Reviews with content warning for Child abuse - The Lightning Thief

I haven't read this book since I was in fifth grade myself, but I picked it up again seven (?) years later to freshen my judgement for the new Percy Jackson series on Disney+.
I honestly thought that I might not like it that much now I did then, and that I'd find it childish, but... I really don't. Well, it's childish, of course, (it's for children), but not so much that I don't enjoy it? It's silly and funny, but not too silly. I think Riordan writes an excellent balance between humour and serious themes here.

There are times where the humour overshadows and ruins seriousness in books (and films especially, [cough-cough] MCU's Thor), but that is really not the case here! Riordan's humour does not make me think it appropriate to include themes such as grief and domestic abuse, and finding that balance can actually be quite difficult, but so important.

There's also me having forgotten how likeable Percy is as a character. What a charming little man.

I was very positively surprised by this book! My expectations weren't that high, given that I last read it in fifth grade and my standards then were «funny haha» and «mythos», but it still holds!

Content Warnings

fe_aye's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

What to say about Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief? It’s the start of Percy’s adventures through Greek Mythology and the world of Gods. As a Demigod Percy must bow to the whims of mysterious beings he has never met or risk extreme punishment.

This is his first adventure and the introduction to this world and its ways. Learning how the Gods play and the deadly consequences of making the wrong move.

A prophecy has been told, moves are being made and Percy Jackson is caught right in the centre, now the fate of the world rests in his hands with only a week of training, a sword, and his incomplete knowledge of mythology to guide him. Luckily he’s not alone, a quest is always undertaken by three, he has at his side his two friends Grover Underwood and Annabeth Chase, who aid him along the way for their own reasons tied to this quest by a mutual interest in not seeing the world fall apart.

This is such a good way to start the series and an amazing read even all these years later. The one that started everything. A good read if you’re looking for something easy to follow, educational and surprisingly funny. Any fan of Greek mythology will find their home at Camp Half-Blood.

Content Warnings