The Demigod Diaries (Heroes of Olympus) by Rick Riordan

The Demigod Diaries are the companion to the Heroes of Olympus series.  It contains short stories, pictures and games.  Here's the cover and the Goodreads blurb:

What dangers do runaway demigods Luke and Thalia face on their way to Camp Half-Blood? Are Percy and Annabeth up to the task of rescuing stolen goods from a fire-breathing giant who doesn't take kindly to intruders? How exactly are Leo, Piper, and Jason supposed to find a runaway table, dodge a band of party-loving Maenads (who just might be a little psychotic), and stave off a massive explosion...all in one hour or less? With his trademark wit and creativity, Rick Riordan answers these questions and more in three never-before-seen short stories that provide vital back-story to the Heroes of Olympus and Percy Jackson books. Original art, enlightening character interviews and profiles, puzzles, and a quiz add to the fun in this action-packed collection.

The short stories in this book are interesting.  The final story is an especially neat one.  The last story is written by Rick Riordan's son and shows us what happened to the demigods who sided with Kronos in the Percy Jackson series.  It's a really cool story.  The story of Leo having to chase down Buford and all of the details of Bunker 9 is all kinds of funny.  I love seeing Leo in his element.  Bunker 9 is the biggest embodiment of Leo there is.  The first story is great as well, we learn how Thalia and Luke found Annabeth.  We also see Annabeth get her knife from Luke.  So much great stuff in this little book.  Highly recommended!

Here's the Heroes of Olympus series listing on Goodreads. You can also find author Rick Riordan on Twitter and on his website.  I give The Demigod Diaries 4 Fairies for an interesting collection of short stories featuring some of our favorite characters and some we've yet to meet.

The House of Hades (Heroes of Olympus #4) by Rick Roirdan

I finally got a chance to read the newest book in the Heroes of Olympus series.  My husband and my oldest had already finished reading it a while ago but I only just now got a chance.  I was really excited for this one because I love Nico Di Angelo and this was really his book.

At the conclusion of The Mark of Athena, Annabeth and Percy tumble into a pit leading straight to the Underworld. The other five demigods have to put aside their grief and follow Percy’s instructions to find the mortal side of the Doors of Death. If they can fight their way through the Gaea’s forces, and Percy and Annabeth can survive the House of Hades, then the Seven will be able to seal the Doors both sides and prevent the giants from raising Gaea. But, Leo wonders, if the Doors are sealed, how will Percy and Annabeth be able to escape?

They have no choice. If the demigods don’t succeed, Gaea’s armies will never die. They have no time. In about a month, the Romans will march on Camp Half-Blood. The stakes are higher than ever in this adventure that dives into the depths of Tartarus.

This story moved very quickly. It moves from one character to another through the story which is nice because we get to see more of the action. I felt like there was really no one star of this book because each of the kids has their moment in the sun. I think I enjoyed Leo's parts of the story the most though because he is just so funny. Leo really shines on his own. Nico and Jason share a pretty great bro moment. Percy realizes some hard truths as he and Annabeth cross Tartarus to find the doors of death. Hazel comes into her own gifts from her mom. Frank proves he really is the son of Mars. All in all, the kids fight hard to keep the doors of death closed and Octavian from doing something stupid. I can not wait to find out how it all ends in Blood of Olympus this fall.

You can find House of Hades on Goodreads. Here's the Heroes of Olympus series listing on Goodreads. You can also find author Rick Riordan on Twitter and on his website. I give House of Hades 5 Fairies for a long awaited book that did not disappoint.

Mark of Athena (Heroes of Olympus #3) by Rick Riordan

Mark of Athena is the third book in Rick Riordan's Heroes of Olympus Series.  Everything Rick Riordan touches seems to turn to gold (but in a good way not a crazy Midas way) and this book is no exception.  Here is the Goodreads blurb:

Annabeth is terrified. Just when she’s about to be reunited with Percy—after six months of being apart, thanks to Hera—it looks like Camp Jupiter is preparing for war. As Annabeth and her friends Jason, Piper, and Leo fly in on the Argo II, she can’t blame the Roman demigods for thinking the ship is a Greek weapon. With its steaming bronze dragon masthead, Leo’s fantastical creation doesn’t appear friendly. Annabeth hopes that the sight of their praetor Jason on deck will reassure the Romans that the visitors from Camp Half-Blood are coming in peace. And that’s only one of her worries. In her pocket Annabeth carries a gift from her mother that came with an unnerving demand: Follow the Mark of Athena. Avenge me. Annabeth already feels weighed down by the prophecy that will send seven demigods on a quest to find—and close— the Doors of Death. What more does Athena want from her? Annabeth’s biggest fear, though, is that Percy might have changed. What if he’s now attached to Roman ways? Does he still need his old friends? As the daughter of the goddess of war and wisdom, Annabeth knows she was born to be a leader, but never again does she want to be without Seaweed Brain by her side. Narrated by four different demigods, The Mark of Athena is an unforgettable journey across land and sea to Rome, where important discoveries, surprising sacrifices, and unspeakable horrors await. Climb aboard the Argo II, if you dare. . . . In The Son of Neptune, Percy, Hazel, and Frank met in Camp Jupiter, the Roman equivalent of Camp Halfblood, and traveled to the land beyond the gods to complete a dangerous quest. The third book in the Heroes of Olympus series will unite them with Jason, Piper, and Leo. But they number only six--who will complete the Prophecy of Seven? The Greek and Roman demigods will have to cooperate in order to defeat the giants released by the Earth Mother, Gaea. Then they will have to sail together to the ancient land to find the Doors of Death. What exactly are the Doors of Death? Much of the prophesy remains a mystery. . . . With old friends and new friends joining forces, a marvelous ship, fearsome foes, and an exotic setting, The Mark of Athena promises to be another unforgettable adventure by master storyteller Rick Riordan.

This book was an epic to read!  I managed to get through it in one day so that my husband could read it but it was painful to read the last page.  The ending just makes you so hungry for the next book.  I loved how we got to see all of the characters together in this book and the narration was passed around pretty evenly so we got to see all sides of the action and adventure.  There were lots of great cameo appearances from Nemesis, Bacchus, Narcicus and lots of other characters from both Greek and Roman mythology.  The interplay between the characters as they learn how to work together as a team is really special.  There was not one thing about this book that I did not like.  It had plenty of laugh out loud moments and it brought both mythology and history alive for the reader.  Leo is still pretty much my favorite character though.

After the Heroes of Olympus series ends, Rick Riordan has announced that he'll be tackling Norse mythology which should be absolutely amazing.  I still need to read his Eygptian series.  You can follow Rick Riordan on Twitter and check out his website.  The rumor is still out there that the second Percy Jackson book is being made into a movie for release next year, I guess we'll just have to wait and see.  I give this book 5 Fairies for being an excellent read for parents, kids and teens alike!

Son of Neptune (Heroes of Olympus #2) by Rick Riordan

Son of Neptune is the second book in the Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan and it follows Percy Jackson in the time prior to the arrival of the Argo 2 at Camp Jupiter.  Please note that I am going to assume that you've read the Percy Jackson and the Olympians books as well as The Lost Hero.  If you've not read those yet- SHAME ON YOU- please read those first otherwise this review will spoil those books for you!  Here is the Goodreads blurb:

Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,
To storm or fire the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.

Percy is confused. When he awoke from his long sleep, he didn't know much more than his name. His brain fuzz is lingering, even after the wolf Lupa tol him he is a demigod and trained him to fight with the pen/sword in his pocket. Somehow Percy manages to make it to a camp for half-bloods, despite the fact that he has to keep killing monsters along the way. But the camp doesn't ring and bells with him. The only thing he can recall from his past is another name: Annabeth

Hazel is supposed to be dead. When she lived before, she didn't do a very good job of it. Sure, she was an obedient daughter, even when her mother was possessed by greed. But that was the problem - when the Voice took over he mother and commanded Hazel to use her "gift" for and evil purpose, Hazel couldn't say no. Now because of her mistake, the future of the world is at risk. Hazel wished she could ride away from it all on the stallion that appears in her dreams.

Frank is a klutz. His grandmother says he is descended from heroes and can be anything he wants to be, but he doesn't see it. He doesn't even know who his father is. He keeps hoping Apollo will claim him, because the only thing he is good at is archery - although not good enough to win camp war games. His bulky physique makes him feel like an ox, especially infront of Hazel, his closest friend at camp. He trusts her completely - enough to share the secret he holds close to his heart.

