Wednesday, 26 January 2022

HEROES OF OLYMPUS – THE HOUSE OF HADES by Rick Riordan

“A thousand deadly monsters. Three battling demigods. One fatal decision. Hazel looked behind Hecate at the middle gateway. She saw Percy and Annabeth sprawled helplessly before those black-and-silver doors. A massive dark shape, vaguely humanoid, now loomed over them, its foot raised as if to crush Percy. ‘What about them?’ Hazel asked, her voice ragged. ‘Percy and Annabeth?’ Hecate shrugged. ‘West, east or south…they die.’ ‘Not an option,’ Hazel said. ‘Then you have only one path – and that’s the most dangerous of all…’”

What is the book about?

Percy and Annabeth are in Tartarus, the pit where all monsters go when they die. Not even the gods go there and yet the two half-bloods must survive all the way to the Doors of Death to be able to finally close them and stop monsters from using it as a shortcut to return to the mortal world. Meanwhile, the other demigods are facing problems of their own as they set off for the House of Hades where they will find the mortal entrance to Tartarus and they must also close the doors or Percy and Annabeth’s mission in Tartarus will be for nothing. The demigods must make a decision, to take the easy roads but risk their friends’ lives or to take the most dangerous path of all and risk their own. To them that is no choice at all but facing the thousands of monsters standing in their way is not as simple as choosing a path. They must all reach the Doors of Death at the same time and then make it all the way to Greece to defeat all the giants before it is too late, and Gaia finally rises…

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

After finishing The Mark of Athena I was in shock, I had never come across a Percy Jackson book that ended without a happy ending, or as happy an ending as possible for some demigods that are heading towards their deaths. That book had been more of a cliff-hanger than any other so I was even more desperate to start reading the fourth book and get some answers. The blurb was like all the other books, with a section of the book on it, but it was still very interesting and once I read it I was even more intrigued to find out what would happen to all the characters and what Tartarus was like. As soon as I started reading the book, I already loved it. It started with action from the very beginning and already had me ready for anything. Unfortunately, the start didn’t really answer any of my questions but it was still very interesting and I was relieved to see that all the characters were safe and sound, or as save as a demigod could be with hundreds of monsters wanting to devour them. From the very beginning, a final battle at the House of Hades was predicted so the book kept me interested with the thought of a fight at the Doors of Death. The book was amazing from the very start, just as I had thought, and I was very excited to get to the end because the end was finally nearing. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

In this book, it was a lot harder to choose a favourite character because all the characters had their point of view represented so none of them had the advantage of showing me their more personal thoughts and feelings. However, there were still a few characters that I liked better and I think that if I had to choose a favourite one it would probably be Frank. This is mainly because of how much he changed in the book both physically and mentally. It was like he finally accepted that he was a son of Mars and he grew into the role. He accepted his relationship with war and was able to forget about how clumsy and hopeless he sued to be which helped him defeat thousands of monsters basically on his own. Even though he was never really that strong and powerful, not even his friends doubted that he was able to do that and had changed for the better. I would say that he was even more powerful than Percy and Jason, who were always seen as the stronger demigods. He was also a lot more modest than them and gave his friends more credit than they deserved for some of the battles that he had mostly won on his own. This also made him a much sweeter and kinder characters and showed me that he was a much better leader than the other could ever be, even if he didn’t really think so. Even though he still doubted himself a lot, his confidence also grew and he was able to ignore all his failures and just focus on the current battle, which helped him win even more. A lot of the characters were also great fighters and they also changed a lot, but Frank changed the most and I think he was the best character in the book. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

