The Last Olympian

Title: The Last Olympian
Author: Rick Riordan
Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Book 5)
Genre: Juvenile Fiction



The fifth and final book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series was one I couldn't put down. Almost the entire book was the final battle to save Olympus and Manhattan.

When we last left Percy, Camp Half-Blood and all of his friends, they knew the Titan lord Kronos had risen and taken over the body of their "friend" Luke. The big battle was coming, they knew it and were preparing themselves for the battle.

Kronos sends a humongous monster, Typhon to distract the Gods. They all leave Olympus (well, not Posiedan and Hades, they stay in their own kingdoms, they have some grudges). Of course this is what Kronos was hoping on and he starts his advance on Manhattan/Olympus (found on the 600th floor of Empire State Building).

Percy figures out what he is going to do before he does it, in part by a few visions. He cannot convince the Gods to come back and defend Olympus, but he does gather all the half-bloods from camp. It is up to them to hold back the army and save Olympus. We also have the chance to see Percy's Prophecy come true.

Battle of the Labyrinth

Title: Battle of the Labyrinth
Author: Rick Riordan
Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Book 4)
Genre: Juvenile Fiction



Book #4 in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series is Battle of the Labyrinth. As with each of the other books in the series it begins with Percy and his new school. Following set pattern, something happens to get him basically kicked out of school and he flees to Camp Half Blood.

This is the book of Annabeth's quest. She, Percy, Tyson and Grover must enter the Labyrinth, a maze that is below most of the continent (and perhaps then some) where time is skewed. They must battle through new monsters and *gasp* ask a mere mortal for help.

Near the end of this book Kronos is reborn into a body and starts to come after them. They manage to deter him for the time being and I can imagine that the battle to end all will be the fifth and final book of the series, The Last Olympian, due out May 5th.

I am awaiting it anxiously to find the end of our hero Percy's story.

The Titans Curse'

Title: The Titan's Curse
Author: Rick Riordan
Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Book 3)
Genre: Juvenile Fiction



As mentioned in the previous post, I couldn't stop following Percy in his adventures. I finished the third book, The Titan's Curse the same day as the second. Needless to say, I'm already into the fourth.

Percy, Annabeth and Thalia help Grover find 2 new half bloods, Nico and Bianca. They also meet the Hunters who are led by the Goddess Artemis. Apollo arrives and the crew rides in his sun chariot (a flashy sports car that turns into a bus), but not before Annabeth goes missing.

They get to camp and hear a prophecy saying that five of them must make the journey and rescue both Annabeth and Artemis. Thalia and Grover are chosen as the two campers to go on the adventure, but Percy also joins them later.

This is the time when the Titan Lord Kronas is at his closest to being able to rise and take over. Percy and friends must deal with this to the largest extreme so far.

The Sea of Monsters

Title: The Sea of Monsters
Author: Rick Riordan
Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Book 2)
Genre: Juvenile Fiction



The Second Installment of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians is The Sea of Monsters. It didn't disappoint and I enjoyed it just as much as I did the first one. I think this is fast becoming a favorite series of mine and I just wish there was going to be more than 5 books in it.

Upon looking at the cover, initially and throughout reading the story I am amazed at how much is shown, although you'd never know. When checking it out half way through I notice things that I hadn't noticed during the first glance before I started reading it.

Percy meets a homeless boy, Tyson, who is taken in as a charity case at his current private school. Percy is his only friend and often gets picked on because of it. Monsters attack Percy's school and he and Tyson run away to Camp Half Blood with the help of Annabeth and Grover. When they get there everything is crazy. The enchanted tree that helps keep the camp safe is dying and the borders are relaxed. Chiron has been dismissed and nothing is the way it should be. Of course it is up to Percy to save the day yet again.

We meet several new gods this time including Hermes.

The minute I put this book down I picked up the third and started reading it. They truely are an engaging and wonderful story that is hard to leave alone.

The Lightning Thief

Title: The Lightening Thief
Author: Rick Riordan
Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Book 1)
Genre: Juvenile Fiction



Wow - two posts, one day. I really enjoyed the book I finished today, The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. It is the first book in the Percy and the Olympians series. This series is for late elementary/early middle school readers.

In this installment Percy learns that he is a demi-god. His father is Poseidon and he enrolls in a Half Blood Summer Camp. Here he meets other demi-gods and starts to hone (only a bit) his abilities. We learn that there is a War about to be had between the Big 3 - Zeus, Poseidon and Hades. Zeus had a main thunderbolt that was the inspiration for all other thunderbolts, and it has been stolen. This is the story of Percy's quest to find the thunderbolt, bring it back and stop the war. Of course it doesn't happen nearly as easily as that.

I wish that I knew more about Greek Mythology, and while I know enough, it would be easier to see connections and follow things if I was well versed. The book does explain things well, though for those who are not.

There will only be 5 books in the series and the final one comes out May 2009.

I have a younger brother in fifth grade, and I am definitely going to recommend this series to him. I think it had a very action packed story line and was a quick and easy read (for me). I want to dive right into the next book and am heading off to the library ASAP to pick it up.

This is also going to be a movie (hurray!). Current release date is Feb 12, 2010 according to IMDB.