"The Greek and Roman demigods will have to cooperate in order to defeat the giants released by the Earth Mother, Gaea. Then they will have to sail together to the ancient land--Greece itself--to find the Doors of Death"--
How rude to finally get Percy and Annabeth together to have them separated for Annabeth's quest. Lots of little details that made me really happy or really mad-as it should be. Like the fact that Percy starts out mad at Leo- I get it, but they would have SO clicked immediately. Obviously Mark of Athena is renowned for the Tartarus cliffhanger, rightfully so. We've seen Percy and Annabeth grow up together- but to grow up so fiercely loyal was chef's kiss.
Still love the characters! Ready for the next one.
4 stars
The Mark of Athena continues Rick Riordan's tradition of crafting engaging and interesting characters within the Heroes of Olympus series. The groundwork laid in the first two books regarding the backstories of the new characters pays off here, allowing for a seamless continuation without excessive exposition.
While the characters grapple with self-doubt and internal conflicts, their overall development remains relatively static compared to the previous installments. However, the strength of their established personalities and relationships carries the narrative forward, making them enjoyable to follow.
The overarching plot is undeniably intriguing, keeping the pages turning at a steady pace. However, the journey to the central conflict is peppered with numerous side-quests, a signature element of Riordan's writing. While these diversions offer additional excitement and world-building, I occasionally found myself yearning for a more direct path to the main story.
Although the primary objective of this particular quest is achieved, the ending โฆ
The Mark of Athena continues Rick Riordan's tradition of crafting engaging and interesting characters within the Heroes of Olympus series. The groundwork laid in the first two books regarding the backstories of the new characters pays off here, allowing for a seamless continuation without excessive exposition.
While the characters grapple with self-doubt and internal conflicts, their overall development remains relatively static compared to the previous installments. However, the strength of their established personalities and relationships carries the narrative forward, making them enjoyable to follow.
The overarching plot is undeniably intriguing, keeping the pages turning at a steady pace. However, the journey to the central conflict is peppered with numerous side-quests, a signature element of Riordan's writing. While these diversions offer additional excitement and world-building, I occasionally found myself yearning for a more direct path to the main story.
Although the primary objective of this particular quest is achieved, the ending leaves readers on a cliffhanger, setting the stage for the next installment. While I'm not a fan of cliffhanger endings, the availability of the entire series allows for immediate continuation, mitigating my frustration. ๐
Overall, The Mark of Athena is another enjoyable addition to the Heroes of Olympus series, driven by its captivating characters and intriguing plot. Despite my minor grievances with the side-quests and cliffhanger ending, my fondness for the characters and the world Riordan has created keeps me eagerly anticipating the next book. I'm particularly hoping for more focus on Nico, even though he's not one of the seven.
It's a pretty good book, my only complaint is that there's really no ending. The cliffhanger in the end is so abrupt and, well, present. I understand the idea of a cliffhanger; the other wants to make sure that you will continue reading. But in this case, nothing is truly concluded. But for the most part, it's a good book. My 13-year-old son enjoyed it a lot, but even he was not thrilled with the lack of vending. Boo.
