percy jackson and the lightning thief book reviews

Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1

The lightning thief, rick riordan.

377 pages, Paperback

First published July 28, 2005

About the author

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Chiron looked surprised. “I thought that would be obvious enough. The entrance to the Underworld is in Los Angeles. ”

Nancy Bobofit appeared in front of me with her ugly friends—I guess she’d gotten tired of stealing from the tourists—and dumped her half-eaten lunch in Grover’s lap. “Oops.” She grinned at me with her crooked teeth. Her freckles were orange, as if somebody had spray-painted her face with liquid Cheetos.

"Another time, Athena and Poseidon competed to be the patron god for the city of Athens. Your dad created some stupid saltwater spring for his gift. My mom created the olive tree. The people saw that her gift was better, so they named the city after her.” “They must really like olives.” “Oh, forget it.” “Now, if she’d invented pizza—that I could understand.” “I said, forget it!”

“About sixty years ago, after World War II, the Big Three agreed they wouldn’t sire any more heroes. Their children were just too powerful."

Now that I was declared a son of one of the Big Three gods who weren’t supposed to have kids, I figured it was a crime for me just to be alive.

"During the winter solstice, at the last council of the gods, Zeus and Poseidon had an argument. The usual nonsense: ‘Mother Rhea always liked you best,’ ‘Air disasters are more spectacular than sea disasters,’ et cetera."

In his pocket was a set of reed pipes his daddy goat had carved for him, even though he only knew two songs: Mozart’s Piano Concerto no. 12 and Hilary Duff’s “So Yesterday,” both of which sounded pretty bad on reed pipes.

Annabeth nodded. “Your father isn’t dead, Percy. He’s one of the Olympians.” “That’s...crazy.” “Is it? What’s the most common thing gods did in the old stories? They ran around falling in love with humans and having kids with them. Do you think they’ve changed their habits in the last few millennia?”

“What? You assume it has to be a male god who finds a human female attractive? How sexist is that?”

“Come now, Percy. What you call ‘Western civilization.’ Do you think it’s just an abstract concept? No, it’s a living force. A collective consciousness that has burned bright for thousands of years. The gods are part of it." "Did the West die? The gods simply moved, to Germany, to France, to Spain, for a while. Wherever the flame was brightest, the gods were there. They spent several centuries in England. All you need to do is look at the architecture. People do not forget the gods."

I didn’t know what else to do. I waved back. “Don’t encourage them,” Annabeth warned. “Naiads are terrible flirts.” “Naiads,” I repeated, feeling completely overwhelmed. “That’s it. I want to go home now.”

“All right,” I said. “It’s better than being turned into a dolphin.”

“But a quest to . . .” Grover swallowed. “I mean, couldn’t the master bolt be in some place like Maine? Maine’s very nice this time of year.”

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The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1 | Book Review

Book Review of  The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1 The Children’s Book Review

The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1

Written by Rick Riordan

Ages: 9+ | 377 Pages

Publisher: Disney Hyperion Books | ISBN-13: 978-1368051477

What to Expect: Fantasy, Mythology, Adventure, and Mystery

Rick Riordan’s inspiration for  The Lightning Thief  (now also a major motion picture)   began from stories based on Greek myths that he used to make up for his son, who was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia. Riordan had taught Greek mythology to middle school students so he could recall many of the myths to tell his son. When he ran out of myths to share, his son asked him to create new stories using the characters from the Greek myths. And so, Percy Jackson was born.

The Lightning Thief  is the first captivating book from the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. This novel follows Percy, a twelve-year-old boy with dyslexia and ADHD, as he navigates through a world of Greek gods and monsters. Through his journey, he discovers his true identity and learns the importance of loyalty and friendship.

Percy Jackson is about to get pulled into a dangerous, exhilarating scene where the action never subsides. When he goes on a field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and stands up for a friend who is being bullied, his life changes forever. He ends up on a perilous mission across the United States to prevent a major war between the gods—Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades—by catching a thief who has stolen Zeus’ thunderbolt. With the help of a demigod and a satyr, Percy must defeat many mythological monsters that will stop at nothing to keep him from his task.

From start to end, the whole story will have your heart racing, leaving you desperate for the next book. Exciting, gritty, and funny are just a few words that describe this fantastical action-adventure novel that combines the world as we know it with Greek Mythology. Written in a style that is easy to follow, with a clear and engaging plot that will appeal to kids and adults alike, the well-developed characters are relatable, making it easy for readers to connect with them and become invested in their journey.

The Lightning Thief  is an excellent read that is highly entertaining. It not only provides a thrilling adventure for readers but also teaches valuable life lessons that promote personal growth and self-discovery—highly recommended to anyone looking for a fun and insightful read.

