156. The Dark Prophecy

The Dark Prophecy (The Trials of Apollo #2) Rick Riordan. 2017. 414 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: When our dragon declared war on Indiana, I knew it was going to be a bad day.

Premise/plot: The Dark Prophecy is the second book in the Trials of Apollo series by Rick Riordan. Apollo, the god, has been punished with mortality. He has lost all his powers and is semi-reliant on demi-gods (half-gods) for help. Apollo is joined on his semi-quest (no oracles means no official quests) by Leo and Calypso. (Characters we met in a previous series). These three are still trying to figure out which three emperors (well, Nero plus two others) are out to take over the world. 

My thoughts: I think my patience is wearing thin at this point. I don't remember disliking Lester/Apollo quite this much in the first book? Or maybe a little goes a long way? I don't know. It just seems so same-old, same-old, same-old and pointless. The quests always have a surface-level intensity that turns to nothing. Because no matter what, there's a small-ish victory at the end of each book--a brief pause of the action--and then the next book introduces a new "bigger" threat. It's never-ending.

Has anyone read all five books in the series? Does it improve?

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

145. The Hidden Oracle

The Hidden Oracle (The Trials of Apollo #1) Rick Riordan. 2016. 384 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: My name is Apollo. I used to be a god.

Premise/plot: Apollo, the god, is being punished by Zeus. His punishment? To become a mortal teenage boy named Lester Papadopoulos. He has his memories intact--for the most part--but not his supernatural abilities or gifts. He's 'saved' from bullies by a girl named Meg. He recognizes that she is very-likely-most-probably a demigod. Together they make their way to Camp Halfblood--after a short stop to visit Percy Jackson who, I believe, may just be a Senior in high school now??? Or perhaps a Junior??? He's sitting this misadventure out--so he claims. If the world needs saving, other demigods will have to handle it. 

When Apollo/Lester arrives at camp, he learns that campers [halfbloods/demigods] have been mysteriously disappearing. And there are still no prophecies or oracles. With no prophecies, there will be no quests. With no quests, how can they save the day and solve mysteries??? 

Apollo has plenty to keep him busy. Especially when some of his own children go missing. Soon he is tracking down the mystery--sometimes with Meg, sometimes without. The adventure/misadventure is on the light side. But this is only book one in a new series. 

My thoughts: I liked this one. I liked Apollo. I liked that it was mainly centered on Apollo--or his point of view. Keeping up with seven to nine narrators was getting to be a little too much in the previous series. I definitely liked this one!

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

125. The House of Hades

The House of Hades. (The Heroes of Olympus #4) Rick Riordan. 2013. 597 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: During the third attack, Hazel almost ate a boulder. She was peering into the fog, wondering how it could be so difficult to fly across one stupid mountain range, when the ship's alarm bells sounded.

Premise/plot: The fourth book in the series, The House of Hades, is action-packed (finally). Readers follow eight characters--Jason, Percy, Annabeth, Hazel, Piper, Leo, Frank, and Nico. (I think Nico is the only character whose point of view we do not get). In the last book, Percy and Annabeth plummeted to Tartarus. From the underworld side, they will be fighting their way to the Doors of Death. On this side, the other six characters are fighting their way to the Doors of Death. Plenty of battles, plenty of enemies, plenty of action. 

My thoughts: I struggled with the earlier books in this series. Or at least the third book in the series. I don't remember books one and two dragging out and being pointless. (That is my opinion, and it could be a matter of timing.) I was engaged with this one from cover to cover. It was such a happy thing to be so engaged in a book that I actually want to keep turning pages. Especially since the third book felt like it had a million pages and no end in sight. 

Because this is a SERIES book, it's hard to talk about the premise and plot and my thoughts on the premise and plot--namely the characters and story--without spoiling earlier books. And sometimes my thoughts--in order to make sense--would require me to unpack multiple books. It is just easier to keep things brief and vague.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

106. The Mark of Athena

The Mark of Athena (Heroes of Olympus #3). Rick Riordan. 2012. 586 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Until she met the exploding statue, Annabeth thought she was prepared for anything.

Premise/plot: At last all seven of the demigods are united and gathering to face all odds and do ultimate battle. Percy, Jason, Piper, Hazel, Annabeth, Frank, Leo. We spent the first two books in the series getting to know these characters--three at a time. These seven are heading to the ancient homelands--ancient Rome/ancient Greece. The odds are not in their favor. And along the way, they'll have to win approval of some gods at least if they are to stand a chance. For it is only when heroes and gods work together that victory is even possible. 

