YA books about teens competing against one another in an elaborate series of trials are plentiful enough that they could constitute their own genre, but even in a crowded field, The Sunbearer Trials stands out. Set in a lushly described fantasy Mexico populated by gods and their offspring, the novel's title refers to the once-a-decade trials that keep the world from descending into chaos. The winner becomes the Sunbearer, and the loser is sacrificed to the sun god, Sol. The stakes are high, the competition is fierce, and Teo, the main character, is really more of a talk-shit-from-the-stands kind of semidios. When Sol chooses him to compete, he's as surprised as anyone.

Thomas has a talent for world-building, and the world of The Sunbearer Trials is a colorful, queer joy. Teo is trans, his bestie is gay, and their least favorite competitor is nonbinary; at no point is any of this a problem for anyone. There is conflict to spare in the novel, but homophobia is not it. For teens who didn't see themselves in The Hunger Games or who want their fantasy worlds to look a little more like their actual worlds, The Sunbearer Trials has a lot to offer.

I didn't know going in that this novel is the first in a series, and after the specificity with which Thomas describes each of the trials I was surprised by the rapid twists unveiled at the end. A lot happens very quickly, and I wanted a little more information to set up the next book. That said, I'm excited for the sequel, and even more excited for my students to read this novel! Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this amazing book. I really enjoyed this wonderful story full of plot twists, brilliant word-building, and complex, realistic characters all based on Mexican mythology. Comparing it to Percy Jackson crossed with Hunger Games is very much on point. Can’t wait to see what happens next and how it all ends. One of the best fantasies I’ve read this year. Definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys mythology, and fantasy fiction.

Another fantastic book by Aiden Thomas. Their creativity and world-building really shines in this novel. A great read for any fantasy fans that enjoy a clever blend of interesting and inclusive characters, set in a rich and vivid world. It is easy to get lost in this book with the excitement of the trials and all of the challenges and turmoil they bring.

Thank you to Bookishfirst, Fierce Reads for a finished copy of this book!

When the Sunbearer Trials, which only happen once a decade, come back around, Teo doesn't think he has a chance of being chosen. As a Jade, Teo is less worried about being one of the 10 semidioses to compete, and more worried about his best friend, a Gold, being chosen. But then the unthinkable happens: not only is Teo chosen, but Xio, another Jade semidios, is also chosen. Teo and everyone else knows that the Jades are the most likely to lose the Sunbearer Trials and become the sacrifice that renews Sol's protection of their land, but he is willing to do whatever it takes to keep that from happening.

My expectations for this one were completely sky high and I wasn't at all disappointed. Teo is a chaotic disaster bird-boy and I love him. Niya is strong and amazing and soooo chaotic. I would like to be her friend. And Aurelio is such a great character and I wanted more more more scenes with him and Teo and I can't wait for the sequel whenever it comes out so I can see more Teo, Aurelio, and Niya kicking butt and taking names together!

The plot of this is so good! I love competition books like this (kind of Hunger Games - esque) and the added layers of mythos and the Dioses (oh my god, Quetzal is so pure) and Sol the Nonbinary Sun Dios and...Yeah. I don't know how else to talk about this except by naming elements that I loved. It is so so good. The world-building is rich and complex and I was so fully immersed. Also like the world is so queer and trans- normative and I love that soooo much.

This was one of those books that you want to devour in one sitting, but also want to spend your time with and savor. It was a weird push-pull for me in that way. I ended up devouring, but now that it is coming out, I plan on borrowing the audio and really savoring it for a second read-through!

Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, and Violence
Moderate: Murder, Dysphoria, Child abuse, and Child death
Minor: Animal death, Death of parent, and Kidnapping

One thing I have noticed, working with high schoolers, is that I frequently get asked for mythology fiction. For many teens, there first forays into fiction they really loved, was the Rick Riordan books. Since those books were first written this has expanded further to include Rick Riordan presents books, which cover many different mythologies from all over the world. But, for YA, there is not such a variety. Aiden Thomas' book absolutely fills that gap. I can see teens drawn into such a fast paced story that includes life or death trials, gods/goddesses, and demigods. The world Thomas' creates is both relatable, it includes modern tech, and fantastical. I quite enjoyed it myself and look forward to recommending it to my students. (Thank you to Feiwel and Friends and Netgalley for the ARC)

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Sunbearer Trials takes place in the colorful world of Reino del Sol. A place where diós and semidiós live amongst the humans. Every ten years, ten teenage semidiós get chosen to compete in the Sunbearer Trials. A competition of five challenging tasks that will determine who will be crowned the Sunbearer and who will be sacrificed to Sol to keep their world safe.

This book has such a beautifully detailed world that I could picture it so clearly. The colors, the food, the characters, even the sounds were described so perfectly that I immediately felt emerged in the story.
The story is compelling and adventurous, and it was impossible to put down. The trials had me on the edge of my seat and I was equally excited and nervous for the results to come in after each one.

The characters, although they are teenagers full of attitude and insecurities, are still well rounded, interesting, and fun. I couldn’t help but find them all loveable in their own way. Most of them are queer and I loved how no one thinks any differently of them for it. This is one of the few fantasy novels I have read where a character isn’t treated like being queer is their sole personality trait and doesn’t spend the entire novel trying to get people to accept them. This story celebrates people of all genders and sexuality, and it was very refreshing to read.
Overall, this book was a beautiful, fun, and fast paced. I’m extremely excited for book two.

I highly recommend this book for people who love dazzling fantasy worlds, diverse characters, all kinds of queer rep, competitions, teenagers overcoming their insecurities, and characters that learn to work together despite their differences.

If you loved CEMETERY BOYS, you will surely delight in THE SUNBEARER TRIALS, an immediate-suspension-of-disbelief mythological/urban fantasy tale that will take your breath even as it enlarges your imaginative horizons. This is Coming-of-age as never before experienced, I'd venture to conclude. Aiden Thomas is a must-read writer, proving so with each new book. THE SUNBEARER TRIALS is Mexican-flavored fabulism with LGBT+ rep, a fascinating premise and carry-through, and superb writing, ideal for aficionados of Silvia Moreno-Garcia and V. Castro.

The Sunbearer Trials follows Teo, a Jade semidiós, and the trans son of Quetzal, goddess of birds. Teo has never worried about being chosen for the trials since Sol has always chosen "golds" and not jades to compete for the honor of the sunbearer. Until this year, when Sol chooses not one, but two Jades to compete against the golds - Teo and Xio, the 13-year-old son of Mala Suerte, the god of bad luck. Now they must work together to compete against competitors much more powerful than them and to stay alive - while the person who comes in first becomes the sunbearer, the person who comes in last is sacrificed for Sol, and their body is used to fuel the sun stones that protect the people of Reino del Sol from the Obsidians for the next ten years.

Honestly, right from the opening pages of this book, I knew I was going to love it, and Teo, with my whole damn heart. It's a hilarious opening with talking birds and Teo being his unashamed self. The banter between the characters, but especially between Teo and his best friend Niya, was so wonderful and added the perfect amount of humor to balance out the high stakes of the trials. I loved the development of the relationships between Teo, Niya, and Xio, as well as with the 7 other golds in the competition. Teo and Aurelio's relationship developed at a slow but realistic pace, given their history together. I wouldn't necessarily classify this as "enemies to lovers" but it's definitely ex-best friends/rivals/competitors to something more, which honestly I enjoy just as much, if not more, than enemies to lovers. The discussions on gender, sexuality, and gender dysphoria were also fantastic, which isn't surprising from Aiden Thomas. I loved the way that LGTBQIA+ identities were just considered normal and that someone realizing they are trans or not the gender they were assigned at birth was celebrated and viewed as a wonderful and positive thing. I think we could all use a little bit of that right now, and it made me genuinely happy.

The plot and worldbuilding were done very well; there was a strong amount of information presented to give a good sense of the world without being "info-dumpy." The plot moved at a strong pace and I felt like my heart was going to beat out of my chest for the last 25-30% of it. I had my own guesses about what was going to happen to some of the characters and their motivations, but I definitely didn't see the biggest reveal coming. The ending was so intense and iconic, that I literally cannot wait for the second book, even though I know it's going to be forever until it comes out. I may just reread this 5 times until then. These characters and this story burrowed their way into my heart so quickly, just like Cemetery Boys honestly, and I cannot wait to read more from them.

Beautiful. The writing of the characters, places, clothing and action scenes just absolutely had me by the throat. The fact that my heart was physically racing reading through each event and the ending!! my god!! the ending!!! I started reading this book midday and now it’s 1am and I’m just absolutely blown away and itching for book two. It reminded me of all the things I’ve loved so much about YA fantasy in the past.

I wish I could be more coherent but my brain go BRRRR after that one. But long story short this is so so worth the read especially if you’re craving well written YA fantasy that also just happens to have lots of representation.

Teo, the son of the Jade goddess Quetzal, knows that he is unlikely to be chosen for the upcoming Sunbearer Trials, a competition that is held every decade amongst the semidioses to determine who will be crowned the Sunbearer and who will be the sacrifice to ensure the power of Sol is not broken. It is incredibly rare for a Jade semidios to be chosen against the more powerful and popular Golds who train for the trials from early in their childhood. When the time comes for Sol to choose the 10 semidioses who will compete in the trials, Teo believes that his attendance is nothing more than a formality. And then he is chosen to compete, along with his friend Niya. Can the two of them make it through the trials in one piece?

Gorgeous. Phenomenal. Stunning. Absolutely incredible. A little bit Percy Jackson. A little bit Kane Chronicles. A little bit Hunger Games. Completely worth reading. All of the characters are well-rounded and most of them are lovable (*squinting at one of the dioses*). I particularly enjoyed getting to see peeks of the friendships that occur between the side characters. While they aren't explored as much, it helps to make the characters feel more like whole people.

I found the pacing of this book to be very well-done, ending with me on the edge of the seat for the last chunk of the book. The mystery that threads itself through the book had me hooked throughout the trials with the trials themselves being action-packed (and stressful for my little heart). Overall, I had a great time with this book and cannot WAIT for the second book. How am I supposed to wait for a second book? How, I ask you?

Oh. My. God. This book was incredible.

I know y’all keep seeing these comps, but this book really is Percy Jackson meets The Hunger Games but chock full of rich Mexican mythology and trans characters!

This story follows Teo, a jade semidíos who is also the son of Quetzlan (goddess of birds). As a jade, Teo expected to go to The Sunbearer Trials as a spectator who gets to indulge in all the best foods. His world is turned upside down when he’s among the chosen to compete. A jade has never won, and now him and 13 year old Xio have both been selected. These two know they don’t stand a chance against the golds, not even with Niya, Teo’s best friend alongside them.

I LOVED all of the characters in this book. I wish that I also could speak to birds the way that Teo could and corral them into carrying out shenanigans on my behalf. Niya was the perfect best complement to Teo, and she could step on me any time (just saying). I wanted to protect Xio at all costs. I loved the moments between Teo and Xio when they both talk about their trans experiences and dysphoria. We got to see T injections on page as well as other really powerful convos!

THE FOOD. The fact that Aiden is sitting here describing the mouth watering Al pastor, carnitas, conchas & hot chocolate without me having any of those while reading this was so cruel.

The trials themselves were full of adventure and mayhem. I loved seeing the semidíoses compete against one another and watch the stakes continually rise after each one. I found the world building to be so immersive that I felt like I was alongside everyone the whole time.

My only gripe is now I have to anxiously wait for book two.

If you loved "The Hunger Games" or "Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire" or The Percy Jackson series, you'll love this take with Mexican mythology world and gender binary demolishing characters.

Teo is a Jade semidios -- he's not as revered, heroic, or powerful as the Golds. And as such doesn't expect to be chosen by Sol to compete in the Sunbearer trials -- a competition to see who will be sacrificed to keep the darkness at bay, and who will be chosen to spread the power of the sun across the entire kingdom. But on the day of the election, his name is drawn, and he's thrown into a competition where he finds himself woefully unprepared. As he competes in each trial, he becomes more confident in who he is outside of the confines of societal labels. But as the final trial draws near, he has to grapple with the potential of his life being sacrificed or holding the responsibility as Sunbearer.

I'll read any book with even a shred of a dystopian society, but I will gobble up one with a competition! The pacing of the book was balanced with the first quarter spent building the myth and setting, as well as introducing the conflict and characters. When the competition starts, the book speeds by with little time between each trial.

