The Sunbearer Trials (The Sunbearer Duology)

The Sunbearer Trials is a fantasy inspired by Mexican mythology, set in the modern land of Reino del Sol, each of its cities governed by a different dios. The story follows Teo, the trans semidios son of Quetzal, Diosa of birds. Every ten years semidioses from all over the land compete in a series of dangerous trials to become the next Sunbearer, whose role is to carry light and energy to the Sol stones, which keep the selfish Obsidian dioses powerless and trapped in the stars. The loser of the trials is sacrificed so that the Sol stones can be replenished. In the history of Reino del Sol, the Gold semidioses have traditionally been the ones to compete in the trials; the Jades have typically been spared from competing.

Teo is a Jade, and it is a major upset when he and another Jade semidios are chosen for the trials. Teo is mischievous, funny, impulsive, loyal and has a strong sense of justice. His goal in the trials is to survive with his Gold friend Niya and protect the younger Jade semidios who seems ill equipped for the intense competition. The characters are complex, flawed and well-developed, with incredibly diverse representation. The world building is lush and vividly described. I love the combination of ancient mythology and tradition integrated into a modern queernormative society. The trials are brutally difficult and suspenseful, each one escalating in danger, and will keep you reading late into the night. I absolutely loved and inhaled this incredible fantasy adventure story. The sequel can't come a moment too soon.