My thoughts: So much going on. So many characters. All of them claiming to be "ultimate." The book, to me, felt wearisome. I did not feel as invested in all seven of the heroes as I should have been. I think it's not that I don't care at all. I do. It's just hard to care about all seven at the same time. And there comes a time when quests--even super-ultimate-this-is-really-it quests--are just tiresome to get invested in. This is book three out of five. You know wherever, however this one ends...it's not really close to "the end."

That being said, this is perhaps the first chance that Annabeth gets to truly shine on her own. Not as part of a group or duo, but on her own. This book had interesting/intriguing moments/scenes. I just had a hard time staying that way cover to cover. 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

105. The Son of Neptune

The Son of Neptune. Rick Riordan. 2011. 521 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: The snake-haired ladies were starting to annoy Percy.

Premise/plot: Percy Jackson, who has lost his memory (mostly), is a demigod (son of Poseidon/Neptune) who is spending time at a Roman camp for half-bloods. He doesn't recall most of his time at Camp Halfblood (the Greek camp), but he does remember Annabeth. He knows that she is out there somewhere looking for him. But meanwhile, there are bad guys to fight, quests to fulfill, and new friends to make.

This one is narrated by Percy, Hazel, and Frank. Hazel and Frank's stories are revealed slowly but surely--as are the identities of their godly parents. This one continues to set up a new ultimate this-is-it-we-mean-it end-of-the-world scenario.

My thoughts: I liked getting to know Hazel and Frank (for the most part). And I am glad that Percy is "back" and that he has been "found." I like the idea that the Greeks and Romans have been hidden from each other for decades/centuries. I do like how this one ends with the Greeks and Romans getting ready to meet up as possible-possible-possible allies.

But knowing that this is book two in a five book series that is setting up yet another final-final-ultimate-super-ultimate battle, it is just wearisome. In my opinion. So much investment knowing that there isn't going to be much satisfaction until the last book. (And only then if Rick Riordan leaves the characters in peace.)

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

97. The Last Olympian

The Last Olympian. (Percy Jackson #5) Rick Riordan. 2009. 381 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: The end of the world started when a pegasus landed on the hood of my car. Up until then, I was having a great afternoon.

Premise/plot: Percy Jackson and his fellow camp-mates from Camp Half Blood fight the ultimate battle against the oh-so-evil Kronus. (Kronus, if you remember, is currently embodying the body of Luke, a former friend turned traitor.) Kronus' side has won over a lot of discontented demigods and minor gods. It seems like a losing battle from page one. But is it enough for Percy to give up all hope and surrender? 

My thoughts: This was my first time to reread the last two books in the series. The first three books in the series got a little more reread love back in the day. Rachel Elizabeth Dare (who plays quite a big part in the last few books) is a character I had completely forgotten about--mostly. In particular, the love triangle that isn't really a love triangle. (Was there ever any doubt that Annabeth was Percy's choice all along?) If there was a love triangle--and I'm not convinced there truly was--then perhaps it was Annabeth, Luke, and Percy. 

I thought it was packed with plenty of action. Think of an Avengers' movie. 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

93. The Battle of the Labyrinth

The Battle of the Labyrinth. (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #4) Rick Riordan. 2008. 361 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: The last thing I wanted to do on my summer break was blow up another school.

Premise/plot: Camp Half-blood is in trouble again. To be fair, it's more like destroying Camp Half-blood is step one on the bad guy's to do list. [I suppose you could argue that it isn't a bad guy so much as bad god.] Annabeth, Tyson, Percy, and Grover are teaming up again on a quest. They'll be going underground into the labyrinth. It's super-super dangerous. Those that do manage to come out again are rarely the same. The last person to come out has gone mad--they aren't quite sure how to cure him. But the world's only hope [so we're led to believe] is hidden within the labyrinth. It's a race--who will discover it, acquire it, use it...first. 

My thoughts: All the books are so closely connected. It is definitely best to read them all together. The tension does keep building and building. There is rarely a satisfying moment in the book in terms of suspense and tension. None of the books have that YES moment of success and completion. All the books are leading to the ultimate showdown. Book four still doesn't take readers to that final, ultimate BIG battle between good and evil. I would say book four offers less humor and more intensity. Looking back, The Lightning Thief now has such low stakes--but oh at the time, it felt like such a big quest. 

