Rating: 4 for diverse, queer normative fantasy duology
My Thoughts:
As a pushback to the 4+ fantasy series trend, more authors, especially divers fantasy authors are leaning into the duology. I am so here for that. I feel like as a long time YA fantasy reader, the second book in a duology is more crave worthy because I know that the story will come to an end at book 2. It makes the anticipation between book 1 and 2 even more luscious. I remember the characters more when I just need to wait a year and then say goodbye. If it is a longer series, I sometimes will wait until the final one comes out before going to book 2.
But back to this particular book. Teo, our Jade semidiose hero, his sassy best friend and Gold semidiose strong girl Niya, as well as huge crush and hottie Aurelio must literally save the world from darkness and monsters brought on by Teo's act of humanity and compassion.
As they work together to try and save the other gold semidioses being held captive by the Obsidians, we readers are also hopeful that Xio will remember the love and friendship shown to them by their family and new friends Teo and Niya.
Besides seeing the more humane side of the captured gold semidioses, this second book also gets into the social justice aspect of the role of the gods, the adults in charge, to actually break a system that is wrong. The gods must learn from their own children that they have the power to change an unjust system. Teo also calls them out on the idea of what protecting humans versus just lording over them actually means.
Finally, this is a queer normative series. What that means is that we do not have to talk about it. It just is. Enjoy the story as a story full of drama, fighting, romance, sacrifice and love.
From the Publisher:
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.
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.
Publication Information:
Author: Aiden Thomas
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (September 3, 2024)
Print length: 415 pages
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