THE SONG OF ACHILLES by Madeline Miller

“Greece in the age of heroes. Awkward young prince Patroclus has been exiled to the court of King Peleus. Despite their differences, Peleus’s golden boy Achilles befriends the shamed prince. As they grow into young men, their bond blossoms into something deeper – despite the displeasure of Achilles’ mother, the sea goddess Thetis. But when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, Achilles must go to war in distant Troy and fulfil his destiny. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus goes with him.”

What is the book about?

Patroclus has always been a disappointment for his father, not like a man should be: he was awkward and weak. At age 10, after an unfortunate event, Patroclus is exiled from his kingdom and forced to leave the only home he had ever known. When he arrives in Phthia, it isn't too difficult for him to settle in, as he is just as much of a shadow as in his own kingdom, except now he doesn't have his princely title – he is a nobody. The King of Phthia's son, Achilles, is everything Patroclus's dad wanted him to be – strong, brave, handsome, a great warrior – and their paths should never have crossed. But, one day, Achilles decides to take the exiled prince under his wing and soon their friendship is no longer a lie. As they grow into young men, their friendship blossoms into something more, despite the constant reminder from Achilles's mother, the goddess Thetis, that Patroclus is worth 100 times more than Achilles. When Achilles is forced to go fight to bring back Helen of Sparta from Troy, where she was taken after being kidnapped, Patroclus willingly goes with him. The many years of battle test everything they have learnt and all they love. However, the Fates are not in their favour and they can never know when it will be the last time they see each other...

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

This is a book that I have wanted to read for a while now, but never got around to actually even buying it or asking to borrow it from anyone. It was just one of those books that I admired from afar and had a wish to read but I didn't think I would actually read it. It had been recommended so many times that I knew I was going to love it, but after a while I stopped thinking about it. Then, when I spotted it on the shelf of the college library, all the thoughts I had initially had my first learnt about this book came flooding back and I knew that I need to read it. After reading the blurb of the book, I thought that I was going to most likely enjoy the book, however there are certain books that I can never really know and I was quite unsure about this one because, although it's had a tonne of Incredible reviews, it wasn't the sort of book I usually read. However, I was quite optimistic and determined to enjoy it. Once I began to read, I had some doubts because it was a little bit slow starting, however soon those doubts disappeared and I realise that it was going to be another incredible read. The whole time I was reading, I was thinking about how badly I wanted to reach the end and find out what would happen, but I also knew it was going to be a tragic ending and I wasn't prepared for a very sad finish.

Who was your favourite character and why? 

Strangely enough, there is no doubt in my mind that my favourite character was definitely Patroclus. Although to everyone else it just seems like he was in Achilles' shadow, he was incredible, brave and beautiful in his own way and, even though he didn't know how to fight very well and wasn't the traditional man that most people wanted him to be, he was still the most incredible character. At the beginning of the book I wasn't sure which of the two boys (Achilles and Patroclus) I liked better, however, once I got near the end of the novel, I knew that I would never have actually liked Achilles if it weren't for Patroclus, so it was a no-brainer when deciding who I liked better (especially after a certain attitude near the end of the book). He was so kind and sweet and thought about others rather than himself. When you found out that Achilles was going to have to go to the war, he didn't think about how he didn't know how to fight and he wouldn't be able to defend himself, all he thought about was that he wanted to be with Achilles and accompany him. He was such a special person and in a way he was like the good angel sitting on Achilles' shoulder, ready to tell him to make a different choice when he was going to make the wrong one. Without Patroclus, Achilles' path would have been very different and he would have led a more violent, bloody life. Without his dear companion, Achilles wouldn't be the hero that we know about today, Patroclus brought out the best in Achilles in every way and he was the saviour he didn't know he needed. Patroclus taught him kindness, compassion and love, and their relationship was definitely the best think to ever happen to either of them. Many people saw and still see these qualities as vulnerability and weakness, however, I believe that they show strength because you have the ability to show your emotions and confide in people. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

