Two demigods fall into hell holding hands; five friends must close the Doors of Death from above.
Who drives the story
Son of Poseidon, who falls into Tartarus with Annabeth and must reach the Doors of Death from below while poisoned, drained, and stripped of strength.
Daughter of Athena, blinded by curses in the pit, who drags Percy out of Cocytus and refuses to let go of him or the plan.
Once Iapetus, memory wiped by Percy; now a gentle guide with a saber-toothed kitten who sacrifices himself to hold the Doors of Death.
Hephaestus's fire-wielding shipbuilder, who out-tricks the Kerkopes, falls in love with Calypso on Ogygia, and swears to return for her.
Daughter of Pluto, who learns the Mist from Hecate and uses it to trap Pasiphaë and destroy Clytius at the Necromanteion.
Son of Mars, tormented by two war gods arguing in his head, who earns Mars's blessing in Venice and becomes praetor of the Twelfth Legion.
Son of Jupiter, forced by Notus to choose between camps; he declares himself Greek, gives up his praetorship, and keeps Nico's secret.
Son of Hades, forced by Cupid to confess his crush on Percy; he leads the crew to the Doors and volunteers to shadow-travel the Athena Parthenos home.
Praetor of Camp Jupiter, who flies to Greece on her pegasus Scipio and accepts the burden of carrying the Athena Parthenos to Camp Half-Blood.
A peaceful giant who heals and shelters Percy and Annabeth, then stays behind with Bob to hold off Tartarus.
The satyr chaperone who volunteers to help Reyna and Nico haul the statue across the world.
Also in the story
Daughter of Aphrodite whose charmspeak reactivates Festus and drives Khione off the Argo II mid-attack.
How they are connected
Son of Poseidon, who falls into Tartarus with Annabeth and must reach the Doors of Death from below while poisoned, drained, and stripped of strength.
Once Iapetus, memory wiped by Percy; now a gentle guide with a saber-toothed kitten who sacrifices himself to hold the Doors of Death.
Son of Jupiter, forced by Notus to choose between camps; he declares himself Greek, gives up his praetorship, and keeps Nico's secret.
Son of Hades, forced by Cupid to confess his crush on Percy; he leads the crew to the Doors and volunteers to shadow-travel the Athena Parthenos home.
A peaceful giant who heals and shelters Percy and Annabeth, then stays behind with Bob to hold off Tartarus.
A peaceful giant who heals and shelters Percy and Annabeth, then stays behind with Bob to hold off Tartarus.
A peaceful giant who heals and shelters Percy and Annabeth, then stays behind with Bob to hold off Tartarus.
The satyr chaperone who volunteers to help Reyna and Nico haul the statue across the world.
Coach HedgeReyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano
The satyr chaperone who volunteers to help Reyna and Nico haul the statue across the world.
Go deeper
Staying together in hell · The price of secrets · Choosing who you are · Sacrifice and second chances
Themes explainedThe full story act by act, the ending explained and a quick quiz.
Open the summary