I think Rick and Mark grossly underestimated the number of post twenty year-olds who would be reading and evaluating their book. The biggest problem I have watched over the last few years has been the attacks on Rick on Twitter that caused him to doubt his work and his characters. As a result of these attacks, he made fundamental changes to characters and then sought a co-writer of a book that he could (and in my opinion should) have written himself. He lost faith in his vision and versions of key characters like Piper and Jason. While the first five books were well-written, he really rose to greatest heights with the characters and rendering of relationships and plot development with the Heroes of Olympus series. The third series, Trials of Apollo is where I can really see deterioration of his writer’s vision, despite outstanding contributions of new characters like the Pandai and Meliai. I can still see traces of the greatness in his writing vision for this series, especially in the character community formed at the Way Station. But I feel that the toxic feedback-if one could call it that-to which he was subjected on Twitter before exiting his account permanently, negatively impacted his writing going forward, and the results are evident in the final Trials of Apollo.

Have been waiting for this book for what seems forever. However I do not care for what has happened to these characters when placed in the hands of another writer. I wish he had trusted himself with his own characters and his own ability to research where needed to draft these characters with authenticity.

Characters whose dialogue and actions were simply out of character was the biggest letdown. Additionally, I really wanted so badly for this to be massive,— epic, a world-ending battle, and for lots and lots of characters - a very large cast- to work together and succeed based on the oblique and complex quests such as guided the plots of former books….

First, I really liked the characters of Will and Nico tremendously from Rick’s former writing of them. Here, they felt petty and trite, lacking the depth of character I had come to expect of them. The absence of a major cast of characters such as Reyna, Hazel, Frank, camp leaders, campers, it all felt ….empty. Like a large blank canvas that the Trogs and Menoetes just couldn’t fill. Characters like Damasen and many, many others, minor gods et cetera, should have fleshed out the canvas with depth, colour, and personalities as well as offering compelling plot points.

In addition, his editor missed some big inconsistencies with Bianca choosing rebirth. Will’s shorts (then jeans), then back in shorts, when Nico specifically complains, “Can’t that boy ever just wear a pair of jeans?” Next scene, Will who was wearing shorts when they left camp for New York magically gets coffee spilled down the front of his “shirt and jeans” in the subway. Changed to jeans when? Where? Then Morpheus being the one who put Manhattan to sleep.

Further inconsistencies involved Nico calling Sally “Mrs. Jackson.” Isn’t she Mrs. Blofis? Aren’t Paul and Sally married? Is Estelle Blofis’ mom and Paul’s wife going by Mrs. Jackson? Just as an aside, wasn’t she married to the guy who is now garden statuary (Ugliano) before Paul and never married to Poseidon? So how did the “Mrs. Jackson” come about and not Mrs. Ugliano or Mrs. Blofis??

Next, biggest and most unbelievable absence? Cerberus! And Mrs. O’Leary! It’s the bloody Underworld. And no trip to Hades’ palace with his boyfriend? No showing off his other home? No Jason? (They are in the underworld, after all).

Percy and Annabeth felt gratuitously thrust into the opening segue (as did Piper at the end, just as she was shoved into a minute and ill-conceived scene at the final Trials of Apollo). Overuse of “smirked” ruined their appearance in any case, along with dialogue wholly inconsistent with both characters. Just as an aside, Nico did NOT need Sally’s apartment to iris message. He can effect that pretty much anywhere, anytime. Percabeth’s dialogue felt completely strange in tone. Not at all the Percy and Annabeth I remembered from House of Hades or any of books subsequent.

Additionally, how did Bob even know Will? I couldn’t really understand how he either automatically knew who Will was, or was introduced to him. The great regard and affection in which he obviously held them both was inexplicable as it does not appear he had ever met Will, much less had opportunity to bond with him in such a way that great affection would naturally result from those interactions.

Moving on, fabulousness and adoration for the new world-building and characters of the Trogs. The Trogs’ relocation endeavor was well-described and came alive in the pages. Also their budding and shy friendship with Will was central to enjoying their appearance in the book. The small details, such as Hiss Majesty engaging with Will via hat copies was beautifully done. Quite frankly the biggest character development of the entire book occurred in the Trogs’ appearances and contributions to the journey. Laughed and laughed over the dinner scene, with Nico wondering where in the Underworld the Trogs had gotten tomatoes for tomato soup. Descriptions of the meal contents (shoe laces) and Will’s expressions were fantastically funny. Favourite scene was Will and Nico napping in the baby Trogs’ den— Literarily ethereal. Kudos for “mushroom glow.”

In terms of characters, enjoyed Gorgyra but again she seemed randomly situated within the story. Didn’t understand if or why she blocked them—and then offered a crucial assist. Seemed more a vehicle for backstory than central to moving plot action forward. The farmer Menoetes (also excessively flamboyant) seemed a caricature to me, but did enjoy that the Trogs found a new means of symbiotic existence alongside, and additional connection with, an underworld character besides Nico. The character of Amphithemis also seemed literarily irrelevant. His appearance did not advance plot or tension.

