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drtx_bwt's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child abuse, Violence, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and War
Minor: Transphobia
kshertz's review
adventurous
challenging
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? No
5.0
I’ve mentioned before that if a book makes me stay up past my bedtime or I read it in just a couple days it’s definitely gonna get five stars. I absolutely loved the idea behind this book. I love the fantasy world. I love the hunger game vibes. I love the idea of having people outside of the gender spectrum as heroes. It all is amazing and I highly recommend to any young adult or adult that wants to see themselves represented in books. It was fantastic.
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood, Transphobia, Abandonment, Violence, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Deadnaming
read_with_loren's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Violence, Death, Transphobia, and War
lastcomment314's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? Yes
5.0
A fabulous adventure that completely sucked me in, The Sunbearer Trials is a fun fantasy story that brings a strong, fun, diverse cast to life in a competition for ultimate glory - or death for the unlucky last place finisher. I loved how naturally diverse the main cast of semidioses was, and how human they all were, despite their magical abilities from their godly parents. The Trials brought an interesting structure to the story, and allowed the characters to shine as each trial forced our hero, Teo, to interact with the various other heroes in the Trials rather than just his friends.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Cursing, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Bullying, Classism, and Death
snipinfool's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
4.5 stars
Teo lived in a region called Reino del Sol which was led by diose or gods. He was a semidiose or child of a god. The more privileged of the diose were Golds and those less so were Jades. Golds were more stronger and more powerful than Jades. The Gold semidiose attended the Academy to train and became heroes throughout the land. Jades lived on the outer edges of the region and had no formal training like the Academy. Teo attended Quetzlan High, which had not been modernized in quite a while. He was the only child of the Jade diose Quetzal, who was the goddess of birds. Teo had wings similar to his mother's, but chose not to use them. Teo had recently come out as transgender and his wings did not reflect the wings of a male bird. He kept his wings bound to his back and functioned without using them.
Every ten years the region held the Sunbearer Trials. The competition involved five challenges held in different cities around Reino del Sol, eventually returning to Sol Temple. The winner would travel throughout the land to replenish the sun's energy and keep the region safe from the Obsidians until the next competition. Thousands of years ago, Sol sacrificed himself and exiled the traitorous Obsidian diose to the skies. A sacrifice at the end of the trials replicated Sol's offering. The Sunbearer Trials participants were chosen from semidiose members aged thirteen through seventeen. Teo was seven at the last trial and remembered little of the seriousness of the event. Teo knew that it was rare for a Jade to be chosen, so his plan was to enjoy being able to see the Gold cities and to eat as much good food as he could. The people of Quetzlan were hopeful that Teo or another Jade would be chosen to complete as they had not had a Jade semidiose to root for in 130 years. Surprisingly, Teo and another Jade were chosen to participate.
I had a great time reading this story. I loved Teo. He was loved by the people of Quetzlan for his generosity and kindness. His best friend, Niya (a Gold), was as supportive as a best friend should be. She was different from most Golds and liked a person regardless of their status as a Gold or Jade. The rest of the characters were well written and mutli-faceted. The descriptions of the lands the competition moved through were wonderful. As the competition moved through the challenges, I found myself reading faster and faster to get to the next part. I frequently had to re-read part of the challenges more than once so I didn't miss any of the action. I was completely invested in the story. As this is the first of a duology, there is a cliff hanger at the end. I did not see the twist coming at all. This was so enjoyable!
Teo lived in a region called Reino del Sol which was led by diose or gods. He was a semidiose or child of a god. The more privileged of the diose were Golds and those less so were Jades. Golds were more stronger and more powerful than Jades. The Gold semidiose attended the Academy to train and became heroes throughout the land. Jades lived on the outer edges of the region and had no formal training like the Academy. Teo attended Quetzlan High, which had not been modernized in quite a while. He was the only child of the Jade diose Quetzal, who was the goddess of birds. Teo had wings similar to his mother's, but chose not to use them. Teo had recently come out as transgender and his wings did not reflect the wings of a male bird. He kept his wings bound to his back and functioned without using them.
