The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Book: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan 

Rating: 4.5 Stars 

Reader: Samuel C. 

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan is the first book in the popular young adult series, "Percy Jackson and the Olympians," written by Rick Riordan. The book follows Percy Jackson, a 12-year-old boy with dyslexia and ADHD who discovers that he is a demigod, the son of Poseidon, and is whisked away to Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods like him. The plot revolves around Percy's quest to retrieve Zeus' stolen lightning bolt and clear his name after he is accused of stealing it. Along the way, he is joined by his new friends Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena, and Grover, a satyr. Together, they face numerous challenges and obstacles, including fighting monsters from Greek mythology and overcoming personal doubts and fears. Riordan's writing style is engaging and entertaining, and he does an amazing job of incorporating Greek mythology into the story in a way that is both educational and enjoyable for young readers. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the action and adventure keep the reader engaged throughout the book. One of the strengths of the book is the way it tackles important themes such as friendship, identity, and belonging. Percy struggles with feeling like an outsider and finding his place in the world, which many young readers can relate to. The book also promotes acceptance of differences, as Percy and his friends come from diverse backgrounds and have unique abilities. Overall, "The Lightning Thief" is a fun, fast-paced adventure that will appeal to both children and adults who enjoy mythology, fantasy, and action-packed stories.

The Burning Maze by Rick Riordan

The Burning Maze by Rick Riordan

Reviewer: Luka K.

Star Rating: 4

The Burning Maze is the third book in Rick Riordan’s Trials of Apollo series, a series based upon the mythological god Apollo from the Greek myths. Apollo has been cast away by his father Zeus, and must complete a series of quests as a mortal to become a god again. In this book, Apollo must venture into Daedalus’’ labyrinth and try to free his third oracle. With the help of some demigods, he fights his way through angry sorceresses and gods, while his son Nero tries to thwart him at every end.

As always, Rick Riordan delivered another gripping book, with amazing characterization and dialogue that sets it apart from the average fantasy. He is the only well-known author that uses the myth in a way that are not only interesting but also informative. It may be my fondness for his writing, but I honestly found nothing wrong or off-putting in this book.

This book would appeal to lovers of Rick Riordan’s writing, and also fantasy lovers. This is a strictly fantasy book with no other genres. Fans of the Fablehaven series will find this book especially to their taste.

I would rate this book as a 5, but that is a bit biased. I believe an appropriate rating for this book is a 4.5 stars.