Welcome to THE COURT OF THE DEAD
I am utterly thrilled to first say that I do not use this blog often, but here we are! I’m using it! And this time, I’m here to announce that the sequel to the first Nico di Angelo novel has been announced. Rick Riordan and I are so proud of THE COURT OF THE DEAD and you can read more about this monumental new novel over at Cosmopolitan. They interviewed the two of us last week about how this book came to be!
But first things first. The very talented Khadijah Khatib graciously returned to illustrate the second cover, and you must behold it in all its glory!
Image description: A stylized purple and orange cover showcases—from left to right—Nico, Will, and Hazel Lavesque leaping towards The Minotaur, who stands in the center of a dais, chained to the ground. Three shadowy figures stand at a balcony in the upper right and observe them.
You read that right: Hazel Lavesque, Nico di Angelo’s half-sister, is a protagonist in this novel! As you’ll read in the interview, I considered adding a brief of appearance of Hazel to The Sun and The Star during the outline stage, but immediately thought it would cheapen the character. She needed a BIG part in Nico’s story, and there simply wasn’t enough room for her in TSATS. So, I figured that if I ever got to write another book in this universe, she’d play a major part. During a soundcheck on tour, Rick and I briefly discussed the lack of Hazel in the book, and I said aloud what I’d been thinking: Wouldn’t it be great if she got to be in a full book again? Then, after the success of TSATS, that idea became a pitch that I gave Rick prior to our appearance at the ALA conference, which became an outline, and here we are, nearly two years later.
THE COURT OF THE DEAD is going to be unlike any Percy Jackson book you’ve ever read, both because of A Thing that I came up with that’s gonna to break you all (lmao I promise I am not existing just to get revenge on you all) (or am I?), and because there’s an entire extended sequence that’s easily the most chaotic event to ever occur in this universe. You’re not ready for the carnival ride that is this book.
THE COURT OF THE DEAD is available simultaneously in North America and the UK on September 23, 2025. There are an ABSURD number of special editions available in both regions from various retailers as well!
The Books-a-Million edition of The Court of the Dead contains purple stained and stenciled edges.
The Barnes and Noble edition ad reads, “Stained and stenciled edges, special endpapers, and an exclusive epilogue.”
The Target edition poster with the cover reads, “Stained and stenciled edges, and a poster of Nico, Will, and Hazel’s new mythic friends.”
The Walmart edition ad reads, “Stained and stenciled edges, special endpapers, and an illustration of the Battle of Golden Gate Park.”
I’ll have more to share over on my Patreon later today and over the next few months! Feel free to subscribe, and otherwise: I’m so, so excited that this news is out in the world. I’m tired of keeping secrets!!!!! So many secrets!!!
More soon.
— Mark
