<i>Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Oopsies, I started this August 2022 and didn’t get past 16% for no good reason, besides maybe the fact that I haven’t read a YA fantasy in a very long time. The writing was fine; I just get overwhelmed when it comes to world-building.

And then I tried again this year and finished it in a day. As it always goes.

Like many other reviews have stated, this is very much <i>The Hunger Games</i> meets <i>Percy Jackson</i>. It’s quick-paced with a group of lovable characters, lighthearted dialogue, and a good sprinkling of action and violence. I thought it was a fun read (human sacrifice plots are fun, right?), although I’m a bit iffy with it being set in the modern world. I think some of the references will date the book and also limit the audience, even if it’s YA. Regardless, I appreciated the rich diversity and fresh spin on otherwise familiar young adult fantasy plot points. I’m notorious for never ever reading beyond book one of a series but I’ll be brave and say it: I’m looking forward to book two.

Aiden Thomas is a best at well written fantasy! He also knows exactly how to represent lgbtq amazingly.
This book had me at magical tournament. It’s very reminiscent of both Percy Jackson and The Hunger Games which is no wonder I absolutely loved it!
I highly, highly, highly recommend everyone read this book, you will not be disappointed!

Holy fuck this was good. I need a sequel IMMEDIATELY. I adored all these characters, which really made the ending hurt in a way I wasn't prepared for. I am sending Aiden Thomas a bill for emotional distress.

WOW truly a masterpiece. Like 0 flaws. Possibly the best YA novel that I’ve read this year. Aiden Thomas’ already great storytelling skills have matured significantly in his third novel, a powerhouse of Mexican-inspired worldbuilding where the half-human children of gods must compete in a series of trials to protect their world. A take on the competition trope that is far from formulaic.

Exceptional fantasy/adventure challenge story with engaging and wonderful diverse characters. All new take on the "Hunger Games" trial concept, which personally engaged me more and felt less surreal. Can't wait for more!

I enjoyed this book even though the plot did not really break any new ground. I loved the inclusion and exploration of the Mesoamerican gods and mythology even though the trial and how the events ultimately unfolded took a fairly standard route. One small thing that tempered my enjoyment was the sassy female best friend who fully supports the main character, something I had already seen in Thomas' first work, Cemetery Boys. Even though the story followed well-trod and familiar paths, I enjoyed the ride and will definitely pick up the sequel.

Fans of Percy Jackson and Hunger Games will be delighted by this story. Teo is a Jade semidios, but not a powerful one, and the seemingly last person to be chosen to participate in the Sunbearer Trials. As the trans son of the goddess of birds, he's flown under the radar his whole life. So when he's chosen for the trials his world is turned upside down as he's suddenly fighting for his life in five mysterious trials.

This was an excellent story from Aiden Thomas, an inclusive adventure that will speak to anyone who has ever felt like the "least likely." I can't wait for the second book of the duology.

Someone said "The Sunbearer Trials" is Hunger Games meets Percy Jackson, and I'd say that was a pretty accurate description. This YA fantasy had colorful worldbuilding inspired by Mexican mythology, which should be more touched on in YA fiction. I love how Thomas brings good representation to their stories.

The competition plotline was unique and exciting, and I enjoyed the mythological setup of the story. It was cool seeing the different gods and their interactions with their demigod children. The characters were also compelling, and I love how Thomas spreads his representation out, not just among the characters we're rooting for, but also those we're warier of. Not everything is black and white, and I think that's what makes Thomas' writing stand out.

The trials were an interesting concept, and I liked how my guesses for the ending kept changing. In the end, I was beyond wrong about most things, which is the best part. I was blown away by that ending and cannot wait for the quest-adventure type book the next in the duology will be.

(Also, this cover is absolute fire.)

I don't even know where to start singing the praises of this book. Aiden Thomas' writing is so rich and gorgeous and vivid. This book is a riot of colors and sounds and smells. It will activate all of your senses. Don't read it hungry. The marketing around this book is pretty spot on- it's Mexican lore/mythology meets Hunger Games but with so much amazing inclusion that is handled without unnecessary commentary- it just is. As it should be.

