PERCY JACKSON AND THE GREEK HEROES by Rick Riordan

“If you like mutilations, murders and flesh-eating farmyard animals, keep reading… My name is Percy Jackson. I’m a modern-day demigod – the son of Poseidon. I’ve had some bad experiences in my time, but the heroes I’m going to tell you about were the original old-school-hard-luck cases. So get you flaming spear. Put on you lion-skin cape. Polish your shield and make sure you’ve got arrows in your quiver. We’re going back about four thousand years to decapitate monsters, shoot a few gods in the butt, raid the Underworld and steal loot from evil people. Then, for dessert, we’ll die painful, tragic deaths. Ready? Sweet. Let’s do this.”

What is the book about?

A book filled with short stories about some of the most famous Greek heroes even known. Written by the one and only Percy Jackson, the book explores the tragic stories of the original demigod heroes, who had even worse luck than the modern-day son of Poseidon. 12 short stories about 12 heroes who decapitate monsters, wrestle lions, travel to the Underworld and complete impossible tasks. Get ready for the craziest adventures of all time with even gods fighting against these half-bloods. These Greek heroes have gone through so much suffering and so many battles, helping the good and killing the bad, but they have the worst luck. After everything they go through, in the end, they die painful, tragic deaths and end up separated from their loved ones. Ever wondered who first killed Medusa? What Hercules did to become so famous? How the heroes escaped the Underworld with their lives? Then get ready for adventures beyond your comprehension and start reading… 

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

When I heard about this book I knew I had to have it. So many heroes were mentioned in the Percy Jackson series and I barely even knew anything about Hercules, who was the only Greek hero I could even name (other than Percy, obviously). I was curious about the heroes who had given Percy ideas on how to kill the Minotaur, Medusa and get the Golden Fleece successfully, because it is very useful to know where others previously failed or succeeded so you don’t make the same mistakes. Once I read the blurb I was even more intrigued at what sort of adventures these heroes got up to and how many of them would die. I always used to think that heroes always survived and were never killed, but reading has given me a new perspective on things and I was very interesting in seeing how the best warriors ended up dead (mainly stupid things). As soon as I started to read I knew I had made a great decision and I enjoyed the book so much. The first story was amazing, and so were all the others and I loved the book from the very beginning, every word being absolutely perfect. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

In my opinion all the heroes were so annoying and I don’t think I would be able to pick a favourite character out of them. They all started out extremely heroic, willing to do anything to get what they wanted or help someone they love or prove their worth. They were kind and helpful and didn’t let their strength get to their head too much at the start. However, once they started getting fans and going on stupid quests and winning, they all became really self-centred and just plain annoying. Imagine the most annoying, spoiled person you can think of and then multiply that by 100 and that wouldn’t even be near what the heroes were like after they saved the world a few times. Of course, some of them deserved a little happiness and they deserved to think they were amazing because of everything they did, but most of them ruined their lives because they thought they could do anything. Quite a few thought themselves to be as invincible as the gods when really they weren’t, but they thought they could do anything and so they all made stupid promises and went on stupid quests when they should have just retired and called it a day. Some of them were a bit better, like Perseus who actually got a happy ending, but mostly they went from the most desirable men in the world, to the most annoying ones in existence. If I had to pick a favourite character in this book it would probably be one of the side characters that aren’t really worth mentioning, but I wouldn’t even think about considering any of the Greek heroes despite the heroic deeds they did. This book teaches a very valuable lesson: if you become famous don’t let it go to your head or you will end up dead.  

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

The book is a collection of short stories so instead of choosing a part I will chose a story which is just as hard. I loved every story in the book which makes it very hard to choose a favourite but I would probably have to choose either the story about Perseus or the one about Cyrene. Both were amazing heroes and they fought for their lives and the lives of others without looking back. They also both got to have happy ending and I think they both deserved them. I think Percy was the only male Greek hero that didn’t let the fame get to his head and was just happy to have a loving wife and kids. He didn’t become stupid and let it kill him and he risked his life for others. Technically his pride got him into the whole mess of killing Medusa in the first place but, once he succeeded, he didn’t try and prove himself the extra 100 times the other heroes did. It was not a surprise to me that the female heroes were the smart ones that didn’t get themselves killed and that most of them got happy endings and Cyrene was one of them. Cyrene was a great warrior and she tried to help her village in any way she could (as long as it involved killing), but she always wanted to go hunting. Unfortunately, because she was a girl she was not allowed to join the men but she was able to get away from that life and get what she deserved (with some godly help). She was brave enough to not look back on her past life and she was able to give herself a better life than the one she had in her village.

What was your overall impression of the book? 

Overall, this book was really great and I loved every bit of it. One of the things that made it so good was that it was narrated by Percy Jackson. Percy commented a lot on people’s names, the promises they made and the heroes’ decisions. This made the book so much better because there was someone that was actually pointing out everything I thought so it was as if I had someone there that understood everything. Percy also made things a lot funnier, even though most of the book was full of murder, and he made the more boring explanations go by in a flash. Another reason I liked the book was because of how much I learnt about the Greek heroes. I knew basically nothing at the start of the book and now I know of about 9 new heroes that I couldn’t even name at the beginning and I know everything that Hercules actually did and not just the stuff in the Disney movie. I loved how I barely even realised how much I was learning and I really enjoyed that while I was reading about amazing adventures I was actually staring to learn some things, even though they are only fictional things. One last thing that I really liked about the book was how it teachers a few valuable lessons. One lesson is that even being good doesn’t guarantee a happy ending, which may seem annoying but it’s true. Another lesson is that you have to work for everything because you aren’t just going to get everything handed to you. Also don’t forget that if you become famous don’t let it go to your head or you will end up dead.  I really enjoyed reading the book and I can’t wait to start reading more heroic adventures.

Would you recommend this book?  

I definitely recommend reading this book as it will help fill in any gaps from reading the Percy Jackson series. I recommend it specifically for those aged ten and over and if you are interested in Greek mythology then this is definitely the book for you. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

Heroic adventures ending in death, the perfect book to show you that your life isn’t as bad as it seems.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

PERCY JACKSON AND THE GREEK GODS by Rick Riordan

“If you like horror shows, bloodbaths, stealing and cannibalism, then read on… If you don’t know me, my name is Percy Jackson. I’m a half-god, half-mortal son of Poseidon, but this isn’t really about me. I’m here to tell you the true story of the gods of Ancient Greece. Want to know how Zeus came to be top god? How many times Kronos ate one of his own kids? Why Athena literally burst out of another god’s head? It’s all here in black and white. But I’ll start with the Greek story of creation – which, by the way, is seriously messed up. Wear your safety glasses and your raincoat. There will be blood.”

What is the book about?

A book filled with the stories you once thought as myths explaining every one of the gods and how they came to be, written by the one and only Percy Jackson son of Poseidon, god of the sea. It shows the true story of the Greek gods and answers many confusing questions. The Greek god family tree is immensely complicated but this book will help you understand it more. It has the story of creation and the story of the Titans along with the gods. It is filled with funny stories and also some rather gory ones. It may be a little confusing but it will answer any questions about the gods and minimise any confusion. Want to know which are the 12 Olympians? Why Zeus is top god? Why the sky, the sea, and the Underworld were split between the brothers? Open this book to satisfy you curiosity and help you understand the truth about the Olympians.

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

I had just recently finished the Percy Jackson series and still had a few questions about the many Greek gods and heroes (which will be explained in another book). I had been a bit confused as to which 12 gods were the 12 Olympians that had cabins at Camp Half-Blood for their kids – I knew most of them but I sometimes got a bit muddled. When I heard about this book, I was very curious to see what stories it would hold and if it could really answer all m strange questions and, I have to say, I was not disappointed. Reading the Percy Jackson books had interested me in Greek mythology and I was very glad to have a book that could explain some of it to me, but I was worried it would be boring seeing as I preferred action to historical stories. The book started off very well with the Greek story of creation and I was very interested in the Titans. The book followed the Greek gods in chronological order and I got to learn a lot about gods that I didn’t know very well, such as Hestia and Demeter. The book started really quickly, with a short and simple introduction, and didn’t bore me at all, which I was fearful of at the beginning, as it was full of a lot more action than I had predicted.