This choice was a lot easier than usual because there was a part of the book where everything was calm for a minute, even if it was just for one character. My favourite part of the book was when Leo landed on the island of Ogygia because of who he met and how it changed him. If you remember the island from one of the Percy Jackson books, then you will understand what I mean, but if not then you will have to read this book to understand because I will not be explaining too much. I enjoyed this part because it was calmer and allowed me to think after so many fights. I also enjoyed it because it was refreshing to see two characters go from hating each other to loving each other. It was a very sweet part and I like that the character was Leo because for most of the book I had been very worried that he would do something stupid (or more stupid than usual) because he felt like a seventh wheel. I think that landing on that island was probably the best thing that ever happened to him because it gave him hope that he wouldn’t end up alone and also made him a lot less immature. The time on the island changed him and gave him his own personal goal for after defeating Gaia, which meant that I no longer had to worry about him turning evil or anything. I also loved the part because Leo deserved love and it wasn’t fair that he had to spend ages on a boat with 3 couples while he was alone. There were a lot of good parts of the book, but this was definitely the best one, and I really hope that Leo can keep his promise. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall the book was incredible and there wasn’t anything in it that I didn’t enjoy; it was perfect. One thing that I really enjoyed, which was a bit surprising, was that all seven demigods from the prophecy had their perspectives included in the book. I thought it was strange to have seven different points of view because sometimes it can be too much and it can ruin the book but for some reason it just made the book even better. I loved getting to hear from all seven half-bloods and I definitely didn’t find it at all annoying. It also surprised me that I didn’t find a single characters point of view annoying. Usually there is a character that I just hate and whenever it gets to that one the only thing I am thinking about it moving on to a different character, but out of all the seven characters not a single one annoyed me and I loved hearing from all of them. Another thing that I liked about the book was the character development. There were quite a few characters that changed during this book and I really enjoyed seeing them become better people and become more confident in themselves. I also liked it because it made the plot a lot more interesting because the characters started to become stronger so, even though the path got tougher, they were still able to succeed and defeat any monster that stood in their way. One last thing that I loved about the book was that, despite being separated, the characters still managed to stay connected and help each other. I loved seeing how they didn’t lose their connection and were still able to time things so perfectly that if it wasn’t a book it would have been impossible. But the whole series is full of impossible things becoming possible so I was not at all surprised by it. The House of Hades was a great book and I am very excited to read the last book in the series. I will be sad to see the series finish but also glad that the final battle is finally here. 

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

All four books are amazing and I really loved them, however I think that The House of Hades (the fourth book) is the best book so far. The first book, The Lost Hero, and the second book, The Son of Neptune, were equally incredible, and The Mark of Athena was better than both of them, but I think that The House of Hades succeeds them all. It seems impossible that an amazing series manages to get so much more amazing but somehow so far each book has been better than the last. One reason why The House of Hades is the best book is the perspectives included in the book. I really enjoyed hearing from all seven half-bloods and I was very surprised to see that I didn’t find it at all annoying to have so many points of view; instead it just made the book even more amazing. Another reason why the book stands out is because the characters were split up. I know that in the first 2 books the characters were split up but it was different in the fourth book and it made the book even better. I liked how even while separated the characters were still connected and it made things a lot more interesting to see them apart, leading 2 different adventures. I really liked how it kept thing a lot more tense and intriguing, but I was also glad when the found each other again. Overall all the books in the series so far have been amazing, but the fourth book was just a little bit better.

Would you recommend this book?  

I definitely recommend you read this book if you are over 12 and have read the Percy Jackson series and the previous books in this series. It is a great book for action and adventure lovers and I am sure that anyone who reads it will love it. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A deadly adventure leading to the Doors of Death, full of mystery, action and more.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

Wednesday, 19 January 2022

HEROES OF OLYMPUS – THE MARK OF ATHENA by Rick Riordan

“One fatal prophecy. Seven brave demigods. A quest to find – and close – the Doors of Death. Annabeth felt as if someone had draped a cold washcloth across her neck. She heard that whispering laughter again, as if the presence had followed her from the ship. She looked up at the Argo II. Its massive bronze hull glittered in the sunlight. Part of her wanted to kidnap Percy right now, climb on board and get out of here while they still could. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to go terribly wrong. She couldn’t risk losing Percy again.”

What is the book about?

