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A review by vbzshenanigans
Celestial Monsters by Aiden Thomas
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
I devoured this duology - I almost wish I could erase my brain and read them again for the first time!
The unlikely Sunbearer, Teo, is back and attempting to save the world with his heroic companions Niya and Aurelio. Picking up immediately from where The Sunbearer Trials left us on the precipice of disaster and an apocalypse, we follow the teenage semidioses across their world on what seems like a mission bound for failure.
In the second of this duology, Aiden Thomas writes with a dual narrative from Teo and Xio's perspectives showing us the battles that each face - both literally fighting monsters and also fighting to find yourself.
We see much of the same incredibly important themes such as found family, self-identity and the power of community but the class differences are also highlighted beautifully in this book alongside a message of how our young people have the power to change the world (as long as the older generation give them the chance!). I love Thomas' writing style, it feels real and truly captures the voice of young people - they swear, they call each other out, they panic and spiral and find joy in the little things...sometimes all at the same time.
But along the way they learn more about themselves, each other and the world they live in...and yes they save the world!
The unlikely Sunbearer, Teo, is back and attempting to save the world with his heroic companions Niya and Aurelio. Picking up immediately from where The Sunbearer Trials left us on the precipice of disaster and an apocalypse, we follow the teenage semidioses across their world on what seems like a mission bound for failure.
In the second of this duology, Aiden Thomas writes with a dual narrative from Teo and Xio's perspectives showing us the battles that each face - both literally fighting monsters and also fighting to find yourself.
We see much of the same incredibly important themes such as found family, self-identity and the power of community but the class differences are also highlighted beautifully in this book alongside a message of how our young people have the power to change the world (as long as the older generation give them the chance!). I love Thomas' writing style, it feels real and truly captures the voice of young people - they swear, they call each other out, they panic and spiral and find joy in the little things...sometimes all at the same time.