Rating: Enjoyed It, 3.5 Stars

Celestial Monsters is the conclusion to the Sunbearer Duology by Aiden Thomas. I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed by this one. I fell in love with The Sunbearer Trials, but this one just didn't work for me quite as well.

This one picks up pretty immediately after the events of the first book, so we don't lose very much time. It starts out really strong, and we get another POV, which I appreciated. However, I think part of the reason that this one wasn't as strong as the first was that it turned into a quest story. However, the quest felt extremely meandering. I'm a hard sell on quest stories, and this one definitely didn't change my opinion on that. I think it was because it sort of felt like when Niya, Teo, and Aurelio were on their quest, it was just a way to kill time. Not a whole lot was accomplished.

I think that part of it was so that there could be a more believable mindset shift in how the world could be governed, but even that felt a little bit too easy. I feel like it tied up like I would expect a middle grade novel to rather than YA. Which isn't a huge complaint, and it isn't something that I would have minded if I had been fully engrossed throughout the whole book.

Overall, it was still a fun time to be back with Teo and company, and I appreciated Xio's character arc in this. It just took me a long time to get through and build momentum to want to keep going. So for that reason, I did't rate it as highly as the first one. I think that one just spoke a little more to my trope preferences.

The audiobook narrator was excellent in this one still. No complaints!

Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for an early audiobook copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was so excited to get back into this world and see what happens after the events of the first book, which I loved! Unfortunately, this one didn't hold my attention as well as the first one, and I struggled with the narration of the audiobook.

This one starts right up after the end of the second book. While I didn’t love the lulls when they were traveling, I thought it was great that they filled these spots with the POV of the other person. nd even tho this one had things the other didn’t, I still loved the first one more.

Ok so what I liked most about this one is the different monsters they came across. I love hearing about those weird, spooky monsters from other people’s cultures. So imagine my delight and surprise when i saw that there was a chupacabra and a lechuga in this! I love these kinds of things. Definitely gave me a reason to like this series even more. I also like the other ones that were brought up the at the end. This had me looking up more stories to find out more about the different gods because this was so good lol

The fight scenes got me tho. I’m not a huge fantasy reader. But these fight scenes were so good and they had me locked in. I don’t think I’ve ever been locked into a book like this like I had with this one. And there were so many of them too. And the way they were using each other to their strengths was amazing too. I loved seeing them work together.

The other thing I liked was the way you get the POV of the villain in this one. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that has that. It sounds weird, but it was so good. And like the way that person was basically coming into their own? I hate that I enjoyed seeing them learn and grow at the expense of taking the others hostage. Ugh this book was so good!

The plot was a slow burn but once it got going it was good. And the characters were mostly from the other book, but there’s a lot of new people in this one too. I heard that Aiden Thomas had to cut a lot of the book during edits because he had written a lot of different deities and stuff, so I’m hoping we get some of that story. Even if it’s like just a guide to go with the books. Until then, I’m just going to re-read my favorite parts lol

Celestial Monsters is a fantastic follow up to The Sunbearer Trials. In this sequel, they must save their friends and the world from the now released Obsidian gods.

This one is an epic quest with a romantic subplot. Teo and Aurelio are just so cute and I love the way their relationship bloomed quietly throughout the story but never took over. There are also some really tender and beautiful moments between some family members in this one and I loved it. The way Aurelio fought so hard to get his sister back was just so touching. Their mother was something else though; she really got under my skin. No surprise there though since difficult mothers pretty much always get under my skin. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this story.

I listened to both The Sunbearer Trials and Celestial Monsters on audiobook and it was an excellent listening experience. André Santana did a wonderful job with all the voices. I was totally immersed in the story the whole time. I highly recommend the audiobooks for this duology.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for an advance listening copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Aiden Thomas has been one of my favorite YA authors for a long time now and I have been looking forward to this release for so long! I got the eARC and the audiobook ARC as well. The audiobook was fantastic! I loved it! The characters and the writing were amazing and exactly what I expect from this author. I love that every character is so different but also well developed. My favorite thing about it was the growth that the author grew several of the characters.

I've only read the physical book of the first and listening to the audiobook for the second is a strange experience. The narration made the story sound more "kiddie" in a sense because of the tone the narrator used to act out other character's dialogue. The overall story was alright, and the issues I had with the first book was slightly more muted with the second. I still would've liked more worldbuilding since these books don't fully dive into how the world works and the deity system still feels like it could've been developed further since the reader only has a black and white perspective of these gods and the lack of lore doesn't make the story as suspenseful as it could've been. Otherwise, this is a great read for queer teens looking for a magical adventure with intersectional leading characters.

Aiden Thomas might be as good at world building as any fantasy author writing today. Their ability to balance mythology, character development, and action started perfectly in The Sunbearer Trials and stays strong in Celestial Monsters. And I love these characters so much. They are smart, tough, vulnerable, and kind in all the ways real kids often are. And when a character mentions they are thinking of using different pronouns? Multiple characters pause their tirade/monologue/moment to applaud them regardless of their other feelings 😂. That might be my favorite part. Excellent job.

<i>I received this title as an ARC on Net-galley in exchange for a honest review. Thank you Feiwel and Friends for the copy!</i>

<b>The Good</b>
I loved the first book so I'm so excited to be back in this world! This book picks up immediately after the first book and the journey to get Sol back. I liked seeing more of the world with Teo, Aurelio, and Niya. Some mortal cities were incredibly dependent on Gods while others flourished without them. I loved seeing people in who chose to live outside the Dios system entirely and build community together.
I also liked seeing how each character dealt with the fallout of the previous book.
Teo is still dealing with feeling inadequate and dealing with immense guilt. Aurelio is facing what life is without his sister who was is support throughout his entire life. Niya is dealing with the fallout of Xio's betrayal. The budding romance between Teo and Aurelio was really sweet even in the hard times. I loved learning more about the history between the Dios and the Obsidians.
It puts Xio and their story into less evil and more understandable category. Xio is a complex figure. I understood why they turned against the Dios. To spend years feeling wrong and not understanding why and then finding out you belong to the people everyone hates that were all either killed or locked away is terrible. They yearned so bad to belong somewhere and even with the Obsidians they were out of place. Their chapter humanized them and their choices a lot more.

<b>The Bad</b>
I wish there had been more structure and more of a plan for how the trio planned to defeat the Obsidians. I also am unsure of what I think about the ending and its resolution. I also felt like it lacked emotional weight at the end. Something that should be very devastating happens and then they start bantering like it wasn't a big deal? Like these are kids and their parents! I wanted a better conclusion to such an interesting discussion of the purpose of gods in the lives of mortals than what was given.

<b>Format:</b> Audiobook

<b>The Rating</b>
I give this book a <b>4/5🌟 rating.</b> This book was just as fun and interesting as the first one but unfortunately dragged and fizzled out at the end.

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The pefect folllow up to one of my favorite books by Aiden Thomas and a wonderful queer young adult fantasy series that readers younger and older will falll madly in love with!

I love this duology so much! I’m excited to share it with my kids when they are older.

This book picks up right where the action of The Sunbearer Trials ends. The sun is gone; the Obsidian gods are back and seeking revenge; and Teo, Aurelio, and Niya band together to save the world.

I don’t think enough can be said about how well Aiden Thomas handles the themes of friendship, self-discovery, and budding romance in this coming-of-age story. Our heroes learn to repair relationships, consider other perspectives, handle guilt, deal with trauma, believe in themselves, and come to terms with the fallibility of the adults—in this case literally the gods—in their lives. They take on new challenges, fight battles, and learn to think outside the box. They learn to connect with others and see beyond the stratified lines that originally divided them.

And Thomas also deserves major props for how they present identity and orientation in the duology's culture.

I highly, highly recommend this one on audio. André Santana’s narration swept me away into the story. I loved the accents and how Santana captures the emotions in this one.

I received an advance copy of the audiobook from Macmillan Audio. All review opinions are my own.

Thank you so much for this arc, the narration once again was phenomenal. I love the representation as well in this book. Perfect duology!

The moving & satisfying finale to Aiden Thomas’s THE SUNBEARER TRIALS duology,, CELESTIAL MONSTERS is a high stakes, apocalyptic roadtrip across fantasy Mexico to save the world. Slow burn romance, incredible world building, and Aiden Thomas’s signature tight plotting and fan favorite characters make this series closer well worth the ride. Recommended for fans of THE HUNGER GAMES and Rick Riordan Presents.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and LibroFM for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

"You have to admit -- an end-of-the-world road trip does sound kind of fun."

Oh my goodness. It was so much fun. I am thrilled to have spent more time with Teo, Aurelio, and Niya. And Xio has a POV as well this time.

I want to be careful not to say too much to spoil The Sunbearer Trials in describing this sequel. So I'll focus on vibes and themes. I found this book absolutely delightful. It had amazing pacing and enough levity to balance the danger.

It highlighted so many important themes around individual choices, societal responsibility, and the structure of institutions and various possible options. This book shows just how thought-provoking and inspiring YA fantasies can be.

André Santana narrated all of the voices perfectly, especially Teo's. Have you ever felt when listening to an audiobook performance like the narrator probably had a really good time reading it? That's the feeling I got for this book.

This is a duology, so definitely read the two in order. That's essential for world and character building. And also, both books are simply outstanding. Now I am so excited for the second Cemetery Boys.

4.5 stars rounded up

Teo never imagined he'd become a hero, but after refusing to sacrifice a fellow semidiose during the Sunbearer Trials, chaos has engulfed Reino del Sol. With the sun gone and the Obsidian gods unleashed, Teo, Aurelio, and Niya must journey through the dangerous Los Restos to restore order. As they battle monsters and their inner turmoil, Teo also grapples with his growing feelings for Aurelio. Together, they must retrieve the Sol Stone to save the world from eternal darkness.

I enjoyed this book! While it didn’t quite reach the heights of the first installment, I was captivated by the character development. I loved seeing how their weaknesses were initially exploited, only for those very flaws to evolve into strengths. This was a solid conclusion to a strong duology, and I can’t wait to dive into more of Aiden Thomas’ work.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audio ARC.

If Aiden Thomas writes it, I will read it. Absolutely worth the wait. Now to start waiting for the Cemetery Boys sequel….

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a free advanced listener’s copy. I received this copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book is one I’ve been waiting a long time for, and it was everything I wanted from the conclusion of this series.

In the aftermath of the Sunbearer Trials, Teo, Aurelio, and Niyah need to go collect the sol stones to resurrect Sol and send the Obsidians back into the stars. All the while, Xio needs to face his actions he left us with at the end of the last book as well as the people he’s seen as his enemies all along.

While I thought there was a few moments of lag, mainly in the beginning when the POVs were split between the two parallel plots, I was happy to see the way Thomas wrapped up the character arcs of all the semi-dioses in the world as well as the way that the series came together in the end. Even through the tears, I was enjoying myself! All of that is made even better by another wonderful performance by André Santana. His delivery is always so charming and his grasp on emotional dialogue is truly unmatched!

If you’re looking for found family, romance, action, and self-reflection in your YA books, I highly recommend the Sunbearer Duology.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance listener copy.

This book picks up right where the first book left off. This one definitely has some heavier themes, but the characters are wonderful and i appreciated getting to learn more about some of them.
There was one part towards the end that just felt like things were wrapped up too nicely and it made me question why that couldn’t have just been done the first time and saved all the hassle of the Sunbearer Trials to begin with. Despite that though I loved this and there were a few parts at the end that made me cry a little. This wrapped up the duology in a wonderful and hopeful way.

Thank you @Macmillan.audio for the #gifted ALC of CELESTIAL MONSTERS!

It’s no secret that I adore Aiden Thomas and I completely devoured THE SUN BEARER TRIALS when it came out two years ago. After that cliffhanger of an ending (rude Aiden!), I was dying to know what would happen next! Thankfully the Netgalley gods were kind enough to grant me an ALC.
CM picks up right after the events of TST. Teo, Aurelio and Niya are tasked with saving the world from the celestials and their monsters. Which leads us to an epic quest of a book (aka one of my favorite tropes). The trio travel throughout Reino Del Sol on a hero’s journey and experience so much personal growth along the way. I loved seeing my sweet little semi-dioses grow up and fall in love.

I kept thinking about that quote about how history belongs to the victors. That message definitely carries through the book as Teo and the crew learn more about the truth behind the war between gods. I loved how that theme and knowledge shaped Teo, Xio and the others’ decisions as the book progressed.

The ending was immensely satisfying and I couldn’t be happier!

CELESTIAL MONSTERS is out now!

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This is a great YA fantasy duology and I've really enjoyed getting to know the characters. I enjoyed the dynamics between them in both books and liked the humour in this series too.

I really enjoyed the trials and adventure in book 1 so I am very happy there was a lot of adventuring in Celestial Monsters too! I loved seeing more of the world and the mythical beasts.

Listening to the audio of this was really the way to go for me. I thought the narrator was great and the story really flew by!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced copy.

“𝘞𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵? 𝘚𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘵’𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘦.”

WOW. What a phenomenal end to an incredible duology! It was bittersweet and emotional and strong in friendship which is my favorite type of story.

I loved diving back into this universe with semidioses and sun stones and sooo much drama. Teo is a favorite character of mine and I loved seeing his relationships grow and change with his friends. That is truly one of the best things about this series, the friendships feel real and the side characters don’t feel like plot devices. They’re here to support the main character but they also are their own people. They have wants and needs and feelings. They have goals and personalities. The found family and friendship in this duo is second to none.

I also loved the slow burn eventual romance between Teo and Aurelio. We got hints of it in book one, but after their falling out, they’ve just been sort of pining from afar. Thrown together to save their friends, the tension really rams up into a beautifully awkward and very sweet moment. I just wanted to squeeze their little cheeks and give them a pat on the head.

I liked the adventure our trio endured to save their friends, and getting to see Xio’s POV in this book! They’re just a little person trying to find their place in the world. Aiden does not shy away from any and all representation. The queer rep in this book is immaculate and diverse. Xio themselves goes through a big change, trying out nonbinary pronouns for the first time as well!

Overall worth the wait for this sequel. I truly adore all of Aiden’s work. Never stop. 10/10 will recommend this to everyone!

“𝘔𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘛𝘦𝘰, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴.”

Thanks NetGalley for letting me listen to this one early! One of my most anticipated reads!