Review: The Titan’s Curse by Rick Riordan

The Titan’s Curse by Rick Riordan
Published May 2007 by Puffin Books
304 Pages (Paperback)

At A Glance

The Titan’s Curse is the third book in Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series about modern pre-teen demigod Percy and his many adventures. The review will spoil the first two books, though no major spoilers for this book appear in the review.

I have really been enjoying the series so far, and this book was no exception. Riordan continues to do an amazing amount within each book. The characters are vibrant and the world is constructed well and fun to live in. New conflicts and plot lines emerge with each installment, changing as much as Percy does as he grows older and more experienced. I do think it’s brilliant, but I do feel a little disappointed that I’m not as rabidly addicted to this the way many people seem to be. I don’t know that I can explain why. I like it, I’m just not crazy excited about it. I still highly recommend it though, no matter what age you are. 4/5 Stars

Summary

When demigods Percy, Annabeth, and Thalia go to assist their satyr friend Grover on mission to locate and rescue two newly discovered demigods, nothing (as usual) goes according to plan. Annabeth is captured by a monster and the goddess Artemis is soon captured as well. Percy, Grover, Thalia and the maiden members of Artemis’s Hunt return to Camp Half-Blood where the Oracle predicts the terms of Artemis’s rescue:  Five will go and two will not return.

Review

I loved the new characters. Each one emerges so vibrantly, it’s hard to believe that they haven’t been around the whole time. Zoe has such strong convictions and her stubbornness, combined with her distrust of men, make for some fun semi-antagonistic moments with Percy. It’s hard to believe that Thalia is a newcomer as well. Her struggle to find the right action is poignant, in part because it has been (and still is) Percy’s struggle as well. I enjoyed reading her, and I liked where her story went.

It’s extremely fun to watch the old characters grow up from learning how to handle demigod powers and sticking close to camp to moving out in the world and forging identities rooted in who their parents are yet finding independence enough to make their own decisions about where they will stand and who they will stand with. It’s a subtle, but really cool thing about the series. I can’t wait to see what new directions Percy and the rest of the old gang will go in the remaining books.

I really don’t have anything bad to add about this. I had issues with the pacing of The Lightning Thief  being too lightning-quick, but that’s either gotten better or I’ve gotten used to it. I did kind of expect to be more addicted to the series by now, after hearing and seeing so many people fall head over heels for it, and I kind of find the fact that I’m not irrationally disappointing. I’m content to just keep reading one or two a month, and that’s ok. Why not draw out the fun?