akswhy's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I expected more from this book. I was really looking forward to diving into the minds of Nico and Will, and I think we got a good amount of Nico’s inner life, but Will still feels very two-dimensional. He’s a sunshiney healer! With a boyfriend! Aaaaand that’s about it. His conflict is about having a boyfriend with whom he doesn’t have a lot in common . To me that reads very “…then break up” instead of the desired outcome: learn to love someone even when you don’t understand them. In conclusion, flesh Will out properly or let Nico do better (because from where I’m sitting, he can).

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julesadventurezone's review against another edition

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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.

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jerrysaywhaaa's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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

5.0

This was a beautiful LGBT+ story about being in love and overcoming your trauma and inner demons. I think the chapter where Will talks to Persephone was my favorite part. I will say though the climax of the book fell a little flat compared to the build up for me, but I loved every second of their journey together. I just wish this were a series and not a standalone book. It also bugs me that Will did not bring a weapon with him on this quest, I get he’s a healer but still! It was also an interesting choice to for the narrator to switch between Nico and Will as a limited third person narrator, I think it should have been an omniscient third person narrator. Also the cut scene canoe story chapters I think would have been better just being where they took place in the story instead of throughout the book. Overall though I think this is one of my favorite books in general and in the Percy Jackson universe. 

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mollymoo1234's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense 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

5.0

Just amazing , it’s a story ultimately about acceptance and it’s just done in such a delicate and beautiful way and just yeah I loved it . Enjoy xx

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scrubsandbooks's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious 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

4.0

My personal feelings about this book: I was confused at first. I read the audiobook so maybe the narration was hard to decipher between characters but the POVs flip flop between both characters within chapters and I don't think that's really helpful. Maybe it would have been easier to read the hardcopy. The flashbacks and flashforwards were also hard to keep track of initially too.

But, I rounded up half a star from 3.5 to 4 because this book is so important in the general sense. A middle grade book written by a beloved middle grade mythology writer featuring queer teens. Not only do those teens navigate rough patches in their relationship during this harrowing journey into Tartarus (which is NOT easy to do when one of you is the son of Apollo) but they openly feel their feelings. There is no hesitation when it comes to conveying their emotions which might be one of the more healthier depictions of mlm queer teen romance I have ever read in a book.

I know a lot of reviews here say this reads like fanfiction and maybe it does somewhat, but so what?? It doesn't take away from the importance of Nico's journey with his own demons and his relationships with the people around him who he has both loved and lost or love but are still there. There's also a calico cat that can turn into a sabre-toothed tiger, and that itself deserves a few stars.

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hayleyvem's review against another edition

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adventurous dark 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

4.5


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robertjspradlin's review against another edition

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adventurous dark 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


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lumari3's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional 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


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annahamburger's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny 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


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_tabby_'s review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Okay so I LOVED this book and I was so excited for the release. A book that focused on Nico as an individual (rather than having his own side quest and doing stuff behind the scenes within the main plotline) was an addition the pjo series needed. I'm so happy uncle Rick is giving his most interesting side characters their own development and own series that focus on them as the main character rather than an accessory.
Nico was an obvious (yet very welcome) choice for this development in the pjo universe.
Nico and Will have been beloved characters for a good while within the series and I love how this book draws attention to both the harmonies and hardships of their relationship. It isn't afraid to show how they sometimes clash as individuals but both have an understanding that it doesn't make or break their relationship. If anything: their differences complete one another.
However 
It took me a while to get through simply because it was co-written. And while that wasn't a bad thing nor is it a deal breaker: I'm so used to and fond of Rick's writing style that it was sometimes jarring when Mark Oshiro was writing instead. I know, from friends that have read this book, that it isn't an issue for most people. But to me I found the two authors have different writing styles (especially when it comes to describing settings or emotions) so I sometimes found it hard to get into long reading sessions of this book as the difference broke up the chapters quite a lot to me.
Mark Oshiro was nevertheless an incredible choice of co-author for Rick to make as I did enjoy his individual writing style but I think (since I'm very comfortable with Ricks writing style and I find it easy to read) it simply took longer to read/ follow than a normal Rick Riordan book for this reason

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