Title: The Mark of Athena
Author: Rick Riordan
Series/Standalone: The Heroes of Olympus (Book #3)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Mythology
Pages: 586
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Year Published: 2012
Format: Audiobook
"Annabeth is terrified. Just when she's about to be reunited with Percy- after six months of being apart, thanks to Hera- it looks like Camp Jupiter is preparing for war. As Annabeth and her friends Jason, Piper, and Leo fly in on the Argo II, she can't blame the Roman demigods for thinking the ship is a Greek weapon. With its steaming bronze dragon figurehead, Leo's fantastical creation doesn't appear friendly. Annabeth hopes that the sight of the praetor Jason on deck will reassure the Romans that the visitors from Camp Half-Blood are coming in peace.
And that's only one of her worries. In her pocket, Annabeth carries a gift from her mother that came with an unnerving command: Follow the Mark of Athena. Avenge me. Annabeth already feels weighed down by the prophecy that will send seven demigods on a quest to find- and close- the Doors of Death. What more does Athena want from her?
Annabeth's biggest fear, though, is that Percy might have changed. What if he's now attached to Roman ways? Does he still need his old friends? As the daughter of the goddess of war and wisdom, Annabeth knows she was born to be a leader- but never again does she want to be without Seaweed Brain by her side.
Narrated by four different demigods, The Mark of Athena is an unforgettable journey across the land and sea to Rome, where important discoveries, surprising sacrifices and unspeakable horrors await. Climb aboard the Argo II, if you dare..."
My Rating: 3.75/5
It's been a busy month for my family. We have moved 6 hours away from our hometown into a new apartment and have gotten new jobs. So needless to say I probably finished this 2 weeks ago, but have just starting to have the time to read and write again. I'm excited to be able to get back to routine and to be able to give it my all once more. This story was not my favourite so far in this series. I found that the storyline both dragged and was rushed at some points. The pacing just wasn't quite right for me. I did appreciate watching the characters come together and seeing what the coming books will have to offer. I look forward to continuing the series.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: The Son of Neptune
Author: Rick Riordan
Series/Standalone: The Heroes of Olympus (Book #2)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Mythology
Pages: 521
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion Books
Year Published: 2011
Format: Audiobook
"Percy is confused. When he awoke from his long sleep, he didn't know much more than his name. His brain fuzz is lingering, even after the wolf Lupa told him he is a demigod and trained him to fight with the pen/sword in his pocket. Somehow Percy manages to make it to a camp for half-bloods, despite the fact that he has to keep killing monsters along the way. But the camp doesn't ring any bells with him. The only thing he can recall from his past is another name: Annabeth.
Hazel is supposed to be dead. When she lived before, she didn't do a very good job of it. Sure, she was an obedient daughter, even when her mother was possessed by greed. But that was the problem- when the Voice took over her mother and commanded Hazel to use her 'gift' for an evil purpose, Hazel couldn't say no. Now because of her mistake, the future of the world is at risk. Hazel wishes she could ride away from it all on the stallion that appears in her dreams.
Frank is a klutz. His grandmother says he is descended from heroes and can be anything he wants to be, but he doesn't see it. He doesn't even know who his father is. He keeps hoping Apollo will claim him because the only thing he is good at is archery- although not good enough to win camp war games. His bulky physique makes him feel like an ox, especially in front of Hazel, his closest friend at camp. He trusts her completely- enough to share the secret he holds close to his heart.
Beginning at the 'other' camp for half-bloods and extending as far as the land beyond the gods, this breathtaking second installment of the Heroes of Olympus series introduces new demigods, revives fearsome monsters, and features other remarkable creatures, all destined to play a part in the Prophesy of Seven."
My Rating: 4/5
This is the second book in the highly acclaimed Heroes of Olympus series. I was interested to pick up this book, but due to how long it took me to complete it I found that I started to lose interest in the story line. I was excited to see characters that I'd heard about in the first book, and revisit favorite characters from the original series. I think that the pacing was good, I just don't know if I related to these characters very much. I am excited to continue on with the series as soon as possible through audiobooks.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: The Lost Hero
Author: Rick Riordan
Series/Standalone: The Heroes of Olympus (Book #1)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Mythology
Pages: 557
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion Books
Year Published: 2010
Format: Audiobook
"Jason has a problem.
