TheKylieVerse

I received a copy of this from the publisher.By: Rick Riordan

Heroes of Olympus series bk 2

Percy Jackson has woken from a deep sleep. He has no memory, except of one person from his past, Annabeth. He does however, know he is running from two snake-haired gorgons and fighting for his life. Lupa the she-wolf has taught him survival skills and for some reason water revives him. As more strange things happen, no matter how fantastical they seem, he accepts them as real.

Percy finds himself at a camp for half-bloods, he knows he is one but nothing about this camp is familiar and some things just seem wrong. There are some things though that don’t seem to have disappeared with his memory: his fighting prowess, his somewhat less than reverential attitude and his involvement in seemingly impossible quests.

With two new demi-god friends, Hazel and Frank, he sets out on a quest issued to Camp Jupiter by Mars the god of war, as part of the Prophesy of the Seven. If Percy, Frank and Hazel fail in their quest it isn’t just the camp at risk, but also those from Percy’s old life and even the world.

The clock is ticking…

Firstly Percy Jackson is back – cue me happy dancing.

Now we’ve got that out of the way…

Like always, things with Percy Jackson start fast and get faster. If you are lucky there are a few moments to eat, drink and be merry. It is nice that, in this book, where so much has changed, Percy has retained his attitude to the gods, and in this case it is a nice counterpoint to how the Romans view the gods. The contrast between the two camps, that was hinted at in the first book, is interesting to see in this more detailed manner. It is also interesting seeing the gods in their different incarnations.

Hazel is smart and thinks quickly on her feet. The key to her journey is her hidden past and her deepest secrets. Frank’s transformation, from the person Percy first sees when he enters the camp to heading out on the quest and beyond is sometimes surprising. The three work well together, it’s nice to see Percy a little out of his depth yet still be a confident figure.

On the surface it is all action in these books but scratch a little below the surface and you see these kids have plenty of their own problems clouding the quest.

Riordan has again bought us an action packed ride, filled with likable characters, great monsters and sometimes silly dialogue. He blends the fantastical with the real and you are totally drawn in for a brief escape. Descriptions are vivid, the pace often frantic. I love these books, they are pure adrenalised fun and a fantastic way to just get away for a while. The two books have set things up for an interesting finale.

Publisher: Puffin Books

Published: 04 October 2011

Format: Hardback 528 pages

Categories: Fantasy, Mythology, Action

ISBN 13: 9780141335728

Purchase: here or use Booktopia link on side of page