Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief

All right, some of you know that I have a list of books to read this year. This book was one of them, and I finished it . . . Friday? Maybe Saturday? I'm not really sure. Either way, I've got a book review for you!

Title: Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Author: Rick Riordan

Summary: (from Riordan's website)

Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is on the most dangerous quest of his life. With the help of a satyr and a daughter of Athena, Percy must journey across the United States to catch a thief who has stolen the original weapon of mass destruction – Zeus’ master bolt. Along the way, he must face a host of mythological enemies determined to stop him. Most of all, he must come to terms with a father he has never known, and an Oracle that has warned him of betrayal by a friend.

Characters: The book is told in first person, unlike The Lost Hero. Percy was a strong character, and I really liked his sense of humor and sarcasm. He is, as you all know, the son of Poseidon, so he feels a little ashamed because he wasn't technically supposed to be born. I think that Grover was interesting because he's really protective and selfless. Annabeth was my favorite, because she was such a . . spitfire, if you know what I mean. She doesn't put up with any bull and has a sad back story.

Plot/storyline: As you know, I'm a fan of Greek mythology. This book had lots, but it all made sense. The back stories were told, using conversations or memories instead of info dumps. Riordan crafted a world of monsters and gods that blended together to create an action packed story. I loved the lightning bolt quest because it really started the book off well, and added more adventure and action.

Overall: I really did like this book. I'm on the second one, and I have to admit that Riordan is one of my favorite authors now. He's got a definite writing style that allows the reader to connect to the story and characters, but also has them guessing and predicting what will happen next.

So, yeah, I loved this book. It was a little below my reading level, but it still had a lot to offer and teach me. For the record, the movie goes horribly. It strayed so, so far away from the book which makes me sad. They changed way too much for you to even begin and explain why they're different.

If you liked The Lost Hero, or just mythology in general, definitely read The Lightning Thief! You won't regret it!