EyebrarianPrize winnersGet the app

Books › The Sun and the Star

Cover of The Sun and the Star

The Sun and the Star

Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro

540 pages

A tender, grumpy-meets-sunshine romance wrapped in a harrowing descent into the literal and psychological underworld.

Where to buyBooks like this

What it feels like

Reading this book feels like stepping into a shadowy cavern with a single, unwavering lantern. It balances the trademark snappy, monster-battling momentum of a mythological adventure with a surprisingly tender, emotionally resonant exploration of trauma and healing. The narrative thrives on the beloved grumpy-meets-sunshine dynamic, contrasting deep, lingering grief with radiant, stubborn optimism. As the characters descend into literal darkness, the atmosphere grows claustrophobic and tense, yet the core of the story remains incredibly warm and hopeful. The prose is accessible and dialogue-heavy, making the pages fly by even as it pauses to unpack heavy emotional baggage. It is a deeply cathartic experience designed for readers who crave a queer romance where facing your inner demons is just as important as fighting the monsters in front of you.

Mood
  • shadowy
  • hopeful
  • claustrophobic
  • warm
Tone
  • tender
  • wry
  • earnest
  • adventurous
Pace
brisk
Themes
healing from trauma · grumpy-sunshine romance · facing inner demons · queer joy and survival · the weight of the past
The writing
Snappy and accessible, balancing trademark mythological humor with deeply empathetic, emotionally articulate introspection.
The arc
Begins with lingering anxiety and unresolved trauma, descends into a harrowing emotional crucible, and emerges into a hard-won, radiant space of self-acceptance and enduring love.
Who it's for
Readers who grew up with the Percy Jackson universe and are eager for a tender, character-driven queer romance that doesn't shy away from the messy reality of trauma.
Content notes
  • PTSD and trauma responses
  • grief and loss
  • fantasy violence
  • claustrophobia

About the book

As the son of Hades, Nico di Angelo has been through so much, from the premature deaths of his mother and sister, to being outed against his will, to losing his friend Jason during the trials of Apollo. But there is a ray of sunshine in his life–literally: his boyfriend, Will Solace, the son of Apollo. Together the two demigods can overcome any obstacle or foe. At least, that’s been the case so far...

Now Nico is being plagued by a voice calling out to him from Tartarus, the lowest part of the Underworld. He thinks he knows who it is: a reformed Titan named Bob whom Percy and Annabeth had to leave behind when they escaped Hades’s realm. Nico’s dreams and Rachel Dare’s latest prophecy leave little doubt in Nico’s mind that Bob is in some kind of trouble. Nico has to go on this quest, whether Mr. D and Chiron like it or not. And of course Will insists on coming with. But can a being made of light survive in the darkest part of the world? and what does the prophecy mean that Nico will have to “leave something of equal value behind?”

Nico will have to face demons both internal and external as his relationship with Will is tested to the core in this standalone adventure featuring two of the most popular characters in the Percy Jackson saga.

Description from Open Library.

Books like The Sun and the Star

See why they match