He doesn't remember anything before waking up in a bus full of kids on a field trip. Apparently, he has a girlfriend named Piper, and a best friend named Leo. They're all students at a boarding school for 'bad kids'. What did Jason do to end up here? And where is here, exactly?
Piper has a secret.
Her father has been missing for three days, ever since she had that terrifying nightmare about his being in trouble. Piper doesn't understand her dream, or why her boyfriend suddenly doesn't recognize her. When a freak storm hits during the school trip, unleashing strange creatures and whisking her, Jason, and Leo away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood, she has a feeling she's going to find out.
Leo has a way with tools.
When he sees his cabin at Camp Half-Blood, filled with power tools and machine parts, he feels right at home. But there's weird stuff, too- like the curse everyone keeps talking about and some camper who's gone missing. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist that each of them- including Leo- is related to a god. Does this have anything to do with Jason's amnesia or the fact that Leo keeps seeing ghosts?"
My Rating: 4/5
This was a really good read. I was surprised at how the author aged the characters and how the change in dynamic really helped my enjoyment. I thought that the writing style has definitely improved since the Percy Jackson series. I also appreciated the change of pace and how quickly this crew of demi-gods was put to the test. I plan to continue this series by audio book as I loved the narrator and the storytelling.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
This series started off with a bang and the same sense of humour that I've got to know and love with Rick Riordan's storytelling. I loved the change of pace and how quickly our character got thrown into camp and out of it again with a new mission. I also enjoyed seeing demi-gods from other godly children. They were interesting to read about.
Characters:
Leo: I really liked Leo and his tinkering ways. It made me happy to see a more diverse demi-god who has such a unique talent. I also liked that he was trained by Hera to be a "little hero."
Jason: I think that his amnesia really drove the story overall and made the story a bit of a mystery. I also enjoyed the way that the characters interacted with Jason as they found out more about his past. I'm excited to see how his past is so different than Percy Jackson's.
Piper: I loved that she was a daughter of Aphrodite who was willing to go on a mission, not just reapply her lipstick and think about her looks. I loved everything about her.
Hera: What a catty character for a goddess. I loved that this was such a dilemma, whether or not we should save her, or let her suffer.
Thalia: Glad to see her again, with the hunters of Artemis.
Coach Hedge: I loved his attitude and his ego even though there were times where it was annoying. I can't wait to see more of this character in the next book.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: The Last Olympian
Author: Rick Riordan
Series/Standalone: Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Book #5)
Genre: Young Adult, Mythology, Fantasy
Pages: 381
Publisher: Disney Hyperion Books
Year Published: 2009
Format: Audiobook
"All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds of a victory are grim. Krono's army is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, the evil Titan's power only grows.
While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now it's up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time.
In this momentous final book in the New York Times best-selling series, the long-awaited prophecy surrounding Percy's sixteenth birthday unfolds. An as the battle for Western civilization rages on the streets of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate."
My Rating: 4/5
I finally made it. I reread all these books before the end of 2017. I'm so freaking proud of myself. Not that they were even a struggle to get through. This series is amazing to read and the story-telling is fun and humorous while handling hard-hitting ideas. I loved the way the characters grew and learned throughout their own experiences. I also plan to continue reading The Heroes of Olympus series for the first time. Either through audiobook or physical reading, I'm sure I'll enjoy them just as much.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
I'm very proud of my reading this year. Not only did I read over the number of books I had planned to read, I read so many books that became new favourites. I also had the opportunity to reread some of my old favourites. For example, The Percy Jackson Series. The first time I read this series I was when I was 14 or 15 years old so little. Needless to say some of my opinions of changed. For example, I wasn't rooting for all the romances in this book this time around (possibly because I also remembered who ended up with who). There were still some aspects that surprised me even though this was a reread (ex. the spy).
Characters:
Percy: He has grown up so much as a character. To see him change from a preteen boy to a 16 year old in the course of 5 books was such an interesting reading experience. That being said, I'm looking forward to continuing in this world through different characters perspectives.
Annabeth: I love that she is tough and loyal, but also says it how it is. She's honest, maybe even to a fault. I can't wait to see if she makes a surprise appearance in any of the other series.
Rachel: I liked her, but not for Percy, which I knew didn't pan out in the end anyway. I was also fine with her becoming the oracle. That being said, I'm not sure how she's supposed to live a normal life if there is a chance she'll be spouting out prophecies.
