Thank you so much to Fierce Reads for sending me a gifted copy of The Sunbearer Trials so that I could participate in the tour!

Let me introduce you to one of my new favorite books: The Sunbearer Trials!

The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas absolutely blew me away. It's been so long since I've been so incredibly immersed in a new world. Everything about this book was GORGEOUS; the diverse cast of characters, the setting. the food, the animals -- I am obsessed. & I'm going to need to see this in big-screen format someday because I'd love to see these things come to life.

The Sunbearer Trials has been compared to Percy Jackson & The Hunger Games -- and that is a whole vibe right there. Give me all of the competitive games that end in sacrifice, pls & thank you. Can the stakes get any higher?! & then sprinkle in the fact that this book is hella diverse??? & the fact that it’s a Mexican-inspired fantasy??? 100% LOVES IT.

Also I am obsessed with these characters. Teo & Niya make me so happy. I love the witty banter & the fact that they’d do anything for each other. In general, Niya might just be my favorite character ever.

There's also an enemies-to-lovers romance that I was absolutely loving. It's been awhile since I've swooned that hard.

I can scream about The Sunbearer Trials all day. Do yourself a favor and add this to your TBR 🖤

A rich and riveting story that, yes, is correctly comped as Percy Jackson meets The Hunger Games mixed with Mexican mythology! I enjoyed every minute of this book, and I can't wait to read the next one!

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

I LOVED this book! The Mexican mythology background combined with a Hunger Games type competition was everything I wanted in a book! These characters were very developed, Teo was the underdog you wanted to root for, and his friendships were complex. The world creation was amazing, and there was a lot of action and humor in the book. There were trans, queer, and non-binary characters in the book, and part of the book revolved around Teo's identity, but I loved that that wasn't the main focus of the book. It was just an awesome myth/adventure book where the characters happened to be LGBTQ. I was shocked by the twist at the end and can't wait to read the next one!

Dang, Aiden really did the thing huh? I am truly in awe of his ability to be all over the place in terms of how they design worlds. Like "oh this is what I want to create." Boom, consider it done. I feel like this duology is a true show of that talent that Aiden has when it comes to world-building and character creation. I cannot wait to see how it ends.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eArc! I have never read Aiden Thomas's books, so I wasnt sure what to expect, but my friends always rave about them. I can totally see why after reading this book! This was a MASTERFULLY written book, complete with the cute little friendship/romance moments between Aurelio and Teo, and action sequences. I loved getting to see Teo rise to the top and show that being a hero isn't just about brawn, but its about caring for the other people around you, regardless of whether it helps you in your position. I also loved how normalized everything gender related was in this book, and I wish real life could be more like this. The only thing I really wanted was a pronunciation guide. As a non-spanish speaking person, I wanted to make sure I was saying things correctly in my head, and some of the names were challenging. Overall, though, incredible book! I am so excited for the sequel!!!

Every ten years, trials must be held to determine which semidiós has the honor of carrying light and life to the temples—and which one has the honor of being the human sacrifice to replenish Sol and keep the Obsidian gods at bay. Teo is a Jade semidiós, and for the past 130 years, only the Gold semidioses get chosen for the trials. But something unexpected happens—two Jade semidioses, Teo included, are chosen for this year’s trials. Teo never wanted to be Sunbearer, but now he finds himself doing his best to stay out of last place, while also helping the other Jade semidiós with the help of their Gold friend and fellow competitor.

This was pitched as Percy Jackson meets The Hunger Games which suits it pretty well. It wasn’t quite as bloody as The Hunger Games, but that was fine by me! I honestly don’t know if I’d have been able to handle this if it was, I got too attached to the trio and even found myself not wanting the side characters to die, either. There were quite a few humorous moments which made it less tense. There were a bit too many pop culture references for my liking but they didn’t ruin the overall reading experience for me.

I highly recommend this to Aiden Thomas fans and YA fantasy readers in general!

Unlike Cemetery Boys, this book was very much more plot-driven than a character-focused one. The premise of a more queer Rick Riordan meets the Hunger Games sets it up for pretty high expectations yet in reality the vibes, friendships and character carry the book overall. The romance is very minimal and I admit I started it mainly for that (after Cemetery Boys) but since this is a duology I'm assuming most of that is in book 2.

I admit, I didn't really follow and plot and I skimmed a few chapters that were in the actual 'trials' but the remaining parts of this book were fun to read through. Overall, this book let me down personally, but book 2 has a ton of potential and I'll certainly be reading that!

(3.25 stars)

Every decade 10 semidioses are chosen to compete in the Sunbearer Trails. The winner then sacrifices the loser to the sun gos to replenish the stones that power the cities and keep the bad dudes away. This year Teo, a Jade, is chosen to compete. Jades unlike other semidioses are not trained from birth to compete and now must survive the grueling tasks ahead.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and it was really good! In short:l just incredible from blending modern and mythology in fabulous world building to the beautiful representation both LGBTQ+ and Latinx to the fun yet terrifying games they play to the messy lovable characters! A great blend and read for those who loved the Percy Jackson and Hunger Games series.

All the characters (and there are A LOT) were so well developed with distinct personalities, looks and even the ones that are the “bad apples” are just so bad you love to hate them! The fast paced story truly draws you into each individual Mexican inspired city. They are unique and described so well you feel like you’re there.

I cannot wait for the next book and cannot recommend this one enough!

In this YA series by Aiden Thomas. The teenage children of Latin American gods must compete every 10 years to help renew the sunstone and keep the obsidian gods trapped in the stars. Gods are classified as Gold, Jade, or Obsidian. Gold being the powerful superhero type who are always chosen (and trained) for the trials. We follow Tio, a child of a Jade god, as the Sunbearer Trials are about to start. Hes worried about his best friend, Niya, who is basically a shoe in for the trials. Worried because someone from the trials is always sacrificed to Sol in order to power the sun stones for the next 10 years.

This is obviously its own story but it has themes similar to The Hunger Games and Percy Jackson but, dare I say, better. This is fantastic rep for queer, trans, Latin American, and disabled children giving them the adventurous fantasy aspects of some popular series but inclusive instead of whitewashed.

I very much enjoyed my time with this story and look forward to reading the next in the series.

This book is a masterpiece!

In the beginning there was Sol and Tierra. Together they created the their races of godly children, Golds, Jades and Obsidians. Mortals were also born from Sol when they hurried their heart in the earth. The Obsidians being the problem child were cast out of Reino Del Sol and could not step back in as long as there were sun stone lit with in the land.

Years later is where our story begins. A hierarchy has been built, Golds are the more powerful dios/semidios, while Jade dios and semidios are lesser, and humans being even lower than Jades. To keep the Sun Stones lit the Sunbearer Trials are fulfilled every ten years. Sol choses 10 semidios (Half god/half mortal) children to compete for the honor of becoming the Sunbearer. The semidios that comes in last is sacrificed to the Sunstones, while the winner is honored.

Jades are rarely if never picked. So when Teo, son of Quetzal is picked as one of the contenders he is sure that he will be the sacrifice that saves Reino Del Sol for the next 10 years.

Many will tell you it is a perfect combination of The Hunger Games and Percy Jackson, only with Mexican gods, but it is so so much more than that. It delves into so much about Mexican culture and mythology. The world building is top tier and so immersive. The characters, even though there is a full cast, are so fleshed out and you love and hate each of them in their own right. Not only that it is goes in depth about classism without being an outright slap in your face. It shows the inequalities between the people of Reino Del Sol with such nuance!

It is also queer af and I loved it! It has so much Trans rep, as well as gay and sapphic rep. The Bipoc rep is fantastic and well done. Plus it is sassy and quippy. Overall a five star read all around. I need the second book asap!

CW
Blood
Swearing
Gore
violence
bullying
child death
child abuse
dysphoria
fire
classism

Aiden Thomas gets a lot of things right, including his work with amazing artists to produce the beautiful covers and character art for their novels. In fact, please look through his insta to see the work they and artist mmarsloud did to bring all these characters to life. I neeeed y’all to see how gorgeous they are!

