Title: The Battle of The Labryinth
Author: Rick Riordan
Series/Standalone: Percy Jackson and The Olympians (Book #4)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Mythology
Pages: 361
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
Year Published: 2008
Format: Audiobook
"Percy Jackson isn't expecting freshman orientation to be any fun. but when a mysterious mortal acquintance appears on campus, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to worse.
In this fourth installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Krono's army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop the invasion, Percy and his demigod friends must set out on a quest through the Labyrinth- a sprawiling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn."
My Rating: 4/5
This reread has just been so awesome and I'm really getting more and more into the narration in the audiobook. Unfortunately, I remembered pretty quickly what I didn't like about this installment the first time I read it, and that didn't change with time. This series is so often catagorized as YA but in all reality it is more of a middle grade (that's just my personal opinion). I enjoyed the story overall and thought that it was an important stop to make before a huge finale but at some points it did feel a little bit like a filler book for the series. That being said, I plan to continue this series via audiobook and hope to finish it in the next few months (or when I can get my hands on the digital copy through Overdrive).
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
So this reread has been a pleasant surprise, overall I still really enjoy the story line and the characters. That being said, this was not my favorite book in the series. Personally, I felt that this book felt alot like filler for the final book. Yes there was a development in the plot and the characters but I just found that it made me want to move onto the fifth book. I'm in it for when shit hits the fan. I also wasn't a huge fan of how there is an almost love triangle in this story. It just didn't do anything for me. I am looking forward to continuing the series but I'm not nearly as interested in the love idea as others may be (probably because I'm way older than 15 years old).
Characters:
Percy: I think that while he's grown a fair amount, he still has a long way to go. Especially based on the way he acted in the love aspects of this book. He's grown as a warrior but still a a slightly hopeless 15 year old boy. I'm curious to see how his life will change now that everything about his life is setting into motion for the prophecy.
Annabeth: I like her. She's stubborn and sarcastic, two things that I of course value. She's getting to be more likable book by book. I worry for her though based on her misplacing of trust. How will she cope if she has to meet Luke/Kronos head on?
Grover: He's an inspiration for the world to save the wild and I think that's something that isn't valued enough in this series or any series of ya/middle grade books for that matter.
Tyson: To see your hero rise from the ashes is an interesting idea. As well as the idea that you can become your own hero.
Rachel: She's ok. I don't have a problem with her but I think I remember her fate in the series. And if I'm right that's kind of disappointing.
Kronos: This guys has it out for everyone. Talk about the ultimate villan. I kind of like that idea of the ultimate villan who gives no shits about who he hurts.
Luke: Did he realize what he was getting into? If he did what would push him so close to the edge?
Daedalus: Probably my favorite character in this whole book because I have never seen a character regret an act quite as much as him. I think that his growth throughout the years was extremely well captured.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Passenger
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Series: Passenger Series (Book #1)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Historical Fiction
Pages: 489
Publisher: Hyperion
Year Published: 2016
First Line: "As they ascended, retreating farther from winding trails that marked the way to nearby villages, the world opened to him in its purest form: silent, ancient and mysterious."
"Passage, n.
i. A brief section of music composed of a series of notes and flourishes.
ii. A journey by water; a voyage.
iii. The transition from one place to another, across space and time.
In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has travelled not just miles but years from home. And she's inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she's never heard off. Until now.
Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods- a powerful family in the colonies- and the servitude he's known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can't escape and the family that won't let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, Nicholas' passenger, can find. In order to protect her, he must ensure she brings it back to them- whether she wants to or not.
Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveller who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods' grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are playing, treacherous forces threaten to separate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home... forever."
My Rating: 3/5
So when I first started watching booktube this year (I know where have I been) this book was all the rage. It came out and everyone was talking about Alexandra Bracken and her past series. They also talked about the cover, which let's be real is really beautiful. They weren't wrong there. This being said, I don't really watch reviews because I like to go into a book as blind as possible. So little did I know that this book does not have some of the best ratings. I found this read to be a solid mah. It was okay. I didn't love it, I didn't hate it. It was just kind of there. I found myself reading it and hoping that it would get better as I continued to read, but then I just realized the only thing gripping my attention was getting to the end. I also found that the characters were difficult to cheer forward and I struggled to build an attachment towards them. This first installment just wasn't for me and while others found the ending redeeming, I found that it stopped short for my liking. All of this being said, I don't see myself picking up the sequel which is set to release next year, although if I stumbled across it in my travels I may attempt to pick it up.
A reminder that these are my own personal opinions and I encourage you to make your own by reading this book.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
So this book was huge on booktube when it came out as well as bookstagram. And I found myself intrigued by the idea of time travel as well as the beautiful cover (no shame). As I started it I found myself interested in the first two chapters but loosing interest throughout as the writing style just didn't seem to flow for me. I found myself skimming pages to get through the story and really reading as quickly as I could to get it over with. As time passed I honestly didn't feel like reading because I knew I had to finish this book. It was a solid ok read for me. There were parts that I really enjoyed. Like exploring different places and different times from the perspectives of a man of colour and a woman. I also thought that the family history of all the families was interesting. This being said, it didn't make up for my disinterest in the characters and my dislike of the romance in this book.
Characters:
Etta: I find that Etta wasn't that interesting of a character to follow. I liked that we got to see the families pasts from her perspective as she knew nothing about time travel, but as the story went on I found that her instant love with Nicholas just didn't do it for me. I thought that it was a weak relationship and not well built. She also annoyed me with her thoughts, but this doesn't mean I wasn't surprised when we thought that she died. The turn around on that didn't do much for me though.
Nicholas: I liked him a lot more than Etta, I think that throwing in the idea of a man of colour in certain time periods was an important and daring idea of the authors. That being said, I also found him to be quit annoying. I didn't find myself attached to him, and don't care to continue the story about him or Etta.
Sophia: She was just kind of there in my mind. Even with the ending involving her I didn't really care, wasn't really surprised. Especially not when she was stupid enough to pair up with the Thorns. Mah.
Rose: Not really a character I enjoyed. Thought she was a bit to cold as a mother all in all.
Alice: The only character I really enjoyed. She was pleasant and fun.
Hall: I liked his character and demeanour with the crew. As well as the idea of not going along with something you believe is wrong.
Cyrus: Who doesn't power? Obviously the villain. Obviously doesn't take no for an answer. But power over your one true love, doesn't really make alot of sense to me. Didn't fear him that much, but thought we would run into him during the time travelling that Etta and Nicholas took part in.
Moments to Remember:
Pg. 157
"'...I wanted to ask if you remembered Hall's wife, Anne- what he said of her?'
'I only remember what happened when she passed,' he lied. A long year, in which they had chased Hall from tavern to tavern and hadn't spent a single day on a ship. He'd had no idea a man so large and powerful, who'd fought and survived a thousand battles, could be broken into so many pieces when his lady took ill.
'Liar,' Chase said, not unkindly. 'He said he'd never remarry because he'd never find another lady that fit so neatly at his side. He called her his equal in spirit.'"
Final Line: "'Look lively,' he said. 'We've a journey to make.'"
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
