Percy Jackson and The Olympians is a series beloved by so many, and Rick Riordan has done his best to expand his world to keep it relevant to new generations while giving the same diverse and wonderous stories he is known for. The Sun and the Star was an amazing example of this: as it centered around the beloved character of Nico Di Angelo. And today, it was like Zeus himself opened the floodgates, and gave all of the news about Nico's second book.
First, we have the cover - showcasing not only Nico and Will but also Hazel Levesque who first showed up in the Heroes of Olympus series as a daughter of Pluto, the Roman version of Hades, making her Nico's half-sister. I love how it immediately has us jump into action, and the minotaur has been such an iconic part of the universe since the very first book and I actually love how much it calls back to it.
But while the cover itself was a happy surprise, we were also blessed with the official synopsis:
A few months after returning from the depths of Tartarus, Nico and Will agree to join Nico's half-sister Hazel Levesque at Camp Jupiter on the West Coast. She needs their help in managing a situation that the boys inadvertently brought about: the demigods showed the monsters of the Underworld that they have options; they don’t have to be evil. Now some of those monsters have taken up residence at Camp Jupiter. Nico and Will are on site, assisting Hazel with a group of “refugees,” when one by one, monsters start disappearing from camp. A mysterious dark force is at work, and its plan is to punish all monsters for their past crimes. Things only get worse when Nico, Will, and Hazel learn that they’re all connected to it . . .
Of all the books in this series, the Heroes of Olympus series was my absolute favorite. In fact, I am currently reading The Lost Hero to my students! So seeing they are returning to Camp Jupiter makes me really happy because it's such a fascinating setting. I love how it mirrors what we know of Camp Half-Blood and turns it into something similar and unique.
I am excited to explore the positive and negative consequences of Nico and Will's first story, and I am excited to play out on September 23rd - because the release date was also announced between the synopsis and cover design.
But believe it or not, that's still not all the news! Barnes and Noble also announced they would have an exclusive signed edition of The Court of The Dead with a gorgeous set of sprayed edges that really show off the vibe of the book. And honestly, I am very much a sprayed edge kind of person, so seeing these will be available makes me even more excited for the book.
Overall, I am so excited to see Nico and Will's story continue and to watch how the Percy Jackson universe continues to grow and innovate.
The Court of the Dead is available for preorder through Penguin Random House. The Barnes and Noble edition is also available for preorder through their website. Both editions will be released on September 23, 2025.