Teo never imagined he'd become a hero, but after refusing to sacrifice a fellow semidiose during the Sunbearer Trials, chaos has engulfed Reino del Sol. With the sun gone and the Obsidian gods unleashed, Teo, Aurelio, and Niya must journey through the dangerous Los Restos to restore order. As they battle monsters and their inner turmoil, Teo also grapples with his growing feelings for Aurelio. Together, they must retrieve the Sol Stone to save the world from eternal darkness.

I enjoyed this book! While it didn’t quite reach the heights of the first installment, I was captivated by the character development. I loved seeing how their weaknesses were initially exploited, only for those very flaws to evolve into strengths. This was a solid conclusion to a strong duology, and I can’t wait to dive into more of Aiden Thomas’ work.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audio ARC.

If Aiden Thomas writes it, I will read it. Absolutely worth the wait. Now to start waiting for the Cemetery Boys sequel….

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a free advanced listener’s copy. I received this copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book is one I’ve been waiting a long time for, and it was everything I wanted from the conclusion of this series.

In the aftermath of the Sunbearer Trials, Teo, Aurelio, and Niyah need to go collect the sol stones to resurrect Sol and send the Obsidians back into the stars. All the while, Xio needs to face his actions he left us with at the end of the last book as well as the people he’s seen as his enemies all along.

While I thought there was a few moments of lag, mainly in the beginning when the POVs were split between the two parallel plots, I was happy to see the way Thomas wrapped up the character arcs of all the semi-dioses in the world as well as the way that the series came together in the end. Even through the tears, I was enjoying myself! All of that is made even better by another wonderful performance by André Santana. His delivery is always so charming and his grasp on emotional dialogue is truly unmatched!

If you’re looking for found family, romance, action, and self-reflection in your YA books, I highly recommend the Sunbearer Duology.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance listener copy.

This book picks up right where the first book left off. This one definitely has some heavier themes, but the characters are wonderful and i appreciated getting to learn more about some of them.
There was one part towards the end that just felt like things were wrapped up too nicely and it made me question why that couldn’t have just been done the first time and saved all the hassle of the Sunbearer Trials to begin with. Despite that though I loved this and there were a few parts at the end that made me cry a little. This wrapped up the duology in a wonderful and hopeful way.

Thank you @Macmillan.audio for the #gifted ALC of CELESTIAL MONSTERS!

It’s no secret that I adore Aiden Thomas and I completely devoured THE SUN BEARER TRIALS when it came out two years ago. After that cliffhanger of an ending (rude Aiden!), I was dying to know what would happen next! Thankfully the Netgalley gods were kind enough to grant me an ALC.
CM picks up right after the events of TST. Teo, Aurelio and Niya are tasked with saving the world from the celestials and their monsters. Which leads us to an epic quest of a book (aka one of my favorite tropes). The trio travel throughout Reino Del Sol on a hero’s journey and experience so much personal growth along the way. I loved seeing my sweet little semi-dioses grow up and fall in love.

I kept thinking about that quote about how history belongs to the victors. That message definitely carries through the book as Teo and the crew learn more about the truth behind the war between gods. I loved how that theme and knowledge shaped Teo, Xio and the others’ decisions as the book progressed.

The ending was immensely satisfying and I couldn’t be happier!

CELESTIAL MONSTERS is out now!

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This is a great YA fantasy duology and I've really enjoyed getting to know the characters. I enjoyed the dynamics between them in both books and liked the humour in this series too.

I really enjoyed the trials and adventure in book 1 so I am very happy there was a lot of adventuring in Celestial Monsters too! I loved seeing more of the world and the mythical beasts.

Listening to the audio of this was really the way to go for me. I thought the narrator was great and the story really flew by!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced copy.

“𝘞𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵? 𝘚𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘵’𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘦.”

WOW. What a phenomenal end to an incredible duology! It was bittersweet and emotional and strong in friendship which is my favorite type of story.

I loved diving back into this universe with semidioses and sun stones and sooo much drama. Teo is a favorite character of mine and I loved seeing his relationships grow and change with his friends. That is truly one of the best things about this series, the friendships feel real and the side characters don’t feel like plot devices. They’re here to support the main character but they also are their own people. They have wants and needs and feelings. They have goals and personalities. The found family and friendship in this duo is second to none.

I also loved the slow burn eventual romance between Teo and Aurelio. We got hints of it in book one, but after their falling out, they’ve just been sort of pining from afar. Thrown together to save their friends, the tension really rams up into a beautifully awkward and very sweet moment. I just wanted to squeeze their little cheeks and give them a pat on the head.

I liked the adventure our trio endured to save their friends, and getting to see Xio’s POV in this book! They’re just a little person trying to find their place in the world. Aiden does not shy away from any and all representation. The queer rep in this book is immaculate and diverse. Xio themselves goes through a big change, trying out nonbinary pronouns for the first time as well!

Overall worth the wait for this sequel. I truly adore all of Aiden’s work. Never stop. 10/10 will recommend this to everyone!

“𝘔𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘛𝘦𝘰, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴.”

Thanks NetGalley for letting me listen to this one early! One of my most anticipated reads!

This duology is amazing. While the gods and powers can be a lot to initially wrap your mind around, the payoff is worth it. Niya and Fantasma are some of my favorite side characters, but I honestly love the entire cast! The bird tidbits added in crack me up. And there’s a wonderful balance of action, emotional depth, and comedic relief. I love all the representation this book has!

LGBTQ+ rep: so much! Transgender main characters, male/male, female/female.

I enjoyed Celestial Monsters more than The Sunbearer Trials. I liked that Teo, Niya, and Aurelio got to see how other people lived and how their parents have impacted some of them, whether good or bad. They lived in a bubble and had no idea that other people might view them and their parents as the enemy. Honestly, that was probably my favorite part of the book. Even though Teo already had an inkling that maybe they were doing things incorrectly, Niya, Aurelio, and the other golds needed a bit of a wake-up call.

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillian audio for this audiobook. I really enjoyed the book and the listening experience. I found the audiobook to be very immersive and added to the overall experience. The story itself was fun and I felt like I really got to know the world better. I loved touring through the different cities and imagining the scenery.

Aiden Thomas quickly became one of my auto-buy authors. I adore having his books on my shelves at home and in the classroom, since they handle topics both fantastical and still relevant to teenage interests with grace - and without holding back on the tough things.

Celestial Monsters is a brilliant followup to The Sunbearer Trials, starting just after the previous book ends, as Teo, Aurelio, and Niya venture out to save Reina del Sol from the newly-unleashed Obsidians. It's inclusive (with trans, nonbinary, and all of the queer rep across the spectrum), and the leads are relatable. Teo whines - of course he does, he's a teenager going through (and feeling responsible for) the potential end of his world as he knows it. Meanwhile Xio, revealed to be a child of an Obsidian rather than the Jade they were pretending to be, struggles between their newly-discovered family and the ones that were beside them their entire life. Their PoV adds some much needed perspective into the Obsidians, and a lovely discussion about history being written by the victors.
And then there's the lovely budding relationship between Teo and Aurelio. We get to see the struggles that Aurelio faces without his sister by his side, the self-doubt and anxiety. It's a nice changeup from the perfect Aurelio we saw in The Sunbearer Trials.

The story gets predictable at times, but it's so well-told that I can forgive it all. The resolution genuinely surprised me, too!

This long awaited follow up to THE SUNBEARER TRIALS was well worth the wait!

Aiden infuses his work with heart, culture and humor. I am so grateful that authors like Aiden exist. Writing exclusive stories that have high fantasy vibes as well.

I absolutely loved the dual POV and the adventure these kids went on. I was hooked the moment I opened the book.

I love the little quips and jokes, I definitely laughed more than I thought I would with this one.

Absolutely stunning book. Love Aiden Thomas and his work. Loyal fan for life!!

I enjoyed Celestial Monsters even more than The Sunbearer Trials! It’s a fantastic conclusion, with Teo and the gang facing mythological beasts and bigger stakes. The worldbuilding deepens, especially with its rich blend of Latin American mythology, and the queer representation remains beautifully done. If you loved the first book, this one is an absolute must-read!

The audiobook is a great match as well & really brought it to life!

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Celestial Monsters by Aiden Thomas - ARC REVIEW

Y'ALL CELESTIAL MONSTERS CAME OUT YESTERDAY!!!

When I was approved for the audiobook ARC through Netgalley, I was ecstatic and IMMEDIATELY requested the audiobook of book one, The Sunbearer Trials (TST), through the @libby.app, for a quick reread.

André Santana, @andressnta , as narrator of both books, did a beautiful job bringing Aiden's characters to life. I usually have to be doing something when listening to audiobooks like driving or putting laundry away. The way this book had me laying on my bed staring at the ceiling as the plot unfolded 🤌

☀️☀️☀️☀️

Celestial Monsters (CM) picks up right where TST left us hanging - the sun is gone, the Obsidians have taken off with their hostages, Celestials are attacking the cities, and our main trio is in need of more candy for their rescue mission.

CM did a fantastic job of expanding the world we were given glimpses of throughout the trials in TST. Not only did we get to visit new cities and meet the people who lived there, but we also got to hear more of the history of this world and how that history influenced the way different locations operated.

