The Sunbearer Trials

Welcome to The Sunbearer Trials, an electrifying new fantasy novel with Mexican influences written by New York Times bestselling author Aiden Thomas. Here, young semidioses participate in a series of high-stakes games.

Only the strongest and most noble semidioses are selected. All I am is a Jade. I'm not really a hero.

The Sun has to be refueled every ten years in order for Sol to continue circling the sky and warding off the malevolent Obsidian gods. Sol personally chooses ten semidioses, ranging in age from thirteen to eighteen, who he believes are the most deserving to participate in The Sunbearer Trials. The victor provides life and light to all of Reino del Sol's temples, but the loser receives the highest honor of all: they will be offered as sacrifice to Sol, and their corpse will be used to power the Sun Stones, which will shield the community from harm for the next 10 years.

Teo, the transgender son of Quetzal, the bird deity, and a 17-year-old Jade semidiós, has never been concerned about the Trials.or rather, his primary concern is for other people. One of the finest heroes of their age and a serious contender this year is his closest friend Niya, the daughter of the earthly deity Tierra. Reluctantly and against his will, he can't help but worry about Aurelio, a formidable Gold semidiós and Teo's friend-turned-enemy who is sure to make it through the Trials. Although Teo wouldn't mind bringing Aurelio down a notch or two, he finds the one-in-ten probability of death to be a little too near.

However, Sol then selects a semidiós who isn't a Gold for the first time in more than a century. In actuality, he selects two: Teo and Xio, the 13-year-old offspring of the deity of misfortune Mala Suerte. They now have to struggle for fame, glory, and their own survival in five enigmatic challenges against opponents who are stronger and more skilled.