The Lost Hero

We are major Rick Riordan fans in our house.   We have been eagerly anticipating this next series, The Heroes of Olympus.  This series still includes our favorite characters (Percy, Annabeth, Chiron, and more) but with a new twist. 
The Lost Hero did not fail to entertain.  I adore the new characters.  Leo, son of Hephaestus, is a fun and quirky addition to Camp Half-Blood.  Like his dad he can fix anything.  He makes toys and robots out of things he finds on lying around.  Who can't love that?
His buddy Piper (daughter of Aphrodite) is wonderful.   A nice girl who doesn't dwell on her looks (despite her mom) and can still kick some monster-booty. 
Jason, another friend, is a super-hero who has lost his memory.  The three demi-gods have to search for Hera who has been abducted. 
I love how Riordan can make learning fun.  This series not only includes Greek mythology but now Roman lore as well. 
Why the "Lost Hero" title?  Well my friends, it seems that our old pal Percy Jackson has disappeared! 
Jason learns his role in the whole shebang to come.  A great start to a new series.  Can't wait for the next book!

The Last Olympian? (I hope not!)

This can't be the end!  

I zoomed through The Last Olympian, the last in the Percy Jackson series (so far.)  My daughter was mad because I got it at the library and started in on it before she could!  (She's deep in it at the moment, hasn't moved since she started reading it this afternoon...)  I did really like it.  Our favorite characters are back in the battle- this time to save Olympus (which of course is on top of the Empire State Building in NYC.)  I don't want to give too much away, but let's say it does have a fairly happy ending and it leaves you wanting more of Camp Half Blood's adventures!
By the way...
Out of all the books in the series my daughter and I agree that we liked The Sea of Monsters the best.

Lost in the Labyrinth

In this, the 4th Percy Jackson book, The Battle of the Labyrinth, we find our hero still battling scary monsters with his buds Annabeth, Tyson, and Grover.   In teen spirit Percy has girl troubles, complete with demon cheerleaders.  Grover now has a lovely tree spirit for a girlfriend (very cute,) and is on his search for the truth of Pan's disappearance. 
The Titans and Kronos are getting stronger, trying to gain control of the famous Labyrinth.  I thought this was not as good as the last book in the series, (probably because it was a little darker) but still quite good.  My 13 yr old says she's having trouble getting through it because she thinks it drags along.  I still can't wait for the next one and wish I'd bought it when I got the rest! 

The Titan's Curse

Another Percy Jackson book down!  I tell  you I really think Rick Riordan's writing gets better with each book- they are so action packed and fun to read.  Like the Harry Potter series they do get progressively creepier, so not sure where I'll stop reading with my 8 yr old.  Maybe with this one, he gets scared fairly easily and this was pretty creepy (albeit not too gruesome.)

Our heroes dive into the Labyrinth, in search of Daedalus.   Many monsters, titans, etc. are found along the way.  Percy's crush on Annabeth is explored a little more and a couple of new pretty girls are introduced as the teenage angst starts up full-swing.  Luke is back, though not exactly as he was before (I can't tell you more or I'd spoil it.)  Grover finally grows up with his dream of seeking Pan finally realized. 

Another home run from Riordan.  Can't wait to start on the next book!

Monsters from the Sea!

Another book I read this weekend was the second in the Percy Jackson series- The Sea of Monsters.
True to his heroic form, Percy takes us on another whirlwind, crazy quest.  Some of our favorite half-blood buddies are brought back- Annabeth, Grover, Chiron, and even Luke have their moments in the sun.  This time we are taken deep in the Sea of Monsters (which, by the way, is located in the Bermuda Triangle in case you didn't know) to find the golden fleece of Jason's fame.  Percy finds new friends and even a some family along the way (but I won't tell you more in case I'd spoil your fun!)
This is probably the next on our nightly read-alouds for the kids since we finished the first book last night.

Lightning Strikes!

I really enjoyed The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.  I'd seen the movie, and my middle kiddo (7 yrs old) had read it in school.   The movie didn't do the book justice (as usual) but was a great, fun flick in and of itself.  I think I enjoyed the movie more because I hadn't read the book, and the book was different enough so that the movie didn't spoil the book! 

This is a great rendition of Greek mythology from a modern point of view.  In these books the main characters are children of mortals and Greek gods, putting the kids in the middle of many ancient rivalries and often in harm's way.   Now, the adulterous gods did bring up a specific conversation I didn't want to have with my son yet- but one that I could handle.  (He had read it in school so it was brought up before I read the book, and thus made me read the book...) 
Fun read!