Customer Rating: 
Summary: Fabulous Follow-Up
Comment: Riordan loses no time reintroducing us to Percy and Annabeth in an action-packed ride that rocks
with adventure. This delicious sequel includes all of the twists and thrills we have come to expect
from The Lightning Thief, but it goes a bit deeper, getting into themes of faith, loyalty, and
appearance versus reality.
Riordan masterfully plays with old cliches as he turns them
on their heads (e.g., one chapter is entitled, "I Go Down with the Ship"). I never thought I would
find an author that encounters age-old problems as well as Lloyd Alexander, but Riordan seems to be
another modern author that feels like classical values are, well, classical for a reason. They
work.
Anyway (please forgive the enthusiastic digressions!) Percy gets a new relative
in this book, and it is beautifully handled. Percy's new friendship gives the reader much to mull
over long after the book is put down. Additionally, a new development is added at the end that
chills the blood of the reader. Riordan knows how to plot. It's phenomenal.
The idea
crops up over and over, starting with Tantalus and ending with Kronos, with everyone including the
Sirens mixed up in between, that things are not always what they seem. Now, this refrain is as old
as the hills, but Riordan somehow makes it new.
The characterization is pretty great
too, with Annabeth really growing into her role. She's a lead worthy of being Percy's foil, and it
makes for a great read. I also enjoyed the development of Clarisse's character, and the portrayal of
Chiron's family had me in tears I was laughing so hard. (Another digression: I had to stop and read
one passage of the end of the book to my class during silent reading time, because they saw me
laughing and had to know. I had them in stitches too, and unfortunately, we never quite recovered
the class that period!) There are very few authors I give carte blanche reverence to: CS Lewis
(Narnia), Robin Hardy, Lloyd Alexander, Gene Yang; however, Riordan is now on that list.
/>This series is a must-read. Start out with Book 1, and prepare to be swept away!
