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erikariehigano22's reviews
90 reviews
The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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? No
5.0
Such a surreal experience to see the growth (physically and mentally wise) of Percy Jackson in comparison when he was in middle school in the very first The Lightning Thief book.
We see the promise of a 3 book series with Percy given the last hurdle of needing 3 letters of recommendations from gods and goddesses who requested his services from quests they bestow to him. In this first book, Percy eventually received his first letter from the cupbearer of the gods-slash-pretty boy Ganymede. I love how Rick did not shy away on the true nature of his story/myth and also with Zeus' podophilic tendencies because who seriously kidnaps a young boy for companionship!? That's right, even Hera cringed when Zeus held Ganymede's wrist during that brunch scene.
We have also seen once more the crude and apathetic nature of the gods when we met the God of Old Age-Geras who reminded readers of the inevitable fate of ageing and death. But Percy has wonderfully reminded us the beauty in ageing and the good things in growing old. Because growing old is only the physical evidence of how we grow up as individuals. When Percy reflected on young Ganymede running on anxiety and nerves that confused young adults usually had on a constant basis as an immortal, Percy thought ageing was the better option for him. That was the profound moment for the reader! Indeed, growing old is a good thing. And with Percy's only wish to pursue university (or college because Americans...) with Annabeth, it was a beautiful thing to see.
As always, we love Grover in this house and he deserved the licorice and the demi-bag of goods.
Even though I was forced to finish this because this is embarrassingly 6 days overdue at my library, I very much enjoyed reading through the new adventures of Percy, Annabeth, and Grover.
Thank goodness my borrowed copy of The Sun and the Star had its loan extended.
We see the promise of a 3 book series with Percy given the last hurdle of needing 3 letters of recommendations from gods and goddesses who requested his services from quests they bestow to him. In this first book, Percy eventually received his first letter from the cupbearer of the gods-slash-pretty boy Ganymede. I love how Rick did not shy away on the true nature of his story/myth and also with Zeus' podophilic tendencies because who seriously kidnaps a young boy for companionship!? That's right, even Hera cringed when Zeus held Ganymede's wrist during that brunch scene.
We have also seen once more the crude and apathetic nature of the gods when we met the God of Old Age-Geras who reminded readers of the inevitable fate of ageing and death. But Percy has wonderfully reminded us the beauty in ageing and the good things in growing old. Because growing old is only the physical evidence of how we grow up as individuals. When Percy reflected on young Ganymede running on anxiety and nerves that confused young adults usually had on a constant basis as an immortal, Percy thought ageing was the better option for him. That was the profound moment for the reader! Indeed, growing old is a good thing. And with Percy's only wish to pursue university (or college because Americans...) with Annabeth, it was a beautiful thing to see.
As always, we love Grover in this house and he deserved the licorice and the demi-bag of goods.
Even though I was forced to finish this because this is embarrassingly 6 days overdue at my library, I very much enjoyed reading through the new adventures of Percy, Annabeth, and Grover.
Thank goodness my borrowed copy of The Sun and the Star had its loan extended.
Herc by Phoenicia Rogerson
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
What a retelling! I salute Rogerson in their attempt to collate and portray the various branches of Greek Mythology stories where Heracles was the centre of it. Just as their author's notes said, Heracles is "right there in the middle of it." This is an exemplary exhibit of exploring the development of a protagonist through the perspective of another character. And unlike other retellings, it involved various characters my fingers and toes could not count. Not even once did Heracles had his own chapter in his own point of view and this was the charm of this book that was unique and extraordinary despite how simple it sounded.
I also cannot believe this was my first exposure into Heracles' death LOL. Like I didn't think his death would be so.... anti-climatic? For all his glory and ambitious feats of victory, as well as the wrath and violence he had displayed, it was a curse no less casted by a centaur and administered by his own wife that finally cut the threads of his mortal life.
I had not expected for his twin brother Iphicles to pass away in battle. But I think that was the foreshadowing in Laonome's last chapter. Anyhow, I liked how this became the catalyst of their conclusion, the beginning of the end.
I would have finished this sooner if only life and adulting issues had not happen, as well as falling down from grace in uni coursework lol....
I highly recommend this book. Thank you to my friend Nathan for giving this to me on my birthday earlier this year. Although the language had some modern slang that took me off sometimes in the immersion, it was not worse and Rogerson's prose still captivated me and brought me back to the ancient world where Heracles was the centre of everyone's stories throughout ancient Greece.
I also cannot believe this was my first exposure into Heracles' death LOL. Like I didn't think his death would be so.... anti-climatic? For all his glory and ambitious feats of victory, as well as the wrath and violence he had displayed, it was a curse no less casted by a centaur and administered by his own wife that finally cut the threads of his mortal life.
I had not expected for his twin brother Iphicles to pass away in battle. But I think that was the foreshadowing in Laonome's last chapter. Anyhow, I liked how this became the catalyst of their conclusion, the beginning of the end.
I highly recommend this book. Thank you to my friend Nathan for giving this to me on my birthday earlier this year. Although the language had some modern slang that took me off sometimes in the immersion, it was not worse and Rogerson's prose still captivated me and brought me back to the ancient world where Heracles was the centre of everyone's stories throughout ancient Greece.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Abandonment, Alcohol, and War