The Red Pyramid, by Rick Riordan

I love Riordan’s Tres Navarre mysteries and quite enjoyed his Percy Jackson series as well. When my youngest picked up The Red Pyramid, the first volume of the Kane Chronicles, I read it as well. This is very similar to Percy Jackson, although with a heavy Egyptian mythology instead of Greek. Maybe it is because I’m more versed in the classical, having devoured Edith Hamilton’s Mythology many, many times, but The Red Pyramid wasn’t as enthralling as The Lightning Thief. The formula still works—kids discover the myths are real and all around them in the present—and the humor and action are prevalent throughout; but, something just didn’t click for me. I found Percy Jackson and the Olympians to be a children’s series that worked as well for adults, but it appears the Kane Chronicles is truly for younger readers.

First Sentence:

We only have a few hours, so listen carefully.

Percy Jackson and the Last Olympians, by Rick Riordan

This series had been described to me as an American Harry Potter; as I thought that series was overblown and tedious I wasn’t excited about this one. I really like Riordan’s work, though, so when my son discovered Percy Jackson I read them too. What a great decision that turned out to be!

Percy Jackson is a dyslexic twelve year old that suddenly learns his father is Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. This discovery launches an adventure resulting in a battle for supremacy between the Titans and the Olympians in the middle of Manhattan. Along the way we encounter many classic myths alive and well in our current world, such as the Lotus Casino (a Las Vegas nirvana where time stands still), Aunty Em’s Garden Gnome Emporium (home to amazingly lifelike statues), the Minotaur’s labyrinth, centaurs, pegasi, cyclopes, and of course, Mount Olympus (now located above the Empire State Building). This tying of Greek mythology into modern culture is one of treats of this pentology, and Riordan does it well.

While this series is clearly aimed at young adults, I found it thoroughly entertaining. Several of the battles and gambits were resolved rather abruptly via deus ex machina; while this can disappointing in other novels, considering the subject matter here it seemed quite appropriate. The main characters are simple—again suitable for younger readers—but not one-dimensional; the secondary characters aren’t as fully developed, but occasionally find themselves in a key role making them less predictable. Overall, this is a five book odyssey that takes the reader through a fun-filled romp. I enjoyed it, my son enjoyed it, and more importantly, we got to talk about it together.

First Sentence from The Lightning Thief:

Look, I didn’t want to be a half-blood.

First Sentence from The Sea of Monsters:

My nightmare started like this.

First Sentence from The Titan’s Curse:

The Friday before winter break, my mom packed me an overnight bag and a few deadly weapons and took me to a new boarding school.

First Sentence from The Battle of the Labyrinth:

The last thing I wanted to do on my summer break was blow up another school.

First Sentence from The Last Olympian:

The end of the world started when a pegasus landed on the hood of my car.

Rebel Island, by Rick Riordan

Tres Navarre is back! Here we find him spending his honeymoon on an island resort off the Texas coast. With typical Navarre luck, a dead body shows up right as a hurricane hits cutting off access to and from the island. With guests slowly getting killed this setup could have easily devolved into a bad copy of And Then There Were None, but Riordan avoids that with deft characterization and sly humor. A fast but entertaining read.

First Sentence:

We got married in a thunderstorm.

Mission Road, by Rick Riordan

Mission Road is everything that Tres Navarre’s previous adventure wasn’t. This had a strong plot and good characterization. While I wouldn’t call it unpredictable, the ending did surprise me a bit. Rick Riordan is on my list of must-read authors, and this book confirms why.

First Sentence:

Ana had to get the baby out of the house.

Southtown, by Rick Riordan

I’m a fan of both Rick Riordan and Tres Navarre, his San Antonio PI. This is the fifth book in the series, and while a good read, the worst so far. The main villain is hunting both Tres’ boss and competitor, and the rivals need to come together to protect each other. The big twist at the end is telegraphed as well, with not much of a payoff. Bummer. There is a chapter of the next book included here, though, which sounds much more interesting. Looking forward to that one!

First Sentence:

Fourth of July morning, Will Stirman woke up with blood on his hands.