Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
The Lightning Thief
(Because this series is so damned fantastic, I'm going to do a review of each installment. Ha.)
The weeks before Christmas Day of 2007, I had told my mother that I wanted a new book to read. Whatever she thought looked good was fine by me--I trusted her opinion and insight, etc, etc. When I opened the colorfully wrapped package to see a book with the title, "The Lightning Thief," you could say I was less than pleased. Underneath it was a slightly orange/brown book with the title, "The Sea of Monsters," and I winced. These are written for guys! I'm a girl! Then I turned the first book to its side and read, "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." Olympians. Greek mythology--one of my absolute favorite subjects next to suspense and crime. You could say I was...intrigued, but still slightly disappointed.
I avoided reading the book, honestly. Weeks passed before I read the first page and when I did...well, I laughed.
"I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher" screamed out at me from the top of the page.
Four hours later, I was digging around, desperately trying to find the second book. Before I fell asleep that night, I had devoured those books and fallen in love with the world of Percy Jackson, and even a little bit in love with him. ;)
Percy Jackson is a twelve year old boy diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia, who has been expelled from several schools. On a trip with his mother, his friend Grover, revealed to be a satyr, urgently tells Percy's mother that Percy must go to a certain camp, that Sally (Percy's mom) told Percy about. As they drive towards camp, they are attacked by a Minotaur which grabs Percy's mother. She dissolves into a golden shower of light, while Grover and Percy narrowly escape.
Camp Half-Blood is a secretive training ground for Demigods, children of the gods. Unfortunately for Percy, he's the son of Poseidon, Earth shaker, God of the Sea. This means he's supposed to be dead, or will be soon, since his father swore not to have anymore children. Oopsies. Percy meets Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena, Luke Castellan, son of Hermes, Chiron, the head of the camp, next to Mr. D (or the God of the Vine, Dionysus) is a centaur, and there are multiple other children he becomes...acquainted with. Like, Clarisse and the Stoll twins.
Percy leaves camp with Annabeth and Grover to journey around the country in search for Zeus' lightening bolt which he has been accused of stealing. After many adventures and visits from some very dangerous gods, they show up in Los Angeles and go underground to the Underworld, the realm of Hades.
All in all, the first book was funny, clever, original, and gripping. It gets you ultimately hooked!
(Because this series is so damned fantastic, I'm going to do a review of each installment. Ha.)
The weeks before Christmas Day of 2007, I had told my mother that I wanted a new book to read. Whatever she thought looked good was fine by me--I trusted her opinion and insight, etc, etc. When I opened the colorfully wrapped package to see a book with the title, "The Lightning Thief," you could say I was less than pleased. Underneath it was a slightly orange/brown book with the title, "The Sea of Monsters," and I winced. These are written for guys! I'm a girl! Then I turned the first book to its side and read, "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." Olympians. Greek mythology--one of my absolute favorite subjects next to suspense and crime. You could say I was...intrigued, but still slightly disappointed.
I avoided reading the book, honestly. Weeks passed before I read the first page and when I did...well, I laughed.
"I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher" screamed out at me from the top of the page.
Four hours later, I was digging around, desperately trying to find the second book. Before I fell asleep that night, I had devoured those books and fallen in love with the world of Percy Jackson, and even a little bit in love with him. ;)
Percy Jackson is a twelve year old boy diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia, who has been expelled from several schools. On a trip with his mother, his friend Grover, revealed to be a satyr, urgently tells Percy's mother that Percy must go to a certain camp, that Sally (Percy's mom) told Percy about. As they drive towards camp, they are attacked by a Minotaur which grabs Percy's mother. She dissolves into a golden shower of light, while Grover and Percy narrowly escape.
Camp Half-Blood is a secretive training ground for Demigods, children of the gods. Unfortunately for Percy, he's the son of Poseidon, Earth shaker, God of the Sea. This means he's supposed to be dead, or will be soon, since his father swore not to have anymore children. Oopsies. Percy meets Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena, Luke Castellan, son of Hermes, Chiron, the head of the camp, next to Mr. D (or the God of the Vine, Dionysus) is a centaur, and there are multiple other children he becomes...acquainted with. Like, Clarisse and the Stoll twins.
Percy leaves camp with Annabeth and Grover to journey around the country in search for Zeus' lightening bolt which he has been accused of stealing. After many adventures and visits from some very dangerous gods, they show up in Los Angeles and go underground to the Underworld, the realm of Hades.
All in all, the first book was funny, clever, original, and gripping. It gets you ultimately hooked!
