The Blood of Olympus (Heroes of Olympus Book 5)

Rick Riordan brings his epic Heroes of Olympus series to a close with The Blood of Olympus, and it’s a fitting end to a massive, globe-trotting, god-battling adventure. The seven demigods of the prophecy finally face off against Gaea and her army of giants.

The book splits the team, sending Nico, Reyna, and the satyr-in-chief, Coach Hedge, on a desperate quest of their own that is just as compelling as the main event. This side quest allows some often-overlooked characters to really step into the spotlight and grapple with their pasts in a powerful way. Meanwhile, aboard the Argo II, the rest of the gang faces down giants and internal conflicts. Leo, in particular, steps up in a big way, and his plan to handle the final showdown is a surprising, gutsy move that really sticks the landing.

That said, plowing through this series back-to-back has made me realize that Riordan has a very successful, but very noticeable, formula. It’s a bit like eating your favorite meal every day for a week; you still love it, but you start to recognize the recipe. The pattern of quest, monster-of-the-week, witty banter, and last-minute saves, while always entertaining, became more apparent to me this time around. It's the literary equivalent of a blockbuster movie franchise—you know what you're getting, and it's almost always a good time, but the element of surprise can start to fade.

Ultimately, The Blood of Olympus is a strong conclusion filled with the humor, heart, and mythological mayhem that fans have come to expect. While the binge-reading effect might have cost it a star for me, the fantastic character moments and the high-stakes climax make it a must-read for anyone invested in the series. It’s a solid four-star send-off for our heroes.

Everyone understands their role and the stakes are high. Everytime they're in battle, you can sense the aura and power coming off of them. And this is true for everyone, which is epic. This is when I feel like there is no weak link, even if the characters think they are. Also, I LOVED hearing Jason's struggles- it was brief and I wish I heard more of it but for the entire series so far, I was annoyed by listening to the perfect golden boy complain about his problems, but now it makes sense. I loved hearing Nico and Reyna's dynamic because they are both SO guarded.

Rick Riordan's The House of Hades, the fourth installment in the Heroes of Olympus series, plunges readers into a thrilling, dual-narrative adventure that is quite literally out of this world—or, perhaps more accurately, under it. We find Percy and Annabeth navigating the perilous and frankly terrifying landscape of Tartarus, a journey that tests their strength, sanity, and relationship in ways that make previous quests look like a walk in Elysian Fields. Their story is a masterclass in suspense and survival, and you'll be holding your breath as they face unimaginable horrors and make some rather hellish choices. Also, Bob. Bob is amazing.

Meanwhile, topside, Jason, Leo, Frank, Piper, Hazel, and Nico are on their own desperate race against time. Their mission: find the House of Hades and the Doors of Death to, you know, save their friends and prevent Gaea from fully waking and generally ruining everything. This earthly (and sometimes airy, thanks to a certain bronze dragon) quest is packed with its own set of formidable foes and heart-stopping moments. It's a real pressure cooker situation as they try to unite two camps that have more history than a library, all while trying not to get squashed by giants or sidetracked by an assortment of mythological menaces.

While The House of Hades is a truly enjoyable romp through Riordan's mythological playground, with some characters really coming into their own (Nico, Hazel, Frank, and Leo, I'm looking at you!), I did find myself noticing certain patterns emerge. Perhaps it's the peril of "binge-reading" a series, but the formula, while undeniably effective and entertaining, became more apparent. My advice? Savor these adventures. While the urge to immediately dive into the next book is strong (and understandable!), taking a little breather between installments might allow each story to shine even brighter on its own. This book is a fantastic, action-packed ride, and the character development is particularly strong, but a little space might make the heart grow fonder for the overarching saga.

–This review was partially drafted by A.I. (Gemini) with a fairly lengthy prompt containing my opinions and the notes I took while reading. Much of the review is rewording of the prompt I entered and my notes. –

For some reason, it seems lacking. It wasn't grand. It wasn't bland. The adventure of all the past books wasn't there. The characters weren't as interesting, I guess because they were all developed already and there's nothing left to tell.

But still good.