Hi there! A little late to the game, but I’m here to share my thoughts about a highly anticipated ARC of a YA fantasy I claimed through BookishFirst. **And every day we are reminded that discrimination against marginalized communities is still a serious problem, so click here to find a compilation of resources where you can donate your time, money, or whatever you can to support these communities. I still encourage you to research these causes on your own to educate yourself and find the best way to lend your support.**
Aiden Thomas’ debut, Cemetery Boys, truly made waves with its debut in 2020 (I actually won an ARC through a giveaway I didn’t remember entering, and you can read my review of the early copy here). Their follow-up release, Lost in the Never Woods, is a retelling of Peter Pan, which is a story I’m a bit less intrigued by but it’s still on my TBR, and I may even pick it up during this year’s spooky season. But when I heard about their newest book, The Sunbearer Trials, it was an instant addition to my TBR – it was pitched as having Latinx culture, and elements of The Hunger Games and Percy Jackson, plus the cover art is absolutely stunning. I was also interested to see how Aiden Thomas would handle a duology (and now we have news that Cemetery Boys is also getting a sequel!) So as soon as I saw it being offered up for raffle on BookishFirst, I set an alarm and made I was on the site to claim it. To be fair, I was initially expecting an ARC, but as it was less than a month before release they sent us finished copies, which I appreciated even though my copy was a bit damaged in transit. And with that sufficient intro I’m happy to dive into my thoughts about the book.
Every ten years, the Sun’s power must be replenished so that Sol can keep traveling along the sky and keep the evil Obsidian gods at bay. Hence the Sunbearer Trials, a competition where 10 semidioses between the ages of 13 and 17 are chosen by Sol to compete – the winner carries light and life to all the temples of Reino del Sol, and the last place competitor is sacrificed to Sol who uses their body to fuel the Sun Stones that will apply protection for the next decade. Teo, a 17-year-old Jade semidiós and the trans son of Quetzal, goddess of birds, is worried for his friends that are Golds and are eligible for the trials. But he never thinks that Sol will choose him to compete, alongside fellow Jade Xio, the 13-year-old child of Mala Suerte, god of bad luck, and 8 Golds that have trained for this for years. Teo recruits the help of his best friend Niya, daughter of Tierra, the god of earth, to strategize and ensure that he (and Xio) aren’t the ones who land in the 10th place spot.
At its heart, this is a story about proving yourself capable to those who underestimate you. As soon as Teo is chosen by Sol to compete in the trials, he knows his skills are inadequate compared to his Gold competitors. He overhears them snicker and proclaim that Sol has just made it easier by choosing a Jade to be a sacrifice this time. Teo knows he cannot end up on top, but uses every one of his abilities – including his wings, which have finally turned the perfect shades of brilliant ultramarine, iridescent blue, and electric green, the feathers of a proper male quetzal – to ensure that neither he nor Xio are in last place by the end of each trial. Aidan Thomas always does a great job of making me feel for their characters, whether that is appreciation, admiration, pure hatred, or anything in between, and this was no different – there were a lot of characters – dioses, semidioses, Jades, Golds, adults, and children alike – being introduced in the first section of the book, as everyone is gathering for the introductory ceremony, and while it took me a whole I think I finally understood everyone’s significance as every character, even if they are on page for one sentence or paragraph, are so distinct. The world is so immersed in Latinx/e culture and I loved seeing so much diversity – disability, gender, orientation, and even ability – among these characters, and it isn’t questioned or othered it is just a part of their identity. Typically when we hear competition story, we think that a group of individuals are fighting (sometimes to the death) to be the one crowned victorious, but I liked how The Sunbearer Trials also included the aspect of the loser being sacrificed, which is seen to be a bigger honor as your loss will benefit the community as a whole. So throughout the entire competition, Teo acknowledges his disadvantages, so while other people are vetting for first place, Teo is more so trying to avoid last place.
One criticism I’ve seen is that this book reads more like middle grade than YA, and while I do agree that it reads a little younger than some other fantasy books I’ve read directed towards a YA audience, it didn’t hinder my enjoyment. From early on in the book, I could tell that certain plot points were being set up for a climactic ending and a lead-in to the sequel. But when the last few chapters finally came, I felt that there were several action sequences, plot twists and reveals that felt rushed, chaotic and confusing, and it took me out of the story a bit. Where the book leaves off certainly keeps me intrigued and interested to pick up the sequel, which is always what you want at the end of the first in a duology, I maybe just had a few issues with pacing towards the end.
All in all, The Sunbearer Trials is another solid read from Aiden Thomas, and a Mexican-inspired fantasy so full of dynamic characters, plenty of action, and a competition with deadly consequences. I’m sure those who have been excited to pick up the book, from the comp titles to the synopsis to the incredible illustrated cover, will not be disappointed, and will be just as excited to pick up the sequel when it finally releases. The Sunbearer Trials was released on September 6th, 2022, so please check it out if you’re interested. *Thank you to BookishFirst and the publisher, Feiwel & Friends, for the early finished copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*
Where to find The Sunbearer Trials:
Bookshop
Amazon
Goodreads
Storygraph
Macmillan
Aiden Thomas’ site
Thoughts About Things 