Thank you to Bookishfirst, Fierce Reads for a finished copy of this book!
When the Sunbearer Trials, which only happen once a decade, come back around, Teo doesn't think he has a chance of being chosen. As a Jade, Teo is less worried about being one of the 10 semidioses to compete, and more worried about his best friend, a Gold, being chosen. But then the unthinkable happens: not only is Teo chosen, but Xio, another Jade semidios, is also chosen. Teo and everyone else knows that the Jades are the most likely to lose the Sunbearer Trials and become the sacrifice that renews Sol's protection of their land, but he is willing to do whatever it takes to keep that from happening.
My expectations for this one were completely sky high and I wasn't at all disappointed. Teo is a chaotic disaster bird-boy and I love him. Niya is strong and amazing and soooo chaotic. I would like to be her friend. And Aurelio is such a great character and I wanted more more more scenes with him and Teo and I can't wait for the sequel whenever it comes out so I can see more Teo, Aurelio, and Niya kicking butt and taking names together!
The plot of this is so good! I love competition books like this (kind of Hunger Games - esque) and the added layers of mythos and the Dioses (oh my god, Quetzal is so pure) and Sol the Nonbinary Sun Dios and...Yeah. I don't know how else to talk about this except by naming elements that I loved. It is so so good. The world-building is rich and complex and I was so fully immersed. Also like the world is so queer and trans- normative and I love that soooo much.
This was one of those books that you want to devour in one sitting, but also want to spend your time with and savor. It was a weird push-pull for me in that way. I ended up devouring, but now that it is coming out, I plan on borrowing the audio and really savoring it for a second read-through!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, and Violence
Moderate: Murder, Dysphoria, Child abuse, and Child death
Minor: Animal death, Death of parent, and Kidnapping
When the Sunbearer Trials, which only happen once a decade, come back around, Teo doesn't think he has a chance of being chosen. As a Jade, Teo is less worried about being one of the 10 semidioses to compete, and more worried about his best friend, a Gold, being chosen. But then the unthinkable happens: not only is Teo chosen, but Xio, another Jade semidios, is also chosen. Teo and everyone else knows that the Jades are the most likely to lose the Sunbearer Trials and become the sacrifice that renews Sol's protection of their land, but he is willing to do whatever it takes to keep that from happening.
My expectations for this one were completely sky high and I wasn't at all disappointed. Teo is a chaotic disaster bird-boy and I love him. Niya is strong and amazing and soooo chaotic. I would like to be her friend. And Aurelio is such a great character and I wanted more more more scenes with him and Teo and I can't wait for the sequel whenever it comes out so I can see more Teo, Aurelio, and Niya kicking butt and taking names together!
The plot of this is so good! I love competition books like this (kind of Hunger Games - esque) and the added layers of mythos and the Dioses (oh my god, Quetzal is so pure) and Sol the Nonbinary Sun Dios and...Yeah. I don't know how else to talk about this except by naming elements that I loved. It is so so good. The world-building is rich and complex and I was so fully immersed. Also like the world is so queer and trans- normative and I love that soooo much.
This was one of those books that you want to devour in one sitting, but also want to spend your time with and savor. It was a weird push-pull for me in that way. I ended up devouring, but now that it is coming out, I plan on borrowing the audio and really savoring it for a second read-through!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, and Violence
Moderate: Murder, Dysphoria, Child abuse, and Child death
Minor: Animal death, Death of parent, and Kidnapping