ugh i loved this audiobook so much. the characters, the plot, the writing style, the narrators, literally loved every single second of it.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook.

I read The Sunbearer Trials over a year ago and really loved it! I had thought about rereading it before diving into Celestial Monsters but realistically I just didn't have time. I was mildly confused in the beginning of this book and did have to go back and read some reviews to remind myself what happens at the end of book 1 since Celestial Monsters really dives in right where book 1 ended.

I love this world and the characters - the diversity of the characters in particular is something that just really adds to my enjoyment. A great example is that there are a couple of scenes where a character is trying out different pronouns and says so in the middle of a verbal argument with another character - and that other characters says "oh okay" and then just seamlessly switches to the new pronouns even while still mad at the other person. All of the side characters are really well fleshed out too.

I thought the use of dual POV here was really cool - it's not often that you see the "villains" point of view and I could see how Xio struggled with their decisions.

I did eye read the first book in the series which I do think helped me a little bit however I did LOVE the narration in book 2! André Santana did a wonderful job making each character's voice distinct and had wonderful accent work and I loved the addition of all the Spanish.

My only real complaint about this book is that Xio's change of heart happens quite suddenly - I actually had to back the audio up a little because I thought I had missed them coming to the realization. I think just slowing that scene down a beat or two would have been a little easier to follow.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Wow what an amazing ending to this duololgy I’m truly so sad for this series to be over the journey our Heroes go on throughout this story was so beautiful and I loved every moment of it From the culture and the cute romance between Teo and Aurelio this series will go down as one of my favorites. Thank you, NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced audio arc in exchange for an honest review.

It has been quite a while (probably since One Last Stop) since I felt such a strong love and connection to a group of fictional people. The characters in this series are stupendous and are the reason I will likely give it another shot. The first book was one of my favorites from last year and was a win for me on every level. I’m currently pretty devastated that I didn’t feel that same pull during my read of Celestial Monsters. The plot struggled without the competition format; I kept zoning out and was never able to get invested. Unfortunately, this won’t make my list of favorites, but I have extreme respect for Aiden Thomas' character development and will continue to read everything he writes. Thank you Aiden Thomas Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for my advanced review audiobook. My opinions are my own.

Plot - 2
Writing and Editing - 4
Character Development - 5
Narration - 5
Personal Bias - 2
Final Score - 3.6

I really enjoyed The Sunbearer Trials and requested an eARC of the conclusion to the duology shortly after joining Net Galley. Sadly, it was not to be so when I saw the audiobook, I jumped at the chance.

I would recommend doing a reread of the first book before diving into this one. As it picks up right where the last one left off without much explanation of the events of the last book, it could be confusing.

I felt that it was a stronger book overall. The relationships show more nuance and the characters are easier to understand. I listened to the entire thing in about a day. I think I prefer the audiobook because it helped me understand pronunciation of some of the words I am not sure I would have gotten correct otherwise.

Thank you to Net Galley and MacMillian Audio for the audiobook!

This was such a good sequel, I loved the dual pov and am glad the story wasn't extended past what it was.

"Celestial Monsters" picks up where the "Sunbearer Trials" left off. In the final novel of the Sunbearer Duology, there are chapters from both Teo and Xio's perspectives. While Teo and friends travel trying to save their friends, retrieve the sunstone, and reignite Sol, Xio struggles with his identity as an obsidian.

I found this novel to be adventurous and delightful! Something I think this book does best is its queer representation. I've never read a book where I felt it was done so well and naturally. There are gay, trans, lesbian, and non-binary, characters. One character has a character arc that shows their struggles with their own gender identity, and it is incorporated so seamlessly into the story. I really think the author did a wonderful job with the queer representation.

I enjoyed following the characters on their adventure, and seeing their relationships develop. Niya constantly made me laugh, and I was routing for the characters the entire way through.

I was honored to get an audio ALC, and thought the narrator did a fantastic job! Since I read book one, I wasn't sure I would feel about switching to narration, but I really enjoyed getting to hear the narrator explore different voices for the characters. I especially feel the voice for Chupacabra was so unique! This duology is also inspired by Mexican culture, and thus incorporated a lot of Spanish words, names, and locations. The audiobook narrator had a natural Spanish accent that felt authentic (assuming they chose a narrator who is a fluent spanish speaker). It made the world feel very realistic.

My only qualms with this novel is Teo and friends are a little too forgiving and easily trusting after being betrayed in book 1. Other than that, this story was so much fun to listen to, and I highly recommend for the YA audience.

4.5/5 stars

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an advance listener's copy in exchange for an honest review!

A Delightfully Inclusive Sequel with Depth and Wit

"Celestial Monsters" by Aiden Thomas, the sequel to "The Sunbearer Trials," picks up immediately where the first book left off. This time, the narrative is enriched by including Xio's perspective alongside Teo's. This dual perspective adds significant depth and character development, showcasing their growth in a way that feels organic and engaging.

I absolutely love the characters in this series. The shenanigans and witty remarks from Aurelio, Niya, and the rest of the cast are both entertaining and endearing. These interactions add a delightful layer of humor and camaraderie that keeps the story lively and enjoyable.

One of the standout aspects of this series is its inclusivity. I wish I had books like this when I was growing up, as it wonderfully showcases LGBTQIA+ representation. It's refreshing and important to see such diverse characters and relationships portrayed so naturally and positively.

The narration by André Santana, as in the first book, is excellent. His performance brings the characters to life with distinct voices and emotional depth. I found the ideal listening speed to be 1.75x, which kept the pacing perfect and the story engaging from start to finish.

Overall, "Celestial Monsters" is a fantastic continuation of the series. It's a beautifully inclusive and captivating story that I highly recommend.

Thank you Mcmillian Audio, NetGalley, & Aiden Thomas for this eARC!

Love this author and the chance to revisit this world and spend more time with these characters. I just really wish I had read the first book more recently or did a reread before jumping into book 2. I think I needed a quick, ‘previously on…’ recap to be more prepared to jump right in where the last book left off. Because of that and my slightly hazy memory it took me a bit to catch up and separate the characters in my head/remember each one’s backstory and powers to get to the point where I could just focus on their quest. Maybe that would have been different/faster if I had the book in front of me instead of listening to the audiobook. Either way, good to know it picks up right where the last ended with the trio on their quest to save their friends and the world. Overall I enjoyed the journey, the dynamics/banter between the characters, meeting new faces (and creatures) along the way, diving deeper into the world, and the exploration/interrogation of power, tradition, responsibility, and family. It’s easy to relate to Teo, who’s carrying a lot, and just trying to make things right - even if his understanding of what that is evolves. You can’t help but cheer him and his besties on, just wanting to adopt them all/keep them safe/let them live their lives. Like cool monsters, found family, identify exploration, adorable crushes, epic battles, good vs evil vibes, redemption arcs, and folks not afraid to question authority? If so, you’ll probably like this one too.

Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook. Narrator was good, just took me a little bit to get the hang of the alternating POVs.

I really liked the first book in this duology as it was a fun story with great trans representation, however this book fell a little bit flat for me. There was some obvious pacing issues at the beginning of the book and the characters didn’t undergo any further development. I think had this book been a spin-off of just the semidioses adventuring together and encountering these celestial monsters I would have loved it. As it is, for a book that follows such a crazy cliffhanger it just felt like nothing happened.

In the riveting conclusion to the Sunbearer Duology, Teo, Aurelio and Niya are in a race to save the world from the Obsidian gods after Teo refuses to make a sacrifice at the conclusion of the Sunbearer Trials. To put the world right again the friends must find the Sol stone and rescue the semidioses from the Obsidians.

Can the trio make the world right again without sacrificing a semidios, or are they bound by the tradition of the gods?

Aiden Thomas' world building is terrific, and beloved characters are back to finish off the duology. Thomas' story questions traditions asking - Is there a better way? Fans of Hunger Games and Percy Jackson will enjoy these books.

4.75 stars rounded up.

A beautiful conclusion to the Sunbearer Trials, Celestial Monsters dives into friendship, parent issues, and a budding Achillean romance.

This takes place immediately after the first book and finds Xio with the Obsidians and Teo with Niya and Aurelio setting off on their quest to restore the sun.

I really enjoyed Xio's POV and found the character development to be incredible. The questers' journey felt a little slow, but ultimately each step made sense in reaching the end. I absolutely loved all the cultural elements and exploration of the semi-dioses' abilities.

This is the fourth Aiden Thomas novel I've read and will absolutely continue to read more! Highly recommend for teens 13+.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review!

Just like this first book, this follow-up was incredible. I absolutely loved Cemetery Boys and this duology reminded me of what I loved in Cemetery Boys -- fantastic characters, compelling storyline, redemption, and coming of age. I loved the fantasy elements and the way that while it felt in part like the Hunger Games ultimately it was a story all its own. I appreciated that the main characters questioned the validity of the system and why it had not been changed sooner. It brought up a lot of important social issues like how the people in power write history and how that damages those who do not have power and are oppressed, how they're often villainized. I think this would be an important addition to any library that serves grades 7-12 and beyond. It would also be a great gift for any reader who's a fan of fantasy, the Hunger Games, or Thomas' other work.

I screamed when I got the email that I was approved for the audiobook ARC of Celestial Monster. I loved The Sunbearer Trials so much and I was desperate to see how it concluded. It was a definite bonus that it had the same fantastic narrator as the first book.

Celestial Monsters picks up immediately after the events of the first book as Teo, Niya, and Aurelio set off to save the other competitors. Teo and Niya are struggling with their guilt and Xio’s betrayal. And Aurelio is hung up on his guilt over his sister.

But they’re not so hung up in their guilt that Teo and Aurelio can’t be world class piners.

And Xio is having to live with the consequences of their actions even as they begin to question if it was worth it.

The Sunbearer Trials introduces the question of what kind of world would allow children to be sacrificed every decade, and that question is a continuing theme within Celestial Monsters.

There are not enough stars in the world to adequately express how much I love this duology, and particularly this book, so I guess 5 will have to do.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to bawl my eyes out.

The Sunbearer Trials was a surprise hit for me. I kept seeing the beautiful cover and picking it up but never really want to actually read it. I finally broke down and listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed it. I was looking forward to sequel and was very excited when I got a free audio ARC.

The Celestial Monsters continues the story from the first book. After the Sunbearer Trials (the actual trials, not the book) didn't end the way it was supposed to all of the Obsidians (Celestial Monsters) have returned to Earth and are wrecking havoc around the land. It's up to Teo and his friends to find a way to destroy the Obsidians and restore order to the world.

Once again, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This story was mostly the quest, but it did add to the world-building that was started in the first book (and what a cool world it is). I loved seeing a little more about how everyone's powers worked. I really enjoyed that we got to see different cities and how those cities functioned depending on their Dios. And I enjoyed that we got to see more Dioses from Latin American folklore. I think this story was a lot of fun and a great conclusion to the duology. If you enjoyed the first book then I am pretty sure you will enjoy this one as well. I highly recommend this duology.

I LOVED the first book of the duology. The second book was decent, but not as great. The story arc was a little slow. I still enjoyed the friendship and the action, but it was a little arduous to get through. That being said, still better than so many books out there. Just didn’t have the same magic as the first.

Celestial Monsters picks right back up where The Sunbearer Trials left off. The Sun is gone, the world is in chaos, and monsters are wreaking havoc on Reino del Sol. Teo teams up with Aurelio and Niya on a quest to rescue the captured semidioses and restore Sol, all the while fighting the Obsidian gods and dealing with the betrayal from their friend Xio.

I absolutely loved that the POV switched from both Teo and Xio, where we got to see Teo’s blooming relationship with Aurelio as he proves his worth within the trio and Xio’s conflicting feelings as they deal with the guilt of abandoning their adoptive father to make proud their biological father.

I thoroughly enjoyed the scenes where Teo got to show off his communication skills with birds and learn that the relationship between the gods and humans wasn’t as perfect as it seemed. I also liked seeing Xio discover their worth besides being a pawn for their father and their character development as they realized who their true friends/family were.

I absolutely adored "The Sunbearer Trials" and thought it added a refreshing touch to the subgenre of mythology based books. Unfortunately, I had a time getting into "Celestial Monsters". The pacing of the book felt off for me. The book is split in two perspectives/subplots: Xio gets his own pov and the trio Teo, Aurellio, and Niya go on a quest. I actually thought Xio's pov was the strongest and compelling of the two while the trio's quest seemed repetitive to me - go to a new town/area, meet the town's monsters and battle them.

I was hoping for more character development, but it seemed like all of the big epiphanies that the characters had were told in the narrative instead of shown and the plot became convoluted. There were times that I wished this series was split into three books instead of stuffed in two. Despite these issues, I adored the characters and enjoyed the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan for an early review copy of the book.

The book is the second one in the Sunbearer Duology. Teo's world is plunged into perpetual darkness following the release of the Obsidian gods from their ancient prison. Teo's refusal to sacrifice a fellow semidios during the Sunbearer Trials has triggered catastrophic events.
The story centers on Teo, who, along with his crush Aurelio and best friend Niya, embarks on a quest to battle monstrous creatures and cope with personal guilt and trauma. The trio's ultimate goal is to rescue the captured semidioses and retrieve the Sol Stone, vital to restoring the sun and the protective light for order in their world.

The novel picks up immediately where Book One left off. The story continues to excel in its world-building and well-developed characters. You will feel the struggle for Teo, who is grappling with the heavy burden of his decisions and their consequences. His growth from a reluctant hero to a determined leader is inspiring and a journey of sacrifice and redemption. Aurelio and Niya support the storyline. Their vulnerabilities and the emotional depth of their relationships add a compelling layer to the story, making the reader invested in their journey not just for the sake of the world but for the characters themselves. The narrative is fast-paced, humorous, and action-filled, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. It's a must-read for fans of epic adventures and richly crafted worlds. Teo and his friends are worth rooting for.

I received an ARC audiobook for my honest review. The audio narration fills the story with drama and a voice that takes you on an exciting ride.
Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.

This series is truly everything I love about YA fantasy. It’s just so much FUN. I genuinely love Aiden’s story telling style and how he crafts his worlds and characters. It’s always so immersive and I’m always sad to leave.

This book picks right where Sunbearer Trials left off. Which I LOVED. This has some truly edge of your seat action & fight scenes, and scenes that made my heart absolutely soar. And the ending was so incredibly satisfying it made me SOB.

I will yap about and recommend this duology for the rest of my days.

The audio narration was particularly well done! I was so impressed.