Review: Percy Jackson's Greek Gods

Title:  Percy Jackson's Greek Gods
Series:  None
Author:  Rick Riordan (Website | Twitter)
Illustrator:  John Rocco (Website) 
Age Group:  Young Adult
Publisher:  Disney Hyperion
Publication Date:  August 19, 2014
Source:  Bought

A publisher in New York asked me to write down what I know about the Greek gods, and I was like, Can we do this anonymously? Because I don't need the Olympians mad at me again. But if it helps you to know your Greek gods, and survive an encounter with them if they ever show up in your face, then I guess writing all this down will be my good deed for the week.' So begins Percy Jackson's Greek Gods, in which the son of Poseidon adds his own magic--and sarcastic asides--to the classics. He explains how the world was created, then gives readers his personal take on a who's who of ancients, from Apollo to Zeus. Percy does not hold back. 'If you like horror shows, blood baths, lying, stealing, backstabbing, and cannibalism, then read on, because it definitely was a Golden Age for all that.' Dramatic full-color illustrations throughout by Caldecott Honoree John Rocco make this volume--a must for home, library, and classroom shelves--as stunning as it is entertaining.

Find Percy Jackson's Greet Gods online

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My Review:  I adore Percy Jackson.  He is one of my all time favorite characters so whenever I am given the chance to jump back into his world, I take it.  While this book wasn't exactly a new story about Percy, it was through his eyes which was enough for me.  I loved getting more time with him!

Rick Riordan has never disappointed me when it comes to his writing style.  Every time I read something he's written, I'm 100% hooked.  He has such a light and refreshing way of story telling that really gives you the opportunity to become more in tune with the characters.  I feel like I know Percy and all of the Greek gods he told us about.  His diction might not always be the most beautiful and lofty but its beauty lies in the simplicity of it.  It's an extremely accessible style and makes it easy to feel engaged and at attention when reading.  

I so enjoyed the illustrations in this novel as well.  Oh my goodness, they were gorgeous.  I have so many favorites.  I spent a good five to ten minutes just studying the artwork before moving onto the next page.  It was amazing to see pieces of the stories brought to life by John Rocco.  He is very talented.  

While the basic story line of this novel was not original (having been about ancient myths), fresh air was breathed into it by Rick Riordan.  I tore through this book in a matter of days (hey, it was a big book) and can't wait to revisit it.  For anyone who is interested in Greek mythology or has previously read the Percy Jackson series, this one is a must.    

“Hermes played a little Mozart and some One Direction, and Apollo cried, ‘I must have it! The girls will go wild for that!” 

Five Cards

Review: Apollyon

Title:  Apollyon
Series:  Covenant #4
Author:  Jennifer L. Armentrout
Published:  April 4th, 2013 by Spencer Hill Press
Source:  Bought

Fate isn’t something to mess with… and now, neither is Alex.

Alex has always feared two things: losing herself in the Awakening and being placed on the Elixir. But love has always been stronger than Fate, and Aiden St. Delphi is willing to make war on the gods—and Alex herself—to bring her back.

The gods have killed thousands and could destroy entire cities in their quest to stop Seth from taking Alex’s power and becoming the all-powerful God Killer. But breaking Alex’s connection to Seth isn’t the only problem. There are a few pesky little loopholes in the whole “an Apollyon can’t be killed” theory, and the only person who might know how to stop the destruction has been dead for centuries.

Finding their way past the barriers that guard the Underworld, searching for one soul among countless millions, and then somehow returning will be hard enough. Alex might be able to keep Seth from becoming the God Killer… or she might become the God Killer herself.

My Review:  This book was weird for me and I don't know why.  Normally, I can't stop reading the things that Jennifer L. Armentrout writes but for some reason I had the hardest time getting through this one.  I was reading it for weeks before I could finish.  It's not like it wasn't interesting - trust me, far from it.  There was a lot of action and adventure, just like in the books before it and I loved seeing more of Aiden and Alex's relationship, especially with all of the conflict that happened in the beginning.  Perhaps it was just because I had been reading these books back to back without a break but either way, I wish I had enjoyed this book as much as I knew I should have.  

We see a whole knew side of Alex in this book.  She was faced with a seemingly impossible challenge at the end of Deity and it carries into this book.  The things she is forced to do because of who she is and what she has become are hard to watch but I enjoyed seeing the way she evolved more as a character.  In previous books, Alex was naive and impulsive and I enjoyed seeing a stronger and more thoughtful side of her.  She matured quite a bit but still maintained her fun, sarcastic self.  

