Reviews with content warning for Injury/Injury detail - Celestial Monsters

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Celestial Monsters by Aiden Thomas

31 reviews

indigo_fox's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

It was fantastic returning to this world and seeing the characters again. I liked how the story shifted between Teo's and Xio's POV. It was interesting getting to see what each side was up to as the events unfolded. I love how the characters had a chance to explore their vulnerabilities. Sure, they are semidioses but they are also children and it was great that the author didn't forget to let them be children. I also enjoyed getting a little bit of glimpse into all the side characters. I feel like I got to know a lot of them a little bit better.

The story didn't grip me immediately, and I found myself getting easily distracted unlike with the first book. It felt like certain parts were rushed but I don't know if it was due to word count or the characters being on a time crunch. Those time crunches can really get ya when adventuring. Despite things being rushed, the situation didn't really feel urgent. It didn't feel like the characters had the drive to just go go go. I also feel like the Obsidian story line was lacking.

Overall, it was an enjoyable book and I'm sad to see that the adventure is over. I'll always have my rereads and fanfictions but it's just not the same.

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bookishmillennial's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial

I love the continuation of following our goofy, thoughtful, precious babies who visit different cities (fun, more incredible world-building based on indigenous cultures) and finally get to be part of rebuilding a society that they are proud of.

Their dialogues about what it means to be Jade, Gold, Obsidian, and how they had treated Xio were so tender, honest, and lovely. Yes, they were a bit sanitized, but this is a YA fantasy. Cry about it!!! I loved the approach Aiden Thomas took in crafting these tough conversations between kids. I hope it models a healthy way to communicate about questioning society and systems as a whole.

Overall, I was glad to see the happy ending, and obviously it's sad to say goodbye to characters I've come to love, but I'd love to see this optioned and adapted for a tv series or a film duology/trilogy!

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zydecovivo's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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zombiezami's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful

4.5

A fun time. I didn’t really get why

the gods had to up and leave completely to make amends for ignoring humans’ needs

at the end.

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theirgracegrace's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Celestial Monsters takes the powerful foundation of the Sunbearer Trials and goes even further in daring to imagine a more equitable world. With the Obsidian dioses freed from their prisons, they are going to take their revenge and plunge the world into eternal darkness unless Teo, Niya and Aurelio can free their captured fellow semidioses and reclaim the Sol Stone. What struck me the most was how the Obsidian people are described in this book; we're introduced to them in the context of the history given in the Sunbearer Trials being a history written by the victors who committed genocide against them. The story of

Suerte and how Xio redeems themself through returning to being his child

is also an incredibly powerful subplot that reaches its culmination at the climax of the action. The characters remain loveable, flawed and often ridiculously silly. I can easily see myself reading and re-reading this duology in the years to come.

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saphfics's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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roorooreads's review against another edition

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adventurous dark hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This had a slight amount of second book syndrome. Overall I enjoyed it and it wrapped up the duology nicely (with some pulls at the heart strings). The humor in this one missed a bit for me, it was a bit too cheesey and I know it was supposed to break the tension of some very serious and difficult things but it just brought me out of the story. This story continues the amazing found family from the first book and I loved watching the characters grow throughout!

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robinks's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Ahhhh I was so excited to finish this duology, and Thomas did not disappoint! I loved spending more time with such a colorful cast of characters, and the semidioses grappled with some really tough issues. I want to see a movie of this series!!

The ending was sad but satisfying, and the epilogue warmed my heart. I love Teo and Aurelio! My only critique is that I wish we got to see a bit more of what the new world is like for everyone.

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warlocksarecool21's review against another edition

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4.0

this was a solid conclusion to the duology! I had a fun time with the characters and I think Thomas did a good job at exploring their personality and motivations in this book. Xio’s arc was so heartbreaking to read, but I loved their development in this book!! Teo and Aurelio were so cute as well! And Thomas’s side characters are always so fun.

As for the plot, I thought it was good but the pacing felt slow in some parts (which I said about book 1 as well). But there were enough action scenes throughout the book that it didn’t drag. I think this book handled the themes of oppression and privilege in a way that is very suitable for the intended YA audience. Overall, I think this duology was super fun and I’m sad it’s over. Excited to see what Aiden Thomas writes next!!

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gdulecki's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Aiden Thomas you did it again I am in SHAMBLES!!! I have been eagerly awaiting the release of this book, and it did not disappoint. I adored the whole story and the ways each of them navigated deconstructing what they have all been taught to believe. The ending was beautiful and tender and somewhat predictable, and I think it was a great way to end this duology.

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