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abbyluvsfrogs444's review against another edition
couldn't finish, will get back to it later
otis_is_beautiful's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
fast-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
5.0
I absolutely loved this book!
tyrex117's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
vieeeee's review against another edition
4.0
SPOILERS
to preface this review, i don't know that this novel was quite on the same level as rick riordan's other books when it comes to action scenes, how interesting the plot really was, etc. but i do feel that it was very interesting in philosophical and emotional terms.
first off: the plot. personally, i wasn't the biggest fan of it just because of how it played out. it's the fact that the previous seven demigods needed like five books to defeat gaia, and nico and will and bob only took about 50 pages or so. yes, i understand that it wasn't quite on the same level, but i still feel like the ending was a little rushed with the whole great big final battle and all. i am glad that they rescued bob (finally) because i remember being incredibly angry about bob being left behind book after book.
second: the romance. i don't really have any complaints on the writing when it comes to the plot other than what i previously mentioned, but the romance feels SO off. will and nico are perfectly fine until we hit about 100 pages in when all of a sudden they start fighting about a bunch of different stuff. nico is mad at will for not accepting and appreciating the underworld and it's darkness, which i understand TO A CERTAIN EXTENT. same with will's complaint about nico's lack of communication. without the proper development, both of these issues don't warrant enough emotional impact for the reader to explain the three or so fights they had about this, all of which happened out of the blue with nico usually randomly losing his temper. the worst part is that these issues were barely resolved. they talked about it for two paragraphs and pretended everything was fine?? i just don't get it. also, at the beginning of this book, the romance feels like a fanfiction. it is so cheesy that it's not even cute. and there are so many "cheesy" moments packed into this book that don't feel justified to the moment. instead they're like, "oh this is really cheesy but..." and profess their undying love for each other, which i just don't think is a good segue.
third: the characters. i mean, there were only really two main characters, will and nico. nico, i didn't have many complaints except he went from emo --> sappy, which i get it, but i would have preferred some development. will, this book sort of ruined him for me because he was so incompetent. i know its son of apollo meets tartarus but he had no value except cute comedic relief and stupid decisions that cause nico to step in. and why was he always so scared?! plus, we could have further developed nyx's character, but it wasn't too bad. hypnos and epiales, idk why they would turn against their mother. it made a little sense but nemesis' reasoning made more sense. she needs some vengeance against her mother too after all.
fouth: emotional stuff + ending. ngl, i'm sappy af so i rlly liked the sun and the star thing. and i liked how it discussed the ideas of balancing dark and light and being open. i liked how bob addressed change. plus parts of me healed when nico met his mother and bianca for the last time and when he talked with piper. i liked the ending a lot because it gave me so much closure for nico, since he's been through soo much.
overall, i gave it 4/5 stars because a) i'm physically incapable of rating a book below three stars, b) i'm rlly biased towards this whole riordanverse, and c) i actually liked this book fairly well. in this review i didn't mention a lot of the good stuff, but there were definitley good characters and good things, so a pretty good book in general.
to preface this review, i don't know that this novel was quite on the same level as rick riordan's other books when it comes to action scenes, how interesting the plot really was, etc. but i do feel that it was very interesting in philosophical and emotional terms.
first off: the plot. personally, i wasn't the biggest fan of it just because of how it played out. it's the fact that the previous seven demigods needed like five books to defeat gaia, and nico and will and bob only took about 50 pages or so. yes, i understand that it wasn't quite on the same level, but i still feel like the ending was a little rushed with the whole great big final battle and all. i am glad that they rescued bob (finally) because i remember being incredibly angry about bob being left behind book after book.
second: the romance. i don't really have any complaints on the writing when it comes to the plot other than what i previously mentioned, but the romance feels SO off. will and nico are perfectly fine until we hit about 100 pages in when all of a sudden they start fighting about a bunch of different stuff. nico is mad at will for not accepting and appreciating the underworld and it's darkness, which i understand TO A CERTAIN EXTENT. same with will's complaint about nico's lack of communication. without the proper development, both of these issues don't warrant enough emotional impact for the reader to explain the three or so fights they had about this, all of which happened out of the blue with nico usually randomly losing his temper. the worst part is that these issues were barely resolved. they talked about it for two paragraphs and pretended everything was fine?? i just don't get it. also, at the beginning of this book, the romance feels like a fanfiction. it is so cheesy that it's not even cute. and there are so many "cheesy" moments packed into this book that don't feel justified to the moment. instead they're like, "oh this is really cheesy but..." and profess their undying love for each other, which i just don't think is a good segue.