After thinking it through very thoroughly, I have got to say that my favourite part has got to be the moment when both Achilles and Patroclus realise that their friendship has grown into something more and that they are no longer just companions, but so much more. I loved how, although it was never directly said, they loved each other so passionately. They didn’t even need to say the words to each other; they just knew through their actions, emotions and so much more. They lived and breathed their love and they were so much more than lovers, they were soulmates and the ending completely tore me apart. The ending was definitely the part that made me realise that I was so grateful to have read the novel, and, although this seems weird, I think it was also my favourite part, but it links so much to the build-up of their relationship and without the feelings between each other, it wouldn’t have been such a strong and influential conclusion. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, I really loved the song of Achilles and there was nothing that I would change full stop one thing that I really loved about the book was how the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus was portrayed. The author never directly had them proclaim their love for each other; however it was shown to us through everything that the couple did. Every touch, every word, every glance was written in a way to show how much the two characters cared about each other. I especially loved how, with everyone else Achilles felt like he had to be the perfect unstoppable Hero that they all wanted him to be, but with Patroclus he was able to be his true self and he showed such kindness and affection for him that it made him such a more amazing person. Patroclus also found his home with Achilles because everywhere else he had felt like an outsider, exiled from his own home; finally he was accepted somewhere and cared for, like a real human being, and not a disappointment. Another thing that I loved about the book was the incredibly sad and tragic ending. Even though I wished that the characters would live happily ever after, I knew that descending was coming. The thing that made it much more emotional was the conversation that the two main characters had had together and how confident Achilles was when he said, “I'm going to be the first.” By the first, he was referring to the first Greek hero to be famous and happy. He then said that the reason for this was Patroclus. The fact that they swore it to each other and that they both believed that it could happen was what made the tragedy at the end more emotionally impactful. I knew there was no chance of this other happening, but I hoped with all my heart that there would be a chance of happiness for the two. One last thing that I definitely need to say about the book, which is also about the ending, is the final character that was introduced and how that showed that Achilles was definitely the person he was for only one reason: his love the Patroclus. There is a character introduced in literally the last chapter, and this character is basically the version Achilles would be if he had never even met his companion. Patroclus was the only one who stopped Achilles from becoming a ruthless, violent killer. I think this was most incredible thing for the author to do to really highlight the importance of the relationship and that there had been a purpose for there are romance and that, although Patroclus was not remembered by anyone and it was in fact Achilles who had all the fame, he was the only reason for Achilles being remembered so well. I wish I could say so much more and I am in real need of someone to talk to about this book, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone because it really is an incredible book and I believe that everyone should read it. You have not experienced books or life properly until you have read this book.

Would you recommend this book?  

I undoubtedly recommend that you immediately read this book. I particularly suggest it for over 13 year olds and I suggest you prepare yourself for a lot of tears. It is perfect for people who love romance, adventure and don't mind a tragedy, but I know anyone who reads it will love it. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A beautifully written Greek tragedy with an incredible romance and adventure.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

LORE by Alexandra Bracken

“Hunt or be hunted. In modern day New York, a murderous game is about to begin: the Agon. Every seven years, for one week only, Zeus punishes the gods and makes them mortal. Forced to walk the earth, they are savagely hunted by the descendants of ancient bloodlines who are eager to kill a god and seize their divine power and immortality. After her family was brutally murdered by a rival line, Lore Perseous fled, turning her back on the Agon’s cruel promises of eternal glory. For years, Lore had honoured her parents’ memory by doing one thing – surviving. For years, she has pushed away dark thoughts of revenge. Until now. As the next game dawns, Lore finds Athena gravely wounded on her doorstep. The goddess offers her an alliance against their mutual enemy and a way to leave the Agon behind for ever. But Lore’s decision to rejoin the hunt will come at a deadly cost – and may not be enough to stop the rise of a new god with the power to destroy all of humanity…”

What is the book about?

Every seven years, as a punishment for the gods, Zeus makes them mortal for one week and forces them to walk the earth where they are hunted by the descendants of ancient bloodlines who are desperate to claim a god's divine power and immortal for their own. This ruthless game – the Agon – is about to begin in modern day New York and once again hunters and gods alike will fight to the death to try and survive this deadly week. Lore Perseus wants to be free from the Agon ever since her family was murdered by a rival line in the last Agon. She fled and turned away from the cruel promise of eternal life and glory. Lore is the last mortal of the Perseus line and has been able to honour her family's memory by simply surviving. For years Lore has been able to push away feelings of revenge and hide from the heartbreak the Agon caused her, but now she must fight once more. The arrival of a lost friend brings many emotions to the surface and Lore must find a way to survive through another Agon. At the start of the next game, Lore finds a wounded Athena at her doorstep offering her promises of allegiance and revenge, something she has been trying to avoid for so long. Lore must choose and her decision to rejoin the Agon may not be able to stop the rise of a god with the power to destroy the whole human race…

