thank you, captain sunshine.
• One of the things I find most interesting about this series is how fond and protective I am of the characters. This probably isn't my favourite fantasy series (that honour belongs to Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter) but in many ways I'm fonder and more protective of the characters in Rick Riordan's verse than I am in either of the other two series. I don't know what it is about these characters but I think because instead of growing up alongside them a la Harry Potter, I'm older than them and so I feel the need to look out for them in a way. I just really, really love these characters and they are, without a doubt, some of my favourite characters in any series ever.
• So we have our new trio. Jason, Leo, and Piper. Now, with our first trio, I loved every single one of them. I adore Percy and I'm usually not a fan of leading characters but Percy is seriously my little Demigod boy wonder and I want to hug him all the time and hang out with him and be best friends.
Out of our new trio, I can only say the same for Leo. OH MY GOD I LOVE LEO. LOOK HOW AWESOME HE IS:
I know I've said this before based on the first two chapters but now that I've read the entire novel, I can say without a doubt that Leo is my new favourite character and I seriously want to be best friends with him. When Festus died, I cried out of pain for Leo because he was just written in such a relatable way and I wanted to give him the biggest hug in the world. I loved him every step of the way and I absolutely cannot wait to have him in the next book.
Jason, on the other hand, couldn't be further from Percy in terms of my affection if he tried. He's so bland and boring and dull and obviously I want him to win but it's a very sort of forced support because I can't bring myself to actively care about him like I do Percy. If Leo wasn't around, I'd be very afraid because it's never good to feel indifference towards your protagonist (at least with Harry, even if I'm ticked at him half the time, it's still an emotion). I'm hoping he picks up as he starts to gain back his memory but, idk, amnesiac characters have never been a favourite of mine and he's the ~special kid~ in an annoying way, rather than the beautiful way Percy was in PJO.
Then we have Piper. I could really warm up to Piper depending on how RR continues to write her in future books. Right now I'm not sure and I'm definitely not really with her and Jason like I am with Percy and Annabeth. In all honesty, out of the trio, I liked Piper and Leo's moments the most and I think they have a really good friendship that should be expanded on. idk. I was just getting tired very quickly of the 'oh no, I'm going to betray my friends' act, especially when we knew she wouldn't.
I'm very, very glad RR didn't write any of them in first person because I feel that would have been betraying Percy and I'm glad he wrote from all three of the trio's perspectives because I would have gotten tired of Jason very fast.
• A lot of people are complaining that their disappointment stems from the lack of PJO characters but I find that ridiculous. RR said this is a new/continuing series, focusing on new characters. In fact, I was surprised with how much the PJO characters had to do and am more than pleased with their presence in this first book! When RR said they'd be in the background, I thought he meant in like two chapters dishing out advice and being mentioned in passing. Annabeth being around the camp and joining the quest to Greece bodes very well and Thalia being Jason's sister (didn't see that one coming and I hope we get more development there, she could make Jason a more tolerable hero) should mean she'll have a big part and I loved her in this book.
Now we just need Nico and Grover back and we're good. :D
I was very, very happy with the presence of Will and Travis and Clarisse and they definitely need more to do, methinks. Clovis is adorable and I'd love more of him too. For a while I thought I was warming up to Rachel but meh, it's still just indifference.
Obviously I'm fonder of the PJO characters because I've had five whole books with them before this so hopefully I'll grow the same way with the new characters eventually. I don't know, this book move awfully fast with the trio's powers and finding out things and that stifled attachment, I think, but I have the utmost faith in RR and always have so I'm eager for future books.
• The overarching plot isn't exciting me too much yet and it seems very similar to Kronos but, again, I'll always have faith in RR that he knows what he's doing and will deliver tenfold.
• When RR first revealed the idea of Roman counterparts, I'll admit I was extremely hesitant and wary but trying to keep an open mind. RR proved to me just why I have the faith in him that I do. The idea of the gods transforming between the two fascinates me. At first I was thinking two entirely different sets of gods as if Zeus and Jupiter could physically talk to one another, etc. I really like how RR is handling this and I love the idea of another camp in San Francisco of Roman demigods and how they clash with CHB. I absolutely cannot wait for this to all play out and see how the demigods differ from their Greek counterparts. I really should like Romans more seeing as I love the Trojans in the Trojan War and Aeneas being the founder of Rome but Greek Mythology has always been my love and I'll always pick them here. Still, I'm definitely excited.
• Hera! One of my least favourite goddesses but I actually really love how RR depicts her in this, all snarky and sarcastic. I would not mind seeing more of her as I'm sure we will. Also, Zeus needs to open Olympus back up because I'm missing my gods and goddesses like for real.
• OMFG HADES WITHDRAWALS. COME BACK TO ME, BB. BE MR. GRUMPYPANTS OVER THE UNDERWORLD FAILING AT LIFE AND LETTING OUT SOULS AND MONSTERS. ...WHAT IF BIANCA WAS LET OUT? OMG. LOL, I just love Hades and those di Angelo kids too much, methinks.
• So the next book, The Son of Neptune comes out next fall. THAT IS SO FAR WAY. IDK WHAT I'LL DO TILL THEN. AND I HOPE IT'S AS LONG AS THIS ONE WAS. I GUESS I CAN JUST SPECULATE ON WHO THE NEXT THREE DEMIGODS ARE. I HOPE ONE'S PERCY. ONE BETTER BE PERCY.
Okay, you guys, I really miss my demigod boy wonder. I wanted to start crying at the idea of him having lost his memories. I AM NOT OKAY WITH THIS. ;_________; And I really hope the title of the next book is a reference to Percy in the Roman camp. Because there, he would be considered a Son of Neptune just as Jason is considered a Son of Zeus at CHB rather than a Son of Jupiter. I really hope it's not a red herring. RR's not really about the red herrings, I don't think, but at the same time that could be too obvious. IDK I JUST WANT MY BB PERCY BACK. I think we'll definitely get him in the next novel but who knows if the title is a reference to him or not. I would not mind the next book being a parallel to this one and covering some of Percy's early times at the Roman camp before Annabeth and everyone come to rescue him. I miss Percy and Grover. Jason and Leo are nowhere near as cool as them. omfg I miss Percy. ♥
• "Okay," Annabeth said, glaring at the centaur. "Thank you, Captain Sunshine." :D :D :D