Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1
Author: Rick Riordan
Publication Year: 2005, by Disney Hyperion Books
Rating: 4/5
Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse-Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him.
When Percy's mom finds out, she knows it's time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he'll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea.
Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends -- one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena -- Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.
You probably already know everything about this series, because it's been around for a while and it's a really popular series, but I refused to read it until recently. I had this idea in my head that it tried to copy Harry Potter - it's fantasy middle grade book. They're all the same, right?
How about no.
It pretty much had nothing to do with Harry Potter, but it was really good. Percy, the only living Son of Poseidon, is brought to Camp Half-Blood to be protected from the evil that lives outside the camp's gates. Of course things don't go as planned - why would they? This book had great action, great characters and oh my God GREEK GODS.
Remember my rambling from The Goddess Test review? Yeah, I've loved greek gods my entire life, so Rick Riordan's books should be right up my alley. It just didn't blow me away, for some reason. I really liked this books, I just don't feel like it's that close to my heart - after reading the first Harry Potter book, I just wanted more and more and more. It didn't happen this time.
Though, I'm not losing hope. Some series just get better as you go along and I'm hoping to love this world more. I loved Rick Riordan's take on some gods - especially on Dionysius, the director of the camp (and also the God of Wine, from last year's history lesson).
And now we sail towards the Sea of Monsters!