And the work doesn’t end there. Let’s talk about the book. Mexican inspired fantasy The Sunbearer Trials introduces us to Teo, 17yo trans teen and semidíos. Every 10 years, a group of semidíos between the ages of 13-18 are chosen to take part in a set of trials. The winner rises to fame and glory, and the loser has the honor of being sacrificed to Sol, who uses their body as fuel for the Sun Stones to protect the people of Reino del Sol for the next decade. Teo is a Jade. Where the Golds are raised and trained for glory, Jades are typically…not. For over 100 years, Jades haven’t been chosen by Sol to compete, and most of Teo’s focus was for his best friend Niya, a powerful favorite, until he and another young Jade, Xio, are suddenly crowned as participants. Now the three are in a competition to the death between themselves and others, including Aurelio, who Teo has…very complicated feelings towards. Teo is feeling the pressure from all sides in this race against the best to glory or sacrifice. How is he going to hold up under that weight? Read it and find out 😏.

This is my second book of Thomas’s and once again, it was a good time. I love reading his characters. They’re so sassy and fun and his books have incredible dialogue. I let out quite a few laughs and was once again struck by the way his stories have so much heart. But no matter how much I loved seeing these characters interact and progress, there was no forgetting the very real threat they were facing. Those trials! Such a fast paced, compelling read with a beautiful, diverse cast and I think the kids will eat it up. More books like this, please!

Thanks Fierce Reads for my copy!

Trying to live up to all that a premise like "Percy Jackson meets the Hunger Games" would be difficult for any author, but Thomas truly knocks it out of the park with The Sunbearer Trials. Main character Teo is the son of Quetzal, a Jade goddess, in a Mexican myth-inspired world. Long ago, Sol, the diose of the sun, sacrificed themself to imprison the Obsidian gods who sought to wreak havoc on humans. In order to continue this protection against the Obsidians, every 10 years a tournament is held in which 10 demigods compete to become the Sunbearer, a great hero who renews the protection around the world, and avoid becoming the new sacrifice, whose death fuels the protection. A Jade demigod hasn't competed with the Golds in over a century, but when Teo and another demigod, Xio, are chosen, Teo must figure out how to survive the trials while protecting his friends.

With such an intriguing premise, I was drawn to this book immediately, but once I started I couldn't out it down. I came to love all of the characters and the world that Thomas created. As with their debut Cemetery Boys, Thomas's worlds include "queernormativity," in which many characters hold a queer identity, and all are accepted in this world. I love reading an own-voices author's take on the classic YA/MG deadly competition, from Teo's relationship with his wings as a trans demigod to the complexity of nonbinary identities as both great heroes and as antagonists.

While I'm now a bit older than the target demographic of young adult and middle grade, I thoroughly enjoyed this world and believe that any age range would as well!

Aiden Thomas writes incredible characters and some of the best protagonists I've ever encountered in YA. They are lovable, unique, complex and just utter joys to spend time with. I will read truly anything they write and though competition-plot novels are rarely my thing, those characters pulled me through this one and left me excited to see where the next book goes! The utterly natural diversity and inclusivity of this book was a huge plus though at times I struggled slightly to reconcile the stakes of a life or death competition with a world that otherwise seemed so kind. That and the built in confusion of how the games are structured sometimes left me confused about the stakes, but the ending was stellar and I wish I could dive right in to the sequel!

I have shamelessly been stalking following the progress of The Sunbearer Trials on Thomas’ Twitter account for a while now, and fell in love with the sound of it. Even more so when they released a series of trading card style art during Pride month for each of the semidióses (children of the gods) alongside their parents who would be taking part in the trials in the book. I highly recommend checking out the artwork (available on Thomas’ website) because the cards actually feature in the book and the art by Gabriella Bujdoso is gorgeous.

So, where to start with this one? It was even better than I expected. I knew from reading Thomas’ previous book The Cemetery Boys that this would be filled with beautiful and authentic LGBTQIA+ representation straight from the heart and experience. If you enjoyed that book, then you are going to love The Sunbearer Trials because Thomas has created an incredible Mexican-inspired mythos and kept the core elements of his previous work at the heart of it.

