I loved this book so much more than I thought I would, how is that even possible?

Nico was probably one of the first gay characters I ever read in a book, and I felt the horror of his forced outing YEARS before I realized I feared the same thing. To read a book where this precious kid gets to find love, grow with a partner, and learn to be secure with himself was everything I wanted from this book.

I have always loved Nico for his quiet kindness, consideration for those that are often overlooked, and for his endurance. So it makes total sense that Nico would be the one to go back into Tartarus to save Bob, but this time he’s older, begun processing his traumas, and with his boyfriend Will. What could go wrong?

Oh how I love me a good exploration of the “light vs. dark” theme! The “destiny vs. choice” theme!

VAGUE SPOILERS:

The tension between Will’s toxic positivity and Nico’s appreciation for “darkness” (aka negative emotions and feeling them) was exquisite! Will makes so many comments that come off as passive aggressive, that clearly stab Nico in the heart and make him feel insecure about the darkness he carries around with him. His past traumas are what make him the person he is today and he may be cynical or pessimistic but those are not inherently bad qualities! Gorgyra says it best:

“Pain is a part of all lives, mortal and immortal… It is inescapable. We all must navigate this river to get where we want to be. …Pain helps us learn…It is unfortunate, but we rarely forget the lessons taught to us in moments of pain.”

It is so healing to see Will realize that the way he views things is very black and white, that he needs to try harder to empathize with Nico and share the pain as well as the joy!

Along with the incredible themes and life lessons that I’m so jealous of middle schoolers today for getting to read (if not fully comprehend??), Rick and Mark’s mixture of light and dark humor was SO GOOD and nostalgic and I just love that we got to see a dark side to Will where he basically said “I’m gonna do the opposite of heal!” and gave Nyx HAY FEVER

The Sun and The Star is a beautiful addition to the Half-Blood Pantheon.

It’s a little on the nose with its discussions around sexuality and gender identity, which, in my opinion, is necessary in todays current sociopolitical climate where elected officials are penalizing authors for their voice.

Nico DeAngelo and Will Solace’s relationship isn’t picturesque or perfect, it’s real, it’s emotional, and at times difficult. It skillfully walks the tightrope of YA first love with the realities of being in love as complex, complicated people.

The commentary around the choices we make in our lives and the way they impact us is nothing short of artful.

All in all, The Sun and The Star is a 10/10 read.

i hold such affection for the world of rick riordan's demigods, so i can't hate any entry, but i gotta acknowledge that i've aged out of the target demographic. and honestly? that's wonderful

This is just a sampler so it's a little hard to judge, but I'm excited to see where it goes! Hopefully some of it is in Will's perspective too!

This was an incredibly promising sample that instantly piqued my interest. While it’s only part of the finished book, I still enjoyed diving back into the world of Camp Half-Blood and can’t wait to see what comes next for Nico and Will.

A brilliant entry in the Percy Jackson series, THE SUN AND THE STAR is the long-awaited return of Nico that fans have been waiting for. Charming, heartfelt, and full of adventure, with queer leads that are impossible not to root for, this is a must-read for anyone who grew up loving Rick Riordan—and equally, anyone new to the series looking to jump in.

I mean, just this little sneak peek made me so excited for this book. I adore Nico with my entire heart and I am absolutely thrilled that we get an entire book about him and his boyfriend, from their perspectives.

This is the first Percy Jackson book I've read in many years, and I'd only read a select few before this one. It really speaks to the talents of both authors that I was able to thoroughly enjoy the story despite not having much background on the characters or world.

Beautifully written. Expertly crafted. I actually enjoyed this book so much that I want to read more of the books in this series. Is this how Star Wars readers feel when they dive into the universe for the first time? I can't wait for more from these authors.

readers will love being back in the world of camp half blood! it's also really refreshing to see more queer characters in fantasy worlds like rick riordan's with the help of an author like mark oshiro.