The Sea of Monsters
Grover needs a wedding dress to save his life. Okay, burst into laughter, go ahead, seriously, it's okay. Everyone else is. But after you get past the chapter title, "My Best Friend Shops for a Wedding Dress," you realize, wait... He's about to be eaten by a blind Cyclops and you go, Ohmygod! (Or gods in this case.)
In another adventure with the utterly addictive Percy Jackson, you'll see Clarisse go slightly more insane than usual, and see a special moment of Annabeth's pure vulnerability and her fatal flaw, hubris.
When Clarisse gets sent off to go on a quest to save the dying camp and find the Golden Fleece hidden in the Cyclops lair in the middle of the Sea of Monsters, she gets some tails, namely one son of Poseidon and daughter of Athena. We meet some monsters, find a cabin mate for Percy, blow up ANOTHER school, and that's just in the first couple chapters. Grover went on his search for Pan, the lord of the Wild, and accidentally wandered into the Cyclops' lair. Percy has to save his best friend before he gets barbecued.
Magical water powers, pirates, guinea pigs, Sirens, bubbles, fleece, an airplane, a haunted boat, creepy voices, flying horses that insist on calling Percy "boss," water ponies, Nobody, and a punk rocker popping out of a tree make this book enjoyable, exciting, and makes you wanna keep turning the pages.
In another adventure with the utterly addictive Percy Jackson, you'll see Clarisse go slightly more insane than usual, and see a special moment of Annabeth's pure vulnerability and her fatal flaw, hubris.
When Clarisse gets sent off to go on a quest to save the dying camp and find the Golden Fleece hidden in the Cyclops lair in the middle of the Sea of Monsters, she gets some tails, namely one son of Poseidon and daughter of Athena. We meet some monsters, find a cabin mate for Percy, blow up ANOTHER school, and that's just in the first couple chapters. Grover went on his search for Pan, the lord of the Wild, and accidentally wandered into the Cyclops' lair. Percy has to save his best friend before he gets barbecued.
Magical water powers, pirates, guinea pigs, Sirens, bubbles, fleece, an airplane, a haunted boat, creepy voices, flying horses that insist on calling Percy "boss," water ponies, Nobody, and a punk rocker popping out of a tree make this book enjoyable, exciting, and makes you wanna keep turning the pages.
The Titan's Curse
Rick Riordan continues to add humor to the serious and dangerous world of Demigod, Percy Jackson. With chapter titles like, "Everybody Hates Me But the Horse," and "We Meet the Dragon of Eternal Bad Breath," it's easy to get caught up in the relaxed language of Percy's narration, until you dive even deeper into the plot.
Artemis and Annabeth go missing, and Percy's nightmares are back. Not only that, but Grover has stumbled upon twin Demigods, Nico and Bianca di Angelo, whose parentage is unknown and Percy is feeling slightly less important now that Thalia Grace, daughter of Zeus, is back from her...nature experience.
With the emotional roller coaster of Percy's feelings for his missing friend, the controlling boss-y-ness of Thalia, the arguments between the punk daughter of Zeus and Huntress of Artemis, Zoe Nightshade, and Bianca di Angelo's decisions, the world that everyone, gods and Demigods alike, know will be turned upside down. At least the sky isn't falling...yet.
Luke is slowly but surely helping Kronos back to power, and Annabeth still won't give up on him. Grey streaks of hair, angry Titans, a mysterious man called "The General," Percy's all-too-descriptive nightmares, Blackjack the loyal Pegasus, and a few million extra pounds make up the third installment of the addictive and exciting Percy Jackson series.
Artemis and Annabeth go missing, and Percy's nightmares are back. Not only that, but Grover has stumbled upon twin Demigods, Nico and Bianca di Angelo, whose parentage is unknown and Percy is feeling slightly less important now that Thalia Grace, daughter of Zeus, is back from her...nature experience.
With the emotional roller coaster of Percy's feelings for his missing friend, the controlling boss-y-ness of Thalia, the arguments between the punk daughter of Zeus and Huntress of Artemis, Zoe Nightshade, and Bianca di Angelo's decisions, the world that everyone, gods and Demigods alike, know will be turned upside down. At least the sky isn't falling...yet.
Luke is slowly but surely helping Kronos back to power, and Annabeth still won't give up on him. Grey streaks of hair, angry Titans, a mysterious man called "The General," Percy's all-too-descriptive nightmares, Blackjack the loyal Pegasus, and a few million extra pounds make up the third installment of the addictive and exciting Percy Jackson series.
The Battle of the Labyrinth
I could say that this book was just as fantastic as the others, that the story was amazing and well written, that this novel just adds to the success of the author and the intrigue that the young generation is filled with because the wonderfully not-so-perfect main character and his friends. I could say that each relationship in this book makes you keep turning pages. I could say that the plot is original and thought out, and that it's just another great job well done for Rick Riordan.
