canada_matt 's review for:

Percy Jackson and the Singer of Apollo by Rick Riordan
4.0
adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
With a short story used to fill the time before the next full-length (and to some, unexpected) novel in the Percy Jackson series, I took the plunge. I have enjoyed Rick Riordan’s other work in the series and this did not look too taxing. Percy and his friend Grover are sent on an impromptu mission to locate an essential item for Apollo. Traversing the streets of NYC, these two will have to put themselves out there in order to save the day, as a melody for success remains just beyond their reach.

It’s Grover’s birthday, so Percy has been spending some time with his best friend in New York City, home to the centre of the Greek universe at present. However, when Apollo appears and seeks their help, they are forced to suspend the party experience. One of Apollo’s Chryseae Celedones have gone rogue. These golden, living statues have the most angelic voices, but with only three, Apollo is worried that his concert that evening will fall flat. As Percy feels the pressure to help out the god, he takes Grover along, who is armed with a magical lyre. They follow the sound of the Celedone’s voice, hoping to locate and trap her before too long. She is a little sly and is able to dodge them at first, hoping to blend in with the other ‘unique’ characters across New York City. Working together, Percy and Grover find a plan that might work, saving them the ire of Apollo and keeping the gods happy at the concert on Mount Olympus tonight. A great short piece that is sure to impress series fans.

I started this series over the summer with my son and have decided to keep the ball rolling in order to finish. With an unexpected sixth book in the series about to be released, I took a moment to read this short story to pass the time. Rick Riordan offers up a wonderful short story that can easily be read in a single sitting. Without the need for complex narrative direction, the author injects a little humour and gives the reader a sense of adventure. Those familiar with Percy Jackson and Grover will enjoy the banter found herein. No real character development, but a reminder of how easy to read this series tends to be, as well as how it caters to readers of all ages. Riordan does well to check all the boxes and has me eager for the next novel, to continue to Percy Jackson series.

Kudos, Mr. Riordan, for some great writing.

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