It's hard to say this sensibly, so I'll just word vomit- but while there is villainy and darkness and suspense, this book is just crammed full of joy from start to finish. The completely normalized representation and inclusion of queer and disabled characters is beautiful and I couldn't help but set this book down feeling hopeful. I recommend this book wholeheartedly to anyone- but particularly if you need a quick and fun read that has darkness within it but left me feeling very light.

Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy!

Aiden Thomas continues to build strong characters and well-paced plots that keep you reading long after you meant to go to bed. Super excited to see where the second book in this duology goes. Recommend for any library that serves high school students.

This is a fantastic book! Aiden Thomas weaves a wonderfully creative story, set in a magical world. I love the world of the gods that Aiden created, and the adventure Teo and this cast of diverse characters are taken on.

Thoughts and Themes: This is a book that I knew I wanted to read before it even was on the shelves. Aiden Thomas is one of my must-buy authors since I read Cemetery Boys and each of his books have been amazing. I don't typically listen to fantasy on audio because I can't always follow along but I decided to listen to this one and follow along on e-book and that was a great experience.

There were so many aspects about this book that I enjoyed, from the world building, to the characters, and the plot. This book grabs your attention from page one and then it never lets you go even after you finish the book and close it. I can't wait to know what happens next for all of our characters, and this world that I have grown to love.

I liked that this book takes some time in the beginning to build up the world for us and explain how things came to be and what they are now. I also like the brief conversations that occur about gender identity and being Trans between Teo and Xio and think that this not only makes sense throughout the book but makes certain parts hit harder as you read.

Characters: In this book you are introduced to several characters and don't worry they all have distinct qualities so that you can tell them apart. You are introduced to our main character, Teo as well as the people that he is competing against in the Sun Bearer Trials, which are Xio, Aurelio, Auristela, Niya, Dezi, Xochi, Marino, and Ocelo.

Throughout the book you get to know some characters a lot more than others but each of them play an important role in moving the story along. I really enjoyed getting to learn about each of the characters but especially love how the website has the character cards so I can keep them separated in my head. It was minor details that I would forget about each character so I did love that each of them had distinct voices and you could tell who was who just by their actions and words.

I love the tension that we get between the characters because of who they are and the rankings that exist in the world. I also like the tension that we see just based on who their parents are and the impressions that they have made because of this. I really enjoy the role that the parents play in this book and how tensions seem to arise more when they are around.

Writing Style: This story is told in third person with a narrator that follows each of the characters with a particular focus on Teo. I liked that the narrator wasn't first person because there were points that I wanted to know what others were thinking and/or doing and we were allowed those moments. I also did like the focus on Teo as our main character because of the relationships that each character has with him.

This is another excellent offering by Aiden Thomas. It was a great, engaging read that would find a great home in any library or collection.

Aiden’s debut, The Cemetery Boys, was among my favorite YA fantasy releases of the last few years and I’ve enjoyed every wonderful book he’s written since. It’s no shock that this is highly anticipated for me and I know many fans are excited about the concept: Percy Jackson meets the Hunger Games? What a perfect Fall book to escape into!

Loved this! So fun! Percy Jackson meets Hunger Games. Teo was a great main character, loved all the side characters. Loved the supportive parents and the gender fluidity being accepted. Can't wait for the sequel.

I gave this a 5 out of 5 stars. I loved the characters and the whole book. I can't wait to get to book two. This one one of my favorite books of the year. I absolutely recommend, I love the Trans rep in this.

I think I'm one of the few who hasn't read the Percy Jackson books. I've seen the movie though, which counts for something. And I've definitely read and watched and loved the Hunger Games.

If you've read reviews, you've probably seen a lot of readers referencing those two series in conjunction with Aiden Thomas' newest, The Sunbearer Trials. They're not wrong. I didn't think I'd get a chance to jump on this novel, but after a fun book gathering with the FierceReads crew and a sneak peek chat from the author... whelp, here I am.

This series has the trials and tribulations of parts of those novels, but it stands on it's own in uniqueness. Every ten years, ten semidioses compete for the honor of Sunbearer. The loser is sacrificied to fuel the Sun Stones to keep the Obsidian gods at bay.

