If over-the-top conspiracy theories, cartoonish villains, and globe-threatening plots are your thing, Black Sun Rising might be right up your alley. For me, though, it leaned far too heavily into the absurd. The story revolves around a resurrected Nazi weapon, a neo-Nazi cult called Black Sun, and a detective who somehow finds himself single-handedly saving America from total collapse. It’s the kind of premise that could work in a comic book, but here it strains all credibility.
The villains, including the dramatically named “Bride of the Apocalypse,” often feel like caricatures, and some characters seem to serve no real purpose at all. The plot is bloated with implausible twists and dramatic turns that feel more like spectacle than story. Yet, for all its flaws, the book is undeniably readable. I found myself turning the pages, driven more by curiosity than by genuine suspense.
Unfortunately, the payoff at the end didn’t justify the journey. The conclusion felt rushed and unsatisfying, lacking the kind of resolution that might have redeemed the chaos that came before.
Black Sun Rising aims for Clancy-esque intensity but ends up as a loud, wild ride with not much beneath the surface. If you’re looking for depth, nuance, or realism, this probably isn’t the book for you.