In the world of The Sunbearer Trials humans and gods live together in a place called Reino del Sol. The creation myth is founded on two gods, Sol the non-binary god of the sun and Tierra their male partner and god of the earth. If you know your recreation myths as well as I do, you’ll have immediately noticed how different this is from most others; the two creators are not male and female. As a result Reino del Sol is a queernormative world. Multiple characters in The Sunbearer Trials are LGBTQIA+, including the protagonist Teo who is transgender. I kept expecting the Golds, the popular kids, to lash out with trans and gay slurs, and it never once happened. They always stuck to picking on the Jades inferior skills, their appearance and them being Jades. It’s a society where being LGBTQIA+ is completely accepted. That doesn’t mean that all the feelings and anxieties about being gay or trans go away though, and I’ll talk more about that in a bit.

First, I should probably explain what I mean when I say Gold and Jade. I don’t want to explain the entire mythos that Thomas has created because I’m a firm believer in enjoying the magic of a book for yourself, however, some context is needed to understand a book review. The Golds are the most powerful gods and have powers that have the greatest responsibilities. Their children are the heroes of society, they train from childhood to excel in athletics, fighting and generally saving everyone else from any dangers and emergencies. The Jades are less powerful gods, however, they are less vain than the Golds and spend more time helping the humans that live in their cities. The Jade semidióses are not heroes, they go to school with mortals and are not allowed to join the elite school that the Golds attend.

Every ten years The Sunbearer Trialsare held to replenish the Sun Stones to keep the sun shining and the Obsidians, dark gods who grew jealous of humans and attacked Sol. If they get free again it means darkness, destruction and enslavement for humans. The Trial pits ten teenage semidióses against each other in a series of trials for the glory of Sol. The winner spreads light between the temples of Sol ensures that their light continues for another decade. But the light comes from one of their own. The loser of the trial is sacrificed, their essence becoming the light just as Sol gave their life and trapped the Obsidians originally.

It’s called a great honour, however, as Teo and his fellow competitors begin to realise it is anything but an honour.

Of course, Teo isn’t even supposed to be in the Trials to begin with. Golds are trained for these Trials, they look forward to the ceremony when they will be selected while Teo, a Jade is just worried about his best friend Niya, a Gold. He certainly does not expect a crown to appear on his head marking him as a participant! He’s not the only one; the thirteen-year-old son of the god of bad luck, Xios, has also been chosen. Determined to help the younger boy survive the Trials that neither of them have had any training for whatsoever, Teo bands together with Niya and Xios to survive. This quickly becomes a mission to put the arrogant Golds in their place when they overhear them talking about the inclusion of the Jades making the competition easy for them.

The Sunbearer Trials is a book about breaking expectations, finding strength in the face of adversity, recognising the power you have in yourself and not judging people. That last one probably seems obvious, but it’s not aimed at just judging the less skilled Jades in a competition that seems built for the Golds. Teo is a great character, kind and generous, but he has a large chip on his shoulder when it comes to the Golds. We learn why he does and while it’s completely justified, he learns more than once that not everything is as it seems. All the semidióses are very different people by the end of the book, and Thomas excels in showing the journey and their growth, even in the characters that don’t seem to have changed (looking at you Auristela 😉 ).

I fell in love with Niya so completely. Teo describes her at as a puppy because she is always so warm and happy to see him, and has little understanding of personal space. She is one hundred percent a Labrador personality and yup, I just love her. She has a heart of gold (no pun intended) and the way she just throws herself into action, falls down, bounces back up and runs back in is just… Niya. There is no other way to describe it. There’s a particular scene in one of the trials which reminds me of Scrappy-Doo, let’s just say that. The bestie brother-sister relationship between Teo and Niya is awesome, and she doesn’t hesitate to accept Xios, to help him too.

I mentioned that the trading cards were in the book, and they are which as a geek I thought was fantastic. The Sunbearer Trials are essentially a huge sporting style event in Reino del Sol with humans following their favourite semidióses like people do celebrities. The trading cards have the abilities, strengths and weaknesses of each semidióse on them and Xios collects them. Sensibly he brings his collection of them with him, and it gives he and his friends a much-needed edge in the competition.