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite of the gods was probably Hestia because she was the most reasonable of them all and the least likely to murder a bunch of people just because they were looking after your husband’s child with another woman (it has happened multiple times). She was the most popular goddess among her brothers and sisters because she had the sweetest personality and always wanted to help people. I really liked the way she took the responsibility of looking after the family and making sure that they were not torn apart. She was so sweet that there was no way anyone could not like her and I also remember her being a character in the one of the Percy Jackson books and how kind she had been. I also liked a few other goddesses such as Artemis and Athena who were not the most horrible and could be kind to people of the wanted to, but it would not be wise to get on their bad side because they could probably kill you with just one glance. They were fearless warriors and they were incredibly smart, I especially liked how Artemis looked out for young girls and cared for wild animal, even if she was a hunter.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

As the book is a collection of short stories I think it would be best to pick my favourite story and decide which god or goddess had the most interesting life story. Of course, I enjoyed every single story and all the Olympians had incredibly interesting stories, but some were more interesting than others, namely one in particular. I found that the story about the Olympians destroying Kronos and taking back the universe from their horrible father, or The Olympians Bash Some Heads as it was called in the book was above all the most fascinating. I was very curious about the Olympians and I wanted to know more about how they came to be the top 12 gods of all time. Only 6 of the Olympians were actually in that story but it helped me understand the family tree a little more and get more information on Zeus, Poseidon and Hades, and why Zeus was the top god. I liked this part because it showed the historical side of things and also showed me that, even though the gods like to terrorise humans and kill them, they were still good people (well, decent people) who were fair and just rulers (most of the time).

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, Percy Jackson and the Greek Gods was a very interesting book that answered a lot of questions I still had about Greek mythology and painted a proper picture of what the gods were like. The main reason why I loved the book was, obviously, because it answered a lot of my unanswered questions. I also became a lot less confused about the Greek gods after I had read the books and discovered a lot of interesting things that I didn’t know about them. Another thing that I liked about it was because it made mythical history seem a lot more fun and exciting than I thought it would be. I had initially been concerned about the fact that the book might be a little bit boring seeing as it was mainly explaining the Greek gods but, I have to say, I was rather impressed at how interesting the stories were, even if they were a little bit disturbing. The book was mainly just fights and a lot of murder – I never thought that the gods could hate mortals that much that they would chose to use their powers to torture them, I would think that was beneath them, but they did it a lot more often than I thought. One other reason why I enjoyed reading the book was how it made me sympathise with even the worst of the gods. It was a great example of how bullies have usually actually been bullied before and showed me that sometimes even the most horrible people deserve a little kindness and love. It was strange to think that the gods could suffer or have any pain inflicted on them, but, even though they could really be harmed physically, they could still be hurt emotionally, and it is not good to have an angry, sad or pretty much any emotion other than happy, god. The book was really amazing and I am very glad that I chose to read it.

Would you recommend this book?  

I definitely recommend reading this book after you have read the Percy Jackson series. It will help you understand the gods and Greek mythology a lot more. I recommend it for readers aged 10 and up especially if you enjoy action, adventure and don’t mind a little blood. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A book filled with mythical stories and stories weirder than anything you have ever seen.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

PERCY JACKSON AND THE LAST OLYMPIAN by Rick Riordan

“Most people get presents on their sixteenth birthday. I get a prophecy that could save or destroy the world. It happens when you’re the son of Poseidon, god of the sea. According to an ancient prophecy, I turn sixteen and the fate of the entire world is on me. But no pressure. Now Kronos, Lord of the Titans, is beginning his attack on New Yok City. And the dreaded monster Typhon is also heading our way. So it’s me and forty of my demigod friends versus untold evil…”

What is the book about?

Percy Jackson is the son of Poseidon, god of the sea, and his life may be the saviour or destruction of the world. The Great Prophecy claims that the next child of the Big Three (Zeus, Poseidon and Hades) to turn sixteen will have to make a choice that will either save or destroy Olympus, and right now Percy is 1 week away from turning sixteen and becoming the child of the prophecy, and the fate of Olympus rests on him. Now Kronos, Lord of the Titans, is on his way to New York to attack Olympus. And if that wasn’t enough another terrifying monster, Typhon, is also heading that way. There is only one way that Percy will be able to destroy Kronos and so he must bear the curse and try his hardest to keep the monsters away from Olympus. So Percy and forty other half-bloods must work together to stop the Titan’s army or at least buy the gods some more time. The fate of Olympus rests in Percy hangs and he must make the right choice before it’s too late and all is obliterated. 

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

As soon as I had finished the fourth book I desperately wanted to start reading the book but I was also held back by the fact that this was the last book in the Percy Jackson series and I was not looking forward to the end. The blurb was rather intriguing and I was very curios to finally hear the prophecy that had been mentioned from the very first book. I also had a lot of unanswered questions that had been bothering me for quite some time and I was hoping that I would finally receive some answers. As soon as I started reading I was already on the edge of my seat anxiously waiting for answers and for Percy to start his adventure. The first sentence literally grabbed my attention and I immediately fell back into the magical world where Greek gods, mythical creatures and monsters were real. The first chapter was calm at first but as usual there was some danger just waiting to ruin it and from the very beginning I already knew I would enjoy the book quite a lot.

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite character would, again, most likely be Annabeth and I think that she is probably my favourite character in the whole series. There was always something new about her in each book that just made me like her even more and this book was not an exception. Annabeth and Luke (the half-blood currently hosting Kronos in his body) had a special relationship and they had known each other when Luke was not evil. Annabeth still held a special part in her heart for Luke and she never completely lost hope in him. I really admire this loyalty because, even though she was not siding with him, she still believed that Luke was not lost and could still be saved. This hope fuelled her and, although it was dangerous at times, it helped her get though the tough times and never lose faith in others but also herself. Annabeth was smart, brave, selfless, strong, and courageous and without her Percy would probably have never made it past his first quest. Even though some people only saw her as Percy’s friend and thought that she was not the true hero, I think that taking on the role to help someone else made her an even better hero and in the end she got the recognition she deserved.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

It is always hard for me to choose a favourite part in a book because there are so many great ones to choose from, however, I have to say, that the decision was not too hard for this book. My favourite part would definitely be when the heroes finally get the reinforcements they need and the battle turns to their favour. I had not been expecting certain people to arrive at the scene but there they were the most unexpected characters were suddenly fighting for their lives and the lives of others. I was really happy to see so many people working together and to see even the most unfriendly faces trying to do their part. I was surprised but I had also kind of known that in the end that they would chose to help out and destroy their common enemy. This showed me that anyone is capable of change and that everyone has a little good in them (well, maybe not the Lord of the Titans), even Greek mythical characters. Another part that I really liked was the ending and I don’t wish to say much about it so I don’t spoil anything but it was amazing.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian was a really great book and the perfect way to end such a perfect book series. It was filled with action, adventure and hope, but also death, suffering and sorrow. It had an equal balance of good and evil, but one had to succeed and I had no doubt about which side I was on. One of the reasons why I liked the book was because of how many people went to help destroy the Titans. At the start, and the middle, and a bit towards the end, there were lots of people, other than the Titans, that wanted Percy dead. These people would have been glad to see the young half-blood gone but they joined forces with him and decided to put away their deadly thoughts to face their common enemy. I really liked this because it showed me that anyone can see reason and anyone can change – and the ending also showed me that. Another thing that I liked about the book was that at the end of the Percy accepted that it was not his time to be the hero and he chose to back down and trust the enemy in order to save Olympus. He always seemed like someone who wanted to be the centre of attention at times but he chose to let someone else be in the spotlight for once and it could have been a stupid decision but, in the end, he was right. The ending was as perfect as it could have been and I just have one last thing to say about it: FINALLY! Anyway, the whole book was amazing and I really loved reading it. I am sad to say that it is the last book in the series but I am glad to see that Percy, Annabeth and the others will hopefully get some rest after so many crazy summers. 

Which is your favourite book in the Percy Jackson series? (1, 2, 3, 4, or 5)

The Percy Jackson series was amazing and every book was incredible but I think that my favourite book would probably be the fifth and final one, Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian. The main reason is because it is the last book, the conclusion, and I really enjoyed the way it ended. For once, after reading a Percy Jackson book, I have not felt the need for there to be more and I am glad for that. I am also glad that there are more books to follow, in a different series and about different people, of course, but still more, and I am happy for how things ended for the book characters. Another reason why I picked this book is because, for once, all the battles that happened where all connected to the main fight and the heroes did not stray far from the main event. I was glad for this because it meant that everything had a deeper meaning and was connected a lot more. One last reason that really made the book stand out to me was how everyone, friend and foe, joined together to face Kronos and his army and make the final stand to protect Olympus. I was surprised by the people that arrived to help but I was glad that even the worst characters saw reason to help and decided to face death to help the people they once saw as enemies. It was a really good end to the series and I really enjoyed every adventure I went on with the characters. I liked every book in the Percy Jackson series and I am very glad that I made the right choice to read the books.

Would you recommend this book?  

I definitely recommend reading this book after reading all the other books in the series. I think it is better for readers aged 10 or older and particularly recommend it if you liked reading it if you liked action or adventure books.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

An amazing end to a perfect series that will make you see the world in a new light.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

PERCY JACKSON AND THE BATTLE OF THE LABYRINTH by Rick Riordan

“Honestly, blowing up another school was the last thing I wanted to do. As the son of a Greek god, I’ve had my share of near-death disaster – and now my arch-enemy Luke wants to invade our camp via an ancient labyrinth. If he succeeds, thousands of bloodthirsty monsters will attack. So it’s ‘Goodbye, sunshine; hello, darkness’ as four of us descend into the terrifying underground and beyond…”

What is the book about?

Percy Jackson is not a regular teenage boy, he is the son of Greek god, and his life is far from normal. Percy has gotten expelled from a different school each year and things aren’t looking very good this year. At a school orientation day, he comes across more monsters and somehow managed to blow up the school before he even started attending. After arriving at Camp Half-Blood, the one place where half-bloods are usually safe from monsters, Percy realised that this summer would not be at all fun and relaxing. Luke’s army is on the way to attack camp in order to get rid of the gods’ heroes and give way for Kronos and the Titans. Percy and the other half-bloods never thought a camp invasion would be possible with the magical shield protecting them, but there is another way through an ancient labyrinth full of traps and deadly creatures. Now four brave heroes must descend into the underground labyrinth where many go in but only some return. On another terrifying quest Percy and his friends must find a way to save the camp before it’s too late…and try not to get lost or die in the process.

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

The ending of the previous book in the series had been rather interesting and I was very intrigued to discover what would happen next. Once I read the title and the blurb I only became more interested in starting the book and discovering more about this dangerous ancient labyrinth. From the very first page I already felt more curious about what would happen and the more I read the more questions I had. The appearance of a new, but familiar, character was very strange and I wondered more and more what sort of role this person would play because there had to be a reason for why she was so important in the book. The first chapter was not at camp or on the quest so I was a bit impatient to get it over with so I could get to the action (although there was a lot of action at school). The start was as usual not immediately following the previous book which was a little annoying but I had gotten used to it now and was just glad that I would, hopefully, get some answers. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite character would probably be once again Annabeth because of her bravery, strength and, above all, her intelligence. It sometimes gets a bit annoying how smart she is but without her intelligence Percy would probably be dead. One thing that was actually rather funny was how insulted she was when someone asked her an easy question or gave her an easy answer. It was almost like she didn’t want things to be easy, like she actually wanted to be facing death all the time, but still, when she got an easy way out she felt like it was an insult to her intelligence. I actually thought it was rather smart of her to not accept an easy answer because sometimes something easy is a trick and it’s better to be safe than sorry, but I think the main reason was just because she thought she was better than that and, although that may seem like a bad quality, it just made me like her even more. Another character that I found really surprising was Rachel because she chose to join a war that wasn’t hers to fight. She was just a normal mortal girl – well maybe not that normal – and she chose to go out of her way to help Percy and risk her life when she could have just stayed home and stayed away from the battle. It could have been stupidity (maybe it was) but I think it was bravery and the knowledge that it was the right thing to do, and I really admired that.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

I liked practically every part of the book so it is very hard to choose a favourite but I think it would have to be when the heroes meet Pan. Grover had been babbling on and on about this Pan god and after a while I stopped believing that he would ever complete his lifelong mission to find him. However I was proven very wrong when they came across him in the Labyrinth. I was very interested to meet him and see what was so amazing about the god of the Wild and once I realised exactly what his job was and why he was called that I discovered how important he really was. He was there to protect the places in the world that still have proper nature and keep the humans from destroying them but few mortals actually understand nature and how precious it really is and many seek to leave shops and houses in its place. The thing that I liked the best about this part was that Pan said that it was time that others started to protect nature because they had to stop relying on a god to save them all because one day they wouldn’t be able to. It showed the characters that sometimes even gods need help and that you should never leave something that you can do yourself just because there is someone more powerful to help you. I really liked the idea that soon many satyrs would be going out to protect nature and I wish that they really did that.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Percy Jackson and the Battle of the Labyrinth was, as a whole, an incredible book full of incredible twists and lots of action. I really enjoyed reading the book and found that I enjoyed every single part and I do not think that there is anything that I want to change. One of the things that I liked about the book was that, even though the characters were on a specific quest, they went off track multiple times to help different people and solve different problems. It might seem weird to like that but their choice to stray a little further usually ended up helping them a lot more than they realised and sometimes they made friends that would later help them when they really needed it. This also meant that the book was a lot more interesting because a lot of things were happening at the same time which would have been muddling if it didn’t make so much sense. Another thing that I liked about the book was that, although it is the third book in the series, there were so many new monsters. I seemed practically impossible that the author could create any new mythical creatures and yet there were so many new ones appearing to make thing even more interesting. I enjoyed all the twists and having so much action but I would have liked to have his the pause button of the life or death situations long enough so that I could finally get some answers and the characters could finally have a whole conversation. Overall the book was really good and I enjoyed every new adventure, I just can’t wait to see what will happen in the last book!

Which book did you like better: 1, 2, 3 or 4?

Although all 4 books I have read so far have all been equally amazing, I think that the third book – Percy Jackson and the Titan’s Curse – is still the best book so far. All the books have a lot in common which makes choosing a favourite book almost impossible and all the amazing things I like about the books tend to be similarities. The third book was bursting with action and adventure just like the others, and there was a lot of interesting information, but there were a few things that helped it stand apart from the crowd. One thing that I really enjoyed was the friendships that were made, even when people were supposed to enemies or had held certain grudges for years they were still able to set aside their differences for the quest which helped the characters open up and see the good in the others. Another thing was that there was also a lot more interference made by the gods in this book and Percy met at least 3 gods on his quest and then all of them on Mount Olympus. Of course, gods are not supposed to help the half-bloods directly, but they made an exception for Percy and the others and decided to help out. It was very interesting to see the gods and what they were like and I loved meeting them. One last thing that made the book better than the others were the meaningful deaths which were upsetting but also made the book that much better. I enjoyed all the books and I cannot wait to read the last book of the Percy Jackson series.

Would you recommend this book?  

I definitely recommend that you read this book but first I suggest reading the first, second and third books, as things are getting a bit too confusing to read the books in a random order. My age recommendation would be 10+ and I specifically recommend the series if you enjoy action, fantasy and know a little about Greek mythology.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A battle full of twists and turns (literally). 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

PERCY JACKSON AND THE TITAN’S CURSE by Rick Riordan

“It’s not every day 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…”

What is the book about?

Percy Jackson is a half-blood: half boy and half god. He may look like an ordinary kid on the outside but being the son of a Greek god means that your life is definitely not ordinary. And sometimes you happen to come face to face with a half-lion, half-human. Percy arrived at a school to try and help his friend and 2 other young demigods and ended up, once again, in a battle against monsters. He went to help a friend and ended up losing one, and things just kept getting worse. Now Annabeth is missing, a goddess has been kidnapped and only five heroes are allowed to go on the quest. The heroes must put away their differences and face their fears to save the world once again. They must save Annabeth and the goddess before the winter solstice or it will be too late. Another battle against time (and monsters, of course) and not all will return home safely…

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

The ending of the previous book had come as a huge shock so I was desperate to get my hands on the next story so that I could understand more about this surprising ending. The blurb was even more shocking and once I read it I was anxious and impatient for answers. I wanted to know more about what had happened to Annabeth and who, or what, was powerful enough to kidnap a goddess. I had really enjoyed the 2 previous books in the series so I was very excited to read this one. As soon as I started I was immediately disappointed because the book had not started immediately where the second one finished. I was, of course, expecting this because the other book had also started a lot after the first one had ended but I was still rather upset because I would have liked to have seen some of the characters immediate reactions to the ending, once their shock had worn off. Despite the frustration, I carried on reading and quickly forgot about how I had initially felt. The start was very good and left me with many questions, I was also very intrigued and tense to find out what would happen, and the action started from the very beginning.

Who was your favourite character and why? 

Of course, once again Annabeth was one of my favourite characters, but I also liked a few other characters. I liked Annabeth for the same reasons as always: her bravery, intelligence and strength, however she also proved herself even further in the book showing that she would give up and back down no matter how difficult the challenge was. One of the other characters that I liked was Thalia because of her attitude and how much she annoyed Percy. Both Percy and Thalia are very alike and I loved how much Thalia got on Percy’s nerves. After one of the parts in the second book, where Annabeth found out her fatal flaw was her pride, I considered what being a hero so many times would do to Percy and how it could make him a bad person. I liked how Thalia was able to challenge him and show that he was not the only one powerful enough to be a hero. Even though Thalia, Percy and a few other characters were really amazing, their talent only made me like Annabeth more. I love how, even though Annabeth went on all those quests with Percy, she never made any impression that it annoyed her that, just because she wasn’t the daughter of one of the Big Three, she didn’t get as much recognition for her own bravery. Although I know that every half-blood seeks the proud look on his or her Olympian parent (and Annabeth is certainly not an exception), I think that being called a hero is a lot more important to Percy than Annabeth and I like that she doesn’t mind not being the main hero.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part would obviously have to be when the characters succeed as they always do because of the happy ending, even if it is just for a little while. There was a small detail that I would have liked to be included in the ending, but I am sure that it will soon happen. The thing that I both liked and disliked about this part of the book was that everyone was celebrating a minor win, a battle that had been won, when the war was far from over and the beasts were far from dead. I disliked this because the heroes and gods could have been out making use of their time and coming up with new strategies to keep the world from ending but instead, they were all standing around dancing and celebrating something small when there was something even bigger coming. It might seem strange to say that I kind of liked this stupid and pointless party, but I did, because of how the characters were still able to be happy. They were in the middle of a war but they had the strength to be happy and cherish this small break between battles even though so many people had been lost and so many people would be lost in the future. This part reminded me that even those who have little happiness are still able to appreciate the little things in life.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall Percy Jackson and the Titan’s Curse was a great book and I don’t think there was anything that I would change. The start was perfect though I wish it had begun right where the previous book had finished and I really liked how the action started right away and I barely had enough time to get used to the book before they were marching off on another dangerous quest. The book was perfect from the very start and somehow managed to just keep getting better and better the further I got. There were some sad parts in the book which hadn’t been there in the other books but even though they were quiet upsetting I do not wish to change them because I think that it made the book that much better and the book wouldn’t have been the same without them. The ending came quite a shock and I definitely had not been expecting that just as I had not expected the ending of the second book. Although it was indeed very surprising, I really liked it because I enjoy unexpected things happening and the prospects of what had happened would hopefully mean that another character would find peace and happiness even if they had to go on another life-threatening quest to get there. The whole book was great, from beginning to end and I immensely enjoyed this adventure.

Which book did you like better, the first, the second or the third?

All three books in the Percy Jackson series that I have read so far have been incredible and I really liked reading them. To choose a favourite book out of 3 really good books is almost impossible but I think that the third book, Percy Jackson and the Titan’s Curse, is probably the better book. There aren’t really that many reasons for my choice because all of the books are extremely similar due to the fact that they are all written by the same author; however there are a couple things that made the book stand out a little more. The first thing is the deaths. I knew that some people would die because of the prophecy but I still had some hope it wouldn’t happen and I really wished that it hadn’t. In the first 2 books of the series there hadn’t been any deaths for the heroes and the emotions that go with the deaths are very important for any good book. Even though they made me sad, they also connected me to the characters more and made me enjoy the books more because I was able to properly feel with the characters. It might seem weird to want to feel sad but if you are a reader then you will understand. The other thing that made the book feel more special is the start of something new. If you have read the book then you know what I am taking about and if you haven’t then you’ll know once you read it. Overall, all three books were great and I cannot wait to start the fourth adventure!

Would you recommend this book?  

I definitely recommend reading this book particularly for readers 10 or older and if you enjoy action, Greek mythology and are ready for some major monster attacks. Even though the confusion won’t be that big, I advise reading the Percy Jackson series in order but feel free to do as you like as there is enough explanation to help you make sense of what happens.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A legendary adventure with heroic characters battling through the unknown.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

PERCY JACKSON AND THE SEA OF MONSTERS by Rick Riordan

“You can’t tell by looking at me that my dad is Poseidon, god of the sea. It’s not easy being a half-blood these days. Even a simple game of dodgeball can turn into a death match against an ugly gang of cannibal giants – and that’s just the beginning. Now Camp Half-Blood is under attack and, unless I can get my hands on the Golden Fleece, the whole camp will be invaded by monsters. Big ones…”

What is the book about?

Percy Jackson is the son of Poseidon, god of the sea. He is a half-blood living in the mortal world with his mother, causing nothing but trouble. At school he acts like a normal kid when really monsters could come and attack him at any moment. Percy thought everything would be fine; he would finish the seventh grade without any issues and go to camp for the summer, but he couldn’t have been more wrong. Nothing is easy for a half-blood when even a simple game of dodgeball can turn into a fight to the death against some hungry cannibal giants. And now Camp Half-Blood, the one place Percy thought he would be safe, the one place that monsters (usually) cannot enter is under attack, and there is only one way to save it. Percy and his friends must go on another dangerous quest to get the Golden Fleece to save the whole camp before it’s too late or the camp will be invaded by huge, dangerous monsters and there will be no way to keep the half-bloods safe. 

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

Obviously, as soon as I had finished the first book in the Percy Jackson series, I was desperate to start the next book and go on another adventure. The title of the book – Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters – and the blurb were very interesting and made me even more intrigued and wanted to start reading. I was very excited to discover what was happening to Camp Half-Blood and why Percy had to go on another mission. Once I started to read, I became even more anxious and had even more questions. The book started quite quickly, apart from the small explanations about who Percy was and about some of his friends. It annoyed me a little that there was an explanation for how he was a half-blood and everything because I had read the first book so I already knew most of the stuff and it was frustrating to have to re-read it just in case someone had not read the previous book. However, other than that, the book started very well and I already had a tonne of questions from the very first chapter. The book was interesting from the very first chapter and had me interested from the beginning, and it only got better.

Who was your favourite character and why? 

I liked a lot of parts in the book but my favourite would probably be when Percy and his friends decide to go on the quest, despite what they were instructed to do. I liked this part because it was the start of an adventure and the beginning of more crazy, life-threatening fights. I liked how, even though they hadn’t even left Camp Half-Blood yet, they already had monsters after them and hundreds of problems to solve. I also liked this part because it showed the characters bravery and selflessness. They had been told to stay at camp and to not leave under any circumstances, but they knew that if they didn’t go on this quest, the camp would die and everyone in it would be attacked by monsters. They never doubted that they had to go because they were sure that there was no other way to save the camp and so they risked their lives for everyone else proving their bravery and selflessness, and their strength to always do the right thing no matter what it means for them.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite character would have to be Annabeth like in the first book, but I also liked Tyson a little bit. Tyson was really sweet and, even though nobody really cared about him, he kept helping everyone he could and saving their lives. He always tried to help though most of the time he made things worse, but he usually managed to turn things around and end up being the hero. I liked Annabeth in this book for pretty much the same reasons as the first book. She was strong and brave and didn’t let the fact that she was a girl stop her from being a hero. She was also extremely smart and was always able to come up with a plan even in the worst situations. Another thing that I liked about Annabeth was that she knew that she was smart, brave and strong and she had the confidence to do great things. Even though it might be seen as a flaw sometimes, she believed that she could make the world better than it is now if she just had the power to do it, and I’m pretty sure that she probably could do that. I think that her confidence and pride really help her when she is in trouble but, even though it is helpful now, one day it will just get her into even more trouble.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, the book was great and I really loved reading it. One thing that I liked about the book was all the unexpected things that happened. I was constantly on the edge of my seat waiting for the next shocking monster to burst out of nowhere and I was very glad that the book did not leave me bored at all because there was always something ready to ruin the calm moment and threaten the characters’ lives. Another thing that I liked was the ending, though it did come as a huge shock and left me anxious to get my hands on the next book. I had definitely not been expecting that to happen and it certainly changes things a lot. I really loved the way it ended, even if it was a cliff-hanger and those do annoy me a lot, because of how it made me extra excited to begin reading about the next adventure, but I do hope that the third book picks up where this one left off, otherwise I will be very disappointed and a bit angry. There isn’t much about the book that I didn’t like but there is one thing that annoyed me – the explanation about things that were already explained in the first book. It really irritates me when authors choose to explain things from the previous books because it takes up a lot of my time, especially since I had the decency to read the books in the correct order instead of just picking them up randomly. Other than that I think the book was pretty much perfect and I cannot wait to start reading the third book. 

Which book did you like better, the first or the second?

Both books were outstanding and I really liked reading them, but I think that my favourite book in the series so far would have to be Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters. Both the first and the second book in the Percy Jackson series were quite similar. They both had the characters going on a life-threatening quest and risking their lives to save others. They both had monsters and battles in pretty much every chapter in the book, keeping things very interesting. And above all they both had an amazing plot with brilliant characters, but the second book just stood out to me a little more. This is mainly because of the ending which left me completely shocked and waiting (impatiently) for some answers. I love being surprised while reading because of how refreshing it is to have something you didn’t expect to happen to actually happen and I really liked the feeling it gave me and the desperate need to start the next book. One other thing that also made the second book better than the first was that Percy had to put away his differences with certain characters and team up with them to save the day, otherwise he would have never succeeded. He had to let someone else be the hero for once which just made him into even more of a hero and made the book even better because it showed me that even enemies are less important than saving people. Both the first and the second books were really good and I cannot wait to start reading the third!

Would you recommend this book?  

