I cannot shut up about it any longer. So far, my journey with The Heroes of Olympus is by standards, superior. Thus, I decided to do a joint book review for the first two books. I am currently reading The Mark of Athena whilst you are reading this review. I am so glad that I picked up those books from the library. Paying for an overdue fee just to finish The Son of Neptune was WORTH IT. Also, I just finished the second book today. Luckily, the third book was already there at the library when I finished the book during my vacant period. I wanted to grab the fourth book as well but my bag was already too heavy. But enough about me and my shenanigans. It’s time for… HEROES OF OLYMPUS!
Title: The Lost Hero
Author: Rick Riordan
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Young Adult Fiction
Year Published: October 12th 2010
Series: The Heroes of Olympus (Book #1)
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion Books
Source: Borrowed from the library
Summary:
Jason has a problem.
He doesn’t remember anything before waking up in a bus full of kids on a field trip. Apparently he has a girlfriend named Piper, and a best friend named Leo. They’re all students at a boarding school for “bad kids.” What did Jason do to end up here? And where is here, exactly?
Piper has a secret.
Her father has been missing for three days, ever since she had that terrifying nightmare about his being in trouble. Piper doesn’t understand her dream, or why her boyfriend suddenly doesn’t recognize her. When a freak storm hits during the school trip, unleashing strange creatures and whisking her, Jason, and Leo away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood, she has a feeling she’s going to find out.
Leo has a way with tools.
When he sees his cabin at Camp Half-Blood, filled with power tools and machine parts, he feels right at home. But there’s weird stuff, too—like the curse everyone keeps talking about, and some camper who;s gone missing. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist that each of them—including Leo—is related to a god. Does this have anything to do with Jason’s amnesia, or the fact that Leo keeps seeing ghosts?
via Goodreads
I was actually reluctant to pick up this series when I first heard of it. The sound of Romans suddenly clashing with the Greeks did not give me the right impression. And then when the names of lead characters came out, I was baffled by the fact that Percy was missing. WHERE IS HE? Some kids named Jason, Piper and Leo get to narrate the story. My then 13 or 14 year old self said no. Just because Percy Jackson was M.I.A. Sometimes it just happens, especially if you reimagine Percy as Logan Lerman.
Then after a few years later, I accepted the goddess Athena as my mother again and made the right choice to read books again. And I took back everything as soon as I put the down the book.
Here are the reasons why I suddenly became a converted person:
- It has been a long time since I last read a Rick Riordan book. All the excitement rushed to my blood.
- Jason Grace is perfect. But I also have a problem with that. I will note it down later.
- Leo Valdez is the most amazing person ever. He is funny, sweet and sincere.
- Piper McLean has impressed me. Not just as a daughter of Aphrodite, because I do not underestimate a demigod, no matter who’s child they are. I liked her as a whole person but there’s still some stuff to consider.
- This book has reawakened my love for seeking knowledge and it made me catch up with my history.
- I have been on the edge of my seat because I seriously wanted Percy to appear. But yeah, The Lost Hero. Definitely makes sense now.
Now let’s proceed to the next troublemaker.
Title: The Son of Neptune
Author: Rick Riordan
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Young Adult Fiction
Year Published: October 4th 2011
Series: The Heroes of Olympus (Book #2)
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion Books
Source: Borrowed from the library
Summary:
Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,
To storm or fire the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.
Percy is confused. When he awoke from his long sleep, he didn’t know much more than his name. His brain fuzz is lingering, even after the wolf Lupa told him he is a demigod and trained him to fight with the pen/sword in his pocket. Somehow Percy manages to make it to a camp for half-bloods, despite the fact that he has to keep killing monsters along the way. But the camp doesn’t ring any bells with him. The only thing he can recall from his past is another name: Annabeth
Hazel is supposed to be dead. When she lived before, she didn’t do a very good job of it. Sure, she was an obedient daughter, even when her mother was possessed by greed. But that was the problem — when the Voice took over her mother and commanded Hazel to use her “gift” for an evil purpose, Hazel couldn’t say no. Now because of her mistake, the future of the world is at risk. Hazel wished she could ride away from it all on the stallion that appears in her dreams.
