Each decade, Sol selects the ten most worthy semiodioses to compete in The Sunbearer Trials, a set of high stakes challenges that will have its winner carry the light and life to all the temples in Reino del Sol and its loser sacrificed to refuel the Sun Stones that protects Sol for another ten years from things lurking in the dark. Teo, a 17-year-old trans son of the goddess of birds, and thus a Jade, isn’t worried about being chosen. The trials are for heroes and Jades aren’t those. But then, for the first time in over a century, Sol chooses not one, but two semidioses: a 13-year-old child of Mala Suerte named Xio…and Teo. Now they must compete in five dangerous trials against opponents who are far more powerful and trained for this, or face the fatal consequences of losing.
This is the queer The Hunger Games meets Percy Jackson that is going to take readers’ hearts by storm, I guarantee it. Thomas creates a vivid world that feels almost seamless. There’s no info-dumping that might drag down the pacing, instead, new information about the places Teo gets to visit is given peu a peu, which I love especially in high fantasy. All the cities are a mix of modern elements and old glamor and while there are nods to real life (social media and celebrity life), it is well balanced with the magic that keeps their world thriving, such as the highly powerful Sol Stones. Altogether, this mix of mythology, modernity and magical abilities made for one hell of a ride.
While I admit that I sometimes had trouble distinguishing the characters from each other (there’s a huge cast of characters and of course there isn’t time to flesh out everyone completely especially since this is a duology), I loved how we got to see characters bond and squabble and actively try to sabotage others. There are definitely a few characters in the book you’ll love to hate while others turn out to be potential friends that you might not have guessed would be helpful.
The highlight of this story is of course The Sunbearer Trials. From the harrowing challenges the chosen ones have to face to the unlikely alliances—and downright villainous acts of other competitors—that are created, every trial felt more dangerous than the last one. I loved the way the media sensationalised the trials and how Teo’s role in the competition engendered character growth. The trials are a horrible practice and always end with someone being the sacrifice and this barbaric tradition has never sat right with Teo—and that doesn’t change even as he fights for his own survival. There is also so much camaraderie and support between Teo, his best friend and another competitor they chose to take under their wing (pun intended) that adds so much to the stakes of the trials. Other characters that are introduced also play huge roles in the way Teo sees not only himself but his entire existence as a Jade and I loved how that added to the story. We also have a bit of a childhood friends to rivals to …maybe something more than friends teased between Theo and Aurelio which I was so here for. There’s also a few twists and turns and I found myself rooting for different outcomes throughout the story, yet couldn’t have predicted where the novel ends up going.
Thomas also adds so much inclusion and diverse representation without making it the focus of the story which I absolutely loved—we need more representation where queerness is totally the norm and here we have it— from fluid gender and sexuality representation and Sol’s genderless presence to a nonbinary villain and our main character Teo whose transition isn’t so much the focus as him binding his wings for much of his teenhood because of the dysphoria they initially cause. There’s also so much rich culture discussed in this story that I couldn’t do it justice by merely listing it here. All I can say is that it’s a rich tapestry that will have you compelled to flip the pages even faster.
The climax of the story is as intense as it gets and with a plot twist that is much a surprise as it is a betrayal, I’m itching to see how it all wraps up in the second part of this promising duology.
Percy Jackson meets The Hunger Games in this queer adventure in which teen semidioses compete in a series of challenges to safekeep their world. With high stakes, intricate mythology, vivid worldbuilding and a riveting cast of characters all spearheaded by snarky Teo, this book is perfect for fantasy readers young and old alike!
The Sunbearer Trials is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of September 6th 2022.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
Welcome to The Sunbearer Trials, where teen semidioses compete in a series of challenges with the highest of stakes, in this electric new Mexican-inspired fantasy from Aiden Thomas, the New York Times bestselling author of Cemetery Boys.
“Only the most powerful and honorable semidioses get chosen. I’m just a Jade. I’m not a real hero.”
As each new decade begins, the Sun’s power must be replenished so that Sol can keep traveling along the sky and keep the evil Obsidian gods at bay. Ten semidioses between the ages of thirteen and eighteen are selected by Sol himself as the most worthy to compete in The Sunbearer Trials. The winner carries light and life to all the temples of Reino del Sol, but the loser has the greatest honor of all―they will be sacrificed to Sol, their body used to fuel the Sun Stones that will protect the people of Reino del Sol for the next ten years.
Teo, a 17-year-old Jade semidiós and the trans son of Quetzal, goddess of birds, has never worried about the Trials…or rather, he’s only worried for others. His best friend Niya―daughter of Tierra, the god of earth―is one of the strongest heroes of their generation and is much too likely to be chosen this year. He also can’t help but worry (reluctantly, and under protest) for Aurelio, a powerful Gold semidiós and Teo’s friend-turned-rival who is a shoo-in for the Trials. Teo wouldn’t mind taking Aurelio down a notch or two, but a one-in-ten chance of death is a bit too close for Teo’s taste.
But then, for the first time in over a century, Sol chooses a semidiós who isn’t a Gold. In fact, he chooses two: Xio, the 13-year-old child of Mala Suerte, god of bad luck, and…Teo. Now they must compete in five mysterious trials, against opponents who are both more powerful and better trained, for fame, glory, and their own survival.