This is one of my favorite books of the past year. The way this book absolutely wrecked me was unspeakable. Mark and Rick have done a phenomenal job. The plot and structure was perfection, and the characters were crafted in such a way that I pretty much fell apart. The resolution also felt so solid, even though I would kill for 4+ more books of these idiots. 10/10 would recommend.

A great sampler that gives a good peak into the new book in the world of Percy Jackson. I can’t wait to read the full book and follow Nico and Will’s adventure, and I know long time fans of this world will definitely enjoy this.

A really fun sampler! I really enjoyed delving back into the world of Percy Jackson after all these years.

A great addition to the Riordanverse! Sometimes I wish this book wasn’t so grounded in current times (ex. Lil Nas X reference), but I loved seeing more of Will and Nico’s relationship.

This chapter sampler contained all the heart and humor that I'm used to from Rick Riordan, balanced with the emotional depth that I'm already beginning to love from Mark Oshiro's writing. The powerhouse combination of the original series' wit and fast-paced action along with the deeper, more "adult" struggles plaguing the main character of this new book make for an intriguing, entertaining, and heartwrenching story all at once.

I was so excited when this book was announced since some of my favorite characters were finally getting their own book! Gloriously brilliant in its myth-laden storytelling and riotously funny in the signature Riordan way, reading The Sun and the Star felt like returning back home in best possible way. However, after reading it, I need a few days to recover from how good it was and the emotions it brought out of me.

Really disappointed with the writing style in this book how it comes across much more juvenile compared to all of Rick Riordan's other books . All of the characters are also very out of character and speak in ways they never have in the multiple books they appeared in previously.

Step back into the world of Demi Gods as Nico finally gets his own story. Nico has been having dreams, or nightmares really, about his friend Bob who was left behind after Percy's travels into Tartarus - and Nico has to get him out. So Nico and his boyfriend, Will Solace, set off on a quest into the depths of the Underworld to find Bob and bring him back - not truly knowing what they will have to face. These first chapters drew me in completely, and I could not wait to read the full book.

My childhood dreams have been achieved. Ever since I first read Percy Jackson and the Olympians, I loved with Nico Di Angelo, and I always wished that there was a book in his POV, and we finally got one! This short sampler proves that it was absolutely worth the wait, and I can’t wait to dive in to the rest of the book. Nico and Will are one of my favorite couples in fiction, and I can’t wait to read more about their adventure. Thank you for the eARC Netgalley!

From the World of Percy Jackson: The Sun and The Star

By: Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro

Publish Date: 2 May 2023

Publisher: Disney Publishing Worldwide, Disney Hyperion

Children’s Fiction/Middle grade

#FromtheWorldofPercyJacksonTheSunandTheStar#NetGalley

100 Book ReviewsProfessional Reader

I would like to thank both Disney and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Good Reads Synopsis:

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.

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.

Book Review:

I gave this book 4 stars. I enjoyed going back to world of the demigods. I am glad that Nico finally got his story told. He had a rough life, and this book helps tells us about what he went through and is going through. I did have one problem with this book and that is that it took way too long to get where they were going. I found myself getting bored. I loved the friendships that they made along the way and how if wasn’t Nico it was Will. Without these friends I don’t think they would have ever made it if though it seemed to take a long time. I like how both Nico and Will supported each other as the underworld was messing with them and they had to rely on each other, or the quest wouldn’t have succeeded. I loved the ending and felt it was the right ending to give these two. Who would have thought that the son of Hades and the son of Apollo would love each other? I am glad that this book was a standalone. I recommend this book if you really want to know what happens to Nico.

I really loved this book. It was such a uniue story structure. I also love seing nico and will be lead characters in thier story!! It was a relaly well crafted read and i think this was a great quest advneture that was both new and fresh but pulled from percy history. I loved seeing some previous characters and just flew through this book!! I thoguht this book was so refreshing! !