9+: Heroes of Olympus: The Mark of Athena - Rick Riordan

Release Date: 02/10/12

Book Blurb: 
The phenomenally successful Rick Riordan is back with the next thrilling installment of the "Heroes of Olympus series". Can "Percy Jackson" and the "Half-blood" Heroes succeed on their quest to find "The Doors of Death" or will the Greek Gods of chaos win their battle to stop them? Percy and his fellow demi-gods face the most important quest of all - the Prophecy of Seven.

Review: 
The latest book in the Percy Jackson Epic Series that see’s the embarkation of the ultimate hero quest for Percy and his friends. It’s wonderfully rich, has a great storyline and when added to the scope of what has gone before will more than leave the reader wanting the next tale in the series sooner rather than later.

The prose as usual is sharp, with an arc that will keep the reader glued from start to finish as each scene grabs you and won’t let go. Finally add to the mix a tale full of heroism, friendship and of course demi gods seeking to do what’s right and all in you too will have a hard time letting go. Great stuff and definitely a title that’s high on our Christmas Recommendations if you have a young reader that loves a story of magic, myths and of course legendary deeds in the modern world.

   

12+: Heroes of Olympus 2: Son of Neptune - Rick Riordan

Release Date: 04/10/11

BOOK BLURB:

This is the second title in this number one, bestselling spin-off series from Percy Jackson creator, Rick Riordan. This crazy messed up world of gods and monsters is Percy Jackson's reality, which pretty much sucks for him. Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon, God of the Sea, has woken from a very deep sleep and come face to face with two snake-haired ladies who refuse to die. But they're the least of his problems. Because Percy finds himself at a camp for half-bloods, which doesn't ring any bells for him. There's just one name he remembers from his past: Annabeth. Only one thing is certain - Percy's questing days aren't over. He and fellow demigods Frank and Hazel must face the most important quest of all: the Prophecy of Seven. If they fail, it's not just their camp at risk. Percy's old life, the gods, and the entire world might be destroyed...


REVIEW:

I’ve been a fan of Percy Jackson since I picked up the first book just before the film release. Its got action, it has cracking characters and it’s a title that brings out the positive attributes in the heroes that we all wish we could emulate in real life. It’s quirky, it has solid world-building and this latest part of the epic series brings the Greek and Roman worlds together in a Kalidascope of chaos as Gaia seeks to rule the world.

Add to this top notch action, wonderful descriptive pieces alongside heroes with doubts as they seek to overcome the latest quest and all in it’s a tale that was just a pure joy to read. I really can’t wait to see where Rick goes next and with the film of “Sea of Monsters” scheduled for 2013 it’s a series that I’d suggest you get your YA Reader into now. They’re in for a treat.

11+: The Kane Chronicles 2: The Throne of Fire - Rick Riordan

Release Date: 03/05/11

BOOK BLURB:

EVER since the gods of Ancient Egypt were unleashed on the modern world, Carter Kane and his sister, Sadie, have been in big trouble.

As descendants of the magical House of Life, they command certain powers. But now a terrifying enemy – Apophis, the giant snake of chaos – is rising.

If Carter and Sadie don’t destroy him, the world will end in five days’ time. And in order to battle the forces of chaos, they must revive the sun god Ra – a feat no magician has ever achieved. Because first they must search the world for the three sections of the Book of Ra, then they have to learn how to chant its spells . . .

Can the Kanes destroy Apophis before he swallows the sun and plunges the earth into darkness . . . forever?


REVIEW:

Fans of Rick’s Percy Jackson series will more than likely have stumbled upon this gem of a new series featuring the Egyptian Parthenon. Beautifully written with vivid stand out characters the readers will love the overall arc and goal of our two heroes (Sadie and Carter Kane) who take the reader on a whirlwind adventure through the Duat as well as all over the Earth as they seek to free Ra from his imprisonment to save the world from the coming of Apophis.

Add to this cracking dialogue, characters that the reader can associate with and finish off with top notch pace that allows the reader to grab their breath in the lulls and power through the high octane adventure which clearly demonstrates how well the author knows his market. All in, this is a real gem of a second title and one that will hopefully lead to many more in this inventive series.

12+: Heroes of Olympus: The Lost Hero - Rick Riordan

Release Date: 12/10/10

BOOK BLURB:

This is a thrilling new series featuring three brand-new demigod heroes, from the best-selling creator of Percy Jackson.


REVIEW:

It’s felt like and age (practically Aeons) since I was able to enjoy a new Percy Jackson tale and whilst this is set in the same world, the freshness of having new heroes on their quest gives the reader something pretty special and a title that will pretty much be devoured quicker than a Cyclops (Hyperborian that is) on a hero.

Yes, I know that the Kane Chronicles are set in the same world as well but there was something of a comfort returning to the Greek Pantheon, one that I’m perhaps more familiar with so to speak.

Rick also adds new “blood” by introducing the Roman aspects of the Greek Gods, ways to slay the immortals and also serious cross over potential. So much so that if you’ve read the other titles this one is going to contain a few surprises, a couple of shocks and above all else something that will have you asking a ton of questions.

Finally with what feels like an ice age of a wait for the next book: (Heroes of Olympus: The Son of Neptune which is scheduled for release in Autumn 2011) the readers will be thrashing it out to try and understand what’s happened within. Questions such as Where does the Roman Pantheon hang out? Are they also in NYC or like the demi gods are they in Frisco somewhere? If so is it going to be the Golden Gate Bridge or perhaps even Alcatraz. We’ll have to wait and see. Rick you are a cruel man but one seriously top notch writer.

11+: The Red Pyramid (Kane Chronicles) - Rick Riordan

BOOK BLURB:

Carter and Sadie have nothing in common but their parents: their father Dr. Julius Kane, a brilliant Egyptologist, and their mother, a famed archaeologist who died under mysterious circumstances when they were young. The siblings barely know each other, but one night, their father brings them together at the British Museum, promising a 'research experiment' that will set things right for their family. His plans go horribly wrong. An explosion unleashes an ancient evil - the Egyptian god Set who banishes Dr. Kane to oblivion and forces the children to flee for their lives. Now orphaned, Carter and Sadie must embark on a dangerous quest - from Cairo to Paris to the American Southwest, to save their father and stop Set from destroying everything they care about...


REVIEW:

Having loved Rick’s Percy Jackson series I really couldn’t wait to get my grubby little mitt’s on this offering. What unfurls within is, as you’d expect from this author, beautifully well written with an imagination that really will keep the readers glued to the pages within. Not only has he taken to setting his tale within the same world as Percy Jackson but it has got its own Parthenon. Add to the mix some cracking combat, great exploration and some almost photographical descriptiveness and its going to be the start of something big.

Although that’s all said the biggest problems caused by this offering will be the arguments in regard to which set of gods have which part of NYC. LOL