Okay, so I'm finally reviewing this as an adult, sure. But the rabid fangirl in me is still very much screaming over this, as it was when I was reading it for the first time as an unhealthily obsessed thirteen-year-old. What can I say? Percy Jackson is freaking epic.

Having our favorite son of Poseidon (I grew up on these books and I still can't spell his name, sigh) wake up with no memory of who he is--bold move, Riordan. But amazing. I love this concept so much, and Percy was as amazing as ever. Brave, bold, funny, but still down to earth when he needs to be, devoted to his friends, and ready to take on any challenge if it means helping those who need it? That's the Percy I love. Plus, all his powers over water, horses, and storms are just the /coolest/. I am a sucker for a good water bender.

Hazel and Frank are super cool characters too. The diversity in this series is greatly appreciated, and added a richness to the seven that I know is so important to so many readers out there. I will admit that it's hard to read their chapters sometimes cause honestly? I just wanted to read about Percy. But Riordan did a good job of intertwining their stories and making readers care about all of them, setting up the seven that will lead the rest of the series expertly.

In the end, I think my love for this book just comes down to Percy being such a good person and always doing the right thing, while also being a badass. Like, seriously. This dude is freaking epic. And while he can be cocky for the sake of amusement, he doesn't let that make him think so highly of himself that he devalues those around him. He's sure of himself, but in a mostly healthy way. He knows his faults, and he even fails sometimes too, and has to rely on his friends to help him. But at the end of the day, he's always got his friends' backs.