Hello everyone! Happy Pride Month to all! I hope every single one of you feels loved and accepted for who you are! This is actually the perfect book to kick off Pride Month with. As you might know, I don’t read young adult books that often (if at all), but I have been invested in the Percy Jackson universe for a long time. You are more than welcome to check out my reviews for the Trials of Apollo series. I know another Percy Jackson book is coming out sometime this year, and I will obviously review that one when it comes out. In the meanwhile, let’s talk about the latest entry to this universe, The Sun and the Star.

Nico Di Angelo is no stranger to darkness or despair. As the son of Hades, Nico has been surrounded by death, has been to the Underworld more times than he’s cared for, and struggled with his identity. His wonderful boyfriend and son of Apollo, Will Solace, has been a ray of light (literally) in his life. The two can get through just about anything together. Nico,, though, has been plagued with nightmares lately. A prophecy from Camp Half Blood’s Oracle, Rachel Elizabeth Dare, confirms Nico’s worst fears: he must venture into Tartarus and free Bob, the reformed Titan. Will insists on coming along but has no idea what the deepest part of the Underworld holds for them. Together, Will and Nico must face dark forces that threaten to tear them apart and face their pasts once again.

The Sun and the Star is a great addition to the Percy Jackson universe and a great chance for some fan-favorite characters to shine. Rick Riordan has always done a great job with character development. Mark Oshiro brings sensitivity and understanding when it comes to LGBTQ+ representation. Together, the two do a wonderful job balancing the adventure aspects of the novel and the more serious topics, like struggling with one’s identity and coping with trauma. I’m really glad that young adult audiences are getting well-written and in-depth representations nowadays. Nico Di Angelo is easily one of my favorite characters in this series and I am glad that both he and Will Solace (another fan favorite) were given the spotlight. Percy Jackson fans of all ages will love this thrilling adventure featuring everyone’s favorite demigods.