Reviews

The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas

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autumnadair13's review

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

It's giving Percy Jackson and the fourth movie of Harry Potter but so much better and far from being transphobic.

I love this book so much could not put it down! Oh my god!

ponyboy13's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

t_lea's review

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adventurous challenging emotional funny tense fast-paced

4.0

agillen93's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

elfduchess's review against another edition

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4.0

I want to state that I did, mostly, enjoy this book. Especially when I didn't think too hard about it.

The characters are, if not likable, at least enjoyable to read about. I feel that the author has improved greatly over their work in Cemetery Boys with regards to plotting and having an interesting hook/introduction to the story.

While I am not really the biggest fan of Hunger Games-esque stories, I do, however, like tournament style plots (which, I imagine you can blame Yu Yu Hakusho for). For me, this plot is okay, even if I don't think the main thrust of it makes much sense.

The whole idea that they make teens compete in a looser is a sacrifice sort of tradition doesn't make sense. I get that Sol chooses who competes and - apparently - ranks them - but this is like taking the worst of the best and making them die. To me, that goes directly against what this god would want (after all, they were the first, willing, sacrifice) and is also hugely disrespectful to them. (Who wants a weak sacrifice?) Then there's the whole issue I have about why is it teens - other than the fact that this is a YA book? (Wouldn't it make more sense to have people more in the prime of their life (like 25-30) competing?) (Why did Sol choose a 13 year old?)

I do like most of the world building - I find the concept of devices that protect towns so cool in theory even if that is just background here - and it's very fun for me to read such a very, very NOT euro-centric fantasy.

However, I really truly hate the usage of technology in this story. We have TikTok and Instagram and YouTube and camera crews and movies and ... Look, what makes this even worse (makes something I already didn't like worse) is the names. (I might be a little off because I did listen to the audiobook, but you'll get the idea.) TikTok = TikTak. Instagram = Instagraph. YouTube = BooTube. I mean... Look, in some books this would...fit. (Not work, this would never work for me.) But this book isn't a humorous, look at how funny I am book. And these names only work for that. And, honestly, I don't know how society progresses the way is has so you an have gods and demigods walking around with camera crews.

Anyway, yeah, as long as I don't think too much about it, I liked it. Would be willing to go for the second book, if my library gets it in a timely manner. (Preferably on audiobook.)