Annabeth is terrified. Just when she’s about to be reunited with Percy—after six months of being apart, thanks to Hera—it looks like Camp Jupiter is preparing for war. As Annabeth and her friends Jason, Piper, and Leo fly in on the Argo II, she can’t blame the Roman demigods for thinking the ship is a Greek weapon. With its steaming bronze dragon masthead, Leo’s fantastical creation doesn’t appear friendly. Annabeth hopes that the sight of their praetor Jason on deck will reassure the Romans that the visitors from Camp Half-Blood are coming in peace.
And that’s only one of her worries. In her pocket, Annabeth carries a gift from her mother that came with an unnerving demand: "Follow the Mark of Athena. Avenge me." Annabeth already feels weighed down by the prophecy that will send seven demigods on a quest to find—and close—the Doors of Death. What more does Athena …
Annabeth is terrified. Just when she’s about to be reunited with Percy—after six months of being apart, thanks to Hera—it looks like Camp Jupiter is preparing for war. As Annabeth and her friends Jason, Piper, and Leo fly in on the Argo II, she can’t blame the Roman demigods for thinking the ship is a Greek weapon. With its steaming bronze dragon masthead, Leo’s fantastical creation doesn’t appear friendly. Annabeth hopes that the sight of their praetor Jason on deck will reassure the Romans that the visitors from Camp Half-Blood are coming in peace.
And that’s only one of her worries. In her pocket, Annabeth carries a gift from her mother that came with an unnerving demand: "Follow the Mark of Athena. Avenge me." Annabeth already feels weighed down by the prophecy that will send seven demigods on a quest to find—and close—the Doors of Death. What more does Athena want from her?
Annabeth’s biggest fear, though, is that Percy might have changed. What if he’s now attached to Roman ways? Does he still need his old friends? As the daughter of the goddess of war and wisdom, Annabeth knows she was born to be a leader, but never again does she want to be without Seaweed Brain by her side.
Narrated by four different demigods, The Mark of Athena is an unforgettable journey across land and sea to Rome, where important discoveries, surprising sacrifices, and unspeakable horrors await. Climb aboard the Argo II, if you dare…
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 …
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. 🙂
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.
