Okay, I was so excited for this premise because it has a little Percy Jackson flavor mixed with a dash of Hunger Games (not exactly, but kids fighting and one will have to die so sort of), but with Mexican mythology instead of Greek. And it was a fun read during all the trial scenes. But... I didn't love Teo as a main character. He was just a little too much for me (I think he is similar to Percy Jackson except for Percy is 12 and has the same maturity level as Teo half the time, who is 17). HOWEVER, Teo is still very easy to sympathize with and root for, despite all the bits that irked me. The cast of characters is pretty fun, with Aurelio being my favorite.

My biggest grievance that knocked this down basically 1.5 stars is how it's written. This is a YA book, so I understand that it's not going to be written for older adults. However, a lot of the actual writing (not content) felt very middle-grade rather than YA, so it was always a shock to me when the F-bomb and "shit" were being thrown around so casually, as the characters felt so much younger than they were supposed to be. It just really took me out of the scenes, and frequently, so that made the book less enjoyable. Still fun, and I will want to read the second, but not a high recommendation for me.

Aiden Thomas literally never disappoints. Sunbearer Trials was everything I needed it to be plus so much more. Sequel. When?! 😤😤

This is one of the best books I've read all year. It was cute, and supportive, and full of gender affirmation.

I had an inkling or two about the twist at the end, but I was not expecting on that scale. There’s great character development, and the interpersonal relationships feel so authentic.

This is the follow-up to PJO that I've been craving for years!
Teo is a fun main character to follow. I really appreciate that he was just allowed to be trans without that being his main personality trait like what we often see happen when cis authors write trans characters. However I found the discourse over his wings to be really interesting! The other characters were also interesting but the love interest seemed... flat, you know? He didn't seem to have much of a personality. Luckily the romance was a sub-plot and didn't have much impact on the story.
I've never delved much into Aztec mythology and I know that what was represented in this book isn't 100% faithful to the source material but it really sparked my interest and I'd like to learn more about it.
The plot was fast-paced and interesting (though not as high-stakes as I'd hoped) though the finale did leave a little to be desired, although I realize that that's intentional to prompt you to pick up the sequel... which I will be doing!
I recommend this for fans of Percy Jackson who are looking for something slightly more mature.

The first in a new duology, this YA fantasy was easy to binge with a great Latinx trans MC forced into a Hunger Games-esque series of challenges that sees them competing against others for a coveted title. Great on audio narrated by André Santana with a GORGEOUSLY beautiful cover! I'm excited to see how this story ends. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Like Percy Jackson, but with more f bombs.
The beginning had a LOT of worldbuilding, and bordered on too many details/characters. It was hard to stay engaged.
But then the sunbearer trials actually got going, and the story really took off.
Fantastic ending!

Wow! I think this is Aiden Thomas' best work yet. The Sunbearer Trials is exactly what you want from an action-packed YA fantasy actually written for teenagers. I was riveted and invested in the characters, not to mention the stakes are literally life and death. There are also a lot of nuanced threads about being your truest self and ways people might ask inappropriate questions about someone's body. (in this world trans and non-binary identities are normalized, but other things are used to mirror this sort of inappropriate behavior)

Inspired by Mexican folklore and mythology, this follows semidioses (demi-gods) competing in dangerous trials to determine who will be the next Sunbearer and who will be the next sacrifice to protect their world. The Sunbearer has always been a Gold- the most powerful and privileged of the semidioses who receive specialized training. Only once has a Jade even competed. Teo is a Jade, a 17 year old trans boy who has no expectation of being chosen by Sol to compete in the trials. But of course, he's entirely wrong.

The story is full of action, but also does a great job with characterization and complex relationships. We get very human moments with characters in between competitions and Teo must wrestle with big questions about right and wrong, friendship, and sacrifice. While not graphic, this book does touch on physical and emotional abuse by a parent figure.

