A great new addition to the Percy Jackson Universe. This story has me wanting to do another deep dive into all the percy jackson books just to get an idea of how everything connects.

Fantastic book! Great characters, interesting Underworld mythology, compelling character development, it's got it all!

I haven't read the books in a good couple of years and I was still able to follow along with the story. I'll re-read them soon and re-read this again with a better understanding of the events they referenced throughout the book.

The start of this book was wonderful. It has a couple prophecies, visions and things from previous Percy Jackson books. If you liked Percy Jackson then you will really like this book. I can’t wait to get the full novel. Thank you to Disney Books & Net Galley for the advanced excerpt to confirm my love for Percy Jackson!

Rick Riordan quite literally is the reason I read today. I can recall exactly the first time I saw one of his books and felt intrigued by the concept of books. My friend Miguel was on our school bus reading Battle of the Labyrinth and I, bored as can be, pestered him until he put the book down and spoke to me. I had asked him what he was reading and he mentioned he had just bought it from our book fair. He then proceeded to tell me about the book. Whether it was because I had a crush on him or because the book genuinely interested me, I went that weekend to Walmart and bought the first book in the series. Everything else fell into place after that.

It was a joy to revisit these characters, especially Nico, who I keep dear in my heart and fervently name whenever someone asks me what my favorite series is. While this was only an excerpt that I read, for that short time, I once again felt like a 9-year-old me asking my mom to buy me the blue book with a kid holding a trident on the cover.

This was a 50 page excerpt of a book I'm really looking forward to reading and I had a great time with it. It left me wanting more and it made me want the book like now. I'm really excited for this story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
From the World of Percy Jackson: The Sun and the Star
By: Rick Riordan & Mark Oshiro
Publisher: Disney publishing worldwide: Disney Hyperion
Pub Date: 5/2/23
Nico di Angelo and Will Solace go on a quest to Tartarus to save an old friend. One the way to Tartarus they talk to some familiar faces. Once they make it to the underworld that is when the journey really begins. They face off with some demons and monsters. They steal fruit from Persephone’s gardens, tell stories to a lonely nymph, and they have relationship problems. Once they get deep into Tartarus they have to face Nyx to save their friend.
I really enjoyed this book. Nico and Will are adorable and I think they are very relatable. I cannot wait to read more books about them!

I wasn't expecting this to be just a snippet, though I suppose I'm not exactly surprised that it was. That said, I really loved the snippet and am looking forward to getting my hands on the finished copy soon!

Ahhhhh having another book in the Percy Jackson universe was so great! Nico has deserved his own book for so long and I’m so happy he got it. The cameos of characters throughout made me so happy! Glad to have this story out there so we were able to understand Nico and Will better.

this was a really good! I liked the characters, and they were super well-developed. the plot was super cool and fun to read, and the writing was also smooth and easy to understand
highly recommend

I feel like I was able to read about my favourite character all over again for the first time just by reading the snippet. I love what we got so far and I am so so excited to get the full completed thing. Getting Percy back feels like a dream!!!!

A great introduction into the book and definitely makes me want to continue reading the book. Set after the end of the Trials of Apollo series, this book mainly follows Nico, son of Hades, and Will, son of Apollo. I really enjoyed the first few chapters and hope to finish reading the Trials of Apollo series before reading/finishing The Sun and the Star.

I received an eARC selection from this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I thought I would get the whole book instead of a sample, but my local library is getting the finished product, thankfully.

So far, I’m interested in where the story goes. The quest has been set up by the end of the sample, and the potential struggles are there. It’s nice to come back to the world and characters Rick Riordan has created. I’ve also enjoyed “You Only Live Once, David Bravo” by Mark Oshiro, so I’m expecting to like this book.

I grabbed this book for my 10 year old son, but he was not interested in the romantic relationship and therefore he didn't finish the book. I'm sure this will be amazing for a different audience looking for that content.

I wanted a bit more of a sample than was included, but I know that it was hard to whet everyone's appetite without giving away crucial plot points. The tidbits that were included all promise to keep us turning the pages long after we should be asleep at night.

Just imagine Dionysus watching cooking videos on YouTube and discovering the perfect recipe for popcorn. Or Chiron meeting with the dryads at camp to discuss tree rot and other maintenance issues. It doesn't seem right that things are so peaceful around Camp Half-Blood, but we all know it won't last. So the fact that Nico is having dreams of someone trapped in Tartarus and crying out for help or the amazing coincidence that Rachel Dare shows up with a prophecy that will set off a quest are just par for the course.

It may seem like a difficult leap of faith to trust someone else with the beloved characters of Nico and Will, but if Rick Riordan can do it, then so can we. Pick up your copy right away because we don't have to be satisfied with teasers and samples any more, the real thing is on shelves everywhere!

Thank you to Disney Books for sending a full digital ARC of The Sun and the Star!

Snippets from my review for Winter is Coming:

"In The Sun and the Star by Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro, two of the most beloved characters in the Percy Jackson universe learn to embrace their darkness alongside their light and love.

A standalone novel, The Sun and the Star is a story about Nico di Angelo and Will Solace, the sons of Hades and Apollo respectively. The two have been officially dating for nearly a year when an epic, brutal quest into the depths of the Underworld exposes their dark sides and brings them closer than ever."

