Nico di Angelo facts for kids

Nico di Angelo is a character from Rick Riordan's popular book series, including Percy Jackson & the Olympians, The Heroes of Olympus, and The Trials of Apollo. He is a demigod, meaning he is the son of a Greek god and a human. His father is Hades, the god of the Underworld.

Because Hades is one of the "Big Three" powerful Greek gods (along with Poseidon and Zeus), Nico has amazing powers. He can even command the dead! Nico is actually over seventy years old, but he looks like a teenager. This is because he spent a long time in the Lotus Casino in Las Vegas, an enchanted hotel where time slows down. He and his sister, Bianca, were placed there during World War II. Later, a Fury (a creature from the Underworld) brought them out. Nico also found his half-sister, Hazel Levesque, in the Underworld and helped her. He is currently good friends with Will Solace.

About Nico di Angelo

Nico has messy black hair, olive skin that has become paler over time, and dark brown eyes. He often wears dark clothes and an aviator's jacket. He also wears a skull ring, which was a gift from his sister, Bianca.

Nico's Personality and Journey

When Nico first appeared in The Titan's Curse, he was a calm kid who loved a trading card game called Mythomagic. However, after his sister Bianca died, Nico became very sad and angry, especially at Percy. He later burned all his Mythomagic cards, thinking the game was silly. He felt alone and believed that "only the dead respect him."

Nico eventually forgave Percy after Bianca's ghost told him it wasn't Percy's fault she died. He also accepted a small figurine of Hades that Bianca wanted him to have. In The Last Olympian, Nico convinced his father, Hades, to help the other gods fight against the evil Titan, Kronos. Nico played a big part in their victory. This helped Nico and Percy become closer friends.

Nico's Fatal Flaw

Nico's biggest weakness, or "fatal flaw," is holding grudges. His sister Bianca told him about this. This flaw can make him refuse help, even in dangerous situations, just because he doesn't like someone. For example, he didn't want Percy's help when he was in trouble. Bianca also had this flaw. It seems to be a common weakness for children of Hades.

Nico's Friendships and Relationships

In The House of Hades, Nico shared that he used to have a crush on Percy Jackson. Later, in The Blood of Olympus, he said he didn't feel that way about Percy anymore. He explained that he was young and confused at the time. He then started to become close friends with Will Solace, who is the head counselor of the Apollo cabin.

In The Trials of Apollo: The Hidden Oracle, Nico and Will are very close friends. Even Apollo, the god of music and healing, supports their friendship.

Nico's Adventures in the Books

The Titan's Curse

Nico is ten years old when he first appears with his sister, Bianca, at a military school. A satyr named Grover Underwood finds them because they are powerful demigods. Nico loves Mythomagic, a game about Greek mythology. When Bianca decides to join Artemis's Hunters, Nico gets upset, feeling she is leaving him. Percy promises Nico to keep Bianca safe.

Later, Percy tells Nico that Bianca died while helping others on a quest. Nico gets very angry and makes a huge crack in the ground, swallowing up skeletons that were chasing Percy. He yells at Percy for not keeping his promise and runs into the woods.

The Battle of The Labyrinth

Nico is about eleven in this book. Percy sees Nico talking to a ghost who is trying to trick him into trading his sister's soul. It's revealed that Nico can summon the dead. Percy later saves Nico from being sent to the Titans. Nico finally understands that Bianca chose to sacrifice herself, and he stops being angry at Percy.

Nico is tricked by the ghost of King Minos and ends up captured. He escapes with Percy, Annabeth, and Rachel Elizabeth Dare. During their journey, Nico shows his true powers, revealing he is a son of Hades. They meet the god Pan, who gives them cryptic messages. After a big battle, Nico summons many undead soldiers, which makes him pass out. He recovers and decides to train in the Underworld. He also begins searching for his mother.

The Last Olympian

Nico is twelve years old in this book. He suggests that Percy become invincible by bathing in the River Styx, like the hero Achilles. It's revealed that Hades felt Bianca was a more capable child than Nico. The "lawyer" who took Nico and Bianca from the Lotus Casino was actually Alecto, one of Hades' Furies, in disguise.

Nico brings Percy to Hades' palace to talk, but Percy ends up in a dungeon. Nico rescues him and takes him to the River Styx. Nico arrives a bit late to help in the war against Kronos but plays a crucial role in convincing Hades to join the fight.

The Son of Neptune

Nico visits his half-sister Hazel at Camp Jupiter. He meets Percy, who has lost his memory. Nico pretends not to know Percy, saying he is just an ambassador for Pluto (the Roman name for Hades). He does this to keep peace between the Greek and Roman demigods and not interfere with Hera's plans.