third: the characters. i mean, there were only really two main characters, will and nico. nico, i didn't have many complaints except he went from emo --> sappy, which i get it, but i would have preferred some development. will, this book sort of ruined him for me because he was so incompetent. i know its son of apollo meets tartarus but he had no value except cute comedic relief and stupid decisions that cause nico to step in. and why was he always so scared?! plus, we could have further developed nyx's character, but it wasn't too bad. hypnos and epiales, idk why they would turn against their mother. it made a little sense but nemesis' reasoning made more sense. she needs some vengeance against her mother too after all.
fouth: emotional stuff + ending. ngl, i'm sappy af so i rlly liked the sun and the star thing. and i liked how it discussed the ideas of balancing dark and light and being open. i liked how bob addressed change. plus parts of me healed when nico met his mother and bianca for the last time and when he talked with piper. i liked the ending a lot because it gave me so much closure for nico, since he's been through soo much.
overall, i gave it 4/5 stars because a) i'm physically incapable of rating a book below three stars, b) i'm rlly biased towards this whole riordanverse, and c) i actually liked this book fairly well. in this review i didn't mention a lot of the good stuff, but there were definitley good characters and good things, so a pretty good book in general.
finch_26's review against another edition
5.0
I feel called out by Nico’s intrusive thoughts
Also
Parade rest cattle? Nightmares, I had to imagine cattle on it’s hind legs, hooves shoulder length apart with crossed arms, their heads held high, in uniform
I blame marching band
Also
Parade rest cattle? Nightmares, I had to imagine cattle on it’s hind legs, hooves shoulder length apart with crossed arms, their heads held high, in uniform
I blame marching band
rafaamp's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.75
jojothefool's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-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
5.0
Yes yes yes yes yes yes YES! There are parts that are very like “teaching children about queerness” but what do you expect from a middle school book and I’m glad that Riordan got an actual queer author to help. Looooved all the character and relationship development for my favorite boys. Perfectly tense enough and emotional and cute all throughout. Loved it loved it loved it. This book started my PJO reread last October and it’s all reinstated my love for reading and i was so happy to finally be able to finish this up.
makenzimae's review against another edition
5.0
"Even in the darkest parts of life, there was still... light. ...And no light was brighter than Nico di Angelo."
Reading format: kindle, hardcover, audible
If you're looking for a classic, grade 4 Percy Jackson book, this is not it. This is the closest to Young Adult that I've seen from Rick Riodan, and I am not complaining.
There is still humor, sarcasm, quests, and a dam joke. Everything that I loved from Percy Jackson with the bonus of being more centered around relationships.
The format is different than the OG series, which I also appreciated. It switched from past stories, current happenings, and close future. This gave the story a different pace than the others and I loved how it all fit together.
I loved this book from the beginning til the end and I am so sad that it ended
Kindle edition was a little confusing format wise, the hardcover is BEAUTIFUL, and the audible is amazingly done!
Reading format: kindle, hardcover, audible
If you're looking for a classic, grade 4 Percy Jackson book, this is not it. This is the closest to Young Adult that I've seen from Rick Riodan, and I am not complaining.
There is still humor, sarcasm, quests, and a dam joke. Everything that I loved from Percy Jackson with the bonus of being more centered around relationships.
The format is different than the OG series, which I also appreciated. It switched from past stories, current happenings, and close future. This gave the story a different pace than the others and I loved how it all fit together.
I loved this book from the beginning til the end and I am so sad that it ended
Kindle edition was a little confusing format wise, the hardcover is BEAUTIFUL, and the audible is amazingly done!
sadie_g's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
So glad that we got a book following Nico and Will!! I absolutely love these characters and their relationship, and I'm so happy with the ending of this book. Some of the emotional parts really got me, and I just want them to be happy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
eponineeurydice's review against another edition
5.0
AWWW! My heart is overflowing right now! This was everything I'd dreamed it would be... sweet, angsty, beautiful and unapologetically unconvensional! I've grown up with these characters, and Nico in particular means so much to me. I'm so happy that he finally got the story he deserved, and I'm so proud of his journey. And I mould never forget Will! My sunshiny son of Apollo... he's so wholesome and perfect and he went on such a lovely arc in this book! I just adored this, as I knew I would... I've been dying to read this for AGES and it was well worth the wait! It had so many things, from important points about acceptance and healing to Riordan's signature touch of humor, and a copious amount of angst which was so well rewarded by moments of wholesomeness! The romance was so sweet, and I love these two's dynamic! I will say, there were just a few nitpicks of mine: I feel like maybe this could have benefited from just a bit of polishing/editing! There were a few plot lines that cidn't quite get wrapped up or weren't very clear, and just a few typop/lines that felt awkward! And I'm sure it's so hard to co-write something, plus this is just a very Will and Nico-focused story, a bit different from the others in the series. But it delivered on everything that I was hoping for so I'll forgive its small flaws! Oh how I love this world and its characters... I never want to leave it behind! I'll be eagerly awaiting the next book!