Content warnings: violence, imprisonment, mental and emotional torture, sensory deprivation, murder, suicide

I honestly wasn't sure if Thomas was going to be able to wrap this whole thing up in only two books with SO MUCH happening, but CELESTIAL MONSTERS has one hell of a final battle and wraps up most of the loose ends with a satisfying conclusion. The twist of how the conflict finally ends had me in tears. This one has very different vibes from the first book and overall there is less action but they complement each other well.

I need a Niya spin-off because our girl was amazing and I loved seeing more of her humor and her emotional struggles with not being able to save everyone all the time. The Xio reveal at the end of the first book still had me reeling and I liked what Thomas does in this book to give readers a more in-depth picture of who Xio is and why they did what they did. There was a moment towards the end where Teo stepped up to be the voice against the powerful gods and I was cheering.

Overall this was a great read and a solid duology that I look forward to putting into the hands of our teen patrons.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Feiwel & Friends in exchange for an honest review.

Listen. I loved The Sunbearer Trials and expected another five-star read. I still liked this one, especially Xio, the boy I already had a soft spot for in the first book, but somehow, it couldn’t hold my attention like its prequel did. It might be because it dragged sometimes, and it took me a week to finish it, the longest in years, or because Celestial Monsters didn’t surprise me as much as Sunbearer. Anyway, I still loved Teo and Aurelio, I still had fun, and I still love this duology.

This was one of my most anticipated books of the year and I literally squealed when I saw that I'd received the ARC! Celestial Monsters picks up right back to where readers left off and immediately dives into exciting adventure. Aside from the budding romance, which had me grinning the whole time, what I really loved in this book was the way that Teo, Aurelio, and Niya observe their world, the mistakes that their parents made, and other ways to live. It was such a good lesson of not repeating the mistakes your parents made and gave me hope about the new worlds that can be created if we think outside of the box and look towards the things people are doing right now that are working. I'm sad the duology is over but it was a delightful read and one I will definitely recommend and return to.

4.5/5

Celestial Monsters

This was such a fun sequel that brilliantly caps off a duology that I can’t help but recommend relentlessly and vigorously. The characters are so vibrant and warm, they’re each so unique and interesting and as a big found family, this had me smiling from start to end.

While there were a couple things I would have loved to see / see more of— like Sol and the history of the trials, a reckoning with Lumbre, and a final battle that was more exciting, this was a satisfying end and largely delivered and surprised.

The jokes really land and I loved seeing these characters come into their own and mature, while not completely feeling too adult and unrealistic. They have cute crushes and awkwardness, they’re emotional and volatile, they’re eager to please their parents and heroes, and yeah they don’t have a solid “save the world plan, but they also have that air of bravery and invincibility like only the young can have.

I love what the author did with Xio’s POV, and the overall themes and messages of acceptance, equality, and love were well written. There were so many rich elements of Mexican culture included which made my heart so happy. From the food to our legends and myths, everything about this is a beautiful celebration of the vibrancy of Mexican culture, community, cuisine, and history. Down to TúTube which constantly made me giggle.

Since this picks up right where The Sunbearer Trials, a warning that everything from here on out will be a spoiler.

I was so pleasantly surprised to see this told in dual POVs with Xio have nearly the same amount of page time and chapters at Teo. It was fascinating to take us into Xio’s head right after the betrayal and as he begins to war with himself and everything he thought he gained with the Obsidians. Xio makes for a good villain at first but an even more interesting nuanced character as we delve into his thoughts and emotions. You really start to see how all his life experiences led him to this betrayal and can’t help but feel for him. This was executed perfectly and Xio’s arc was my favorite.

Maybe it’s because of this that I felt like Teo was more of backseat character than the main character. And it’s not because he isn’t featured prominently, but maybe it’s because I just didn’t get the emotional arc from Teo that I expected. He feels guilt for the consequences of his actions sure, but I didn’t feel there was enough time spent really sitting with Teo with those emotions. This lack of setting in and feeling all the emotions since the betrayal is hinted given that the crew must immediately go on a quest to save the world, but it made Teo’s part in this book more forgettable.

