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theintrovertsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence, Medical content, Murder, Racism, Torture, War, Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, Violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Abandonment, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Cannibalism, Confinement, and Kidnapping
kathrynleereads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
4.25
No matter how many times I read this book, it always guts me.
The Mark of Athena, the third installment in Rick Riordan's Heroes of Olympus series, finally brings together the demigods from the first two books, reuniting Percy and Jason with their old lives.
Percy and Annabeth's long-awaited reunion did not disappoint, but Jason's chance to catch up with old friends was cut tragically short.
Despite the fact that she wasn't in much of the story, I really grew to like Reyna. She's a smart and brave leader but also isn't above admitting her own weaknesses.
When facing rejection from both Percy and Jason, she takes it with her head held high and doesn't let her feelings impede her relationship with either of them.
It was so refreshing to have Annabeth as a main character again. I missed her after the Last Olympian. Just as Juno/Hera promised, Annabeth was tested beyond belief in the Mark of Athena.
Percy was as marvelous as ever, although I didn't love his little mini-rivalry with Jason.
They seemed to have figured it out by the end of the book, but I think it was a little out of character for either of them to be outwardly flustered by the others' power.
Similarly, Jason's main roles in the Mark of Athena seemed to be making things awkward when he and Percy were in a room (or field) together, and making things awkward whenever he was with Piper and the topic of Reyna was brought up.
Piper, however, was fabulous. She grew a lot throughout this book, constantly growing stronger not in power, but just as herself.
It took her most of the Lost Hero to become comfortable with the idea of being Aphrodite's daughter, but now she's learned how to turn that into strength.
Leo was also his amazing self. Often being the comic relief, it would have been easy for Leo to be swept aside in terms of growth compared to the other characters, but because of his connection to Hazel through Sammy, that wasn't the case at all.
Learning about Sammy and getting to dive deeper into Hazel's past was also great. While she was definitely a force to be reckoned with, I have a feeling that her real time to shine is still coming.
Which brings us to Frank. Reading the first two books, Frank was my least favorite of the featured six demigods.
The burst of confidence he got after the battle in the Field of Mars has completely changed my opinion of him.
It seems like he's finally coming into his element and, like Piper, learning that his godly parent doesn't define who he is.
And finally, Coach Hedge. I was surprised when I read that the Coach was accompanying the seven on the Argo II as their companion, but now I'm so glad that he is.
Coach Hedge provides the perfect balance of comic relief and (often misguided) parental presence that most of the demigods sorely lack.
I'm really excited to see where The House of Hades takes these young demigods!
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Confinement, War, Grief, Animal cruelty, Death, Animal death, Blood, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Sexism, and Violence
orchidlilly's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, War, Grief, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Death, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Child death
Minor: Animal death, Medical content, Racism, Torture, Confinement, and Fatphobia
rayne_1906's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.5
4 hours 42 minutes - This rating is a compromise between a lower rating for the beginning of the book, and a higher rating for the end of the book. I cannot be sure however, whether it is the book itself that I didn't enjoy as much in the beginning, or whether that was due to the stress I was feeling when I was reading that part. Nevertheless, the ending of this book was one of the best I've read of Riordan yet - I love how the three groups of characters end up joining back together only for things to end in tragedy, perfectly setting up the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, and Medical content
Minor: Alcohol, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexism
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