Nico di Angelo: Son of Hades and Necromancer in Rick Riordan's Mythology

Identity and family

Nico is a demigod, the son of the god Hades and the mortal Maria di Angelo. As a child of Hades, he belongs to the group of senior deities often called the "Big Three" of the Greek pantheon — the others being Poseidon and Zeus — sometimes referred to collectively as the Greek gods of greatest power.

Abilities

Nico displays strong powers tied to death and darkness. He is associated with necromancy, including the capacity to sense, summon, and in certain situations command shades and spirits. Throughout the books he also demonstrates other shadow- and underworld-related talents that grow as the series progresses.

Early life and timeline

Although Nico appears as a child in earlier installments (he is about ten years old in one of the first books in which he appears), his personal chronology is complicated by a long stay in an enchanted casino. He and his sister Bianca were trapped for many years in a version of the Lotus Casino located in Las Vegas, where those who remain inside do not age and lose track of ordinary time. Because they entered the casino around the period of World War II, Nico is technically much older in years than his outward appearance suggests.

Rescue and relations

When Hades ordered their return, a supernatural agent — a Fury (identified as Alecto in the story) acting as the god's envoy — removed the siblings from the casino. Nico later locates his half-sister Hazel Levesque in the Underworld and escorts her to the Roman demigod camp because she is a daughter of Pluto.

Later developments

Across the later books Nico's character matures: he becomes more confident in using his powers, reconciles with other demigods, and forms close personal bonds. In the most recent novels he is depicted in a romantic relationship with Will Solace.

Role in the series

• Introduced during events that overlap with the Percy Jackson storyline and featured in subsequent arcs.
• Serves as a bridge between the Greek and Roman camps through his family connections and actions.
• Plays a key part in quests that involve the Underworld and threats tied to the ancient gods.