Favourite character re-appearance by far was Small Bob. Excellent choice to have him be the third quester and play a key role in his master’s rescue. In addition, he was the only character who actually benefitted from being newly flamboyant—and ridiculously more expressive and animated than in his original book appearance.

Can’t figure out where in the literal Hell Damasen went. His hut made an appearance but it was intimated that he had been gone a long time (blankets smelled stale and hut appeared vacant). Is anyone interested in manifesting a Damasen rescue next?! After all, he was as instrumental as Bob and Small Bob in Percy and Annabeth escaping through The Doors.

Regarding structure, I found the prophecy itself very low (structurally), compared to ones in earlier books and was unable to answer the question at the end of what—of equal value—Nico left behind. Was him freeing the Cacodemons “leaving something behind?” If so, I believe something that subtlety that will pass well above most target audience’ heads. Additionally, I get that Hades sent the prophecy quest (though I thought Rachel the oracle was a servant of Apollo’s). It just seems strange that Nyx kind of used Hades to compel Nico to the Underworld. Wouldn’t that have been transparent to and worried Hades? Epiales comes across as having the mental acuity of a 7 year-old, so doesn’t seem capable of masterminding complex dream sequences.

While it is a very minor detail, the plot hole missed by the editor involving shorts versus jeans (on Will) was extremely annoying to me, visually. I kept picturing who would embark on a dangerous journey in shorts—other than the child of the Sun God. It’s kind of central to Will’s character that he is always in shorts. Will is described as wearing cargo shorts, which end up holding fruit from Persephone’s garden. Subway scene in jeans? Sigh.

*Extreme overuse for ALL characters of the word smirked.

The scene that contributed the most complexity to their journey in a meaningful way was Persephone’s solo encounter with Will. Very well-written and terrific value add. Visual depiction of garden elements, appearance of Persephone, and Will’s facial and bodily reactions to being caught by her were absolutely stunning in clarity and visual acuity. I could visualize those scenes in mesmerizing detail.

Traditionally, Rick’s characters are dark and not trite. I did not recognize newly flamboyant Mr. D, despite him supposedly being more mellow after the death of one of his twins (is that the rationale for his character makeover?). I also did not recognize Nico or Will (equally newly flamboyant). I think Rick would have been better writing this himself, and asking for a sensitivity reader or two. Or choosing a rando from the fanfic that is out there with whom to collab because at least 3-4 existing fanfics are superior in their grasp of, and use regarding, these characters.

Next, Rick’s dream sequences are not difficult to follow. These sequences were too long (dreams) and ill-placed in the book. Those of us who have read, already knew the information revealed in them. I had trouble following the plot as a result of laborious dream sequences that seem poorly suited to book and chapter length.

Length would have been great had it been used to develop character growth and advance plot. It was nothing like House of Hades, which, despite its complexity, was both clear in plot and compelling in advancing story arch. Ludicrous for me was that Hades would send Nico on a quest rather than zapping Bob out of his predicament himself. He noticed (after 1.5 years) that his janitor was missing and subsequently decided to orchestrate an elaborate prophecy (for which he conscripts The Oracle’s (Rachel’s) assistance), in an attempt to coerce Nico to do his carefully disguised bidding? To rescue his janitor? About whom he cares so much?? And who was originally consigned to Tartarus because Giants fought against the Gods in the Great War?

Rick’s linguistic print was largely absent. Felt like it was ghost-written—like fanfic written by someone not Rick Riordan.

Character anomalies: Chiron referring to Nico as “son” seemed grossly out of character. Mr. D’s dialogue also largely misaligned with earlier depictions in previous books. These two did not ring true. Will, Nico, Annabeth, and Percy all seemed like strange iterations of formerly familiar persons.

Finally, I am glad it is out, and enjoyed it, though not at the level at which I enjoyed the second five-book series with the Seven. Despite clear drawbacks, The Sun and the Star lends an important addition to the adventures of Camp Halfblood. Strong emotional content, never mind the evil ones (monsters) being too soft, too few, and too willing to help. Great positive message about co-existing with trauma and pain, and choosing change. 10/10 for placing vegan bacon in the closing segments of the book. Kindness and compassion for those parts of ourselves that are not attractive and born of anguish and pain also 10/10.

Missed the massive scale of the books containing the Seven. Very much missed pithy chapter titles and dream sequences that seamlessly advanced book plot while providing effective and detailed foreshadowing.

Excellent decision regarding inclusion of Nico’s children. Wish they wouldn’t have employed reductivist tactics for the children (designating them as cereal), However, the idea of embracing, accepting dark trauma about ourselves was well-intentioned. Seemed slightly racist undertones likening them to little bits of chocolate, but likely just me. Nurturing the darkest pieces of ourselves—and rendering them as “children,”—was a master stroke of therapeutic genius

Brand	N/A
Rating	4.7 (6059 ratings)
Price	$9.99
Category	Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Books

From the World of Percy Jackson: The Sun and the Star: A Nico di Angelo Adventure