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.

It’s possible this is my favorite duology.

We are back exactly where we left off in the first books and dealing with the aftermath of the decisions made in that book (no spoilies) but it has adventure, romance, drama and so much heart.

There were a few parts that dragged a hair but it is just really great and the characters are so fun to be with.

Thanks to netgalley and Macmillan audio for an alc

I love these characters so much. I will say it again but this is if Percy Jackson was written in 2024 and super gay. What’s better than that???

The plot of book one is pretty hard to beat and I think that hurt my rating of this one. This picks up right where the first left off and then follows both Teo and Xio as they navigate the aftermath. There is a great sense of adventure and I loved the shared pov but it felt a little simple. However, the ending again had a great twist. I can’t wait to see how book three, if there is one, will continue the story.

I will forever root for Aiden Thomas!

This was a terrific ending to this wonderful duology. I really enjoyed the quest that Teo, Aurelio and Niya went on. This book was adventurous and packed with action. Andre Santana did a great job with the audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for this advanced copy! You can pick up Celestial Monsters on September 3, 2024.

I absolutely loved this conclusion to The Sunbearer Duology. Aiden Thomas did a phenomenal job creating beautiful character arcs for our main cast and weaving in heart-pounding action amid important character development scenes. The monsters were grotesque but vividly described, and I was surprised how much I enjoyed the new POV introduced in this book. As much as I love being in Teo's head, it was refreshing to view the world of Reino del Sol through another lens that's been impacted by such vastly different experiences.

The slowburn romance between Teo and Aurelio was also SO incredibly sweet, and I loved every single interaction between them! But this book was about much more than just romantic love – Thomas also focused on the importance of friendship and the complicated love that exists within families. Every relationship just felt so achingly relatable, and it made the ending that much more emotional (yes, I did cry at my desk at work).

And, of course, it's beautiful and refreshing to see a queer-normative fantasy world full of people from diverse backgrounds (including disability rep!). I can't wait to see more books embrace this, and I'll be picking up the rest of Thomas's book expeditiously!

10/10, will always recommend.

Thank you Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners, and NetGalley for the advanced electronic audio review copy of this great book. This is the conclusion of The Sunbearer Trials Duology. I was looking forward to this book since I loved the first one so much; however, this book dragged in places so it wasn’t as enjoyable (plot-wise) as the first one for me. Yet, each character’s growth and development was evident in this book as well and it was a great conclusion to the series. The narrator did a wonderful job bringing the story to life. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys mythology and fantasy fiction.

Celestial Monsters is a great finale to The Sunbearer Trials. We follow Teo and his friends as they aim to restore Sol and rescue their friends. I liked the way that Shio had a redemption arc. This was a fun, quick read that will be satisfying to readers.

Celestial Monsters picks up exactly where The Sunbearer Trials left off and it’s a wild ride from the start! The world building in this series was already so lush, but it was expanded upon in this second book and I loved it. The plot did drag a little in the middle, but I am not too upset about that because the characters made up for it. I love Teo and Aurelio so much! Niya kind of annoyed me at times, but I also get that they’re also teenagers and are supposed to be annoying. The writing was also so so so good. It was so lush and descriptive without being purple. I just love this series so much and I was so thankful I got to listen to an advanced copy!

Thank you NetGalley for an Audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think if you loved the first book, you’ll also love this one. It’s still engaging, fast paced, with high stakes and memorable characters.

Xio must grapple with their choices and the results of them. Teo, Aurelio, and Niya are on a quest to help stop the Obsidians, and they face many obstacles along the way. Teo and Aurelio are just the cutest. I love them and their burgeoning relationship. The end is bittersweet and triumphant, and I think well done for the duology.

My few nitpicks are that I really didn’t like most of the female characters. Niya and Aristella are insufferable. The male characters are so well done, it was just disappointing there wasn’t a balance.
Also this is very much a YA book. Parts could veer into after-school-special.

The audiobook narration is great, and the same narrator does both books. If you love YA books with great characters, amazing representation, and lots of action, I would recommend this duology.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the preview. All opinions are my own.