Aiden Thomas

Gr 7 Up—In this Mexican-inspired fantasy, 10 teen semidioses compete in the Sunbearer Trials: the winner brings
light to the temples of Reino del Sol, while the loser is sacrificed to Sol to protect the people. This page-turning
adventure and first in a duology centers trans and queer characters.

Finally a book I've been anticipating that did not disappoint at all! This was such a fun, touching, spooky, wonderful own-voices novel with excellent LGBTQ and Latinx rep and beautiful world-building.

Full review at my booktube channel: https://youtu.be/pit9j9kfHIg?t=71

Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to offer an honest review.

"There's no way ya'll have been around for thousands of years without there being one person not fitting into the 'men are this, women are that' bullshit." (pp. 183-4)

Page 240: Yadriel's dad isn't a narcissist. And he's capable of change! I'm not even trans, and I could never be myself around relatives. I'm not a Stepford daughter/niece.

Competent, fluffy, forgettable YA fantasy. Whodunnit was obvious halfway through chapter 2, unfortunately.