If you’ve been reading my reviews for a bit, you may know that I’m a bit obsessed with Aiden Thomas’s work! The Cemetery Boys and Lost in the Never Woods were both some of my favorite books of 2020 and 2021, and yet somehow they have both been dethroned in my heart by The Sunbearer Trials! I am downright smitten with this book. From the characters (and their fabulous development and depth) to the worldbuilding, The Sunbearer Trials is a book I want to read over and over again! With the tournament aspect of this book, I feel as though it is the book I wish The Hunger Games had been when I read it as a younger teen. I am so very glad that this will be a duology, because I am not ready to say goodbye to Teo, Niya, Xeo, and Aurelio!
In addition to reading a physical copy, I also had the pleasure of listening along to an early audiobook copy from Macmillan Audio! The narration by André Santana was absolutely perfect for the audiobook version of The Sunbearer Trials! I found that I really enjoyed the combination of reading the book while listening to the audio version, as it made me pace myself more and really savor the book. It also emphasized the dramatic timing, and the tension in many of the intense tournament scenes in the book, which I appreciated. Overall, the audiobook version enhanced this already five-star read for me, making it an easy six-star book, and one of my top reads of the year!
My Recommendation-
If you loved the magical powers of Encanto, you need to grab a copy of The Sunbearer Trials! I would especially recommend this book to readers who’ve been searching for the perfect “deadly tournament” YA novel!
In addition to reading a physical copy, I also had the pleasure of listening along to an early audiobook copy from Macmillan Audio! The narration by André Santana was absolutely perfect for the audiobook version of The Sunbearer Trials! I found that I really enjoyed the combination of reading the book while listening to the audio version, as it made me pace myself more and really savor the book. It also emphasized the dramatic timing, and the tension in many of the intense tournament scenes in the book, which I appreciated. Overall, the audiobook version enhanced this already five-star read for me, making it an easy six-star book, and one of my top reads of the year!
My Recommendation-
If you loved the magical powers of Encanto, you need to grab a copy of The Sunbearer Trials! I would especially recommend this book to readers who’ve been searching for the perfect “deadly tournament” YA novel!