Be it the description of the different cities the characters visit for the competitions, the Gods and their abilities or the culture, I was thoroughly impressed by the creativity poured into the novel, almost like bringing it all to life. With a Mexican inspired worldbuilding and magic system, Aiden Thomas has created a visually pleasing world that felt fresh to read about. But children of the Jade gods like Teo are never chosen, until this year, where two Jades compete along with the other gods to determine who is the champion and who is to be a sacrifice to Sol. So, what’s it about? Ten semidioses are chosen every year to compete in the Sunbearer Trials to replenish the Sol and keep evil at bay. I feel like this is one of the most engaging and easy to visualise YA I’ve read in a while. The Sunbearer Trials is exactly as promising as the cover shows it to be. 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. In fact, he chooses two: Xio, the 13-year-old child of Mala Suerte, god of bad luck, and…Teo. 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.īut then, for the first time in over a century, Sol chooses a semidiós who isn’t a Gold. 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. 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.

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. 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. Ten semidioses between the ages of thirteen and eighteen are selected by Sol himself as the most worthy to compete in The Sunbearer Trials. I’m not a real hero.”Īs 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. “Only the most powerful and honorable semidioses get chosen. Blurb: 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.

The sunbearer trials book 2