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Is The Sun And The Star Worth Reading For Fantasy Fans?
2026-08-11 07:54:21
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Yasmine
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Yeah, it’s worth it, but with a big caveat. Don’t go in expecting a typical Riordan adventure. It’s way more introspective. The fantasy elements—Tartarus, monsters, gods—are basically the backdrop for a really intense therapy session between two kids who’ve been through hell. Literally. I loved that focus, actually. Seeing Will Solace, this sunshine character, have to navigate that darkness was compelling, and Nico’s anger felt raw and real. The mythos stuff is cool, but it serves their relationship. So if you’re a fantasy fan who also values deep character work over plot fireworks, you’ll likely enjoy it. If you just want battles and prophecies, maybe skip it.
2026-08-12 22:41:18
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Abigail
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Frankly, I struggled to finish it. The central premise of sending Nico and Will into Tartarus felt like a rehash of Percy and Annabeth's journey with less at stake, and the pacing dragged in the middle section. I was hoping for more development on the Underworld's politics or new mythological threats, but a lot of the conflict felt internal and repetitive. For a fantasy fan looking for epic world-building or high-stakes adventure, this might come up short. It’s much more a character study about trauma and a slow-burn romance. If those are your primary interests within the Riordanverse, you’ll probably appreciate the focus. But if you’re craving the kind of propulsive quest narrative from 'The Heroes of Olympus', you might find it underwhelming. The best parts for me were the quieter moments between the characters, not the fantastical elements, which says a lot about the book’s priorities.
It does expand on the setting of Tartarus in some visually interesting ways, I’ll give it that. The descriptions of the landscape have that classic Riordan mix of horror and absurdity. But the plot mechanics for getting them in and out felt a bit convenient, almost like a side-quest rather than a universe-altering event. It’s a decent enough read for completionists who need every bit of Camp Half-Blood lore, but it’s not the one I’d recommend to someone asking for the essential fantasy entries in the series. My copy’s just been sitting on the shelf since I finished it.
It does expand on the setting of Tartarus in some visually interesting ways, I’ll give it that. The descriptions of the landscape have that classic Riordan mix of horror and absurdity. But the plot mechanics for getting them in and out felt a bit convenient, almost like a side-quest rather than a universe-altering event. It’s a decent enough read for completionists who need every bit of Camp Half-Blood lore, but it’s not the one I’d recommend to someone asking for the essential fantasy entries in the series. My copy’s just been sitting on the shelf since I finished it.
2026-08-17 00:36:34
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