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A review by booksdogsandcoffee
The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas
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
This book is a masterpiece!
In the beginning there was Sol and Tierra. Together they created the their races of godly children, Golds, Jades and Obsidians. Mortals were also born from Sol when they hurried their heart in the earth. The Obsidians being the problem child were cast out of Reino Del Sol and could not step back in as long as there were sun stone lit with in the land.
Years later is where our story begins. A hierarchy has been built, Golds are the more powerful dios/semidios, while Jade dios and semidios are lesser, and humans being even lower than Jades. To keep the Sun Stones lit the Sunbearer Trials are fulfilled every ten years. Sol choses 10 semidios (Half god/half mortal) children to compete for the honor of becoming the Sunbearer. The semidios that comes in last is sacrificed to the Sunstones, while the winner is honored.
Jades are rarely if never picked. So when Teo, son of Quetzal is picked as one of the contenders he is sure that he will be the sacrifice that saves Reino Del Sol for the next 10 years.
Many will tell you it is a perfect combination of The Hunger Games and Percy Jackson, only with Mexican gods, but it is so so much more than that. It delves into so much about Mexican culture and mythology. The world building is top tier and so immersive. The characters, even though there is a full cast, are so fleshed out and you love and hate each of them in their own right. Not only that it is goes in depth about classism without being an outright slap in your face. It shows the inequalities between the people of Reino Del Sol with such nuance!
It is also queer af and I loved it! It has so much Trans rep, as well as gay and sapphic rep. The Bipoc rep is fantastic and well done. Plus it is sassy and quippy. Overall a five star read all around. I need the second book asap!
CW
Blood
Swearing
Gore
violence
bullying
child death
child abuse
dysphoria
fire
classism
In the beginning there was Sol and Tierra. Together they created the their races of godly children, Golds, Jades and Obsidians. Mortals were also born from Sol when they hurried their heart in the earth. The Obsidians being the problem child were cast out of Reino Del Sol and could not step back in as long as there were sun stone lit with in the land.
Years later is where our story begins. A hierarchy has been built, Golds are the more powerful dios/semidios, while Jade dios and semidios are lesser, and humans being even lower than Jades. To keep the Sun Stones lit the Sunbearer Trials are fulfilled every ten years. Sol choses 10 semidios (Half god/half mortal) children to compete for the honor of becoming the Sunbearer. The semidios that comes in last is sacrificed to the Sunstones, while the winner is honored.
Jades are rarely if never picked. So when Teo, son of Quetzal is picked as one of the contenders he is sure that he will be the sacrifice that saves Reino Del Sol for the next 10 years.
Many will tell you it is a perfect combination of The Hunger Games and Percy Jackson, only with Mexican gods, but it is so so much more than that. It delves into so much about Mexican culture and mythology. The world building is top tier and so immersive. The characters, even though there is a full cast, are so fleshed out and you love and hate each of them in their own right. Not only that it is goes in depth about classism without being an outright slap in your face. It shows the inequalities between the people of Reino Del Sol with such nuance!
It is also queer af and I loved it! It has so much Trans rep, as well as gay and sapphic rep. The Bipoc rep is fantastic and well done. Plus it is sassy and quippy. Overall a five star read all around. I need the second book asap!
CW
Blood
Swearing
Gore
violence
bullying
child death
child abuse
dysphoria
fire
classism
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Blood, Bullying, Child death, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder