For nine years, readers of the Percy Jackson franchise have waited for a fantasy and adventure novel such as “The Sun And The Star.” The book, rated 3.8 stars out of 5 across the board by critics on GoodReads, was a long awaited and highly anticipated book. The book was written by two authors: Rick Riordan, known for writing mythology mixed fiction books, and Mark Oshiro, known for “Anger Is a Gift” and “Each of Us a Desert.” “The Sun and the Star” was a good book but it also let down expectations. Fans who have waited all these years to see where Nico ends up and if get a happy but not quite fulfilling ending.

“The Sun And The Star” is about Nico Di Angelo, son of Hades, and Will Solace, son of Apollo, as they make their way on a quest through the Greek Mythology’s underworld and Tartarus. The quest to go down to Tartarus to save Bob, a friend of Nico’s, is doomed to fail and the two demigods have been told by everyone not to go. Nico was just getting better from his first trip to Tartarus, as one of the only three demigods to survive Tartarus, and Will is not meant to be in so little sunlight for so long. Will they be able to complete the quest and leave Tartarus? Is their quest really doomed to fail? Between miscommunication and the many forces working against them the answer has to be yes, right?

There was definitely a question of both Nico’s relationship and Will’s character outside of the other. Will seemed very much just Nico’s boyfriend and Nico didn’t seem to have much of other peer relationships outside of his boyfriend. A lot of fans, including myself, were waiting to see how many things were addressed. One event the book could have explored more was Reyna, who is a very close friend to Nico, joining the Hunters of Artemis. Nico’s relationship with many different people is what fans want to know more about. Since first meeting Nico in “The Titan’s Curse”, fans have waited 16 years to see what would happen to Nico Di Angelo.

The relationship between Nico and Will was beautiful to witness and read about. Reading Nico and Will discuss their fears and insecurities about the relationship is very relatable, even if we all aren’t traveling through Hades’s Realm or The Pit of Darkness.  In many ways Nico Di Angelo is a very beloved character and this book doesn’t ruin that. Being able to see his interactions with Mr. D. and Hades made everything tie together perfectly. Nico was still himself and you could see so much development on his part. 

I suggest you read it. It was a very enjoyable book, so long as you remember to be true to real life it’s very good. There is a beautiful relationship between the lovely two boys, and it is a funny story about them traveling through a pit of darkness and misery. “The Sun and the Star” was a good book but it also let down expectations. It was definitely a solid 4 out of 5 stars.