The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan

Series:
Percy Jackson and the Olympians #6

Genre:
Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Mythology, Greek Mythology, Folklore, Middle-Grade School, Academia, Middle School, High School, Adventure, First Person Point of View, Contemporary, Young Adult, Humor

Publication Date:
September 26, 2023

Pages Numbers:
268

Read Date:
January 8th, 2024

Date Finished:
January 9th, 2024

Rating:
5/5

Blurb:

Percy Jackson, modern-day son of Poseidon, is just trying to get through high school. After saving the world multiple times by battling monsters, Titans, and giants, Percy is now settling in at Alternative High School in New York, where he hopes to finally have a normal senior year.

Unfortunately, the gods aren’t quite done with him yet. Poseidon breaks the bad news that if Percy expects to get into New Rome University, he will have to fulfill three quests in order to earn the necessary three letters of recommendation from Mount Olympus.

The first task is to help Ganymede, Zeus’s cupbearer, retrieve his golden goblet before it falls into the wrong hands. You see, one sip from it can turn a mortal into a god, and Zeus would not be pleased with that result. Can Percy and his friends Grover and Annabeth find the precious cup in time? And if they do, will they be able to resist its special power?

Readers new to Percy Jackson universe and fans who have been awaiting this reunion for more than a decade will delight equally in this latest hilarious take on Greek mythology by the "storyteller of the gods."

Review:

Being the son of Poseidon is never easy and Percy Jackson will attest to that fact. He has taken down the Titans and restored the Olympians to their place, but one would think that they would be a bit less harsh on him. Yeah, not going to happen especially when on his college form for New Rome University, he has to have three God recommendations. This is not going to be an easy task...that is until the moment Ganymede calls upon Percy for help - the Chalice of the Gods is missing and he needs it before Zeus learns it's gone.

It has been what? A little over ten years since we last had a Percy Jackson adventure? Nevertheless, we do and this time we have new characters - new lesser gods and a quest that requires Percy to seek out recommendations to attend New Rome University.

It is always great to see Percy return. You would think the Gods would give him a break but you know how that has always turned out and this book is no different. The only difference is that someone has taken Ganymede's chalice and now it is up to Percy, Annabeth, and Grover to retrieve it while also trying to get recommendations. This book was a fun adventure for those familiar with Percy Jackson. His sarcastic self alongside the chapter titles are always a welcoming addition.

The Chalice of the Gods returns us to the world of Percy Jackson and back to the unique blending of ancient mythology with modern-day settings and relatable teenage protagonists has been highly praised by readers and critics alike. For any fan of Rick Riordan, this book is something you should add to your collection.

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The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins
Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
Divergent Series by Veronica Roth

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

Series:
Percy Jackson and the Olympians #5

Genre:
Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Mythology, Greek Mythology, Folklore, Middle-Grade School, Academia, Middle School, High School, Adventure, First Person Point of View, Contemporary, Young Adult, Humor

Publication Date:
May 5, 2009

Pages Numbers:
381

Read Date:
January 4th, 2024

Date Finished:
January 5th, 2024

Rating:
5/5

Blurb:

All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds of victory are grim. Kronos's army is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, the evil Titan's power only grows.

While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now it's up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time.

In this momentous final book in the New York Times best-selling series, the long-awaited prophecy surrounding Percy's sixteenth birthday unfolds. And as the battle for Western civilization rages on the streets of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate.

Review:

Wow! What a rollercoaster of a ride this series has been. I have loved the Percy Jackson series since the moment my Mom asked for help in preparing a book report for my niece. The finale book is always the most bittersweet. While book two will be my main favorite, this last book in the Percy Jackson series has become my second favorite. The characters have grown since the beginning. We have watched Percy Jackson and his friends struggle through countless battles and challenges, and it has been an incredible journey.

The development of the characters throughout the series is one of the things I have loved the most. Percy himself has transformed from an unsure and inexperienced demigod to a true hero who is willing to sacrifice everything for his friends and the greater good. Annabeth has become a strong and independent young woman, and the friendship between Percy and Annabeth has grown into something truly special.

The final battle in this book is epic and intense. Rick Riordan has a way of writing action scenes that keep you on the edge of your seat, and this book is no exception. I was completely invested in the outcome and the fate of the characters I had come to love so much.

But with every high, there must also be a low. And that is why the ending of this series is bittersweet. While I am thrilled with the way everything wraps up and the resolution of the main plot, saying goodbye to these characters is hard. They have become like friends to me, and it's sad to know that their story has come to an end.

The Percy Jackson series has been a thrilling and unforgettable adventure. It has captured my imagination and taken me on a journey I will always cherish. I am grateful to Rick Riordan for creating such a rich and immersive world, and I know that I will revisit these books again and again.

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The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan

Series:
Percy Jackson and the Olympians #3

Genre:
Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Mythology, Greek Mythology, Folklore, Middle-Grade School, Academia, Middle School, High School, Adventure, First Person Point of View, Contemporary, Young Adult, Humor

Publication Date:
May 5, 2007

Pages Numbers:
320

Read Date:
January 2nd, 2024

Date Finished:
January 3rd, 2024

Rating:
5/5

Blurb:

It's not everyday you find yourself in combat with a half-lion, half-human.

But when you're the son of a Greek god, it happens. And now my friend Annabeth is missing, a goddess is in chains and only five half-blood heroes can join the quest to defeat the doomsday monster.

Oh, and guess what? The Oracle has predicted that not all of us will survive...

Review:

In The Titan's Curse, the third installment of the Percy Jackson series, the presence of an oracle dramatically sets the tone for a darker and more intense storyline. As the characters delve deeper into the world of ancient Greek mythology, they find themselves facing formidable challenges and dangerous adversaries.

The oracle, a mummy-like figure known for dressing in hippie clothes and hanging out in the attic, is the source of the camp's prophecy. Normally, she rarely has been seen outside of the attic, that is until the very moment she comes to the campsite to speak of what is to come to the campers setting out on the high-stakes rescue mission to save Artemis, the Goddess of the Hunt, and find Annabeth.

The tone of the novel takes a darker turn as the oracle delivers a chilling prophecy, hinting at a traumatic event that will shake the foundations of the protagonist's world. This prophecy sets the stage for the overarching conflict of the story and creates an atmosphere of uncertainty and impending doom.

With the Oracle's warning hanging over their heads, Percy and the others set out to find Artemis and Annabeth by navigating treacherous paths, making sacrifices to fulfill their destinies, and facing the powerful and vengeful Titans who are determined to rain down destruction and chaos upon the world.

The presence of the oracle also introduces an element of mystery and intrigue. As the characters unravel the layers of the prophecy and seek to understand its true meaning, they are forced to confront their limitations and make difficult choices. This adds a psychological depth to the story, as the characters grapple with their fears and navigate the blurred lines between right and wrong.

The oracle's importance in The Titan's Curse sets a dark and foreboding tone, infusing the story with tension, uncertainty, and a sense of impending danger that waits in the shadows. Through her prophecies, Percy and his friends are confronted with the harsh realities of what the future might hold if the Titans get their way.

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The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Series:
Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1

Genre:
Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Mythology, Greek Mythology, Folklore, Middle-Grade School, Academia, Middle School, High School, Adventure, First Person Point of View, Contemporary, Young Adult, Humor

Publication Date:
March 1, 2006

Pages Numbers:
377

Read Date:
December 23rd, 2023

Date Finished:
December 24th, 2023

Rating:
5/5

Blurb:

Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school...again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus' master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.

Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus' stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

Review:

Twelve-year-old Perseus "Percy" Jackson knew he was different from other kids. For most of his life, he had struggled in school. His ADHD and dyslexia made it impossible for him to learn anything. One day, his boarding school decided to take a tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This was meant to be an ordinary field trip filled with boring droning over history but an incident with a fellow student draws the attention of a teacher named Mrs. Dodds. The woman changes and charges after Percy only to have him defeated.

Percy knows that something is going on and his concerns are addressed when he hears Grover and Mr. Brunner discussing him. Even more, he sees three old ladies knitting while on his way home. Then, a trip with his mother takes a turn for the worst placing Percy on the doorsteps of a camp for children like he is and to a teacher he has met previously.

But Percy is not given a chance to process this change when he learns that the Gods are fighting. Zues' thunderbolt is missing and his arrival signals a belief that Percy's father may be the guilty one. With a demand for the bolt to be returned by the Summer Solstice, Percy has no choice but to clear his father's name and find the bolt before it leads to a war.

I remember reading this book a long time ago. My niece had to do a book report in school and this was the novel she had chosen to do. Unfortunately, my niece had a strong dislike for reading and my Mom asked me for help..asked me to spend an evening reading it.

And I don't regret it. I loved this book from the first page to the last page. The chapter titles are hilarious and I love that we see things from Percy's perspective. Here is a young boy who has lived his life shielded away from the knowledge of a world he should have known about and should have been a part of. I understand his mother's reasoning for keeping him from it - she thought she could protect him but realized that this world had already started creeping into her son's life.

Unfortunately, the world belonging to his father has come knocking on his door (or, if you will, bulldozed) and forced him into taking a quest that would not only clear his father's name but lift any suspicion that had fallen upon his shoulders. We see other mythological creatures as we set out on the quest and we get to see a deep bonding friendship begin to form with Annabeth, Grover, and Percy.

This series is fun and I think this would be a great book to begin any middle schooler with especially if you are looking to introduce your child into mythology without having to discuss the whole incest. LOL

Riordan's incorporation of mythology into his books has been a successful and beloved aspect of his storytelling. He combines ancient myths with modern settings and relatable characters, making these stories appealing and accessible to readers of all ages.

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