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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Day 5 (30-Day Book Challenge)

A Book That Makes You Happy

Percy Jackson's Greek Gods - Rick Riordan

I just love Rick Riordan's style of writing. He's quippy, hilarious and makes the Greek mythology that I already love that much more enjoyable to read.

Review: Seven Wonders Book 1: The Colossus Rises

Seven Wonders Book 1: The Colossus Rises by Peter Lerangis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was intrigued by this series because I am a fan of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series. This seemed to have a similar feel and did not disappoint. I really loved the inclusion of Atlantis, as it is one of my favourite mythologies. The way the author created such a unique history for Atlantis and then seamlessly brought it into our present conflict was wonderful. I was riveted from the start and count not wait to read the rest of the series.

The characters are not well developed at the beginning, but throughout the course of the novel you gain more insight and knowledge about their personalities. The four main characters are each unique and allow for the reader to more likely identify with someone.

The world building is wonderful and I wish there was a novella or even faux-history book that the readers could delve into to allow the author to fully immerse them in the rich history of Atlantis.

Overall, a definite recommendation for any readers that like middle grade, YA, mythology, history, adventure or just good books.

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Percy Jackson's Greek Gods

Percy Jackson's Greek Gods

By: Rick Riordan

Disney - Hyperion

Published: August 19th, 2014

Acquisition: Kobo

Summary: 

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.

My Review:

This retelling of the classic greek myths was absolutely fantastic. Rick Riordan makes each tale relatable by adding quips and anachronistic descriptors to events and people. Through his character Percy Jackson, we see the Gods and Goddesses in all of their glory - dirty laundry and all. I may be slightly biased as I love mythology, and will occasionally make a joke referencing Cerberus or Hermes' flying sandals, but this novel was incredibly entertaining. Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to pick up a physical copy of it. The illustrations in my ebook form were wonderful, although I expect they'd be brilliant in color.

Percy Jackson is the perfect author/narrator for this novel. Adding his sarcastic spin on tales like the union of Aphrodite and Hephaestus: “So Aphrodite married Hephaestus and the celebrity ship Aphrophaestus completely dominated Olympian tabloid news for like a thousand years. Did they live happily ever after? HAHAHAHAHA. No.” I highlighted an incredible number of quotes that either gave really great descriptions for things or was just incredibly hilarious and I wanted to remember it. He would take the time to explain the rivers of the Underworld, like the Acheron and Styx while giving the reader facts about them in an interesting way. For example, he explained the names of the rivers and their meanings, the incredibly complicated family dynamics, and even some of the punishments Hades created.

I'm not even going to waste your time making you read a long review. If you know any greek mythology, you will enjoy this fresh new take on them. And if somehow, you've been living under a rock for your entire life and have never heard of Zeus before (don't tell him, he's got an attitude) then this is an enjoyable way to learn. In the unfortunate event that you cannot read, bribe a friend into reading this to you each night before you go to bed. It's worth it. Or you know, purchase the audiobook.

The age range for these books tend to be middle/young readers but anyone can enjoy it. If you like fantasy, romance, violence, debauchery, history, biography or anything remotely similar than you will enjoy this book - young, old, or illiterate.

Verdict: Why Don't You Already Own This? Go Buy It!

Star Rating: