A review by keepcalmblogon
The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas

adventurous 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? No

4.0

I listened to a serialized version of The Sunbearer Trials on Macmillan’s YA Heard it Here First podcast & really enjoyed it! I love a magical competition, so that was a check for me! I also loved the trans & LGBTQ rep as well as the Latin American mythology—which is not a mythology I’ve read a lot! Teo was such a sympathetic character, he sees right & wrong so clearly, but he isn’t patronizing or self-righteous about it; He tries to get people to understand the world the way he sees it by communicating with them. Niya is my favorite type of side-kick best friend character—she’s punch first, ask questions later, & while she prefers the same sex, she’s always ready to point out just how hot someone is, even if they’re a jerk! She’s the perfect comic relief wrapped up in unyielding loyalty to her friends & beliefs. 

This magical trial is meant to end with the victor sacrificing the bottom-ranked semidiós, which sounds very Hunger Games, but takes place in a very peaceful world with respect & thanks heaped onto the sacrifice, so that’s an interesting twist & one of the core conflicts Teo faces. Xio is the assumed sacrifice being the youngest & least magically gifted semidiós, but Teo & Niya vow to protect him as letting him rank last place would be unfair considering the other competitors are the best in their class & have been specifically trained for the Trials. The trio form a bond of friendship & protection, & in the end many twists ensue!

All the while, Teo slowly rekindles a friendship, & maybe something more, with an old friend turned near-enemy, Aurelio. It was so sweet to watch these two boys bridge the gaps that came between them—we even get a few scenes where Aurelio, the experienced hero, helps Teo train to get through the Trial—who doesn’t love a good training scene with loads of romantic tension?!

I think it was fun to serialize an audiobook, it kept up my anticipation as I had to wait for new chapters to drop on Tuesdays & Thursdays. I also think André Santana is one of my new favorite narrators!