Author: Rick Riordan
Book Link

Yes, I’m late again to the party.

For some reason when all my students were reading this series, I decided to ignore getting a glimpse into their active interests. Then I discovered it wasn’t just my students, but people from all over the world.

Some have even called it the next Harry Potter.

Yet, here I stand (literally because I write standing up), many years later, finally getting into something the world already enjoyed. Then again, the reason I’m reading it is to familiarize myself with literature for future generations so it’s not a total loss.

As you would expect from that introduction, the book was fantastic.

Take the modern fantasy trope of a young person in our familiar world, discovers there’s something special about them, something special about the world and sent on a quest to save it.

Then add a heavy layer of Greek mythology and fast-paced writing.

Riordan does a great job of pacing the book in such a way that just when you think the action is slowing down, it picks up again rapidly. There’s always something happening in each chapter to keep you hooked, plus the overall mystery of why it’s happening in the first place.

Although it’s geared toward a younger audience, who undoubtedly love it, there was a bit too much deus-ex machina in it for me. Never once did I think our main character, Percy, was in real danger as there were too many outs given to him.

I’ll continue reading the series to see if this changes, but the tension was killed for me knowing he still had a special item given to him just before the danger… or being reminded about the water nearby.

However, I understand the need to do this because a newly minted reader won’t always hold those details in their head. They’re just reading to see what happens next and on that regard, this book delivers.

If you’re like me and coming to the party a bit late, I promise you there’s still a lot of room here and the party is still going.

Grab your copy and let’s chat.