#9 The House of Hades

Rick Riordan

Disney-Hyperion Books, 2013

“And so you ran away again, from your friends, from yourself”

 

No review for this one upon checking my pc, so I have to write one on the spot. But it does not really matter; to review this Heroes of Olympus series is kind of tiring, this being the fourth book. The story is the same, the Greek and Roman demigods continues their journey to stop Gaea (the Earth goddess, if you must know) from awakening. But this time they are on their way to the House of Hades to seal the doors of death, and rescue Percy (Jackson, yes) and Annabeth from the underworld.

While I am not in the mood to profoundly review this book, I can say that the way Riordan tell the story is still superb, one of the few books that I could not simply put down without proper reason, like I really need to pee, for instance.

Favorite Parts:

Nico meets Cupid

“Later, at Camp Half-Blood, Percy took Nico by the arm, promising to keep his sister Bianca safe. Nico believed him. Nico looked into his sea-green eyes and thought, How can he possibly fail? This is a real hero. He was Nico’s favorite game, Mythomagic, brought to life.”

Leo trapped in Calypso’s Island

“For once, Leo was speechless. Calypso’s eyes glittered. He knew she was making fun of him, but somehow it didn’t feel mean.”

“He looked out over the water. Something was bobbing on the waves. Leo watched in disbelief as a large wooden raft floated in on the tide and slid to a stop on the beach.”

Piper vs. Khione, the goddess of snow (even though no one likes Piper except me)

“Standing amidships was a girl in a flowing dress of white silk, her mane of black hair pinned back with a circlet of diamonds. Her eyes were the color of coffee, but without the warmth.”

From the Critics:

Kirkus Review

“Though Riordan doesn’t stint on action or laughs (fart jokes abound, and a tart-tongued Calypso is a special treat), readers may find themselves appreciating these moments of contemplation all the more for the depth of characterization they reveal. The denouement finds the demigods poised for the final battle with Gaea and her minions; they have exactly 14 days to save the world.”

Booklist Online

“Adventure fans will relish the action as their heroes confront formidable foes, while readers who have come to love the characters will enjoy following the different individuals as they take the stage in scenes that are usually dramatic, often witty, and occasionally surprising. A satisfying, penultimate entry in the Heroes of Olympus series.”