Grover: Someone tell me he's in the next book because he's a crowd favourite. Let's be honest here, we all love Grover.
Nico: His powers are going to be so much stronger than ever imagined which makes me wonder about the newest great prophecy.
Tyson: I love this big guy. Peanut butter is a great war cry.
Luke: Would anyone else be interested in a Luke prequel story? Or is there one and I just don't know about it. Anyone know?
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: The Titan's Curse
Author: Rick Riordan
Series/Standalone: Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Book #3)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Mythology
Pages: 320
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Year Published: 2008
Format: Audiobook (Own a physical copy)
"It's not everyday you find yourself in combat with a half-lion, half-human.
But when you're the son of a Greek god, it happens. And now my friend Annabeth is missing, a goddess is in chains and only five half-blood heroes can join the quest to defeat the doomsday monster.
Oh, and guess what? The Oracle has predicted that not all of us will survive."
My Rating: 5/5
I've been writing that this whole series is a reread for so many reviews and that it's getting old, but just know this is the same. I am rereading these books after about 6-8 years so it's a very different perspective I'm taking. This book really stepped the series up for me. We see that our main character has grown, and I found that he was even more relatable in this book (which is saying something because I'm a 22-year-old woman, not a 14-year-old boy). I thought that this book was action packed and full of turns that I only saw coming because of my memory. I can't wait to continue to listen to the audiobooks (I'm loving the narration). Unfortunately, I have to wait for the 4th book to be available from overdrive but I will be getting to it soon.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
I've enjoyed this reread like crazy. There is my disclaimer. I'm loving this series more and more as I read through it and watch as Rick Riordan's writing grows (and that's saying something because the first book is pretty amazing). I think that our characters grow so much in this installment in the series. This is the first book where we visit the camp in the winter and see once again how serious the conflict in this story is becoming.
Characters:
Percy: He's grown up and learned how to take responsibility for his actions. That being said he has a lot more growing up to do in order to continue on in the series. I also hear that he appears in other series so I'm curious to see how he changes that way.
Annabeth: We don't see as much of her in this book which was an interesting way to take the story. It gave us a chance to be introduced to different characters and see how she affected Percy.
Artemis: I was very interested in her portrayal in this story. I loved that she was so badass but was willing to admit that even she needs help sometimes.
Zoe: I cried in a public place when I realized that she was really gone. It's so frustrating to see such a strong female character get knocked out of the story. I understand why it had to happen and it's so thoughtfully planned out, but it doesn't mean that it didn't pull at my heartstrings.
Thalia: I never saw her becoming a huntress but at the same time it makes sense. She seems to fit in well, even though she is argumentative. I hope that we still get to see her character throughout the rest of the series.
Grover: He's growing on me again. He's a sweet guy, even though at times a little naive.
Nico: I remembered who his father is about 3/4 of the way through this book and that's gonna throw a wrench into Percy's plans.
Luke: Still a dick, but maybe a hypnotised dick?
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: The Sea of Monsters
Author: Rick Riordan
Series/Standalone: Percy Jackson and the Olympians #2)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Mythology
Pages: 279
Publisher: Disney Hyperion Books
Year Published: 2006
Format: Audiobook (Also own a physical copy)
"The heroic son of Poseidon makes an action-packed comeback in the second must-read installment of Rick Riordan's amazing young readers series. Starring Percy Jackson, a 'half-blood' whose mother is human and whose father is the God of the Sea, Riordan's series combines cliffhanger adventure and Greek mythology lessons that result in true page-turners that get better with each installment.
In this episode, The Sea of Monsters, Percy sets out to retrieve the Golden Fleece before his summer camp is destroyed, surpassing the first book's drama and setting the stage for more thrills to come."
My Rating: 4/5
This is another reread for me and while it was on my TBR for this month in a physical form, I found audiobook copy's from my library before I took a road trip. I really enjoyed this second installment and would recommend keeping with the series if you didn't enjoy the first book because this book is where it starts to shine. It was interesting to see how the series "read" through an audiobook. This audiobook was super entertaining and I plan to continue the series through audiobooks, and I can't wait.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
So this series is a total reread for me. I haven't read it in about 6-10 odd years so some of my opinions have changed. And while I believe it's important to reread our favourites and realize the problems with them, I still really enjoyed this second book.
