#mind you i would LOVE if the twist in TSATS is that they end up not going to Tartarus at all

[aroaceleovaldez]

I really dislike the inherent main plots of TSATS and Chalice of the Gods as they’re being explained to us currently, mostly just cause I feel like they take away from already established lore of the series and other plot points.

There is no way TSATS can go that doesn’t make either Tartarus feel cheap and/or the entire book just feel like Percabeth In Mark Of Athena: 2 Electric Boogaloo. Unless the twist is that they don’t go to Tartarus it is physically impossible. Because either they go to Tartarus and breeze through it, which makes Tartarus as a setting feel cheap and ruins all prior instances of it being used as a landscape of suffering, or they suffer Lots and Lots and it just feels like we’re rehashing the same exact plot over again purely for the sake of treating solangelo the same as percabeth, which doesn’t work because they’re vastly different character dynamics and putting them in the same situation has nowhere near the same emotional weights. Also it makes Nico’s original foray into Tartarus feel null because it makes it feel like his trauma doesn’t have any actual meaning, because why would he jump right back into it? Even with Nico’s character being extremely self-sacrificial, we’re at a point where we’re being told he’s improving on that and this is possibly the one circumstance he would think twice about. AND it makes Tartarus feel overused - Nico surviving Tartarus once? Okay, makes sense, he’s the son of Hades, and it’s cool that he’s the first mortal to ever survive it. Percabeth too? Getting iffy (especially since we see their trip in detail and that inherently means it’s lost a lot of potential oomph, because when you’re going for horrifying a lot of the time less is more) but okay, sure, Nico probably gave Percy some Tartarus Tips after being rescued and they had a literal dues ex machina or two helping them out, and they fell in accidentally so it’s not like how Nico waltzed in there. Third time? And it being Nico AGAIN and Will Solace (who as far as we know has little to no quest experience and most of his experience is being a battlefield medic) and then purposefully going there? Nope. It’s just a poor set-up. Plus “the major gay couple goes on vacation to superhell” is a... questionable plot set-up to begin with, especially when it’s been heavily implied it will be traumatizing for them, and we have already been told explicitly that references are being made to things like Call Me By Your Name so there is a self-awareness about the themes there (also that alone raises questions about how we’re going to be taking the tone of things - again, there’s two ways it can go and both would be extremely difficult to get right). If Mark Oshiro were not co-authoring this I’d be a little horrified. I’m very glad Mark Oshiro is co-authoring this. I don’t believe it can’t be done tastefully, and yeah it’s a situation ripe for symbolism, but it is definitely the kind of subject that would be difficult for a non-queer author to handle appropriately.

As for Chalice of the Gods, we know two things: A.) It takes place prior to TOA, and B.) The chalice Percy has to retrieve has the power to make anyone who drinks from it immortal. ..... so basically, without the book even being out, we are told “If Percy had waited like 20 minutes, all of TOA would be null.” Admittedly, this does give justification for Percy specifically to be doing this quest outside of “college” reasons, and in my opinion, “The gods asked Percy specifically because they have verified he adamantly does NOT want to be immortal” is hilarious. However, adding yet another universe mechanic to the repertoire that nullifies death is annoying as hell, because death as a consequence in the series has been completely ruined since HoO. The more avoiding death options there are, the more every death scene feels completely pointless and avoidable.

#pjo #riordanverse #tsats #the sun and the star #chalice of the gods #forgive me for complaining this was in my drafts and i figured since i was talking about plot changes i'd make yesterday #might as well post this then yknow #while we're on the topic #i'll find something lighter/sillier in my drafts to post later #also my hesitancy about the overarching plot does not say anything regarding my expectations for the actual quality of the book(s) #just putting that as a footnote #could the plots be total shit but the books themselves end up lovely? sure. totally. #i am just personally grumbly about Tartarus' use as a narrative device and how it keeps getting overused #and also the growing lack of consequence in the riordanverse which tends to make any stakes feel automatically low and cheap #mind you i would LOVE if the twist in TSATS is that they end up not going to Tartarus at all #im currently 50/50 on reading it but if it turns out they dont go to Tartarus at all i'd be sold immediately #and i do think Percy being saddled with a quest because he's the only one who wouldn't be tempted with immortality is hilarious #tbh if we had a third plot concept rolling here and we condensed all three ideas down we could just do another 3-short-story book #like Demigod Files and Demigod Diaries #we have options #heck. yknow. if we're talking particularly long short-stories here we could probably roll with two #if demigod files is for the first series and demigod diaries is for HoO we need a TOA one anyways #cause CHB:C and CJ:C and those ones are their own category they're different

[kali-chaotic-neutral]

TSATS SPOILERS!!!

