Books like The Sun and the Star

A tender, grumpy-meets-sunshine romance wrapped in a harrowing descent into the literal and psychological underworld. These 12 books are the closest matches in mood, pace and themes, with what each one shares with The Sun and the Star.

shadowy
hopeful
claustrophobic
warm

01
The Court of the Dead
Rick Riordan
A shadowy yet deeply warm adventure about healing, queer love, and fighting for those who exist in the gray areas of morality.
Shares:
- shadowy
- hopeful
- warm
- wry
02
House of Hades
Rick Riordan
A harrowing, high-stakes descent into darkness where witty banter and fierce loyalty are the only things keeping the monsters at bay.
Shares:
- hopeful
- claustrophobic
- earnest
03
The lightning thief
Robert Venditti and Rick Riordan
A snarky, high-stakes road trip where ancient mythology crashes headlong into modern adolescence.
Shares:
- earnest
- adventurous
04
Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard
SuperSummary
A snarky, high-octane romp through Norse mythology where found family and sarcastic banter are the best weapons against the apocalypse.
Feels:
- chaotic
- energetic
- mythic
05
Jason and the golden fleece
Riordan, James
A sweeping, monster-filled voyage that breathes fresh, accessible life into one of antiquity's greatest adventure stories.
Shares:
- earnest
- adventurous
06
They Both Die at the End
Adam Silvera
A ticking-clock romance that breaks your heart while desperately urging you to live.
Shares:
- tender
- earnest
07
Race to the Sun
Rebecca Roanhorse
A high-stakes, sun-drenched adventure that seamlessly weaves ancient Navajo mythology into the modern world.
Shares:
- earnest
- adventurous
08
I'll Give You the Sun
Jandy Nelson
A vibrant, paint-splattered explosion of grief, first love, and the fierce, fractured bond between twins.
Shares:
- earnest
09
The gravity of us
Phil Stamper
A swoony, high-stakes queer romance about finding your anchor when the whole world is watching.
Shares:
- hopeful
- tender
- wry
- earnest
10
Percy Jackson & the Olympians
Mary-Jane Knight
An immersive, tactile field guide that invites readers to step directly into a beloved world of modern mythology.
Shares:
- wry
- adventurous
11
Aru Shah and the Song of Death
Roshani Chokshi
A vibrant, laugh-out-loud mythological adventure that balances world-ending stakes with the messy, heartfelt dynamics of middle school friendships.
Shares:
- earnest
- adventurous
12
Hurricane Child
Kacen Callender
A lush, stormy exploration of grief, first love, and the spirits that haunt us, set against a vividly rendered Caribbean backdrop.
Shares:
- tender
- earnest

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