I do recommend the series. I am rereading the series this summer. 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

88. The Titan's Curse

The Titan's Curse. (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #3) Rick Riordan. 2007. 320 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: The Friday before winter break, my mom packed me an overnight bag and a few deadly weapons and took me to a new boarding school. We picked up my friends Annabeth and Thalia on the way.
It was an eight-hour drive from New York to Bar Harbor, Maine. Sleet and snow pounded the highway. Annabeth, Thalia, and I hadn't seen each other in months, but between the blizzard and the thought of what we were about to do, we were too nervous to talk much. Except for my mom. She talks more when she's nervous. By the time we finally got to Westover hall, it was getting dark, and she'd told Annabeth and Thalia every embarrassing baby story there was to tell about me.
Thalia wiped the fog off the car window and peered outside. "Oh yeah. This'll be fun."
Westover Hall looked like an evil knight's castle. It was all black stone, with towers and slit windows and a big set of wooden double doors. It stood on a snowy cliff overlooking this big frosty forest on one side and the gray churning ocean on the other.
"Are you sure you don't want me to wait?" my mother asked.
"No, thanks, Mom," I said. "I don't know how long it will take. We'll be okay."
"But how will you get back? I'm worried, Percy."
I hoped I wasn't blushing. It was bad enough I had to depend on my mom to drive me to my battles.

Premise/plot:  The stakes have never been higher in the third adventure in the Percy Jackson fantasy series by Rick Riordan. The quest(s) in this third book make the other quests [in books one and two] seem easy-breezy. 

While The Titan's Curse certainly stars some of our well-known and well-loved cast [from previous books], plenty of new characters--both demi-god, god, and monster--are introduced and play integral roles. Like Bianca and Nico. This is also the first book where readers get a chance to learn about the newly resurrected from the dead, Thalia. [She was technically a tree for all of book one and most of book two.] 

Like the previous two books, this one mainly occurs outside of Camp Half-blood and involves a quest....or should that be quests. Because the stakes have never been higher, there will be BIG consequences if the quest goes anything like the prophecy foretells. And Percy, well, he may have to live with the fall out....

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this one! I did. The only one in the series that I am super familiar with is the first book, The Lightning Thief. Reading book two and three is like reading them again for the very first time. And that is such a delight. I think there are pros and cons to waiting so very long to reread a series you've adored in the past. I am loving the characters. I am enjoying the action. I am remembering all the reasons why I made my mom read this series with me.

© 2022 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

140. Daughter of the Deep

Daughter of the Deep. Rick Riordan. 2021. 354 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Here's the thing about life-shattering days. They start just like any other. You don't realize your world is about to explode into a million smoking pieces of awfulness until it's too late.

Premise/plot: Daughter of the Deep is Rick Riordan's newest book. It is a premise-driven what if novel. What if Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was more nonfiction than fiction, more true than false. What if his legacy was passed down through his descendants? His DNA--their DNA--holding keys to great staggering technological wonders and achievements. Ana Dakkar, our heroine, is Captain Nemo's descendant...and the fate of the world may depend on her survival and her ability to connect (and ultimately command) with the Nautilus. 

Harding-Pencroft Academy is at war with the Land Institute. Ana--and most of the characters of the book--are students and faculty of Harding-Pencroft Academy. But the setting is not on land, but on sea, the deep sea. Ana--and most of the characters--are freshmen at the academy. 

My thoughts: If an intriguing premise is ALL you need from a book, then this may prove quite entertaining. I will give it to Riordan that the premise--on paper--sounds fantastic. A premise with great potential for action, adventure, character growth, world building, etc. All the best action-adventure books have strong friendships at their core.

But. Does Daughter of the Deep deliver more than an interesting/intriguing premise? My opinion is NO. I think the book spends so much time on the premise and world building, that very little--if any--time is spent on developing RELATIONSHIPS or even characterization. I haven't decided if a) the characters are meant to be developed but just come across as boring or bland or indistinguishable or b) he was so busy writing descriptions and plotting action/battle scenes that he forgot that characters matter. The truth is if a reader fails to care about the characters, then it doesn't matter how many battle scenes there are: the book will be BORING and lifeless. More time and attention is spent on describing the Nautilus than there is developing characters like Ana.