There's a lot that could be said about how great this book is- both in representation and messaging, and with pure fun and adventure. One thing that's great about the normalization of various gender identities, is that not everyone who is trans or non-binary has to be likable or good. Some are, others might be villains or at the very least morally complex characters. And the world-building is deeply rooted in Latinx cultures- food, clothing, animals, lore, and even candy are drawing on different parts of the Latinx diaspora. Aiden Thomas just keeps getting better and if you haven't tried his books yet you really should. Loved this! And the audio narration is also excellent. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

ten people are selected by sol who he find most worthy to complete in the sunbearer trials. the winner is brings light and life to the temples of reinó del sol, and then the one who comes in last place have to sacrificed themselves to sol. with them dying it will power the sun stones will protect the people of reino del sol for the next ten years until the next sunbearer trails happens.

we follow our main character teo, a trans seventeen year old jade semidiós. we also have teo best friend niya, aurelio childhood friend turn rival who are choose by sol to complete in the sunbearer trails. for the first time in over a century sol chooses a jade semidiós who aren’t gold and for the first time ever he picks two of them to complete. one being teo and xio who is only 13 years-old. they have to complete in five different trials and are rank after each trail is over.

this is now my favorite book of the year. i loved this book so damn much. i had always adore aiden thomas writing and all his books and he just never disappoints. i really don’t read fantasy books so i was little scared to start this but aiden does such a great job writing the world and making it very easy to understand everything that is going on. i was also very worried before starting cause there is a ton of characters but each character is so different and have their own personality that it made it so easy to remember who is who and not be confused throughout the book. i adored reading all the characters they really made this book stand out. i also loved all the mexican influence into the book being mexican myself i just love reading it and understand the culture and language.

the sunbearer trails were so much fun to read and go with the characters and experience each trial. each trial was different and keep getting more and more intense. it was nice seeing the characters development with each trail, and how competitive they could get. i really loved how teo really wanted to help xio with each trail even if it really could affect him in the ranking. lastly i just love how the gender talk and them being trans is so welcome and how everyone just accepts it i love it. i’m so damn excited for book two!

<b> thanks to netgalley for an audiobook arc. ♡

↳- 5/5 stars -༉‧₊˚✧ </b>

Teo is a Jade, an unimportant semidiós. So when he's chosen to compete in The Sunbearer Trails, a competition which will have one winner traveling all over the land and one loser sacrificed to the sun god Sol, he's more shocked than anyone else. After all, he doesn't attend the special academy that literally trains kids for the trials. His best friend Niya does, so he's not surprised when she's chosen. Even though Jades aren't normally picked, it comes as another shock when fellow Jade, Xio is chosen along with him. Teo knows he won't win the Trials, so he plans to, at the very least, survive them and protect his friend Xio.

First of all, I love the representation here. In The Sunbearer Trials, Thomas builds a world where not only is being trans accepted, it's celebrated. Aside from that wonderful piece, the rest of Thomas's world-building is top-notch, and I delighted in all the beautiful little details in Reino del Sol. It came to life in my head as such a magically colorful place. Teo is an awesome character. I especially liked the story of his wings. My favorite character is the buff badass Niya. She is fantastic. I only have one complaint. There were a lot of f-bombs, more than I like to see in a YA book, and for a fantasy world, it felt jarringly out of place at times. Also, I forgot this book is part of a planned duology, so, of course, it ends on a cliffhanger.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. André Santana was a great narrator. I really enjoyed this book.

I loved this! I was a little nervous because I loved Cemetery Boys and I was afraid this one wouldn't be as good but I actually liked this one better. They are very different but this one, to me, was just way more fun.
I struggled with some of the names and keeping everyone straight to start but besides that I really have nothing bad to say about this book. The main character was great and I was rooting for him the whole time. I loved his friends as well. They were so fun and a great group.
The trails were really cool as well. I know the idea of trials seems over user since so many books in the early 2010s did it but Thomas really put his own spin on it. They were really cool and the stakes felt real in a way they don't always in other books.
I highly recommend this book. Its a really great story and has an amazing world and great characters. Thomas really soars when it come to characters and this book is the perfect example. So if you are into a really cool twist on God's and monster or trials this is the book for you. Even if you aren't into that check this out!

The Sunbearer trials bye Adien Thomas is the first installment in a YA fantasy where Ten teen Demi gods must face a series of magical trials that will protect their world for another decade at the cost of one of their lives.

