Wednesday, May 29, 2013

The Mark of Athena

The Mark of Athena was by far the most thrilling and suspenseful of Rick Riordan's Heroes of Olympus series.  Percy Jackson returns with old and new friends Annabeth, Jason, Hazel, Frank, Leo, and Piper.  The crew's quest takes them all the way to Rome on a flying ship as they fulfill the Prophecy of Seven.  The demigods are in a race against time to defeat a pair of giants in the ancient lands and prevent the evil earth goddess Gaea from fully awakening.  They must arrive in time to save Nico diAngelo and find a way to prevent the brewing war between Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter, and Annabeth is destined to follow the Mark of Athena through Rome alone to face her most terrifying opponent yet.  The book ended with a cliffhanger we have not yet seen from Rick Riordan, and I absolutely can't wait to finish this fantastic series with The House of Hades in August!  I have loved Riordan's mix of Greek mythology and modern times through Percy Jackson & the Olympians, and so far with The Heroes of Olympus we have been given a taste of Roman mythology as well, which I am enjoying.  The Mark of Athena introduces us to several more minor gods and goddesses, famous demigods, and many more myths and legends.