The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan was one of the highly anticipated book release for this year. While it was a satisfying ending to a great series filled with mythology and demigods, I was expecting a bit more from it. Below is a spoiler free review of the book.


Description: Though the Greek and Roman crew members of the Argo II have made progress in their many quests, they still seem no closer to defeating the earth mother, Gaea. Her giants have risen-all of them-and they're stronger than ever. They must be stopped before the Feast of Spes, when Gaea plans to have two demigods sacrificed in Athens. She needs their blood-the blood of Olympus-in order to wake.
  The demigods are having more frequent visions of a terrible battle at Camp Half-Blood. The Roman legion from Camp Jupiter, led by Octavian, is almost within striking distance. Though it is tempting to take the Athena Parthenos to Athens to use as a secret weapon, the friends know that the huge statue belongs back on Long Island, where it might be able to stop a war between the two camps.
   The Athena Parthenos will go west; the Argo II will go east. The gods, still suffering from multiple personality disorder, are useless. How can a handful of young demigods hope to persevere against Gaea's army of powerful giants? As dangerous as it is to head to Athens, they have no other option. They have sacrificed too much already. And if Gaea wakes, it is game over.

Review: With over 500 pages in length and an ominous title, I was a bit hesitant in reading The Blood of Olympus in fears that my favorite characters would meet their end. With so much plot that involves many characters, I highly suggest reading the Heroes of Olympus series from the beginning as Riordan doesn't fill the reader in with much background information. The story picks up right where it left us in The House of Hades. Time is not on the side for our demigods. With just 12 days to go until Gaea awakens fully on Aug. 1 and brings an end to the world as we know it, the Greek and Roman demigods must put their differences aside and work together to stop her.Aboard the Argo II, Percy, Annabeth, Jason, Piper, Frank, Hazel and Leo race to Athens for the final showdown. Meanwhile, Nico, Reyna, and Coach Hedge. 
  Each chapter is told from a different demigod's point of view, which keeps the pace, plot, and suspense moving. The book is filled with what Riordan is known for: comedic, action-packed encounters with deities most readers--and sometimes characters--have never heard of such as Nike, the Goddess of victory Nike. With each previous book in this series, we are given herculean obstacles that the characters face and in this book the real highlight are the characters growths of both Nico's and Reyna's arduous and emotional journeys from outcast loners to self-acceptance.
  What disappointed me the most in The Blood of Olympus is how anticlimactic it seemed. The blood chilling prophecy was resolved too easily in my opinion with convenient plot points. I also would have liked to have chapters from Percy and Annabeth, the stars of the series and well known to readers. The story's occasional ventures into romance are also a bit stilted and awkward, but fortunately they are brief. While the book ended on a good note, which might bring some peace and quiet to its characters, I was hoping it deliver a greater punch than it did. Overall, I enjoyed this installment but I didn't love it like the other books in the series.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There are a lot more battle scenes in this book. Recommended for Grades 5 and up.

If you like this book try: Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan, Blackwell Pages series by K.L. Armstrong, The Night Tourist by Katherine Marsh, Gods of Manhattan by Scot Mebus,

  I have been eagerly waiting for the release of The House of Hades ever since I read the last page and major cliffhanger of The Mark of Athena. I've done my best avoiding spoilers online and devoured the book within a few days. Be rest assured that this review of The House of Hades is spoiler free. If you're curious about picking up the Heroes of Olympus series, I highly recommend reading the Percy Jackson series first as it builds upon that series.

Description: At the conclusion of The Mark of Athena, Annabeth and Percy tumble into a pit leading straight to the Underworld. The other five demigods have to put aside their grief and follow Percy’s instructions to find the mortal side of the Doors of Death. If they can fight their way through the Gaea’s forces, and Percy and Annabeth can survive the House of Hades, then the Seven will be able to seal the Doors both sides and prevent the giants from raising Gaea. But, Leo wonders, if the Doors are sealed, how will Percy and Annabeth be able to escape?
  They have no choice. If the demigods don’t succeed, Gaea’s armies will never die. They have no time. In about a month, the Romans will march on Camp Half-Blood. The stakes are higher than ever in this adventure that dives into the depths of Tartarus.

Review: What can I say about Rick Riordan that I haven't already said? The House of Hades is quite possibly my favorite book in the Heroes of Olympus series. The book begins at the horrible cliffhanger of The Mark of Athena as Annabeth and Percy plunge into the dark pit of the Underworld. Leaving their friends, both in and out of the side of the book, stunned and on edge for the fear of their safety. Riordan splits his novel by the on-goings of the mortal world and those of the Underworld and continues to have his book narrated from multiple point of views.
   In many cases writing effective multiple points of views is a challenge that can either make or break a book, but in the case of The House of Hades it enhances it as each main character is faced with making touch decisions, both individually and collectively as a group, never resorting to brooding and angst. Each of the seven demigods we have met in the Heroes of Olympus series battle their own demons of doubt, insecurity, and vulnerabilities and are forced out of their comfort zone in several mini journeys as they find their ways to achieve their over arching goal: help Percy and Annabeth to keep the doors of Hell closed and sealed from the mortal world. Despite being a demigod, Riordan strips them of their godly powers for most of the book and reminding his characters of their humanity which sets these children of the gods apart from their selfish, manipulative parents and allows them to grow, evolve. I loved Riordan's message of self confidence and that power, success of an individual comes from within first and foremost. I also loved how I got to know some of the characters a lot better particularly Nico, Frank, and even Piper.
  Though the book is close to 600 pages, I was never bored with reading The House of Hades. Actually, there is really no time to get bored while reading the book as it is filled with plenty of battle scenes as our crew fights mythological monsters, giants, titans, and outwit lesser gods. There are lots of moments of comic relief too to balance the dark mood of the story along with lots of cute moments of romance (some new, others building, and a really nice surprise). I'm being intentionally vague to avoid spoiling the book for passionate fans of the series. All in all The House of Hades has once again raised the bar of what readers can expect from Rick Riordan and thankfully, the conclusion to the series is just one year away. However the title, The Blood of Olympus, has me worried that some of our heroes may not survive.

Rating: 5 stars

Words of Caution: There are plenty of battle scenes in the book, however, they are not graphically described. Recommended for strong Grades 5 readers and up.

If you like this book try: Seven Wonders series by Peter Lerangis, Gods and Warriors by Michelle Paver, Loki's Wolves by Kelly Armstrong and Melissa Marr

  While the Heroes of Olympus is a spin off series of the Percy Jackson, I highly recommend that readers read the Percy Jackson series first in order to get a proper introduction to Camp Half-Blood and several major characters that are from the prior series as well as the first two books in the Heroes of Olympus series. Otherwise readers may feel like they are dropped into a middle of a series and be a bit confused as to what is going on. The review below does not contain any spoilers for The Mark of Athena.

Description (from the publisher): In The Son of Neptune, Percy, Hazel, and Frank met in Camp Jupiter, the Roman equivalent of Camp Halfblood, and traveled to the land beyond the gods to complete a dangerous quest. The third book in the Heroes of Olympus series will unite them with Jason, Piper, and Leo. But they number only six--who will complete the Prophecy of Seven?

Review: Thus far all of Rick Riordan's mythology/adventure books have followed a simple formula: a group of heroes are given incredibly ominous and vague prophecy and in order to understand the prophecy and to avert the end of the world they must go on a quest. Riordan's formula is no different from the original Greek or Roman myths, but he brings a new angle in The Mark of Athena, the third book in his Heroes of Olympus series.
  The Mark of Athena is full of expected adventure and humor along with connections to classic myths, but we are also given an opportunity to witness character and relationship growth of the key characters involved.  The demigods embarked on the dark, twisty, and complex prophecy first mentioned in The Lost Hero, are from two camps, Camp Half-blood for the Greeks and Camp Jupiter for the Romans, who don't have very good diplomatic relations (and that's an understatement). Not only do these demigods have to work together, but they have to build trust, a working relationship, and eventually friendship in order to complete their quest. Riordan builds upon the great foundations of the characters in his other two installments of the Heroes of Olympus series. He successfully achieves this as the demigods also have to complete several mini-quests in addition to the large over-arching adventure.
   The mini-quests not only brings our heroes closer to solving their riddle, but the readers get a great opportunity to zero in on the characters.   This is further amplified when the narrative is once again from multiple point of views, which I didn't find difficult in following at all. We find each character alone and are able to feel their fears, frustrations, and insecurities when they are forced to be in the spotlight instead of on the outer fringes. For example in the Percy Jackson series, Percy is aptly the star hero and though Annabeth was a very strong secondary character, she remained so for the entire series. In The Mark of Athena, we finally get a chance to be in her shoes and see how she uses her trademark wit, smarts, and wisdom to be a heroine.
  I really enjoyed how The Mark of Athena forces our heroes to question themselves. Riordan spends time asking readers what it means to be a hero, to be selfish, and whether or not the gods (major and/or minor) acted out the right way in some of the popular myths, particularly in the case of Athena and Hercules. It's nice to know that even though these characters have divine blood in them, they also retain their very human aspects, which is why I think so many readers are able to connect with them on many levels.
  Though the book is at a hefty tome, less than 600 pages, you can't help but devour it. I finished in less than a week because I needed to know what happened next. Readers will most likely be so immersed in the story and action that they probably wouldn't notice the page length. I do have to warn you that the book ends in a very clever yet cruel cliffhanger. The next book, House of Hades, does not come out until next year. It's going to be a long hard wait to find out what happens to our favorite heroes and heroines.

Rating: 5 stars

Curriculum Connection: English and Social Studies

Words of Caution: There are some scary, fantasy violence that is PG rated. I think this book is appropriate for Grades 4 and up.

If you like this book try: The House of Hades (Book 4 of the Heroes of Olympus series, available Fall 2013), Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan, Gods of Manhattan by Scott Mebus, The Night Tourist by Katherine Marsh, Shadow Thieves by Anne Ursu

  If you've been reading my blog, you know how much I love Greek Mythology and have been recommending the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan to everyone. Luckily, Percy fans don't have to say goodbye and can enjoy another epic adventure. Riordan has a spin off series called The Heroes of Olympus which will contain five books that feature new and old characters as well as figures from both Greek and Roman mythologies. You can read my review of the first book in the series The Lost Hero here. While it's not necessary to read the Percy Jackson series first, I think readers will miss out on important character development, references, and inside jokes found in this series. The Son of Neptune is the second book in the series and one of the hottest children books that is checked out from my local library.

Description:  In The Lost Hero we discovered a new blood-chilling quest:


Review: While reading and enjoying The Lost Hero, I couldn't help but wonder what happened to Percy Jackson, a character I've come to love for five books. Surely, Riordan couldn't return to Camp Half-blood and not include him. The Son of Neptune answers all of our nagging questions that The Lost Hero generated.
    In last book we learned that Percy had disappeared and there were only vague vague hints of what could have happened. In The Son of Neptune, Percy returns as one of the main characters but can't remember anything. At the very beginning of the novel we find Percy Jackson being hunted by two gorgons. He encounters Juno in the form of an old lady, who gives him a choice: he can regain his memories but go to the Roman half-blood camp where he will be lead to a treacherous journey or stay where he is and be assured of his safety.
   Percy's decision to accept the challenge and go to the Roman camp allows the reader to be introduced to the Roman demigods, the Roman way of life, and discover a new quest. The Roman camp named Camp Jupiter (Jupiter is the roman name for Zeus) is fascinating. Unlike the laid back attitude of Camp Halfblood, Camp Jupiter is organized and has rules that everyone seems to follow. Lares (house gods) saturate the area and the demigods are divided into legions similar to those of the Roman army. Riordan does a great job in introducing his readers to the various aspects of Roman culture. I loved comparing the differences between Greek and Roman mythology.
   The Son of Neptune introduces us to new demigods, Hazel and Frank, who come from very interesting backgrounds and have special powers that we haven't seen before. I don't want to go into their details in fear of giving a lot of the story away, but I'm always stunned how Riordan creates new fascinating characters that are ethnically diverse. I had absolutely no trouble in embracing these new heroes and I'm glad they were able to work together so well with Percy. 
   The Son of Neptune picks up nearly all of the key threads that were started in The Lost Hero. We get further hints as to the meaning of the prophecy about the seven half bloods. It's very possible that we've already met the seven demigods, but like readers of mythology, we all know that prophecies aren't always what they seem. Unlike the plots of the Percy Jackson series, where readers can guess which famous Greek hero stories Riordan uses for inspiration, The Heroes of Olympus is much more complex and intricate. We get a better understanding of what troubles the gods are having and why the Greek and Roman demigods must work together. If the Percy Jackson's overall lesson is to learn and accept family then the Heroes Olympus lesson seems to teach its characters and readers to challenge and not accept prejudices. The brooding tone of the book foreshadows the tough choices and sacrifices our heroes will make throughout this series.
   Unlike in the Percy Jackson series, which was written entirely in the first person, The Son of Neptune continues with the third person narrative, giving us the perspectives of Percy, Frank and, Hazel. This style feels more mature in many ways, especially since the characters are at different points in their lives. Percy has definitely grown since we last saw him, but he still holds on to those endearing characteristics that made readers love him. Just a warning: the book ends with a cliffhanger and I'm very anxious to see how things unfold in the next book. It's just too bad that we have to wait another year for the next book.