I also felt the romance with Aurelio and Teo was a bit too stilted and awkward, and not because they’re young teens, but mostly because the emotional connection felt so stunted. There’s a lot swirling around emotionally with Aurelio which we see in bits and pieces which made me curious about our quiet emo love interest, but we just didn’t get enough of a big emotional breakthrough with him and Teo, so it felt a bit unfinished.

Adding to this is the lack of reckoning with Lumbre. We learned a lot about how terribly Lumbre treats her semidiose children, especially Aurelio, but there’s even more that Aurelio reveals and which we see directly at the end of CM. What bothered me is that there is never really a reckoning specifically with Lumbre. No other gods set her straight after Teo’s speech, and even when Sol makes his decision to remove the Gods from earth, I expected lumbre to argue back and be put in her place, instead, she and the other gods just stay silent and do nothing. There’s never even a quick reconciliation between Lumbre and her children or even signals that Auristela finally sees her mother for who she is. It was a missed opportunity for a big emotional payoff moment.

The ending in general felt a bit lackluster and a sacrifice is still needed for Sol. This felt unnecessary and honestly just lends credence to the belief that a sacrifice was always needed at every Sunbrearer Trial. So I wasn’t sure that it stuck the landing in the message that none of this was really needed and the power structure was warped. It would have hit home better had we seen that a sacrifice was not needed in fact. Instead it felt a bit confusing and empty. Will the obsidians be able to return from the stars banishment again without a sacrifice? If not, how did the sacrifice even start and why? If the world can just go on without the gods being there and ruling entirely, then why did Sol wait so long? It just didn’t make sense to simply say “ok humans, govern yourselves the gods are in time out” and deflated the overall power system a bit. It also makes me wonder in semi dioses will even continue or if gods will be allowed to procreate with humans or if Teo and his class are the beginning of the end of semi diocesan existing? I might be reading into it too much but it made me wonder about the overall sustainability of this world in the aftermath.

Lastly, while I loved the scenes of the semi dioces fighting the obsidians in the end, I wanted more of the gods themselves stepping in. I wanted to see more of their powers and what the semidioces might one day grow into power wise. The Sunbearer trials were so exciting as we saw how the semidioces used their powers in unique and challenging ways.

So ultimately, while I think this continued to build on the wonderful representation and themes of the first book, there were aspects that did fall a little short. I can forgive this since we got so much from Xio’s POV and arc, but I did wonder if maybe this lost the thread a bit on Teo and his journey.

Overall, still a wonderful story and duology that checks so many boxes and brings a breath of fresh air to a saturated genre!

Celestial Monsters tosses us right back into the world of The Sunbearer Trials – and the end to this colorful & charming duology did not disappoint.

Teo and his friends are forced to go on a monster-filled quest to return the sun and stop the chaos. Their crew doesn’t have much time, and they’re still reeling from the betrayal of a friend, the guilt of putting the world in danger … and the start of a romance.

Just like in The Sunbearer Trials, I deeply appreciated how inclusive this journey was. I teared up a few times while reading just thinking about how meaningful this story will be to so many young readers. While the heavy-handedness of some topics may be a bit off-putting to adults, I think both the clarity and optimism around a queernormative magical world working on reshaping their societal structures was perfect.

And the world expanded to be even more delightful! Beyond the magic and fun and incorporation of Mexican mythology, there’s also some beautiful community care and futuristic ways of building societies here (avoiding violence and prioritizing hearing from all voices). That was awesome.

I think my biggest stumble has to be with Teo. It kind of felt like he’d done it all already - like, checkmark on his growth - and I wish that wasn’t the case. He had a wonderful arc in the first book, and I’m not sure why he plateaued here. Xio and Aurelio and Niya all felt like they had much bigger arcs (some of them actually happened too rapidly), and I wonder what it would have been like to have Niya as a narrator. I was really interested in her worldview and maturation here.