So if I feel this strongly about the book, why did I keep reading???? Well, at first I thought it was just setting up the world and that if I could get past the first chunk of info-dumping, then it would "get good." Sure, the start might be slow, but somewhere along the way it would all click into place and then BOOM it would be worth it. All the world-building will have been time well spent, the big picture will be seen, and it will be satisfying. About hundred pages left to go, and I was like...I don't think this book is going to get better. I don't think it will prove ultimately satisfying. Then it was just stubbornness pure and simple. I'm not going to get that close to the end only to give up on a book. 

It didn't help that 98% of all reviews on Goodreads are WOW, I CAN'T BELIEVE WE HAVE A COVER NOW. I CAN'T WAIT TO READ THIS.

© 2021 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

The Lost Hero (MG)

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan (#1 Heroes of Olympus) 2010. Hyperion. 576 pages.


Even before he got electrocuted, Jason was having a rotten day.

I had my doubts. Even though it's Rick Riordan, I had my doubts. How could The Lost Hero hope to compete with The Lightning Thief. It could be good, it could even be really good. But how could it really compare with such a great book?! For me, that was THE best book, the one that was the best of them all. Yes, the series as a whole was a good adventure, but the first one? Well it was OH-SO-MAGICAL!

I was surprised by how much I loved this one. I thought it was a great read. Compelling, exciting, and magical!!! It has multiple narrators. Now practically every book with multiple narrators has me sharing with you how much I really don't like that element in books, but with this one it WORKED and worked well. It didn't feel awkward or silly like it does in Rick Riordan's other series--The Kane Chronicles, The Red Pyramid and The Throne of Fire.

Our narrators, our heroes and heroines, are Jason, Piper, and Leo. Two have been under the protection of Coach Hedge, the third appears out of nowhere on a school field trip. The mist effecting everyone's memories--even Piper and Leo. (Piper just KNOWS that Jason has been her boyfriend for weeks. She can almost remember every moment they've ever shared.) But trouble is coming and the three will have to fight to survive long enough to reach the safety of Camp Half-blood. To complicate matters, Jason has NO MEMORY at all of who he is or where he came from.

So the book does feature a quest, and it is EXCITING. I won't go into the details of this one. Chances are if you're familiar with Percy Jackson and his series, then you'll want to read this new series anyway. And if you haven't read Percy Jackson yet, if you've yet to discover the joys of The Lightning Thief, then this is NOT the place to start your journey with Rick Riordan.

© 2011 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

The Throne of Fire (MG)

The Throne of Fire. Kane Chronicles #2 Rick Riordan. 2011. Hyperion. 464 pages.

Carter here. Look, we don't have time for long introductions. I need to tell this story quickly, or we're all going to die.

The sequel to Rick Riordan's The Red Pyramid. Once again it is narrated by a brother-sister team, Carter (14), and Sadie (13). These two were raised apart and they're only now getting to know one another. But surviving dangerous situations one after another after another has helped these two bond a bit. Though they still bicker over who gets to tell what as the story unfolds. In this adventure, the two are looking to piece together the Book of Ra (it is in three sections, each hidden in a secret location). They're hoping the Book of Ra will help them resurrect Ra, a retired Egyptian god. A god they're hoping will be strong enough to help them defeat Apophis. And to add to the pressure, they only have a week to do it.

I'm not a big fan of how this one is told. Of how the book(s) are being recorded on audio, of how both are hoping that by sharing their stories other magicians will step forth to help the two battle the forces of evil and save the world.

And I'm not a big fan of the alternating narrators. It's not that I dislike either Carter or Sadie. It's just that I feel if it was told by one character, that maybe just maybe I'd connect more with the story? I'm not sure if it's the way the story is told or if it's just the story itself.

While I'm mentioning all the little things I didn't quite love, let me focus on the "romance." For me. It distracts from the story. To have Carter DROP EVERYTHING because he discovers the location of a certain someone?! To leave the saving the world to his sister and her friend just so that he can find her, "save" her, and maybe just maybe see if she feels the same way about him as he does about her?! I mean when I got to that section I was like YOU'RE KIDDING ME?! HE'S REALLY GOING TO DO THAT? And I felt the same way when Sadie left Carter--earlier in the novel--to go London so she could celebrate her birthday party with some friends. I mean the world is ending in less than five days and instead of finding a way to STOP it from ending, you want to party?! And Sadie's interest in Anubis and Walt?! It felt weird to me. Not necessarily her having crushes on them both. But on either one being even remotely interested in her in that way. I mean she *just* turned thirteen. And Walt is sixteen. And Anubis--well he's a god, and she's human. I thought the book had more than enough drama without Carter and Sadie being distracted by puppy love.

