I listened to all the Percy Jackson books on audio during cross country drives a few years back. Now, she requested I read The Heroes of Olympus series so we can have discussions about them.
I figure it's only fair. I ask her to read books so we can chat about them. (Although she didn't end up liking Anne of Green Gables like I'd hoped.) So, she should be able to make book requests of me too.
I didn't put up a review of the first one. I planned to wait until I finished the whole series. The problem with reviewing the series one by one is there's not a lot to say to without giving away spoilers.
In The Lost Hero we follow Jason Grace to Camp Half-Blood. His problem: amnesia. Total amnesia. He's a demi-god from the Roman side of the world. The gods have kids as both of their historical personas: Greek & Roman. So there are camps for both. Jason and Percy get swapped as the leaders of each of their camps, along with a memory wipe, so they make new friends and accrue new followers as they help save the world. In The Son of Neptune, we hear about what Percy's been doing at Camp Jupiter while dealing with his memory loss.
It's amazing how often demi-gods can save the world without dying when you have a good series going. This one has a fun twist by coming at the obstacles from the Roman perspective. Plus, we get all new characters to love, or hate, as much as the old ones. Slick story-telling and marketing scheme all rolled into one.
Not that I'm slighting Mr. Riordan. I dearly wish I had his mythological flare and awesome YA storytelling skills.
The books are good and just what I've come to expect from the Percy Jackson series.. Hero+Friends+Quest=Save the World. When you have a formula that works, there's no reason to change it.
Worth a read? Of course!
Clean: Yes, as far as I'm concerned. It always cracks me up when they swear in Greek or Latin because it's really nothing horrible, just funny.
Violent: Yes. A hero has to kill monsters after all, but not gory.
Will I read the next one? Already started.
Kids 9+ can read if they have the skills.
Percy is confused. When he awoke after 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. Somehow Percy managed to make it to the camp for half-bloods, despite the fact that he had to continually kill monsters that, annoyingly, would not stay dead. But the camp doesn't ring any bells with him.
Hazel is supposed to be dead. When she lived before, she didn't do a very good job of it. 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.
Frank is a klutz. His grandmother claims he is descended from ancient heroes, but 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. His big and bulky physique makes him feel like a clumsy ox, especially in front of Hazel, his closest friend at camp. He trusts her completely-enough, even, to share the secret he holds close to his heart.
Beginning at the "other" camp for half-bloods and extending as far north as the land beyond the gods, this breathtaking second installment in the Heroes of Olympus series introduces new demigods, revives fearsome monsters, and features other remarkable creatures, all of whom are destined to play a part in the most important quest of all: the Prophecy of Seven.
Hazel is supposed to be dead. When she lived before, she didn't do a very good job of it. 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.
Frank is a klutz. His grandmother claims he is descended from ancient heroes, but 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. His big and bulky physique makes him feel like a clumsy ox, especially in front of Hazel, his closest friend at camp. He trusts her completely-enough, even, to share the secret he holds close to his heart.
Beginning at the "other" camp for half-bloods and extending as far north as the land beyond the gods, this breathtaking second installment in the Heroes of Olympus series introduces new demigods, revives fearsome monsters, and features other remarkable creatures, all of whom are destined to play a part in the most important quest of all: the Prophecy of Seven.
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