Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Exciting Percy Jackson spin-off centers queer teen couple.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Based on 24 kid reviews
Kids say that this book is a heartfelt exploration of themes like love and identity, particularly through the relationship between its main characters, which resonates well with LGBTQ+ readers. Many fans appreciated the representation and character development while also noting that the story addresses darker subjects like mental health, making it suitable for a mature audience.
- inclusivity themes
- character development
- mental health
- audience maturity
- relationship exploration
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In THE SUN AND THE STAR: A NICO DI ANGELO ADVENTURE, Nico and Will stay behind at Camp Half-Blood after the summer session and expect a quiet fall together. Except Nico keeps having horrible nightmares where he relives his worst memories in between shouts of "help me" from the pit of Tartarus. And when he's awake, the Oracle finds him and spouts a prophecy: Nico must find the one who calls his name and leave something of equal value behind. Nico is sure the one calling him is Bob, the reformed Titan whom Percy Jackson befriended on his trip to the underworld, and he's being held captive in the worst place imaginable. But held captive by whom? He's not sure, but after his last horrid experience in Tartarus, he's pretty sure it's a trap. Still, he's determined to rescue Bob, and Will is just as determined to accompany him on the quest. Nico is touched by the gesture but also concerned. How with this son of the sun god Apollo, a healer who doesn't even know how to wield a weapon, survive underground? And will their relationship survive the trauma of being surrounded by tormented souls and rivers of pain and reborn demons popping out of the ground all around them? Looks like they're going to find out.
Is It Any Good?
This first Percy Jackson book featuring same-gender romantic teen characters offers monster-filled adventures for fantasy fans and relationship goals for everyone. There's nothing like a trip to Tartarus to really test a relationship. Every doubt and fear and insecurity follows Nico and Will from Hades to Tartarus, literally whispering in their ears. Most people would choose fighting off nasty monsters reborn in pits of goo over that kind of negative feedback any day. Nico and Will get to do that, too. And Will doesn't even have a weapon beyond his ability to glow. It's both their abilities to find light in such a dark place that buoy them and the reader. Visits to the cave-dwelling, garish hat-loving troglodytes and the nymph Gorgyra are both highlights. Gorgyra, in her realm next to the river of lamentation, listens to all their relationship stories in excerpts throughout the book. It helps remind Nico and Will of what they have together and strengthens them on the difficult journey. "Stories are never a waste of time," Gorgyra says. We are all made of them.
The storytelling here could use some tightening up at times -- the quest is slow to start and wraps just as slowly. The final battle could also use some clarity. The motivations of some of enemies don't feel entirely solid. But one thing that is solid by the end is the relationship at The Sun and the Star's center. Enjoy all the feels as the notoriously dark and mysterious Nico opens up and faces his difficult past with Will. "This relationship stuff is hard," he says to Will. Hard like a trip to Tartarus, yes, but all the work they put in makes this read very worthwhile.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how The Sun and the Star is the first Percy Jackson book to star a queer teen couple. How is this quest featuring two romantic male partners different from a quest featuring, say, Percy and Annabeth? Or is it not different at all?
Let's talk Cocoa Puffs/cacodemons. What are they? What choice does Nico make regarding them? What does it say about how Nico has grown in the story? What would your Cocoa Puffs be? If you had them following you around would you make the same choice Nico does?
Rick Riordan worked with a co-author on this story, Mark Oshiro, who uses they/them pronouns and has written other books for young readers featuring LGBTQ+ characters. What does it mean to have a co-author from the LGBTQ+ community writing about gay and bisexual characters? What do you think they add to the story?
Book Details
- Authors :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Compassion , Courage , Empathy , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Disney-Hyperion
- Publication date : May 2, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 14
- Number of pages : 480
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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