Name: The Sun and the Star
Rating: 4.152173913043478 (46 reviews)
ISBN: 9781368081153

Rick Riordan

Mark Oshiro

Nico, the son of Hades, and his boyfriend Will, the son of Apollo, travel to Tartarus, the deepest, darkest part of the Underworld as they attempt to rescue an old friend.

The Sun and the Star

tianna

It's like holding a person in your arms and realizing they are an interlocking piece of a puzzle you hadn't known how to assemble. 

It's like staring into a dark and treacherous expanse, unsure of what awaits you but finding comfort in the fact that you won't have to face it alone. 

It was a son of Apollo falling for a son of Hades. 

Pia 

They fell back into arguing. Nico decided right then and there that these were his favorite people in the whole worl.

It would be fine. Everything would be fine.

he became used to the idea that he wanted things he couldnt have: Percy, Bianca, his mother, stability... it was all the same. 

Now, staring at that unnerving bust of Diocletian, Nico wished for nothing more than to feel Jason Grace's protective arms around him. But Jason wasn't here.

Watch him lose his backpack the minute they are in Tartarus 

"What didn't you bring on this quest, Will Solace!" 

"I remember when I realized… when Iknew that this was more than a  friendship." That made Nico smile despite himself. "I remember my moment, too." Will's eyes filled with tears. "I think mine is different than yours." "But I know mine happened first" Nico said

My glow in the dark boyfriend ich kann nicht mehr omg hahahha

Troglodytes!" he called, his voice echoing deep into the cave. "It is Nico di Angelo, son of Hades! I have returned with my glow-in-the-dark boyfriend, Will Solace!" 

"The Big F" said Hypnos. "What does the F stand for?" “Ephialtes”

"He's going to leave you behind, you fool."

Will's jaw dropped open. Nico reached over and gently shut it.

«HOW do you know!" shouted Nico. "Do you know everything T've been through? What I've had to do just to survive?" “No! Because you won't tell me!"

 "Pain helps us learn," said Gorgyra. "It is unfortunate, but we rarely forget the lessons taught to us in moments of pain."

But he existed with Nico. His sole comfort was that he wasn't alone. He had Nico. And together they fell. 

"You have no idea who I am," he said. s And then he drew his sword and charged Nyx. 

Seriously will? That’s the darkest thing you came up with haha omg I love him

He was a child of the god Apollo, and so, with all those feelings close to the surface, Will tapped into his father's power and did something he had never done in his life. He gave his enemy hay fever.

"You deserve everything, my son.”Nico hesitated for a moment. "Everything?" he said. Hades frowned. "Yes."

Julia Rutgers

Nico actually laughed. 'No, you're not. That's the one thing that makes me okay with this quest - that I am not putting you in danger.'

'Excuse me, Noble McSacrifice,' Will said. 'We're both perfectly capable of survival.'

Demigods Nico di Angelo and Will Solace must endure the terrors of Tartarus to rescue an old friend in this thrilling adventure co-written by New York Times #1 best-selling author Rick Riordan and award-winning author Mark Oshiro. Percy Jackson fans, rejoice! Nico and Will have a book of their own! As the son of Hades, Nico di Angelo has been through so much, from the premature deaths of his mother and sister, to being outed against his will, to losing his friend Jason during the trials of Apollo. But there is a ray of sunshine in his life--literally: his boyfriend, Will Solace, the son of Apollo. Together the two demigods can overcome any obstacle or foe. At least, that's been the case so far . . . Now Nico is being plagued by a voice calling out to him from Tartarus, the lowest part of the Underworld. He thinks he knows who it is: a reformed Titan named Bob whom Percy and Annabeth had to leave behind when they escaped Hades's realm. Nico's dreams and Rachel Dare's latest prophecy leave little doubt in Nico's mind that Bob is in some kind of trouble. Nico has to go on this quest, whether Mr. D and Chiron like it or not. And of course Will insists on coming with. But can a being made of light survive in the darkest part of the world? and what does the prophecy mean that Nico will have to "leave something of equal value behind?" Nico will have to face demons both internal and external as his relationship with Will is tested to the core in this standalone adventure featuring two of the most popular characters in the Percy Jackson saga. Complete your Nico di Angelo collection with these series by Rick Riordan: Percy Jackson and the Olympians The Heroes of Olympus The Trials of Apollo

A Nico di Angelo Adventure

Cameron Voytko

From a younger reader’s perspective, I totally see and respect the merit of this kind of story, centering on trauma, healing, sexuality, and more. These topics are explored in an open way that I think has the power to really resonate with it’s target audience, and I see and appreciate the vision Riordan and this new co-writer had. <br /><br />As a longtime fan of the Percy Jackson series, however, this did nothing for me other than fill me with some vague excitement whenever a beloved character or scene from the previous books was mentioned (and even that got old, quickly). The plot was a little too convenient, the themes were incredibly heavy handed, and Will is maybe the most useless main character on a quest in the history of this series. There were some cute moments, and I always appreciate the chance to explore more of the mythical world (the troglodytes were a major highlight), but it fell short for me. <br /><br />(Also, did the godly / mythical characters feel too … nice to anyone else? Especially Dionysus?) 

