I have a lot of respect for Rick Riordan. He became famous for writing stories based on Greek and Roman mythologies. In 2010, he published the first of the Kane Chronicles which was based on Egyptian mythology. The series is not bad but it was pretty obvious that he was a little out of his depth. I believe this is what made him decide to start his own imprint where he would publish authors of color who would right about their own cultures mythologies and stories. That’s being an ally. Using his platform and influence to prop up other authors and highlight different cultures that wouldn’t normally have the opportunity. In The Sun and The Star, he follows the same pattern by teaming up with Queer Author Mark Oshiro to right his story of Nico. Nico has been a character from original Percy Jackson series that has really grown over the course of the books. All of the demigods have a tragic backstory but none more than Nico, the son of Hades. He was probably Rick’s first gay character in all of his books. His coming out scene is probably the most harrowing scenes in the whole saga. So it was good that Rick brought a co-author who can speak to what Nico was going through.

Nico ad his boyfriend Will go on a quest to Tartarus to save the Giant Bob. Bob was a former Giant that in past books had run ins with Percy and Annabeth and Nico. He was pushed into the River Lethe and lost his memories and becomes a janitor in Hades Palace. In the Heroes of Olympus when Percy and Annabeth fall into Tartarus, Bob saves them but they leave him behind and now Nico feels he has to go rescue him. The quest isn’t really about saving Bob but also for Nico to confront and to come to terms with his past. Nico is also probably one of the complex characters in all of the Percyverse. This was a beautiful send off to a great character. I don’t know what the future will be for Nico and the other characters but at least he is finally in a healthy and happy place and I love that for him and Will.