I loved several things about this novel

1. Multiple trans main characters
2. Hispanic inspired mythos
3. Gods and goddesses tangible in a way that mortals can walk along side them.
4. Beautifully flawed heros
5. Supportive mother son relationships
6. Platonic male/female friendships

The SunBearer Trails is an excellent read for anyone looking for a Modern YA fantasy where a set televised magical challenges will determine in whose hands the fate of the world rests.

DNF'd at 50%. If this is what YA is now, I don't want it. Don't get me wrong, I am overjoyed to see more diversity in books. However, I feel very strongly that Young Adult books are not supposed to have as many f-words as the new adult genre. It's appalling. If this is what 2022 YA books are all like, someone please let me know now so I can stop reading them.

The Sunbearer Trials is the first book in a new duology by Aiden Thomas. Based on Mexican mythology, this story follows 17 year-old Teo, a semidios of Quetzel - the goddess of birds. Every decade the Sunbearer Trials occur in which ten semidoises are chosen to compete for glory. The winner will be the Sunbearer, a Hero chosen by Sol to reignite the Sun Stones to ward off the evil Obsidians. The loser, the sacrifice that will keep the Sun Stones lit.

Only the Golds are ever chosen to compete in the Trials, children of the more powerful and influential Gods. But this year, Sol chooses two Jades, one of which being Teo. Literally fighting for his life, this novel is Percy Jackson meets the Hunger Games, where Teo will have to overcome his fears if he wants to survive.

The Sunbearer Trials was an easy five star read for me. It brought something unique to the world of YA Fantasy. Thomas crafts a masterful world rich in mythology that allows the story to prosper.

This novel is also an important piece of fiction as it contains representation for all kinds of underrepresented groups. It was enlightening to read about a world where you could be who you wanted to be and love who you wanted.

The story was gripping, following Teo and the other chosen semidioses through their five trials. It was engaging with rarely a slow moment and I never once found myself getting bored. I actually couldn't put this book down.

I'd recommend the Sunbearer Trials to anyone who wants a story rich in mythology where the stakes are deadly . Pitching a story as Percy Jackson meets the Hunger Games is a high bar to pass but this story catapults past that and exceeds any expectation.

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.

I don't usually request YA books but something about the summary called to me and I was not disappointed, Rick Riordan meets Latin American culture and lots of queer rep. So cute

Aiden Thomas does it again - and because I'm biased favorably toward anything they write, The Sunbearer Trials is a winner for me.

This time we're in a Mexican inspired world where gods and humans live cooperatively. Every ten years, the top teenage semidioses are chosen to compete in Trials that will ultimately protect their peaceful world. The story overflows with creativity in describing the colorful locations and imaginative animals. Queer characters are the default and get to celebrate their identities. Plus, they fill the roles of heroes AND villains - furthering the normalcy of queerness in all sorts of people. Main character Teo has an obnoxious attitude, but he is a teenager after all (and an impetuous, imperfect one at that. I'll forgive a lot in the name of realism!) Former friends turned enemies begin a gradual path toward friendship again (with a hint of something more) but there's no rush to squeeze a romance into the story. That's such an underrated choice for a YA book, and builds even more anticipation for an eventual payoff.

Now the bit I'm sad to write: *whispers* the writing is weaker than I had hoped. The framework of 'competitors touring cities that have specialized purposes, dressing up in fancy clothing, and performing/competing on television for adoring audiences' irks me by its closeness to the Hunger Games. The "deadly trials" play out more like over-the-top track & field games that actually sound really fun and make me want the chance to try competing. The emotional depth doesn't hit, and the only tension is in who will be sacrificed because no one is in any real danger otherwise.

Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and I'm very excited for book #2. Now that the background is all sketched in and the huge cast of characters is cut down to manageable size, the sequel has every chance of being incredible. Here's hoping for the best, and please let it be soon!

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced electronic audio review copy of this amazing book. I really enjoyed this wonderful story full of plot twists, brilliant word-building, and complex, realistic characters all based on Mexican mythology. Comparing it to Percy Jackson crossed with Hunger Games is very much on point. Can’t wait to see what happens next and how it all ends. One of the best fantasies I’ve read this year. Definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys mythology, and fantasy fiction.

Thomas has taken the nostalgic framework of the high stakes competition story and freshened it with approachable representations and a whole lot of heart.

At the begging of each decade The Sunbearer Trials are held, a competition to replenish the suns power and to keep evils at bay. For Centuries the competitors have been selected from the Golds, an elitist group that trains and prepares for the trials from youth. So when Teo, a seventeen year old Jade gets selected along with some friends, the stakes couldn't be higher. Will they be able to work together and win a competition that is heavily stacked against them? You will be rooting for the underdogs here until the very last page.

Since The Sunbearer trials are reminiscent of some beloved childhood stories I found myself in a constant game of comparison. I am pleased to say that in most ways this story lived up and built on the formulaic stories of my youth! The trans, nonbinary and Latinx representation was woven in the story in such an authentic and heartfelt way and each character was layered and complex. The competition aspect was engaging and epic and in in the lull between each trial I could feel genuine anticipation building for the next! Overall this is a wonderful nostalgic read that you'll be better for reading.

I only dock one star because I felt there were some moments and concepts that felt plucked from present day and in those moments I felt pulled out of this fantastical world.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the early review copy.

Second novels are notoriously tricky, but Aiden Thomas has given us something EVEN BETTER than "Cemetery Boys."

For eons, semidioses have competed in various trials to prove their worth and be proclaimed the Sunbearer. They will bring the recharged energy of the sun, created through human sacrifice, to all the cities of the world. And the sacrifice? That's the semidios that loses the competition. Competitors are mostly children of Gold gods, but occasionally children of the minor Jade gods are selected. Our narrator, Teo, is a Jade goddess's son, and the best he can hope for is to just place second-to-last and survive. Until...he starts to win. And he begins to wonder if he might be the first Jade semidios to become the Sunbearer.

One worldbuilding thing that keeps sticking in my head: how non-human characteristics might play a role in someone's gender identity and gender dysphoria. Teo, our narrator, is a trans man. He wears a binder, but not how you'd expect. Teo has already had top surgery, but his WINGS did not transition as he did. They're plain brown, not the vibrant green and blues of a quetzal bird. But, as you can see form the book cover, that doesn't stay through the whole book.

I also love the inclusion of sign language, and while I'm just a student and not actually Deaf or a CODA, it seems like it was portrayed respectfully. Sign language seems to actually be quite common in the world Aiden built, as many high-status characters are able to sign with the Deaf semidios without a translator. Teo cannot, but there's almost always a translator nearby. And Desi isn't generally held back in the trials by his deafness, remaining a strong, sometimes even dangerous, opponent through the whole book.

The romance in the book is small, tentative, worthy of a first book in a series. Nothing overwrought, and there's childhood memories together to make it more believable. I'm way behind this ship, and I hope that fandom churns out some good fanfic to keep me sated until book 2 is released!

Pan Dulce is a delight. Best goddess.

I anticipate this being a runaway hit!

Advanced copy provided by the publisher.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for sending me an early copy of this audiobook! All opinions are my own!

From the very first sentence, this book definitely had me hooked! It pulls you in so quickly and never lets you go! I devoured this in the midst of moving to another city and I still never wanted to put it down. I absolutely loved reading about Mexican culture, especially when it comes to a fantasy world, as that is something I haven't read much of at all. It was so beautiful and the imagery definitely immerses you so to the point that you feel part of the competition yourself.

I adored the plot and the way it had me screaming at the plot twist! It felt like a mix between Percy Jackson because of the demigods and younger cast and The Hunger Games due to the competition. But even then it had so much that I never expected and kept just getting more and more creative and immersive. There were a few chapters that felt like fillers, but overall, it kept me hooked the entire time and kept me wanting (needing) more.

The one thing that bothered me a bit about the book was the modern touches. It felt random and unexpected. It's as though it would continually feel like high fantasy and then very suddenly it would mention something modern or quote a vine. It felt as though the author wasn't committed to either high fantasy or modern fantasy, and I think it would have been better as fully high fantasy.

My favorite thing was definitely the representation! There is definitely the POC representation that's absolutely amazing, but then there is the trans representation that was so beautifully done. There is also a deaf side character in the competition who uses sign language!

If you're looking for the next big fantasy series, here's the one to watch!