annaofjesup's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Death, Body horror, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Torture, Abandonment, Murder, Toxic relationship, War, Bullying, and Domestic abuse
parlonny's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Grief
Moderate: War, Vomit, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing and Gun violence
rdmoreland0801'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
5.0
Spoiler
I didn’t read this series when it first came out, so I’m pretty late to the game. Although this is definitely YA, the storytelling and world-building are beautifully done.
Percy is a 12 year-old boy, deemed a troublemaker. He has been diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD, being expelled from multiple schools. On a class field trip, Percy begins to understand that he is not normal.
Percy eventually makes it to Half-Blood Hill, where he should be safe from the monsters chasing after him. This is where he discovers he is the son of Poseidon.
Percy sets out on a journey with Grover and Annabeth to find Zeus’s master bolt, believing the culprit to be Hades. There are many monsters to fight along the way, and they eventually realize their strings are being pulled by someone else to start a war amongst the gods.
Throughout their journey, we see the world through a half-blood’s eyes, seeing both the mundane and the mythological. With a storyline different than Greek mythology I’ve read before, I look forward to what the rest of the series will bring.
Spoiler
Moderate: Abandonment and War
Minor: Physical abuse
ripxw's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Abandonment and Grief
Minor: Domestic abuse
stinkyrat's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Ableism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Bullying, Fatphobia, and Physical abuse
the_greywarren's review against another edition
- 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
Since it had been so long I'd also forgotten a lot of the plot points in here, like the gang's side-quest to get Ares' shield and the waterbed emporium. I also loved the subtle foreshadowing and the way Rick writes Percy's character. The only thing I would personally change is the slight fatphobia towards Clarisse, she is the only character who is described as fat and she is frequently called ugly. But other than that, this is an excellent book that I recommend to anyone looking for some serotonin.
Moderate: Physical abuse, Abandonment, Child abuse, Car accident, War, Violence, and Bullying
Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Child death
maeveh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, and Abandonment
Moderate: Gore, Domestic abuse, and Grief
Minor: Death of parent, Bullying, and Car accident
foxo_cube'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? No
4.0
Even if I didn't have the whole series on my bookshelf, I'd have wanted to get hold of the second book, because I enjoyed this one more than I'd expected to!
The way that Riordan incorporates modern elements into Greek myth and vice versa is really funny and nicely done. The story is told from Percy's perspective and feels convincingly like a confused, slightly angsty 12 year old. His friends, Annabeth and Grover, fulfil the role of Brains and Comic Relief without it being grating. I'm really fond of Grover and his occasional goatiness.
The twists in the story are good and it overall makes for an enjoyable adventure.
Spoiler
The bit at the end with Luke's betrayal and connection with Kronos felt a little tacked-on, but it does give the story much more opening to continue. The bit at the end where Percy's mum uses Medusa's head to dispose of Gabe, however? Impeccable. The Medusa's head seemed like a Chekov's gun that wasn't going to be fired, but it was fired perfectly.One criticism I think is worth mentioning is that there's a tendency for antagonistic characters to be ugly (and often, but not always, fat). It's a common trope but I'm not a fan of that.
Moderate: Death of parent and Abandonment
Minor: Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Death, Domestic abuse, and Alcoholism
kellis821's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Minor: Abandonment, Car accident, and Domestic abuse
lupitabaeyongo's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Bullying and Abandonment