Scan barcode
theirgracegrace's review
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
In the world of The Sunbearer Trials, ten teenage children of the Gold and Jade deities of Reino del Sol compete once a decade in a tournament of the same name. The winner becomes the Sunbearer, who brings the light of Sol to the world to protect it from the dangerous Obsidian deities from beyond the stars; the loser becomes the sacrifice used to power the light of Sol. When Teo, the trans son of the Jade goddess of birds Quetzal is chosen, he sets out to make sure him and his two friends aren't the sacrifice...but maybe they might be able to win the Trials after all? I personally loved the representation of trans and non-binary people in this book; Teo and his friend Xio (which is also the first time I've seen someone who is actively questioning their gender in a piece of media!) are both trans boys, and the warlike Ocelo is non-binary. I also was enamoured with the deaf chosen boy Dezi, and how the group makes sure he is included. The worldbuilding of this setting is immense, with a pantheon of deities that boggles the mind and deepens in the modern-day context of the world. As a long-time fan of Aiden Thomas's previous book Cemetery Boys, I continue to enjoy the way they blend humour and anguish to make a riveting story with larger-than-life characters. I eagerly await the sequel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Cursing, Death, Dysphoria, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Grief and Medical content
Xio goes through phases of disordered eating in the book due to the stress of the Trials. Teo and Xio have a very frank conversation regarding using hormones and gender dysphoria about halfway through the book.cloudbooks's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Aiden Thomas has been on my secret "I probably don't like this author" list. I read "Lost in the Never woods" and disliked it so much, I set it out to resell the book as quickly as possible so I didn't have to look at it. I didn't have any hopes for this book either. With that said, I was pleasantly surprised.
The bad:
It reads like a middle grade book with sex jokes and cursing. Due to the writing, there's just not room for deep, fleshed out characters. They're mostly caricatures, tropes, not much else.
It might have been my copy of the book, but I couldn't discern the drawings of glyphs for the characters. I relied on the text to tell me and was heavily disappointed when it only described a few of the rankings.
The good:
There's so much representation. The characters are likeable but not very deep. It definitely has Hunger Games vibes but it's easy to forget they're competing to avoid death due to how childish almost everyone is. I found myself absolutely shocked by the twist even if I knew this is not a standalone book.
Other than that, I desperately needed a map and an index of the Gods. It was so confusing to keep it all in my head and I quickly lost track.
Would I read it again? Yes, but I don't think I'll enjoy as much second time. I'll probably read the next book.
The bad:
It reads like a middle grade book with sex jokes and cursing. Due to the writing, there's just not room for deep, fleshed out characters. They're mostly caricatures, tropes, not much else.
It might have been my copy of the book, but I couldn't discern the drawings of glyphs for the characters. I relied on the text to tell me and was heavily disappointed when it only described a few of the rankings.
The good:
There's so much representation. The characters are likeable but not very deep. It definitely has Hunger Games vibes but it's easy to forget they're competing to avoid death due to how childish almost everyone is. I found myself absolutely shocked by the twist even if I knew this is not a standalone book.
Other than that, I desperately needed a map and an index of the Gods. It was so confusing to keep it all in my head and I quickly lost track.
Would I read it again? Yes, but I don't think I'll enjoy as much second time. I'll probably read the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and Cursing
kassidyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Child abuse, and Dysphoria
Minor: Medical content and Death
_teoeo's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
All in all it was an okay read. Some parts I enjoyed, some parts annoyed me. Maybe I will read the second book, because i'm interested in how the story continues.
What I liked:
What I liked:
- The diversity!!
- The different trials and cities
- Sometimes it was funny
- The mythology
What I disliked:
- There were just too many characters. They told us about one of the gods and when they were mentioned again I completely forgot who that person was and how they looked like because there were so many new characters and names in between (A character glossary would be really helpful)
- I NEED a map :((
- pop culture references in fantasy books are my new ICK!!!
- The ending was so rushed!! (And also predictable but I knew that before I bought the book so it's half as bad)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Classism, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, and Child abuse
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
noahsingh's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Obsessed with this, and already quite desperate to read the next book.
Should be the Next Big YA Fantasy Thing imho, Percy Jackson should be shaking tbh
Really loved all the characters and has some Very Fun worldbuilding
Should be the Next Big YA Fantasy Thing imho, Percy Jackson should be shaking tbh
Really loved all the characters and has some Very Fun worldbuilding
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child abuse, Dysphoria, Bullying, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty, Child death, Grief, Medical content, and Murder
lauralintunen's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Child abuse, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, and Violence
Minor: Animal cruelty, Blood, Child death, Confinement, Death, and Medical content
More...