The world building mirrors our present day with a 'gods walk among us' twist. Depending on the color, depends on the almost celebrity status of the semidios. I liked this element and the depth Thomas goes into for the culture, rituals and history of the world he's created without bogging down the plot flow.

The representation is phenomenal. Could you imagine the beauty of having a gender naming day? I loved it! Especially the parts that focus on finding your own identity when you're ready. Which leads me to the characters. Yes, there is magic, gods and dangerous trials, but the characters tie everything together. The modern personal  struggles of family, expectations and self acceptance give each character a role that was grounded in the narrative.

The audio is narrated by André Santana and his voice fits Teo well. I enjoyed the emotion and pacing of the narration as well as the different voices for the other characters. Excellent voice from Macmillan Audio that resonates with this novel.

All of the virtual hugs to Fiercereads and Macmillan.audio for the ability to dive into this gem!! All thoughts are my own!

<i>"Choice is the most powerful forces in existence. Much more powerful than me...Jades, Golds--these descriptors means nothing, really....We gave them to ourselves. It's humanity that has all the power."</i>
--Diosa Opcion

TL;DR: Another important installment by Aiden Thomas when it comes to strong diversity & representation. There's also no doubt that Thomas can write compelling characters (and writes strong dialogue) and was particularly invested in bringing the landscape of Reino del Sol to life, with lush descriptions of the landscape, clothing, and food. But as a work of fantasy, <i>The Sunbearer Trials</i> ultimately falls short, undone by a clunky insertion of the "real" into the fantasy world and wide plot holes in the mythology of the worldbuilding. (Which is a big pet peeve of mine; if you don't mind it, you'll probably enjoy the story more.)

<i>Disclaimer: I received an ARC from Netgalley & the publisher in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Vibes: Billed as Percy Jackson meets Hunger Games, but I'd actually argue it's more like Goblet of Fire (the Triwizard Tournament) meets The Boys (or Umbrella Academy) with a healthy dose of Mean Girls.
Much like Harry being unwittingly entered into the Triwizard Tournament against the odds, so is Teo.
And Thomas' dioses are much more like superheroes than they are Riordan's Greek pantheon (IMHO).

Genre: YA / NA* Urban Fantasy
I don't love the term "urban fantasy," but I hate "low fantasy" even more, so I'm going with it. There are elements of the contemporary/modern world (clunkily) inserted here, and they work against (rather than with) the heavily mythologized fantasy setting.
*NA, especially if you're a fan of the Hunger Games / Goblet of Fire / Ashlords.

Romance Meter: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 ♡
Lots of angsty pining here by Teo.
(IMHO, not as endearing as in Cemetery Boys.)

Character MVP: Niya. Thomas was giving Luisa (from Encanto) here, with the strong, muscley female, who was also kind and loyal. Love it.

Verdict: 3.5 stars, rounding down to 3.
Was this as good (and poignant) as Cemetery Boys?
No, not IMHO.
Was it entertaining?
Heck yes.
Will I read the sequel?
Absolutely.

But as much as I enjoyed it, I can't round up to 4 stars because there were issues that distracted me the <b>entire</b> time I was reading. (Which is a good indicator for me: there are always going to be questions that I have as a reader; but the yardstick is whether I *keep* thinking about them at the cost of pulling me out of the story world.)

(1) <b>First and foremost -- Thomas's entire story hinges on the fact that the reader just accepts that (1) the Sol Stones need to be refueled (despite being pieces of a seemingly omnipotent celestial creator's body) and (2) the only way they can refueled is through the sacrifice of a semidios. Without that sacrifice and refueling, the world ends. </b>

<i>"Every ten years, the sun's power must be replenished so that Sol can continue their path through the sky, keeping our world safe from the Obsidians and monsters that have been locked in their celestial bindings. Ten eligible semidioses between the ages of the thirteen and eighteen are selected as the worthiest to compete in the Sunbearer Trials. The winner will be chosen by Sol as this decade's Sunbearer and join the distinguished ranks of past champions."</i>

Which...

*sigh*

I thought we might get an answer to those questions as the book progressed, and Teo became more self-aware -- and more aware in general. (He's really not a very empathetic person -- when Aurelio confides in him that his life at the Academy is not all rainbows & sunshine, it's like he's never even considered it.)

But we don't get those answers.

I even went back and reread the Creation myth at the beginning to see if there was information that I missed because I didn't quite know what was important yet: it just says that the Sol Stones have to be lit and everything's fine. There's no mention of sacrifices or refueling.
I don't have a problem with Thomas's decision there: it makes for a good story. But the logic underpinning the mythological and fantastical elements isn't there, and it took me out of the story because I kept wondering *why* an omnipotent power needed to be replenished and *why* it had to be the body of semidios that did it. (Like, what is it about a semidios specifically that satisfies the 10-year requirement? Why does it only last 10 years?)

(2) <b>Second, the premise of the Academy -- and the division between the Jades and Golds -- doesn't make complete sense, especially in the context of the Trials.
I don't *fully* understand *why* the Jades and Golds hate each other so much, except that the Golds believe they're innately superior.
So, okay, fine. That's a bit of plot exposition, so sure.
But then why are the Jades excluded from the Academy? If they *can* be chosen for the Trials, and have been (albeit sporadically), why don't they train for it?
The hierarchy reason doesn't make as much sense...The division between the Gods and humans? That makes sense (even if it isn't explored a lot here). But I don't get why, even if Jades are "lesser" than the Golds, they're still praised and revered by humans. And, as we've seen, Teo is arguably just as powerful as the Golds.

(3)<b> Third, the Trials themselves are WEIRD and don't make complete sense.</b>
That is, the Golds go to an Academy to train for these Trials (and to be Heroes; there's conflation there that's very odd) but Teo manages mostly fine without *any* training. The trials don't seem to be as deadly as they're initially portrayed to be -- it's like they're equivalent to the Hunger Games, but in the actual plot, they're fairly tame (by comparison to the horrific barbarity that is Collins' Game). And, in a sense, because what makes the Hunger Games truly horrific is (1) the dystopian setting and (2) the element of chance / lottery.
But here -- Academy training doesn't seem to matter because (1) it doesn't give the Golds much of a competitive edge and (2) it doesn't seem to teach them how to *be* Heroes, like Disney's Hercules has to learn. Because the favored competitors are initially portrayed as arrogant bullies, and the fact that they're judged on that seems to come as a shock to all of them:

<i>"Now is a good time to remind you all that rankings aren't determined simply by the order in which you complete the trials....They are determined by *Sol's evaluation* of how you performed."

"This isn't a scored test like you'd take at school...There isn't a grading rubric or numerical value assigned that determines your rank....Sol is looking for the heart of their champion as well as their sacrifice...That's how the Sunbearer is chosen. You would all do well to remember that."

So, like...what's the point of the Academy except to separate Teo and Aurelio?
And, if Sol judges them and chooses them, I have *questions* about Xio....spoilery questions, so I'll refrain, but again: it doesn't make complete sense.

(4) <b>Fourth, I was NOT a fan of the way Thomas "blended" the contemporary with the fantasy.</b>
Again, it jolted me out of the fantasy world.
First, there were cringey references to TikTak and TuTube and Instagrafia.
Then there were references like these: "Meanwhile, it was like the Golds were all in a secret club, flocking to one another in packs like they were in a high school cafeteria."
If the point was to make it relatable to a YA audience, I didn't find it effective.
If that wasn't the point, then it was doubly ineffective. References to gym class and social media and Pokemon games were very jarring and I was not a fan. They also date the book in a way that, say, the Percy Jackson books aren't. Do I understand *exactly* why cell phones are like a radar to mythological monsters? Nope, but it at least keeps technology out of the books and allows it to be more immersive.