So what did I love? Well, I loved how compelling the second half of this novel was. I mean once the action starts, it STARTS. And it's hard to put it down once it starts getting good. Once things start to come together, I wasn't distracted by the things that didn't quite work for me. I just had to keep reading; I had to know what happened next.

The Throne of Fire has action, adventure, and drama. Also mythology--Egyptian mythology--of course.

© 2011 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

The Last Olympian

Riordan, Rick. 2009. The Last Olympian. (Percy Jackson & The Olympians #5) Disney/Hyperion. 381 pages.

The end of the world started when a pegasus landed on the hood of my car. Up until then, I was having a great afternoon.

Percy Jackson's sixteenth birthday is approaching--and fast--soon the Great Prophecy will be fulfilled. Not understanding just what his destiny holds, Percy and his friends are fighting with all their might to save the world as they know it. To save Olympus--a.k.a. Manhattan--from the Titans--led by Kronus--who would destroy it. Percy, in case you're just getting caught up, is a demi-god. He's got an all-too-mortal mother and a god of a father--Poseidon. He's not alone. There are plenty of other demi-gods (on both sides of the war I might add) with various gods (and goddesses) as parents. All with different strengths and weaknesses. Different temptations. Percy and his closest friends--Annabeth especially--face some difficult choices in this final book of the series.

For those that need a refresher course, the first four books are The Lightning Thief, Sea of Monsters, The Titan's Curse, and The Battle of the Labyrinth.

Why I love this series:

They're funny.
They're clever.
They're action-and-adventure packed.
They're also packed with mythology. In a fun way. An inviting way.
They're addictive.
They're unputdownable.
They're just as fun to reread as they are the first time around. (How many books can you really and truly say that about?!)


© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
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The Demigod Files

Riordan, Rick. 2009. The Demigod Files. Disney/Hyperion. 151 pages.

Part of me feels like a complete traitor for saying this, but, I am so very thankful I checked this one out of the library and didn't spend my money on it. Does that make me evil? Maybe. Slightly. But I think it makes me honest as well. And honesty is key. I think the readers who enjoy The Demigod Files are the readers who are so head-over-heels enthralled with Percy Jackson that they just can't wait until the next installment is released in May. These are the readers who probably have a countdown of days going. (May 5th according to Amazon.)

Don't get me wrong. I'm a BIG BIG BIG fan of Percy Jackson. But I can also recognize fluff when I see it. What this book does offer is three short stories about Percy. The rest comes up a bit short in my humble opinion.

What Riordan succeeds at in his writing is the ever-important first line. Most authors, I believe, aim to have that one magical first line to draw the reader in from the start. What Riordan does is offer that one magical first line in each and every chapter. And for the most part, he's a master. I wouldn't have trouble crowning him king or champion when it comes to that. He knows the importance of keeping them hooked, keeping them reading.

"I was in fifth-period science class when I heard these noises outside. Scrawk! Ow! Screech! Hiya!"

"One dragon can ruin your whole day. Trust me, as a demigod I've had my share of bad experiences."

"Christmas in the Underworld was NOT my idea."

The book also offers a sneak peak at the fifth and final installment: The Last Olympian. We get the first chapter I believe. Here is the first line of that one:

"The end of the world started when a pegasus landed on the hood of my car."

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
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The 39 Clues: Maze of Bones

Riordan, Rick. 2008. The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones.

First sentence: Five minutes before she died, Grace Cahill changed her will.

So, if you're like me, you're probably wondering...how does MAZE OF BONES compare to The Lightning Thief and the rest of the Percy Jackson series? Better than? Worse than? Bout the same? I'll try to answer that question in my review of this first book in a new series.

One of the things that first struck me about Riordan's writing way back when--before Percy Jackson became the ever-so-popular series that it's become--was how great he was at crafting sentences and hooking readers. The Lightning Thief impressed me because almost every single chapter began with a great first sentence. Something so clever, so witty, so catchy, so intriguing that you wanted to keep reading.

Here are a few of the first (chapter) sentences in The Maze of Bones.

