Review: The Hidden Oracle

The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another fantastic book by RR. We are introduced to our new main character in perfect fashion. "Just another meat sack." Quaint Apollo, or should I call you Lester Papadopoulos? That is an amazing name and starts the book brilliantly.

Apollo is written just as well as RR's other characters. The sun God is forced into a powerless mortal body and dumped unceremoniously onto the island of Manhattan. Into a pile of trash. He must undertake a series of trials and get the Oracles back under his control or else he will remain mortal... and Lester. Accompanied by a feisty, sword-wielding street urchin and a bitey peach spirit, Apollo fights for the future. Camp Half-Blood is sparsely populated, campers are disappearing and all forms of communication are on the fritz.

The world building is just as beautifully done as the other Olympians novels. The reader is introduced to myths creatures and gods. Recommended that you read the two previous series before Trials of Apollo. There are characters (like our beloved Percy) and gods/monsters that you either meet or are mentioned in passing and it would be beneficial to at least be familiar with them.

The character development is also well-done. Apollo is his usual self-absorbed self but he also experiences some brilliant moments of humanity. You root for his success and roll your eyes at him simultaneously. Margaret, Meg for short, is his sidekick and occasional friend. Apollo doesn't like to admit that he is actually fond of the little urchin. She immediately reminded me of Megara from Disney's Hercules, sassy, cynical, questioning. The entire time that I was reading I kept expecting her to betray Apollo to the "Big Bad" but have grown fond of Apollo as well and regret her betrayal.

In case you are unfamiliar with some of the terms or gods, RR has a handy glossary at the conclusion of the book. Highly recommended, as are all of RR's novels. Great for YA reader that enjoy witty writers, well-developed characters, mythology, adventures and just general awesomeness.

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Review: Razor's Edge

Razor's Edge by Martha Wells
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Razor's Edge is one of the books in a trilogy about our favourite characters. It focuses on Princess Leia Organa. This book takes place after the battle of Yavin, but before the next movie in the series. Leia is on a resistance mission with Han when they're attacked and must flee. There are only little cameos from Luke R2, Chewie and C3PO. I do wish we had seen more from Luke, because the books with Jedis (from my experience reading Star Wars books thus far) are more interesting. I understand why they wouldn't feature him, as the book is about Leia but Han was heavily included.

It was nice to get small glimpses into Leia's character and it made her more human. She's tough and willing to do what needs to be dome. Most people underestimate her because she's a princess, much to their realized dismay.

The author assumes you are well-versed in the Star Wars universe. A casual fan will have no trouble following the story, but may not be able to imagine everything. Non-human beings are named but not always vividly described. Sometimes systems or locales are mentioned without further detail. For the benefit of a more casual reader and world building, it would have been nice if more details were provided.

Overall the story was enjoyable and a fitting addition to the universe, even if it isn't canon anymore. Recommended to any Star Wars fans as well as those that enjoy science fiction or adventure. Suggested that you rewatch the originals, at least 4 and 5 before reading this book.

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Review: Smash & Grab

Smash & Grab by Amy Christine Parker
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Smash & Grab isn't a unique premise - "Uptown girl - She's been living in her uptown world". It's a theme that runs through many books. Clearly, Lexi is bored, rich and looking or an adrenaline rush. The moment the book switched to the perspective of the poor, smart "backstreet guy" or "downtown man" - you knew that there was going to be a romance or chemistry between the two. Despite the unsurprising connection between the two main characters, the book was quite enjoyable.

Lexi was not a vapid, rich girl but had a depth to her character. She goes through trials and doesn't just say, "oh woe is me" but actively attempts to remedy things. Yes, her dad might be guilty but he is not alone in his guilt nor was he the mastermind of the scheme. Lexi suspects her father's boss and is determined to do whatever she can to prove his guilt. This plan leads her to cross paths a number of times with a mysterious boy, our other narrator.

Christian is a bank robber. He and his crew, his cousin and a few other neighborhood guys, do jobs for the local Mexican gang. But if Christian had his way, he wouldn't be involved in any of that. He's smart, he loves to read and he wants to go to college. But his family was threatened and that's more important to him. That's how he gets forced into a job that will target the very bank that Lexi is attempting to infiltrate. The one her father used to work at. The one she conned her way into getting an internship at.

The two don't trust each other but know that in order to succeed they must work together. This is certainly a fun, easy summer read. Do not expect a literary classic, but it's definitely enjoyable. The story has good pacing overall, although the end was a little rushed. I recommend checking out this fun, enjoyable read - especially if you want to find out what happens.

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