Aurelio had an equally big shift, but we get to puzzle through that through Teo’s eyes. And Xio was a little bit of a mess (some decisions felt like plot decisions rather than in-character choices - and it all happened way too quickly).

It also felt like their journey was a tad too easy with their godly gifts and tools. I wanted them to face more challenges and figure out how to work together and combine their strengths as a team.

I think, overall, most of my issues were that this felt like a trilogy (or even longer series) that was condensed. The arcs were awesome in theory and a bit awkwardly fast on the page.

But the villains were deliciously villain-y, the world expansion was wonderful, and I loved getting more of our fierce little group of semidioses. The romance is super cute. There will be moments that crush your heart, but the ending and epilogue were very sweet.

Yay for an ending that challenges the status quo!

CW: death (parent/child), blood, violence, torture, fire

i was thrilled to get an ARC of this, one of my most anticipated reads! It did not disappoint. The plotting and pacing were perfect and I'm glad it was a duology rather than a trilogy - more YA duologies please! After the cliffhanger in The Sunbearer Trials, I was excited to see where this one was going to go with action etc and it kept everything going smoothly. Teo and friends are trying to get the stone facing dangers and trials and personal tribulations. But there is still humor and lightness.

Thank you so much, NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends, for the chance to read one of my most anticipated book in 2024!

The sun is gone and now monsters are wreacking havoc on Reino del Sol. Teo refused to sacrifice a semidios during the Sunbearer Trials and now the Obsidians are back and they have kidnapped Teo's friends, Xio's betrayed them and the only way to stop everything is to take back the Sol Stone in Obsidians' hands and restore the Sun in the sky.
Teo, his crush Aurelio and Niya have to face monsters and dangers while travelling to the wilderness of Los Restos, dealing with traumas, blossoming romance and teasing moments. Easy, right?

I was over the moon when I got the chance to read this book! It's one of my most anticipated and it didn't disappoint me! It's filled with banter, romance, traumas and I loved it was told by Teo's and Xio's Povs, while both of them navigated the new world around them, coming to terms with what they know about the Gods and their powers, what lies and what truths and what's the right thing to do for everyone.
I loved having more time to know Xio and their costant battle between what he knows and knew, what the right thing to do for themselves and the others and who they want to be. In this heart-stopping sequel, filled with monsters, new allies and enemies, I really appreciated how the journey is both physical and psychological for everyone, how the characters start to open up and be true to themselves, revealing their fears, dreams and desires and I loved not only the blossoming cute relationship between Teo and Aurelio, but also the lovely and fiercely protective one between Teo and Niya.
Also, I loved how, through the gods, the author depicted not only parents, but being with their complexities and errors, driven by their own visions of the world.
I truly loved this book with all my heart. I laughed, I was moved, I cried a bit and I wanted to hug them all.

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan for the advance Kindle copy of this 9.3.24 release. All opinions are my own.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5 for the second book of this duology. I recently re-listened to The Sunbearer Trials, and loved being able to jump right into this after *that cliffhanger*. So now that Teo has essentially triggered the end of the world when he refused to sacrifice the loser of the trials, he sets out with Niya and Aurelio to fix things. Meanwhile, Xio thought he knew what he was doing when he worked with his real father, an Obsidian, to throw the trials and capture the Golds (minus Niya and Aurelio), but he is discovering that maybe he wasn’t exactly in the right. As Xio and Te both grapple with how to right their wrongs, they grow closer and closer to basically an apocalypse. Teo and Aurelio’s relationship grows, and Niya’s banter remains top-notch. Again, this is like if Percy Jackson and The Hunger Games had an f-bomb laced book baby. Recommended for grades 8+.