So I just got and finished reading The Sun and the Star and oh my gods.... Rick portrayed their dynamics wonderfully, of course their relationship isn't going to perfect. With Nico's insecurities and Will making uncomfortable jokes about the Underworld, angst was bound to happen. No love is perfect, there are always ups and downs but it was soooo WONDERFULLY depicted by Rick. The long gray and black chapters showing Nico's haunting dreams and actually seeing what happened to him during his time in Tartarus.

I love how Rick Riordan made Nyx more fearsome and powerful as befitting her status as the literal embodiment of Night. I love how manipulative Nyx was and I love love LOVE LOVE the Cocoa Puffs!!! I love how Rick beat back the Solangelo haters with such a beautiful content of their love and respect for each other. (I remember some people were calling Will ab*sive and rude and some people were even making such weird speculations on what would happen in TSATS, like legit someone said something like: "Nico cheating on Will with Jason's ghost in the new book". Like wtf dude, these people really be pulling out the wildest shit out of their asses. They be the same people that be saying Annabeth is ab*sive and that Leah Jeffries isn't "black enough", like bffr)

I love how Rick didn't make Nico's trauma go away because of the power of love and instead the whole journey to Tartarus with Will was what he needed for closure and to face his demons (literally too). I love that Bob was back but I am absolutely DESTROYED THAT DAMASEN WASN'T THERE!!!!

I know that Damasen wasn't in Nyx's view because he didn't really change. Yes, he did change and got the courage to leave his swamp but he had always defied his position as the antithesis to a god. so Tartarus is still holding back his regeneration. I am so sad that he was only slightly mentioned, I wish he was there, I could imagine him and Bob starting a life together (doesn't have to be gay) as the only giant and titan to defy their roles.

Also the plot twist with Menoetes and Geryon!!? Was I lowkey hoping that we got see newly reformed Geryon and Nico chat? Yes. Was I disappointed it wasn't shown. Also Yes. Was I absolutely okay with this random ship? Yes.

I also absolute love Will's powerups. From a light wielding sack of potatoes to someone who gave the Primordial of Night HAY FEVER!!! I loved Gorgyra who at first I was a bit annoyed at, but later appreciated as her wanting them to tell her stories was a way to help them in the end.

Also, to anyone who thinks the Tartarus thing belongs to Percabeth SHUT UP!!! A trauma experience is not limited to your favorite ship or character. Also, Nico was the first person ever to go into Tartarus and survive all the while knowing that he was walking in the body of a living breathing Primordial and the only one to fully witness the horrors of the House of Night. Sure Percy realized that Tartarus was an actual entity instead of a place, but it was MUCH LATER in their adventure.

Edit: This book was from a totally new way of writing for Rick as it mainly focuses on healing and the ptsd. And to those who think it was a bit unrealistic for Nico to have existential crisis, mind you he was going to Tartarus. The very place he NEARLY LOST HIS MIND IN. He was 13/14 when he went down there and was captured and put into a jar! Will was also a great candidate for his quest because it was like Annabeth and Percy said, having someone you love and and trust in that hellscape is the best way to survive. Sure Hazel and Reyna would have been great candidates too, but we wouldn't get the same thing we got in TSATS. Will was someone Nico trusted and loved and Nico was the same to him.

Also, fanon versions of Nico has absolutely ROTTED the minds of many "fans". Nico is not emo, while he was a little edgy he was mostly depressed. Also the timing of this book releasing is quite nice as well, because of all the anti-lgbtq things happening in the US, where many queer or other books are being banned. This book touches on the lgbtq subject where many young adults 10-14 year olds will read as it is part of a very popular book series.

#percy jackon and the olympians #heroes of olympus #the sun and the star #will solace #nico di angelo #solangelo #tsats