And then, of course, there was Mr. St. Delphi.  *fans self* Holy hot daimon babies everywhere, how is it possible that every single time I read one of these books, I fall even harder for Aiden?  His sweet, kind side is impossible to resist, just as much as the hot, sarcastic side is.  Where can I find me one of him?  Because seriously, I was swooning all over the place whenever he was on the page.  The way he treated and respected Alex made my heart race.  I loved how they strengthened and complimented each other.  He was there for her no matter how hard things got and the dedication he showed to her was heart-meltingly wonderful.  

The plot was okay.  There was a lot of action and interesting twists that I did not see coming but I also felt like it moved slower than it did in the past books but that could possibly be because I spent such a long time reading it.  I liked seeing Alex use her new found powers in all of the situations she and the rest of the gang were put into.  Her added strength and confidence was so awesome!  I loved seeing the way she was unafraid to take charge in order to protect the ones she loved!

Like I said, I don't know why it took me so long to get through this one.  It had everything I love about JLA's writing in it but I just had such a hard time with it.  I'm going to take some time to get away from this world and story before going into the final book in the series which, after that ending, is sure to be amazing! 

Four Cards

 

Review: Deity

Title:  Deity 
Series:  Covenant #3
Author:  Jennifer L. Armentrout
Published:  November 6th, 2012 by Spencer Hill Press
Source:  Bought

"History is on repeat, and things didn't go so well the last time. "


Alexandria isn't sure she's going to make it to her eighteenth birthday--to her Awakening. A long-forgotten, fanatical order is out to kill her, and if the Council ever discovers what she did in the Catskills, she's a goner... and so is Aiden.

If that's not freaky enough, whenever Alex and Seth spend time "training"--which really is just Seth's code word for some up-close and personal one-on-one time--she ends up with another mark of the Apollyon, which brings her one step closer to Awakening ahead of schedule. Awesome.

But as her birthday draws near, her entire world shatters with a startling revelation and she's caught between love and Fate. One will do anything to protect her. One has been lying to her since the beginning. Once the gods have revealed themselves, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocably changed... and destroyed.

Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than Fate...

My Review:  This book makes me want to send Jennifer L. Armentrout a box of chocolates and a million puppies and Jensen Ackles because it is so good.  You guys.  SO.  GOOD.  Every single time I open up one of these books, I get totally sucked in and fall even harder for the characters and the world.  

Alex and Aiden in this book, man.  Is it possible to ship a couple this hard?  Because I love them together.  Seriously.  I want them to go live off and be happy badasses together.  That would be perfect.  They are such an amazing couple.  Together, they make each other stronger.  They are always able to trust and support the other and I loved that about them.  Even though their relationship does have its rough points, they are always there for each other and it's so refreshing.  Neither of them just gets up and walks away when the going gets tough and I find that so admirable.  There was just one thing messing it up...

Seth.  I want to punch this kid in the face right now.  I trusted him!  I liked him!  I even felt bad for him!  But no more.  I truthfully couldn't tell if he was up to something until about mid book and that's when everything hit the fan.  I was so angry at everything he had done.  I won't tell you what happens but seriously.  Me and Seth have some serious problems right now.    

The action was exciting and fast paced.  All of the fight scenes are so cool to read.  I really feel as though I'm watching a movie play out before me instead of reading words.  Things are so vivid and detailed, it's easy to fall into a scene and feel like you're a part of it.  

Deity was an amazing addition to the series and definitely did the other two books justice.  The action, romance, and plot were addictive - I had trouble putting this book down.  Go read it now if you haven't already!!

Five Cards

P.S. Merry Christmas Eve to all of those who celebrate! 

Review: The Mark of Athena

Title:  The Mark of Athena
Series:  The Heroes of Olympus #3
Author:  Rick Riordan
Publisher:  Hyperion Book CH
Pages:  574
Format:  Hardcover
Source:  Bought

Annabeth is terrified. Just when she's about to be reunited with Percy—after six months of being apart, thanks to Hera—it looks like Camp Jupiter is preparing for war. As Annabeth and her friends Jason, Piper, and Leo fly in on the Argo II, she can’t blame the Roman demigods for thinking the ship is a Greek weapon. With its steaming bronze dragon masthead, Leo's fantastical creation doesn't appear friendly. Annabeth hopes that the sight of their praetor Jason on deck will reassure the Romans that the visitors from Camp Half-Blood are coming in peace.