Beginning at the "other" camp for half-bloods and extending as far as the land beyond the gods, this breathtaking second installment of the Heroes of Olympus series introduces new demigods, revives fearsome monsters, and features other remarkable creatures, all destined to play a part in the Prophesy of Seven

So, I should have been tipped off by the title and the cover (which has a picture of Percy) that this book would flash to where ever the heck Percy has been traded to while Jason is hanging out with the Camp Half Blood kids.  However, I did not get the OBVIOUS hint.  I really enjoyed Leo from The Lost Hero so I was sad to see only a tiny cameo from him in this book.  However, we do get two new heroes for Percy to team up with.  Frank is a pretty wicked guy once he really gets comfortable in his own skin and Hazel is connected with my all time favorite character from the PJO books ( he also has a sizable part to play in this book).  Both are interesting characters who are not your typical heroes.  I really enjoyed this book overall and it was nice to hear from Percy again.  His humorous narration is always tons of fun.  I was both really confused and really intrigued by the set up of Camp Jupiter.  Ancient Rome is much more my husband's thing.  (He's spent the last year or more listening to the History of Rome podcasts for FUN!)  But I did enjoy learning about Rome and the way that the two camps differ.  I still like the Greek versions of the Gods best though!  I am worried about how the next books in the series will read now that there are so many characters narrating.  In The Lost Hero and The Son of Neptune, the narrator rotated between the main characters.  I wonder if they will all narrate the coming books.

Favorite line:  "Cinnamon is good for harpies.  Not cheese."

This series is appropriate for middle grades readers but many younger and older readers enjoy them as well.  You can find out more about the series on Rick Riordan's website.  You can also follow Rick on Twitter.  You can also click here to add any of Rick Riordan's books on Goodreads! Rick Riordan also writes the Kane Chronicles books.

Son of Neptune earns 5 Fairies from me for some funny Percy, a cinnamon loving harpy and a pinch of Leo Valdez.

Heroes of Olympus Series By Rick Riordan- Book One: The Lost Hero

I LOVE Rick Riordan! His Percy Jackson and the Olympians books were the catalyst to getting my six year old son to care more about learning to read about this time last year. Eli and I did the Percy books in both print and audio book format and LOVED them. For Eli's six birthday, his father and I took him to see the Percy Jackson movie in his very own Percy Jackson shirt. The Percy books are about kids in the middle grades age range but elementary age kids can get into the books just as easily. My favorite part of the series is the way that Percy keeps things from getting too heavy, but still manages to convey the feeling that the bad things are very real. The language is easy to read and I recommend these books to EVERY parent I meet.

Now, my love for PJO being thrown out there, I was worried that I would not be able to get into the new Heroes of Olympus books because it feels a little like betraying a friend! Percy is not the main character in the HOO books. The main characters are all new and all our old friends are now background characters. I avoided reading this book for as long as I could. I managed to hold out until early last week when my husband (who had already finished it) finally drove me to read it. I did the audio book format first then reread with the print copy. I have to say- I like Jason Grace, the new main character in the Camp Half-Blood universe. He is not my favorite though- more on that later. I don't want to give anything away from The Lost Hero because it is worth reading and experiencing on your own but I will say that the new lead characters are wonderful and the story is riveting.

The viewpoint of the narrator is different in HOO as opposed to PJO because in The Lost Hero, we see a switch every 3 chapters or so- Jason, then Piper and then Leo. I kinda like this style of storytelling because the story is so involved that it helps to see things from each perspective in turn to get the full picture. Jason is a classic hero, in my opinion, because we see that he is not only a battle hardened fighter but a caring and moral individual. He is the kind of hero you expect to find in a world of demigods, unlike Percy, who never really set out to be a hero or a leader but kinda stumbled/was thrown into it. Piper is a great, strong female lead. I really appreciate that even though she is a demigod daughter of Aphrodite, she is not into clothes, makeup or hair and she wants nothing more than to be her own person from of all the trappings of the world. Piper is a great female role model for young girls. And my personal favorite underage fictional demigod, Leo. *Sigh* I LOVE Leo. Leo is the one who brings most of the humor to the group, trying to keep things light even in scary situations. Leo is a mechanical genius and demigod son of Hephaestus, of course. Leo is extremely gifted and a great friend. Leo brings the story to life, for me any way.

The next book in this series, The Son of Neptune, comes out next fall. This series will be great to read together as a family or this book would make a great gift for children of all ages. The main characters are slightly older, as they are the same age as Percy and Annabeth are NOW, but the story remains ageless. Just like PJO, there are some dating references and some kissing references/scenes but nothing worse than what a child would see on Disney in the evenings.

You can find out more about Rick and his works on his website, his blog and you can even follow him on twitter!!