I didn't reread THE SUNBEARER TRIALS before jumping right into this audiobook, but I'm happy to say I didn't really need to! CELESTIAL MONSTERS picks up right where TST left off and did just enough to remind me what was happening without going overboard with explanation. I got right back into it and really enjoyed the conclusion to this story. One of my favorite story elements was the recurring theme that when you have community, you don't need heroes — you can rely on one another for help. The character (and romance) arcs were satisfying, as was the story's ultimate conclusion. And narrator André Santana gave an excellent performance as always!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC and ALC!

- The POV being split between Teo and Xio was so well done, and it was crucial to seeing Xio’s development.
- Loved the audio, and the narrations are so well done! the pacing slows in a few places, and the audio helped me keep going.
- Getting to see all the gold’s through Xio’s POV was so interesting, and it helped me remember details from book 1 that I had forgotten.
- While the plot structure is a pretty common quest structure, I loved how I really wasn’t sure how it would get resolved until the very end.
- I loved the way this book really explored how a revolution can succeed, but then fail during the rebuilding/upkeep.
- Getting to have Teo, Niya, and Aurelio together for so much of the book was fantastic! Seeing Niya deal with those two fools dancing around their relationship was hilarious!

(4.5 rounded up to 5)

Such a wonderful finale to this duology.

What I liked:

I absolutely loved being back with Teo and his friends. Their quest to save their world was adventurous and fun. There was a good amount of action in the second half of the book.

Xio’s POV chapters weee interesting. I really liked seeing things from Xio’s perspective.

I enjoyed the ending and how the duology was wrapped up.

What didn’t work for me:

I do wish there were a few things that were explained a bit more.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!

This was such a good book. I really enjoyed it. More than I thought I would. I loved the writing style. This book had me hooked from page one. This is a first for me by this author but will not be my last!!

This sequel starts off running! You start right where the first one stops and you're constantly on the move! I admit I was lost when I first started reading, but a quick recap and I was good to go. Teo and Aurelio are the cutest and I adore them.

Most of the book you are following Teo, Aurelio and Niya as they are constantly on the move to help bring back the Sun. There isn't a lot of down time for the characters which helps highlight just what is a stake for everyone. Storywise I wasn't as invested as I was the first one. The first one I absolutely loved and could not put it down, but two of the side characters in this one had me wanting to take breaks or skip their scenes. I came to dislike them and I felt by the end they did not 'learn' or 'grow' like the others. (Not revealing names so as not spoil someone else's enjoyment). Teo's constant interactions with the birds he came across was one of my favorite parts as it showed what he had to offer, how kind he is, and how much those around him cared. The scene with the chicken had me cackling! One of my favorite parts. IYKYK.

The ending was perfect for this book, and I was actually really satisfied with how it took into account everyone in this world. Overall I loved Teo and Aurelio's growing relationship, the Quetzals, the queernorm world, seeing how the other cities/people lived in this world, and the themes that revolved around the importance of friendship and the power of love. If you loved the first one, this one will be perfect for you!

The audio was well done, and I really enjoyed the narrator too.

If the Sunbearer Trials was for fans of The Hunger Games, Celestial Monsters is for fans of Percy Jackson!

Because Teo refused to sacrifice a fellow semidiose during the sun bearer trials, the sun is gone, Reino del Sol is plunged into perpetual night, and the obsidian gods have been released from their prison and are wreaking havoc on Reino del Sol. The only way to bring the light back is if Teo retrieves the Sol Stone. So, Teo, Aurelio, and Niya go on a journey to the dark wilderness of Los Restos to retrieve the Sol Stone, battling monsters along the way.

The story had a great blend of adventure, heart, and humor. I loved getting to return to these characters. Teo is a compelling lead and has to deal with a lot of complicated emotions regarding the outcome of the trials and the guilt and trauma that have followed that, while also exploring his relationship with Aurelio.

Without the trials structuring the pacing, it felt a little different than the sun bearer trials. It was a little slow in the first half, but it picked up in the second half. But overall, it was a fun book and while the ending was absolutely bittersweet, it was satisfying. I think if you liked The Sunbearer Trials, you’ll enjoy the sequel.

Aiden Thomas creates an excellent conclusion to “The Sunbearer Trials”. This book takes place immediately after the events of the first and really focuses on the various relationships and friendships that were established then. I really enjoyed the narration provided by Andre Santana.

Celestial Monsters by Aiden Thomas is the perfect end the The Sunbearer Duology! If you’d haven’t read The Sunbearer Trials, what are doing with your life? Please do yourself a favor and read it, immediately. In Celestial Monster we pick up right where The Sunbearer Trials ends. A LOT is happening and our main character Teo along with some trusted friends set out to follow through on an important quest to save the world. This book is brimming with action, friendship, love, community, and heroism. Aiden Thomas is magic with a pen (computer?) they write such lush worlds full of heart. You cannot help falling in love with these characters even the ones you are supposed to dislike have so much depth to them. I am amazed at Aiden Thomas’ talent as a writer. They are creating worlds with beautiful queer and Latinx representation and I am so happy that these books exist in the world. Thank you Aiden! Please pick up The Sunbearer Trials and Celestial Monsters! 5⭐️

I was definitely waiting for book two in this fantasy duology - and it definitely didn’t disappoint. I truly love this story, which was like a divine Aztec god hunger games and Percy Jackson-like quest called The Sunbearer Trials. This story finds Teo, a trans demigod or semidios and son of the goddess of birds, on a quest to save the Reino Del Sol after he pretty much causes its destruction. Along with his crush Aurelio and bestie Nya, they get commissioned by the gods to stop the rise of the destructive Obsidian gods (and save the other competitors and semidioses) that Teo helped let loose when he refused to kill the lowest ranking semidios…who also happened to be his crushes hostile sister.

I love the humor with its sweet, wholesome romance between Teo and Aurelio, and the deep friendship of Nya and Teo. I love the look into society and classism - and the learned helpless of people who asks for heroes when they can rescue themselves. I love the development of each character and the intricacies of what makes one a hero, and a villain. As a duology, I loved this series. There is definitely room for more books so I wonder if they’ll be a spinoff, but I’m happy with what we got. A fun, queer fantasy adventure that is worth the read.

Thanks to #netgalley and #squarefish for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. And thanks #aidenthomas for another great book series.

what an amazing conclusion to a spectacular duology!! i adored book one, and this one stepped up the stakes and took it over the top to be a favorite. the magic system aiden thomas creates is so lush and wonderful and i am obsessed with it; everything is rooted in mesoamerican culture and history, and i feel like i learned a lot by happy accident. his characters feel as real as anyone i've ever met, and i would defend teo with my life (he could probably hold his own i fear). the queernormative element to the world here is something so comforting, and my heart clenches to think of a kid picking these books up and finding solace and comfort in others that might be like them. this has such a triumphant conclusion to the semidioses and their story that it makes me warm to think on it.

the audiobook specifically has such a talented narrator with several different voices at their disposal. the audio experience is one i recommend highly and am grateful to have encountered.

A satisfying conclusion to the duology, though in my opinion not as good as the first book. I think The Sunbearer Trials benefitted from the inherent structure of the battle royale format, where this one benefitted more from its dual-narration format, letting it tell two parallel threads of the same story. Though personally, I think the Nico d'Ang-- I mean, Xio arc progressed way too fast and as a result, wasn't very compelling. Trying to shove a Zuko-style redemption story into half of a single YA novel doesn't really work out, especially when we only learned a redemption was needed at the very end of the previous novel. Xio just ends up seeming wishy-washy, rather than the presumed the goal was of them being deeply conflicted and misled.

On the other hand, Niya and Mala Suerte particularly shone as supporting characters in this one, and the regular addition of Aurelio into the protag group was a good balance, grounding the mild chaos of the others.

This, more than the first book, feels like Percy Jackson Lite, which isn't inherently a bad thing of course, but that's definitely the vibes you're going to get there.

The audio narration by André Santana was, once again, very well done.

I loved The Sunbearer Trials and I've been waiting for this one. Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for letting me listen early.

I was provided an audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

André Santana narrates the audiobook and he is a wonderful narrator. He narrates the duology and does such a wonderful job with the books! He brings the characters to life with different voices and accents where appropriate and makes this already great series even better!

This picks up right where The Sunbearer Trials leaves off, so it doesn't read as a standalone. It has been about 2 years since I read The Sunbearer Trials, but I was quickly able to reengage in the storyline and remember what was going on after the Trials ended in such unexpected chaos. This follows our Sunbearer Teo as he sets out to bring back the sun and set the world back to rights in the aftermath of the trials. He isn't alone as Niya and Aurelio are with him bestowed with gifts from the gods/goddesses to help them on their quest to rescue the other semideoses and defeat the evil that was unleased. We also get chapters from Xio's perspective as he (later in the book Xio transitions to they pronouns) spends time with the Obsidians and learns about his/their heritage and powers. Xio has to face the decision they made in book 1 and decide which side they want to take and what kind of person they really want to be and who their friends and family really are.

As with the first book this was action packed, has some good humor, has great world building, and deals with social issues under the guise of myth and fantasy. I loved the mythology and lore elements of the series. This book doesn't have as much character as the first book did, as the development is mainly focused on Xio's character in this installment. Xio deals with alot of feelings in this book, and we get to see them go through quite the journey. Teo, Niya, and Aurelio have more of a physical journey, but theirs is not with out emotion either. I don't want to spoil anything but this was wonderful.

I loved this series so much! It deals with so many great topics while being entertaining with such a rich and vivid setting. Thank you to the author, Netgalley, and Macmillan Audio/Macmillan Young Listeners for allowing me to take part in this wonderful journey with these amazing characters!

