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Dry your eyes, dear reader. We know that for some of you, even the mere mention of Bianca di Angelo is enough to start the waterworks. But for those out there who do not yet fully comprehend the significance of Nico’s lost sister—or for those of you in need of a refresher—sit back and heed the story of this doomed demigod. After all, you never know when Bianca’s backstory will once again become relevant to Nico and Hades.
(But if we had to guess, we’d put our money on 5/2, which also happens to coincide with the release of The Sun and the Star: A Nico di Angelo Adventure.)
The Right Lotus
Along with her younger brother, Bianca grew up in Italy during the 1930s and 40s, for a time blissfully unaware that they were the children of Hades, god of the Underworld. But eventually, our family drama always catches up with us. And often with explosive results.
In Zeus’s horribly misguided quest to destroy the demigod children of Hades and Poseidon (in order to avoid the Great Prophecy, which foretold that one of these demigods would eventually betray the gods), he struck the di Angelo house with a massive bolt of lightning. Bianca’s and Nico’s lives were spared thanks to an intervention from Hades, but their mother perished. Shortly thereafter, Hades wiped his offspring’s memories and hid the brother and sister in the Lotus Hotel and Casino. If you’re thinking, “A casino is no place for a couple of orphans to grow up,” you’d be right! Not to worry, though. Bianca and Nico spent only two months at the Lotus.
Well, technically, they were there for two months on the inside . . . while 70 years passed on the outside. Time really does fly when you’re on vacation.
Westover and Out
Because he had no suitable legal guardian to watch over them, Hades worked behind the scenes to transfer the di Angelo children to Westover Hall, an elite military boarding school. As if adjusting to a new life in a new school in a new century wasn’t hard enough, the di Angelo siblings were also frequently attacked by monsters wherever they went.
Losing your mother and your memories at a young age, missing out on over 60 years of social progress, and then being forced to protect yourself and your precocious little brother from evil manticore dudes with names like Dr. Thorn . . . It’s no wonder Bianca quickly made friends with people who could bust her out of there.
Much Ado About Hunting
Always remember: dropping out of school is a perfectly acceptable option if the vice principal turns out to be a manticore. Just make sure you have a backup plan. Bianca’s plan B came in the form of an invitation to join the Hunters of Artemis shortly after she met Artemis, Thalia Grace, and Zoë Nightshade. For the first time in her life, young Bianca found a purpose beyond simply protecting herself and Nico from the dangers of the outside world.
And in the short time that Bianca was a member of the Hunters of Artemis, she proved to be a naturally gifted archer. Considering her heroic spirit and drive to protect her loved ones, she would have been named a top lieutenant in no time. Unfortunately, fate had other plans.
We can’t get into what happened next without breaking into tears ourselves, but if you know, you know.
Ghost in the Spell
For a lucky few demigods, death is not necessarily the end of their story. Since her untimely demise, Bianca has reappeared as a ghost several times, mostly to provide Nico with a sense of closure and warn him against contacting the spirit of their mother. For a while, Nico was convinced that he would eventually break into the Underworld to free Bianca. But last we heard, Bianca has chosen to undergo the process of rebirth. Whether or not we will one day see a reincarnated version of Bianca hanging out at Camp Half-Blood remains up in the air.
Nico has grown up a lot since Bianca’s death, and his grieving process contributed greatly to his development as a hero. We all would have preferred to see Bianca live a long, full life with her brother, but Nico seems to have fully processed the loss by now. As long as you ignore his recurring dreams of her.
Will we see more of Bianca in The Sun and the Star? You’ll have to read the book to find out. All we’ll say is this: You’d better have a box of tissues nearby. Maybe two.
What do you think the future has in store for Bianca? Be sure to let us know!
2017 Read Riordan. All Rights Reserved.
FAQs
At one point, Nico declares that his mother is 'Bianca Di Angelo' which is incorrect, Bianca is his sister, his mother's name is Maria. Nico says this at a very emotional part of the story, which is unfortunate as it kind of ruined the moment.
Does Nico ever find Bianca? ›
Later in the book, Bianca comes back as a ghost, through a ritual by Nico. She explains to Nico that her death wasn't Percy's fault and there was nothing he could have done to help, as she made the fatal decision herself. She also tells him he must forgive Percy, as holding grudges is the fatal flaw of a Hades child.
