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A review by natashaleighton_
The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas
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