Reviews with content warning for Blood - The Mark of Athena Excerpt

I have to say that this was the best book in the Heroes of Olympus series - I think Mark of Athena is just as good as the books in the original PJO series. This is the book where the seven all come together for the first time and the main quest of the series finally kicks off. I loved seeing all the relationships between the characters form and grow (it is such a testament to Rick Riordan's writing that each of the characters' skills, personalities, and individualism can all stand out in a book with seven main characters). I also really loved Annabeth's whole side plot, especially since it was told from her point of view - she has been such an important character since The Lightning Thief and now we finally get to hear her story told in her own voice. I really appreciated the references to real-life locations - it helped make the story more real to me and legitimately helped with some of the homesickness I am feeling for Atlanta right now. Also, the cliffhanger ending completely threw me for a loop and because of it, I will be starting the next book as soon as I finish this review. In conclusion, I had forgotten how good this book was and I'm so, so glad I reread it - it is definitely my favorite book so far in the series and I can honestly say I had no issues with it. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves good characters or a nice, solid quest story.

Content Warnings

bexi's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

RICK HOW DARE YOU LEAVE US ON SUCH A CLIFFHANGER?!

I'm glad I'm reading this series after it's already been completed.

Content Warnings

ridesthesun's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

THE GANGS ALL TOGETHER 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

I just love them so much. I love the alternative povs. I love them working together and growing together. They're just my babies 🥺🥺🥺 and PERCABETH BACK WOOOOOOOO 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

Honestly the "who could possibly be the most powerful of us" thread is SO FUNNY because they and us all know that it's Percy's goofy ass 😂😂😂 love nico at the end like "yeah no offense but y'all ain't shit compared to Percy" ABSOLUTE KING. PREACH MY TINY GAY.

My ooonly gripes with this one is the weird Frank/Hazel/Leo tension (and tbh the whole "gotta pair everyone off" thing is lame. They're teenagers, hazel is THIRTEEN, they don't *all* have to be in relationships or in relationship tension), and the kinda half developed Percy and Jason conflict. I would have LOVED to see them lose control of their powers in some argument with each other, kinda like how Percy and Thalia did earlier on. Not just with the possession scene, but when they're actually themselves. Them working together so well at the end would have been even more satisfying.

But I'm never ever ever ever going to recover from that ending.

"As long as we're together." holy fuck 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

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