The Mark of Athena

Nico is captured and trapped in a bronze jar for most of this book. Piper, Jason, and Percy rescue him. Nico explains where the Doors of Death are and how to close them. When Percy and Annabeth are about to fall into Tartarus, Nico tries desperately to save them but fails.

The House of Hades

Nico shares his past feelings for Percy when confronted by Cupid. He trusts Jason with this secret. Afterward, Nico offers to use his shadow-travel power to bring the Athena Parthenos statue to unite the Roman and Greek camps. He travels with Praetor Reyna and the satyr Coach Hedge.

The Blood of Olympus

Nico helps transport the Athena Parthenos to Camp Half-Blood to stop a conflict. This long journey makes Nico very weak. When facing an enemy, Nico shows he can turn people into ghostly figures.

Hades, Nico's father, seems to know about Nico's feelings for Percy. Hades tells Nico he wants him to be happy and is proud of him.

Upon arriving at Camp Half-Blood, Nico helps fight and meets Will Solace, Lou Ellen, and Cecil. Nico and Will start playfully arguing. Later, Will expresses concern that Nico hasn't visited the infirmary. Nico is surprised, thinking no one would want to see him, especially around the sick. Will disagrees, saying people want to befriend Nico, but Nico often pushes them away.

Nico later mistakes Jason for Will, feeling a bit disappointed when he realizes his mistake. This hints at his growing interest in Will. Nico decides to talk to Percy and Annabeth about his past feelings for Percy. He explains that he was young, confused, and lonely. He then walks towards Will Solace, showing his choice to be with Will. Their friendship is the first openly close friendship between two boys in Rick Riordan's books.

The Tower of Nero

Nico and Will help fight against Nero. Nico becomes sad after the death of his friend Jason Grace. At the end of the book, Nico believes his friend, the Titan Iapetus (also known as 'Bob'), is calling for help from Tartarus. Nico decides to find out what happened to Bob with Will's help.

The Sun and the Star

Nico and Will receive a prophecy about a quest to Tartarus. Nico convinces Chiron to make it an official quest. They get help from creatures called "trogs" to sneak into Tartarus without Hades knowing. They learn that Bob has been captured by Nyx, the goddess of night.

Nico finally shares the story of his first trip into Tartarus and meeting Nyx. The trogs lead them to the River Acheron, where a nymph helps them. Riding the river makes them face their fears and differences, especially Will's dislike of the Underworld, which Nico sees as his second home.

They find Bob and free him by combining their powers of light and dark. Nyx tries to convince Nico to stay in Tartarus, showing him creatures made from his own darkness. Nico fights back, freeing these creatures (called cacodemons). Other gods like Nemesis and Hypnos help them escape. As they leave, Bianca and Maria visit Nico in his dreams, telling him to be happy with Will. Back at Camp Half-Blood, Bob leaves, and Nico decides to adopt the cacodemons, renaming them Cocoa Puffs.

Nico's Amazing Powers and Abilities

General Skills

Nico's sword is made of Stygian Iron. This special metal can harm monsters and even humans, unlike other demigod weapons. It's cooled in the River Styx, making it super strong. Only children of Hades can use such a weapon. His sword helps him control and summon the dead. He can also use it to create cracks in the ground, sending enemies to the Underworld. Nico is a very powerful demigod. He once said, "With great power... comes a great need to take a nap," after using a lot of energy.

• Nico has ADHD, which helps him react quickly in fights.
• Like most demigods, Nico is dyslexic because his brain is wired for Ancient Greek.
• As a son of Hades, Nico is one of the strongest demigods alive.
• He can defeat monsters easily.

Special Powers

• Nico can make humans, skeletons, and monsters fall into a deep sleep just by pointing at them.
• He can kill creatures from the Underworld, just like his sister.
• Nico has power over the dead, earning him the title Ghost King.
• He can summon and talk to ghosts.
• He can feel a buzzing in his ears when a human or demigod dies.
• He knows if someone he cares about is in the Underworld and if they are being judged.
• Nico can release a soul into the Underworld, as he did with Daedalus.
• Nico can shadow-travel, which means he can teleport using shadows. This power makes him very tired if he uses it too much.
• He can use shadows to hide himself.
• He can control dark energy, similar to Hades, but not as strongly.
• He can force others to shadow-travel with him if he touches their skin.
• He can cause very strong tremors in the ground.
• He can control the dark, stone-like souls of the Underworld.
• He can cause volcanic eruptions, landslides, small earthquakes, and shock waves through the ground. These powers also make him weak.
• He can make ghosts silent by putting a finger to his lips.