The Son of Neptune - Rick Riordan

Action and adventure time! Roman style??

Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,
To storm or fire the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.

Percy is confused. When he awoke from his long sleep, he didn't know much more than his name. His brain fuzz is lingering, even after the wolf Lupa told him he is a demigod and trained him to fight with the pen/sword in his pocket. Somehow Percy manages to make it to a camp for half-bloods, despite the fact that he has to keep killing monsters along the way. But the camp doesn't ring any bells with him. The only thing he can recall from his past is another name: Annabeth

Hazel is supposed to be dead. When she lived before, she didn't do a very good job of it. Sure, she was an obedient daughter, even when her mother was possessed by greed. But that was the problem — when the Voice took over her mother and commanded Hazel to use her "gift" for an evil purpose, Hazel couldn't say no. Now because of her mistake, the future of the world is at risk. Hazel wished she could ride away from it all on the stallion that appears in her dreams.

Frank is a klutz. His grandmother says he is descended from heroes and can be anything he wants to be, but he doesn't see it. He doesn't even know who his father is. He keeps hoping Apollo will claim him, because the only thing he is good at is archery — although not good enough to win camp war games. His bulky physique makes him feel like an ox, especially infront of Hazel, his closest friend at camp. He trusts her completely — enough to share the secret he holds close to his heart.

Beginning at the "other" camp for half-bloods and extending as far as the land beyond the gods, this breathtaking second installment of the Heroes of Olympus series introduces new demigods, revives fearsome monsters, and features other remarkable creatures, all destined to play a part in the Prophesy of Seven.

Poor Percy Jackson. Appears that he has been wrapped up in another scheme by the goddess Hera…or Juno, like the Romans call her. This is book two in the Heros of Olympus series by the wonderful Rick Riordan (Check out my review done on The Lost Hero!). Maybe it’s just me, but I always feel like second books in series are just plot filler, building you up to the third book. Oh no. This is sooooo not the case with this book. It is full of action and adventure (did I mention this already?) and all the characters are interesting. Riordan does a great job making sure that each character he creates, no matter how minor, is not simply put in there a plot fodder. I feel that is the sign of a true master wordsmith.

But it’s not just the writing that is awesome. Let’s talk about the characters. When the book started out and we see that Percy doesn’t remember anything from his Camp Halfblood life, other than Annabeth that is, I was a little weary. I was concerned that he would be different. But thankfully, he wasn’t. He was still the same ol’ wise cracking, semi-reckless, fierce warrior and true friend we all know and love in the previous book series. It makes sense that he makes friends with two of the outcasts at New Rome, Frank and Hazel, as he himself is an outcast. Sure he is the big shot at Camp Halfblood, but even there he is a rebel and different.

Speaking of Frank and Hazel, how adorable are those two? They are perfect friends for Percy. Both these characters are, when it comes to fighting, brave and true. However, personally, they have their owner demons and secrets that they are trying to keep under control (read the description book…poor kiddos). But there is never a moment in the book that I felt that Frank’s klutziness or Hazel’s slightly otherworldliness is never hinders or bogs the story down. It helps move the story along and also develops the characters into accepting their faults and taking steps and actions to change their fate.

I love this book series. I loved this book series so much that I read the third book right after this one (review to come). Riordan does not disappoint in writing a tale that is meant for teen readers, but just so happens to suck in adults as well. Sword play and monsters. Amazons and the dead returning to life. Love and death. Friends and enemies. Gods and Demigods. Need a I say more?