Aiden Thomas has done it again!!! This book was SO GOOD! A wonderful conclusion to The Sunbearer duology! This story picks right up from where we left off in The Sunbearer Trials. There are alternating POVs from Xio and Teo.

Niya, Teo, and Aurelio traveling to Los Restos was full of surprises and humor, but also deep moments between the trio. Niya being vulnerable with Teo. Aurelio being very timid, but slowly getting comfortable with them. Teo trying to be a strong leader. This trio was my favorite!!

The chapters with Xio and the other semidioses in Los Restos were so heartbreaking, but also funny with commentary from Auristela and Ocelo. I just wanted to hug them all. Atzi was my favorite! The relationship between the semidioses was complex.

Overall, I loved everything about this book! The writing, plot, and characters were all done so well. Thank you NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for the arc! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

thanks to netgalley & macmillan children's publishing group for the free earc in exchange for a fair and honest review!

i read the sunbearer trials back in february 2023, so over a year ago now. additionally, my brain can't keep any information about a book for more than a month of two. so, basically, i forgot the entire plot of the sunbearer trials and didn't want to reread first.
despite my somewhat foolish decision to read this without refreshing my memory first, i found that most of the character had settled in my memory well enough for me to follow along without too much confusion. characters like aurelio and ocelo were easily recognizable, even with my impaired memory of the first book.
i'd say the sunbearer trials was a slightly better book, but its structure made it so that the pacing was easier to control. celestial monsters struggled in pacing a little, especially towards the beginning. things either jumped too quick or too much time was spent in one place for no apparent reason.
however, this was a good conclusion to the story. each character's arc was wrapped up nicely, and i appreciated the way the author made sure to allow each character to grow. it was refreshing to see genuine changes for the better in some of the characters that were universally hated in the first book.
read this if you enjoyed the first book, like percy jackson, or like lots of combat with gods.

This was probably my most anticipated 2024 release, and I'm so happy I got to read it already! I practically inhaled this, and it was so much fun. Plotwise, this would honestly be a 4 star read, because I did think the story sort of dragged a little and didn't always seem to go anywhere. But I love the characters and the writing so much that it still felt like a 5 star read for me. The writing is so fun, the characters are all so distinct, and I loooved seeing so much more of Xio in this installment.

Celestial Monsters is a satisfying conclusion to the duology that takes the story in several directions I wasn't expecting--about half the narration is from Xio's point of view, and Teo's portion is more of a fantasy road trip instead of the fast-paced competitions of the first book. Aurelio and Teo's developing romance is super cute, and I loved how the story deals with the flaws in the system rather than just trying to revert the world to the status quo.

Aiden Thomas has the perfect YA voice and characters, and I can't wait for his next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

Aiden Thomas has truly done it again in this one. I was enthralled the whole way through this book. The surprise of a dual point of view was just the beginning for a thrilling conclusion to the Sunbearer Trials duology. I adore this series for many things: its rich cast of characters, incredibly detailed setting (not just physical, but all aspects of world building), its social commentary, its humor, its romance brewing at the heart. But most of all, I love the way it all comes together, as if the events of this book truly couldn’t have gone any other way, even though you’re on the edge of your seat wondering what happens next through every page. I’m so happy I got to read this book and so sad that it’s now over.

Anyone who loves a character-driven, diverse and heartfelt adventure is going to adore this duology. While not as strong as the first book, I did enjoy Celestial Monsters as a finale to the series. The development of the relationships between our massive cast of main characters took a backseat to the action and adventure setting this time around. Similarly, the lighthearted trial-based tasks of the first book stand in stark contrast to the higher-stakes battles of Celestial Monsters. Yet this book keeps the same humor and charm as its predecessor, still allowing fun in, sometimes when it is least expected.

For me personally, the villains of the book fell just a tad flat, and I was hoping for an even more serious tone to balance out the consequences of our main characters' actions. Instead, the dialogue and resolving actions of many of the situations in the story seemed just a tad too simple or easy. Fortunately, this only came in moments and waves, and didn't detract from the overall experience while reading.

While this book is most definitely written for a younger audience than me, to the point where I feel like it’s a bridge between a lot of young adult and middle grade books, it was still a fun book to read. The characters are all idiots half the time, but in the way that a lot of teenagers are, and I thought they were all really entertaining to read about. I said in my review of the first book that it was the book that I wish I could have had when I was thirteen, and I agree even more now that the duology is finished. (while this is only tangentially related I still stand by my headcanon that Teo is more Guatemalan than he is Mexican when translated to real life. I mean his mom is Quetzal. That’s like if my mom was named Bald Eagle/Dollar Bill and yet somehow I was Canadian. Also nobody in books is Guatemalan much less also transgender so I am taking what I can)
There are certain times during this book where it feels almost like fanfictiony, but not necessarily in a bad way. I don’t know exactly how to describe it. I think it may be due to the worldbuilding that this series has as a whole though. Just saying this as a warning, not a criticism. Or maybe it’s because of the takis and the instagrafia and tutube (which my computer continuously tries to correct to youtube), something that keeps on catching me off guard because it is so unserious

This was a great follow up to the Sunbearer Trials. Aiden Thomas does a phenomenal job expanding on the world created in the first book, drawing readers in by exploring the physical nature of the world and, more intriguingly, the political aspects. The world building throughout the book was just incredible.

We left off the Sunbearer Trials on a pretty massive cliffhanger and this book does a great job of maintaining the high stakes feeling for both reader and characters. We get to see the characters explore more of who they are, facing struggles with their own identities and the world they live in. Teo, Niya, Aurelio, all of the golds and even the dioses have incredible arcs throughout, but I believe that Xio's character arc is the star of the show. Getting their perspective throughout the story gave so much more depth to the interpersonal conflicts of not only the characters but the world as a whole. Their internal struggle with where they fit into the world and the role they are meant to play creates such a nuanced and intriguing character. Their conversations with the golds were some of my favorite moments in the story.

I will say, there were moments when I found myself struggling with some moments in the writing that felt a little more laid out or slightly more juvenile dialogue, but I don't believe that has anything to do with the book or Aiden's writing, more so the fact that I am definitely a few years older than the target audience.

Overall, I had such a great time reading this. I devoured it and never wanted it to end. I'll miss reading Teo and the rest of the gang, but I will definitely be back to reread the duology in the coming years.

I absolutely loved this one. A perfect sequel. A perfect end to a series.
I was enthralled from beginning to end, I could not stop reading. I love this world and Teo and his friends and all the characters really. Even the ones I don't really like I love. This series is just so special and good and I loved it so much. I loved the magic system and all the plot and it was just so so so good. I kept being surprised by where the book took me and that was so great too. I really don't have much more to say, I just loved it all.
I just want to read all the books by Aiden Thomas.

The characters continue to be the reason to read this book, and I think it also fills an incredibly important place in the lower age range of the YA market. That the tone felt at times too light for the subject matter for me seems almost besides the point compared to that. It's a fun book that a lot of teens will probably feel very supported and seen by and I will definitely buy in and hand sell this duology!

Celestial Monsters.
5/5 For Story
-Percy
Jackson Main Quest
Complete
4/5 For Worldbuilding
-We Could've Spent A Little More Time
Exploring This World 4.5/5 For Exploration Of Themes Of Good And Evil
-The More I Think Of The Ending The More I Like It.

Percy Jackson quest with cool monsters. It explores themes of the consequences of our actions and having to pay for our wrong doings. It talks about the problems with censorship and only listening to one side of a story.

Cute fantasy romance that YA folks are sure to love. Lots of queer representation, and the latin mythology was to thoroughly embedded in the story it was incredibly fun. Some folks might be mad with where the sequel went plot-wise but i thought iut built from the themes of the first book and was wonderfully done