500/5 stars! I love this series so much. The author does amazing work and Sunbearer Trials was one of my top reads of 2022. I was so excited to get a chance to read the sequel. Teo, Aurelio, and Niya take center stage as Heroes and need to restore balance after the destruction during the finale of book one. I appreciated that this book dealt with heavier themes and steered away from the "hunger-game-esque" elements of the first book. An amazing entry by author Aiden Thomas.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

Celestial Monsters is a stunning conclusion to an incredible duology!

I loved The Sunbearer Trials and I was so excited to get back into this beautiful world that Aiden Thomas created. I was swept away into the rich landscape filled with magic, Latin gods and is completely steeped in folklore.

I really enjoyed the split POV from Xio and Teo, and getting to glimpse what was happening to both groups. I fell completely in love with these characters in the first book and will always appreciate a queer normative book that is filled with such deep joy and found family. The romance was so precious and I am devasted to be leaving this world.

I would highly, highly recommend this to lovers of queer, YA fantasy!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I really enjoyed the first part of this duology so it was a long wait for this part! I feel like this wasn't quite as strong, but was still an enjoyable read. Getting Xio's perspective in this book was particularly essential and I loved that the emphasis was always on chosen family, though it did feel very episodic at times. I think the book definitely reads YA rather than skewing up towards NA, which is fine and means it would be suitable for younger readers.

I really loved Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas it's one of my favourite books of all time but I just haven't vibed with this duology in the same way, I am definitely growing out of young adult now but I really wanted to love this one. It did have an interesting premise and I LOVED how diverse the cast of characters were but for some reason the writing hasn't clicked with me in book 1 or book 2

I LOVED this book! It had been a while since I read The Sunbearer Trials but I found myself picking this up quickly as I remembered the main characters well, and was refreshed on what had happened in the first book. I was gripped early on and couldn’t put this down as I needed to know how the story would end! What an incredible read, and a fantastic resolution to the conflicts throughout the story. I can’t wait to get a physical copy of this book so I can re-read it any time I want! A must-read for any Aiden Thomas fan, or any fans of mythological fiction.

Niya is my spirit animal and I will die on this hill.

In my opinion, Aiden Thomas is one of the pivotal voices in queer YA fantasy. The way they represent queerness is so well done and even as someone who isn't trans or nonbinary, I still resonated with the characters and felt connected to them and their stories.

I also adore how ADHD is represented in this book through Niya. She's brash, she's impulsive and she runs without thinking, but she is passionate, loves with her whole heart and protects those she loves. This is the representation we need!

As always, the banter and relationships was top notch. The plot was a bit predictable and a little generic, but the vibes and characters were off the charts and I can't give this anything less than 5 stars for the great time I had.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for the advance reader copy.

I really enjoyed this sequel. It followed on nicely from the first book and was a good read.

I enjoy reading the authors work and found this book kept the same pace and quality as their over books.

This book was such a good sequel to the first book. Since reading The Sunbearer Trials in March last year, I have been waiting for this book for so long and building up bigger and bigger expectations in my head. And this book met all those expectations. This was a perfect end to the duology and by the end I was obsessed with every single character. The plot twists had me gasping and screaming and the romance may have changed my life forever.

“Celestial Monsters” by Aiden Thomas

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Summary: Teo, Niya, and Aurelio have to bring back the sun and save the other semidioses before the Obsidians take over and destroy everything they know. Together they face challenges and overcome obstacles, while meeting new people. Xio, the one who helped the Obsidians, is now reconsidering their actions, and wonders if what they are doing is right.

Thoughts:

I received this ARC from Netgalley; thank you very much!

I really enjoyed the first book, and I did like the second. I feel, however, the second book was very quick paced and scenes happened fast. This made it difficult to fully grasp what was going on at some points, but it was still enjoyable.

This book does split POV; going from Xio to Teo. I did feel sometimes Teo was a little sidelined and I did think there was going to be more heroes fighting the Celestial Monsters, but regardless I still enjoyed the story.

The characters are fun; I liked how Teo and Aurelio’s relationship blossomed more. We learn that they all have flaws and fears, which they do overcome and grow more as individuals. I also cried a lot when reading the final chapters.

I just really enjoy Aiden Thomas’ work, and I'm very grateful to have received this ARC. Thomas' work is inclusive, and the first book explored Teo’s identity while this one looks at Xio’s identity, and I feel the author does this well.

Can't wait to see what is next!

Celestial Monsters is a brilliant conclusion to a Aiden Thomas’ YA fantasy duology.

I have been a fan of Thomas’ work for a few years now, they forge characters beautifully and have a real gift when it comes to YA fantasy. Not too heavy but not too childish. Very Goldilocks.

The duology has a strong focus on family, legacy and community, with stunning references to mythology. We explore a variety of family dynamics and how these powers play out differently for the semidioses’, as well as the expectations created for them.
The dulology is surprisingly empowering for fantasy works and as with Thomas’ other work, important messages are hidden. The core message is one of love and friendship, embodied by the central trio of Teo, Aurelio and Niya, who have perfect chemistry.

And the shining star: Teo. He is wonderful protagonist, embracing his power and learning to celebrate his brilliance. The character arc he has been on is beautiful and the development throughout is so well done. It’s also wonderful to read a trans character and not have their trans-ness be the main plot.

Thank you Macmillan Children’s and Netgalley for the ARC!

Celestial Monsters

Wow!
The sequel to The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas is as sensational as you would have imagined it to be. The reader is thrust back into the aftermath of everything that had gone wrong in the first book, and you’re immediately wondering just how bad things are going to get for Teo, Niya and Aurelio as they attempt to save the world.
The world- building is again, lush and the unique elements from the landscape to the various mortals the trio encounter add to the visualisation of them travelling from city to city.
I really liked that we get the story from the perspective of Teo and Xio, so it is the light and the dark side of what is happening as the Obsidian Gods strive to take over everything. Xio’s perspective adds a complexity to Celestial Monsters as they’re facing the realities of getting what you wanted, and how there is a vast difference between reality and expectation. Teo has also grown so much since we first met him and his maturity shows as he must lead his friends through the unknown; yet he is also the typical teenager because he’s craving a decent sleep, and the familiarity of home and its routine. Aurelio and Niya are wonderful support system for Teo and provide a balance as Aurelio is often quieter and more thoughtful and Niya is loud and filled with the exuberance of life, which is both sweet, but also for Teo at times, hard for him to calm so they can move onward safely.
Celestial Monsters is the perfect sequel, I loved how we have so much more of the focus being on the semidioses rather than their parents and whilst we don’t see too much of the captive ones, they do appear, and I thought the concept of them being weakened worked so well to show that at the end of the day? They’re still children who are trying to the best and these supposed heroes have many flaws and weaknesses after all – much to their surprise in some cases. I didn’t want to put the book down, nor did I wan it to end as it was just that good and whilst the story is wrapped up so well, I do wish we could return to the world of The Sunbearer again one day.
Once again, the inclusivity of Celestial Monsters is written with thought, and I love how we have a trans character as the main character in Teo as well as Xio who like me uses they/them pronouns. Having queer representation, and especially trans/nonbinary representation is so wonderful and refreshing to see.

After reading Sunbearer Trials I would live or die for these semi-dioses, so i was excited for this book. It didn't disappoint, leading us even further into the kingdom of Reino Del Soul, and the psyches and histories of it's inhabitants. Big drama, big action and big love and support amongst my faves - I am a perpetual sucker for mythology-inspired worldbuilding, Found Family vibes, and positive queer representation, so i was hooked the whole way through.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Once again Aidan Thomas combines action and humour to make an excellent story! I caught myself chuckling through this book, but it also had enough serious topics to make me think. I only wish we would have gotten more Xios POVs, and a bit of different ending - I liked it, but I also wished for a twist 😄 Nevertheless, this was a strong ending for the duology!

Review for a second book, The conclusion to a duology. No spoilers for this but there will be for book 1 as it directly follows!

After Teos bit decision not to make the sacrifice, and Xios big decision that brought the Obsidian Gods back. We join Teo, Niya and Aurelio on their quest to confront the Obsodians, rescue their friends and bring back Sol to save the day

This journey is perlious and the 3 struggle with baggage, guilt and big decisions to be made, all the while also battling with the Obsidians Celestial Monsters they meet along the way.

This is literally life or death for the world based on how this journey ends, and who will be on what side when it does....

Another great story, and conclusion to the duology. Great dynamics between the characters at the heart of it all.

Go order now as you'll have time to read book 1 (if you havent already) before this comes out

Out next week... 05 September. Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillian for the review copy, all opinions my own!

Great fun with charming humour, but middling execution.

Pretty much had the same thoughts as The Sunbearer Trials: needs polish, but a lot of fun. I really like the scope and content of Thomas' work but the writing is the most infuriating part of it, so amateur for someone who now has four books under their belt. It's the constant hand-holding descriptions, unnecessary dialogue tags and superfluous detail that killed the pacing and, frankly, my enjoyment. At points I found myself just reading the dialogue, knowing the parts between were just useless filler I can infer.

This is, really, my only major criticism, which carried on from the first book. The modern elements of the story continued to feel shoehorned and not seamlessly blended into the fantasy world, some of the dialogue felt cliché and I couldn't get behind the jarring swearing, but the rest of the story was good fun. I enjoyed the chapters from Xio's perspective as he learns more about his past – and who, ultimately, his real family are.

The Sunbearer duology is a YA, Mexican-inspired fantasy series that follows our protagonist, Teo - a trans 17yr old Jade semidiós, and the son of the goddess of birds. As the selection for The Sun Trials approaches, Teo worries that his Gold best friend - Niya - will be one of the ten competitors chosen by Sol, risking death if she comes last. But for the first time in more than 100 years Sol chooses a semidiós who isn’t a Gold, and then he chooses a second. Before long Teo, and fellow Jade 13yr old Xio find themselves competing in 5 trials against heroes who have trained their whole lives for them…

These books are quite frankly what I believe that YA ought to be. Not overly complex but still deep, with well handled themes and some of the best examples of the coming of age trope I’ve seen. I’m also a huge fan of trials, and while I’ve definitely seen it done better, the real draw of this book was not the plot but the friendships which sprung off the page that were wonderful to watch grow and develop with these characters. These books had me in an emotional chokehold throughout. Overall, I highly recommend this book to any YA fan looking for books filled with meaningful character relationships that will make your heart feel full!

*SPOILERS AHEAD FOR BOOK 1*
Celestial Monsters in my opinion was just as strong as the first book, I often find trials books can struggle in later books, and I found the plot of this second book slightly weaker than the first, with some slightly illogical decisions (does it really make sense to send children after the obsidians) but I think Xio’s character arc more than made up for this. There was also more interaction between Teo and various birds in this book which I found thoroughly enjoyable to read. If you enjoyed the first book then Celestial Monsters is a must read.

Celestial Monsters is a triumphant conclusion to an excellent YA fantasy duology.

I have been a fan of Thomas’ work for quite a few years now, with their characterisation that always delivers and heart-wrenching exploration of complex themes. I was delighted by the first book in this duology, The Sunbearer Trials.

I loved how much this duology focuses on family, legacy and forging your own community. We explore a variety of different family types and how these powers sit differently on the semidioses’ shoulders, as well as the accompanying expectations. At its core, this duology is about confronting the roles we are expected to play and seeing if what we are may stretch beyond this. It is an empowering and brilliant message that runs through this duology. I loved how Thomas takes on a traditional quest narrative but imbues it with these kinds of subversions of certain tropes and where you may think the narrative will go. The core message is also one of love and friendship of many different variations. Both of these are embodied by the central trio of Teo, Aurelio and Niya, all of who have excellent dialogue and chemistry. It was especially fun seeing the best friend and burgeoning love interest initially butt heads, but grow to a mutual understanding and respect. The romantic relationships builds well with a fun and shifting dynamic that involves plenty of adorable moments amongst the time pressure of the quest.

However, I must focus on the shining light of the duology for me: Teo. He is such a fantastic protagonist, coming into his power more and learning to celebrate his brilliance. As ever, he is endearing and his narration sparkles with heart and humour. The character arc he has been on is splendid and Thomas allows plenty of time for development here as well.

Celestial Monsters is a wonderful, original ending to a YA fantasy duology that deserves all the love in the world.

After the dramatic cliffhanger of the first book, I couldn't wait to pick this one up. And it did not disappoint! Fast paced, brilliantly written and set in a world that I desperately wish was real, I loved every page. Anybody who enjoys a good fantasy with a dash of romance should run to get their copy.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

I am so excited to have received an ARC of Celestial Monsters by Aiden Thomas.

Celestial Monsters picks up directly where The Sunbearer Trials left the reader... the start of the apocalypse. Teo, Niya, and Aurelio undertake a dangerous road trip to save their friends and restore the sun.
While full of exciting battles and epic magic, I appreciated the time this book spent on the dynamics between the characters. I loved all the scenes where the powerful semidioses showed their vulnerability, reminding the reader that they are both human and children. Aiden Thomas did a wonderful job of furthering the depth, complexity, and heart of all his characters. Like the first book, the relationships between the characters are fun and heartfelt. Teo’s bond with Niya always makes me smile, and getting to see Teo and Aurelio deepen their relationship was filled with so many sweet moments.
A new addition to this book that set it apart from the first book was an added second POV. I greatly enjoyed getting to better understand Xio and what led him to make his decisions.
I did want to see more of how the characters dealt with the aftermath of the apocalypse, but besides that, I thought that the book was a lot of fun and an exciting and sweet adventure.
I loved the Sunbearer Duology and would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves epic fantasy inspired by folklore, complex and heartwarming characters, and exciting end-of-the-world adventures.

I devoured this duology - I almost wish I could erase my brain and read them again for the first time!

The unlikely Sunbearer, Teo, is back and attempting to save the world with his heroic companions Niya and Aurelio. Picking up immediately from where The Sunbearer Trials left us on the precipice of disaster and an apocalypse, we follow the teenage semidioses across their world on what seems like a mission bound for failure.

In the second of this duology, Aiden Thomas writes with a duel narrative from Teo and Xio's perspectives showing us the battles that each face - both literally fighting monsters and also fighting to find yourself.
We see much of the same incredibly important themes such as found family, self-identity and the power of community but the class differences are also highlighted beautifully in this book alongside a message of how our young people have the power to change the world (as long as the older generation give them the chance!). I love Thomas' writing style, it feels real and truly captures the voice of young people - they swear, they call each other out, they panic and spiral and find joy in the little things...sometimes all at the same time.

<spoiler>But along the way they learn more about themselves, each other and the world they live in...and yes they save the world! </spoiler>