"Like previous Percy Jackson books, The Sun and the Star toes the line between middle grade (8-12) and young adult (12-18). But no matter the official recommended age range, The Sun and the Star is a thrilling and heartwarming read for all ages, even those well into their 20s and 30s.

There is, of course, a hefty bit of nostalgia here. A generation of fans have grown to love the world of Percy Jackson since the release of The Lightning Thief in 2005. Millions of people have grown up reading and loving this world of reimagined Greek gods and myths, and getting a breakout story featuring two beloved characters is a momentous occasion."

"The Sun and the Star rips apart the notion of a two-dimensional Underworld. Themes include the value of having empathy for even the most monstrous of beings and the importance of embracing emotions, even dark ones like grief, fear and anger. Having these darker feelings doesn’t mean someone needs to be “fixed” or healed; these emotions can and do exist alongside ones like love and compassion. The book tackles topics like grief, PTSD, and LGBTQ acceptance in a way that’s understandable for younger readers and deeply affecting for older fans."

"The significance of having a book for younger readers starring two queer characters cannot be overstated. This is especially true during a time when public school libraries around the country are having books removed from shelves because of LGBTQ content.

In traditional Percy Jackson fashion, there are plenty of hilarious moments, cheesy jokes, and Easter eggs for longtime fans. You will never look at Cocoa Puffs, Care Bears, and Lil Nas X’s “Montero” music video in the same way again.

The core of The Sun and the Star is about balance. Finding lightness and humor in dark situations is a deeply human trait, as is struggling with our inner demons. These themes may be heavy, but they’re handled extraordinarily well in The Sun and the Star, which feels like an essential book for the age range it’s written for and older readers alike."

"The Sun and the Star" isa wonderful introduction back into the world of Percy Jackson. The characters, world, and plotline are rich and colorful, and I'm only disappointed that this was such a short sample! I can't wait to follow Nico and Will on the grand adventure that awaits them (as soon as I have a copy of the finished book in my hands)!

The Underworld is Nico’s second home, and though he has a complicated relationship with his father, you can tell throughout the book that he sees this realm differently than anyone else. There is beauty and, yes, even life in the Underworld, and Nico knows how precious that is in a realm full of the dead. But Tartarus is a whole different ballgame. It is a toxic place, both physically and mentally. It invades your thoughts, reflecting your worst fears and darkest confessions back at you. You can understand, then, why this is a particularly difficult journey for Nico, who has been through more trauma in his sixteen years than most people will ever experience in their lifetime.

In fact, this journey through Tartarus is perfectly symbolic of what it’s like to struggle with depression and anxiety. For anyone who has been through trauma, suffers from PTSD, or struggles with mental illness, you will understand these feelings on the deepest levels. Rick has always been great about tackling difficult subjects in books and making kids feel like they belong, but I can also feel Mark’s fingerprints all over this book. While this book is certainly about embracing your demons, it’s also about healing from your trauma. Nico has been through it all, from losing his mother and his sister, to being outed against his will, to literally feeling Jason Grace’s death, and so much more. And while all of those losses have made him who he is, he’s also more than that, too. He fought and helped win two major wars, he’s surrounded by friends who care about him, and he has a loving relationship with his boyfriend, Will Solace. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it.

Venturing through Tartarus is the most difficult thing either of these demigods have done, either as individuals or as a couple. Solangelo could have been a stereotypical opposites-attract couple, but The Sun and the Star has added layers and nuance to their story. It highlights the difficulties that a couple like this struggles with, but more importantly, it shows us how they overcome those difficulties. As dark as this book can get, it’s ultimately about hope. Despite the pain and fear and arguments, Will and Nico choose each other, and at the end of the day, that’s the most important factor in a long-lasting relationship.

I've been such a fan of Nico di Angelo and was so excited to see this book about him and Will Solace.

Nico di Angelo has been plagued with dreams about the Titan Bob, making the choice to venture to Tartarus with his boyfriend, Will Solace, after a prophecy has been hounding him for months.

I love Nico's voice as a grumpy teenager, and I love his dynamic with Will - grumpy x sunshine is one of my favorites, and this is about as textbook as you can get. I've always loved the world of Percy Jackson and I'm excited to see how Oshiro and Riordan are going to build on top of that in this book. I can't wait to read the full story!

A thank you to Disney Publishing Worldwide, Disney Hyperion, and NetGalley for the sample.

After all he's been through, Nico is looking forward to a quiet autumn with his boyfriend, Will, but this is an adventure story, and things don't go as planned. Can Nico save the day and Will?

This review is for the first three chapters. Full review once I get the actual whole book. I love Riordan's books, and this one is shaping up to have a lot of the humor and peril of the others in this universe. Nico has long been my favorite. I hope they don't hurt him too much.

Thanks NetGalley?

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read a preview of Rick Riordan’s new novel! Nico and Will’s story has always been one that I have been waiting to read so the fact that I got a snippet of what’s to come truly made me excited to finish the rest. This book so far has made me miss the Percy Jackson/Hero’s of Olympus Series. I hope it lives up to the hype I been hearing. I an excited for the rest. Go buy yourself a copy!!!