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A review by embersbooknook
Celestial Monsters by Aiden Thomas
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
DAMN I really adore these characters, this world, and how queer (yet it also isn’t the plot) that the setting is. The plot was excellent, twisting in directions I wasn’t expecting. I thought this was a fantastic sequel, even better than the first.
I REALLY DIDNT WANT SUERTE TO DIE THOUGH Y’ALL😭😭 I really came to love his character in this book. And Fantasma?! What a queen🥹 Xio’s character growth was really well done and felt authentic and unforced, which I appreciated. Niya was hilarious as usual, and Tea & Aurelio were soooo adorable🥹😍🥹
I really enjoyed the theme/idea, and its exploration, of how the gods can’t save us. Like…idk, it was strangely empowering to me - a reminder that the things we put on pedestals as a society (politicians to name a big one very relevant at the moment🫣) can’t really save us. We save ourselves and each other but having community, working together, and taking care of each other. More than ever, a poignant and powerful theme.
As a nonbinary person it is so moving to be represented at all, let alone in such a wonderful cast of characters😭🥹 Also this book made me HUNGRY - all the descriptions of the delicious food😋 Made me nostalgic too, as a Latine reader. 🥹 I need to be more like Aurelio and cook more😄 This weekend might be time to whip up some sopapillas and café de olla I’m thinking….😌☕️
I really enjoyed the theme/idea, and its exploration, of how the gods can’t save us. Like…idk, it was strangely empowering to me - a reminder that the things we put on pedestals as a society (politicians to name a big one very relevant at the moment🫣) can’t really save us. We save ourselves and each other but having community, working together, and taking care of each other. More than ever, a poignant and powerful theme.
As a nonbinary person it is so moving to be represented at all, let alone in such a wonderful cast of characters😭🥹 Also this book made me HUNGRY - all the descriptions of the delicious food😋 Made me nostalgic too, as a Latine reader. 🥹 I need to be more like Aurelio and cook more😄 This weekend might be time to whip up some sopapillas and café de olla I’m thinking….😌☕️
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Confinement, Genocide, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Classism
The war/genocide theme is from mentions of something that happened way in the past. Not graphic but the thread is there, so I felt it worth mentioning. None of these are overly graphic but all themes are present.