I recommend reading this book, specifically if you enjoy action, adventure and life-threatening quests. I recommend reading this book when you are 10 or older and I also suggest reading the first book before this one, but you probably won’t be too confused if you read this one first because there is some explanation.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

Another unbelievably dangerous quest to save everyone from horrible deaths at the hands of terrifying monsters. 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

PERCY JACKSON AND THE LIGHTNING THIEF by Rick Riordan

“Look, I didn’t want to be a half-blood. I never asked to be the son of a Greek god. I was just a normal kid, going to school playing basketball, skateboarding. The usual. Until I accidentally vaporized my maths teacher. Now I spend my time battling monsters and generally trying to stay alive. This is the one where Zeus, god of the sky, thinks I’ve stolen his lightning bolt – and making Zeus angry is a very bad idea.”

What is the book about?

Percy Jackson never asked to be the son of a Greek god. He always thought he was just a normal kid that happened to cause trouble at every school he went to. He had friends – or a friend – and he had enemies. He went to lessons, had exams, played basketball, and got detention, just like every other average 12-year-old kid. But when he vaporised his maths teacher and everyone from school forgot she even existed, Percy realised that there was something weird going on. He tried to ignore it and carry on living an ordinary life, but in the end he had to accept that he was a half-blood and join the others at a camp made specifically for weird demigod children. He spent most of his time training and preparing to battle monsters he hoped he would never come across, but like always he had to cause trouble. Now Zeus, the god of the sky, thinks Percy has stolen his lightning bolt and he is not happy about that. To stop a war between gods, Percy has to go on a quest to get back the lightning bolt and deliver it back to Zeus, before it’s too late…or the whole world will become home to chaos.

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

A little while ago I decided I wanted to read some of the most popular series for teens so that I could see what all the fuss was about and the Percy Jackson series happened to be on the list. A friend of mine had read the books before and she told me that she had enjoyed them so it encouraged me to try them out. I was very excited when the books arrived and I wanted to start reading them as soon as possible. I wasn’t exactly sure what the books were about other than something about Greek gods and probably some adventures so I wasn’t as intrigued to read them as some of the other books I had bought. Once I read the blurb, it certainly worked to get me more interested because I immediately needed to know more and was even more eager to start reading. I had only just finished Broken Throne (from the Red Queen series) and I was rather concerned that I wasn’t exactly out of that world yet, however when I started to read all my worries disappeared. The first few pages weren’t really the most interesting but I still enjoyed reading them however after a while I forgot I was reading and just felt like everything I was reading was really happening. The book might not have attracted me from the beginning but after a while I realised how incredible the book was and finished it in a day. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

I think that my favourite character was probably Annabeth Chase because of her strength and her intelligence. Annabeth volunteered to go on a quest that she didn’t really know much about and didn’t know if it would succeed, but she was still brave enough to go with Percy and either come back a hero or meet her end. Another thing that I liked about her was how, on the quest, she showed me that you don’t need to be strong and fast to be a hero (thought those are useful so that you don’t die). She was not just good with a knife and brave enough to face monsters, but she was also extremely smart and always had a plan or an idea to get herself – and her friends – out of a sticky situation. I always thought that you needed to be strong to be able to defeat immortal creature, but Annabeth was able to show that strength is not the only skill that is useful in battle and that sometimes even intelligence and wisdom are better than strength.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part of the book would definitely have to be when they find out the truth because I love finally getting answers to my questions and being able to put together the pieces and get the whole picture. I liked this part of the book because the characters – and I – were able to understand what really happened and who the true culprit was. Then, all the clues and all the information they had finally fit together and it all made so much sense. I also liked this part because; since they now knew what had happened and who the real thief was, Percy could actually deliver the lightning bolt back to Zeus and properly complete his first ever quest. I was very glad to know that he would be successful but I already knew he would be because what kind of story would it be, if, at the end, the hero didn’t succeed and the villain won instead – not a very good one, that’s for sure, and I definitely wouldn’t have enjoyed reading it. I enjoyed every part of the book but this one was for sure my favourite and I really liked reading it.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, I really enjoyed reading the book and cannot wait to start the next one. One thing that I liked about the book was how even when Percy and his friends thought they were safe and could relax a little; there was always a new monster and a new threat. There wasn’t a single part of the book that I could call boring because there was always something happening, always some action, to make a scene you once thought as calm into another crazy battle. Another thing I liked was how even though the characters were constantly coming across more monsters and problems along the way, they kept going and didn’t let all the life threatening problems make them turn around and give up on their quest. One thing that I thought was a bit strange about the book was the long and informative titles for the chapters. I thought that it was a little weird to have titles that gave more obvious hints about what was going to occur in the chapter, however after a while I realised that they weren’t spoiling anything and instead they were making me as the reader more intrigued by what it could mean and what would happen, which I thought was a very smart idea to keep the reader reading. The ending was also something that I really enjoyed and thought was a little strange because it didn’t necessarily feel like the end and it made it seem like there was more, which is true since there are more books with more adventures. Though the end did leave me desiring more, it didn’t annoy me at all because I knew there were more books to follow. I really liked Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief and I cannot wait to start the next amazing adventure.

Would you recommend this book?  

I really enjoyed reading the book and I definitely recommend it for readers over the age of 10, especially if you enjoy adventure, fantasy or Greek mythology books. I am sure that even if you aren’t a fan of these genres, when you pick up this book you will enjoy it.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

An extraordinary and unbelievable quest full of creatures and monsters I never could have imagined.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

BROKEN THRONE – A RED QUEEN COLLECTION – by Victoria Aveyard

“This war is far from over, and my job is far from done. A collection of Red Queen stories and artifacts. An unseated king searches for meaning in a world altered by war. Enemy brothers clash one final time. A doomed queen pens words of hope to her future son. In the chaos of an unknown land trapped between warring nations, survival reigns supreme. And a hero whose spark started a revolution discovers where she belongs in peace. Delve into the dark and dangerous world of Red Queen with this must-have companion, which includes tree brand new short stories, as well as extra scenes, maps, family trees, flags, and much more. This masterful collection offers an entirely new look into the beloved characters of the iconic Red Queen series, where no one is as they appear, and the only certainty is betrayal.”

What is the book about?

A book filled wish magical new glimpses into the world of Red Queen with incredible new characters and marvellous new stories with the loved characters from the series. Learn more about Norta’s history and the Silvers and their complicated family trees. Discover what it was like for Coriane Jacos and was tormented her mind in the moments before her death. Learn about the start of the Scarlet Guard and how they got tangled up with the little lightning girl. Look at maps of the world and discover new information about the other countries. Dive back into Mare’s world and see what choice she makes. And catch a small picture of what the future has in store. A book full of historical information and magical new discoveries around every corner offering a new perspective on the loved characters from the series and how even after the war has been won the only thing you can be certain of is betrayal and the beliefs in your heart.

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

Of course, the second that I put War Storm back on my shelf I was already prepared to dive back into more adventures with Mare and the other characters from the Red Queen series. Once I had finished the last book of the series, I felt like a piece of me was missing and I knew that the only way to fill it would be to start another book about the magical world that felt like home, even if it was just a collection of short stories. I was not that excited to start reading but I was intrigued to see what I would learn and if there would be any glimpse into Mare and Cal’s future. The blurb did little to convince me that I would enjoy the book, but I did feel reassured that I would at least read some things about Mare and Cal, who I sorely missed. When I finally started to read I was rather disappointed and a little bored. The first few pages weren’t very interesting and I felt as if I was reading a history textbook from school, however I kept reading and once I got past the part at the beginning and into the Calore family tree I started to see how amazing the book really was. The start might have been a bit of a let-down but the further I got and the more I learnt, the more I started to remember why this was my favourite book series.

