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princessrory's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, and Child abuse
Minor: Grief, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Kidnapping, Gore, Transphobia, Blood, and Emotional abuse
This book has amazing trans (and other queer) representation, and while there are mentions of dysphoria, I was so impressed by the author’s approach to world-building that allowed for a queer-loving world to flourish in this book.some_random_person_hi's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I have missed the intensely fast pacing of certain YA/middle grade books and this fully delivered on that front. The plot hard carried the book by so much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Grief, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Bullying, Cursing, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Ableism, Confinement, Animal death, and Death of parent
Bullying is done both by characters you're not supposed to root for and characters you're supposed to vote for. Ableism is unchallenged & specifically anti-npd ableism.mandaraffe's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Death, and Child death
overbooked207's review
adventurous
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? It's complicated
4.0
📖 The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas Book Review 📖
2nd book of January 2023 and 2nd of the year:
Described as Percy Jackson meets The Hunger Games(two series that I love), this was an amazing start to a new series! I absolutely loved the representation and the celebration of queerness in it, with representation for characters who have had top surgery, characters who use/have used binders, trans characters, queer, gay, and lesbian characters, queer and non-binary Gods, gender confirmation ceremonies, characters who are questioning, characters who have dysphoria, disabled characters, Latinx characters and mythology, sign language, beautiful friendships, and more! The writing, magic, and world-building were amazing, with the characters and the world jumping off the page and feeling so real, and I loved the mythology! TWs for blood, bullying, child abuse, cursing, death, death of children, dysphoria, fire, injury, mention of human sacrifices, and violence📖👑💀🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
2nd book of January 2023 and 2nd of the year:
Described as Percy Jackson meets The Hunger Games(two series that I love), this was an amazing start to a new series! I absolutely loved the representation and the celebration of queerness in it, with representation for characters who have had top surgery, characters who use/have used binders, trans characters, queer, gay, and lesbian characters, queer and non-binary Gods, gender confirmation ceremonies, characters who are questioning, characters who have dysphoria, disabled characters, Latinx characters and mythology, sign language, beautiful friendships, and more! The writing, magic, and world-building were amazing, with the characters and the world jumping off the page and feeling so real, and I loved the mythology! TWs for blood, bullying, child abuse, cursing, death, death of children, dysphoria, fire, injury, mention of human sacrifices, and violence📖👑💀🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Blood, Violence, Death, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Dysphoria, and Child abuse
tibcanread's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
This felt more in the age range for Percy Jackson than The Hunger Games (the two comp books for this story). While I enjoyed my read time, Teo frustrated me a lot with his overt assumptions and being a jerk to Aurelio while simultaneously calling him a jerk. Glad we finally got over that phase of the relationship for sure.
I was left wanting to know more about pretty much everyone and everything. The outfits got more page time than the world and side characters. While I really loved Niya and we got a lot of page time with her, she still felt flat and lacked the complexity that was briefly hinted at from time to time.
But I loved how colorful and how much potential the world had. I just wanted more time with it instead of having five trials rushed through to get to the fairly predictable twist at the end. I believe at one point it was mentioned this was going to be a series somewhere but quietly changed into a duology and I think that really stunted a lot in this book, which is sad cause the potential for a lot is still shining through.
What I actually couldn't stand was the fact that this story was actually modern? We would be going along talking about the gods and ancient cities and suddenly these kids whip out their phones and talk in old Vine memes and talk about the equivalent of tiktok and instagram. It was super jarring and pulled me out of the story every time.
I was left wanting to know more about pretty much everyone and everything. The outfits got more page time than the world and side characters. While I really loved Niya and we got a lot of page time with her, she still felt flat and lacked the complexity that was briefly hinted at from time to time.
But I loved how colorful and how much potential the world had. I just wanted more time with it instead of having five trials rushed through to get to the fairly predictable twist at the end. I believe at one point it was mentioned this was going to be a series somewhere but quietly changed into a duology and I think that really stunted a lot in this book, which is sad cause the potential for a lot is still shining through.
What I actually couldn't stand was the fact that this story was actually modern? We would be going along talking about the gods and ancient cities and suddenly these kids whip out their phones and talk in old Vine memes and talk about the equivalent of tiktok and instagram. It was super jarring and pulled me out of the story every time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Blood
natashaleighton_'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
4.5
A gorgeously written and exhilarating, Mexican-inspired YA fantasy that reads like the love child of Percy Jackson and The Hunger Games but with an emphasis on the importance of friendship and overcoming adversity on the path to self-acceptance.
In Reino del Sol, humans and gods co-exist in relative peace and harmony. Created by two gods—Sol, god of the Sun and Tierra, god of the Earth, but after the creation of humans the dark gods grew jealous. And in the aftermath of the destruction, Sol now relies on a gladiatorial competition to keep everyone safe—The Sunbearer Trials—and every ten years, ten half mortal children of gods (semidióses) are chosen to compete in a series of tasks in honour of Sol.
The winner gains the title of Sunbearer, who travels all of Reino del Sol replenishing the sunstones that protect the world from the darkness. And the loser gets the honour of sacrificing their life force to create the light that will inhabit the sunstones.
Teo, the seventeen year old trans son of the goddess of birds isn’t too worried as the competitors are almost exclusively ‘Gold’ semidióses (the children of the most powerful gods.) As a ‘Jade’ semidiós, he has virtually no chance of being chosen—but for the first time in over a century Sol chooses not one but two Jades. Teo and the thirteen year old, Xio (the child of the god of bad luck.)
With the odds stacked against them, Teo is determined to get them both thorough the trial unscathed, for their very lives depend on it.
