The Sunbearer Trials

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Thank you to MacMillan Children’s Group and the author for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! The five trials are each unique, and the challenges are thrilling to read. There is a cliffhanger at the end of this book, which is not surprising, as this is the first of a planned duology. The ending is satisfying, and it makes you eager to know what will happen next. Unfortunately, we will have to wait until the second book is published.

Thomas: Teo was actually not the original protagonist when I came up with the idea for The Sunbearer Trials! It was originally going to be a dual POV story and the two main characters are still in the book! (Can you guess who?) Originally, Teo was actually the love interest! But as I started telling this story I realized Teo was really the one at the center of it. He’s the one who can see past all the fame and luxury of the upper class (the Golds), and he’s the one who’s going to make change. Teo is the hero of this world and the only one these other characters would rally behind!

This item contains adult content

for bunterasu Fandoms: The Sunbearer Duology - Aiden Thomas, The Sunbearer Trials - Aiden Thomas, Cemetery Boys - Aiden Thomas Thus begins Teo’s journey in The Sunbearer Trials, where he finds new friends and rediscovers old ones, while also making new enemies along the way. With five mysterious trials coming up against opponents who have trained for these competitions all their lives, how will Teo fare?

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. Teo, a 17-year-old Jade semidiós and the trans son of Quetzal, goddess of birds, has never worried about the Trials…or rather, he’s only worried for others. His best friend Niya―daughter of Tierra, the god of earth―is one of the strongest heroes of their generation and is much too likely to be chosen this year. He also can’t help but worry (reluctantly, and under protest) for Aurelio, a powerful Gold semidiós and Teo’s friend-turned-rival who is a shoo-in for the Trials. Teo wouldn’t mind taking Aurelio down a notch or two, but a one-in-ten chance of death is a bit too close for Teo’s taste.

Teo is a lil troublemaking Jade semidios (demigod), son of the Goddess of Birds, Quetzel. Teo has to go to a human school because, unlike the Gold semidios, he's not allowed at the academy. I’m getting good at this! Pico said, repeatedly banging his head on the nozzle as he sprayed light blue paint haphazardly across the beaming faces of the Gold semidioses. Everything I dislike about YA fiction is present in this story. The constant talk of others’ physical appeal, the feelings of attraction rendering themselves through the character’s chest or stomach, the uni-dimensional character sketching, the rambling,… There’s also a sprinkling of cuss words. The only thing missing was outright lust, which I was grateful for. He let go violently, throwing down Xio's chin. "I will not accept a son who can't even find his way in the dark."

The journey to the title of Sunbearer is awesome. The trials are quite unique and the challenges are thrilling to read.

Thomas’s queernormative world and distinctly drawn cast deliver an upbeat fantasy teeming with captivating worldbuilding, earnest friendships, and electrifying adventure." — Publishers Weekly, starred review And that's where Teo and Niya found him, knees hugged to his chest as he tried to calm his raging heart before continuing on the path. Pico and Peri used their talons to hook into the advertisement’s canvas, giving them something to hold on to while they wielded the cans of spray paint and got to work.

About the Author: Aiden Thomas (he/they) is a trans, Latinx, New York Times Bestselling author with a MFA in Creative Writing from Mills College. Originally from Oakland, California, they now make their home in Portland, OR. Their books include Cemetery Boys, Lost in the Never Woods, and The Sunbearer Trials (The Sunbearer Duology #1) The novel perfectly balances the vibrant, energetic Latinx culture while delving into heavy topics like LGBTQ+ acceptance, deportation, colonization, and racism within authoritative establishments." —TeenVogue.comto replenish the sun’s power & keep the obsidian gods at bay, each decade 10 semidioses are chosen to compete in the sunbearer trials. the winner gets the prestige of travelling through reino del sol to replenish the sun stones. the loser, however, gets the greatest honor— a sacrifice to sol to fuel the sun stones. the children of the mighty gold gods train their whole life for this trial, unlike the children of the jade gods who historically have never been chosen. until now. until teo. what's a semidiós to do except try his hardest to survive? Fantastic storyline: Teenage demigods from the land of Sol compete in the Sunbearer Trials every decade to keep Sol 'alive' and to keep the Obsidians at bay. The Obsidians are the Titans. So 10 competitors must compete and 1 will win the right to be Sunbearer and 1 will lose all and be the sacrifice to keep Sol alive and the Obsidians at bay. The demigods don't get a choice. Sol chooses the 10 who will compete. The premise is top notch and I absolutely love. how Thomas weaves this wonderful world where gods have children (demigods) with humans and those children often carry with them gifts from their godly parent. Teo has wings and can talk to birds. He also bleeds jade, which is the color of his caste. The gold caste bleeds gold. Another anticipated read ending up being very alright. Not to be dramatic but I waited 2-3 years for this one. I guess because Cemetery Boys was too good but I have to learn to stop comparing authors different books to each other because then I get disappointed.