Xios is an interesting character for multiple reasons. He’s one of the youngest characters, the son of the god of bad luck, the other Jade participant, and he is also transgender. That last part is only notable because he reaches out to Teo to tell him that Teo coming out as trans was what helped him understand his own identity, and there is a great scene where the two of them talk about being trans. It’s a scene that doesn’t feel awkward (other than Xios’ own anxiety at the start) and they talk about being on testosterone, having top surgery, feeling dysphoric, and menstrual cycles. The conversation didn’t feel forced, it flowed from one topic to the other naturally like two teenagers were sitting having a chat.

This book is brimming with representation, including intersectional representation. One of the semidióses, Dezi, is Deaf and is a wonderful character. There are several characters using sign language to communicate directly with Dezi rather than there always being an interpreter there. The only times that an interpreter appeared to be present was when it was a large event and someone could not speak one on one with Dezi. I loved seeing them communicate and interact with Marino, and that is all I’m going to say about that… 😉

I’ve tried to cover as many of my thoughts about this book as I can without dipping into spoilers. The Sunbearer Trials covers some major themes and serious topics, wrapped up in incredible world-building and there is a huge twist that you won’t see coming. I highly recommend this book, and I’m now going to be sitting impatiently for the sequel!

While I may not be a fan of Rick Riordan’s books, Hunger Games was always a fav, so I was quite excited for this one and turns out I was right. I also decided to request for an audio advance copy while still reading my physical copy and it was totally the perfect way to experience the book.

The world building in this one was super cool. It’s been a while since I enjoyed such detailed world building in a YA fantasy and I really appreciated the author for it. The mythology surrounding Sol and his creations; the dioses, semidioses, and their powers; the hierarchy within the realm based on the characteristics of the dioses and how it affects the perceptions about them; how the Sunbearer trials happen and the display of all kinds of cool powers during them, being televised like reality tv (very reminiscent of Hunger Games), but also with the stakes being so high and how it affects the temperament of the participants; and the world itself being a mix of ancient and modern - it all made for a lot of fun reading and I was swept along the journey. The story is mostly the trials and it takes place during about 10 days, so the pacing is pretty fast, we get all lots of thrilling adventure and action, and get to know the characters as they tackle such tense situations. I liked how the diverse spectrum of gender and sexuality is normalized here, making for a very accepting world which made me happy.


It’s not easy to remember all the dioses and their children present here because we have many, each with their own powers and I still don’t know how many I’ll be able to name. Naturally I liked Teo because he is the only POV we get, and we truly see his aspirations and fears and his growth through the trials. His friendship with Niya is very unlikely but also amazing and I just adored all their moments together. Niya herself was just so sure of her strength and her place in her world, but never came across as a jerk like some of the other powerful characters, and that’s why she is definitely a favorite. Xio is just a young boy who is an outcast because of his father, very much out of place in the tournament, but seeing Teo and Niya be protective about him was nice.

I really thought all the other participants in the trial were going to be jerks based on initial perceptions and Teo’s own ideas about them, but I liked the way the author peeled the layers of each of them as the story progressed, and we see what they care about and what they are willing to do for their goals. Aurelio and Auristela are definitely very memorable and I slowly came to like at least Aurelio, but I still think it’ll be more interesting if they are a larger presence (maybe even a POV). And I know everyone probably is shipping Teo and Aurelio but I’m not sure if I’m there yet - there was just a bit too much unnecessary angst for my liking in their dynamic but I’m looking forward to more of their relationship development now that the circumstances have changed.

Overall, this was an action packed and thrilling novel with a very unique Mexican inspired world and mythology which will leave a deep impression on you. If you are looking for a fast paced fantasy version of the Hunger Games with gods and magic and slightly less ruthless characters, then you can’t go wrong with this one. I also had fun going back and forth between the physical copy and the beautifully narrated audiobook by André Santana. I’m definitely looking forward to see where the story goes next.

This is a beautiful fantasy full of beautiful imagery, and messages, and the cast of deities is to die for! The writing and worldbuilding are impressive🤯 I'm sure the book will resonate with everyone but as a Latine/x creator, there were so many hidden gems and references, in names, in the way the gods and semi-dioses were described, and in the food that was included in all of the celebration feasts.

