A review by dangersquirrel
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

It's been quite some time since I read a children's chapter book. There's a lot about this one that felt cheesy, predictable, formulaic, etc., but I guess that's par for the course. I really see why it is regarded by many as Better Harry Potter. It definitely felt like the writing started a little rough and got progressively better throughout. Sometimes it was hard not to trip over elements of Greek and Roman mythology and history that have been co-opted by white supremacists, but that is not Rick Riordan's fault, and things that invoke those elements for purposes other than white supremacy undercut the appropriation by fascists, so I guess that's good? I liked the ADHD representation. 4 stars is a little generous but it is taking into account that I would have liked it better with a different narrator for the audiobook, and that I appreciate its fandom and the bits of discourse I've picked up over the years.