The Sunbearer Trials

Written by Aiden Thomas

Narrated by André Santana

"Listeners will be captivated by the detailed descriptions of the cities within Reino del Sol and the fantastical beings who inhabit them. Santana keeps the tension in his narration taut as Teo wrestles with both physical challenges and his own feelings of inferiority." - AudioFile Magazine

Welcome to The Sunbearer Trials, where teen semidioses compete in a series of challenges with the highest of stakes, in this electric new Mexican-inspired fantasy from Aiden Thomas, the New York Times bestselling author of Cemetery Boys.

“Only the most powerful and honorable semidioses get chosen. I’m just a Jade. I’m not a real hero.”


As each new decade begins, the Sun’s power must be replenished so that Sol can keep traveling along the sky and keep the chaotic Obsidian gods at bay. Sol selects ten of the most worthy semidioses to compete in the Sunbearer Trials. The winner carries light and life to all the temples of Reino del Sol, but the loser has the greatest honor of all—they will be sacrificed to Sol, their body melted down to refuel the Sun Stones, protecting the world for another ten years.

Teo, a seventeen-year-old Jade semidiós and the trans son of the goddess of birds, isn't worried about the Trials . . . at least, not for himself. His best friend, Niya is a Gold semidiós and a shoo-in for the Trials, and while he trusts her abilities, the odds of becoming the sacrifice is one-in-ten.

But then, for the first time in over a century, the impossible happens. Sol chooses not one, but two Jade competitors. Teo, and Xio, the thirteen-year-old child of the god of bad luck. Now they must compete in five trials against Gold opponents who are more powerful and better trained. Worst of all, Teo’s annoyingly handsome ex-best friend and famous semidiós Hero, Aurelio is favored to win. Teo is determined to get himself and his friends through the trials unscathed—for fame, glory, and their own survival.

A Macmillan Audio production from Feiwel & Friends.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Sep 6, 2022
• ISBN: 9781250866189

Aiden Thomas

Aiden Thomas is a New York Times Bestselling author with an MFA in Creative Writing from Mills College. Originally from Oakland, California, they now make their home in Portland, Oregon. As a queer, trans Latinx, Aiden advocates strongly for diverse representation in all media. Aiden’s special talents include: quoting The Office, winning Jenga, finishing sentences with “is my FAVOURITE”, and killing spiders. Aiden is notorious for not being able to guess the endings of books and movies, and organizes their bookshelves by colour. Their novels include: Cemetery Boys, Lost in the Never Woods, and The Sunbearer Trials.

Reviews for The Sunbearer Trials

[AJ Jaegli · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Awesome story! Amazing Trans and queer rep that's fully supported by all characters and the society they live in. I loved the characters relationships and the growth they went through as the story progressed. Plus it was a really nice story seeped in Latin American culture with God's and demigods that I've never seen before (instead of the usual greek/Egyptian). The narrator did a great job. I can't wait for the next book :)

[Kate Morgan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely fantastic! Best book Aiden has written yet. I need book two nowwwww.

[mada · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Good representation I think, good story line, well developed, interesting characters! This book and the characters live in my head rent free, can't wait for the second book

Rick Riordan wishes he could have written his characters this well

[Israel Bonet · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Oh my lord. I need the sequel as soon as posible