And that's only one of her worries. In her pocket Annabeth carries a gift from her mother that came with an unnerving demand: Follow the Mark of Athena. Avenge me. Annabeth already feels weighed down by the prophecy that will send seven demigods on a quest to find—and close—the Doors of Death. What more does Athena want from her?

Annabeth's biggest fear, though, is that Percy might have changed. What if he's now attached to Roman ways? Does he still need his old friends? As the daughter of the goddess of war and wisdom, Annabeth knows she was born to be a leader, but never again does she want to be without Seaweed Brain by her side.

Narrated by four different demigods, The Mark of Athena is an unforgettable journey across land and sea to Rome, where important discoveries, surprising sacrifices, and unspeakable horrors await. Climb aboard the Argo II, if you dare....

My Review:  Holy wow, guys.  This book. . . it made me feel all the things.  I laughed, I jumped up and down, I screamed, and I cried.  Like, tons of tears.  Some were happy, some were mad, and some were so sad.  In the end though, I completely adored every moment I spent between the pages of this book.  

We finally had all of the seven demigods from the prophecy together and it was interesting to have them in one place at last.  I loved seeing the way they all interacted, particularly Percy and Jason.  They had this sort of wariness between them which was expected.  They were both leaders and had to learn to share some of the responsibility they always had on their shoulders.  When they did come together, it was awesome.  Their powers complimented each other wonderfully and it was totally cool seeing them kick some monster butt together.  The tension between Leo, Hazel, and Frank was also really fun to explore.  They have a lot going on between them all and I'm really curious to see how all of that plays out.  It will be interesting to see what happens in their relationships.

The thing that was happening with Annabeth had me so freaked out, too.  I was terrified for her!  She kept talking about how she was feeling this coldness and I was so afraid that she was being possessed or something for the longest time.  When we found out exactly what was happening, I calmed down a bit but there was still a prickle of fear there for her.  

The one thing that seriously bothered me throughout this whole book was how every saw Percy!  Multiple times people (ahem, Piper and Jason) made comments about how he wasn't as good as Jason or how he was stupid.  Um, are we seeing the same person?  Percy is so clever and strong!  He gets people out of bad situations all the time and he's never a jerk about it afterward!  He's so humble and caring and loyal and it really pissed me off how they apparently didn't see that in him.  And how is Jason better?!?  The only thing he ever does is get knocked out!  I can only recall one time in this entire book where he was actually helpful and not unconscious when something big was happening and he wasn't even fighting on his own!  At least Percy can stay awake and fight!  Ugh, I'm still all worked up over that.  

Besides some annoying parts with a couple characters, this book was absolutely amazing!  There was ton of action and, of course, an adventure that kept me at the edge of my seat throughout the entire read!  I liked getting to know each character better and seeing how they all interacted!  And I am so anxious to get my hands on the next book.  After that ending . . . I'm dying to know what is going to happen. 

Five Cards

 
 

Review: Son of Neptune

Title:  The Son of Neptune
Series:  The Heroes of Olympus 
Author:  Rick Riordan
Publisher:  Hyperion Books
Pages:  513
Format:  Hardcover
Source:  Bought

Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,
To storm or fire the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.

Percy is confused. When he awoke from his long sleep, he didn't know much more than his name. His brain fuzz is lingering, even after the wolf Lupa told him he is a demigod and trained him to fight with the pen/sword in his pocket. Somehow Percy manages to make it to a camp for half-bloods, despite the fact that he has to keep killing monsters along the way. But the camp doesn't ring any bells with him. The only thing he can recall from his past is another name: Annabeth

Hazel is supposed to be dead. When she lived before, she didn't do a very good job of it. Sure, she was an obedient daughter, even when her mother was possessed by greed. But that was the problem — when the Voice took over her mother and commanded Hazel to use her "gift" for an evil purpose, Hazel couldn't say no. Now because of her mistake, the future of the world is at risk. Hazel wished she could ride away from it all on the stallion that appears in her dreams.

Frank is a klutz. His grandmother says he is descended from heroes and can be anything he wants to be, but he doesn't see it. He doesn't even know who his father is. He keeps hoping Apollo will claim him, because the only thing he is good at is archery — although not good enough to win camp war games. His bulky physique makes him feel like an ox, especially infront of Hazel, his closest friend at camp. He trusts her completely — enough to share the secret he holds close to his heart.

