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!
Ellie Marney’s new novel takes the grass-roots feeling of a tight-knit country town, and throws in an explosive mixture of cult ideologies, peer pressure and moral dilemmas. Set in a small town in rural Victoria, White Night tells the story of a status quo shaken by one secretive community, and a boy and a girl [...]
DRAGON RIDER follows the tale of Firedrake, a young dragon who sets off on a quest to find the acclaimed Rim of Heaven after learning that his home–and all the dragons that live in it–are in grave danger of a man-induced flood that will destroy their riparian home. Along the way, he will be joined …
If you’re a fan of the recent film version, Riggs’ debut novel is a must-read. His engaging writing transports you into his gothic and fantastical world, combining imagery and expression to make it difficult to put down. The voice of the protagonist, 16-year-old Jacob Portman, is full of personality and is relatable to anyone who …
Acclaimed writer Bill Bennett unearths a new satisfyingly dark and entertaining series in ‘Palace of Fires’. The debut novel in the series–‘Initiate’–follows the story of Lily Lennox, a teenage girl living with her single mother on a farm on the outskirts of San Francisco, California. Lily’s seemingly normal and idyllic life, however, is thrown into …
For anyone who loves fairy tales with a twist, the Rondo series is the perfect way to escape to a world of magic and mystery. Rodda creates a new layer to the classic formula, drawing from familiar characters such as evil queens, talking animals and mythical creatures, but the addition of two protagonists from the …
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 – 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!
Related Posts
Book Review – White Night by Ellie Marney
Book Review – Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke
DRAGON RIDER follows the tale of Firedrake, a young dragon who sets off on a quest to find the acclaimed Rim of Heaven after learning that his home–and all the dragons that live in it–are in grave danger of a man-induced flood that will destroy their riparian home. Along the way, he will be joined …
Book Review – Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
If you’re a fan of the recent film version, Riggs’ debut novel is a must-read. His engaging writing transports you into his gothic and fantastical world, combining imagery and expression to make it difficult to put down. The voice of the protagonist, 16-year-old Jacob Portman, is full of personality and is relatable to anyone who …
Book Review – Initiate (Palace of Fires #1) by Bill Bennett
Acclaimed writer Bill Bennett unearths a new satisfyingly dark and entertaining series in ‘Palace of Fires’. The debut novel in the series–‘Initiate’–follows the story of Lily Lennox, a teenage girl living with her single mother on a farm on the outskirts of San Francisco, California. Lily’s seemingly normal and idyllic life, however, is thrown into …
Book Review – Key to Rondo by Emily Rodda
For anyone who loves fairy tales with a twist, the Rondo series is the perfect way to escape to a world of magic and mystery. Rodda creates a new layer to the classic formula, drawing from familiar characters such as evil queens, talking animals and mythical creatures, but the addition of two protagonists from the …
Book Review – The Murderer’s Ape by Jakob Wegelius
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 …