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite character would probably have to be either Mare or Evangeline. Evangeline, despite her rude and annoying personality, proved to be a really good person, especially once she officially abdicated her throne. She showed everyone in Norta, and in the other countries, that a Silver with an obsession for power could lead a simple, free life, if only they chose to let go of their power, strength and their views of being the superior race. I loved how she sacrificed everything for the person she loved and that, even though everyone thought it was wrong, she didn’t let anyone change who she was. I also really liked Mare because she never stopped fighting. She gave up so much for the war, so much for the rebellion, but even after all that she kept going until Maven was finally defeated. Although in the book she had fled for some time, staying in a cabin with her family, she knew she had to return and that the war was far from over. The reason why I don’t think I could choose between Mare and Evangeline is because they helped each other become the best version of themselves. They hated each other for most of the series but in Broken Throne I began to see how their rivalry changed into a rather strange friendship and I know that they are never going to stop challenging each other making sure they never let down their guard.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

Seeing as the book is a collection of short stories, instead of picking a favourite part, I decided to pick a favourite story. This proved to be rather difficult since I really loved 2 of the stories and I just cannot choose between them. The first was Queen Song, the story about Cal’s mother Coriane Jacos. I was very interested in learning more about her and the moments that ked up to her death. She married Tiberias VI at a young age and the stress of being the one to marry the crown prince was too much for her to handle. She felt a constant threat from all the other girls who never got a chance to show their worth in the Queenstrial. It was very sad to learn about how she was tormented in her dreams and how all that lead to 3 miscarriages before she finally had Cal. I loved this story because, even though it was extremely sad, Cal didn’t mention much of his mother throughout the series and had left me with many questions that I was desperate to answer. I am still rather curious about the doomed queen but I loved learning about her and seeing how much of her Cal has inside of him, even if he can’t really see it. The other story that I really loved was Fire Light, a story about Cal and Mare a few months after the end of War Storm. I really enjoyed reading this one because the ending of the last book had left me with a need to know more. I wanted desperately for a happy ending for Cal and Mare because after everything they went through they deserved to be happy together. The story didn’t give me exactly what I wanted but I got to see them together and how they were ready to be together after the time they spent apart waiting until they were ready. I think that the only reason this story is competing with Queen Song is because it is a continuation of the series that I have grown to love and I did not want it to end but in the end all good stories have to come to a close.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall the book was absolutely perfect filled with many different stories and much needed information and there is nothing I would change. One thing that I enjoyed about the book was all the information about the past kings and queens of Norta. I loved learning about who had previously ruled and about the Calore family tree, no matter how complicated it was. Another thing I enjoyed about the historical artifacts in the book was all the information about the other countries on the map. I knew a lot about Norta and some about Montfort and the Lakelands but it was interesting to see how all the countries differed and how there were so many different ways to rule, even in a fictional world. The 2 short stories about the past were also something that I really liked. I enjoyed learning about Cal’s mother a character that, even though she was dead before the start of Red Queen, was mentioned constantly by Cal, but mainly his uncle Julian, brother to the dead queen. Learning more about the Scarlet Guard was also something that I enjoyed thoroughly especially as I got to see how Farley and Shade met and how their story twisted into Mare’s. I was glad to learn a bit more about how the rebels started and what happened to make Farley such an important part of the rebellion. The best thing about Broken Throne was the much needed stories about Mare, Cal and Evangeline. I was glad to hear from them all and see how they felt leading their new lives. Although I had only just finished War Storm I still really missed them and I was very happy to be able to see that they were finally all leading free and happy lives without the weight of a crown hanging in the balance. Even though there is nothing in Broken Throne that I want to change, there are a few thing I really wished I had been able to read about, for example Julian and Sara’s wedding, Mare and Cal’s wedding (if they ever got married) and some things about Mare and Cal’s children (to be honest I just wish the books had never ended). This book was just perfect and I am so sad to see that I will never read more about Mare, Cal, or any of the characters that made up such an incredible book series. I now know without a doubt in my mind that this is my favourite book series and that I will never forget this magical story that I wish had never ended.

Would you recommend this book?  

I 100% recommend this book for anyone who has read the Red Queen series and is in need of answers or just more time with the amazing characters. If you have not read them yet, I definitely think that you should, particularly if you are 13 or older and enjoy action, adventure and romance.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A beautiful Red Queen collection that offers more intriguing information about Mare, Cal and Evangeline, and other beloved characters, as well as new people with just as interesting stories to tell.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

WAR STORM by Victoria Aveyard

“Victory comes at a price. Mare Barrow learned this all too well when Cal’s betrayal nearly destroyed her. Now determined to protect her heart – and secure freedom for Reds and newbloods like her – Mare resolves to overthrow the kingdom of Norta once and for all…starting with the crown on Maven’s head. But no battle is won alone, and before the Reds may rise as one, Mare must side with the boy who broke her heart in order to defeat the boy who almost broke her. Cal’s powerful Silver allies, alongside Mare and the Scarlet Guard, prove a formidable force. But Maven is driven by an obsession so deep, he will stop at nothing to have Mare as his own again, even if it means demolishing everything – and everyone – in his path. War is coming, and all Mare has fought for hangs in the balance. Will victory be enough to topple the Silver kingdoms? Or will the little lightning girl be forever silenced?”

What is the book about?

Mare thought that the worst was over when she rescued from Maven and his prison of Silent Stone, but she couldn’t have been more wrong. Now, Mare is not just heartbroken from the younger Calore brother but also from Cal, the one person she thought would understand her and always be there for her. But his betrayal didn’t come as much of a shock, deep in her heart Mare knew that Cal would never truly go against the crown, or his father, and that Norta would fall to another king once Maven was gone. Together, the Calore brothers have nearly destroyed Mare, but she is determined to protect her heart and end the war once and for all. But the Reds cannot rise alone and Mare must fight side by side with the boy she still loves, to destroy the boy she once loved. Silvers and Reds united prove to be a strong force driven by their cause, but Maven is driven by an obsession that runs deeper than anything else and he will stop and nothing to get Mare back. The end is coming, but will Mare be able to kill the boy she once loved? All that Mare has fought for, everything that she has given up has been leading to this one moment. Will victory be enough to bring equality for the Reds? Or will the little lightning girl be finally defeated by the darkness in her and all around her?

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

There was no doubt in my mind that I had to read War Storm and I also knew that I would absolutely adore it. After the shocking cliff-hanger at the end of King’s Cage, I was desperate to get some answers, and finally get the happy ending that I had been waiting for from the second that Mare fell into that arena at Queenstrial. I had been following Mare through the whole rebellion and I was so excited that it would finally end. Once I read the blurb, I knew that this was the end, and either the little lightning girl would finally succeed or all her hard world and all she gave up for the cause would be for nothing. From the very start of the book, I already knew it would be amazing. I loved how quick the three previous books had started and I was certainly not disappointed. The second I started reading I was pulled back into Norta and the world divided by the colour of your blood. Every word made me feel close to Mare and all the other characters in the book and, even though there was no one else around, I didn’t feel at all alone. Every chapter was better than the last, leading up to the final battle that would end the war that started with one simple Red girl from the Stilts. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the whole book waiting for the battle to lost or won.

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite character was, strangely, Evangeline because of how she changed. In the first and second book I hadn’t really liked her much because of how she treated Mare and acted exactly like any other Silver – as if she was superior. However, getting to hear her point of view in both King’s Cage and War Storm really made me understand that she was not like everyone else. I really sympathised with her and how she was never free, never in control of her own life. She thought that there was no escape and that she belonged to her father and always would, but seeing how Mare and the other Reds rebelled against the Silvers, against their leaders, their controllers, made her realise that she didn’t have to follow any rules; she could be free if she was only brave enough to try. I loved how Evangeline gave up everything she had, all her power and strength and the crown that she had been training for her whole life, for love. She was braver than Mare and Cal, who didn’t have the strength to give everything up for each other when they had the chance. She realised than no amount of power would make her as happy as spending the rest of her life with the one person that makes her feel alive and free. Evangeline risked her life for her love and for her own freedom and realised that it is never too late to change, and to choose a different path. She not just helped herself realise that, but also others. Evangeline was a very strange character for most of the series, but in the end she was an inspiration for everyone.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part is definitely difficult to pick, especially since there were so many good and bad parts of the book. If I have to choose then I think that the best part in the book would have to be when the characters realise that it is never too late to change. This part allows a lot of the characters to realise that they have to let others control them and that they can be free to speak their own mind and live their own lives. This part also showed me that even though Silvers seem to have better lives that the poor Reds that are treated like servants, the Reds are luckier because they have families that love them and they have more freedom than any Silver lord or lady. This part was a great inspiration showing me that anyone can be free as long as they try and they fight for what they believe. There was also another part that I liked when Mare and Cal gave in to their feeling and, even if it was just for one night, they showed each other that even though their love was forbidden, it was still there. During this night, although they both knew that nothing had changed, they finally felt safe and like anything could happen, and I really liked how they both showed each other that their love was true even if it wouldn’t lead anywhere. I also really liked this other part when Evangeline is watching Mare and her family laugh and have fun and she realises that, even though she was always taught to think Reds where less than her, they probably were happier than her. She thinks this: "They are Red. They are lesser. And they are happy. How can it be?" I interpreted this a lot quicker than most of the other meaningful quotes in the book because of my English teacher's constant repetition about poor people being happier than rich people when we were analysing A Christmas Carol in class. This quote helped me realise that Evangeline still had the chance to change because she saw that even people who have nothing can be happier than those who have everything because they are constantly looking for more money or power. All three of these parts showed me that anyone can change and that love is better than money, power and strength and I am glad that the characters also saw this.

What was your overall impression of the book?

There are no words to describe how much I enjoyed War Storm and, overall, I think that the book was perfect. One of the best things about the book was the amount of different perspectives there were. Usually when a book has as 3 or more points of view I tend to dislike the book because it gets annoying to have to follow so many different paths. However, with War Storm, I actually really liked hearing from so many people especially finally having Cal’s and Maven’s views. It gave the book a very unique quality and made me sympathise with characters that I had hated throughout the first few books. The only thing that I disliked about the perspectives was that there was one character that I couldn't care less about and who I found really annoying. Whenever it got to that person's chapters I was just waiting for it to move on and go back to the characters I actually cared about, but fortunately it was only one character and there were so many characters that I actually cared about that it didn't really ruin the book. Another thing that I really enjoyed about the book was how so many characters changed. So many characters that I hadn’t really liked or never thought they could be good people really surprised me and made me see that anyone can change. I loved how so many of them chose to follow their dreams and stop letting people control their lives, particularly Evangeline who changed so much near the end of the book. I loved the character development because it gave me hope that the war would end and there would finally be peace for everyone. There is only one thing in the entire book that annoyed me and I do not even think that it should be changed. Cal and Mare’s severed relationship really got on my nerves and I hated that they were both too stubborn to give in to the pain of their heartbreak. I spent pretty much the whole of the book screaming at them to get back together because I knew that they loved each other and that they were perfect for each other. I was so angry about it that I just wanted to slap some sense into the both of them, but I think that it wouldn’t have been such a good story if not for the changes in their relationship so even though I wish they had been together I don’t think that the book should have been different. Another thing in the book that I neither like nor dislike is the ending of the book. The ending was not exactly what I was expecting or what I wish had happened, but I don’t exactly want it to be different. I think that the way that War Storm ended was a really beautiful but I wish that I had gotten more information about the future and Mare’s life after the war. I really wanted to learn more but that is to be expected since it was such a wonderful series. I think the problem with the ending is that I really wish there wasn’t one and that I could carry on living through Mare’s life with her. I really loved the book and I’m really going to miss the characters that have become as close as family. 

Which is your favourite book in the Red Queen series? (1, 2, 3, or 4)

I really loved all the books in the Red Queen series and I think that they all had something that made the book unique. Red Queen, Glass Sword, King’s Cage and War Storm were all perfect books and without them Mare’s story would not be complete. If I had to choose a favourite book in the series, I think that it would have to be between the first and the third book. I chose Red Queen because it was the start of Mare’s story and it was when she started to see that one person, one Red, could help change the world. The events in Red Queen helped Mare see that she wasn’t a weak girl who could be controlled, she had a mind of her own and she was strong enough to make a difference. Even though Mare was constantly surrounded by Silver enemies and one wrong move could lead to her death, she used her position to help others and try to make the world better for everyone. King’s Cage was also an extraordinary book because of how Mare’s character developed. In Red Queen Mare thought that she was unstoppable and that she was strong enough to make a difference, and then in Glass Sword she started to believe that she was stronger and better than everyone else. She was extremely confident and that made her a bit arrogant and started to change the sweet personality she had in the first book. Then in King’s Cage, she realised that she was not undefeatable and she started to become the girl that would stop at nothing to help others. King’s Cage also had perspectives from different people and started to bring in different views. I really enjoyed hearing from others because most of the time I just got to see through Mare’s eyes. However, the ending of King's Cage wasn't the best and it puts me off saying that it is my favourite book, so if I had to pick between Red Queen and King's Cage it would definitely be Red Queen. The whole Red Queen series was incredible and I think that I can finally say that I have a favourite book series of all time. It has everything a good series needs: action, betrayal, death, plot twists, romance, sassy characters and good-looking boys, if you are looking for a series to read this is one you are sure to enjoy.

Would you recommend this book?  

I absolutely recommend this book for readers who enjoy action, thrillers, romance and if you have read Divergent or The Hunger Games and enjoyed them then I am sure you will like this one too. I suggest reading the series in order starting with Red Queen and I 100% recommend this series specifically for readers 13 or older. I am not just simply recommending you read the Red Queen series, I am saying that you must because it is absolutely my favourite series and if you don't try it out you will missing out on the best series of all time.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A perfect and extraordinary end to a remarkable series full of twists, lies and betrayals, and a little pinch of magic.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

KING’S CAGE by Victoria Aveyard

“Who will light the way for the rebellion? Mare Barrow is a prisoner, powerless without her lightning, tormented by her mistakes. She lives at the mercy of a boy she once loved, a boy made of lies and betrayal. Now a king, Maven continues weaving his web in an attempt to maintain control over his country – and his prisoner. While Mare remains trapped in the palace, the remnants of the Red Rebellion continue organizing and expanding. As they prepare for war, no longer able to linger in the shadows, Cal – the exiled prince with his own claim on Mare’s heart – will stop at nothing to bring her back.”

What is the book about?

Mare Barrow is a prisoner, left powerless without her lightning, with no hope of escape. She lives imprisoned by a boy she once loved, a boy who still loves her and is obsessed with keeping her with him. Maven is now a king, but he continues weaving his web of lies and betrayal to keep control over his country and his people – especially his prisoner. Maven will stop at nothing to keep the Scarlet Guard from taking control of Norta (his country) and will use Mare to his advantage to strengthen himself while weakening the rebels. While Mare remains trapped in a king’s cage, the Scarlet Guard continues with its Red Rebellion organising and expanding its forces ready to overthrow the king. As the Guard prepare for war, Cal – the exiled prince with his own claim on Mare’s heart – is no longer able to linger in the shadows and has to step up and ignore his own beliefs to bring her back. Will Mare manage to escape Maven or will she live in fear of a broken king forever?

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

The ending of Glass Sword left me anxious for answers, with Mare trapped I had no idea what would happen and if she would be able to escape Maven a second time. The blub – which I read before beginning the book – only told me what I already knew but also gave me some hope and made me even more interested in starting the book. The book began instantly and in a very shocking way. It left me on the edge of my seat, holding my breath, from the very first page. I immediately felt like I belonged and I was there with Mare every step of the way. Every chapter was perfect and always left me wanting to read on so that I could get answers and find out what would happen to the characters. The book once again had me hooked from the very beginning and I was soon nearing the end without even realising. I knew I would love reading it and I was right. The start was incredible, as was the middle and the end.

Who was your favourite character and why? 

I had two favourite characters in this book, one was Mare, who changed a lot during her imprisonment, and the second was Cameron, the newblood from the New Town slums. In the previous book – Glass Sword – I had not liked Mare because of how she changed and became very self-centred and acted horribly at times, destroying anyone that stood in her way. I understood this because the Silvers had treated her and many other Reds terribly and they would never show her mercy so why should she, but she was trying to defeat a monster and bring peace for everyone in a way that was turning her into a monster. However, being trapped in the palace gave her the opportunity to remember why she joined the Scarlet Guard and what the aim of the rebellion really was. She had hope and never gave up, even though she knew that there was no chance she would get out on her own and that there was no way the others could save her. She let Maven believe that he had her when really keeping her locked up was only pushing her further away from the boy she once loved, the boy that is now gone. Mare changed and became the girl that I liked in the first book once again. The other character I liked was Cameron, because she reminded me a lot of Mare in the first book. Cameron hated staying with the Scarlet Guard and had been forced to join by Mare, but she stayed because they were the only people that could help her get her twin brother back from the war safely. Cameron joined the Scarlet Guard because of her brother just like Mare did, and she remains in order to help him. Even though everyone kept telling Cameron that there was no way they could get her brother back and that there were more important things to worry about, she never gave up and kept believing that she could save him. She used her deadly ability to kill in order to get closer to her brother even though she hated it, and she never gave up on him even though it was almost impossible. I really admire both Mare and Cameron and I think that they are both amazing characters.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part of the book is undoubtedly when Mare finally manages to escape. I knew it would happen at one point but after a while I started to lose hope and began to question if the Scarlet Guard was actually going to get her out of there. I liked this part because Mare was finally back with her family and was safe from Maven and all the torture he put her through. Mare had felt so alone in the palace with no one she loved and now she was with them again she knew that she was not alone and that people would never stop trying to get her back. This was a happy part of the book where Mare felt strong and safe and where she far away from the king. I also like that she was back with the Scarlet Guard because it meant that they had more of a chance at success with the lightning girl back on their side and now they would be able to attack Maven without worrying that they could harm Mare too. This part of the book restored Mare’s hope and her strength and gave her more reason to keep fighting for what she believes.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, the book was absolutely amazing and I loved it just as much as the previous ones. One of the things I like about the book was that it had 3 perspectives. The other 2 book only had Mare’s point of view but King’s Cage also had Cameron’s and Evangeline’s. I understood why Cameron’s perspective was given, because without a view from someone outside of the palace then the readers would not have known what was happening with the Scarlet Guard, but Evangeline’s view came as a huge shock. I liked hearing from different people but I specifically liked learning more about Evangeline and understanding how she saw things. Having more insight on her made me feel sympathetic towards her because she was made to be cruel and to be queen and all she wanted was to be free from everything and to have the chance to live her own life. Another thing that I liked about the book was the amount of characters – including Silvers – that began to realise that Maven was a horrible king and that he did not deserve the throne. This gave me a lot of hope that the rebels would be able to kill Maven and make Norta equal for everyone. The ending was the only thing that I didn’t really like and it left me shocked and sad but I know that there is another book so there is still a chance for happiness. I wish the ending had gone differently but I still liked it and I am sure that it was the best ending the author could have chosen. I am very happy that I chose to read this book and I really loved every single word, I cannot wait to read the final book in the Red Queen series but I will be sad to see it end.

