectionate towards her son. And the powers that Teo has? Adorable. And I have to say, those powers were very under-utilized during this book and during the trials. I hope Teo's ability is taken advantage of more in the sequel and we get to see more conversations with birds!! Like, c'mon. That was adorable.

One thing that I really enjoy in most books and something that can usually turn an okay book into a good one, was something that I did not vibe within this novel. The character interactions and some of the dialogue were extremely cringy and I actively wrinkled my nose at some parts. The all-caps speech and some of the pop-culture references did not mesh well with the points in the plot that they were written in or were just a little too on-the-nose. When there are pop-culture references and the characters know that they're referencing that, I find that charming and cute. But when there are references to movies and memes but the characters are doing so just by themselves? Kinda weird. Like the part in the beginning when they referenced that whole scene in the beginning of Mulan and how she had to wash before meeting the matchmaker? And the John Mulaney quote? I love those things, don't get me wrong. But they were a little obvious and I felt there were too many moments like that to make this book stand out.

That ending though. I'll admit, I was frustrated a bit throughout the book with the weird character interactions (the scenes with Teo and Aurelio in the workout room? Like, no. Please dear god the second-hand embarrassment) but ultimately the plot saved this books life and the cliffhanger at the end has me for sure lining up to get the sequel. To end in such a way was smart and it tied the book together while leaving the reader with questions and such urgency that even people who feel nonchalant about the book will want to know what happens in the sequel.

I can't speak for most of the rep that is present in this book, but there is plenty and the book makes it a point that each character that is there is important, and their identity is known and accepted. There's trans rep, non-binary rep, a deaf character, and all of it I felt was handled well and with respect.

I received an eARC of this book and all opinions in this review are honest and my own.