This was such an exhilaratingly well written read that I didn’t want to put down!
The plot is phenomenally fast paced and the world building has the perfect blend of modern elements (such as the technologically savvy setting, celebrity/ influencer culture and prevalence of social media) with the more traditional high fantasy, based components which I felt added an engaging dose of fun and entertainment to the narrative.
I loved the queer-normative societal structure that has been intricately incorporated into the plot and was impressed with just how many diverse and LGBTQ+ characters we encounter—all of them beautifully complex and full of depth. Even the morally grey/ Villain-esque characters (Ocelo and Auristela) show a surprising amount of emotion in their character development and though I may not have liked them I did really enjoy getting to see glimpses of their innermost thoughts, feelings and motivations which definitely helped sympathise with their individual situations.
Teo, our protagonist was a really interesting character with a strong sense of justice that I really enjoyed. I loved how vocal he is about the disadvantages he and the other Jade’s have to face, segregated from the Gold semidióses who get to attend a prestigious academy that teaches them how to survive the harsh conditions of the Trials. Yet, despite his protective (and justice seeking) inclinations, his own emotional vulnerabilities play a huge role in how he perceives himself—as a misfit that no one could ever want to be friends with.
Which is why I loved the camaraderie and friendship between Teo, Niya and Xio soo much—letting down his emotional barriers and learning to reevaluate his self worth. I was especially moved by the talk Xio and Teo have about their experiences as trans teens, which was such poignant moment and turning point for Teo.
Likewise, the blossoming relationship between Aurelio (Teo’s former friend and love interest) was such a joy to watch unfold! Though it’s a bit of a slow burn, the attraction and friendship that simmers between them is clear to see and I can’t wait to see what’s next for these two, especially after such a shockingly plot-twisty conclusion.
A vibrant and thoroughly thrilling series starter that brings a much needed spotlight on the rich and fascinating mythology of Latin America—with an endearingly vast and diverse cast of characters that I can’t wait to see more of!
A huge thank you to Pan Macmillan for the PB copy.
In Reino del Sol, humans and gods co-exist in relative peace and harmony. Created by two gods—Sol, god of the Sun and Tierra, god of the Earth, but after the creation of humans the dark gods grew jealous. And in the aftermath of the destruction, Sol now relies on a gladiatorial competition to keep everyone safe—The Sunbearer Trials—and every ten years, ten half mortal children of gods (semidióses) are chosen to compete in a series of tasks in honour of Sol.
The winner gains the title of Sunbearer, who travels all of Reino del Sol replenishing the sunstones that protect the world from the darkness. And the loser gets the honour of sacrificing their life force to create the light that will inhabit the sunstones.
Teo, the seventeen year old trans son of the goddess of birds isn’t too worried as the competitors are almost exclusively ‘Gold’ semidióses (the children of the most powerful gods.) As a ‘Jade’ semidiós, he has virtually no chance of being chosen—but for the first time in over a century Sol chooses not one but two Jades. Teo and the thirteen year old, Xio (the child of the god of bad luck.)
With the odds stacked against them, Teo is determined to get them both thorough the trial unscathed, for their very lives depend on it.
This was such an exhilaratingly well written read that I didn’t want to put down!
The plot is phenomenally fast paced and the world building has the perfect blend of modern elements (such as the technologically savvy setting, celebrity/ influencer culture and prevalence of social media) with the more traditional high fantasy, based components which I felt added an engaging dose of fun and entertainment to the narrative.
I loved the queer-normative societal structure that has been intricately incorporated into the plot and was impressed with just how many diverse and LGBTQ+ characters we encounter—all of them beautifully complex and full of depth. Even the morally grey/ Villain-esque characters (Ocelo and Auristela) show a surprising amount of emotion in their character development and though I may not have liked them I did really enjoy getting to see glimpses of their innermost thoughts, feelings and motivations which definitely helped sympathise with their individual situations.
Teo, our protagonist was a really interesting character with a strong sense of justice that I really enjoyed. I loved how vocal he is about the disadvantages he and the other Jade’s have to face, segregated from the Gold semidióses who get to attend a prestigious academy that teaches them how to survive the harsh conditions of the Trials. Yet, despite his protective (and justice seeking) inclinations, his own emotional vulnerabilities play a huge role in how he perceives himself—as a misfit that no one could ever want to be friends with.
Which is why I loved the camaraderie and friendship between Teo, Niya and Xio soo much—letting down his emotional barriers and learning to reevaluate his self worth. I was especially moved by the talk Xio and Teo have about their experiences as trans teens, which was such poignant moment and turning point for Teo.
Likewise, the blossoming relationship between Aurelio (Teo’s former friend and love interest) was such a joy to watch unfold! Though it’s a bit of a slow burn, the attraction and friendship that simmers between them is clear to see and I can’t wait to see what’s next for these two, especially after such a shockingly plot-twisty conclusion.
A vibrant and thoroughly thrilling series starter that brings a much needed spotlight on the rich and fascinating mythology of Latin America—with an endearingly vast and diverse cast of characters that I can’t wait to see more of!
A huge thank you to Pan Macmillan for the PB copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
ree_the_owlgirl's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Child abuse, Death, Murder, Violence, War, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, and Classism
Moderate: Abandonment, Dysphoria, Xenophobia, Child death, and Injury/Injury detail
the_embodiment_of_chaos's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Bullying, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Child death and Dysphoria
Minor: Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Medical content, Transphobia, and Panic attacks/disorders
tuliptohru's review
adventurous
hopeful
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Blood
sabsboutin's review
adventurous
funny
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Dysphoria
Minor: Physical abuse