Celestial Monsters was a Macmillan Audio pick and I was so excited to start it after the pretty wild cliffhanger that ends The Sunbearer Trials! Immediately we’re back to the action with Teo, Aurelio, and Niya responsible for ending the apocalypse with a little help from the gods in the form of an Odyssian collection of goods!

While a good portion of this book is spent on a journey, none of it felt extraneous or boring, it all moved the story along. Each stop along the way taught the trio more about the world they were trying to save and had them questioning if the status quo needed changing.

I enjoyed having the second POV of Xio and being able to get into their mind after the events of book one. I especially loved their conversation with the other semidioses that had them questioning their motives and possible outcomes. It was a wonderful example of enemies earnestly communicating and actually listening and hearing each other—I wish the real world would do this more often.

The blooming romance between Teo and Aurelio built naturally and sweetly over the course of their adventure, and Niya’s surprise romance at the end had my jaw dropping! Even Xio seemed to have made a connection of their own, even if it might be just as friends, but one can hope!

In the end, this was another solid four stars for me, and I definitely recommend it to anyone who likes underdogs saving the world!

What a beautiful and epic conclusion, to what is now one of my favorite duologies.

Getting Xio's POV was everything, as I am a huge Xio apologist. This kid went through so much, and had a heart wrenching redemption arc.

Teo will forever have my heart. He is the embodiment of everything I want to instill in my own children.

This book had me laughing out loud, gasping, growling and weeping. It provided some incredible lessons, and powerful ways of viewing the world, your friend, your family and yourself.

This series is incredible, and I can't wait to share it with everyone!

The audio narrator was phenomenal!!

Celestial Monsters was better than the first book!! I really enjoyed being in this world and seeing the changes coming to light that were necessary to move forward. The characters were also much better this time around — I think I had some issues with them feeling younger in the first book (though obviously I’m not the target audience). I liked having another POV in this one as it felt natural. I also thought the writing was better this time too!

The one portion I wasn’t the biggest fan of was the romance. It felt a bit underdeveloped. I just didn’t know what Teo saw in the love interest as they just fell flat to me.

But that being said, if you liked The Hunger Games or Percy Jackson, this series is for you! It really came through strong and needs much more hype!! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ALC in exchange for my honest review!

Celestial Monsters was a great follow up to The Sunbearer Trials. It picks up right where we left of in the last book and jumps right into the action. There was a little bit in the middle of the book where I got a little bored for a while, but it picked back up pretty quickly. Overall a great book!

The audio was really well done as well, definitely would recommend this format!

Celestial Monsters

I absolutely ADORED this conclusion to The Sunbearer Trials duology. This is everything I love about YA. The emotions, the adorkable romance, the jokes and irreverence, the role of teens to save the world. It was so well done and I loved followed the journey.

The representation in this duology is absolutely incredible. So many different ways to see love of all kinds, open acceptance and people being and loving who they are. I also appreciated the non-verbal representation.

Picking up where The Sunbearer Trials leaves off, we follow two POVs: Teo and Xio as they respectively take sides in the impending apocalypse. A delightful return of the characters we loved in book one plus some new personalities sprinkled throughout.

Check this one out if you’re looking for:
✨ YA fantasy duology
✨ Queer love in many forms
✨ Mexican culture and Spanish language throughout

I alternated between the ARC and ALC. The narration was fabulously done. I loved the accents and pronunciations which truly added to the experience of the duology!

Celestial Monsters is on shelves September 3, 2024! My opinions are my own.

I love love loved this. It was everything I wanted it to be. I loved the depiction of friendship and found family. A great sequel and end to a great story.

When I finished book 1 last year I immediately looked into the book 2 release date and cried. The year wait wasn’t the only time I cried, though the wait was worth it.

Teo navigating saving the world and having a crush was absolutely perfect. I also really want to highlight that this is a world where transness is embraced. When an antagonist is revealed to be non-binary everyone corrects to using They/Them pronouns while smack talking.
Aurelio Trying to navigate without his sister broke my dang heart and was a huge reason for a lot of my tears. Also his mommy issues hurt me by proxy.
Mia, this girl is the love of my life and also baby. If anyone is mean to her they can meet me at Chili’s.
I sobbed like the last hour of this audiobook but it was so good.

Thank you to NetGalley, Aiden Thomas; Macmillan Audio | Macmillan Young Listeners for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) and provide my honest opinion/review.

Oh gosh I really wanted to be able to get into this series but I think I missed my time. It has strong Percy Jackson vibes (but make it trans) which in absolutely amazing but a touch too middle grade for my current reading tastes. I've seen plenty of other adults loving this duology though so I'm sure it's personal preference. The narrator does a fantastic job of portraying the urgency and angst the characters are experiencing so I'm sure this will be a hit for others.