I truly don't know how it is that Aiden manages to make the entire Latine/x diaspora feel welcome in their books but their books always feel like home!

Also, let's talk about the unapologetic queerness, the family structures, the Deaf hero, the signing interpreter throughout the trials, and the gender confirmation ceremonies being as important if not more important than birthday celebrations?

I had no doubt this book would be mind-blowing, but even those expectations were surpassed!

Every ten years, The Sunbearer Trials occur. They're a way to discern the strongest of the strong and keep Sol's protection intact, or so they say. Yes, a kid between 13 to 18 years old has to die but it's for the greater good, right?
Teo Quetzal is the son of a lower god, a Jade and is not a fan of the Sunbearer Trials nor the Golds, the children of higher gods, except one, Niya, his best friend. The last thing he expected was to be chosen as one of the ten semidioses to participate in the trials, which feels like a death sentence...

WOW
This was absolute perfection. I fell for Teo in the first chapter and I was captivated from that point on. I was so into this from beginning to end. I probably would have read it in one sitting if not for work. The entire cast of characters was great, so layered and complex, all with their flaws and qualities. I just loved them or loved to hate them.
The plot kept me entertained from beginning to end, I loved the whole game of it all, the friendships, all of it. I loved everything about it. The rep, the mythology of it all, I just adored it all.
I can't wait for book 2. I love where this is going but also that ending was mean.
I just need to read all others book by Aiden Thomas in the mean time, especially since I already own them all.

Cemetery Boys lived in my head rent free for months so I was really excited to start this one. I heard trials and fantasy and was instantly sold. Im a big fan of mythology as well, this book was a gift catered to my likes.

The! Characters! Whew. I was a happy camper with the characters. It was the right balance between wholesome and I wanna scream. Fantasma is my favorite character, im well aware she had like three scenes but she remains superior thank you. The twins were also an iconic duo in their crop tops kicking butt. I was right about not trusting a certain character so im glad to see I can still smell bs a mile away.

My only dilemma was it didn’t always feel like intense trials until the end. The few beginning trials didn’t fully impact me. The first half felt more like a long buildup. The second half got me back into the game and im assuming the second book will have intensity and tension I wanted from the first half of the book. The ending has left me with my deep thoughts.

Overall, a really lovely book that I enjoyed. Aiden keeps giving us incredible main characters and storylines. This was another smash in the park and im on the edge of my seat for book two.

Remember all that searching for the next Hunger Games? Well, you've found it. Bursting with adventure, style, creativity and addictive action, The Sunbearer Trials is the YA deadly adventure story that will win devoted fans of all ages. Seventeen-year-old Teo is shocked to be chosen for the Trials, a competition between demigods (semidioses) that will end with a sacrifice to keep the monsters locked out of the world. The trials take Teo and his cohort across the world to different cities, offering opportunities for the immersive worldbuilding, based on South and Central American culture and mythology, to shine. I can't do the plot justice here, except to say that it is meticulous and original. Teo, a trans boy whose transition is neither a family drama nor a source of personal angst, is a hero readers of all ages will gravitate towards - believably flawed and yet determined to do the right thing. Check it out if you love YA, creativity, good writing, or books that pull you in and won't let go.

If The Hunger Games and Percy Jackson got smushed together with Indigenous American mythology, it would be this book. Plus, as is typical with Aiden Thomas, it’s super queer, with a trans protagonist and other characters across the gender and sexuality spectrums.

The scenery in The Sunbearer Trials is so lush, and the mythology of Thomas’ world is fleshed out from the very beginning. I have always loved mythology and demigods, and this is a wonderful take on that type of story. Aiden Thomas consistently incorporates their own heritage into their stories in unique and exciting ways.

This book also does a good job of coming to a conclusion for the Trials while setting up the obvious sequel. I will be looking forward to the second book in this series, and I highly recommend it to readers in their teens and up.

Thank you to #netgalley, #bookishfirst and #feiwelandfriends for giving me and advanced copy of this book for review. This book was released yesterday, Sept. 6.