The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

Publication: 2010

# of Pages: 557 

Source: 2nd & Charles--Second hand book store

Favorite Quotes: 

• "Jason scratched his head. 'You named him Festus? You know in Latin, festus means happy? You want us to ride off to save the world on Happy the Dragon.'"
• "You must forge your own path for it to mean anything."'
• " 'Hold up,' Leo said. 'You guys lost a dragon? A real full size dragon.'" 

Goodreads Summary/Blurb: "Jason has a problem. He doesn't remember anything before waking up in a bus full of kids on a field trip. Apparently he has a girlfriend named Piper and a best friend named Leo. They're all students at a boarding school for "bad kids." What did Jason do to end up here? And where is here, exactly? 

Piper has a secret. Her father has been missing for three days, ever since she had that terrifying nightmare. Piper doesn't understand her dream, or why her boyfriend suddenly doesn't recognize her. When a freak storm hits, unleashing strange creatures and whisking her, Jason, and Leo away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood, she has a feeling she's going to find out. 

Leo has a way with tools. When he sees his cabin at Camp Half-Blood, filled with power tools and machine parts, he feels right at home. But there's weird stuff, too--like the curse everyone keeps talking about. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist that each of them--including Leo--is related to a god. 

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My Thoughts/Review: 

Rick Riordan does it again in this follow-up to the infamous Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. What is most intriguing about this new novel is the format. Instead of the story being told from a single perspective, Rick Riordan gives us the opportunity to see the perspective of each one of our main characters. By doing this, he gives the story depth, detail, and character. There is more of an emotional connection to the characters as the reader is given insight to their most intimate feelings. 

Another great aspect of this book is the combination of Greek and Roman mythology. As usual Riordan has done extensive research into the inner workings of mythology. The premise for the combination of Greek and Roman mythology (I won't discuss because of spoilers) is extremely brilliant. I can't even describe in words how ingenious the creation of this plot is. Riordan must truly have a gift from the gods in his stories. 

As with the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series the main characters are faced with the issue of assisting and in some cases not assisting the gods in saving the world from the hands of Titans, which, in this novel, reaches a whole new level of complexity. However, the complexity does not cause confusion for the reader. It fact, it leaves the reader yearning for more. 

Although the reader may prefer one perspective over others (I definitely did), Riordan does not fall short of providing his readers with adventure, mythological knowledge, and a beautiful insight to true friendship and courage. If you are a fan of Greek or Roman mythology and have completed the Percy Jackson and the Olympian series I highly suggest you get started with this one. 

Rating: 4.5/5