(5) Finally, WTF is up with the gods?
I'm not entirely sure I understand the mythology -- but neither the Jades nor the Golds seem as powerful as the Obsidians, despite heavily outnumbering them.
And at the end of the book, when shit goes sideways, they do literally nothing as the Obsidians rampage and cause chaos. Which...mmmkay. Sure.
This, of course, shifts the key roles to the semidioses, like in Percy Jackson, but at least in Rick Riordan's books, we know *why* the gods aren't interfering: they've made a vow to distance themselves from mortals and not meddle. They don't even help their own kids out (mostly), and stay holed upon Olympus.
No such isolation here: the dioses are down on...Earth? IDK. Sure...ruling and interacting with their kids and mortals. Their kids are pretty powerful, so I can imagine that undiluted immortal blood should make the gods pretty powerful. But we only see them strategize -- not act. Not a great look.

To replenish the sun gods' 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 strongest semidioses are chosen and are generally the children of the strongest gods, the gold gods, very rarely are the children of the jade gods chosen. When they are they are at a disadvantage. This decade the children of TWO jade gods are chosen. This book was wonderfully written, the world building was excellent, and the characters were well fleshed out and easy to connect to and care for.

Pitched at Percy Jackson meets The Hunger Games, The Sunbearer Trials the next must-read YA fantasy. This book is full of heart with vibrant worldbuilding and characters you will both love and hate.

Words cannot express my excitement for Aiden Thomas’ newest book The Sunbearer Trials. Having read and adored The Cemetery Boys and Lost in the Never Woods, I knew this would be another book of my heart — and I was not disappointed! I tried writing a normal review and it was a giant mess, so here are five reasons I loved this book and think you will, too.

Intricate and Vivid Worldbuilding

We all know that worldbuilding is the quickest way to my heart and Thomas crafted a full world to immerse the reader into. The book begins with an origin myth of the world, succinctly situating the reader in the world. The rich descriptions of the various cities and settings transport the reader into Reino del Sol and let me tell you: this book will make you hungry! The delicious foods and candy? I need to eat them now. And you can because the book is unabashedly Mexican-inspired and those treats can be found.

I adore mythology and quite frankly it is refreshing to see a world inspired not by Greece or Rome but Mexico. This is a book where gods are real and they live among mortals. Like in Percy Jackson, the gods semidiós (demigod) children who – depending on who their godly parent is – will train in a fancy school to become heroes. But our main character Teo is not one of them.

Addresses Privilege

One of my favorite parts of this book is how it addresses privilege and questions the very systems of power within Reino del Sol. There are three types of gods: the Golds who are the most powerful, the Jades who are excluded from the Academy, and the Obsidians who are evil and were banished. The Golds are the ones who train in the Academy to become heroes, who live apart from the very mortals they protect, whereas the Jades live among the mortals and aren’t afforded the same opportunities.

This system would be unjust no matter what, but an addition wrinkle is that only the Golds train to compete in the Sunbearer Trials that takes place every ten years. When two Jades are chosen by Sol to compete in these trials, they are at a severe disadvantage and are seen as easy sacrifices. Who are Teo and Xio supposed to compete when they not only have no training but also “less favorable” powers? And just how are the rankings even made?

Characters to Love and Hate

It wouldn’t be an Aiden Thomas book without the characters stealing my heart! Teo is such a kind main character who you can’t help but root for and his best friend Niya is a ride-or-die Gold who also checks her privilege. The two of them take Xio under their wings in the Trials and I love it when groups of misfits band together. I enjoyed learning more about Niya and Aurelio and watching them evolve over the course of the Trials.

Queernormative world with trans rep

In addition to the Latinx representation, this is also a queernormative world that is especially trans accepting. If a semidiós discovers their gender doesn’t align, a gender confirmation ceremony is held to celebrate them — and I love this. 

So many people are going to see themselves in this book and that it incredibly special.

That. Ending. BOOK TWO WHEN?

The way the book and duology is plotted? *chef’s kiss* I am genuinely frothing at the mouth to get my hands on the rest of the story as soon as possible, because I need to know. One thing I really appreciate is that it’s a cliffhanger, but kind of a soft one? Like we know the next steps and the plan, it’s just a question of what will happen and I am here for it. Literally cannot wait!

I received an eARC from the publisher via Netgalley for my honest review. This has not affected my opinions or the contents of my review. I have since purchased a finished copy.