The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan
585 p. Heroes of Olympus series, bk. 3. Disney/ Hyperion, October, 2012. 9781423140603. (Copy received from publisher. Review cross-posted at abookandahug.com.)
1 Fans of Riordan’s blockbusters know that the author wastes no time putting the pedal to the metal in his stories and book three in The Heroes of Olympus series does not disappoint. Annabeth, Leo and Piper, representatives from Camp Half-blood are returning Jason to his comrades at Camp Jupiter, where Annabeth and her friends will reunite with Percy. The two camps are prepared to take the first wary steps toward working together to defeat Gaea. Unfortunately, Gaea has plans to thwart this fragile peace and does so via Leo. Luckily, the seven who are prophesied to journey to Rome escape on the Argo II, but not without an army of Roman demigods aloft on an air force of eagles and hot on their tails intent on destroying them.
Another hallmark of a Riordan adventure is the road trip. The seven need to stop in Utah, Atlanta, Charleston and the Strait of Gibraltar where they encounter Bacchus, Phorcys, Aphrodite and Hercules, respectively and attempt to match wits, beg, plead and/or steal what they need to be successful in their quest. Along the way, readers get to know each demigod a bit more as they ease into working as a team. Each has strengths and weaknesses as well as doubts about his or her ability. Each will face increasing terror but find moments of release through humor, sometimes slapstick and occasionally subtle. Readers already familiar with the mythology of Greece and Rome will marvel at how seamlessly Riordan weaves the ancient mythology with modern civilization. Less familiar gods on both sides are introduced for readers to research during the interminable wait for the next installment. And the wait will seem interminable given the cliffhanger ending. How does he manage to keep the formula from becoming stale? Who knows? Just buckle up and enjoy the ride.