hope_sky321's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/injury detail
Minor: War
orchidlilly's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Blood, Death, Violence, Ableism, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/injury detail, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Abandonment, Murder, Physical abuse, Classism, Death of parent, and Gore
ewwniamh's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
this series is truly peak fiction
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood and Injury/injury detail
foxo_cube's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Another fun adventure with our boy, Percy Jackson, and his friends.
I felt there was better character development in this one, maybe partially due to the appearance of Tyson and the character arcs that come with him. Tyson is a Cyclops child who Percy meets at his regular school and who everyone is mean to, seeing him as an ugly, mentally disabled kid who lives on the streets. Percy, not knowing he's a Cyclops, gets on with him well and tries to defend him from bullies, only to be defended by Tyson when it turns out monsters have infiltrated the school. When they end up at Camp Half-Blood, everyone is mean to Tyson because he's a Cyclops. Poor thing, he's a good boy! I feel like the book deals pretty well with Percy's mixed feelings of genuinely caring about Tyson, but still being embarrassed by him- it's a difficult topic to do, but it didn't seem too ham-fisted, overly sympathetic towards Percy, or overly patronising towards Tyson.
As with the first one, the application of mythology to the modern world is fun and nicely thought-out. The thing that's really cool about these books is that there's some interactivity in placing the stories that are being referenced, and, as someone who's not hugely knowledgable on Greek mythology, I'm learning lots of interesting bits, too.
I was glad to see a return from Grover, as well as a lead for him to come back later on. Unlike the first book, I felt like the lead-in to the next book was less shoehorned in, too. Looking forward to seeing what happens next!
I felt there was better character development in this one, maybe partially due to the appearance of Tyson and the character arcs that come with him. Tyson is a Cyclops child who Percy meets at his regular school and who everyone is mean to, seeing him as an ugly, mentally disabled kid who lives on the streets. Percy, not knowing he's a Cyclops, gets on with him well and tries to defend him from bullies, only to be defended by Tyson when it turns out monsters have infiltrated the school. When they end up at Camp Half-Blood, everyone is mean to Tyson because he's a Cyclops. Poor thing, he's a good boy! I feel like the book deals pretty well with Percy's mixed feelings of genuinely caring about Tyson, but still being embarrassed by him
Spoiler
particularly when it's discovered that they're half-brothersAs with the first one, the application of mythology to the modern world is fun and nicely thought-out. The thing that's really cool about these books is that there's some interactivity in placing the stories that are being referenced, and, as someone who's not hugely knowledgable on Greek mythology, I'm learning lots of interesting bits, too.
I was glad to see a return from Grover, as well as a lead for him to come back later on. Unlike the first book, I felt like the lead-in to the next book was less shoehorned in, too. Looking forward to seeing what happens next!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Injury/injury detail, Violence, and Classism
mikki_9's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Animal death, Grief, Injury/injury detail, and Violence
Minor: Blood
navayiota's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Not my favourite in the series, but still amazing. I love how seamlessly all the myths blend, both with each other and with the modern world- the characters and the locations never seem out of place. Percy is such a relatable character and he's so dear to my heart, I can't explain how much I love the way he's written.
Spoiler
It was really interesting how his run in with Circe kept being brought up, how it seemed to have affected him, how much he reflected and wanted to do better due to it. I'm also so happy he ended up standing up for Tyson the way he did. I have been in both positions before, especially as a kid and it feels great to see a child character make such good decisions. I never had a Percy in my corner growing up, but I hope I can embody his good traits as an adult, and stand up for myself and others when we're mistreated.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Abandonment, Bullying, Slavery, and Confinement
Moderate: Injury/injury detail
dayniw's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/injury detail, Kidnapping, and Confinement
trinidad_gondi's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/injury detail
theespressoedition's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
What I enjoyed about The Sea of Monsters:
- the references to Greek mythology that I was familiar with (there was more of it in this book than there was in the first, which surprised me)
- the addition of Tyson, who was absolutely precious and I would protect at all costs
- Annabeth being at least a little bit less of an annoying know-it-all than in the initial book
What I didn't enjoy so much about The Sea of Monsters:
- it was almost irritatingly predictable (especially the ending, which was weird because the first book had many more twists and turns)
- I get that it was needed but the prejudice against Tyson was frustrating as heck from beginning-to-end and I found it confusing that in the "human world," Percy stood up for him, but as soon as he was in Camp Half-Blood and found out what Tyson really was, he was insecure and embarrassed
- Annabeth is still an annoying know-it-all (albeit less than before)
Overall, it was an enjoyable, quick adventure book that wasn't as great as the first but still gave me enough to be excited for the next installment. And yes, I do realize that I am not the ideal audience for these books, so that plays a lot into my thoughts about them. But they are my thoughts nonetheless.
- the references to Greek mythology that I was familiar with (there was more of it in this book than there was in the first, which surprised me)
- the addition of Tyson, who was absolutely precious and I would protect at all costs
- Annabeth being at least a little bit less of an annoying know-it-all than in the initial book
What I didn't enjoy so much about The Sea of Monsters:
- it was almost irritatingly predictable (especially the ending, which was weird because the first book had many more twists and turns)
- I get that it was needed but the prejudice against Tyson was frustrating as heck from beginning-to-end and I found it confusing that in the "human world," Percy stood up for him, but as soon as he was in Camp Half-Blood and found out what Tyson really was, he was insecure and embarrassed
- Annabeth is still an annoying know-it-all (albeit less than before)
Overall, it was an enjoyable, quick adventure book that wasn't as great as the first but still gave me enough to be excited for the next installment. And yes, I do realize that I am not the ideal audience for these books, so that plays a lot into my thoughts about them. But they are my thoughts nonetheless.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/injury detail
ginameix's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Injury/injury detail
Minor: Abandonment