Review: The Son of Neptune

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

Series: The Heroes of Olympus
Genres: Action/Adventure, Young Adult, Kids (Middle Grade), Fiction
Maturity Level: 3
View on Goodreads
Rating: ⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

---

Percy is confused. When he awoke from his long sleep, he didn’t know much more than his name. His brain fuzz is lingering, even after the wolf Lupa told him he is a demigod and trained him to fight with the pen/sword in his pocket. Somehow Percy manages to make it to a camp for half-bloods, despite the fact that he has to keep killing monsters along the way. But the camp doesn’t ring any bells with him. The only thing he can recall from his past is another name: Annabeth

Hazel is supposed to be dead. When she lived before, she didn’t do a very good job of it. Sure, she was an obedient daughter, even when her mother was possessed by greed. But that was the problem — when the Voice took over her mother and commanded Hazel to use her “gift” for an evil purpose, Hazel couldn’t say no. Now because of her mistake, the future of the world is at risk. Hazel wished she could ride away from it all on the stallion that appears in her dreams.

Frank is a klutz. His grandmother says he is descended from heroes and can be anything he wants to be, but he doesn’t see it. He doesn’t even know who his father is. He keeps hoping Apollo will claim him, because the only thing he is good at is archery — although not good enough to win camp war games. His bulky physique makes him feel like an ox, especially infront of Hazel, his closest friend at camp. He trusts her completely — enough to share the secret he holds close to his heart.

Beginning at the “other” camp for half-bloods and extending as far as the land beyond the gods, this breathtaking second installment of the Heroes of Olympus series introduces new demigods, revives fearsome monsters, and features other remarkable creatures, all destined to play a part in the Prophesy of Seven.

---

As the second book in the Heroes of Olympus series, one might expect a bit of a sophomore slump from the Son of Neptune. But it maintains that fast pace, sense of humor, and emotion that made The Lost Hero stand out.

I think that the real strength of this second Percy Jackson series is in it’s emotion. The Son of Neptune did not shy away from hard themes like death and sacrifice, and gave the characters some tough personal issues to overcome. Both Frank and Hazel are uncomfortable in their own skin and doubtful about their own importance, something I think every young reader can relate to. But through the course of the book and their unconventional relationship with each other, they learn to accept themselves and their fates.

Long-time readers will be happy to read from Percy’s point of view once again, but find him a more mature young adult than they remember. The Son of Neptune also really dives in to Roman mythology in a big way, which is both refreshing after reading about Greeks for so long, and challenging because Greeks and Romans were similar and different at the same time. This is a great second book that really sets up the third in way that makes you feel loads of anticipation without resorting to an agonizing cliff hanger.