a book fit for the olympians!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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The book was fantastic!! it was so good i wanted to do two things with it
a}by all of my friends a copy of it!!
b}when i die have it bured with me.
p.s. i am now reading PERCY JACKSON and the SEA OF MONSTERS
TARUN CHAPMAN age 7
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Gods in modern USA
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Although I might disagree that the USA is the centre of Western Culture, this is a fun read. Percy Jackson is just such an interesting character. When we meet him first he's in his Sixth school in as many years and this school is a school for troubled kids. Strange things keep happening around him, he's got ADHD and Dyslexia and his stepfather hates him
When he realises that he's the son of a Greek God and that because of this he's the subject of interest from monsters from myth and legend. He gets a chance to go to Camp Half-Blood, where Mr D (or Dionysus) supervises the half-gods. However someone has stolen Zeus' Thunderbolt and Percy is the primary suspect. Will he survive to find the real thief or will the Gods kill him.
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A Story Worthy Of Olympus!!
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This book is INCREDIBLE!! It is my favourite book ever - no contest! (It should be 6 stars!) I love is cos it's so different to most books - it's pratically drenched in humour, great characters and based on Greek myths! I guess not a lot of people like Greek myths, but Rick Riordan really brings them up to date and fits them right in to modern day New York. I love that (watch out for spoilers!) Olympus is on top of The Empire State Building and and the underworld is in L.A.. Percy is a fab protagonist, Annabeth and Grover are cool, Sally Jackson, Mr D and Gabe - well, thanx to them they've made this the best book in the world. Percy, Annabeth and Grover are the perfect half-blood "3 muskateers" and Luke is the best villain! I take my hat off to Rick Riordan for creating such a memorable book and can't wait for the rest of the series. And to anyone who doesn't like the books or gives them less than 5 stars - "braccus meas vescimini!" (just kidding!!)
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I was entertained for a day.
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I have to agree strongly with JB's review and say that it does indeed run along the same streams and rivers as our dear, dear Harry Potter and it was because of this that the book was eminently predictable.
However, that said, it did not detract from the enjoyment I gleaned from a racy, heart thumping beginning and a tumultuous ride that kept me mostly entertained and giggling right to the very predictable and almost anti-climatic finish. The finish could have been a bit better...too sweet too twee...it needs a better cliffhanger to lead to sequels.
I would read the sequels were they to magically appear in my path...go out and buy them? Only if I could get them cheap, like I did this one!
Artemis aged 33
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Derivative but fun.
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What do get is you mix Neil Gaiman's American Gods with J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels? Well, if you let the mix be written by a hack like Rick Riordan, you'd get something like the Percy Jackson series. It is not half bad, but it is cliché ridden and very predictable. The problem is that Riordan sticks too close to the Harry Potter formula. For anyone who's read the Harry Potter series, these elements are glaringly obvious.
A young hero with magical skills and unknown parentage (at the beginning of the first novel at least.) ... Check
A second magical realm parallel and intertwined with our own... Check
An uncomfortable home situation due to spiteful relatives (well at least one complete bastard)... Check
A magical school (here it is a magical summer camp)... Check
Two close companions, one smart spunky girl, one clumsy but lovable boy... Check
An older mentor... Check
Various competing houses within the camp/school... Check
One house who everyone hates... Check
One sneaky bullying kid who is very antipathetic towards the hero... Check
A big bad bogeyman, who everyone fears... Check
One trusted mentor, who ultimately betrays the hero... Check
A quest, which reveals important truths about the hero... Check
An annual extended stay in the real world... Check
It also borrows heavily from American Gods, a good source to steal from. In this setting only the gods from Greek mythology live in America, but otherwise it is very similar.
But if it the plot is a copy of Harry Potter's, is it worth reading? Well, it depends on whether you like a predictable plot and derivative story telling. I do, so I enjoyed it. But only as a distraction and a no-brainer. But if you want to read some original children's literature, read something by Philip Pullman, Anthony Horowitz, Neil Gaiman, or J.K. Rowling for that matter.
Still... I enjoyed it.
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