Finally, after months separated, Annabeth and Percy have been reunited and the seven demigods of the second Great Prophecy can begin their quest. The Greek half-bloods arrived in peace, ready to explain themselves to the Romans and keep a battle from starting, and for a while their plan seemed to work…until it didn’t. A battle began and the seven demigods had to leave before they had even had a chance to breathe. They headed off riding towards unknown waters and ancient cities. But they were not just on a mission to keep Gaia from awakening; Annabeth had a path of her own to follow: the Mark of Athena. The fatal prophecy claimed they had to find and close the Doors of Death or else monsters would keep returning from the dead and Gaia’s forces would never weaken. But everything, as usual, was much harder than they thought and it was as if no one wanted their quest to succeed. To top it all off, the demigods had problems of their own and questions they didn’t know how to answer. The risks are great and the chance of success low, if the half-bloods wish to succeed they must travel to Rome, and then Greece, before Gaia wakes and the world falls to Mother Earth…

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

Finishing The Son of Neptune had left me with many questions so I really wanted to start the third book, but mainly I was just excited to see Annabeth and Percy reunited and finally have the seven demigods come together for the final quest to defeat Gaia. As soon as I finished the second book I was desperate to get the next one and I was very anxious to get answers and see the heroes win. The blurb of the book was different to the first two, as it did not have a conversation between a god and a half-blood, but I could still sense it was part of the book. I was a bit disappointed at that because I always like to have a short summary that explains things a little and always leaves me wanting to start the book even more than before, but as soon as I opened the book I was just too happy to be annoyed as something as small as the blurb. I was anxious before starting the book, because I was worried that the book wouldn’t start at the point the previous one had left off as many other Percy Jackson book, and I really wanted to see the reunion, but I was very relieved to see that it started exactly where I wanted it to only from a different perspective (but I didn’t mind that). The start was very interesting, and I always love a bit of happiness, and there was already fighting after the first few chapters which was, as usual, just what I had expected for seven very unlucky demigods. I knew this book was going to be a good one from the very start and I was very intrigued to see what would happen.

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite character was very hard to choose because this was a book with the seven most powerful, brave and selfless demigods in existence, so it was difficult to choose just one out of them all. All of the heroes had unique qualities that made them stand out and they were all pretty much equals, but there were a couple characters that stood out to me. One of them was Annabeth, who got her own perspective put into the book so I could finally see inside the head of my favourite character from the Percy Jackson series. At first, she disappointed me a little because I could see that she was acting a little too much like a leader, even if she was one, and she was becoming more like Percy and Jason, who always thought of themselves as the best, even if they didn’t mean to. But after a while, I started to see the Annabeth that I had really liked and I understood why she had thought this way. Pride was her fatal flaw, and having some of the other demigods look to her for advice certainly hadn’t helped her, but even though she didn’t like it, she was still able to admit when she needed help which I think is one of the most admirable qualities of a hero. The other character that I liked was Piper because she was modest and to me that is a great quality to have. Even though I do think that Piper should give herself a little more recognition for her actions, I liked that it didn’t all go to her head and she didn’t think of herself as the most valuable member of the group. She usually saw herself as useless and didn’t always believe in herself, which is not a good thing, but as soon as one of her friends was in trouble she had so much confidence and she was always able to come up with a solution, which reminded me a lot of Annabeth, who was always saving Percy in the previous series. I liked all the characters but I think these girls were the best, it also helped that I was given their points of view because then I got to see their thoughts so everything was a lot more personal about them. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