Really enjoyable! I love that Rick brought on a queer author to help write the queer chatacters. A little cringy, a little cheesy, both of which I expect in a Rick Riordan book. Definitely didn't see the twist coming!

Jonnie

Ari 💙💛

Ellie M.

This was such an adventurous story of love, friendship, and redemption that also tackles the complexities of trauma and grief. Nico Di Angelo and Will Solace’s trip to Tartarus was very eye-opening, not only for them but for me as a reader as well. This didn’t only bring upon feelings of nostalgia by reading the characters who felt like my home for a very long time but it was able to teach me that change is hard but it is okay; that labels don’t fucking matter because we’re the only ones who can define ourselves. All these sappy stuff side, Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro’s incredibly thrilling, emotional, and comedic writing gives off feelings of familiar and new at the same time. This book offered wonderful queer representation and an accurate depiction of the realities of struggling with mental health issues. This simply isn’t just a story. It’s THE story. I would absolutely recommend this story to anyone looking for a spark of hope in darkness (literally, according to Nico).

Lila Roberts

this was so cute but also surprisingly deep and healing

being able to connect with my younger self who was OBSESSED with rick riordan and finishing big books like this in like two days bc i was so excited is probably the greatest feeling ever

nico you are my shining star, my little guy, my favorite ball of darkness

river

britt

i’m not going to lie. this is not one of my favs, but it was good. nico’s growth made me want to cry and his cocoa puffs 🥹. 

one of my biggest criticisms is that nyx was not really built up like at all. she didn’t seem that powerful and she was not scary BUT this whole novel was supposed to be about nico and will’s relationship and saving bob so like, she didn’t have to be that built up.

at least one person cries on every chapter. a little corny but im a 20yo reading a middle grade book so i probably should've seen that coming

i just freaking love nico di angelo

(the corny dialogue lost me from time to time… but i am acknowledging the great service this provides young queer people)

nina 

3.25 stars

what on earth was going on at the end? i will never know but solangelo you will always be the best lightxdark couple

Zita Azlina

No coherent thoughts present. 

Just a:

WHHDHWHEHWHSHWHDHSHDHSHDHSHSHHSHSGSGSHSHWHDJWHDUWHDIWHDIWJSJSJS+£+27_+27£+2+£82+#+2+#++#£--#-2-2HWUWYEUWHEHWGYUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARTAGSYEYYWHSHWYWUSUHSHSHWHEHWHHWHWHWHWHWHSBWHUDUWUEUSYYSYE

If I were to pull an Amphithemis and wandering around in Tartarus as a mania, my unfulfilled wish would be 'SOLANGELO, WHERE IS SOLANGELO?' because that's how addicted I'm to them, they're my cure, my medic, my SOLACE. And if that haven't give you a glimpse of anything about what had this book done to me than congratulations for being illiterate.

ANYWAY THEYY solangelo and this book is my everything. This feels like a Medicine running through my veins where I depended on it for life. I had never, never know that I'm capable of having so much feeling at the same time as how i screamed crying shaking giggling throwing up punching the air curling my toe kicking my feet closing my face with my pillow.

This was the best best best BEST BEST BEST BEST BEST best BEST best BEST thing I've ever read.

2838823882838283/10


 You keep saying I need to choose the darkness, but I already have. I’m not afraid of my past any more. And you helped me realize that. I can’t ever escape from what’s happened to me. But I can learn to live with it.’ 

 But now I know that it’s not about conquering, or vanquishing, or any of that kind of hero talk. Sometimes it’s better to learn to live with the darkness 

 Even in the darkest parts of life, there was still … light. And no light was brighter than Nico di Angelo 

 Will had heard love described in so many dramatic, bizarre ways over the years, but no one had described it like this:
It’s like drifting down a river of pain and knowing you are safe.
It’s like holding a person in your arms and realizing they are an interlocking piece of a puzzle you hadn’t known how to assemble.
It’s like staring into a dark and treacherous expanse, unsure of what awaits you but finding comfort in the fact that you won’t have to face it alone.
It was a son of Apollo falling for a son of Hades.
It was this.

The only reason I'm giving this a 3-star is that my inner child would have destroyed me if I gave it anything less. That's how disappointed I am with this book because I'm hanging on to the nostalgia card for it.

