The Sun And The Star Reviews Novels & Stories

I finally got around to 'The Sun and the Star' after loving the earlier 'Solstice' books, and the reviews I read beforehand seemed laser-focused on one thing: the central friendship between Nico and Will. It wasn't just about them getting together; it was about the quiet, steady way they support each other through literal and emotional darkness.

A lot of folks online pointed out how the book handles themes of recovery and carrying trauma, but without the story becoming overwhelmingly grim. Nico's past isn't brushed aside, but the narrative lets him breathe and find a bit of light, which many reviewers found genuinely moving. The underworld journey served more as a backdrop for their conversations than just an action sequence.

What surprised me was how many comments mentioned the writing itself, calling out specific lines that balanced melancholy with warmth. That careful tone seems to be what stuck with people most.

I've read dozens of user reviews for 'The Sun and the Star' across Goodreads and fan forums, and the general sentiment feels deeply split, almost like two different books are being discussed.

On one side, you have readers who adored the central journey between Nico di Angelo and Will Solace. Many reviews highlight how seeing their relationship explored in such a dedicated, intimate narrative was a long-awaited payoff. They praise the quieter, more introspective moments and the way it deals with Nico's trauma from past series in a more direct way than before. The emotional core really resonated with this group.

On the flip side, a significant portion of reviews criticize the pacing, calling it meandering or slow, especially in the middle sections of the Underworld trek. Some felt the plot was thin, more a vehicle for character moments than a compelling adventure in its own right, which didn't work for everyone. There's also chatter about the writing style feeling different from Riordan's main entries, which some found jarring.

A recurring note in the critical reviews is a wish for more balance—they wanted the great character work but within a tighter, more eventful story. Personally, I fall somewhere in the middle; I loved the characters but found myself skimming a few chapters.

Man, the reviews for 'The Sun and the Star' have been... all over the place, honestly. Compared to the hype around earlier books like 'The Son of Neptune' or even the original 'The Lightning Thief', the reception feels a lot more muted. A lot of fans I've talked to were excited for a Nico-centric story, and while they delivered that, the pacing felt off. It's slower, more introspective.

I loved the dive into Nico and Will's dynamic, don't get me wrong, but the plot's journey through Tartarus again kind of lacked the high-stakes urgency of Percy and Annabeth's trip. The reviews I've seen split pretty cleanly: people there for the character growth and queer romance adored it, while readers craving the classic, propulsive Riordan adventure felt it meandered. It's definitely a 'vibes' book more than a plot-heavy one, which sets it apart.

For me, the character moments shine, but it doesn't have the same widespread, breathless acclaim the earlier series entries got. The quieter, more emotional focus seems to have divided the fandom more than unified it.