Scan barcode
femmegemini's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
enbyenglish's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book was sooo freaking good. I am honored to have been able to read both books in this duology early. They were both fantastic. So diverse with various gender identities, sexualities, race and ethnicities, and abilities. Aiden Thomas is a phenomenal author who deserves all the awards. I think everyone will love this book . Definitely a favorite of the year!
mrs_p_reads's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
serenology's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I LOVE THEM SO MUCH. what am i supposed to do now that it's over???? this was everything i wanted and needed. the humor, the romance, the angst. all of it. teo x aurelio foreverrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
katiemcnall's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
leonplaysintheuniverses's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Percy Jackson quest with cool monsters. It explores themes of the consequences of our actions and having to pay for our wrong doings. It talks about the problems with censorship and only listening to one side of a story.
leahjanespeare's review
3.0
This physically pains me to write but this is probably the most disappointing book I've read so far this year, and it was one of my most anticipated. I love Aiden. I love Cemetery Boys, and I truly loved Sunbearer Trials. But. What. The. Fuck. Was. This.
I will try to keep this simple because as much as I love a good rant, I have a lot of respect for Aiden and don't just want to shit on their books. I am mostly mainly heartbroken that it was not what I wanted/expected. I will still be buying it to support the author and I am hopeful (but now nervous) for the Cemetery Boys sequel coming someday.
SPOILERS:
A lot of my annoyance hinges on Xio switching sides and being evil, as was revealed at the end of Sunbearer Trials. Since this book goes back and forth between Teo and his povs, you get a lot of what's going on through his mind and I just....no. It was simply not believable that he would switch sides. I don't buy it. And when a reader doesn't buy something quite literally central to the plot, it makes the rest of the book VERY hard to buy in general. Xio would not turn on his found family and adopted father....you can't erase a whole upbringing like that?? No! And like imprison your classmates especially the disabled one? No! How did an editor not call him out on this inaccurate character-path choice!
And then wait for it, halfway through the book HE RANDOMLY SWITCHES BACK TO TEO'S SIDE???? OKAY?? Also no insight into why the hell he would do that! Ugh!
Teo and Aurelio's relationship is meh? Good for them but I felt nothing, and it didn't seem to have a lot of development. Which was a bummer. But good for them. *shrug*
The road-trip adventure plot line was a little all over the place and a lot seemed to happen while also nothing happened. And then suddenly near the end they're near the Obsidian's hideout though I don't actually remember them finding where it was?? And the endless water jug and magical healing stone felt very ex deus machina (literally) so that was too easy, could have had them suffer a bit more (I say, with love). Felt like it was trying too hard.
And how it ended?? Unnecessary to kill the only Good character in this story! He did GOOD THINGS! Ya let's have him die even though a few pages ago we were going to figure out a non-sacrificial way to end this book. OH WELL. That was a weird ass ending.
Honestly what kept me going was Teo's snark and whining and Nyla's everything cause she is amazing and I love her energy and vibes and mood. 5 stars for Nyla. I want a spinoff. Maybe I'll find fanfic to sate myself.
I will try to keep this simple because as much as I love a good rant, I have a lot of respect for Aiden and don't just want to shit on their books. I am mostly mainly heartbroken that it was not what I wanted/expected. I will still be buying it to support the author and I am hopeful (but now nervous) for the Cemetery Boys sequel coming someday.
SPOILERS:
A lot of my annoyance hinges on Xio switching sides and being evil, as was revealed at the end of Sunbearer Trials. Since this book goes back and forth between Teo and his povs, you get a lot of what's going on through his mind and I just....no. It was simply not believable that he would switch sides. I don't buy it. And when a reader doesn't buy something quite literally central to the plot, it makes the rest of the book VERY hard to buy in general. Xio would not turn on his found family and adopted father....you can't erase a whole upbringing like that?? No! And like imprison your classmates especially the disabled one? No! How did an editor not call him out on this inaccurate character-path choice!
And then wait for it, halfway through the book HE RANDOMLY SWITCHES BACK TO TEO'S SIDE???? OKAY?? Also no insight into why the hell he would do that! Ugh!
Teo and Aurelio's relationship is meh? Good for them but I felt nothing, and it didn't seem to have a lot of development. Which was a bummer. But good for them. *shrug*
The road-trip adventure plot line was a little all over the place and a lot seemed to happen while also nothing happened. And then suddenly near the end they're near the Obsidian's hideout though I don't actually remember them finding where it was?? And the endless water jug and magical healing stone felt very ex deus machina (literally) so that was too easy, could have had them suffer a bit more (I say, with love). Felt like it was trying too hard.
And how it ended?? Unnecessary to kill the only Good character in this story! He did GOOD THINGS! Ya let's have him die even though a few pages ago we were going to figure out a non-sacrificial way to end this book. OH WELL. That was a weird ass ending.
Honestly what kept me going was Teo's snark and whining and Nyla's everything cause she is amazing and I love her energy and vibes and mood. 5 stars for Nyla. I want a spinoff. Maybe I'll find fanfic to sate myself.
booksandbreadcrumbs's review
4.0
A great conclusion to this duology, I might have liked this even more than The Sunbearer Trials!
eyeleash's review
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75