The Tower of Nero
The Tower of Nero is the fifth and final installment in Rick Riordan's best-selling Trials of Apollo series, concluding the adventures of the Greek god Apollo, cast down to Earth as the mortal teenager Lester Papadopoulos. The book follows Lester and his demigod companion Meg McCaffrey as they face their final challenge at the Tower of Nero in New York, confronting ancient enemies and powerful Roman emperors to restore Apollo's divine status. This middle-grade fantasy novel, suitable for readers aged 10 and up, is a blend of action, humor, and mythological adventure. It explores themes of humility, self-sacrifice, and the complexities of family and identity, offering a heartfelt conclusion to the overarching Percy Jackson universe. The narrative continues to feature a diverse cast of characters, building on the inclusivity established in previous Riordan works.
Concerns
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
HighThe book features significant and explicit LGBTQ+ representation, which is a consistent and intentional element across Rick Riordan's later works. Characters identify as gay, bisexual, and have same-sex relationships. The author has publicly discussed his commitment to diverse representation, including LGBTQ+ identities.
Nico di Angelo is explicitly identified as gay, and his established relationship with Will Solace (son of Apollo) is central to his character arc. Nico introduces Will as his 'glow-in-the-dark boyfriend'. Piper McLean is depicted kissing a girl named Shel, indicating her bisexuality or pansexuality. The protagonist, Apollo, is canonically bisexual, with references to his past male and female lovers, including the emperor Commodus.
Witchcraft & Occult
HighAs with all books in the Percy Jackson universe, 'The Tower of Nero' is deeply rooted in Greek and Roman mythology, featuring gods, demigods, monsters, prophecies, and magic. These elements are fundamental to the world-building and plot.
The entire premise revolves around Apollo, a god, navigating the world as a mortal, attempting to regain his divine status through quests involving prophecies and interactions with mythological beings. Characters regularly utilize magical abilities and divine powers inherited from their godly parents, such as Nico's shadow-travel, throughout the story. Prophecies, oracles, and encounters with creatures like ghouls and the Python are integral to the plot.
Violence
MediumThe narrative includes numerous instances of mythological violence, battles, and life-threatening situations common in the demigod world. While there is action and conflict, the depictions generally avoid explicit gore, focusing on adventure and the consequences of combat.
The book describes characters surviving 'attacks from bloodthirsty ghouls, an evil Roman king and his army of the undead'. The climax involves a significant battle where Apollo confronts his arch-nemesis, Python, with the outcome creating genuine suspense for readers. While the story features intense fight scenes, a review noted a 'lack of deaths in the book' compared to expectations, with the focus often on schemes rather than graphic casualties.
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumRomantic relationships are present, including several same-sex pairings. These relationships are portrayed in an age-appropriate manner for middle-grade readers, focusing on affection and emotional connection rather than explicit sexual content.
Nico di Angelo and Will Solace are depicted as boyfriends, and their relationship is a supportive aspect of Nico's journey, with references to their first dates and kisses in related works. Piper McLean is shown kissing a girl named Shel, marking a new romantic development for her character. Apollo's past bisexuality is acknowledged, including a former relationship with Commodus, though this is mentioned rather than explicitly detailed.
Scary & Intense Content
MediumThe book contains intense situations, including direct threats from powerful antagonists, emotional abuse, and psychological distress experienced by characters. These elements contribute to the high stakes and emotional depth of the story.
The plot involves 'surviving attacks from bloodthirsty ghouls' and confronting dangerous emperors. Nero, the primary antagonist, is depicted as emotionally abusive towards Meg McCaffrey, with the narrative explicitly addressing themes of 'emotional abuse' and 'manipulate' without sugar-coating. Nico di Angelo suffers from PTSD and nightmares related to his traumatic past, including experiences in Tartarus, adding psychological intensity to his character arc.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumThe narrative explores themes of disrespect and rebellion primarily through character development, particularly Apollo's journey from an arrogant god to a more empathetic mortal. It also addresses the dysfunctional dynamics within the Olympian family and acts of defiance against oppressive figures.
Apollo initially exhibits arrogance and a 'bratty and annoying' attitude, which he gradually overcomes through his mortal experiences, showcasing a journey of humility and empathy. The relationship between Apollo and Meg McCaffrey, his demigod master, evolves from 'bickering antagonism' to a supportive 'sibling-like camaraderie'. The story explicitly details the 'abuse' and 'gaslighting' perpetrated by Nero against Meg, portraying acts of defiance against his tyrannical rule as heroic.
Profanity
LowThe book is generally written with mild language suitable for a middle-grade audience. While fan reviews may contain strong language, there is no direct evidence from search results indicating frequent or strong profanity within the book's text itself.
A Goodreads reviewer, when expressing strong emotions about the book, explicitly stated, '[Warning: I will be cussing a lot in this review. The book is middle-grade. My review is not.] I am not fucking okay. This book made me ugly-cry...' indicating the reviewer's language, not the book's. Nico di Angelo is noted to speak 'in Italian whenever he gets upset,' which serves as a character trait but is not typically translated as profanity in English.
Substance Use
LowThere is no evidence from the search results to suggest the presence of alcohol, drug, or tobacco use within 'The Tower of Nero.' The content remains appropriate for its middle-grade target audience in this regard.
No specific examples or mentions of characters engaging in substance use, such as drinking alcohol, using drugs, or smoking, were found in the available content reviews or summaries. The book maintains a focus on adventure and character development without these elements.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowThe book is based entirely on Greek and Roman polytheistic mythology and does not contain content that is explicitly anti-Christian. While it presents a different religious framework, it does not mock, criticize, or act sacrilegiously towards Christian beliefs.
The narrative's focus is solely on the fictional world of Greek and Roman gods and demigods, with no direct engagement or opposition to Christianity as a belief system. Nico di Angelo's backstory includes his struggle with accepting his gay identity within the context of his 'conservative Catholic Italian male from the 1930s' upbringing, which represents a personal conflict rather than an anti-Christian theme within the story's overall message.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Recommended for ages 10+ (grades 5-9) due to its middle-grade designation, age-appropriate language, and complex themes presented in an accessible manner. The book contains mythological violence, intense situations, and notable LGBTQ+ representation, which some parents may wish to discuss with younger readers.
Additional Notes
The Trials of Apollo series, and 'The Tower of Nero' in particular, marks an intentional increase in diverse representation, including LGBTQ+ characters, by author Rick Riordan. Parents should be aware that these themes are openly discussed and are part of the ongoing character development. The book also delves into heavier emotional topics such as emotional abuse and PTSD, presented with sensitivity appropriate for its middle-grade audience.
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