Frank is a klutz. His grandmother says he is descended from heroes and can be anything he wants to be, but he doesn’t see it. He doesn’t even know who his father is. He keeps hoping Apollo will claim him, because the only thing he is good at is archery — although not good enough to win camp war games. His bulky physique makes him feel like an ox, especially infront of Hazel, his closest friend at camp. He trusts her completely — enough to share the secret he holds close to his heart.
Beginning at the “other” camp for half-bloods and extending as far as the land beyond the gods, this breathtaking second installment of the Heroes of Olympus series introduces new demigods, revives fearsome monsters, and features other remarkable creatures, all destined to play a part in the Prophesy of Seven.
via Goodreads
Let’s just say that when I saw Percy’s name on the back and his beautiful face on the cover, I cuddled with the book that I forgot I was only borrowing it. I missed Percy so much that I practically enjoyed and leaped with happiness while reading this book. I laughed and my friends looked at me weirdly. The reason: Percy, kaboom, Romans not used to the Greek fighting style. HA TAKE THAT ROMAN CAMP. Also… SPOILERS.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. IF YOU HAVE NOT YET READ SON OF NEPTUNE, KEEP ON SCROLLING. OR ELSE TERMINUS WILL BLOW UP ON YOUR FACE.
- Percy Jackson is still the best demigod ever.
- Hazel Levesque is the prettiest undead girl.
- Frank Zhang is overly-underestimated. He lacks the courage to even do stuff.
- The second book is much more action packed than the last one.
- You might want to prepare yourself for Octavian, the Julius Caesar wannabe who’s too good with speeches.
- Also, Amazon’s ran by the Amazons.
- Can I just say that Mother Earth is the cruelest thing ever? And I mean that in a good way.
Now here are the problems I have with the books…
I felt like I read the second book before. It is in the form of the first book, where I can see some similarities with the way the three leads act.
Piper and Hazel = Life threatening secrets, which are really not?
Leo and Frank = Secret powers that they thought are scary but are very awesome and actually very useful in combat.
Jason and Percy = Perfect. Just perfect.
But to be fair, I felt the uniqueness each character beholds. I loved Leo Valdez the most, since his sense of humor made me smile the brightest and he just so… gyaaaah. I just… fangirling.
Yet overall, I missed reading Rick Riordan’s works. It made me feel like I’m in the zone again. And I am definitely back with my reading habits. I am like Gaea fully awakened, ready for war. Although I am kidding because my war is all about conquering the tower of books that my reading slump has let me stack. Thank you so much Rick Riordan. You have my highest respects.
“Rick Riordan is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, the Kane Chronicles, the Heroes of Olympus, and Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard. He is also the author of the multi-award-winning Tres Navarre mystery series for adults.
For fifteen years, Rick taught English and history at public and private middle schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Texas. While teaching in San Antonio, Saint Mary’s Hall honored him with the school’s first Master Teacher Award.
While teaching full time, Riordan began writing mystery novels for grownups. His Tres Navarre series went on to win the top three national awards in the mystery genre – the Edgar, the Anthony and the Shamus. Riordan turned to children’s fiction when he started The Lightning Thief as a bedtime story for his oldest son.
Today over forty million copies of his Percy Jackson, Kane Chronicles, and Heroes of Olympus books are in print in the United States, and rights have been sold into more than 37 countries. Rick is also the author of The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones, another #1 New York Times bestseller
Rick Riordan now writes full-time. He lives in Boston with his wife and two sons.”
Because it is the very epitome of getting pumped while reading. I will forever love Camp Half-Blood. And probably Camp Jupiter soon enough. I cannot wait to review The Mark of Athena and The House of Hades. Thank God, I’m not slumping anymore. ❤ Hope you enjoyed this review and comment below if you share the sentiments. Although, don’t spoil me. Or else things will get serious. Also Leo Valdez so…
The Ultimate Fangirl 