I remember in the first book feeling that our main character should have been older, just based on the way they read. That being said, listening to the audiobook really helped me to remember how young our main characters are, along with the side characters.
I really enjoyed the change of pace and the adventure aspect of this story and I can't wait to continue this series.
Character:
Percy: I think that Percy's sense of humour is his best quality (that's my own opinion). I loved his sarcasm and sense of wit. I can't wait to read more about him. That being said there are points in this book where he is frustratingly naive. Which is to be expected since he is 13 years old.
Annabelle: I really enjoyed her sass and bad assery. She doesn't give a shit what other people think. She is wise (haha) beyond her years and a true hero in my eyes.
Tyson: Probably my favourite character in this story because of how sweet and innocent he was. He reminded me of some children I've worked with in the past. He was very sweet and I wonder how he will do under the sea.
Grover: He's kind of bothersome in the audiobook, that being said, he's grown up since the first book and deserves recognition for this.
Luke: Something isn't right with him and why he turned.. I wonder what his next move will be.
Chiron: I like his party relatives vs how calm and cool and collected he is. He's always in control, but not even he can control who his father is.
Hermes: Sweet to know that he didn't desert his kids.
Clarisse: I still don't care that much for her. I don't care that she has such strong pride, but also at some point you can admit that you need help.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: The Lightning Thief
Author: Rick Riordan
Series/Standalone: Percy Jackson and The Olympians (Book #1)
Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Adventure
Pages: 377
Publisher: Disney Hyperion Books
Year Published: 2005
Format: Physical Paperback Copy (Own It)
First Line: "Look, I didn't want to be a half-blood."
"Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school... again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook, and into his life. And worse he's angered a few of them. Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.
Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves."
My Rating: 4/5
This is a reread for me and one that's been long awaited. I loved these books when I was younger and the humour made my own middle school and high school experience laughable. I loved Rick Riordan's writing style and still do. I forgot how much I missed this world and this sense of humour towards mythology. I also enjoy the fact that this story gives mythology a new and interesting subject. I hadn't thought about it in a while. In all honesty the most recent time I'd thought about Greek mythology was while reading A Court of Mist and Fury. So this was a refreshing look at classic characters. I can't wait to reread the rest of the series and plan to during the coming months. The one aspect of the book I found lacking was the fact that Percy was only 12 years old while some of his actions made me believe he was closer to 14-15 years old. As an adult that's just a personal observation that I made while reading this book. I can't wait to see where the rest of this series takes me and hopefully start the Blood of Olympus series (is that what it's called).
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
What a fun reread to start the month with? I think this book helped to remind me why I read middle grade. Rick Riordan's writing style and humour held me interested throughout the storyline and I can't wait to continue on with his books. I hope to reread this series and start the next series at some point this year.. is that a reasonable goal? I think this story makes learning about myths more interesting and helps younger readers see what the Gods looked like and could look like throughout the years. I also really love the story arch in this first book. My one complaint is that Percy is so freaking young. I thought he was 16, and me being 22 made me see that 12 years old is a little young to be taking quests and such. Although the teenage angst was all I could wish for and more. Can't wait to read the second book in this series.
Characters:
Percy: A hilarious main character. I forgot how he was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia. I think that this was an interesting concept for Rick Riordan to bring up, and might help young readers identify themselves as a hero rather than someone who might need a little help (does that make sense). I loved his angsty and how he was introduced to the world so the reader could follow some of the main events.
Annabeth: She is a real spit fire and I can appreciate that. I do wonder how her summer with her father will go. She seems to have a troubled past and I wonder what will happen after this quest.
Grover: Loved him. Reminded me of some of the people I knew in middle school and his character has to be one of my favourites in the series as far as I remember.
Hades: I won't lie I still picture the Disney version whenever this character is mentioned. I can't wait to see more of him.
Poseidon: His description is amazing. I do wonder about his romance with Percy's mother and how his life will interact with Percy's.
Ares: As we all know, kind of a dink.
Zeus: This guy has the right to yell at people for fathering children... um, pardon you, sir.
Dionysus: Love the sass and lack of caring. Exactly what I expected from his character.
Luke: He makes for a kick ass villain I can't remember what his role plays throughout the series so I can't wait to read on and see him again.
Favourite Lines:
Final Line: "I asked Argus to take me down to cabin three, so I could pack my bags for home."
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