Beginning at the "other" camp for half-bloods and extending as far as the land beyond the gods, this breathtaking second installment of the Heroes of Olympus series introduces new demigods, revives fearsome monsters, and features other remarkable creatures, all destined to play a part in the Prophesy of Seven

 My Review:  I found it so much easier to get through this book then the first book in the series.  I think the main reason is because of the characters.  First of all, Percy was back and that made me incredibly happy.  He is a huge part of why I liked the first series so much.  His humor and loyalty are great.  I loved seeing him grow into himself and find who he is again.  Even though that process was extremely frustrating.  I wanted to jump into the book, sit him down, and make him read the first series so he could be all caught up with his own life.  Still, even without knowing his background, he had all of the qualities we love about him.  His amazing humor which had me laughing out loud throughout the book, his stubborn strength, and his optimistic leadership.  Geez, I love this guy so much!  

I also really enjoyed these new characters we got to know, mainly Hazel and Frank.  Both were very different and interesting.  They brought their own strengths to the table and, with Percy, made one badass team!  There backgrounds were so sweet, too!  It really gave a lot of insight into who they are and where their characters may go in the future.  It was refreshing to get such unique characters in a book.  

 The multiple POVs was awesome.  It was so cool seeing Percy from the perspective of others.  And it was spectacular just seeing all of the myths and the stories from everyone's different perspectives.  It enhanced the story and made it exciting to read through.  I felt as though I was in the adventure with them.  A big round of applause to Rick Riordan for doing such a masterful job with this book. 

All in all, this was as amazing as Rick's other books.  The mythology was absolutely fascinating.  I love learning about all this history through a fun and modern source.  The plot was fast paced and full of adventure.  Seeing all of these characters battling monsters was awesome!  If you have yet to pick up this series, I don't know what you're thinking.  It will suck you in from page one and keep you reading throughout the entire story!

Five Cards

Review: The Lost Hero

Title:  The Lost Hero
Series:  The Heroes of Olympus
Author:  Rick Riordan
Publisher:  Hyperion  Books
Pages:  557
Format:  Hardcover
Source:  Bought

Jason has a problem. He doesn’t remember anything before waking up in a bus full of kids on a field trip. Apparently he has a girlfriend named Piper and a best friend named Leo. They’re all students at a boarding school for “bad kids.” What did Jason do to end up here? And where is here, exactly?

Piper has a secret. Her father has been missing for three days, ever since she had that terrifying nightmare. Piper doesn’t understand her dream, or why her boyfriend suddenly doesn’t recognize her. When a freak storm hits, unleashing strange creatures and whisking her, Jason, and Leo away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood, she has a feeling she’s going to find out.

Leo has a way with tools. When he sees his cabin at Camp Half-Blood, filled with power tools and machine parts, he feels right at home. But there’s weird stuff, too—like the curse everyone keeps talking about. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist that each of them—including Leo—is related to a god.

My Review:  I have very mixed emotions about this book.  There was a lot to take in and a lot I was expecting.  I wasn't sure how I would like it because the characters from Rick Riordan's other books - like Percy, Annabeth, and Grover - weren't going to be the stars.  It's always hard having a new set of characters come in a take the spotlight away from the old ones and I think I would have enjoyed this book a lot more if I hadn't been comparing all of the characters in this new book to the ones in the previous series.

Jason has a lot of promise.  He has a really interesting background and is a bit of a mystery that we slowly have to piece together.  I enjoyed that aspect of his character a lot but besides that, I felt like it was really hard for me to connect with him.  He was a good guy but it felt like he was so hard to relate to and understand because we didn't see anything about his past until we were pretty far into the book.  Also, he was portrayed as the leader of this group but he didn't pull his weight at all, really.  He helped them once or twice but the rest of the time, it was all Piper and Leo.  I felt that they were sort of leading Jason and getting him out of tight spots instead of the other way around.  We kept being told that he was a super scary, awesome warrior but we were never shown that.  

