M has been after me to read this book for quite a while. Ever since we picked it up a couple months ago at a book fair, and she devoured it. So, she was quite pleased that I finally did get around to reading it. “I’ve wanted to talk to you about the ending for a LONG time,” she said.
With good cause. Rick Riordan’s written one of the best endings I’ve read in a long time.
But, first the rest of the book. It picks up with Percy just finishing seventh grade, a year after The Lightening Thief ends. He’s hanging out with a mentally-challenged, oversized kid (okay, we find out he’s a Cyclops) named Tyson at his school, and on the very last day, some laistrygonians attack him and Tyson, blowing up the school, putting Percy on the run. He ends up at Camp Half-Blood again (his mother had told him he wasn’t going to get to go), and discovers things there aren’t right. Someone’s poisoned Thalia’s tree, weakening the magic borders surrounding the camp. Long story short, he ends up on an adventure to get the Golden Fleece to save Camp Half-Blood.
I really liked the illusions to the Odyssey here. Percy’s satyr friend Grover is captured by Polyphemus (the Cyclops from the Odyssey), and manages to convince the big guy that he is a lady Cyclops. Polyphemus wants to marry Grover, but Grover insists that he needs to weave his bridal train first. But, in a brilliant nod to the original, he unweaves it every night. Loved that. I also liked how they used Nobody to get into Polyphemus cave to rescue Grove. Okay, I guess I really liked the whole Polyphemus section.
It really was an intense little book. There came a point where I knew I couldn’t put it down, and I even had to ask M if they managed to succeed in their quest. (She answered,”Well, yeah…” with a gleam in her eye.) And, as I’ve said before, it’s got one of the best twists at the end that I’ve read in a while.
All that said, I’m eagerly anticipating the next installment. Can’t wait to see what happens to Percy next. (After M reads it first, of course.)
One book down for the Once Upon a Time Challenge.
The Book Nut 
I LOVE Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series! I’m always glad to hear when someone else discovers them and enjoys them just as much. Here’s to waiting (somewhat patiently) for The Titan’s Curse!
LikeLike
What a coincidence. I saw this as a recommendation by someone on amazon.com today but I didn’t write it down. When I decided to buy it for my daughter I couldn’t find it again. When you mentioned Lightning Thief I thought it sounded like it might be the same book. Checked on amazon and found it. Thanks, Melissa.
LikeLike
Sounds like a very fun book, I’ll have to look for this next time I’m in the bookstore.
LikeLike
We are just finishing the first book. It’s the only thing to keep my nine-year-old’s attention for quite a long time.
LikeLike
I think you’ll find that you won’t be able to put Titan’s Curse down either. It is a great book. I loved it even more than Sea of Monsters. I have a review up of Titan’s Curse, if your curious, there are no spoilers though. And did you know that Rick Riordan’s website has an mp3 of him reading the first chapter of Titan’s Curse?
LikeLike
I can’t wait for the 4th book to out!!!!! i heard the movie will be great, too!!!!!
LikeLike