Rating: 5 stars

Curriculum Connection:  English and Social Studies

Words of Caution: There are some scary, fantasy violence that is PG rated. I think this book is appropriate for Grades 4 and up.

If you like this book try: The Mark of Athena (Book 3 of the Heroes of Olympus series, available Fall 2012), The Red Pyramid and Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan, Gods of Manhattan by Scott Mebus, The Night Tourist by Katherine Marsh, Shadow Thieves by Anne Ursu

 I absolutely love the Percy Jackson book series by Rick Riordan. I first read the first book in the series, The Lightening Thief, when it was featured on a the Abe Lincoln list, a reading list that teachers, students, and librarians in Illinois compile. As soon as I read the first page of the book, I knew I was in for a fun ride. I devoured each book and have been recommending it to people nonstop. When I finished the Percy story arc with The Last Olympian, I was bit saddened to leave Camp Half-Blood, a place where demigods learn about their heritage and study. When I heard that Riordan was going to do a spin off series called Heroes of Olympus, I was elated and I couldn't wait to get my hands on the first book, The Lost Hero. I just finished the book and I will say that it exceeded all of my expectations.
  Since the storyline for The Lost Hero is a bit complex, I will let the author describe the book to you:



Review: The Lost Hero picks up right where The Last Olympian left its readers. While the Heroes of Olympus is a spin off series of the Percy Jackson, I highly recommend that readers read the Percy Jackson series first in order to get a proper introduction to Camp Half-Blood and several major characters that are from the prior series. Otherwise readers may feel like they are dropped into a middle of a series and be a bit confused as to what is going on. 
  As the author mentioned in the video above, The Lost Hero introduced three new demigods: Jason, Piper, and Leo. All three characters are thrown in together at a school for troubled kids. During a school field trip at the Grand Canyon, they are attacked by mythical creatures and are whisked away to Camp Half-Blood where their demigod heritage is revealed. While at the camp, the trio learn that the gods of Olympus has been silent and that Percy Jackson has disappeared. If that is not enough unsettling news, the trio also discover they are involved in a new, dark, great, and complex prophecy: Seven half-bloods shall answer the call/To storm or fire the world must fall/An oath to keep with a final breath/and foes bear arms to the Doors of Death. Thus begins a new quest by the trio of newbies to find and free Hera.
  I continually appreciate that Riordan continues to give us both strong female and ethnically diverse characters. Leo is Latino and Piper is half Cherokee. He seems to effortlessly hits the right tone in depicting teenage language, emotions, and behaviors. He is able to make his characters complex by giving them interesting back stories and insecurities. I cared for each of his characters as the details of their lives are revealed in each of their chapters (the story is seamlessly told from each character's perspective without sacrificing pace and tone). With an equal balance of humor, action, and a dash of romance, I was never bored with The Lost Hero. In fact I tried really hard not to read the book so quickly because I knew I would have to wait a long time for the second book to come out.
 What I love about Riordan's books is that he is able to tell a story that is fun, action-packed and simultaneously educational. Since I love Greek mythology, I love the foreshadowing and allusions to some of the famous myths and characters. In The Lost Hero we get Roman mythology as well as Greek, which was the primary focus in the Percy Jackson series. I loved the discussions of the subtle differences in the gods from one culture to the other. The Roman names of the gods really kept me on my toes and I wanted to know more about both.
 As you can tell, I really loved this book and I can not wait until the second book reveals what happens to Percy. It was a blast getting to know these trio newbies as well as meeting old friends at Camp Half-Blood. 

Rating: 5 stars

Curriculum Connection:  English and Social Studies

Words of Caution: There are some scary, fantasy violence that is PG rated. I think this book is appropriate for Grades 4 and up.

If you like this book try: The Son of Neptune (Book 2 of the Heroes of Olympus series, available Fall 2011), The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan, Gods of Manhattan by Scott Mebus, The Night Tourist by Katherine Marsh