As for Piper, I am very wishy washy with her.  I thought it was really cool to be able to see the camp from a different cabin and how everyone in said cabin responded to one another.  She had some really useful powers, too.  I enjoyed delving deeper into what it meant to be a daughter or son of ________.  But she frustrated me to no end.  I was so upset with her in this book because she was keeping such a big thing from the people who were supposed to trust her!  I wanted to just shake her and tell her to spit it out already so they could help her.  Leo has to be my absolute favorite part of this entire book.  He was funny and so easy to connect with.  He didn't think he was perfect and he thought badly about himself a lot and I just wanted to give him a hug, especially when we learned about his past.  He was such an important part of this quest and he did amazing.  I cannot wait to see more of him in future books!

While these new characters didn't quite do it for me, I did really enjoy the plot and being back in the world of Half-Bloods.  It was neat to see some new perspectives and to learn more about what has been going on since the last book in the Percy Jackson series.  I hope that the next book will help me connect better with the characters because I really think that if I had that understanding and connection with them, I would like this book so much more than I did. 

Four Cards

Review: The Last Olympian

Title:  The Last Olympian
Series:  Percy Jackson and the Olympians #5
Author:  Rick Riordan
Publisher:  Disney Hyperion 
Pages:  381
Format:  Hardcover 
Source:  Bought

All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds of victory are grim. Kronos's army is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, the evil Titan's power only grows. While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now it's up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time.
In this momentous final book in the "New York Times" best-selling Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, the long-awaited prophecy surrounding Percy's sixteenth birthday unfolds. And as the battle for Western civilization rages on the streets of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate.

My Review:  I think this is my favorite book of the series.  All of them were wonderful, of course, but there was something about this one that I just really enjoyed.  The action alone was enough to keep me glued to the page.  We were thrust into the battle from page one and I absolutely loved it.  It was so awesome seeing everyone come together and fight.  I especially enjoyed seeing Percy use his power a lot more.  He was an absolute menace on the battle field.  

The action wasn't the only thing I liked, though.  The characters were also spectacular.  They have grown so much since the first book.  Thinking back on how they used to be, I was amazed at how well Rick Riordan developed them.  It was realistic and happened gradually.  None of them just changed over night which I appreciated quite a lot. 

A lot happened in this installment but none of it seemed rushed or underdeveloped.  I felt like all the major plot points shined during their time.  It all flowed well and never felt choppy or fragmented.  Rick Riordan has such an amazing writing style that makes it so easy to fall into his stories.  I look up from the page and realize it's been 2 hours when it felt like it'd been 5 minutes.  

I definitely enjoyed this read.  I have no doubt I'll be coming back to it very soon for a reread.  There's so many amazing parts, I don't think I'll ever get bored of this.  If you haven't picked up this series already, I don't know what you're doing.  One of my very favorites.  

Five Cards

Review: The Battle of the Labyrinth

Title:  The Battle of the Labyrinth
Series:  Percy Jackson and the Olympians #4
Author:  Rick Riordan
Publisher:  Disney Hyperion 
Pages:  361
Format:  Paperback
Source:  Bought

When demonic cheerleaders invade his high school, Percy Jackson hurries to Camp Half Blood, from whence he and his demigod friends set out on a quest through the Labyrinth, while the war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near.

My Review:  This was probably my least favorite of the series so far.  And in saying that, I by no means think it was a bad book.  Actually, it was pretty wonderful.  There was a lot of adventure and action like in the others.  I enjoyed my time reading it and would definitely reread it sometime in the future.  My problem with it was that it was so choppy and didn't flow as well as the others did.  

The plot was exciting and definitely made my heart race most of the time.  But there were parts where there wasn't much going on and I just wanted to skip around to find another bit of action.  Besides that, I really enjoyed the plot.  There was a lot of different aspects and creatures we met.  I thought the idea of the Labyrinth as its own character with its own actions was great.  It added some depth and made the maze seem a lot more sinister.  The added thrill while reading was different and exciting.  

The characters were spectacular, as always.  I adore seeing the changes in Percy and the others in every book.  Rick Riordan does a fantastic job of showing how they mature and age without it seeming too rushed or unrealistic.  The feelings that they experience build over time and it was so refreshing to read a book like this.  I love Percy and Annabeth together.  They're such a realistic and fun couple they it makes it hard not to root for them.  Rachel was an interesting character to mix in.  I was unsure what exactly to feel about her.  At first she was just kind of annoying but she redeemed herself in my eyes in the end.  

I'm really excited to read the final book in the series, The Last Olympian, after the ending in this one!  So many things were left open and I'm just dying to see how it ends!  

Four Cards