"Dan Cahill thought he had the most annoying big sister on the planet. And that was before she set fire to two million dollars." (4)
"Amy Cahill thought she had the most annoying little brother on the planet. And that was before he almost got her killed." (21)
"Dan felt a dizzy rush, like the time he ate twenty packs of Skittles." (35)
"Amy could've lived in the secret library. Instead she almost died there." (47)

Of course, those are just the first few examples, and the pattern doesn't always hold up later on in the book...but by this point if you're not hooked in the story, then chances are you won't be.

The book is all about mystery and adventure. Dan and Amy are a brother-sister team who have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to discover the family secret and perhaps save the world. True, the premise is a bit of a stretch. Two kids from a crazy-wild-dysfunctional family--orphans, but what else would you expect--set out to prove themselves worthy of the challenge set forth by their grandmother's will. The Cahill family, the clan, has the secret of all secrets. And it's a secret that some feel holds the key to the world's fate--for better or worse.

Dan and Amy aren't the only ones looking to discover this secret--revealed one clue at a time--there are teams from within the Cahill family. And they're all in a race to be the first. There can only be one winner after all. And most teams will stop at nothing to win--even if it means turning evil and trying to kill the competition.

This first book reveals the first clue and its focus is on Benjamin Franklin.

There will be ten books in all. The second book, One False Note, will be out in December 2008, it is by Gordon Korman. The third book, The Sword Thief, will be out in March 2009. It is by Peter Lerangis. Seven more books will follow. The tenth one is *supposed* to be out in the fall of 2010.

My thoughts. The book is entertaining enough. The pacing seems to be about right. The characters don't have as much depth (at least not so far) as I'd hoped. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. After all, some stories are all about the characters and others are all about the action. And if you're looking for action, adventure, mystery, (and plenty of explosions) then this one will satisfy. The series seems a bit gimmicky in all honesty. Not that I think kids will mind that. The books. The trading/collector cards. The games on the website. etc. It's important to keep in mind that I'm not the book's target audience. What is important is if this book--and the remaining books in the series--will appeal to kids and keep them reading. Books need to be exciting to read. And series books feel a certain need. An important one. [It's not that Babysitter's Club had any *true* literary merit, but as a reader at that age, at that time, they felt a very real need. And I think these books can do the same.]

http://www.the39clues.com/info/about

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

The Battle of the Labyrinth

Riordan, Rick. 2008. The Battle of the Labyrinth.

Oh my. Trust me it's good. Really really good. The Battle of the Labyrinth is the fourth novel in the Percy Jackson series, a contemporary fantasy series built around the premise that the Greek gods are alive and well and living in modern-day America. The others include The Lightning Thief, Sea of Monsters, and The Titan's Curse. Rick Riordan is one of my favorite authors. His Percy Jackson novels in a way illustrate the ultimate when it comes to the can't-put-downability experience. Once you start, you really can't stop. They're just that good, that suspenseful, that magical.

What can I say about The Battle of the Labyrinth? It's good. It's intense. It's very intense. There really isn't a calm or dull moment in its 361 pages. The story? The plot? Well, I won't be spilling that here. For one, I don't think you'll need the incentive to go and read this one if you've read the other three. You'd read it no matter what I said. You might already have a copy in hand or on order. If you haven't read any of the Percy Jackson books yet, you really need to correct that...and soon! It's fun and educational. The weaving of Greek mythology into a modern-day adventure story starring unforgettable characters...is just brilliant. Each novel adds more depth, more substance, more meaning into the story. New characters, new plot twists, new ways of making this series oh-so-magical.

First sentence: The last thing I wanted to do on my summer break was blow up another school.
Last sentence: "Come inside for cake and ice cream," I said. "It sounds like we've got a lot to talk about."

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

The Lightning Thief

Riordan, Rick. 2005. THE LIGHTNING THIEF. New York: Hyperion. ISBN 0786856297

THE LIGHTNING THIEF is a surprisingly funny and charming YA novel. The basic premise of the book is that the gods and goddesses of Greek (and Roman) mythology are true. The gods and goddesses are alive and flourishing. They are still doing battle. They are still wreaking havoc on the world. They don’t reign on Mt. Olympus anymore in Greece. No, they now reside in the United States. The gods and goddesses are still coupling with humans and having offspring. These “half-bloods” have some extraordinary power. Percy Jackson is our hero. He doesn’t know it at the beginning of the novel, but by the end he not only knows but he is officially recognized as one of Poseidon’s sons. Old stories, myths, and “mythical” creatures come to life in this hilarious novel. With chapter titles like “I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher” “A God Buys Us Cheeseburgers” and “We Take a Zebra to Vegas.” Percy and his friends embark on one crazy (and dangerous adventure) after another. The narrative style is fabulously funny and clever. This book actually inspired me to pick up my old copy of Edith Hamilton's MYTHOLOGY.

The above review was written for "Miss Becky's Book Review" and Amazon back in 2005. I had only read the book once or possibly twice then. Now, two years later, I've read the book five times. It remains one of all-time favorites. I've passed it on to my mom who is just as in love with the series as I am. (She is currently reading Titan's Curse). Why is the book so good? It's exciting. It's funny. It's enjoyable. It's clever. Very clever. It's...undescribably unputdownable. I don't know why I love it...I just do.

I have been a bad blogger in my reviews of Titan's Curse and Sea of Monsters...because not only have I been reviewing the series in backward order...I've been failing to put up links as I go. Partly it was because I knew that I would eventually be posting them when I did Lightning Thief...but still that's not a *truly* valid excuse. So here they are belatedly...

http://www.rickriordan.com/children.htm
http://rickriordan.blogspot.com/
Hear the First Chapter of Titan's Curse as read by the author!!!
The first link also contains link to listen to the first chapters of The Lightning Thief and Sea of Monsters.
Author Interview with Rick Riordan, 2005
Miss Erin's Interview with Rick Riordan, 2007

If you've never read any of the series...here's a brief glimpse of what it is all about.

Look I didn't want to be a half-blood. If you're reading this because you think you might be one, my advice is: close this book right now. Believe whatever lie your mom or dad told you about your birth, and try to lead a normal life. Being a half-blood is dangerous. It's scary. Most of the time, it gets you killed in painful, nasty ways. If you're a normal kid, reading this because you think it's fiction, great. Read on. I envy you for being able to believe that none of this ever happened. But if you recognize yourself in these pages--if you feel something stirring inside--stop reading immediately. You might be one of us. And once you know that, it's only a matter of time before they sense it too, and they'll come for you. Don't say I didn't warn you.

My name is Percy Jackson. I'm twelve years old. Until a few months ago, I was a boarding student at Yancy Academy, a private school for troubled kids in upstate New York. Am I troubled kid? Yeah. You could say that. I could start at any point in my short miserable life to prove it, but things really started going bad last May, when our sixth-grade class took a field trip to Manhattan--twenty-eight mental-case kids and two teachers on a yellow school bus, heading to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to look at ancient Greek and Roman stuff. I know--it sounds like torture. Most Yancy field trips were. But Mr. Brunner, our Latin teacher, was leading this trip, so I had hopes. . . .I hoped the trip would be okay. At least, I hoped that for once I wouldn't get in trouble. Boy, was I wrong.

FROM THE LIGHTNING THIEF by Rick Riordan, p. 1-2

Sea of Monsters

Riordan, Rick. 2006. The Sea of Monsters.

The Sea of Monsters opens a year after the closing events of Lightning Thief. Percy Jackson has spent an entire school year keeping his big secret--that he's a half-blood, the son of Poseidon. It's been a rather busy school year as well. His only friend, Tyson, is a 'big' and somewhat dorky homeless kid. Still Percy is glad that it is the last day of school and that he'll soon be on his way to Camp Halfblood. If only he could shake off these weird dreams about his best friend Grover where he's wearing a wedding dress. Talk about strange! But as a nearly lethal game of dodge ball proves, strange things are happening everywhere. Camp Halfblood is in danger! Their protective tree has been poisoned. If a cure cannot be found, there will be no safe place on earth for these half-bloods to live, to train, to rest. Could the poisoned tree be in anyway connected with those weird dreams? Is Grover trying to tell him something? Percy and his friends will have to get to the bottom of this if they want to save their summer refuge....and quite possibly the world as they know it.

Titan's Curse

Riordan, Rick. 2007. The Titan's Curse.

For fans of The Lightning Thief and Sea of Monsters, Percy Jackson and his creator, Rick Riordan, need no introduction. Titan's Curse is the third installment in the Percy Jackson & The Olympians series known for featuring gods, goddesses, half-bloods, and one adventure after another. In The Lightning Thief, Percy finds out he's the son of Poseidon. In the Sea of Monsters, Percy finds out that he may be the half-blood that fulfills a dangerous prophecy. In Titan's Curse, he learns just how dangerous the threat of that prophecy can be and how far certain characters will go to manipulate him onto their side.

