by Rick Riordan
ages: 9/10 (depending on the reading skill level) +
First sentence: “The end of the world started when a pegasus landed on the roof of my car.”
Things you need to know about this book, without giving too much away:
1. If you have not read the Percy Jackson series (I’m looking at you, Corinne), you are totally and completely missing out. However, now you can safely start the series, since the final one came out today.
2. Rick Riordan is an AWESOME plotter. He writes brilliant action, but he also does lulls and humor and keeps it all going so that you want to keep turning pages. I. Could. Not. Put. This. Down. (But then, I expected that.)
3. He also writes first person narrative really, really well. M was saying that he’s captured Percy’s voice perfectly, and I have to agree. That holds true in this book.
4. For the first time in the series, he hasn’t (I don’t think) taken on a Greek myth. There’s mythological aspects to the story, but it’s not based on any (well-known) at least. **Edited to add: Actually, a friend told me that this is the story of the Iliad. Didn’t know that. And, I have to admit, now I want to go read the Iliad…
5. There will be HP7 comparisons. But I think he handles the “understand your enemy by understanding their past” well. And it’s not too long or too boring.
6. It’s a perfect ending.
Go read it.
The Book Nut 
Melissa – I really like how you reviewed this book.
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My boys are so excited to get their hands on this book. We’re number 12 on the list at the library…
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Joey rushed down to Borders to buy a copy as soon as he got home from school. He’s about halfway done, and Steve, Lena, and I are poised for a major fight over who gets to read it next. 🙂
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This series is huge at my middle school and I’m ashamed of myself for not having read it yet!! Thanks for the nudge!!
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Ahhhh, I’m so excited to read this one! Unfortunately because of my move, I’m kind of “in between” libraries right now. So it’ll be a little while before I can get my hands on it. But I’m looking forward to it! Maybe for the 48 Hour Book Challenge… hmmm…
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I've read the others & didn't realize the final book was out. We'll definitely have to hit the bookstores here to find it.
Interesting that he doesn't plot this one along a major myth line — to me that was one of the strong points of the others.
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Do you have a copy of this? Can I borrow it?
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Looks fun, I can’t wait to check it out soon!
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i’ve been wanting to read this series…you make it sound very appealing
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I listened to the first part on audio and wasn’t very crazy bout it. Maybe the audio version was at fault and I’ll have to try to just read it instead.
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TexasRed — I know; that’s been a favorite part of the books for me, too. I was surprised, though, how well it worked. It has mythological elements, and is telling a mythological-type story, but if it’s based on a real myth, I couldn’t pick it out.
Sarah — as soon as C’s done. 🙂
DesLily — I’m a huge Percy Jackson booster, so this will come as no surprise: you should read the series!
Lilly — I’d blame it on the audio and read the books. They’re good on their own, but if you’re even remotely interested in mythology, they take on a whole different dimension. Give them a try!
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I read the first book in this series and then sort of paused. I must try and get caught up this year! It is a good series so far.
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This is ages 9/10? Man, age-assignment (? is that the word? lol) has gone way up since I was 9/10.
I also like these alot and just bought the… um… red one? Lol, I have no brain today, sorry.
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🙂 Laina. I put 9/10 because my 9 year old reads and loves them. I’m not sure it’s a general 9 year old thing, but it is accessible to that age group.
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Okay, cool. 🙂
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Ha ha! You silly girl. Of course you knew I was waiting for them all to come out! A dear friend brought a copy of the first book to me while I was in the hospital and now Sheely and I need to start reading 🙂
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is this the last book of the entire lightning theif series? It cant end like that.
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