This choice was obviously hard but once I looked at all the parts in the book, it was easy to see that my favourite part was the reunion because the book couldn’t get any happier than that. At the start, I was very happy and glad that the characters were all together again and the real quest could finally begin. I know that the happiness didn’t last very long but I was very glad that the characters at least got a little time to relax and believe that everything was going to be fine, because they all really deserved it. There were also a few interesting conversations at the beginning of the book, which gave me a few answers and explained things a bit more, but somehow they also gave me more questions which was a bit annoying but I also like having a reason to carry on reading other than watching the characters almost die about 100 times. I really enjoyed every part of the book but I don’t think that there was really any other part of the book where all the characters were happy and relaxed. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, the book was just perfect, even the ending, and I loved everything about it. One thing that I really liked about the book was the start because it gave me hope that after Gaia was finally defeated the characters would have a chance at a normal happy life and they would for once not have to battle a dozen monsters just to have a few hours of rest. Another thing that I liked was the perspectives in the book. Most books that I read with 3 or more perspectives always annoy me because I really want to get to one specific person and usually there is one person that I just do not want to hear from, but The Mark of Athena was different. The book was written from 4 points of view, but there wasn’t a single second where I didn’t like hearing from those 4 heroes. In my opinion, I think those were the best 4 demigods to hear from and I was especially glad to have Annabeth’s view added to the book because I had always wanted to her from her. The chapters left me in suspense multiple times but not too much that it started to get irritated, and I enjoyed every perspective almost equally. One last thing that I found extremely surprising but still really enjoyed was the ending. I know to some people who have read the book this will sound a bit weird but I really did like the ending of the book. I had not been expecting it to end like that because both of the previous books had ended quite happily but I was not at all disappointed at the rather shocking and a bit sad ending. The reason I liked it was because it kept things interesting and gave me even more interest in beginning the next book in the series because I couldn’t just pretend that they all lived happily ever after, and also liked not knowing what would come next because it means more surprise. I just can’t wait to start the fourth book and I hope it is just as amazing as this one. 

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

All the book in the series have been amazing so far and I know that when I had only read the first book, The Lost Hero, and the second book, The Son of Neptune, I had not been able to pick between them, but adding the third book, The Mark of Athena, made it much easier to choose a favourite because I think that it is currently the best. The reason I had been unable to choose was because I loved the plot from one and the characters from the other, but The Mark of Athena combines these two things to make the perfect book. I had 2 of the perspectives I had from the first book, 1 from the second and a new one that I was really excited to hear from. I liked this because it balanced things out and having 2 boys and 2 girls was a lot better than having 2 boys and only 1 girl, because for some reason there always seems to be less girls even in the demigod world. Another reason why I liked The Mark of Athena more than the other books was because of the ending. I always thought that I knew how the book would end because that was how it always worked: get a quest, almost die many times but then complete the quest against all odds and head on to the next quest. The ending of the third book left me so stunned that I was barely able to process what just happened. Even though it was not happy I still liked it a lot more than the other books – which had been very predictable – and I was even more excited to start reading the next book. I really enjoyed all three books, but The Mark of Athena was just superior, and I cannot wait to read the next 2 books and reach the end of this incredible series. 

Would you recommend this book?  

I definitely recommend you read this book and I suggest you read the Percy Jackson series and the first 2 books in this series prior to reading The Mark of Athena or you will be one confused reading. I think it is best for readers 12 or older and I absolutely suggest reading it if you like action and know a little about Greek and Roman mythology, because things are about to get a little crazy. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

An unbelievably mix of Roman and Greek with twists and turns and more surprises around every corner. 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

Wednesday, 12 January 2022

HEROES OF OLYMPUS – THE SON OF NEPTUNE by Rick Riordan

“One cursed demigod. Two new heroes. A quest to unleash the god of death… ‘I’m the god of Rome. I protect the legions. I don’t want war without end. You will serve me.’ ‘Not likely,’ Percy said. ‘I order a quest!’ the god announced. ‘You will go north and find Thanatos in the land beyond the gods. You will free him and thwart the plans of the giants.’

What is the book about?

Percy Jackson has awoken and remembers nothing about his past; he barely even remembers his own name. He was sent in the direction of Camp Jupiter, the Roman camp for demigods, and finally, after days on the run, he has arrived. The camp welcomed him unhappily, only choosing to let him live because of what a man assassinating teddy bears had told him, and the only people who truly seemed nice where Hazel and Frank, two demigods with problems of their own. After a Roman version of capture the flag, a god revealed himself and declared a quest, a quest to free the god of death. Percy and the two new heroes, Hazel and Frank, embarked on their new journey across America to the land beyond the gods, where they would find Death and much more dangerous creatures. But, in case that wasn’t enough, the demigods are all facing issues of their own: a curse, a piece of wood and a terrible case of amnesia. The heroes must face the truth and admit their secrets and their past, and above all free the god of death and kill an almost immortal giant, before an army attacks Camp Jupiter and kills them all…

