I’ve had this book for ages but haven’t gotten around to reading it until this week. I’m sad I waited! If you love Percy Jackson and the world of Camp Half-Blood, you’ll love this book. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next one!

It’s so interesting to finally be in the head of a god. After the first two series, readers know how they really are, and what most demigods thinks of them. And so we all know that Apollo is full of crap. His arrogance and entitlement is all the more hilarious because he’s so ... not self aware.

It was also so great to see our old beloved characters. I screamed in joy when we saw Percy again. (Not once but twice!) And I may or may not have gone back through to read all the parts with Will and Nico again

About time I get around to reviewing this series.

I grew up on these books, and I absolutely adored them. Demigod wakes up on a bus with no memory but awesome powers? Sign me up! The Lost Hero is probably my least favorite of this series, but it was still a great story. I wasn't in love with Piper and Jason, but Leo. Leo Valdez, man. If you read this series for no other reason, read it for Leo Valdez. He's hilarious and funny and /fun/. Plus, his powers are amazing and so fun to read.

One complaint is that these books are all super long. When I was initially reading them in middle school, I didn't care about that at all. In fact, I wanted them to be longer. But the further into the series you get, the more they seem to repeat themselves and the more recap happens and while some of it is important, I think a looot could have been shaved off and that would have helped the pacing of these books big time. But if you're a fan of the PJ universe, then you probably won't care. You can always skim, too, which is how I usually reread these books. What can you do? There are so many books to read and only so much time!

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.

Okay, but can we just take a moment to appreciate this cover?

My twelve to thirteen-year-old self waited one agonizing year for this book to release. It is the only book that I've waited for with such devotion, counting down the days for its release. I wrote fanfiction to help myself last until its release. And I was not disappointed.

Percy and Annabeth's jaunt through Tartarus was insane. And, like, so well done? All the monsters that they've fought, lingering there--terrifying. And the way the two of them operate as a team is so much fun to read. I loved that we got POVs from both of them again, like in MoA.

I will say that the others' storyline wasn't as riveting. I don't know if that's just me being impatient for more Percabeth, but it took a lot of self-control not to skip the chapters with Hazel and Frank and Leo and just go straight back to Tartarus. Leo's little trip to a certain island from the first series is interesting, and I honestly have mixed feelings about it. I do think he and Calypso make a good team, though, even if their romance kind of weirds me out. (I mean, fifteen-year-old dude with an immortal titan? Anyone else a little uncomfy?)

Also, reading this as an adult, there was kind of a lot of suspension of disbelief happening. Specifically in the end, when they all came together at the same time. I feel like there could have/should have been some more help offered or something to make it all feel more believable. I don't /really/ care, but it was a little hard to believe that they could all just end up at the doors at the exact same time at the exact right moment without any intervention from the gods, at the very least. (Though, well, do a titan and a giant count?)

But the last page will never not break my heart. Ugh.

I'm so salty (get it? cause #seagod? salty? ha?) that neither Percy /or/ Annabeth gets a POV in this book that I'm tempted to give this book fewer stars. I mean, come on, Rick! We've stuck with Percy and Annabeth for this long! Why don't we get to see them to the end?

Despite being very bitter about this (though not too bitter to use the same pun twice), I am glad we got a POV with Nico. That boi. I love him so much. He has my whole heart, always and forever. I loved getting to see inside that moody little dude's noggin after following his story from afar for so long. And getting a POV from Reyna was also really cool! Though I would rather have gotten a POV with Percy. But I do acknowledge that I am biased.

I didn't like this book much when I first read it. I think I was just really torn up about not getting to read more first-hand-Percy. And I never liked Piper and Jason much, so it was hard for me to get into the book. Rereading it, though, I came to a new understanding and appreciation for Jason. He's still not my favorite, but I love how he sees other people. Percy can be a bit oblivious sometimes, but I think that's just because he's so caught up in everything he has going on. He expects people to step up and say something if they have a problem or need to talk. Jason seeks people out and tries to get them to open up. He takes the first step, and I respect him for that. I loved the mission he adopted by the end. It really made me respect him.

Piper, a bit less so. She just felt so shallow through the whole series? She had her moments, sure, and I love how she uses her charmspeak for truth. But I felt like she became shallow when Riordan wasn't focusing on her. And maybe she just felt shallow to me cause I was tired of her constantly focusing on Jason (I get she's the daughter of the love god, but everyone needs more personality traits than in-love-teen). Plus, you know. The whole way Riordan treats her heritage. (See my Mark of Athena review.)

Aside from this, though, it was a good conclusion to the series. Nico made up for a lot of the characters that we didn't see as much of. The epic battles were also pretty epic, and it felt like a believable end to the saga. I'll miss the Argo II crew, but it was a wild ride while it lasted!