Celestial Monsters, Aiden Thomas
Celestial Monsters, Aiden Thomas
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Celestial Monsters

Author: Aiden Thomas

Series: Sunbearer Duology #2

Narrator: André Santana

Unabridged: 12 hr 36 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 09/03/2024


Synopsis

"Listeners will be captivated...André Santana keeps the tension in his narration taut as Teo wrestles with both physical challenges and his own feelings of inferiority." —AudioFile on The Sunbearer Trials

New York Times-bestselling author Aiden Thomas returns to the beloved world of The Sunbearer Trials in Celestial Monsters, a heart-stopping duology finale, in which three young semidioses travel through a dark monster-infested world, facing down chaotic Obsidian gods, in a quest to save their friends and return the sun to the sky.

Teo never thought he could be a Hero. Now, he doesn’t have a choice.

The sun is gone, the Obsidian gods have been released from their prison, and chaos and destruction are wreaking havoc on Reino del Sol. All because Teo refused to sacrifice a fellow semidiós during the Sunbearer Trials.

With the world plunged into perpetual night, Teo, his crush Aurelio, and his best friend Niya must journey to the dark wilderness of Los Restos, battling vicious monsters while dealing with guilt, trauma, and a (very distracting) burgeoning romance between Teo and Aurelio. Determined to rescue the captured semidioses and retrieve the Sol Stone, the trio races against the clock to return Sol and their protective light. With it, order can be restored.

The future of the whole world is in their hands.

A Macmillan Audio production from Feiwel & Friends.

About Aiden Thomas

Aiden Thomas is a trans, Latinx, New York Times Bestselling Author with an MFA in Creative Writing from Mills College. Originally from Oakland, California, they now make their home in the Pacific NW. Aiden is notorious for not being able to guess the endings of books and movies, and organizes their bookshelves by color. Their books include the Sunbearer Trials Duology, Cemetery Boys, and Lost in the Never Woods.

About André Santana

André Santana is an audiobook narrator on a journey to tell great stories. Brazilian-born and Seattle-raised, he now lives in NYC where he's recorded 150+ titles across genres. In his work, you'll hear a flair for human and connected performances crafted around the voice of the text. André believes that humanity lives inside the heartbreak, comedy, drama, and other dimensions books deliver, and that a great audiobook meets that with intention and artistry. His work has been celebrated with several Earphone awards, Audie nominations, by the Voice Arts Awards, One Voice Awards, and more.As a non-binary and Black narrator, he loves both telling stories that match him and disappearing into new characters across the literary multiverse. Find him in the throws of a coming-of-age novel, on spellbinding fantasy journeys with quirky companions, or in the thick of suburban drama.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Rosh ~catching up slowly~ on March 13, 2025

In a Nutshell: An interesting continuation and finale to the Sunbearer duology. This works slightly better than the first one in writing, pacing and action, but doesn't have a strong character development, and is a bit repetitive. YA in approach (which it should be as a YA Fantasy, but I don’t enjoy......more

Goodreads review by Astra on January 29, 2025

I liked the first book better but that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy this one. To start off, the amazing world building remains and there were plenty of action packed scenes. I would have liked more sweet, simple, romantic moments between Aurelio and Teo. There were a few but they weren’t long and I r......more

Goodreads review by River on July 13, 2024

4.5/5 You're only a monster if you choose to be. I love this world and these characters with all my heart! It was so much fun to return to this series, I would read books and books and books more about all of them! Thank you Aiden Thomas for the perfect queernorm, Latine Percy Jackson meets The Hu......more

Goodreads review by michelle on September 24, 2024

2.5 stars this was fine. much of the plot felt lackluster and repetitive and yet the ending was quite rushed. the book tried to ponder the flaws of a society where gods and demigods live among mortals accepting their worship without considering how their actions affect them but the entire situation......more

Goodreads review by Lance on December 04, 2024

4 stars. Soaring to darker heights and examining topics such as community care with surprising nuance, Celestial Monsters is a solid bookend to a great YA fantasy duology from Aidan Thomas.......more


Quotes

"All of the charms of the first book suffuse this second outing; the Latine world with Gods, monsters, and magic continuously delights, the action-packed fights make for a quick pace, and the tender heart-to-hearts with friends and family, along with normalization of genderqueer identities, keep the narrative fun and heartwarming." —BCCB

Praise for The Sunbearer Trials:

“One of the best fantasy novels I have ever read. Aiden Thomas is masterful in their ability to not only build such a brilliant world but also characters who you love and want to root for. The Sunbearer Trials is a force to be reckoned with and has completely changed the game.” —Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, New York Times-bestselling author of Ace of Spades

“Clever, vibrant, & convention-shattering. The Sunbearer Trials is my favorite kind of YA fantasy—spectacular worldbuilding, a charming & supremely lovable main character, & a found family I would die for!” —Romina Garber, New York Times-Bestselling author of Lobizona

"Splendid storytelling. The Sunbearer Trials dazzles with adventure, breathing life into a bustling fantastical world filled with both wonders and evils. Aiden Thomas is a brilliant talent." —Chloe Gong, the New York Times-bestselling author of These Violent Delights

“Aiden Thomas fully knocked me out with THE SUNBEARER TRIALS, delivering charming queer characters, thrilling magical trials, and an immersive fantasy world full of intricate details. This book is a triumph and I could not get enough!” — Xiran Jay Zhao, New York Times-bestselling author of Iron Widow

"Thomas’s queernormative world and distinctly drawn cast deliver an upbeat fantasy teeming with captivating worldbuilding, earnest friendships, and electrifying adventure." — Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Thomas unravels a plot that is as riveting as it is terrifying, as...Teo teams up with the other semidioses to save the world they all know and love, regardless of class difference. Fans of the Hunger Games and mythology will revel in this energetic, well-wrought adventure." — Booklist, starred review

"A fun, super-queer read." — Buzzfeed News


Praise for Cemetery Boys:

"Detailed, heart-rending, and immensely romantic. Cemetery Boys is necessary: for trans kids, for queer kids, for those in the Latinx community who need to see themselves on the page. Don’t miss this book." —Mark Oshiro, author of Anger is a Gift

"The novel perfectly balances the vibrant, energetic Latinx culture while delving into heavy topics like LGBTQ+ acceptance, deportation, colonization, and racism within authoritative establishments." —TeenVogue.com

"A romantic mystery as poignant as it is spellbinding, weaved in a mosaic of culture, acceptance, and identity, where intricately crafted characters are the pieces and love—platonic, romantic, familial, and communal—is the glue." —Publishers Weekly, starred review


Awards

  • Barnes and Noble Best New Books of the Year