Who was Bianca reincarnated as? ›
Bianca has chosen rebirth. As a newborn baby, she's washed down the river Lethe and ends up as Estelle Jackson-Blofis and has lived the first twelve years of her life like a normal girl. But after a day in the park goes weird, Stella gets visions from her past life.
How is Bianca di Angelo described? ›
Zoë Nightshade described Bianca as caring and having a kind heart, which made her ideal for the next lieutenant. In the books, it is also shown that Bianca loves her younger brother Nico very much, but is tired of caring for him all her life, leading her to join the Hunters in a heartbeat.
Did Nico have a crush on Percy? ›
A watch out from parent to parent: In the 4th book, The House of Hades, the character Nico, who is 14, reveals that he feels same-gender attraction to Percy Jackson. He says he has had a "crush" on Percy for a long time.
Did Nico have a crush on his cousin? ›
Percy realized he was a son of Hades and told Grover and Annabeth, but not Chiron. Another reason Nico ran away was for love. He had a crush on Percy and couldn't deal with the feelings towards him, and ran away. hom*osexuality was illegal in the 1940s, so he felt great shame for his feelings.
Who ends up with Bianca? ›
Lucentio marries Bianca and, in a contest at the end, Katherina proves to be the most obedient wife.
How much older is Bianca than Nico? ›
Bianca was born in Venice, Italy in the early 1930s to Hades and Maria di Angelo. Two years after her birth, Bianca's brother Nico was born.
Who was Nico in love with? ›
The House of Hades
-Cupid pressures Nico into finally admitting his crush on Percy out loud. With encouragement from Jason, Nico starts to come to terms with his feelings.
What were Bianca di Angelo's last words? ›
Bianca di Angelo- “If anything happens, give that to Nico. Tell him... tell him I'm sorry.” Zoë Nightshade- “Stars, I can see the stars tonight, my lady.
He believes that he will never be accepted with the living, but forgives Percy after Bianca tells him that it wasn't Percy's fault that she died. He also accepts the small figurine of Hades that Bianca wanted him to have before she died in The Titan's Curse.
How old is Bianca di Angelo in The Titan's Curse? ›
Bianca di Angelo: Bianca is a 12-year-old demigod and the daughter of Hades. She and her ten-year-old brother Nico were trapped in the Lotus Casino, where time is slowed down, but at the beginning of the book, they got out and she attended an army school in Bar Harbor, Maine.
Is Bianca di Angelo a child of Hades? ›
Along with her younger brother, Bianca grew up in Italy during the 1930s and 40s, for a time blissfully unaware that they were the children of Hades, god of the Underworld.
What did Nyx do to Nico di Angelo? ›
Nyx develops an obsession with Nico di Angelo and making him embrace his darkness and stay in Tartarus while also imprisoning Bob the Titan and trying to get him to change back into Iapetus.
Were Nico and Bianca in the Lotus Casino? ›
As Nico and Bianca were placed in the Lotus Casino before World War II, it is likely that the di Angelo siblings were still there when Percy, Annabeth, and Grover stayed at the hotel during their quest in The Lightning Thief.
Who is Nico and Bianca's mom? ›
Born in Italy between the World Wars, Bianca and Nico lived in a traditional household with their mother, Maria di Angelo. The god of the Underworld, Hades, was a distant husband and father, but by all accounts, the three di Angelos made a loving trio without him.
What is Nico di Angelo's fatal flaw? ›
Nico di Angelo: His fatal flaw is holding grudges. He will hold a grudge even if it costs him his own life. In The Battle of the Labyrinth, his deceased sister Bianca tells him that holding grudges is very dangerous for children of Hades. Thalia Grace: Her fatal flaw is ambition.
Who is Bianca the daughter of Percy Jackson? ›
Bianca di Angelo is a character in the Percy Jackson series that along with her brother Nico (spoiler) is the child of Hades and a mortal woman. Bianca Di Angelo is the biological daughter of Hades(Greek God of the Underworld) and is the older sister of Nico Di Angelo.
