In my pursuit of reading more diversely it was a no brainer to pick up one of Aiden Thomas’s books. This book had an incredibly diverse cast of queer, trans, and non binary characters, and it also introduced readers to Mexican-inspired gods, goddesses, and other culturally relevant easter eggs. I first picked this book up as an audiobook, but my reading was cut short when I reached my monthly limit (I didn’t even know that was a thing). At that point I was invested in the story and grabbed a physical copy from my local library.

I’m glad I started with the audiobook because it really helped to set the tone of the novel, as well as helping me pronounce names more correctly in my head. My very rusty high school and college Spanish courses were finally put to the test as I encountered familiar, yet fantastical versions of words I’d seen before. 

One of the things I loved the most about this novel was how lush and descriptive it was. Our characters travel to many different places over the course of the story, and each one is vastly different and unique in its own ways. It was so easy to imagine these places as I was reading thanks to Thomas’ attention to detail at every turn. So many of our senses were engaged throughout this story, whether it was the stunning visual imagery of cascading waterfalls, the aches and pains after the trials, or the sweet candy some of these characters seemed to live off of, this book kept my senses well and truly satiated. 

I do tend to have a love and hate relationship with trial stories in general. On one hand I know that our main characters are going to make it through every trial, otherwise they wouldn’t be the main character. This relief is short lived by wondering just how beat down they’re going to get along the way, and the undercurrent of anxiety that inexplicably buzzes through the competing characters. I did find the trials in this story to be entertaining, in the same kind of way The Hunger Games were entertaining. I wasn’t happy our characters were put into these situations, but I also wasn’t bored as a reader. 

I’m not going to comment too much on the queer, trans, and diversity representation in this book as a white woman, other than to say I enjoyed how effortlessly these moments were interspersed throughout the novel. I’m really happy that this book exists, and I hope that it finds the right readers. 

I’m honestly still reeling a bit over the big revelation at the end. I had expected something completely different to happen, and am still wrapping my mind around the outcome. I’m very curious to see what book two has in store for these characters, and how they’ll repair what was broken. If anything this book solidified the fact that I’ve always wished I could conjure up a pair of wings. Until I do, I’ll live vicariously through characters who can.