I'm really struggling to know how to feel about this book. I was a big fan of Nico Di Angelo when I initially read PJO and HoO, not to mention now as an adult queer I often seek out queer romance. But this isn't what I'm looking for. And I fear I've just grown away from this writing style. Things feel ham-fisted and it's constant references to ToA made me exhausted. 

I didn't enjoy that series and didn't finish it, so maybe I was hoping it would mostly be ignored? But I imagine if I had finished them, it would also bother me that everything was constantly being summarised again. It felt like I was simultaneously being isolated as someone who didn't engage with ToA AND isolated as someone who knew what had already happened. Over explained and under explored? 

I felt like it was trying to be one of those companion short stories that felt like bonus scenes in a DVD menu but instead it became a full movie that doesn't really stand up alone. Is that a bad thing? For me, yes, I think so. I think I was looking for something different here. And I think I knew going in it wouldn't be what I hoped but I read it anyway.

The relationship is sweet in places and made me smile. If you're still deep into these stories and enjoyed ToA, I think you'll like this. I just think I unfortunately have to concede that new additions to the Riordanverse aren't for me anymore. 

The beginning was really slow and i just don't like humor derived from mispronouncing things and brand names. I also thought the character arcs were pretty obvious. 
Nonetheless, I was very invested toward the end and liked Will and Nico's relationship very much.

I appreciate this effort to address the trauma of the previous books and to deepen the queer relationship. Also, despite the bleak setting, I did appreciate the moments of humor that still managed to shine through. 

Unfortunately, this is a strong 3.75 or a weak 4. I rounded up for my review and was lenient in places I would be harsher would this be anyone other than Rick Riordan. This book was mostly just a nostalgia fest/pandering to the fandom which is totally fine! The problem is, it was not a story that had a lot of layers nor did I feel engaged. Everything was stated outright. Problems were introduced and immediately solved. The entirety of the novel was a fluffy-feel good piece that didn't exist to expand the PJO universe or explore an action-packed prophecy, but simply to explore Nico's (yes only Nico, not Will, he was about as developed as Jason Grace was) trauma. It is my belief that this book could have (and should have) been a novella. The

journey getting to Tartarus

was the longest part of the book and nothing was even happening! Parts of the writing also felt extremely dated in the 2020s and I'm not sure the PJO universe is canonically in that time period. (If Percy was born in 1993 *thanks google* and is, what, 18? 19? now...shouldn't it be 2012?) That's a small critique though, when my legitimate critique is the 2020 writing felt...cringey. I painfully shouldered past it and it got better as the book went on, but it had the feeling of an adult trying too hard to be relatable to teens nowadays, than an accurate depiction of what it's like to be a teenager. But the book did have a good message and, once it picked up toward the end, I was engaged by then (only took 75% of the book to get there), so it pulled the rating up in my books. I would recommend this to any PJO fans who want to know more about Nico but would caution them to have lower expectations. It's not a bad book but it certainly lacks that Riordan charm we all know and love. I assume it's because this was a co-written book. (Sometimes it felt like two voices were passing the book back and forth making up a story.) I also want to say the 3rd person point of view really distanced the characters, but I grew to love it. Overall, this had fanfic vibes...but in a neutral way.
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PROS AND CONS
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Pros:

Cons:

I loved this! I think this is a great book for middle-grade readers as well as long-time fans of the Percy Jackson universe. The sense of humor was very sarcastic, which is exactly what I'd expect from a point of view from Nico. I adored how much Rick and Mark were willing and able to give Nico and Will the opportunities to shower each other in affection--kissing, holding hands, using nicknames, etc. It was very nice to read, and I love knowing that young queer kids are going to be able to see that as well. The growing pains of a young relationship were very well done, and there were a few different points at the end where I teared up. I'm glad Nico got to have his moment to work through what he needed to, and same goes for Will. A great addition to a well-loved series. Fantastic :)

"'I want what's best for him, and he seems to disappear into his darkness, like he's hiding in a place that doesn't want my light.'
'Then why not offer him your darkness?'" (p. 244).

"...it hurts to hear you talk about [the Underworld] like it's evil. Death isn't evil. It's just... death." (p. 349).

"'Sometimes I have to remind myself of that,' [Nico] said. 'That people did love me when I was younger.'" (p. 374).

"Will had heard love described in so many dramatic, bizarre ways over the years, but no one had described it like this: It's like drifting down a river of pain and knowing you are safe." (p. 432)

"To be alive in the world once more... It is beautiful." (p. 445).

"No one had ever loved him like Will did, and that was no longer terrifying. How could it be? How could acceptance and respect and desire be anything but the best things for Nico?" (p. 461).

"The future held hope. And he clung to it." (p. 462).

GAHHHH SO WHOLESOME T-T
Solangelo making you feel like you're third-wheeling them for 466 pages? Sign me up, please.

The lovey-dovey stuff apart, I love how much this book focuses on both Nico and Will (they're teenagers, mind you) struggling to find who they are while dealing with their trauma. Sure, I love their cute romantic moments, which is ABUNDANT, but I also love the fact that their relationship is not perfect - yes Nico doesn't open up and Will is a little close-minded, yes they get annoyed with each other, yes they fight, yes they talk and make up - and that's what makes it so beautiful. And I love how this book portrays the monsters in a different light.

wdym Geryon is a happy little gay boy in love now kjsdkjsdf it's beautiful

 

So did the writing and the general plot deserve five stars? Maybe not, but what can I say, I'm biased towards Nico and he more than deserves it. He finally healed, got some long-awaited closure with his family, has an amazing boyfriend,

and he's also a role-model to other campers??? and he gives advice to others suffering from trauma??? and he quite literally lives with his demons now???

my baby im so proud of him *wipes tears* they grow up so fasttt

TL;DR this is the cutest book I've ever read. It's quite cheesy, sure, but to quote Nico: