Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series played a huge role in my love of Greek mythology – the modern take on heroes and myths make them easier for a young audience to understand, and there are plenty of Easter eggs for those who already know their myths. The Lightning Thief kicks off the series wonderfully, introducing a loveable cast of characters that will stay with you for a long time.
Percy is a hero who’s brave and loyal for all the right reasons – his love for his family, both blood and found, make him a genuine and lovable protagonist. He isn’t the kind of hero who is unwilling dragged through his own story; he becomes immersed in this world along with the reader, and he quickly comes to love his fantastical new life and the people that come with it. The supporting cast is just as strong and substantial: Annabeth is never reduced to a damsel-in-distress, and she’s admired for her intelligence and strength rather than looks. The quests the heroes must embark on throughout the series are direct parallels to Ancient Greek myths, but they feel fresh and new from the eyes of these young modern heroes. From the first novel, the plot is engaging and exciting, appealing to anyone who’s ever felt like they didn’t belong. Between all of the action, magic and riddles, it’s a truly heart-warming story about finding friends who eventually become family, and houses that eventually become homes.
Riordan started the series as a way to help his dyslexic son feel like he could be a hero too; the series has become more progressive and inclusive as it goes along, reaching out to kids who struggle to see themselves in stories. If you enjoyed the Percy Jackson series, it only gets better from there. Heroes of Olympus takes place in the same world, followed by Trials of Apollo. For Egyptian mythology, there’s The Kane Chronicles, and for Norse mythology, Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard. If that isn’t enough for you, Riordan has also written some smaller books branching off from the Percy Jackson series.
The Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan is available for sale here!
Jakob Wegelius’ middle-grade novel The Murderer’s Ape tells the story of Sally Jones, an anthropomorphic gorilla working closely with a man known as ‘The Chief.’ Together, the two journey all around the coastlines and rivers of Europe and its surrounding areas aboard a grand sailing ship known as the Hudson Queen. When a midnight expedition …
The Wishing Spell follows twin siblings Alex and Conner Bailey, who grew up with fairy tales read to them by their grandmother. But when Alex and Conner are magically transported inside their grandmother’s fairy tale treasury, they will be thrust into a world where all their fairy tale characters are extremely real. The two will …
Marcus Zusak’s captivating debut novel follows the story of Liesel, who witnesses the death of her younger brother while on a train through Germany. When she discovers a novel hidden in the snow while standing by her brother’s grave, Liesel pockets it, despite the fact that she has not acquired the ability to read. When …
The Bronze Key is the third instalment in the Magisterium series. Picking up a year after book three (The Copper Gauntlet), Callum and his best friends are now entering the third year of their magical training. Callum has now revealed the truth about his soul to his close friends, as well as his frenemy Jasper …
Melissa Keil’s The Secret Science of Magic is a unique and compelling twist on the typical romance novel. Shift away from the typical “quirky” star-crossed lover archetypes, Keil has created the kind of relatable and complex character that exist in real life, but rarely ever play a starring role in the media. Sophia is so …
The penultimate novel from the world of the Magisterium series is set one year after the events of The Silver Mask. Callum Hunt has been framed and is now residing in prison. But, after being broken out, Callum is captured and detained on an island out in the sea, forced to continue his study on …
Book Review – Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan
Percy is a hero who’s brave and loyal for all the right reasons – his love for his family, both blood and found, make him a genuine and lovable protagonist. He isn’t the kind of hero who is unwilling dragged through his own story; he becomes immersed in this world along with the reader, and he quickly comes to love his fantastical new life and the people that come with it. The supporting cast is just as strong and substantial: Annabeth is never reduced to a damsel-in-distress, and she’s admired for her intelligence and strength rather than looks.
The quests the heroes must embark on throughout the series are direct parallels to Ancient Greek myths, but they feel fresh and new from the eyes of these young modern heroes. From the first novel, the plot is engaging and exciting, appealing to anyone who’s ever felt like they didn’t belong. Between all of the action, magic and riddles, it’s a truly heart-warming story about finding friends who eventually become family, and houses that eventually become homes.
Riordan started the series as a way to help his dyslexic son feel like he could be a hero too; the series has become more progressive and inclusive as it goes along, reaching out to kids who struggle to see themselves in stories.
If you enjoyed the Percy Jackson series, it only gets better from there. Heroes of Olympus takes place in the same world, followed by Trials of Apollo. For Egyptian mythology, there’s The Kane Chronicles, and for Norse mythology, Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard. If that isn’t enough for you, Riordan has also written some smaller books branching off from the Percy Jackson series.
The Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan is available for sale here!
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Jakob Wegelius’ middle-grade novel The Murderer’s Ape tells the story of Sally Jones, an anthropomorphic gorilla working closely with a man known as ‘The Chief.’ Together, the two journey all around the coastlines and rivers of Europe and its surrounding areas aboard a grand sailing ship known as the Hudson Queen. When a midnight expedition …
Book Review – The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer
The Wishing Spell follows twin siblings Alex and Conner Bailey, who grew up with fairy tales read to them by their grandmother. But when Alex and Conner are magically transported inside their grandmother’s fairy tale treasury, they will be thrust into a world where all their fairy tale characters are extremely real. The two will …
Book Review – The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
Marcus Zusak’s captivating debut novel follows the story of Liesel, who witnesses the death of her younger brother while on a train through Germany. When she discovers a novel hidden in the snow while standing by her brother’s grave, Liesel pockets it, despite the fact that she has not acquired the ability to read. When …
Book Review – The Bronze Key
The Bronze Key is the third instalment in the Magisterium series. Picking up a year after book three (The Copper Gauntlet), Callum and his best friends are now entering the third year of their magical training. Callum has now revealed the truth about his soul to his close friends, as well as his frenemy Jasper …
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