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julesadventurezone's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
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.
Nonetheless, I was very invested toward the end and liked Will and Nico's relationship very much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Grief
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Minor: Murder, Outing, Eating disorder, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, and Police brutality
eloise648's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Confinement, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Homophobia, Death of parent, Murder, and Torture
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Panic attacks/disorders
daisytrails's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Confinement, Medical content, Torture, War, Violence, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Outing, Abandonment, Death, Grief, Murder, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
building_a_bookdom's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Mental illness
Moderate: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Outing, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Dementia, Eating disorder, Abandonment, Death of parent, Grief, Torture, and Blood
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Dementia, Domestic abuse, and Gore
lizziaha's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness
Minor: Murder and Panic attacks/disorders
zanm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
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:
----
PROS AND CONS
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Pros:
- Nico and Will are adorable and really thrive on healthy communication.
Nico goes to therapy!!! (Not a major plot point but)- I had warm fuzzy feelings at the end of this
- Nico had a nice little character arc about
self-love - Will had a good arc about
accepting Nico's trauma as it is and not fixing it which is a great message to the audience
Cons:
- Long/slow beginning
- Felt Ooc for Nico to
come out to the whole camp even in the way they explained it...and there was an "everybody clapped" moment... - Nico felt Ooc the whole time, really, but what do I know
- Not enough Will backstory!!! Even in chapters in his voice!!!!!
- Mr. D felt Ooc too but, again, what do I know? Tbh his change in character was kind of nice, even if I had to suspend my disbelief about it.
- Random meme references. So many. Too many. I had to keep ignoring them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Grief, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Murder
Minor: War
rachelditty's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
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).
"'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).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, Death, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, and Blood
trintrin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
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:
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,
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,
TL;DR this is the cutest book I've ever read. It's quite cheesy, sure, but to quote Nico:
'Lay it on me, Will. I'm your grilled cheese'
He stepped over a thorny rock, then squinted at Nico. 'I think your metaphor needs work', he said.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Eating disorder, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Outing
Minor: Medical content, Medical trauma, Homophobia, Murder, and Suicidal thoughts
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