Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas

89 reviews

pengwyn_in_the_library's review

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adventurous emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

Five stars except I hate a cliffhanger!!

The world of the book is imaginative and memorable, the characters likable (and hate-able when appropriate) and the events and situations are as fun as they are dark. The book could be billed as a central-American inspired Hunger Games, except it has light and humor and it doesn’t devolve into stereotypical dystopia, so instead it reads more like an Aztec Percy Jones. 
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thenextbookdilemma's review

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adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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fanboyriot's review

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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

4.0

The world building to this was so interesting, I loved how it all came together and how the gods were there with the humans.  Think a young adult mash up of Percy Jackson and The Hunger Games—and make it queer.

It did take me a few chapters to fully get invested in this but once I did I ended up reading twenty-two chapters in one sitting. 

Obviously, I’m not a fan with how this ended but luckily I waited long enough to read this to know it ended on a major cliffhanger.  So it wasn’t quite as devastating.

Release Date: 06, September 2022
POV: Third Person
Rep: Trans (MC), LGBTQIA+ characters, BIPOC characters
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erikagibson126's review

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful tense medium-paced
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

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handful_of_frogs's review

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adventurous funny 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

4.25

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sapphic_necromancer's review

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adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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mattiedancer's review

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adventurous emotional 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? It's complicated

3.5

Writing: 3.5⭐️/5 
The writing in this story is serviceable and clear. Personally, I found a hard time getting into the novel. It took me two attempts to get into the novel, despite reading several chapters into the story both times. The lack of a clear and immediate hook presented a problem; however, as the novel went on, the stakes definitely pulled me in and I was more engaged. If you’re thinking of picking up this book, there might be a bit of a waiting period for the writing to grab you.

Characters: 4⭐️/5
The characters were both fun and realistic. I loved learning about their connections, their various personalities, and their motives and dreams. Some of the characters lacked a bit of polish to me, and I certainly would have loved a few more characters to develop a bit more clearly, but overall the characters shined.

Plot: 3.5⭐️/5 
The plot is fun – and predictable. I enjoyed the world, honestly, more than the plot. I had fun sinking into this world classified by your connection to the gods, and loved learning about the powers and the trials. The actual plot though felt like an aside to the world and, though it eventually wrapped me in, I would have loved a bit more focus here. 

Who Should Read This Book? 
  • Fans of LGBTQ+ fantasy novels
  • Fans of young adult fantasy books
  • Those looking for a cute but strained-by-situation love story
  • Those looking for something a bit different, but backed by familiar tropes and plotlines

Content Warnings? 
  • Violence, blood, bullying, dysphoria, child abuse, fire, fire injury, injury detail, classism, child death, death, 

Post-Reading Rating:  3⭐️/5
I had fun, but I wouldn’t seek out the next one. 

Final Rating: 3.5⭐️/5
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iamcortney's review

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adventurous funny mysterious 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? Yes

3.75

This feels like a YA novel although I don’t think it is. It’s a fun and interesting story, though the main character is a bit of an idiot sometimes. Spent the first half of the book pretty frequently frustrated with his choices and interpretations of what’s happening around him. I was much less annoyed for the second half, so he does turn it around. 

Without spoiling the plot, it wasn’t too hard to predict the twists but they were still fun to read. I’m interested enough that I’m gonna read the second book so I know how everything turns out. 


Also worth noting is that this book did a good job with LGBTQ+ inclusion and normalization. There was a lot of representation as well as positive and healthy discussions about gender dysphoria and taking time to figure it out. 

Overall, a fun read I’d recommend, but nothing that blew my mind or felt overly exceptional. 
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rubyroses's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.5

Wow this book has definitely left a permanent mark on me !! 🤩

The way Aiden Thomas presented so much diversity in such a nonchalant way filled my heart with joy. It was so nice to see a world where everyone is accepted and no one blinks an eye.  

The story itself was fast paced and exciting but occasionally felt rushed. For a land that was describe to be quite big it was a bit unbelievable that it was only a day by boat between the cities. I also wished the trials were more thought out. For a competition that determines the fate of the world and the death of an individual they definitely lacked depth and dare I say imagination. 

Luckily the dynamics between Teo & the golds also partaking in the trial was enough to keep me entertained for 405 pages. Overall it was a truly enjoyable book but definitely had a few holes in the plot. 
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robinks's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

I loved this audiobook and can’t wait for the second half of the duology! The characters are so lovable and complex, and the descriptions of each scene were so detailed that I could picture them easily. I would LOVE to see this story in a visual medium. 
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