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

After reading the Percy Jackson books, I had learnt a lot about Greek mythology and discovered that I had an interest in these powerful gods and heroes. One of my friends also has a rather major obsession with books like me and so when I went to her house I found myself returning with a bag filled with magical stories I had yet to discover, and one of them was Lore. The second I saw the book I knew I was going to enjoy reading it; however there was something more that made me very intrigued to try it. The author of Lore is the same author as the Darkest Minds series, which I had really liked reading, so I was very excited to read another one of her books. The blurb was really interesting and very informative, which is getting very rare for most books, and I already had many questions before even opening the book. Once I started to read I could see the book had promise with all the extra details that were given, including a map. As soon as I started to read I completely fell in love with the story and enjoyed every second starting from the very first word. Although it was a bit confusing at the start and it took me a few chapters to refresh my memory on Greek mythology and to properly understand what happened, I soon finished the last page, even though I had wanted the book to last. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

A favourite character was very hard to choose for this book because there was something special about a lot of the characters. One character that I really liked was Miles because he was mortal. He had the choice to escape, he could have left New York, he could have been free from all the nonsense of Greek mythology, but he stayed. He didn't want to leave Lore to fight alone and he wanted to help. He chose to help his friend over his own safety and put his life on the line when he wasn't even a part of the Agon. Miles has no proper training and knew nothing about it but he threw himself into it with no hesitation and wouldn't take no for an answer. His friendship with Lore was one of the things that I loved most about the book and I really wish it was shown in more detail. Another character that really stood out to me was, obviously, Lore. She was the main character and so I learnt a lot more about her that any other character and I could also see how she felt a lot more clearly. Orphaned at a young age and forced to suffer through the pain of knowing she was responsible left Lore feeling alone, even when she was surrounded by those who loved her. She saw what the Agon could go to people and how even the most innocent, like her little sisters, couldn't avoid the torture of being born into it. All Lore wanted as a child was a chance to fight and to bring good fortune to her family, but now all she wanted was to escape the Agon and to never have to witness anything as horrible as her own family’s corpses again. Freedom was obviously not an option for her, but she never gave up and, even if it made matter for her even worse, as long as she helped her friends and saved as many people as possible, Lore didn't care if she was trapped for ever. Lore was ready for anything and she would never stop fighting for what she believed was right. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

There were a lot of good parts in the book and I loved basically everything, search using just one was an impossible choice. One part that stood out to me was near the end. At this part, Lore knew that everything was most likely over and she would never be free, but there was hope in her and I knew that she was ready for anything. No matter what happened Lore would find a way to be with her friends and to get back to the home that she had grown to love. She knew there was a chance that she would be alone for the rest of her Life but she was prepared for it and still believed that there was a possibility for something more. I think that it was that hope and friendship and love that led to the amazing ending of the book and that without that positive attitude things would have ended much more tragically. The ending was better than I could have ever imagined and I don't think that there are many books with an ending greater than this one.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall I really enjoyed reading Lore and I don't think that anything could be done to make the book any better than it already is. There were many things about the book that made me see how incredibly amazing it was but it wasn't until the end that I truly appreciated the story and realised how much I actually loved it. One thing I liked was the flashbacks. Most books that have flashbacks and give you parts of the story bit by bit are ones that I really enjoy. This is because I am always on edge waiting to receive the next clue. It's always very effective in keeping me interested because there is usually something that I wish to know and many questions that I will not leave unanswered. The flashbacks to Lore's childhood were amazing for another reason too: the character development they showed. I got to see Lore as a child and understand how the trauma she went through shaped who she was and the reasons for why she was so desperate to escape the Agon. Another thing that I really enjoyed about the book was the romantic relationships. There was one couple (and I promise you will know who I mean the second you read about them) who literally had chemistry radiating off them. The second they spoke to each other I was already reading between the lines and sensing the possibility of romance starting up. Once the couple finally got together I was so happy I could barely keep it together. There was also another couple that I was very happy to see together but I think that the chemistry should have been a lot stronger between them. However, the romance was written very well and I enjoyed it very much. One other thing that made the book even more incredible was the amount of plot twists there were. I found myself surprised on multiple occasions and physical gasped at one point. I really love being caught off guard and being as surprised as if something actually happened in my life, and this happened quite a lot in Lore. It is something that made me see how well written the book is and how connected I was with it. The main thing that I loved about the book was the ending. I don't think I've ever read a more perfect ending. In most books I read I have always not just wanted, but needed more. Lore however, was different. I wanted to read on but I already had a sense of how things would go and the possibilities the ending provided to the characters. It was an ending full of hope and I had every one of my questions answered. I knew that it was the end and I didn't feel like there was something missing, I just felt a bit lost and lonely in my bedroom without the characters I had spent so long with. I hope to have the chance to read other books like this and experience another magical story like this one. 