All of that is true. But, then again, so is this:
THIS IS THE BEST FRICKIN' BOOK IN THE SERIES.
Annabeth and Percy spend some time underground, along with Grover and Tyson, Percy's Cyclops brother. They're searching the Labyrinth, Daedalus' workshop, for something dangerous and life threatening. Mountains get blown up, mechanical spider scramble to auto shops underground, Calypso gives away some moonlace, they burn a shroud, some almost punches occur, (This was my favorite part so I memorized that it was on page 203!) a hell hound becomes Percy's friend, people get mechanical bodies, the dead eat Happy Meals, the group meets holy cows, etc, etc... This book was filled with so much good stuff that you just have to read it to understand it all.
This is without a doubt my favorite novel in the series. It gets even more serious, now that Percy knows the prophecy in store for him and Annabeth knows that she will "lose a love to a fate worse than death." The only problem is: who is it? Luke or...
It's absolutely delicious! :D
All of that is true. But, then again, so is this:
THIS IS THE BEST FRICKIN' BOOK IN THE SERIES.
Annabeth and Percy spend some time underground, along with Grover and Tyson, Percy's Cyclops brother. They're searching the Labyrinth, Daedalus' workshop, for something dangerous and life threatening. Mountains get blown up, mechanical spider scramble to auto shops underground, Calypso gives away some moonlace, they burn a shroud, some almost punches occur, (This was my favorite part so I memorized that it was on page 203!) a hell hound becomes Percy's friend, people get mechanical bodies, the dead eat Happy Meals, the group meets holy cows, etc, etc... This book was filled with so much good stuff that you just have to read it to understand it all.
This is without a doubt my favorite novel in the series. It gets even more serious, now that Percy knows the prophecy in store for him and Annabeth knows that she will "lose a love to a fate worse than death." The only problem is: who is it? Luke or...
It's absolutely delicious! :D
The Last Olympian
I'm gonna put my emotional attachment to this book in a few words. I've never loaned it to anyone, (though I finally gave in, ugh) and everyone should know I love loaning out books so that people read more. Seriously. I'm like a library.
But, anyway, in the final book of the Percy Jackson series, the prophecy is about to unfold, and everyone's a little more than terrified. But, with the help from some amazing campers, meddlesome gods and goddesses, and a mortal that (a) can see through the Mist, (b) is intent on driving Percy insane, and (c) makes Annabeth red with jealousy (though she refuses to admit it) they get through it...almost.
There's not much I can say without giving the book away, which I don't want to do, so I'm basically gonna say... Everything becomes so clear. Every little thing that has happened up to Percy's 16th birthday plays a part in this novel. Monsters galore, a dip in the River Styx, a heart to heart with Hercules, a stolen horse, a metal shroud, "fabulous" prizes, getting dumped...oh, it's juicy. It's fantastic. Think of every positive adjective you can and that's what this book, this whole series, is.
So much of the story was left unsaid in my opinion. There was so much we didn't get to learn about, so much that was left to our imaginations, and I thought that was so perfect! Frustrating, since I definitely wanted more, but still awesome because I have an imagination to help with the whole, "I WANT MORE!" I've heard rumors about Rick Riordan continuing the series with a different POV or something like that, but if it does happen, you know I'll be on the computer, writing pages and pages about how awesome it is!
In conclusion...
READ IT!
<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3
But, anyway, in the final book of the Percy Jackson series, the prophecy is about to unfold, and everyone's a little more than terrified. But, with the help from some amazing campers, meddlesome gods and goddesses, and a mortal that (a) can see through the Mist, (b) is intent on driving Percy insane, and (c) makes Annabeth red with jealousy (though she refuses to admit it) they get through it...almost.
There's not much I can say without giving the book away, which I don't want to do, so I'm basically gonna say... Everything becomes so clear. Every little thing that has happened up to Percy's 16th birthday plays a part in this novel. Monsters galore, a dip in the River Styx, a heart to heart with Hercules, a stolen horse, a metal shroud, "fabulous" prizes, getting dumped...oh, it's juicy. It's fantastic. Think of every positive adjective you can and that's what this book, this whole series, is.
So much of the story was left unsaid in my opinion. There was so much we didn't get to learn about, so much that was left to our imaginations, and I thought that was so perfect! Frustrating, since I definitely wanted more, but still awesome because I have an imagination to help with the whole, "I WANT MORE!" I've heard rumors about Rick Riordan continuing the series with a different POV or something like that, but if it does happen, you know I'll be on the computer, writing pages and pages about how awesome it is!
In conclusion...
READ IT!
<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3