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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Rick Riordan lo ha hecho de nuevo. Es una de las series de libros que más disfruto.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
narrator is bad
The magical barrier around Camp Half-Blood is failing as someone has poisoned the tree protecting them. Percy and friends are given another quest to find a magical item that could cure the ailment. While on their journey, Grover also reaches out to Percy for assistance due to his quest for Pan putting his life in peril. Will he be able to save his friends and the camp? Or will the evil working against them prevail?
Another fun romp, though I definitely liked this one less than the first. I think we jumped way too quickly into the adventures/quest and right back into the monster of the chapter format, so I found it a little less interesting. However it did further some of the world building and character development on top of introducing some new players. We were also left on a good cliffhanger that really excites me to continue on. I'm still hoping for these books to slow down a little bit and give us more character moments, but it just may be a hope in vein as that's simply not how these are constructed. I'm certainly still interested and I will say more excited to read the following entry after that ending. This also furthers home that these are just fun books despite what age you are, I'm having quite a good time and you're never too old to pick them up/give them a go.
SPOILERS FROM HERE ON
I absolutely LOVE Tyson!! He's Percy's new, and only, friend from this past school year and turns out he's a baby cyclops who found his way to Percy and he is such a little angel. The god world, for some reason, is super prejudiced against cyclops, like horribly, cruelly so, even Annabeth. I was genuinely shocked at their blatant bigotry and immediate vitriol and was so saddened when Percy marginally shrunk back/acted embarrassed of Tyson especially when he found out he too is a child of Poseidon. I think it's just that they're considered more 'beast' than person, and Annabeth at least has a reason for disliking them. Basically they hunted them on the quest she took with Luke, Grover, and Thalia (Thalia being the child of Zeus who turned into a tree after she almost died trying to protect them/is now the tree that is being poisoned on the edge of camp), but it was still horrifying. Tyson is pure innocence, he reads like a young child or someone with special needs, he's so well meaning and darling, I was immediately protective of him. Like when they got the hippocampi (basically mermaid horses) he's like 'pony!' and they love him too, because of course. Also in the end Tyson is like, 'our dad gave me my wish and brought me to you'(Percy) because he wished for a friend, LIKE BESTILL MY HEART WHAT A LITTLE CREAMPUFF SWEETIE PIE! Also the boy is CLUTCH in their adventures, literally saving Percy and co's lives left and right. Percy's love for Tyson does lead him to trust the cyclops that had kidnapped Grover to his detriment, BUT then Tyson saved him so I mean, it all turned out fine. In the end, Tyson's offered a job to work with forging in the underworld, so I'm sad he's leaving, but I'm hopeful we'll see him again. I adored him, definitely my favorite bit of this book.
There was not NEARLY enough camp, in my opinion, even worse than book 1 and I fear that may be the format of these books continuing on. I found it funny Percy began this book saying 'soon I'll be going back to camp, my favorite place in the world' which is all well and good, but I don't think it's entirely earned. It felt like he was trying to get the Hogwarts payoff, but we're given so little of camp, I don't really buy that. If he had said being back with his friends or fellow demi-gods, back with people who truly understand him, I'd buy that more, but alas. Also the camp protections are failing due to the poisoned tree, so we get the crew running off to find the golden fleece like almost immediately along with the bonkers Grover side quest. Basically Grover left last book in search of Pan, again not really sure why just something satyrs do I guess, but he found out why no one ever comes back because the journey sends them into the cyclops Polyphemus's lair and he eats satyrs. Grover is able to hold him off by pretending to be a potential bride, which works as apparently the cyclops has bad vision, truly such a strange, albeit hilarious, side plot that I can't believe is real, but here we are I guess. It all turns out fine and conveniently he also possesses the golden fleece, but yeah, a real strange one.
We meet Hermes, who's basically the one that sends Percy on this quest. Apparently the camp suspected Chiron of sabotaging the tree, due to the fact that Kronos is his father (though, aren't all the major gods, Zeus, Hades, Poseidon etc, Kronos's kids?? If we're going off real mythology they are, so idk why he'd be different) so they bring in this new dude, Tantalus to run the camp and he's just a huge dick that hates Percy and derives pleasure from screwing with the kids/he refuses to allow Percy to see the oracle for a new quest. So Hemes gives them some convenient magical items, including these hilarious multivitamins that can protect them or heal them, and also expresses that he hopes Percy will try to help Luke, who's his kid. It furthers my belief that Luke will get a redemption arc in time, at least I hope so.
My favorite side quest is probably when they bump into PJ's version of Circe who hates men and straight up turns Percy into a guinea pig, because men are pigs, but they're easier than real pigs to deal with, so silly. She tries to brainwash Annabeth, even giving her this little makeover and Percy is like, oh shit, I never realized she's super cute, it's a very sweet Percabeth moment and I most definitely clocked it. And Annabeth is able to escape with the multivitamins, a very funny use for those magic items, it made me chuckle.
