Heroes of the Olympus (2) - The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan
And part two of the tales - The Son of Neptune (in German Der Sohn des Neptun, in French Le fils de Neptune), I heard it as a German audio book. Originally published 2011.
Percy Jackson is on his way to - he doesn't even know where. Everything he does know is his name, that he woke up after having slept really long and a single face: Annabeth's face. But after ending up in New Rome, a camp for Roman demi gods, he knows some other things as well: He does not and will never belong there. But Hera – pardon, Juno – has big plans for him, one of them being preventing the ending of the world in a few days… again. And next: Somehow, his new friend Hazel's half-brother Nico DiAngelo has something to do with all of that… Well. Right now, he has something else to concentrate on: Freeing Death so the monsters can die again. Even if that will cost him his two new BFs.
This book is nearly more funny than the first. Additionally it's tense, the characters are wonderful and the background is interesting. I like especially the harpy. She's sooo cool! And so cute. I love how she cites everything she ever read, in a total disorder, it makes the book really funny!
And I love that Tyson and Mrs. O'Leary show up again. The strangest back-up the 12th legion ever saw, that's for sure. I doubt they will ever top that.
Well. It's so so cute that Percy could remember Annabeth and no one else. And how he is nearly as crazy without her as she without him, even though he only remembers her face and her name. But he's not like “O, she's so beautiful” etc., so he's neither getting on the reader's nerves nor sappy. Additionally, he stays on track and does the right thing – is just a typical Percy, as always.
But first to the characters from New Rome.
I love who Reyna is and where she comes from, it's nice that we actually find out about the collateral damage of the previous series and what this actually means – for people. Additionally, she's just a good person with a hell of bad luck with her taste in boys. She's loyal, fierce and is a good leader through and through.
Octavian on the other hand is a very creepy augur and politician. I love how he always clutches teddies. Even though I'm heart broken for the poor little balls of furs. I have a no-tolerance policy against mutilation of teddies, breaking hearts of pets and lactose – the latter just like Frank.
Please do take a moment to properly groan about this bridge – I tried hard to make it as bad as possible!
To Frank. He's cool. He's awkward, he has a good and kind heart, he's lactose intolerant and his life depends on a stick of firewood. Additionally, he is… let's say flexible in his powers. He should be arrogant and self-centred due to his powers and restrictions. But he's just adorable, everybody's kind of guy.
And he and Hazel were amazingly well done. I mean, Hazel as child of the '40s? Always having flashbacks? And what happened – and why? Very, very well done. Even though I do wonder how it was possible for the gods to ignore the Gaia-issues if the plotting even on Hera's side started in the 40's!
Now to the content mistake.
The fight between the giant and Frank is really unrealistic. When a giant as big as him runs with full speed against an elephant, or a bear, the animal will have a problem, not the giant! An enormous dire bear or something like that would maybe be a different matter – but then it should have been remarked at some point. Additionally: Who was the god who helped? Giants can only be killed if a half blood and a god work together. Okay, we have Frank, Hazel and Arion against the Giant. Who. Is. The. God? Because it can't be Death, he never lifted a finger against him. So... totally powerful Giant, the enemy of the book... and dead after a few pages of unrealistic battle. I must admit, the one with Percy against his Giant is far better – and funnier. I like the god's choice of help.
And whom I like as well… that's the Amazons. Their plot is gorgeous! Actually, the entire book is. Even though there is a remarkable lack of satyrs.
In brief:
I give this book stars for characters, style and last but definitely not least the ideas. Minus one for content, plus one for Reyna and what she signifies, plus SoGH.
Prequel:
Sequel: