The stakes are risen in this one! Since this is the penultimate book in the series, it does make sense. And the layrinth is the perfect place to show Percy's growth as a character, and throwing in some interactions with Rachel Elizabeth Dare illustrates his middle school boy nature. He's so oblivious about why Annabeth hates her, and it's honestly hilarious.

While re-reading these, it still makes so much sense to me why these are so popular among kids because they are so easy to read quickly. Riordan keeps up the pace in every book, and even though they keep getting longer, they still feel just as fast. On to the next book!