Rick Riordan’s final installment in the Percy Jackson series comes in amazing fashion with The Last Olympian. The book begins with Percy and Beckendorf attacking an enemy ship, however the mission goes haywire and Beckendorf is killed. Percy then travels to get bathed in the river Styx, something his enemy Luke had done previously. After getting bathed, Percy and the people of Camp Half-Blood travel to New York to defend Olympus, which is left unguarded due to the gods fighting Typhon.
Patroclus is a young prince, thrown out of his kingdom after a display of violence that leaves no room for mercy. He is sent to a foreign place where he is unknown, with other exiled boys of the land. There they live together, training and eating as a group, until they are deemed worthy to return to their respectful kingdoms. While in this group, Patroclus notices one boy who stands out. His name is Achilles, and he glows with life in whatever room he’s in. Patroclus is drawn to him, as a young boy and later during adolescence.
Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, has finally finished fighting in the ten-year war in Troy, and now must begin his journey home. His family awaits his return, refusing to believe he is dead. His wife Penelope refuses to marry again, and his son Telemachus, who was only a baby when Odysseus left, is now an adult. At their palace, hundreds of suitors try to persuade Penelope to remarry so that they can gain the crown. Odysseus has been prevented from returning home by hosts of gods, monsters and other beasts.
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan is a great book about a boy named Percy Jackson, who discovers he is a demigod, the son of Poseidon. Set in modern-day America, the story takes Percy on a quest to prevent a war among the gods. With his friends Annabeth and Grover, Percy embarks on a journey that combines mythology with modern-day.
The fourth book in Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series, The Battle of the Labyrinth, is in my opinion the worst of the series. Despite being the worst, it is still a solid book. The Battle of the Labyrinth begins after Percy and friends return to camp where they find an entrance to the labyrinth. They are given the information that Luke is planning to lead an army of monsters through the Labyrinth in order to attack Camp Half-blood.
The Titan’s Curse, Rick Riordan’s third book in the Percy Jackson series, is another great book in the series. In my opinion it is the most underrated of the series. The story starts with Percy and his friends heading back to Camp Half-blood with two new recruits. Artemis, a goddess, decides to go on a quest and sends her hunters back to Camp Half-blood in the meantime. While there, the oracle gives a quest stating five should go, and two will die.
Rick Riordan’s second book in the Percy Jackson series, The Sea of Monsters, continues the story with Percy and his friends finding trouble with the tree protecting Camp Half Blood when they try to return. Realizing this, they try to get a quest, however Percy’s nemesis Clarisse gets the quest instead. Percy decides to sneak away from Camp Half Blood anyways with Annabeth and his half-brother Tyson.
Circe by Madeline Miller reimagines the life of the Greek mythological witch Circe, daughter of Helios, as she hones her powers during exile on the island of Aiaia and encounters legendary figures like Odysseus. This tale is a captivating exploration of her journey toward self-discovery and empowerment in a world of gods, monsters and magic. While reading Circe, I felt deeply immersed in the mythological world while empathizing with Circe's struggles and triumphs.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller is an emotional retelling of the Greek myth of Achilles and Patroclus from Homer’s Iliad. Under the narration of Patroclus, he and Achilles create an inseparable bond despite the onset of war. Their relationship is portrayed through their contrasting perspectives as Patroclus is compassionate, gentle and quiet, while Achilles is charismatic and bold.
In The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan, Percy just wants a peaceful life and a normal senior year, especially after saving the world multiple times since he was 12. Percy wants to attend college, and the same one as his girlfriend, Annabeth. As Percy prepares for next year, he is less than thrilled to discover that he must obtain recommendation letters from Mount Olympus through completing quests for the gods. Percy takes on a quest for the god Ganymede, who has lost his chalice that he uses to serve the gods.
