Reviews with content warning for Death - The Sunbearer Trials

Aiden Thomas the writer that you are!

The world of this book is so richly realized. It's incredibly modern, which can be jarring at times, but overall it's very fun and works well.

The comp titles of Percy Jackson and The Hunger Games are definitely accurate, and Thomas balances the potentially conflicting vibes perfectly--This is a fun YA fantasy book filled with banter and friendship and memes and pop culture references (the TikTok and Vine parts are where I struggled the most, but not all readers will feel this way), and it is also a serious story about some very high-stakes death games.

Teo, the main character, is a seventeen-year-old trans guy who's the son of Quetzal, diosa of birds. As the semidios son of a Jade diosa, Teo doesn't expect to be anyone special. He covers his wings, which cause him some dysphoria due to their coloration, and he does not attend the elite training academy with all of the Gold semidioses. And then Teo is selected for the Sunbearer Trials, and everything changes.

The challenges were exciting and difficult. The character dynamics were compelling. I loved Teo and Niya. I want more from Niya especially. The ending made me gasp so many times.

And also, Aiden Thomas's economical and vivid descriptions continue to wow me. He puts sentences together with so much skill.

I'm glad I didn't read this sooner because now I only have to wait five months for the sequel!

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honeycupreads's review

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adventurous emotional funny 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

5.0

"You never said I could."

I loved this book so much. I love Teo dearly and wish nothing bad would ever happen to him, like he is my son. This book was amazing and there’s not a single thing I wish was different.

I found myself tearing up multiple times in this book,

especially when Teo's wings changed in the first trial

, I had to take deep breaths to keep it together or I wouldn't have been able to see the pages to continue reading. I didn't want to put this book down I was hooked from the very beginning these characters are so amazing, even the ones I loved to hate.

Aurelio...

The scene where he tells Teo about his relationship with Auristela and how she's the only person he can truly rely on and how his mom views him as a failure for something beyond his control my heart shattered.

Such an amazing character I cannot wait to see how he grows in the next book.

I also think we should kill Lumbre with hammers.

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betweentheshelves's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny 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

4.5

Re-visited this because I got approved for the second book on NetGalley! And I wanted the story to be fresh in my head before I picked up the second book. I actually recommend this a lot at work because it's such a great read-a-like for those that like The Hunger Games and Percy Jackson. If you have kids or teens that love those series, definitely give them this book!

The world-building in this book is fantastic, with a cast of characters you will definitely be rooting for by the end. Thomas also keeps you guessing with plot twists that will make you want to read the next book ASAP!

If you like mythology based, competition style fantasy, definitely check out this duology!

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zombiezami's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

4.5

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hal00alex's review

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adventurous emotional inspiring 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

4.25

Perfect for mythology lovers. It is fast pace without feeling like a Lightning Thief copy cat.

I knocked some points off for cliff hanger at end.

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pynklaady'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? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I love this book! Aiden Thomas' world building is stunning, and through his vivid descriptions I'm drawn into the world of the Dios'. I can't wait for the sequel

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ehwesson's review

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I am not interested in YA and the Teenage flirt scenes and undeveloped brains were giving me anxiety

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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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