Would you recommend this book?  

I definitely recommend this book for readers who enjoy Greek mythology, adventure and a lot of plot twists. I think that it is best for those over 13 and if you have some vague knowledge of the Greek gods you will find it much more enjoyable. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A ruthless hunt with twists and turns that you will never see coming. 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

HEROES OF OLYMPUS – THE BLOOD OF OLYMPUS by Rick Riordan

“Seven heroic demigods. One final quest. The greatest sacrifice yet. ‘The ruins are up there,’ Piper promised. ‘I saw them in Katoptris’s blade. And you heard what Hazel said. “The biggest –”’ ‘“The biggest gathering of evil spirits I’ve ever sensed,”’ Jason recalled. ‘Yeah, sounds awesome.’ After surviving many deadly quests, Percy, Jason, Annabeth and their friends face one final challenge: defeat an army of giants before the Earth Mother, Gaia, finally awakes and brings about the end of the world…”

What is the book about?

The end has arrived. One final quest to defeat Gaia before she brings the end of the world. Now the seven brave demigods from the prophecy must fight and sacrifice more than ever before. Percy and Annabeth are back from hell, literally. Now they are heading once again towards their deaths, but they must have the strength to face the giants and defeat Mother Earth with their friends. While they face unknown challenges, Reyna and Nico head towards Camp Half-Blood, on a mission to deliver the Athena Parthenos, a forty foot tall statue destined to bring peace and unite the Greeks and Romans. But Gaia will do anything to stop them and they have monsters on their tail, tracking them and waiting to defeat them. The seven demigods must face the giants but one of them is destined to die. They must find a way to prevent this death and to keep Gaia from rising to destroy the world. Both Greeks and Romans must unite and join the fight or the giants will prevail and Gaia will awaken. Here comes the end, for better or worse…

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

I didn’t hesitate a second once I had finished the previous book. I knew this was the end and I was excited to see what it would bring. The ending of The House of Hades was alright but I was still very anxious to get answers and finally see the heroes win, or fail. The blurb was still a section of the book, but also a bit more, and I was interested in finding out what the blurb was talking about. I was sad to see that the series would end after this, but also impatient to discover what would happen. The second I opened the book, the second I read the first sentence, I was already back in the demigod world ready to defeat anything that stood in my way. The start was perfect as usual and full of questions and a few answers. It was very intriguing and the more I read the more amazing the book got. I didn’t have any doubts that this book wouldn’t be incredible and I was also fairly confident that it would be the best book in the series. From the very first page I was already anxious to reach the end but it came much quicker than I would have liked. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