I love Thomas' ability to develop their characters, and I especially loved Teo and Niya's dynamic together. I have high hopes for how Aurelio's character will be further developed in book two, so I hope I'm not disappointed! I also am here for books where gender identity is not the main conflict of a central character's story arc. While some of the scenes where it is addressed could have been better written, I think it's a nice acknowledgement of the representation that makes it feel normalized, as it should!

If you're looking for a page-turning, LGBTQIA+, dystopianesque tale, pick this one up now. Just make sure you can wait for that cliffhanger resolution until book two!

Every decade, ten semidioses are selected to compete in the Sunbearer Trials, a competition that is help to replenish Sol's light and protection. The winner becomes the Sunbearer and carries Sol's light to all the temples, while the loser becomes the sacrifice that is used to fuel the Sun Stones. Teo, a Jade semidios, doesn't expect to be selected, since typically all competitors are Gold semidioses. But not only is Teo selected, so is Xio, another Jade semidios. The two will team up along with Teo's friend Niya to try and survive this decade's Sunbearer Trials.

The Sunbearer Trials was an absolute delight to read. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the dialogue several times, which won't be new if you've read anything by Aiden Thomas before. The last hour of the book was so exciting, and I loved the normalization of trans and non-binary identities present in the book. While the beginning was just a tad slow for me, I think this is a fantastic YA book that will be great for young readers looking for that Hunger Games/Percy Jackson readalike!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

If you liked the mythological storylines integrated into middle-grade novels like the Percy Jackson series, the high stakes and implied romance of YA series like The Hunger Games, and twisty plots like the Red Queen series, you might be primed for The Sunbearer Trials.

Rather than dropping readers directly in medias res, Aiden Thomas provides a cosmological overview of the origins of the titular Sunbearer Trials, giving us an overview of the way this Universe - both like and unlike our own - works. The ruling pantheon is divided among three types of gods - Gold, Jade, and Obsidian - each responsible for a different aspect of the cosmos, and with different goals. The Golds and Jades love their humans, while the Obsidians believe their might and talents should be used to rule as they see fit, which amounts to chaos and death. Golds and Jades team up to round up the Obsidians, eventually binding them in the sky as the constellations.

If you’re unfamiliar with the concept of an unstable universe, you may have a little trouble following along - after the sacrifice of Diose Sol to save Dios Tierra and humankind, the Universe is renewed, and the Obsidians’ bondage assured, every 10 years with a blood sacrifice.

Teo is the son of Diosa Quetzal, a Jade deity in the pantheon (she’s the diosa of birds) of the humans of Reino del Sol. He’s a troublemaker with a heart of gold, whose wisecracks often get him into trouble. Jades, unlike the elite (and, very often, full of themselves) Golds, are barely a step above mortals who they interact with on the regular. Golds, on the other hand spend most of their year away from their families at the Academy, which is a segregated hero-training school.

It’s a Sunbearer Trials year, so Teo is obligated to join his mom for the ritual portions of the competitions, but Jade semidioses are so rarely chosen to compete, he’s planning on kicking back in the stands with his best friend Niya and a backpack full of their favorite candy to watch the show. He’s taking as long as humanly possible to get to Diosa Quetzal’s temple in Quetzalan, including a detour to check out a burning building … and getting rescued by his former friend, and Gold champion, Aurelio son of Diosa Lumbre.

Similar to many “Chosen One” narratives, the Sunbearer selection doesn’t go as planned - this year, two Jades are chosen among the competitors, Teo and Xio, the son of Dios Mala Suerte.

Can Teo keep his friends Niya and Xio safe during the competition? Does he have a shot at becoming the Sunbearer? Read it and find out.

Aiden Thomas once again crafts a lush, vibrant world for readers to fully immerse themselves into with THE SUNBEARER TRIALS.

Situated firmly in Latinx mythology, readers meet Teo, a demigod, as the ritual tournament to keep his world intact begins.

Fans of Percy Jackson, Children of Blood and Bone, Raybearer, and A Song of Wraiths and Ruin will be positively delighted by this next expansion of the mythological canon.

A really gripping play on the YA teen battle formula that Hunger Games exemplified. The Mexican setting, the semidioses, the queer representation are all great, and the gripping plot and the teens making difficult and sometimes stupid choices kept me engaged from beginning to end. I couldn’t believe the cliffhanger that the book ended on, and I can’t wait for the sequel!

Oh, this book is such a wild ride, and I’ll go anywhere Aiden Thomas takes us. THE SUNBEARER TRIALS is a Mexican-inspired YA fantasy novel, the first in a duology, about teen semidioses who compete in a series of trials. The winner - and the loser - fulfill an essential ritual for the protection of Reino del Sol that must occur every ten years, but soon it becomes apparent that there’s something unusual about these trials. There’s so much rich and enthralling world building in this story, about the Gold, Jade, and Obsidian gods, the history of their realm, and the different cultures and people who dwell within it. I loved getting to know each of the ten semidioses who are pitted against each other (and the character art Thomas commissioned brings them to life so beautifully). It’s a very diverse mix, written with such intentionality, with an unapologetically queer and trans lead, Teo (who’s also an absolute chaos demon and a scrappy underdog you’ll be rooting for from page one). I’m particularly obsessed with Niya; we must protect her at all costs! Also Aurelio with that constant little frown! The storytelling is gripping and immersive, and settings Thomas paints for us are so interesting and lovely; I am begging, pleading for a screen adaptation. I can’t wait to read the conclusion to this series. Thanks to Feiwel & Friends and Macmillan Audio for the review copies! This book is out 9/6.

The Sunbearer Trials is an amazing start to a new series. With an all Latino cast, it showcases cultural heritage and mythology like few fantasy novels manage. Teo is transgender, and his identity plays a central role at the beginning of the story. However, the narrative does not revolve around the prejudices and pressures that come with being transgender. Instead, it is something that only adds to Teo's character as a person, especially when he talks about the issue of identity with Xio who is questioning his gender. Other characters in the story utilize "they/them" pronouns or have biological children with someone of the same gender. In this world, gender and sexual orientation are not questioned. One of the secondary characters is also Deaf, and there are lots of times characters will speak and sign at the same time. This is also not seen as unusual but completely natural.

Every competitor in the trials was interesting. In fact, I wanted to know more about the semidioses who were not best friends with Teo. The semidiosas of Spring and Storms, for instance, were such intriguing characters, but they did not get a lot of time on the page. However, I thought this was a one shot. There is still time for them to be more fully developed in other installments of the series. The main characters, including the antagonists, were fleshed out with realistic tragic backstories and complex emotions.

The plot itself felt rushed at the end, but this was before I realized the book was not a standalone. As a cliffhanger, the ending worked well. I cannot wait for the continuation to see what is going to happen. All of the trials were easy to follow, and I found myself rooting for all the different competitors at various times. The action was well paced and balanced by moments of emotion and sincerity. Drama and suspense work together to create a tight story with compelling characters in a world where diversity is not unusual.

I’m so grateful that NetGalley and Macmillan provided access to an ARC of The Sunbearer Trials. This was an excellent read that has me excited for more stories in this universe along with other works by Aiden Thomas. Aiden crafted such a unique and diverse universe that was immersive from the beginning. The general lives of the semidióses would have been interesting enough to write about, but the Sunbearer Trials was a fantastic event to center the story around.

I loved the unique identities of each semidiós, especially that of the protagonist Teo, who was an incredibly authentic character. The author does a fantastic job of crafting the identity of each semidiós without spending too much time on a given character. Watching the cast navigate each trial was exciting. I had zero foresight into the ending, which felt like a forceful punch to the gut.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed this book. Right off the bat, the world-building with the gods and their children was lush and unique. I thought Teo was an extremely strong character, and I loved the representation, especially of different gender identities and having a trans main character. The plot was a tad predictable, but it's YA novel, so that was expected!

However, my caveat with this is that I really feel it should have been a middle grade book instead of YA. It was written young, and would have made a lot more sense if it were written for a middle grade audience. That being said, there was a lot of cursing and mature jokes that popped up at random times. I have no problem with this, but the fact that the rest of the book had a much more juvenile tone to it, these instances felt very out of place.