Aiden Thomas has written a rich, engulfing new fantasy world based in Mexican mythology. The story is centered around a competition in which a group of semidioes take on five challenges in order to be named the Sunbearer and avoid becoming the sacrifice to protect the gods and humans from the Obsidians who are locked away for their crimes. Teo, a trans son of Quetzal, is the unlikely competitor who leads us through the trials. I loved how Thomas created a created a world of queer normativity, where gender and sexuality are represented across a wide spectrum. Their writing is layered and evokes beautiful images of daring trials. The friendships are rich and the cast of characters are varied and well developed. For those who enjoy well written fantasy, The Sunbearer Trails is an exciting start to a duology that explores questions of identity, purpose, and community in a rich compelling world.