This choice was hard because every character did their best and showed how amazing they truly were, I even thought that Jason and Percy were great characters, however after thinking things through there is no doubt in my mind who my favourite characters is. Leo had always been a great character but he was always coming in second to the best character, but finally after reading The Blood of Olympus there is nothing stopping me from saying that Leo was my favourite character. He took sacrificing himself to a whole new level and he didn’t even tell that many people about his thoughts. He didn’t want the recognition that people get when they make those empty promises of sacrificing their lives for each other, he just wanted to actually do it and save his friends a lot of trouble. Even when he knew it was the end, he stayed happy and positive for his friends and still stayed the wacky, crazy Leo they loved. He didn’t doubt that this was the right thing and in the end he was able to actually do it without that much hesitation. He was never that confident but, in the end, he became the best version of himself and against all odds he succeeded in keeping his promise and I think that was the best thing about him, he never gave up in helping the person he loved. He was also such a broken character and was always alone when all of his friends had someone who loved them. He used humour and jokes to hide the pain and did everything he could to make himself a more likeable person, because he thought that no one would ever want a shattered heart. However, despite believing that he was nothing and that no one would ever love him, he loved with his whole heart and did everything he could to save his friends. His story and his thoughts completely broke my heart, and the only thing that I could think about when I finished the book was how badly I wanted to become a fictional character so I could give Leo a hug and tell him that he is not alone. I absolutely love him and if you are thinking about reading this book then be prepared to become Team Leo!

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part was definitely the end chapter, but there were also a few other parts that I enjoyed. One part that was definitely a contender for my favourite was the plot twist during the fight against the giants. I can’t say much about it without spoiling everything but it was amazing and I loved it, it was definitely a great plot twist. Even though that part was great, the last chapter was by far 100 times better. One reason it was my favourite part was because it came as a huge relief. I had some hope that a certain thing was not true but I was also losing that hope the more I read, then the last chapter came along and I felt so much better knowing that I had been right all along. Another reason why I enjoyed it, and probably the main reason, was because a promise was completed and I was glad that there would finally be happiness for all. I know that most of this stuff makes no sense but I cannot explain the ending without ruining some things so it is best to just leave it all as a very confusing mess for anyone who reads this. I enjoyed the whole book but this ending left me both happy and sad and showed me that anything is possible if you never give up and you believe in what you are doing.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, the book was perfect and I cannot believe that this is the end. Everything about it was perfect, even the ending which I had been worried about, and I am so glad I got to go on this incredible adventure. One thing I liked was the addition of Reyna and Nico’s points of view. They had been important characters in The House of Hades and I was very happy that I got to hear from them in this book, especially Reyna who was a strange new character that I knew basically nothing about. Another reason why I really liked the book was because of how all the characters got involved a lot more. In the other four books there were certain characters that had more reason to be in the book and some had nothing to do during some parts of the books. However in this book, they were all involved and all of their special talents were important to defeat Gaia. One last thing that I really loved was the ending. It was not what I was expecting but it was perfect. It gave me the feeling that it was the end but also that there is more to come. I still have a few questions about the demigods’ futures and everything, but I think that I can survive with these questions for a while and maybe fill in the gaps myself. I know that the series sis over but I also feel like it’s not the end and that the characters stories will never truly be over. The book was seriously perfect and I loved the series so much, I just can’t believe that there are no more books and I will never learn anything more about the characters. 

Which is your favourite book in the Heroes of Olympus series? (1, 2, 3, 4, or 5)

All books in the Heroes of Olympus series were amazing and they all had unique qualities that made them better than the others. As the series grew, the books kept getting better and better and I think that the best book was probably the last one, The Blood of Olympus. The first four books were great and I really enjoyed them but the last book had all my favourite things from those books all wrapped up into one. One reason why The Blood of Olympus is my favourite book in the series is because of the perspectives included. I got to hear from two of my favourite characters, one other character, and two new characters that had been important in the fourth book, The House of Hades. I was very interesting in learning more about those two characters and I didn’t know much about their backstories so, when I saw that I would be personally hearing from them, I was very excited. Another reason why this is my favourite book is because it is the fifth and final book of the series. I like getting a good conclusion to a series and, even though it is sad that the series is finished, I’m also excited to get a potentially happy ending for characters that have spent their whole lives suffering. The ending of The Blood of Olympus was great and left me knowing that it was the end, but that the characters stories weren’t yet over. I wish could learn more and still have adventure to go one but I am glad that the characters are getting some much needed rest. I really loved the Heroes of Olympus series and I am very glad that I chose to try it. 

Would you recommend this book?  

I definitely recommend this book for readers 12 or over who enjoy crazy adventures and lots of action. Of course, I suggest you read the first four books in the Heroes of Olympus series first and also the Percy Jackson series before that because it will give you some more explanation and there is less of a chance of you being confused. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

An epic conclusion to an incredible mythological adventure to defeat the most dangerous god of all. 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

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

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

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

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

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