Reviews tagging 'Genocide'

Celestial Monsters by Aiden Thomas

17 reviews

embersbooknook's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad 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

DAMN I really adore these characters, this world, and how queer (yet it also isn’t the plot) that the setting is.  The plot was excellent, twisting in directions I wasn’t expecting.  I thought this was a fantastic sequel, even better than the first.  

I REALLY DIDNT WANT SUERTE TO DIE THOUGH Y’ALL😭😭  I really came to love his character in this book.  And Fantasma?! What a queen🥹  Xio’s character growth was really well done and felt authentic and unforced, which I appreciated.  Niya was hilarious as usual, and Tea & Aurelio were soooo adorable🥹😍🥹

I really enjoyed the theme/idea, and its exploration, of how the gods can’t save us.  Like…idk, it was strangely empowering to me - a reminder that the things we put on pedestals as a society (politicians to name a big one very relevant at the moment🫣) can’t really save us.  We save ourselves and each other but having community, working together, and taking care of each other.  More than ever, a poignant and powerful theme. 

As a nonbinary person it is so moving to be represented at all, let alone in such a wonderful cast of characters😭🥹  Also this book made me HUNGRY - all the descriptions of the delicious food😋  Made me nostalgic too, as a Latine reader. 🥹  I need to be more like Aurelio and cook more😄  This weekend might be time to whip up some sopapillas and café de olla I’m thinking….😌☕️  

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Confinement, Genocide, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Classism

The war/genocide theme is from mentions of something that happened way in the past. Not graphic but the thread is there, so I felt it worth mentioning. None of these are overly graphic but all themes are present.

robinks's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Violence, and Death of parent

Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Genocide, Suicide, Torture, Xenophobia, Blood, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Child death, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

warlocksarecool21's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Violence

Minor: Cursing, Genocide, and Injury/Injury detail

nikki_flowers's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

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

5.0

Look, I’m a simple lad, give me childhood friends to enemies to lovers (and a queer/trans normative world!!!!!!) and I’ll eat it up EVERY time

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child death, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Gaslighting

notsobinaryart's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Confinement, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death, Child death, Genocide, and Slavery

Context of the

suicide

warning to decide if it’s too much for you

the suicide is shown on page but not in graphic detail. The death is a self-sacrifice to save others and not out of depression or suicidal thoughts

bonriki's review against another edition

adventurous challenging fast-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Racism, Violence, Death of parent, War, and Classism

Moderate: Genocide, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail

evarinya's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.5

I absolutely love the queer-normative world Aiden Thomas managed to create with this duology!
Admittedly, I found The Sunbearer Trials a bit better (the plot in this book felt a bit less... engaging, somehow, despite the urgency of the premise. Also I didn't really like the ending, honestly) but all in all this book still was really good!
Teo, Niya and Aurelio are a funny trio for sure! A pity that it's over already - although I 100% appreciate that this wasn't a trilogy. Trilogies can be quite annoying and the story of Teo was better told in this way.

(spoiler for the ending)

I'll miss Suerte, though... his death really was a gut punch. :(

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Suicide, and Death of parent

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child abuse, Genocide, and Dysphoria