The Sunbearer Trials

The Sunbearer Duology, Book 1

De: Aiden Thomas

Narrado por: André Santana

"Listeners will be captivated by the detailed descriptions of the cities within Reino del Sol and the fantastical beings who inhabit them. Santana keeps the tension in his narration taut as Teo wrestles with both physical challenges and his own feelings of inferiority." - AudioFile Magazine

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 chaotic Obsidian gods at bay. Sol selects ten of the most worthy semidioses 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 melted down to refuel the Sun Stones, protecting the world for another ten years.

Teo, a seventeen-year-old Jade semidiós and the trans son of the goddess of birds, isn't worried about the Trials . . . at least, not for himself. His best friend, Niya is a Gold semidiós and a shoo-in for the Trials, and while he trusts her abilities, the odds of becoming the sacrifice is one-in-ten.

But then, for the first time in over a century, the impossible happens. Sol chooses not one, but two Jade competitors. Teo, and Xio, the thirteen-year-old child of the god of bad luck. Now they must compete in five trials against Gold opponents who are more powerful and better trained. Worst of all, Teo’s annoyingly handsome ex-best friend and famous semidiós Hero, Aurelio is favored to win. Teo is determined to get himself and his friends through the trials unscathed—for fame, glory, and their own survival.

A Macmillan Audio production from Feiwel & Friends.

©2022 Aiden Thomas (P)2022 Macmillan Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

“One of the best fantasy novels I have ever read. Aiden Thomas is masterful in their ability to not only build such a brilliant world but also characters who you love and want to root for. The Sunbearer Trials is a force to be reckoned with and has completely changed the game.” —Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, New York Times-bestselling author of Ace of Spades

“Aiden Thomas fully knocked me out with THE SUNBEARER TRIALS, delivering charming queer characters, thrilling magical trials, and an immersive fantasy world full of intricate details. This book is a triumph and I could not get enough!” —Xiran Jay Zhao, New York Times-bestselling author of Iron Widow

"The world of the Reino del Sol is consciously and emphatically queer and ­diverse. 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." —School Libarary Journal, starred review

so good!

Aiden Thomas seems to only write gold. this story is no exception. the world is a place I don't know much of, so the mythology was really fun to explore. The story has a familiar track to follow but there are plenty of twists and interest points to make it fresh and fun. def a must read.

Blown away

As an avid spicy fiction reader, I need a story to really captivate me with it is not adult fiction. Aiden Thomas does just that with their natural world building, unique characters, and vivid descriptions of the environment. I am reading all of his books now.

Amazing story

One of my favorite books the story and characters are fantastic. The world building is so fascinating that I just want to know more. Can’t wait for the next book!

Mythos and Mayhem!

This book was so much fun! it was so good and the mythos behind the story was really interesting! I loved it and I can't wait for book 2! I was definitely not expecting it to end the way it did! Aiden Thomas is a GIFT!

Nice repackaging of themes

Games-to-the-death themed stories seem to pop up from era to era. Thomas manages to give it new twists, particularly the supernatural powers of demigods, in addition to other more conventional matters such as unfair distribution of preparation and opaque rules primed for rigging. Thomas also increases the appeal for the contemporary audience, by having contestants taking selfies and giving them backstories dealing with gender fluidity. [Readers should be old enough to understand terms like douchebag.] Also, the modern audience wants someone who challenges traditional patterns, not someone who chooses to live within them, and this book is no disappointment. It raises the question, What would you do if suddenly transported back to 16th century Aztec society and asked to perform the deeply important ritual of human sacrifice - without the transgression of moral and ethical colonialism?
Readers also need some identifiable antagonist beyond the contestants (President Snow?), and the big reveal leads us to the next book. I might read it, but I don’t have a hankering to reread first book. There is no pleasure in it.

Incredible

Absolutely recommend to everyone it is an amazingly told story full of well rounded characters

Details details DETAILS!!!

This book has so many details in it, but the story is not hindered by these details, it’s only enhanced. The imagery in this book is astounding and really brings this book to life. You can visualize the world In the writing is simply impeccable.

Love Love Love

Amazing absolutely loved every bit!! Can't wait for the second one!! Definitely going to be reading again while I wait!

What a gorgeous read

This book was so colorful, in more ways than one. It was magical to listen to, and easy to get wrapped up in the world.

Beautiful world building

Amazing- no notes! I can’t wait to read the next book! Also lots of great queer and trans representation