Every ten years the region held the Sunbearer Trials. The competition involved five challenges held in different cities around Reino del Sol, eventually returning to Sol Temple. The winner would travel throughout the land to replenish the sun's energy and keep the region safe from the Obsidians until the next competition. Thousands of years ago, Sol sacrificed himself and exiled the traitorous Obsidian diose to the skies. A sacrifice at the end of the trials replicated Sol's offering. The Sunbearer Trials participants were chosen from semidiose members aged thirteen through seventeen. Teo was seven at the last trial and remembered little of the seriousness of the event. Teo knew that it was rare for a Jade to be chosen, so his plan was to enjoy being able to see the Gold cities and to eat as much good food as he could. The people of Quetzlan were hopeful that Teo or another Jade would be chosen to complete as they had not had a Jade semidiose to root for in 130 years. Surprisingly, Teo and another Jade were chosen to participate.
I had a great time reading this story. I loved Teo. He was loved by the people of Quetzlan for his generosity and kindness. His best friend, Niya (a Gold), was as supportive as a best friend should be. She was different from most Golds and liked a person regardless of their status as a Gold or Jade. The rest of the characters were well written and mutli-faceted. The descriptions of the lands the competition moved through were wonderful. As the competition moved through the challenges, I found myself reading faster and faster to get to the next part. I frequently had to re-read part of the challenges more than once so I didn't miss any of the action. I was completely invested in the story. As this is the first of a duology, there is a cliff hanger at the end. I did not see the twist coming at all. This was so enjoyable!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Blood, and Death
sydapel's review against another edition
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? No
4.25
A Hunger Games + Percy Jackson crossover with a Latinx core and cast of joyously queer characters, this is such a wonderful YA fantasy. Thomas has clearly so much love for this world and the characters, each detail is so beautifully painted. The third act twist is a little obvious, but I feel like that's ok for the age demographic. Really excited for the next one!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood and Bullying
Minor: Death and Injury/Injury detail
mikaclapson's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
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
5.0
I LOVED this book. I loved the diversity, how trans struggles were portrayed directly and indirectly, the normalization of queer and Deaf people, the imagery of the lands and temples and people… I’m sad we’re left hanging and excited for what’s to come!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dysphoria, Transphobia, Toxic friendship, and Violence
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
micheala's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I don't read a ton of YA, so I'm going to make this vibe comparison and we're just going to have to go with it ok?
This book gave me The Hunger Games vibes - mainly in the set up of the competition. In this case, every decade there is a competition for 13-18 year olds, that if you get chosen (and there is no way not to be eligible during those ages) you have to compete, and if you lose you die.
Personally, the competition portion of this book was the least interesting part of it. The characters and world are so rich and well developed that I'm glade we spent more time between trials then in each of the five events.
There was one moment during one of the trials that made me physically uncomfortable, when Teo, the MC, gets magically roofied by another competitor - nothing sexual happens, however it still gave me the major icks.
I did also see most of the ending coming. Because this is only a duology, I'll probably pick up the sequel once it comes out, but I'm also not losing my mind waiting either.
In terms of Adien Thomas' other works, I liked this more than Lost in the Never Woods but less than Cemetery Boys.
This book gave me The Hunger Games vibes - mainly in the set up of the competition. In this case, every decade there is a competition for 13-18 year olds, that if you get chosen (and there is no way not to be eligible during those ages) you have to compete, and if you lose you die.
Personally, the competition portion of this book was the least interesting part of it. The characters and world are so rich and well developed that I'm glade we spent more time between trials then in each of the five events.
There was one moment during one of the trials that made me physically uncomfortable, when Teo, the MC, gets magically roofied by another competitor - nothing sexual happens, however it still gave me the major icks.
I did also see most of the ending coming. Because this is only a duology, I'll probably pick up the sequel once it comes out, but I'm also not losing my mind waiting either.
In terms of Adien Thomas' other works, I liked this more than Lost in the Never Woods but less than Cemetery Boys.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Classism, Xenophobia, Confinement, Dysphoria, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
shelbyslifer's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Bullying, and Death
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Injury/Injury detail
zozo_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
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
Loved this book it was so fun. Was expecting a hunger games but it was original in its own way and the friendships were amazing. Only thing is that it takes ages to remember all the names of the characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying