betweentheshelves's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Despite their length, Riordan books are quick reads for me because of the way they are paced. I can see why kids of all kinds come into the library and say they've flown through these books because it is easy to do! Not only are all of the characters fun, but there's action and humor and it's just an all around good time, despite the impending doom.
Also, Nico! I can see why people say he's one of their favorite characters because I just want to wrap him in a big hug. I'm glad we finally get to see from his point of view. And his interaction with Percy at the end? Gold.
While this one doesn't end on a cliffhanger, you can kind of tell that Riordan is setting up for another series. It's an overall good conclusion to this story arc, but there's an opening there at the end for another series.
Graphic: Violence, Death, and War
Moderate: Grief, Animal death, and Blood
Minor: Death of parent, Suicide, and Homophobia
nevermoregothic's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, and War
Moderate: Animal death, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexism, Homophobia, Death of parent, Vomit, Suicide, and Pregnancy
rtaire's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: War, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death and Grief
Minor: Homophobia
orchidlilly's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Death, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Gore, Child death, and War
Moderate: Animal death, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Homophobia, and Medical content
mengzhenreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Death, and War
Moderate: Grief, Animal death, and Blood
Minor: Suicide and Homophobia
jojo_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, War, Abandonment, and Death
Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Grief, and Homophobia
angstifies's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Homophobia, Misogyny, and Sexism
allison_lennon's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Child death, War, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death and Grief
Minor: Abandonment, Death of parent, Eating disorder, and Homophobia
britgirlreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Minor: Homophobia, War, Violence, Pregnancy, and Medical trauma
trintrin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A spoilery rant on the few parts I didn't like:
Spoiler
My biggest complaint is that it's supposed to be "bigger than the Titan War" and yet nobody dies?? Well, none of the main seven anyways. Miss Mother Earth wakes up for like 5 seconds and goes back to sleep when she hears a lullaby. It just felt really underwhelming. I'm not a big fan of the resurrection trope and it was used here -- which I wouldn't have minded if Leo and Calypso had any actual chemistry but noooo insta love. They should've stayed friends imo. Leo could've still sworn on the Styx and rescued her without them being in a relationship. And then in the upcoming months when they explore the world outside Ogygia together, trying to find their way back to CHB, and they develop feelings for each other, then maybe that would've been much more believable.
The final battle with Gaea should've been all seven together, it's "seven half-bloods shall answer the call", not three. And why did it happen to be Jason, Piper, and Leo, who are also my least favourite characters out of the seven? Frank and Hazel were pretty much useless after the Son of Neptune and I hate that because they're such cool characters. But why was Annabeth left out of this? I get that Percy needs to learn to step back and let others be at the front line but come on-
The inclusion of Percy and Annabeth's POVs would've saved this book for me but alas. I really wanted to know how those two were keeping up after Tartarus.
I admit I was a bit sceptical about Solangelo in this one but spoilers for Trials of Apollo series: since they end up being so cute in ToA and also become one of my otps, I don't mind it.
This series had potential, especially with how House of Hades became one of my all time faves, but it feels like potential was more or less wasted solely because of the climax. The character dynamics weren't as great as PJO either. Overall, I felt a little bummed after reading five huge books to witness an ending that made be go "...that's it?" But hey, I'm a big sucker for anything Rick puts out so I loved it. Except the ending.
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Child death, Animal death, War, Death, and Suicide
Moderate: Homophobia and Outing