Though this is a fantasy world, the relevant commentary on class, privilege, and discrimination keeps it grounded in reality.

I was thrilled we got dual POVs between Teo and Xio in CM. Bouncing between the two characters definitely provided a balance to the story. It made it difficult for me as the reader to take sides since it was more than just a good vs. evil situation. We were able to see the thought process and lived experiences from both sides that led everyone to their actions.

I absolutely adore the whole cast, and this was such a wonderful conclusion for this duology.

Celestial Monsters released September 3rd, 2024 - go check it out!

Thank you to @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for providing an audiobook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I wish I could scream to the heavens about how much I loved and adored this book and this duology. Aiden has such a way at weaving the lore and mythical elements throughout this very touching story. It was so amazing to see Teo, Niya, Aurellio and everyone else. The ending of Sunbearer left you with questions, concerns, and doubts, but Aiden brought us right back where we left off ready to take off for adventure to "save the world". What we think is just a world saving mission to keep status quo, actually turns into so much more. There is self-discovery, grief, love, and so much more. 10/10. Also, having Xios POV was a shock but so amazing! The audio of this was fantastic and the narrator put on an entire show.

I’m sure it has been a normal amount of time since the first in this duology came out, but it feels like a lifetime. It honestly was a little disorienting to start because it picked up the second the first book ended but I hadn’t been in that world in a long time. As I got back into the story I found myself enjoying the world. In some ways this story was better than the first, but it others it cut some corners and was a bit disconnected. For instance I felt like the reunion of Teo and Xio was way too sudden and went more smoothly than it should have. I also found the ending to be unsatisfying after so much work showing the reader that there are no monsters, only those misunderstood. But in other ways the ending was satisfying. The book continued to make me happen with the wonderful representation and acceptance of differences, particularly with queer characters. Altogether I enjoyed this duology quite a bit and while there were tweaks I felt would have improved it, the world building was wonderful.

Oh my Sols!! One of my most anticipated sequels ever is finally about to publish and let me tell you, IT IS WORTH THE WAIT!! My jaw was on the floor at the end of The Sunbearer Trials and l've been waiting to find out what happens ever since!

I love this duology for many reasons. The fantasy world building is top notch, with characters that steal their way into your heart. The action is enthralling and breathtaking! I also love the Latinx and queer representation. YA and adult readers can both find enjoyment and belonging in these books. In fact, my daughter and I both read and love all of Thomas' books! The audiobook was fantastic and the narrators definitely held my attention from beginning to end.

Celestial Monsters is the perfect ending to the Sunbearer duology! It picks up right off where we left off in the Sunbearer Trials with Teo, Aurelio and Niya heading off to save the world and their friends. With the bonus joys of Xio’s POV, the sweetest romance between Aurelio and Teo, as well as Niya’s humor this is the perfect cozy read!

What a fantastic follow up to The Sunbearer Trials! This series follows Teo as he and several other semi-dioses compete in a magical trial to determine the sacrifice necessary to keep their world safe from the dark Obsidian gods. But as the competition goes on, Teo and his friends discover that someone is interfering with the contestants, threatening to plunge the whole world into chaos. In Celestial Monsters, we follow Teo, Niya, and Aurelio as they are tasked with retrieving the Sol Stone from the dark city of Los Restos, and we get the added perspective from Shio, as they discovers the plans of the Obsidian gods, and question their own godly nature and motivations.
The world-building continues to be so cool. I love the indigenous Mexican-inspired mythology and god pantheon, and the depiction of a somewhat contemporary world where gods still walk among humans. In this book we see more interactions between the gods and humans, and get a different perspective on their relationship and social structure.
This series does a great job at establishing high stakes without being too dark or graphic. Our heroes are powerful and have a good sense of their responsibilities, but they're also well-depicted as teenagers, with all the angst, impulsivity, stubbornness, and forgiveness that entails. Shio's perspective helps add nuance to the world and main plot, and I liked how their emotional journey of nature vs. nurture really built on the events of the first book.

Due to Teo's refusal to sacrifice one of his friends at the end of the Sunbearer Trials the sun has gone from the world and the Obsidian gods have been released from their prison. Reino del Sol is now in chaos. Teo, Aurelio and Niya set off on a quest into Los Restos to attempt to obtain the soul stone and return the light. They must battle monsters and personal demons to complete this mission.

Aiden Thomas is so incredibly talented. This series is a perfect blend of adventure and heart. He creates the most well rounded characters. Teo is such a compelling main character. I also liked getting more from Xio. The dual pov really made this book shine. I really love the elements of Mexican mythology that are woven into this story. This is a beautiful duology, I will really miss this world. I can't wait to read what comes next for Aiden. I had the audio version of the book. Andre Santana's narration was great!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.