The prophecy? That the son (or daughter) of one of the Big Three (Hades, Poseidon, or Zeus) will either bring salvation or destruction to the Olympians. The condition? This prophecy will be fulfilled when he/she is sixteen. If Percy is the 'one' of the prophecy he has two years to prepare for the temptations that will surely arise. But there is a person who is even closer to fulfilling the prophecy: Thalia. When Thalia is resurrected at the end of Sea of Monsters, no one is quite sure what to think. Will this daughter of Zeus--who is almost sixteen--be the 'one' of the prophecy? Can she be trusted? Whose side will she be on? Will she remember her happy childhood days with Luke and betray her new friends? Or betray her first true friend to do the 'right' thing by Olympian standards? Her sixteenth birthday is fast approaching and another even more critical deadline is approaching: Winter Solstice.

Titan's Curse has more of everything. More gods. More goddesses. More heroes (and heroines). More villains. More action and adventure. More danger. More prophecies. And strange as it may seem, more poetry as well. This is the Half-Bloods most dangerous adventure by far. And certain sacrifices will have to be made along the way, are Percy and his friends ready for what could prove to be their final battle?

THE TITAN'S CURSE will be released in May 2007. (May 1, 2007, according to Amazon.)

The Friday before winter break, my mom packed me an overnight bag and a few deadly weapons and took me to a new boarding school. We picked up my friends Annabeth and Thalia on the way.
It was an eight-hour drive from New York to Bar Harbor, Maine. Sleet and snow pounded the highway. Annabeth, Thalia, and I hadn't seen each other in months, but between the blizzard and the thought of what we were about to do, we were too nervous to talk much. Except for my mom. She talks more when she's nervous. By the time we finally got to Westover hall, it was getting dark, and she'd told Annabeth and Thalia every embarrassing baby story there was to tell about me.
Thalia wiped the fog off the car window and peered outside. "Oh yeah. This'll be fun."
Westover Hall looked like an evil knight's castle. It was all black stone, with towers and slit windows and a big set of wooden double doors. It stood on a snowy cliff overlooking this big frosty forest on one side and the gray churning ocean on the other.
"Are you sure you don't want me to wait?" my mother asked.
"No, thanks, Mom," I said. "I don't know how long it will take. We'll be okay."
"But how will you get back? I'm worried, Percy."
I hoped I wasn't blushing. It was bad enough I had to depend on my mom to drive me to my battles.
"It's okay, Ms. Jackson." Annabeth smiled reassuringly. Her blond hair was tucked into a ski cap and her gray eyes were the same color as the ocean. "We'll keep him out of trouble."
My mom seemed to relax a little. She thinks Annabeth is the most levelheaded demigod ever to hit eighth grade. She's sure Annabeth often keeps me from getting killed. She's right, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.
"All right, dears," my mom said. "Do you have everything you need?"
"Yes, Ms. Jackson," Thalia said. "Thanks for the ride."
"Extra sweaters? You have my cell phone number?"
"Mom--"
"Your ambrosia and nectar, Percy? And a golden drachma in case you need to contact camp?"
"Mom, seriously! We'll be fine. Come on, guys."
She looked a little hurt, and I was sorry about that, but I was ready to be out of that car. If my mom told one more story about how cute I looked in the bathtub when I was three years old, I was going to burrow into the snow and freeze myself to death.
Annabeth and Thalia follwed me outside. The wind blew straight through my coat like ice daggers.
Once my mother's car was out of sight, Thalia said, "Your mom is so cool, Percy."
"She's pretty okay," I admitted. "What about you? You ever get in touch with your mom?"
As soon as I said it, I wished I hadn't. Thalia was great at giving evil looks, what with the punk clothes she always wears--the ripped-up army jacket, black leather pants and chain jewelry, the black eyeliner and those intense blue eyes. But the look she gave me now was a perfect evil "ten." "If that was any of your business, Percy--"
"We'd better get inside," Annabeth interrupted. "Grover will be waiting."
Thalia looked at the castle and shivered. "You're right. I wonder what he found here that made him send the distress call."
I stared up at the dark towers of Westover Hall.
"Nothing good," I guessed. (1-3)

Chapter One of Titan's Curse as read by Rick Riordan