Tales of the Greek Heroes

Tales of the Greek Heroes by Roger Lancelyn Green

This book tells the story of the greek heroes as one continuous narrative. It seems like a good idea. I just more trouble getting into it than with other mythology books.

The 39 Clues, Book 1: The Maze of Bones

A brother and sister's parents have been dead. They have been living with various caretakers, but have been most close to one relative, Grace Cahill. After she dies, she promises her relatives either a million dollars or a chance to search for an answer through 39 clues. The children opt for the clues, even though it can lead to death. They enlist a babysitter to help them on the travels. Their "evil" relatives are also on the quest and manage to show up just as they discover something. There are many narrow escapes from death. They also discover that the are related to just about every important historical character. In this book, the focus is on Ben Franklin and a conclusion in the Paris catacombs. The book is nice and short and loaded with action.

From the World of Percy Jackson: Sun and the Star: A Nico di Angelo Adventure

A good audiobook narration can help bring you into the book. A bad narration can put you to sleep. Alas, The Sun and the Star fit into the latter. It also didn't help that the story was always breaking for the boys to express their love for each other. Did they forget that they were in the middle of a life and death battle? They do go down to the underworld and try to do something. Some monsters and a cat are with them. They are also in love. Maybe it should be billed as a romance rather than a fantasy adventure?

Camp Jupiter Classified: A Probatio's Journal (The Trials of Apollo)

Claudia is the daughter of Mercury, the trickster god. Things start to go crazy as she arrives at camp Jupiter, so everyone assumes it must be her. The story delves into her journal to describe the many crazy things that happened. Her personal thoughts and analysis come through as the story is being told, and we learn as she does. It is a nice quick book.

The Serpent's Shadow (The Kane Chronicles)

the Kane Chronicles series concludes with a lot of action. There are also very traumatic experiences, such as a school dance. For a teenager, that can be more challenging than the end of the world. The Egyptian gods seem to have an "in and out" relationship with regular humans. There is also the bit about statues and shadows meaning the same thing. It all comes together in a nice conclusion.

The Throne of Fire: The Kane Chronicles, Book 2

The Throne of Fire: The Kane Chronicles, Book 2 by Rick Riordan

The second Kane Chronicles book. They discover they are descendents of Egyptian royalty. They have the gods in them and other assorted things. There are epic battles, with some of the "bad guys" actually helping. I had trouble following all the details.

The Kane Chronicles, Book One: The Red Pyramid

The Kane Chronicles series is s bit of Percy Jackson meets Indiana Jones. It seemed to also borrow from the feel of Fablehaven. They encounter all sorts of the Egyptian gods and their peculiarities. These ones are different from the Greek ones in the Percy Jackson book, and this series does seem totally disconnected from that universe. However, like those books, this is set in modern times. The narration of the audiobook was harder to follow than the other rick Riordan books.

The Blood of Olympus: The Heroes of Olympus, Book 5

The epic battle for the security of the universe finally ends. Gaea has brought out her giants and has managed to get the blood needed to appear. The demigods have managed to get a statue of Athena in position to help them. However, it is not enough. There is also an imminent battle between Roman and Greek demigods. It is narrowly avoided. The leader of the attacking Romans ends up launching the crippling blow, which ends up being suicidal also. Leo also goes on a near-suicide mission with his mechanical dragon. His dragon gives him the "resurrection" position and they are able to meet with Calypso on the hidden island. The world is saved and the Greeks and Romans now live happily together... but Apollo is in trouble. There are new scenarios, but it is the same basic Percy Jackson that kids like.

The House of Hades: The Heroes of Olympus, Book 4

The epic "kids save the world" quest continues. There is a quest through the underworld that culminates in an elevator ride up. Leo ends up on an island and falls for Calypso. There are ghosts of Roman legions that come out and fight against bad demons. There is a mind-cleared "Bob the Titan" who comes in at various times to help the kids. (Memory erasure seems to be a common theme in this series.) We also find out that the gruff satyr coach is married. The Romans and the Greeks are somewhat working together. There is plenty of rolicking adventure, though the book is longer than others.

The Mark of Athena: The Heroes of Olympus, Book 3

The Greek and Roman demigods are together. They (barely) manage not to kill each other. They also survive competing love interests. They need to go on quests. One takes them to an aquarium in Atlanta holding a lot of mythical creatures. They barely manage to survive (even as one turns into a goldfish to save himself.) There is plenty of adventure and comedic relief as they discover more about what is going on, the weird condition of the gods and the differences between similar Greek and Roman deities. 

The Heroes of Olympus: The Demigod Diaries

The Heroes of Olympus: The Demigod Diaries by Rick Riordan

It is nice to be able to enjoy some Percy Jackson books where the stakes are not so high. Sure, there is the risk of death from monsters. But, "forgetting kiss anniversary" is more important than saving the world. The stories range among a number of topics. Some provide backstory for characters in the novels. My favorite was just a fun romp. Hermes asked Percy to retrieve his staff. They battle a giant to get it back. However, the giant is not familiar with how to use it and is just as likely to send out credit card receipts as he is to use a laser gun. The snakes also provide some comic relief. And in the end Percy resolves the "dating" issue with Annabeth. 

The Son of Neptune (Heroes of Olympus, Book 2)

The first book in the Heroes series had Jason with the Greeks. This one has Percy Jackson hanging out with the Romans in San Francisco. He has some memory loss, but it was not as bad as Jason's in the first book. He teams with some Roman demigods (including a reluctant son of Mars) to go on a quest. They are treated as relative outcasts by the Romans who are already into their bureaucratic ways. They manage some trickery of luring a giant out of Alaska so as to defeat him outside his home turf. Like usual, there is plenty of action and end-of-the-world situations.

The Lost Hero

Jason wakes up and finds himself in a camp with a "girlfriend" he has never seen before. His has no memory, but there are plenty of people that want to kill him. He realizes he (along with his "girlfriend" and one other student) are half-blood descendent of a Greek god. However, the gods are not talking with people these days. They make it to the half-blood camp. Unfortunately, there are others that are trying to destroy the world. He gradually finds out a little bit more about his true identity. He is a "Roman" half-blood on an "exchange" to Greek land. (Percy Jackson is on a similar reverse exchange.) He actually does like the "girlfriend" Piper, though discovers that she is the daughter of Aphrodite and a famous action star. They go on a quest, battle a bunch of bad guys and finally reach a conclusion, setting up things for the next book.

Percy Jackson and the Singer of Apollo (Trials of Apollo)

Apollo has a concert with his 3 automatan singers. Alas, one of the singers is missing. Apollo has recruited Percy and the gang to help find them. They do. It is a short story and winds up quickly.

The Tower of Nero: The Trials of Apollo, Book 5

In the conclusion of the Apollo series, Apollo finally makes it back to the gods. There are lots of fights before we get there. Nero is a super strong megalomaniac who wants to burn New York to a crisp, but he has trouble finding the right remote control. The half bloods and troglodytes help work together to prevent it from happening. Nero's minions are driven by fear. Alas, that is not enough to maintain loyalty. (One "friend of Meg" helps them out.) There are many close calls, but all ends up well in the end.  

The Tyrant's Tomb: The Trials of Apollo Series, Book 4

Apollo completes more quests. He gets back some of his godly strength. They find the silent god and manage to make enough peace to survive. There are some epic battles. Some bad guys are destroyed. Fans of the Percy Jackson books will probably love it. It does seem to continue on with what is regularly delivered. Here they do branch out to more of the Roman gods (and even some "adopted" gods from other lands.)

The Burning Maze: The Trials of Apollo, Book 3

They are in a maze. They solve riddles. Caligula is the Roman empire they are battling. He is cruel and regularly takes people literally. (Pledging a heart to him, my lead to the removal of your heart.) The good guys fight all the cronies of the emperors, including taking control of some of them. Eventually it is the power of nature that helps them to win. 

The Dark Prophecy: The Trials of Apollo, Book 2

The second Apollo book continues his adventures. He is still stuck in mortal form. He finds new friends, and continues with some old friends. There are also various monsters as well as super expensive tator tots. He for the most part remains mortal. However, he is able to emit a shining burst of light to help defeat others. There are other periods where they "bluff" their way to victory.

The Trials of Apollo, Book One: The Hidden Oracle

Apollo wakes up in a pile of trash to discover he is a mortal. He gets mugged, but a girl (Meg) helps save him by throwing fruit. He ends up being bound to serve her is part of his trial. He decides to meet up with Percy Jackson to get to camp so that he can figure out what is going on. Things don't work out so well. Some immortal Roman empires are trying to take over all the oracles in their quest to dominate the world. Apollo and friends manage to put off the destruction (thanks in part to a late appearance by Percy Jackson). He does discover that girl has split loyalties. It is a nice spin off of the Percy Jackson series that clearly has more adventures coming. I don't think Riordan can write a book without the end of the world being at stake.

The Last Olympian: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 5

The stakes continue to get bigger for Percy Jackson and the gang. The world as we know could reach the end. He is also struggling with girls. The story takes many twists and turns as the prophecies do end up being fulfilled, but in ways different than everyone expected. It is people that were previously enemies that end up playing important parts in saving Mount Olympus. A great battle takes place in New York City, with even a few "mortals" helping out a bit. In the end, Percy chooses to grow up as a teenager rather than immortality.