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

The second I had finished The Lost Hero I was already longing to have the second book in my hands, ready for another adventure. With Percy missing during the entire first book, I was anxious to find out what had happened to him and how his own quest with half-bloods from the opposite side was going. Once I finished reading the blurb, I was even more desperate to grab the book and I had lots of questions just waiting to be answered. I really wanted to know who the two new heroes would be and finally get all the Seven together for the quest to defeat the giants. I was very interested in finding out what the Roman camp was liked and understand more about the Roman gods. As soon as I started to read I was already in love with the book and literally on the edge of my seat waiting to understand what had happened to Percy. The start was very interesting and kept me reading on because of all the half-answered questions and the new ones popping up every second. I was anxious to read on and discover what would happen on this mysterious new quest…

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite character was very difficult to choose this time because both the new heroes were amazing in their own unique ways. Hazel was amazing and a bit younger than the other heroes but just as brave. She had suffered a lot and knew the meaning of death. She carried a lot on her shoulders but still managed to keep a calm look on her face to help Frank and Percy not panic every single time they were attacked by monsters. She was a really incredible character and I really admired her courage but, I think that if I had to pick a favourite, it would probably be Frank. This is because of how he was willing, like really willing, to sacrifice his life for his friends, to put his duty before everything, including his life. I know that this is a quality that you see in a lot of demigod heroes but none of them have ever come as close to death as Frank. He literally had his life in his hands and was willing to watch it burn just to save his friends. He had thought of himself as the weak link in the group because he never thought of himself as a warrior, but he proved himself and showed everyone (especially himself) that he was not a screw up. He was very sweet and always looked out for his friends and never hesitated when he had to march into battle, even though he always doubted himself. He was by far the most heroic male half-blood that I have met and I don’t understand why Percy and Jason seem to get all the glory when there are heroes like Frank. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part was probably when Hazel and Frank shared one of Hazel’s blackouts. My favourite parts in the book were probably all of Hazel’s trips to the past and the ending, but, above all, it was this one particular flashback. I always enjoy flashbacks and usually enjoy any book that has them because I love getting to see the past and getting small clues that will then lead to the big picture. I really liked Hazel’s flashbacks because they gave me a chance to get to know the old her and see how she had changed, as well as discover what happened to her and why she was there. My favourite blackout was the one that Hazel and Frank shared because they were able to truly trust each other with their lives (for Frank this meant literally) and it really solidified their relationship. This was also the last flashback which showed that Hazel had escaped her past and was now fully grounded to her second life. I really enjoyed reading this part and finally learn the whole truth about Hazel. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall the book was really amazing and I loved reading it. The whole book was perfect and I don’t think that there is anything that I want to change about it, but there is one thing that I found rather strange and a bit annoying. The Son of Neptune was written from 3 perspectives: Hazel, Frank and Percy, but that isn’t what bugged me. The thing that was a bit weird was that the first book, The Lost Hero, had been written from 3 completely different points of view: Piper, Leo and Jason. I found it very weird that 2 books in the same series had 3 new view and it also annoyed me a little because I would have liked to have heard from Piper, Leo and Jason, who I had gotten attached to after reading the first book. I wouldn’t want the book to change but I did think it was a bit strange to have a whole new quest separate from the previous one and have the other characters barely even mentioned. However I did really liked the book and one thing that made me really enjoy reading it was because of the flashbacks. I love flashbacks because I love seeing into people’s past and getting to see the younger and more innocent versions of themselves. It is also a great way to see into characters heads and get to see what their lives were like before the book began. If it was my choice, I would watch my characters grow up from young children and see them become the heroes they are in present time and then I would watch as they grew into adults and found happiness, but that would be one long book or book series. The flashbacks in the book really made the book so much better and made me love it even more. One other thing that I really loved about the book was the little clues and riddles the characters got along the way. I love when the characters in the book have to piece together a puzzle because I enjoy finding out alongside them (or before them) and the shock that comes with it, when the characters discover that it wasn’t at all what they had thought. The book was filled with riddles and new challenges and some have not yet been pieced together. I really enjoyed reading the second book in the Heroes of Olympus series and I can’t wait to see what comes next. 

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

This is always a difficult choice because I love basically every book in amazing series like this one, but this choice was even harder because of the characters. The Lost Hero and The Son of Neptune were both amazing books, but they each had 3 different main characters leading the quest, and they were all equally amazing. Looking at book whole books, I cannot decide which one is my favourite because I prefer them for very different reasons. If I were to look at the plots of the books, I would choose The Son of Neptune as my favourite book because of how much closer the characters were getting to seeing Romans and Greeks united. I also really loved the flashback addition to the book and I really enjoyed the quest to free the god of death, who is to blame for every person that dies and is taken away from their family. I also loved the little clues and all the new secrets discovered. However, if I were to look at the characters of the books, I would choose The Lost Hero as the better book in the series because I loved those characters and their personalities a lot more. Piper, Leo and Jason were all so different but they made a strong friendship and were willing to give their lives for each other. Percy, Frank and Hazel also did this but I think they had a lot more in common and I had also already met Percy and I knew a lot about his previous life so there were only 2 mysterious new characters instead of 3 like in the first book. I really loved both books and I just cannot decide between them, but maybe the third book will bring some surprises. 

Would you recommend this book?  

I absolutely recommend reading this book if you have previously read the first book in the series (The Lost Hero) and the Percy Jackson series, because it will explain a lot. I think the best age to read the book is 12 or older, but if you have read similar book and enjoy Greek (and Roman) mythology and action and adventure, then this is the book for you. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A book filled with adventures and secrets in both past and present, and a cursed mission to free Death.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

Wednesday, 5 January 2022

HEROES OF OLYMPUS – THE LOST HERO by Rick Riordan

“Three new heroes. One missing demigod. A curse that threatens them all… ‘And if I fail?’ Jason asked. ‘Great victory requires great risk,’ Juno admitted. ‘Fail, and there will be bloodshed like we have never seen. Demigods will destroy one another. The giants will overrun Olympus. Gaia will awake, and the earth will shake off everything we have built over five millennia. It will be the end of us all.’ ‘Great. Just great.’”

What is the book about?

Percy Jackson is missing but, at the same time as his disappearance, three new heroes have risen. Piper, Leo and Jason have been together at camp for a few months, or at least that’s what Leo and Piper think while Jason has completely forgotten everything including his own identity. Just like every other demigod, monsters attack the three half-bloods but luckily they are extracted and taken to Camp Half-Blood. Camp Half-Blood is the one place where half-bloods can feel safe but with a curse threatening them all they can’t even relax in the one place they can call home. Newly claimed by their parents, Piper, Leo and Jason head off on a new quest to save a missing goddess and stop the world from ending, but they don’t know who the real threat is and don’t realise that it is a much bigger problem than they first anticipated. The Great Prophecy is beginning and the seven heroes must be gathered before it’s too late. The heroes must learn to work with their enemy or it will be the end and everything that has been built will be destroyed. But the heroes do not know the truth just yet and its discovery threatens their whole existence…

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

As soon as I heard that there was another series in the world of Percy Jackson I knew I had to read it. I didn’t know who would be in the series and I wasn’t exactly sure that Percy would be involved until I started to read, but I was still very excited to get to go on more adventures with some Half-bloods even if they weren’t the ones that I remembered. The blurb was not what I was expecting because it was a conversation between 2 characters I didn’t know rather than an intriguing summary about what was going to happen in the book, but I was still very interested in what the characters were talking about and I was very anxious to find out more. Once I started the book I immediately had 100 more questions that I needed answers to and I was still confused at who the characters were, especially Jason who knew nothing about himself so he was just as clueless as me. The first few chapters just left me even more curious and confused but they were still really interesting and absolutely amazing. As soon as I had started to read I knew that I would enjoy this series just as much as the Percy Jackson one, and I was excited to learn more.