Which book did you like better, the first, the second or the third?

Red Queen, Glass Sword and King’s Cage were all very good books and I loved them all equally, however I think that King’s Cage was the best book. One thing that made King’s Cage really stand out from the other books was that it had 3 different perspectives instead of just Mare’s. It made the book more interesting since there were more people to hear from and there were 3 different storylines to follow which made it the best book out of the 3. Another thing that makes King’s Cage my favourite book so far is the way that the rebellion expanded. There were so many people helping the Scarlet Guard with their mission and so many more people were beginning to see that Maven was a monster made of lies that no one should trust. The book really showed how even though Reds are thought to be inferior, they are also strong and can achieve anything if they work together and never give up. King’s Cage really gave me hope that Maven could be defeated and that the perfect world was achievable. I think that all 3 books were really extraordinary but King’s Cage was my favourite.

Would you recommend this book?  

This is definitely an incredible book that I think everyone should read. I particularly recommend it for readers over 13 and I suggest reading the other books in the series (Red Queen and Glass Sword) before this one, or you will be extremely confused.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

An inventive and magical new world full of power, lies and betrayal which will leave you gasping for breath.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

GLASS SWORD by Victoria Aveyard

“I was born to kill a king, to end a reign of terror before it can truly begin. If there’s one thing Mare Barrow knows, it’s that she’s different. Mare’s blood is red – the colour of common folk – but her Silver ability, the power to control lightning, has turned her into a weapon that the royal court wants to control. Pursued by Maven, the vengeful Silver king, Mare sets out to find and recruit other Red-and-Silver fighters to join the rebellion. But Mare finds herself on a deadly path, at risk of becoming exactly the kind of monster she is trying to defeat.”

What is the book about?

Mare Barrow is safe, or as safe as she can be with Maven, the traitorous Silver king, and all of his followers hunting her down. Mare knows that she is different, dangerous, powerful, and that people (mainly Maven) want to control her. But there are other like her, with Red blood but Silver abilities, yet stronger than both. On the run from the Silvers and everyone else that wants her dead, Mare sets out to find other Red-and-Silver fighters and recruit them for the rebellion. But the king is also on a mission, desperate to destroy every newblood before Mare can get to them, so he can keep his country running in the same blood-segregated way. But Mare is not only trying to escape Maven and all his murderous Silvers, she is also on the run from her own path trying to keep herself off a deadly path to becoming exactly the kind of monster she is trying to destroy.

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

After reading Red Queen, I was anxious to learn more and carry on with Mare on her mission to make the world equal for everyone. I was left on a cliff-hanger, which annoyed me immensely, but made me even more excited and agitated to begin reading the next book. Before beginning Glass Sword, I read the blurb and only became even more intrigued to start reading. I had many questions, even more after reading the blurb, and I was desperately in need of some answers. Glass Sword started instantly, carrying on from basically the moment it finished in Red Queen. From the very first sentence, I was once again transported into Mare’s world and it felt as though I had never left. I was once again attached to the story and the characters waiting impatiently to learn what would happen next. Every word, sentence, paragraph and chapter was perfectly written to attract the reader and I loved every single second from the very start. The start was so mesmerising that soon I was halfway through the book wondering which world was real.

Who was your favourite character and why? 

I don’t think that I really have a favourite character in this book because, although I liked a lot of the characters, all of them had clear flaws that were constantly showing. I know that no one is perfect but these flaws were ruining too much in the story that none of the characters really stood out to me. One of the characters I liked was Cal because of how, even though he didn’t believe in the cause and was a Silver and always will be, he still helped Mare and everyone else in any way that he could. I liked how friendly he was with the young newbloods and how much he helped and cared for the little kids, I know that Cal has a brutal side but this showed me that even the most ruthless soldiers can have a sweet and sensitive side. Another character that I liked was Kilorn because of how he kept fighting even though he didn’t have any ability. He was normal but he was just as brave as any of the powerful newbloods. Kilorn only ever had a gun at his side to protect himself but he still put his own life on the line to help the rebellion and I really admire his courage to stand with the newbloods even though he is not one of them. I also liked Mare at times when she was showing her old self and being the brave and kind girl who never gave up, putting her life on the line to save others, but most of the time I didn’t really like her as much because of how much she changed throughout the book.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

Although the whole book was really good it doesn’t mean that the whole book was happy, in fact there weren’t really any parts of the book that weren’t sad or full of death, which makes choosing a favourite part very difficult. However if I look closely, I think that my favourite part would have to be when Mare and all the other newbloods are training to get ready for a new mission. At that moment they are all full of hope that this will be a successful mission and they look past all their fear that they will fail to put on a brave face and show that they are ready for anything. I liked this part because it showed how even though people were scared they were strong enough to ignore it and hope for the best. They were brave enough to go on a mission that they didn’t have much faith in because they knew if they succeeded they would help lots of people escape horrible fates like death or worse, and I think that shows true commitment to your cause and to your people.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, Glass Sword was one of the most marvellous books I have ever read and I enjoyed almost everything about it. One of the things that I really loved about the book was all the character development I got to see. Lots of character, new and old, became stronger and braver and faced their fears to stand up for their cause. I loved seeing how they all came together to not just help each other but help all the other Reds who don’t have the courage to stand up and show that they are just as strong as Silvers and deserve to be treated equally. Another thing I liked about the characters was that although they were almost always in a near death situation, some of them still managed to have a smile on their face and enjoy the times when they weren’t on the run. Some of the characters looked past their fear and were able to be happy showing that even though everything had been taken away from them, they could still find happiness in the darkest of times. The ending was a shock and I definitely did not see what happened coming. I never thought it would end that way and I was expecting a much more hopeful finish. The ending was not only a cliff-hanger but it was also sad and gave off the idea that there was no hope left and that it was the end of not just the book but the rebellion. But I know that there is still a chance that Mare will succeed and that she will get past everything that has happened; I still believe there is hope even if she might not. There is only one thing in the whole book that I wish I could change. Now there were a few things that I didn’t exactly like but I know that they had to happen for the story to be as it is, or at least I hope there was a reason or else I will be extremely angry. The one thing that really annoyed me was how Mare changed in the book. I know that she went through a lot and that she could no longer be Mare Barrow the girl from the Stilts or Mareena Titanos the long-lost Silver princess, she had to change and adapt to her new role and new life, but why did she have to have such darkness in her. She had been trying to avoid being a monster and scaring people but in the end all the hiding just led to the same fate, and that ruined the brave, kind girl I knew and I just wish she could have been strong enough to get past all of that. Apart from that one small thing, Glass Sword was perfect and I absolutely loved it and cannot wait to read on!

Which book did you like better, the first or the second?

Although both Red Queen and Glass Sword were incredible books, I think that Glass Sword was the better book. Red Queen was indeed amazing and I loved every part of if but I think that it was too full of betrayal and that the whole purpose was mainly to show Mare that even the people closest to you can betray you. I think that it had a rather muddled plot, mainly because of all the plot twists that made the story suddenly change, and though Glass Sword was full of surprises it had a much clearer plot. Glass Sword also made me a lot more emotional and I think that the plot was a lot better than in Red Queen. Red Queen did had some sad parts but I didn’t react that much because, for some reason, I still had hope that it wasn’t really true, but with Glass Sword there was no doubt in my mind about what had happened and I could nothing but feel sad with the characters. Glass Sword also had a lot more action without too much of being death. Mare and the rest of the Scarlet Guard had a deeper purpose and mission than just scaring some people with a few terrorist attacks and I think that game the plot more meaning. I think that both books were perfect but, in my opinion, Glass Sword was the better book.

Would you recommend this book?  

I absolutely recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good book and likes action, adventure, romance and doesn’t mind a bit of bloodshed. I suggest reading Red Queen (the first book in this electrifying series) before Glass Sword or else you are sure to be rather confused and I also think that this book is best suited for anyone 13 or over but if you have read similar books then I am sure you will enjoy this one.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A captivating and imaginative thriller, impossible to put down and full of surprises.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego