I am going to be suing for emotional damages after the ending of The Sunbearer Trials. Talk about a book which I only became even more obsessed with and then by the end I wanted to scream – in a good way! If you like action style competitions with dangerous stakes and friendship, then keep reading this book review.
Summary
“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 evil Obsidian gods at bay. Ten semidioses between the ages of thirteen and eighteen are selected by Sol himself as the most worthy 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 used to fuel the Sun Stones that will protect the people of Reino del Sol for the next ten years.
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. 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. 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. 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.
But then, for the first time in over a century, Sol chooses a semidiós who isn’t a Gold. In fact, he chooses two: Xio, the 13-year-old child of Mala Suerte, god of bad luck, and…Teo. 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.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
The Sunbearer Trials thrilled me. If you are searching for a YA Fantasy with a compelling and intriguing competition, look no further. This trial, dangerous elimination style feels so perfectly timed. And each trial, I could not wait to figure out how it would be structured. The action and pacing work together to pull you in and make you read even faster – if you thought that was possible. Additionally, I enjoyed the set up and world of The Sunbearer Trials. The divide between the Golds and the Jades, the ways that society reveres the Golds.
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All these hierarchies of power and status. In The Sunbearer Trials old rivalries will come back and you have to wonder who will make it out alive. With moments of joy and hilarity, The Sunbearer Trials is also about friendship. It’s easy to get sucked into the adventure, but what really captured my heart were the friendship trio. Because in a competition, it’s hard to make friends. But Teo goes against convention and is lead by his heart. And these scenes were some of my favorite which gives it emotional depth that isn’t just, “FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE!” Find The Sunbearer Trials on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.