Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Warning: Spoilers (duh)

Look, I didn't want to be a half-blood. I never asked to be the son of a greek god.

I was just a normal kid, going to school, playing basketball, skateboarding. The usual. Until I accidentally vaporized my maths teacher. Now I spend my time battling monsters and generally trying to stay alive.

This is the one where Zeus, God of the Sky, thinks I've stolen his lightning bolt - and making Zeus angry is a very bad idea


Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief was my TBR Jar pick for this month. I went into having read the first chapter when I bought it several months ago. Admittedly I struggled to get into the mindset of, well, a prepubescent boy. However, three chapters in and I completely forgot about that and was overcome by Percy's endearing narration. The chapter titles and his innocently funny commentary on his life is just lovely.

I did have some issue with the act of "coincidences" like as soon as something needed to be known to the audience, we would be told it and then the thing related to that would happen rather than building up the knowledge throughout. Like everytime the book would draw up comparisons between a greek myth you know immedieiately this was about to happen.

 "Like OMG what were the odds you would tell me that just before it happen. No way!"

Although really I suppose that is a testament to the writing. This is after all a children's series and yet I am holding it up to to YA and Adult fiction standards (As much as I hate those terms). This book is incredibly complex and sophisticated for a 9-11 year old fiction (as Waterstones.com informs me).

MOVIE COMPARISON TIME.

Obviously I hadn't read the book when the movie came out and I enjoyed the film all in all at first. I didn't particularly see why fans were so upset about it. Now I know dem feels! I feel your rage. They changed the entire plot. Annabeth was made some weird gladiator type character when really she is more of a Hermione Granger (and lets be honest we can make Percy Jackson/Harry Potter comparisons until were blue in the face). Then we have the Thalia introductions. We crack on with it rather than waiting until the 2nd movie when it becomes fully relevant. Therefore it sets up plots for the series in the first book, wonderful, just what I like. Also the fake legs and Chiron's horse butt wheelchair disguise, made a lot more sense on the page. The book is undoubtedly better.

Although, Logan Lerman. Am I right?!

Also in the book you really get a sense of Percy s abandonment issues. The part where he talks to his father and Poseidon says he wishes he was never born. Although we can understand his view because Percy is (apparently) going to have a terrible, fearful life and yet as a kid to hear that from your recently discovered father is just awful.  I felt so bad for him and that's when I realised I'd really connected with Percy.

Percy Jackson is also The Master of Sass he has what could be seen as a really bad attitude but I found it so touch in cheek funny. When he mails Medusa's head to Olympus. God he's so cool. 

I could talk all day about the other characters, and they were enchanting and smart and witty and fun. But the book is called Percy Jackson for a reason. He makes the book, the story, even if you replaced him with someone else, it wouldn't be the same. I for one can't wait to see where Percy goes next and return to Camp Half Blood.