The Sunbearer Trials

Starred review from July 25, 2022
Intensely perilous competition and an innovative mythos permeate this thrilling duology opener by Thomas (Lost in the Never Woods). At the dawn of creation, the god Sol, “alone in the universe,” created godly children: the “powerful but vain” Golds; “kind but focused” Jades; “passionate but selfish” Obsidians; and the mortals, whom Sol loved most of all. The Obsidians were eventually locked away for their crimes against the gods and mortals, and kept at bay by Sun Stones, which were formed from Sol’s body. Now, every decade, the Sunbearer Trials are held to find a champion to relight the stones while the loser is sacrificed to fuel them. Golds have participated in the trial almost exclusively, until now: two trans boys, 17-year-old Teo, son of the Jade goddess of birds, is chosen alongside 13-year-old Xio, son of the Jade god of bad luck. Since Teo lacks the training that his fearsome Gold competitors receive, he must work with Xio and his one Gold friend to ensure they don’t lose. Thomas’s queernormative world and distinctly drawn cast deliver an upbeat fantasy teeming with captivating worldbuilding, earnest friendships, and electrifying adventure. Characters are described as having brown skin of varying tones. Ages 13–up. Agent: Jennifer March Soloway, Andrea Brown Literary.

Starred review from October 1, 2022

Gr 7 Up-In this Mexican-inspired fantasy, Teo must unexpectedly compete against eight of Reino del Sol's brightest young Heroes and one unlucky 13-year-old in a competition to become the next Sunbearer, carrying light to all the temples of Reino del Sol and keeping away the evil Obsidian gods for another few years. While the rewards are great, competing has a high cost: the loser of the trials will be sacrificed in order to replenish the Sun's power. Teo, a trans 17-year-old semidi�s and son of the goddess of birds, competes alongside his best friend Niya, a strong daughter of an earth god; Xio, a 13-year-old child of the god of bad luck; and Aurelio, son of a fire goddess, and his former best friend turned enemy. Along the way, he gains confidence in himself and his powers, even learning to fly using the wings that previously caused him too much dysphoria to look at. As the competitors travel to different trials, they explore beautiful locations and develop unexpected alliances. However, things aren't always what they seem, and after a few close calls, Teo begins to suspect that someone is tampering with the trials. The world of the Reino del Sol is consciously and emphatically queer and diverse, and transition is shown to be a celebration. VERDICT Readers who have aged out of Percy Jackson and Rick Riordan Presents will delight in the mythology that Thomas has created, while readers who enjoy the competition structures of Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass or Amanda Foody's All of Us Villains will love reading about the challenges the heroes face. While the trials do not always feel high stakes, this is a fun and warm-hearted start to a duology.-Kelsey Socha

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2023
Every ten years in the fantastical but contemporary-feeling Reino del Sol, ten demigod children are chosen to compete in the Sunbearer Trials, a sacred ritual deemed necessary in order to avert the apocalypse. Although winning the Trials brings glory, it comes with a price: it's the Sunbearer's duty to sacrifice the competitor in last place. Seventeen-year-old Teo, whose family wields little power, is certain he won't be chosen to compete -- but the god Sol selects both him and thirteen-year-old fellow trans boy Xio. Teo and his best friend, Niya, vow to keep Xio from becoming the sacrifice and find a way to put the other, stuck-up competitors in their place. Each city that hosts the competition is devoted to one of this world's gods, with elements richly drawn from Mexican culture to create a narrative setting that's colorful, expansive, and unique. Reino del Sol is devoid of queerphobia, with powerful gods in same-sex relationships or using they/them pronouns, and Teo's dysphoria about his wings serves as an intriguing metaphor for transness. Though the cast of characters is large, the individuals are engaging and distinct. The novel successfully balances magical, action-packed battles with lighter interactions and dialogue. A cliffhanger ending sets up a promising second half for the projected duology. Bodie Shanis

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from August 1, 2022
Grades 8-12 *Starred Review* This duology opener follows 17-year-old Teo, the trans son of Quetzal, goddess of birds. As a semidios of godly lineage, Teo lives in a world of strong, talented peers; but when it's time for the Sunbearer Trials, which pit teen semidioses against one another in a series of challenges, he doubts he'll be picked to represent the Jade group. Thomas captures Teo's bright and likable personality--as well as his penchant for working with feathered friends--in this story inspired by Mexican mythology and lore, as readers follow his journey from lesser-known semidios to candidate for the Trials, in which he goes head-to-head with the child of the god of bad luck. As the Trials grow more and more intense, Teo must compete for his life among friends and rivals, for while whoever wins the competition will be highly revered, the loser will be sacrificed to the sun god. Thomas unravels a plot that is as riveting as it is terrifying, as the secrets behind the five Trials are unearthed and Teo teams up with the other semidioses to save the world they all know and love, regardless of class difference. Fans of the Hunger Games and mythology will revel in this energetic, well-wrought adventure.

COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

January 1, 2023
Every ten years in the fantastical but contemporary-feeling Reino del Sol, ten demigod children are chosen to compete in the Sunbearer Trials, a sacred ritual deemed necessary in order to avert the apocalypse. Although winning the Trials brings glory, it comes with a price: it's the Sunbearer's duty to sacrifice the competitor in last place. Seventeen-year-old Teo, whose family wields little power, is certain he won't be chosen to compete -- but the god Sol selects both him and thirteen-year-old fellow trans boy Xio. Teo and his best friend, Niya, vow to keep Xio from becoming the sacrifice and find a way to put the other, stuck-up competitors in their place. Each city that hosts the competition is devoted to one of this world's gods, with elements richly drawn from Mexican culture to create a narrative setting that's colorful, expansive, and unique. Reino del Sol is devoid of queerphobia, with powerful gods in same-sex relationships or using they/them pronouns, and Teo's dysphoria about his wings serves as an intriguing metaphor for transness. Though the cast of characters is large, the individuals are engaging and distinct. The novel successfully balances magical, action-packed battles with lighter interactions and dialogue. A cliffhanger ending sets up a promising second half for the projected duology.

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)