Description:
The Hunger Games meets The Sunbearer Trials in bestselling and award-winning author Sonido Reyes's YA dystopia about a boy who survives by hiding his truth until his boyfriend is sentenced to El Torneo -- a brutal, fight-to-the-death game -- where he must risk everything to save him.
Centuries after the conquistadors claimed the Afueras for their own, Temo spends his life obeying the Holy Order's decree, undergoing their sacraments to tame his supposedly violent nature.
The only rule he breaks: hiding that he's trans. If that fact is discovered, Temo will face El Torneo, a brutal, fight-to-the-death game pitting the untamed against one another. No Afuereño who enters El Torneo ever escapes with their life.
But when Temo's boyfriend is unexpectedly arrested and thrown into the deadly tournament, he'll do anything to rescue Ollin from his gruesome fate, even if it means entering El Torneo himself.
Only there's far more to this tournament than meets the eye--survival is just the beginning. When the cost of saving the one he loves the most might be higher than he ever imagined, is Temo willing to pay it?
Brief description:
Sonido Reyes is the award-winning and bestselling author of The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School, The Luis Ortega Survival Club, The Broposal, and The Golden Boy's Guide to Bipolar. They also have contributed short stories to the anthologies Transmogrify! and For the Rest of Us. Sonido writes fiction celebrating queer and Mexican stories in a variety of genres and age catefories. He serves as the vice-president of My Galvanized Friend, a nonprofit focused on providing access to and amplifying LGBTQ+ writing, art, and creators. Sonido also co-hosts the podcast Bidi Bidi Book Pod, which celebrates queer and trans BIPOC authors and stories.
Review Quotes:
"Fierce, devastating, and achingly hopeful." - Aiden Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Cemetery Boys
""Readers craving razor-sharp stakes and fresh, brilliantly-rendered worldbuilding need look no further than To Our Untamed Core. Reyes has written their best work yet." - Ayana Gray, New York Times bestselling author
"If you read any dystopia this year, let it be this one. Sonido Reyes explodes into a new genre with this emotional, powerful story of resilience, survival, love, and living." - Kamilah Cole, bestselling and award-nominated author of the Divine Traitors Duology
"A pulse-pounding dystopian romance perfect for fans of the Hunger Games. Fresh, fun, and thought provoking." - Justina Ireland, New York Times bestselling author of Dread Nation
"This high stakes adventure had me turning the pages well into the night--unputdownable with surprising twists and impossible choices." - Beth Revis, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author
"Dystopia is so back! As vicious as it is heartfelt, To Our Untamed Core dares to dance in the midst of brutality." - Gabi Burton, bestselling author of Sing Me to Sleep
"Heart-pounding and heartfelt in equal measure, To Our Untamed Core challenges those who unjustly wield power by those who defiantly embrace community." - Alechia Dow, author of The Sound of Stars
"A tender love letter to resilience, this book is a perfect dystopia for modern readers. I loved it, and you will too!" - Jessica Lewis, author of Bad Witch Burning
"[An] empowering queer dystopian fantasy... Keenly rendered first-person perspectives alternate between Temo, Ollin, and Socoyote, whose tender love triangle develops alongside the high-stakes, action-packed plot. An uplifting page-turner that illustrates the power of community and joy as a form of resistance." - Publishers Weekly
"The novel's primary strengths lie in its worldbuilding and intense character dynamics. Temo, Ollin, and Socoyote are complex and dynamic leads with relatable concerns regarding identity, relationships, and their place in society. The secrets they harbor and the narrative's brisk pacing will keep readers engaged. This powerful narrative centered on identity, cultural preservation, and resistance is a must-read for fans of Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games and Aiden Thomas's The Sunbearer Trials." - School Library Journal
"Twists, secrets, unflinching gore, and a passionate love triangle make the work intensely gripping. The novel incorporates classic genre elements, adding freshness and originality through its depictions of complex queer relationships, rebellion against colonialism, and a critique of religious indoctrination. Love and violence flow through every page of this riveting work." - Kirkus Review
"Reyes explores detribalization, colonization, and religion head-on through Temo and his loved ones, all while providing great trans, queer, and polyamorous representation." - Booklist
"The exciting new dystopian novel from National Book Award finalist Sonido Reyes is another welcome opportunity to experience their intricate world-building skills and singular, expressive voice." - Amazon Book Review
"Exploring the untamable spirit of resilience within us as well as those who aim to snuff out the spark, To Our Untamed Core is both a page-turning adventure and a solemn reflection on power, choices and identity." - BookPage