While Percy wasn't given leave to do a quest, Clarisse actually was, the bully/daughter of Ares from book one. She actually was the only one who had a bit of an arc this entry, aside from most coming around to Tyson. Basically she's sick of Percy/Annabeth getting all the glory and wants to prove her abilities, even more so when she's the one given the quest. She's quite prideful and very much wishes to do this alone, even when we find out her legit prophecy says she has to rely on others to succeed, and I did enjoy her finally working with Percy to obtain the fleece and work together against Luke, even though she's still not a huge fan. Percy ends up trusting her to be able to get the fleece back to camp and save the tree, letting her get the glory and go back alone, much to Luke's irritation who didn't think he'd have it in him to let it out of his sight, it's a nice moment and some actual development, to my surprise and joy. I also like that Percy is able to think in the grand scheme. Not that chosen ones like HP don't, but he pretty much always comes out the hero at the end of each book, so it's nice that Percy is so willing to stand aside and let others share in his spotlight.
And then we get to that crazy cliffhanger! So, the fleece works and repairs the tree, BUT apparently it works TOO well and ends up bringing Thalia back to life, as mentioned above she's the child of Zeus who almost died trying to save the others on their last quest, which is truly wild. This legit left me with an 'oh shit' moment and I didn't see it coming! I know she's an overarching presence of this group, but I really didn't think she'd come back, never occurred to me it was even possible, so that was such a good twist and cliffhanger, I'm really excited to get more of her and see how that affects the dynamics. Especially since she's another child of the big 3, so potentially could affect the prophecy.
As said above I do wish this series would slow down. Legit Clarisse is the only one who has any semblance of an arc in this book and we don't learn a ton about anyone else. We get a teeny bit about Annabeth and we get Tyson, but really not much else. I like these characters and want to see them grow as a unit and as individuals, especially since a year is passing each book, as of now at least, so I'm hoping to see more. Not to harp on HP, but Harry is DRASTICALLY different even just going from book 1 to 2, and those books are also very short, but they still allow for a ton of time to develop everyone and the dynamics shift a ton from book to book as well. I don't mind the side quests and multitude of action, but I'd prefer it to also further delve deeper into these characters. Again, this series is aimed at tween boys, so I may just be asking too much of it, but it's my wish. Regardless, I adore Percy and friends, and I look forward to seeing what happens next!
Another fun romp, though I definitely liked this one less than the first. I think we jumped way too quickly into the adventures/quest and right back into the monster of the chapter format, so I found it a little less interesting. However it did further some of the world building and character development on top of introducing some new players. We were also left on a good cliffhanger that really excites me to continue on. I'm still hoping for these books to slow down a little bit and give us more character moments, but it just may be a hope in vein as that's simply not how these are constructed. I'm certainly still interested and I will say more excited to read the following entry after that ending. This also furthers home that these are just fun books despite what age you are, I'm having quite a good time and you're never too old to pick them up/give them a go.
SPOILERS FROM HERE ON
I absolutely LOVE Tyson!! He's Percy's new, and only, friend from this past school year and turns out he's a baby cyclops who found his way to Percy and he is such a little angel. The god world, for some reason, is super prejudiced against cyclops, like horribly, cruelly so, even Annabeth. I was genuinely shocked at their blatant bigotry and immediate vitriol and was so saddened when Percy marginally shrunk back/acted embarrassed of Tyson especially when he found out he too is a child of Poseidon. I think it's just that they're considered more 'beast' than person, and Annabeth at least has a reason for disliking them. Basically they hunted them on the quest she took with Luke, Grover, and Thalia (Thalia being the child of Zeus who turned into a tree after she almost died trying to protect them/is now the tree that is being poisoned on the edge of camp), but it was still horrifying. Tyson is pure innocence, he reads like a young child or someone with special needs, he's so well meaning and darling, I was immediately protective of him. Like when they got the hippocampi (basically mermaid horses) he's like 'pony!' and they love him too, because of course. Also in the end Tyson is like, 'our dad gave me my wish and brought me to you'(Percy) because he wished for a friend, LIKE BESTILL MY HEART WHAT A LITTLE CREAMPUFF SWEETIE PIE! Also the boy is CLUTCH in their adventures, literally saving Percy and co's lives left and right. Percy's love for Tyson does lead him to trust the cyclops that had kidnapped Grover to his detriment, BUT then Tyson saved him so I mean, it all turned out fine. In the end, Tyson's offered a job to work with forging in the underworld, so I'm sad he's leaving, but I'm hopeful we'll see him again. I adored him, definitely my favorite bit of this book.
There was not NEARLY enough camp, in my opinion, even worse than book 1 and I fear that may be the format of these books continuing on. I found it funny Percy began this book saying 'soon I'll be going back to camp, my favorite place in the world' which is all well and good, but I don't think it's entirely earned. It felt like he was trying to get the Hogwarts payoff, but we're given so little of camp, I don't really buy that. If he had said being back with his friends or fellow demi-gods, back with people who truly understand him, I'd buy that more, but alas. Also the camp protections are failing due to the poisoned tree, so we get the crew running off to find the golden fleece like almost immediately along with the bonkers Grover side quest. Basically Grover left last book in search of Pan, again not really sure why just something satyrs do I guess, but he found out why no one ever comes back because the journey sends them into the cyclops Polyphemus's lair and he eats satyrs. Grover is able to hold him off by pretending to be a potential bride, which works as apparently the cyclops has bad vision, truly such a strange, albeit hilarious, side plot that I can't believe is real, but here we are I guess. It all turns out fine and conveniently he also possesses the golden fleece, but yeah, a real strange one.
We meet Hermes, who's basically the one that sends Percy on this quest. Apparently the camp suspected Chiron of sabotaging the tree, due to the fact that Kronos is his father (though, aren't all the major gods, Zeus, Hades, Poseidon etc, Kronos's kids?? If we're going off real mythology they are, so idk why he'd be different) so they bring in this new dude, Tantalus to run the camp and he's just a huge dick that hates Percy and derives pleasure from screwing with the kids/he refuses to allow Percy to see the oracle for a new quest. So Hemes gives them some convenient magical items, including these hilarious multivitamins that can protect them or heal them, and also expresses that he hopes Percy will try to help Luke, who's his kid. It furthers my belief that Luke will get a redemption arc in time, at least I hope so.
My favorite side quest is probably when they bump into PJ's version of Circe who hates men and straight up turns Percy into a guinea pig, because men are pigs, but they're easier than real pigs to deal with, so silly. She tries to brainwash Annabeth, even giving her this little makeover and Percy is like, oh shit, I never realized she's super cute, it's a very sweet Percabeth moment and I most definitely clocked it. And Annabeth is able to escape with the multivitamins, a very funny use for those magic items, it made me chuckle.
While Percy wasn't given leave to do a quest, Clarisse actually was, the bully/daughter of Ares from book one. She actually was the only one who had a bit of an arc this entry, aside from most coming around to Tyson. Basically she's sick of Percy/Annabeth getting all the glory and wants to prove her abilities, even more so when she's the one given the quest. She's quite prideful and very much wishes to do this alone, even when we find out her legit prophecy says she has to rely on others to succeed, and I did enjoy her finally working with Percy to obtain the fleece and work together against Luke, even though she's still not a huge fan. Percy ends up trusting her to be able to get the fleece back to camp and save the tree, letting her get the glory and go back alone, much to Luke's irritation who didn't think he'd have it in him to let it out of his sight, it's a nice moment and some actual development, to my surprise and joy. I also like that Percy is able to think in the grand scheme. Not that chosen ones like HP don't, but he pretty much always comes out the hero at the end of each book, so it's nice that Percy is so willing to stand aside and let others share in his spotlight.
And then we get to that crazy cliffhanger! So, the fleece works and repairs the tree, BUT apparently it works TOO well and ends up bringing Thalia back to life, as mentioned above she's the child of Zeus who almost died trying to save the others on their last quest, which is truly wild. This legit left me with an 'oh shit' moment and I didn't see it coming! I know she's an overarching presence of this group, but I really didn't think she'd come back, never occurred to me it was even possible, so that was such a good twist and cliffhanger, I'm really excited to get more of her and see how that affects the dynamics. Especially since she's another child of the big 3, so potentially could affect the prophecy.
As said above I do wish this series would slow down. Legit Clarisse is the only one who has any semblance of an arc in this book and we don't learn a ton about anyone else. We get a teeny bit about Annabeth and we get Tyson, but really not much else. I like these characters and want to see them grow as a unit and as individuals, especially since a year is passing each book, as of now at least, so I'm hoping to see more. Not to harp on HP, but Harry is DRASTICALLY different even just going from book 1 to 2, and those books are also very short, but they still allow for a ton of time to develop everyone and the dynamics shift a ton from book to book as well. I don't mind the side quests and multitude of action, but I'd prefer it to also further delve deeper into these characters. Again, this series is aimed at tween boys, so I may just be asking too much of it, but it's my wish. Regardless, I adore Percy and friends, and I look forward to seeing what happens next!
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
tense
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
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I have no idea why I didn’t read this series when I was a kid
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated