Rick Riordan, The Sun and the Star, Penguin Books, May 2023, 480 pp, RRP $16.95 (pbk), ISBN 9780241627686
Nico di Angelo is the son of Hades, a loner who often lives (both literally and metaphorically) in darkness, blocking out his friends and bottling up his feelings. The death of his mother and sister, Bianca helped form this mysterious and broken teen, but when he meets Will Solace, life flips itself upside-down for the son of Hades.
Surviving the war with Kronos, Gaia, and the resurrected Roman Emperors, Nico has seen a lot of death and lost many of his close friends. Through his burgeoning relationship with Will, this child of darkness is starting to learn how to move beyond the terror.
When Nico learns about the torment that Bob, the former Titan, experiences in Tartarus, he decides to accept the quest that the camp oracle, Rachel Elizabeth Dare unveils. Alongside his boyfriend, Will Solace, the pair set off on their quest to the underworld and beyond to save the lost and tormented titan. The story encompasses both Nico’s past and present in an engaging format of flashbacks, dreams, and small moments between chapters that describe the couple’s cute moments such as when they met and their first kiss. Through Nico’s dreams and flashbacks, we explore his first visit to Tartarus before he begins his quest to venture to hell for the second time so that he can leave something of equal value behind. Nico and Will travel with the Troglodytes in the land of the dead battling creatures of the dark before fighting Nyx, the terrifying goddess and personified version of the night. 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.
Rick Riordan has carefully woven a unique world that appeals to a variety of readers both new and old to his stories. The previous characters Riordan created have stood the test of time for nearly two decades through his snarky humour, and the rawness of emotions, and it’s no different with this pair of brave and resilient heroes. The use of beautifully composed and modernised Greek myths explores first love through a contemporary queer love story.
The collaboration between Riordan and Mark Oshiro produces a masterpiece of self-realisation, and growth. Together, the two authors have written a novel for 12 years or older. Expect very mild kissing between Nico and Will; most often their displays of affection are about offering comfort to each other in moments of stress and sadness.
Overall, a great novel with great inclusivity and a great message!
Reviewed by Ellie Marsden
