The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan Review

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Paranormal Element: Mythology, Gods
Series: The Heroes of Olympus, Book One
Order Online:  Amazon.com | BookDepository.com
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Purchased from audible.com

PJVs QUICKIE POV:
Even though I haven’t gotten very far in the Percy Jackson series (Book 1 is about it), for some reason I was really drawn to reading The Lost Hero. Probably because of the age. I have a hard time reading below the age of 15 or so, the characters are a bit too immature for me to relate to. I enjoyed PJ’s Lightening Thief but hadn’t gotten the will to move on to the next book. I’m a sucker for teen angst and smoochies and it doesn’t happen until they get a bit more into puberty. That being said, The Lost Hero is set in the Percy Jackson time line and the characters are nicely aged at the 16/17 range. They are mature and a bit war hardened. The time period is after the Titan War but we usher into a whole new set of heros. Riordan did an amazing job of making this completely believable without us all going WTH? If you like the Percy Jackson world, or if you want to try it out for the first time, this is a great companion and start. I was greatly entertained - and my only disappointment lay with the narrator of this audio book and not with the book itself.

REVIEW:
Jason comes to awareness on a bus of misbegotten teens heading to an unknown location. He is holding hands with a pretty but rough-around-the-edges girl and a five foot tall man stands at the front of the bus glaring at him as if he ate his dog. Jason can’t remember a thing, he barely knows his own name and he certainly doesn’t know the people around him. Thus, starts Jason’s adventure. Wiped of memories, Jason must come to grips with his half-godliness, the fact that everyone seems to want to kill him, a best friend and girlfriend that he didn’t even know he had and a mission to save the world. At the back of his mind lays a sneaking suspicion that this isn’t the first adventure he has been on and that he really shouldn’t be trusting the people around him. Funnier still is his ability to speak latin and the tattoos and brands on his arm.

New stories will unfold in the world of the heroes. Secrets unveiled and hidden agendas revealed. The story of Jason, Piper and Leo is epic and dangerous. The action is non-stop and the introduction to a new side of the Percy Jackson's world is very interesting. A must read for Rick Riordan fans and Young Adult aficionados with a penchant for the fantastical.

My stink face comes into play with the narrator of this tale. While competent, I would not like him to narrate any other of these novels. His grasp of an accent was just not on key, Leo supposedly had a Chicano accent and when doing Leo’s narration it was hard for him to drop the accent. He also spoke a lot of parts very staccato, especially the female parts. Anna Beth sounded ridiculous when he spoke for her. THIS     IS    YOUR    MISSION. Not impressed with the narrator, highly impressed with the book. Can’t wait to read the next book which is slated for the fall of 2011.

RECOMMENDATIONS:
For young and old alike. Nothing to make parents wary, besides a bit of swordplay and ichor. Fans of myths and fantasy should enjoy. You can start at this book, even if you have not read the Percy Jackson series.

The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1)

Bought and paid for, courtesy of Border's

Author's Website

PJV's Quickie POV:  Compelled to read because of the impending movie release I was captivated by the rich and entertaining story.  The Lightening Thief is fast-paced and high-energy, keeping you on your toes the entire time.  Yet, I found myself throughout the entire book thinking Dumbeldore might pop up at any moment and instead of a capture the flag tournament they might all run out and play Quidditch.

Review: Perseus Jackson, known to his friends if he had any as Percy, is a troubled kid.  Kicked out of every school he has attended he has been moved around, man-handled and ignored for the better part of his life. Yet, strange things have always plagued 12 year old Percy Jackson.  Odd occurrences happen around him, so he isn't that surprised when his math teacher sprouts wings and tries to kill him.  It does anger him when everyone acts like nothing happened, especially his new found friend Grover, because Grover can't lie very well.

Percy is intent on finding out the truth, but the truth is a little more than he expected and he is whisked away to summer camp, a special summer camp for the children of gods and goddesses.  A special place where the half-mortal offspring of the gods can harness their powers and learn how to control them and become the heroes that they were meant to be.  In an epic fight on the doorsteps of camp, Percy battles his way in...just to find the battle might not be over and there are whisperings.  Whisperings that he might be a little more than just the son of a god...he might be the one.

While the story was entertaining the striking resemblance to the Harry Potter series threw me through a loop during the entirety of the book. It was obvious the author took the premise of Harry Potter and rewrote it from a Greek perspective. It was just too similar.  Twelve year old boy, orphaned, goes to a magical place to discover his true potential.  All the while the big baddie lurks...ever present and threatening.

Don't get me wrong, inspired by HP it is, entertaining and worth a read it is also. The book definitely kept me engrossed and wanting more.  I will read on and I will see the movie.

Recommendation: Tweens, to Teens to Adults, everyone should partake. Harry Potter fans will very much enjoy unless you are territorial. The tone is young so go in and embrace your inner child.