The Sun and the Star by Rick Riordan Summary

The Sun and the Star follows demigod boyfriends Nico di Angelo and Will Solace as they embark on a dangerous quest into Tartarus, the deepest part of the Greek Underworld, to rescue Bob the Titan. Set two months after the defeat of Nero and Python, the story combines external adventure with an intense exploration of mental health, trauma, and the couple's relationship as they face nightmares, demons, and the primordial goddess Nyx.

The Sun and the Star is ideal for Percy Jackson fans aged 9-12, though it appeals to teen and adult readers who love LGBTQ+ representation and emotional depth. Readers who enjoyed previous books featuring Nico di Angelo will particularly appreciate this character-focused adventure. Anyone interested in stories about mental health, relationships, and accepting both light and darkness within themselves will find value in this novel.

The Sun and the Star earned New York Times Bestseller status and made Barnes & Noble's "Best Books of 2023" list for good reason. While it has a darker, more internal tone than typical Percy Jackson books, it offers authentic LGBTQ+ representation, profound character development, and meaningful exploration of depression and PTSD. The emotional journey of Nico and Will resonates across age groups, making it a worthwhile read despite being less humor-focused than Riordan's other works.

Rick Riordan co-wrote The Sun and the Star with Mark Oshiro, a queer Latinx writer, marking the first time Riordan shared author credit on a Percy Jackson universe book. Riordan chose to collaborate with Oshiro to ensure authentic LGBTQ+ representation, recognizing that despite his intentions and research, he couldn't understand that lived experience like a queer writer could. This partnership extended Riordan's platform to a minority voice while delivering honest, sympathetic storytelling about gay characters.

After receiving a prophecy from Rachel Elizabeth Dare, Nico di Angelo and Will Solace journey through the Underworld's Door of Orpheus into Tartarus to rescue Bob the Titan. They battle the nightmare demon Epiales, receive advice from Persephone, and are guided by troglodytes and Small Bob the cat. In Tartarus, they confront Nyx, who has trapped Bob in endless regeneration and created cacodemons from Nico's negative emotions. The couple defeats Nyx by accepting their inner darkness and light, escaping with Bob and the cacodemons Nico renamed "Cocoa Puffs".

The Sun and the Star deeply examines PTSD, depression, eating disorders, and trauma through Nico's character, making it more internal than previous Percy Jackson novels. Nico confronts his traumatic memories and negative emotions personified as cacodemons, while Will struggles with his fear of darkness and assumptions about healing versus acceptance. The book's central message emphasizes that you cannot escape traumatic events or negative emotions—instead, you must accept them and learn to live with them.

The Sun and the Star has a darker, more romantic, and significantly more internal focus than typical Percy Jackson books, lacking Riordan's trademark snarky humor. As the first Percy Jackson universe book with a co-writer (Mark Oshiro), it prioritizes emotional depth and relationship development over fast-paced adventure. The novel functions as a character study of grief and trauma rather than a quest-driven narrative. Will and Nico share narration duties, contrasting with the singular voice that defined previous books.

Nico di Angelo and Will Solace are boyfriends navigating significant relationship challenges throughout The Sun and the Star. Nico, raised in the 1940s, struggles to accept their relationship openly, while Will sees Nico's darkness as something to heal rather than accept. Their journey through Tartarus strips them to their essential selves, forcing uncomfortable truths to surface and requiring clear communication and accountability. By the end, they learn to accept each other fully—Will embracing his inner darkness and Nico recognizing his inner light.

Bob the Titan is actually Iapetus, a Greek Titan who previously sacrificed himself to save Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase in earlier books. The primordial goddess Nyx trapped Bob in a permanent regeneration cycle in Tartarus because she hates change and wants him to revert to his violent identity as Iapetus. When Nico and Will rescue him, Bob accepts his past as Iapetus but has no desire to return to that identity, representing the book's theme of accepting the past while choosing to change.

Some readers note The Sun and the Star lacks the humor and lighthearted adventure that defines most Percy Jackson books, making it feel tonally different. The target demographic of 9-12 year olds may find certain themes mature, though others argue this provides important representation. The novel's heavy use of flashbacks in the first section creates confusing time jumps that disrupt narrative flow. Adult readers sometimes feel the middle-grade writing style doesn't fully match the complex emotional themes being explored.

The Sun and the Star occupies an odd position as technically a standalone but practically requiring knowledge of most Percy Jackson books. Nico di Angelo has appeared throughout the series since early books, and his character development depends on understanding his traumatic history. References to Bob the Titan, Percy and Annabeth's Tartarus experience, and the defeat of Nero and Python assume readers have completed The Heroes of Olympus and Trials of Apollo series. New readers would miss crucial context about characters and relationships.

The Sun and the Star is the first Percy Jackson universe book to center gay characters so explicitly, making Nico and Will's relationship the story's emotional core. Rick Riordan partnered with queer writer Mark Oshiro to ensure authentic representation beyond what research alone could provide. The novel explores Nico's internalized shame from growing up in the 1940s and his journey toward self-acceptance alongside Will's struggle to understand and love someone whose experience differs from his own. While the book includes positive LGBTQ+ representation, it also addresses anti-gay bias realistically.