This… might be my favorite thing that Rick Riordan has ever created.

And that’s saying a lot considering how much I love the Magnus Chase trilogy. But… I might stand by my initial statement here. We’ll see once I stop reeling from this book in a few days.

So in The Sun and the Star by co-authors Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro, we again find ourselves with Nico di Angelo, shortly after the events of The Tower of Nero. Nico has been plagued with nightmares of a voice calling to him for help. These pleas are becoming difficult to ignore, and a visit from Rachel Elizabeth Dare—the oracle of Camp Half-Blood—really seals the deal: Nico has to go on a quest to save this person calling for him. But Will Solace refuses to let Nico go on his own, so together, they set out for the most dangerous place in the Greek world. Or rather, Underworld. And while Nico thinks he knows how to navigate this setting, being the son of Hades, the more he sees of this place, the more he starts to wonder if it’s going to destroy him—and Will—before they even reach their destination.

As you might know, I’ve been a fan of Rick Riordan for years. I read Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus in school, and continued reading Magnus Chase and Trials of Apollo even through my college years. Now, well into adulthood (gross), I’m still a fan—and this book is a testament as to why. It’s everything I could have wanted from a Nico-centric adventure, and I’ll warn you now: this review isn’t going to be as structured or as coherent as usual. I am, quite simply, beside myself about this book. This is going to be less of a review and more of a list of things I loved.

(Real quick, I need to mention that since this book is chronologically latest in this universe’s timeline, I might allude to things that came before. However, I’ll try to keep spoilers for previous books to a minimum in case anyone reading this hasn’t caught up.)

First of all, I love Nico, and always have. It’s a delight to get to have his POV again, since it’s been several years since that last happened. Something about this kid just makes me feel so protective and fond of him, and I love hearing what he’s thinking. But bonus, we also get Will’s POV, which was a delightful surprise for me. I loved seeing Will and Nico’s regard for each other; their relationship is easily one of the best parts of the book. They’re so enamored, and it’s absolutely lovely.

Not to say everything is perfect, even between the best couple in the Percy Jackson universe (yes, I said it. Not even Percabeth compares). The dangers that Will and Nico have to face force them to confront certain things they’ve been avoiding talking about, or even thinking about. Both of them have trauma and baggage, and the setting they’re forced into encourages them to discuss it all. Nico especially has a lifetime of tough experiences, not to mention the fact that he’s still dealing with grief from recent events involving Apollo’s adventures. Riordan and Oshiro are sensitive about his trauma, but also don’t shy away from it. It’s beautiful, honestly, how depression and PTSD are portrayed here, perfectly suitable for middle grade. The authors don’t talk down to their audience, nor do they sugarcoat things. In fact, the way the authors utilize the setting of Tartarus as a sort of metaphor for navigating mental health problems is kind of perfect. Really, the way the place is described in Greek myth makes it prime for that kind of thing, and it’s explored so well here. It sounds weird to say, but I loved it.

Another thing I loved was the return of some minor characters from previous books, namely the Tower of Nero. They’re a wacky, fun group and it was fun to see them have a role in the plot here. And some of the new characters like Gorgyra, and even Carl and Bartholomew, were amazing.

I also adored the scene with Persephone with all my heart! It’s a brief encounter, but one of the most memorable moments of the story, especially in terms of Will’s and Nico’s emotional journeys. There’s a lot of wisdom here about the nature of love and relationships, romantic or otherwise. The goddess of springtime has never been a major part of this fictional universe, but she abruptly made herself a highlight for me.

Another standout scene is toward the end, during the climax. In terms of action and stakes, as well as emotion and personal growth, this is a moment that truly stands out. Especially for someone like me who kind of grew up with Nico, it’s beautiful to see him fight like this, for others but more significantly for himself. There’s nothing more hopeful and poignant than that, but I think Will put it best:

“[Nico] was at home in darkness. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t choose the alternative… Even in the darkest parts of life, there was still light … And no light was brighter than Nico di Angelo.”

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In the end, The Sun and the Star was astonishingly good (not that I’m surprised, it just exceeded my already high expectations). Riordan and Oshiro make a fabulous team, bringing just the right balance of danger and humor, frightening settings and healing moments. This is one of those marvelous reading experiences where you don’t want the book to end, but also can’t bear to stop reading. Queerness in various forms is on the page, given nuance, and celebrated. Characters are complex, and relationships are wholesome without being too saccharine. Themes of mental health problems intermingle with the struggle it can be to love someone who is hurting, and yet it’s made so clear that love can bring out the best in people. Not just romantic love, either, but love between friends, family, and for oneself. There are plenty of exciting or funny scenes, and strange creatures to overcome, all of it well-written, but where this book really shines are the gentler moments. It’s a story of hope, which is the perfect story for Nico di Angelo, and I couldn’t have asked for more.