After an occurrence in Isihlangu, a city on the side of the cliff, the leader of the monsters, called a Hull Beast, bringing his Brand Flies, attacks and they barely make it out alive, but after escaping with Isilangu resident Thandiwe, Tristan's friend Ayanna is critically injured, so he, Thandiwe, the god High John, and his companions and fellow adventurers Gum Baby and Chestnutt, go to the Golden Crescent to heal her.
[7][8] A short story by Mbalia about the Tristan Strong characters will be featured in the upcoming anthology book, The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities.
A comic book adaptation of Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky will be published on May 3, 2022, with art by Olivia Stephens and Robert Venditti.
[10] Audiobook adaptations of the first two books of the Tristan Strong series, narrated by Amir Abdullah, have been released on Audible and Chirp.
[11][12] The Laughing Place announced in a review of Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky that the book "will tear at your heartstrings as it craftily deals with grief and highlights the power of storytelling" and that "Kwame Mbalia has added another treasure to the literary world.
Most human characters, like Tristan, are black with brown skin," also saying that it is "a worthy addition to the diverse array of offerings from Rick Riordan Presents.
[15] "Mbalia expertly weaves a meaningful portrayal of family and community with folklore, myth, and history—including the legacy of the slave trade—creating a fast-paced, heroic series starter," as a review on Publishers Weekly claims.
"[17] The book's review on Publishers Weekly reads, "Mbalia again skillfully weaves mythological and folktale threads, along the way expanding his world’s reach, deconstructing Tristan’s role as hero, and examining the communal role of storytelling ... Alternately humorous and heartbreaking, this installment sees Tristan entering a dramatic new chapter of his saga that will leave readers eager for more.