Anyway. I really wanted to like this book because it was about my favorite character. However, I couldn't get past the fact that not only did it have to re-traumatize Nico but create personifications of his trauma in order for him to learn how to better deal with it (seriously, the Cocao Puffs, were they all that necessary?) I didn't mind the cheesy scenes between him and Will (they were actually really wholesome), but I did mind how the book constantly and repeatedly had to remind the reader that there's this contrast between Will and Nico that they have to address. I forget things quite easily, but not to this point. Also, Will's character didn't seem so fleshed out to me. Aside from his experiences with his mother, his entire character arc was just built around his time with Nico, and I was hoping to learn more about him. In terms of how this book dealt with Nico's sexuality and sexuality in general. Well. That ending talk with Piper wasn't satisfying to me at all. I still have not yet come to terms with Nico's forced coming out scene in the House of Hades, and I hoped that this book would have touched more upon that and how Nico had learnt to feel more comfortable at camp despite that happening. But all we got was that flashback on him coming out to the camp, which was once again lowkey a forced coming out because it was acciental (I'm still so baffled at how Nico was okay with it), but the book made it seem like a good thing because Nico said that he had to be brave. I'm just so. Unsatisfied. And sad. This book made me sad.

Mirror

The only reason I'm giving this a 3-star is that my inner child would have destroyed me if I gave it anything less. That's how disappointed I am with this book because I'm hanging on to the nostalgia card for it.

Anyway. I really wanted to like this book because it was about my favorite character. However, I couldn't get past the fact that not only did it have to re-traumatize Nico but create personifications of his trauma in order for him to learn how to better deal with it (seriously, the Cocao Puffs, were they all that necessary?) I didn't mind the cheesy scenes between him and Will (they were actually really wholesome), but I did mind how the book constantly and repeatedly had to remind the reader that there's this contrast between Will and Nico that they have to address. I forget things quite easily, but not to this point. Also, Will's character didn't seem so fleshed out to me. Aside from his experiences with his mother, his entire character arc was just built around his time with Nico, and I was hoping to learn more about him. In terms of how this book dealt with Nico's sexuality and sexuality in general. Well. That ending talk with Piper wasn't satisfying to me at all. I still have not yet come to terms with Nico's forced coming out scene in the House of Hades, and I hoped that this book would have touched more upon that and how Nico had learnt to feel more comfortable at camp despite that happening. But all we got was that flashback on him coming out to the camp, which was once again lowkey a forced coming out because it was acciental (I'm still so baffled at how Nico was okay with it), but the book made it seem like a good thing because Nico said that he had to be brave. I'm just so. Unsatisfied. And sad. This book made me sad.

wylan

i have never felt more understood and seen by a character in a book in my life. happy pride, you deserve all the happiness in the world, despite what the past has given you. thank you, nico di angelo, for everything you are.

my ranking feels fake also i don't even know what to say about it...there's things i didn't enjoy so i'm just gonna focus in the things i did which it felt like a hug in a book, the way nico and will deal with their traumas in very different ways but for some reason they fit together so well i really enjoyed the comparison between the two also the fact of learning that nico indeed is not broken or needs to fixed he just learned how to live with it and i just thought that was absolutely beautiful. LOVED THE SILLY PETNAMES BETWEEN THEM like they were everything to me <3333

tbh i don’t know how to rank this but they’re family forever so😭

This book is everything you would desire from an adventure from the Percy Jackson world. Rick Riordan did Nico di Angelo and Will Solace justice in their own adventure and in their relationship. It's heartbreaking and heart warming what goes in the story. The portrayal of what is love and inner demons is spot on, I wish more authors explored love like he did.

Poncho Bosque

It read like it was meant for middle schoolers, but the emotions and descriptions within were definitely high school level.

Rebecca

This is such a sweet novel in a sense that it really focuses on Nico and Will's relationship and helps them find the love and support they have always needed. It is more of an opportunity to look back on their relationship and work through their deeply traumatising respective childhoods than a plot-driven novel. But that is about what one would expect from it and probably why all of us turned up.

Kiranchander

Incredibly happy to read this book and get the Solangelo story we’ve been wanting. Quite honestly though, I’m semi-disappointed in it overall. I think I just wanted MORE - and I have to remind myself that I’m now an adult reading a children’s book!! I felt unsatisfied with the pace and the plot and the dialogue - it was fabulous of course, but not what I imagined, I guess. 

And warning, somewhat of a spoiler coming: I’m sad I didn’t get the classic one-liner to wrap up Bob’s return to the world, iykyk. That’s what I reallyyyyyyyyy wanted to read, and I missed that. But I can’t complain too much, it was cute.

Sophia 

Incredibly happy to read this book and get the Solangelo story we’ve been wanting. Quite honestly though, I’m semi-disappointed in it overall. I think I just wanted MORE - and I have to remind myself that I’m now an adult reading a children’s book!! I felt unsatisfied with the pace and the plot and the dialogue - it was fabulous of course, but not what I imagined, I guess. 

And warning, somewhat of a spoiler coming: I’m sad I didn’t get the classic one-liner to wrap up Bob’s return to the world, iykyk. That’s what I reallyyyyyyyyy wanted to read, and I missed that. But I can’t complain too much, it was cute.

this could’ve been the absolute worst thing i’ve ever read (spoiler: it wasn’t) and i still would’ve rated it five stars

The Sun and the Star

Reviews

Highlights