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite character would probably be Piper who really surprised me with her personality compared to who her mother was. I had my doubts about Piper at first and I wasn’t really sure how she would turn out but I was very glad that I was wrong. Once I had heard about how Piper got into trouble and why she was sent to Wilderness School I had my own predictions about who her mother was and I was very happy to find that I was correct. Piper was not at all like her mother, or the type of goddess she appeared to be, and she was a really amazing character. She was brave and loyal and didn’t like being left on the side lines being protected by her friends. She went on a quest with two boys so she had to prove that she was just as strong as them and she really was. She was so much more powerful than I even thought and she was always ready to help her friends no matter what. Leo was also a really great character and he made the quest so much more entertaining. His sense of humour and his attitude made me laugh many times and he made the quest a lot less gloomy and miserable, even though they were riding to their death. He was also very sweet and a bit self-conscious, and he thought that he was useless compared to Jason who was a model hero. However, he really was very useful and brave, and he managed to get his friends out of lots of life or death situations with only his intelligence. He was a really good character and he always wanted to help, even when he thought he couldn’t. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

All the parts in the book were really good but the ones that I enjoyed the most were when Piper, Leo and Jason were flying towards something dangerous. These were the parts when the half-bloods felt the safest because they were in the air with only the people they trusted and no monster anywhere in sight. I liked these parts because it was when the characters opened up to each other and explained some of the things that had happened in their lives. This meant that I got most of my questions answered during these parts and I got to understand what was going on. They were in the air quite a few times and, even though they were on the way to another dangerous monster, they felt calm, comfortable and they bonded during these parts. Although they weren’t action-packed, they were still extremely interesting and they were probably, to me, the most interesting parts in the book because a lot of things were explained and it meant that the characters weren’t hiding anything from each other which was a relief because it was bugging me that they were keeping secrets. I think the main reason I enjoyed this was because the demigods finally got a bit of peace and they got to relax a little which they really deserved because they were always fighting and almost dying, which takes a lot of energy. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, I think the book was really incredible and I have no idea how it could be any more perfect. The book was exactly as amazing as I thought it would be and I was correct to think that I would enjoy reading it. One thing that I really liked about the book was the new characters. It’s not that I didn’t like the heroes from the Percy Jackson series but it would have been boring to have the same half-bloods on the quest, so I was very happy to get to meet new demigods and have another group of friends leading the adventures. It also made the book a lot more interesting because, since I knew nothing about the characters, I had more questions and was even more curious about them which kept me very excited throughout the whole book. Another thing that I liked about the book was that the book was written in 3 different perspectives but they were all in the third person. I really liked getting to see things from different people’s point of view because it gave me the opportunity to really get to know the characters a lot better. It was different to the Percy Jackson series which only had Percy’s view which gave it another unique quality. I also liked that the perspectives were in the third person because it meant that I didn’t get too confused at which person was ‘I’ like I sometimes do when I am reading other books and have gotten use to a specific person. One last thing that I really enjoyed about the book was that the characters from the Percy Jackson series were still involved, even if it was just for a little while. I really liked this because it gave me a chance to see some of my favourite characters from the eyes of an outsider and also it meant that the book was not too confusing, since I already knew some of the characters. There was only one thing that annoyed me in the whole book and that was the discovery of the real threat. I knew who was really responsible for everything from basically the first page, but it took the heroes more than half the book to find out the truth. This really irritated me because I was shouting at the characters but they could hear me and carried on being oblivious to the real monster. I wish they had found out earlier but I know that it was the best thing for the book to keep the truth hidden from the characters so there was more to the story. Apart from that, I really loved reading The Lost Hero and I can’t wait to read the next book in the Heroes of Olympus series.

Would you recommend this book?  

I 100% recommend reading this book for readers 12 or older. I also suggest reading the Percy Jackson series first because it will explain a bit more about Camp Half-Blood and minimise the confusion. If you enjoy Greek mythology, action and suicide missions then I am sure you will enjoy this book. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A legendary adventure with new heroes, new monsters and more adventures around every corner. 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego