Is The Sun and the Starmaker Worth Reading?
Ada’s Score
Rachel Griffin's atmospheric YA fantasy centers on Aurora Finch, whose latent power draws the attention of the enigmatic Starmaker, who summons her to study under him. Griffin excels at lush, sensory world-building and a slow-burn romantic tension that her fanbase loves, with celestial magic rendered in genuinely evocative prose. The plot follows a familiar chosen-one-meets-mysterious-mentor arc, and the pacing in the middle section slackens as atmosphere outpaces momentum. It's a beautifully written if structurally conventional fantasy that will satisfy readers who prize mood over plot.
Fantasy Spotlight“Griffin's world-building is gorgeous and the celestial magic is genuinely lovely. The plot is familiar territory, and the middle drags a bit.”
Magic That Could Remake the Stars
Griffin writes the lush, atmospheric kind of fantasy where the setting almost becomes a character — a girl with untapped power, a secretive master, magic that reaches as far as the stars. The pleasure is in the mood and the slow unfolding of what that power costs. If you like your fantasy moody and romantic rather than fast and brutal, this is squarely for you.
Ada Brief
AI reading intelligence“Griffin's world-building is gorgeous and the celestial magic is genuinely lovely. The plot is familiar territory, and the middle drags a bit.”
Magic That Could Remake the Stars
Griffin writes the lush, atmospheric kind of fantasy where the setting almost becomes a character — a girl with untapped power, a secretive master, magic that reaches as far as the stars. The pleasure is in the mood and the slow unfolding of what that power costs. If you like your fantasy moody and romantic rather than fast and brutal, this is squarely for you.
Ada’s reservations
The middle section trades plot momentum for atmosphere — Griffin's lush prose carries it, but the chosen-one-meets-mentor structure offers few surprises, and the story stalls when the world-building outpaces events.
Ada’s score reflects both strengths and reservations.
Book Details
- Language
- English
Get This Book
Affiliate linksISBN: 9781728256184
Disclosure: ReadAda earns a commission on purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Ada’s Score
4
Ada’s editorial score — not an aggregate of reader reviews.
Common Questions About The Sun and the Starmaker
- Is The Sun and the Starmaker worth reading?
- Griffin's world-building is gorgeous and the celestial magic is genuinely lovely. The plot is familiar territory, and the middle drags a bit. Ada rates it 4.0 out of 5.
- What are the main weaknesses of The Sun and the Starmaker?
- The middle section trades plot momentum for atmosphere — Griffin's lush prose carries it, but the chosen-one-meets-mentor structure offers few surprises, and the story stalls when the world-building outpaces events.
Ada also recommends
More from Fantasy