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About the author.

Rick Riordan is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, the Kane Chronicles, and the Heroes of Olympus. He is also the author of the multi-award-winning Tres Navarre mystery series for adults.

For fifteen years, Rick taught English and history at public and private middle schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Texas. In 2002, Saint Mary’s Hall honored him with the school’s first Master Teacher Award.

While teaching full time, Riordan began writing mystery novels for grownups. His Tres Navarre series went on to win the top three national awards in the mystery genre – the Edgar, the Anthony and the Shamus. Riordan turned to children’s fiction when he started The Lightning Thief as a bedtime story for his oldest son.

Today over 35 million copies of his Percy Jackson, Kane Chronicles, and Heroes of Olympus books are in print in the United States, and rights have been sold into more than 35 countries. Rick is also the author of The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones, another #1 New York Times bestseller.

Rick Riordan now writes full-time. He lives in Boston with his wife and two sons.

What to Read Next if You Love The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1

• The Sea of Monsters , by Rick Riordan
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone , by J. K. Rowling
• The City of Ember , by Jeanne DuPrau
• Artemis Fowl , by Eoin Colfer

Bianca Schulze reviewed  The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1 . Discover more books like  The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1 by reading our reviews and articles tagged with Fantasy , Mythology , Adventure , and Mystery .

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Bianca Schulze is the founder of The Children’s Book Review. She is a reader, reviewer, mother and children’s book lover. She also has a decade’s worth of experience working with children in the great outdoors. Combined with her love of books and experience as a children’s specialist bookseller, the goal is to share her passion for children’s literature to grow readers. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, she now lives with her husband and three children near Boulder, Colorado.

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Book Review

The lightning thief — “percy jackson and the olympians” series.

• Rick Riordan
• Adventure , Fantasy

• Miramax Books, a division of Hyperion Books for Children
• School Library JournalBest Book of the Year, 2005;The New York TimesNotable Children's Book, 2005; Young Adult Library Services Association (YALTA) Best Book Award, 2006

Year Published

This book has been reviewed by Focus on the Family’s marriage and parenting magazine . It is the first book in “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” series.

Plot Summary

Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson, diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD, is about to get kicked out of another boarding school when monsters start chasing him. His mother and best friend, Grover, rush him to a summer camp called Half-Blood Hill. A half-man/half-bull attacks him as he prepares to cross the property line, and Percy wakes up in the camp, knowing the creature has either taken or killed his mother. Grover (who turns out to be a satyr, or half man/half goat) and others nurse Percy back to health with ambrosia and explain that he and the other campers are children of Greek gods.

The gods of mythology are alive and well, ruling over the current center of the universe, America. They still have affairs with humans, creating children with special powers, who often struggle in the human world. Many of these kids stay at Half-Blood Hill to hone their demi-god skills and avoid the monsters that attack them outside of the camp. Percy learns he is the only living son of Poseidon, the sea god, and that he possesses many powers that are enhanced when he comes in contact with water.

Because of a misunderstanding between Poseidon, Zeus and Hades, a war seems imminent. Half-Blood Hill administrators send Percy (along with Grover and another camper named Annabeth) to the Underworld to retrieve Zeus’ thunderbolt from Hades, who supposedly stole it. The modern-day Underworld exists beneath the city of Los Angeles, while the modern Olympus is above New York City. The kids travel cross-country by train and bus. Along the way, they encounter numerous creatures and gods who strive to prevent them from reaching California.

After a tour through the Underworld and a meeting with Hades, the kids realize Kronos, king of the Titans — and father of Zeus, Hades and Poseidon — is trying to pit his sons against one another with the help of Ares, god of war. Percy visits Olympus (via an elevator inside the Empire State Building). He meets his father for the first time, as well as Zeus, and explains Kronos’ plan. Percy, Grover and Annabeth return as heroes to Half-Blood Hill. Hades restores Percy’s mother to life, and Percy decides to put up with monster attacks in order to try living with her again outside of Half-Blood Hill.

Christian Beliefs

In the Underworld, Percy and his friends see a televangelist who raised millions for orphanages but got caught spending it on his mansion and cars. Grover says really bad people like him get special attention and torture from Hades.

Other Belief Systems

The premise of The Lightning Thief is that the gods of mythology exist today and control world events with their magical powers. For example, Percy says the visits of agriculture goddess Demeter, not the tilt of the planet, create the seasons. As in the ancient myths, the gods and goddesses still have affairs with humans. Their children, such as Percy, are powerful demi-gods. Children of the Big Three gods (Hades, Zeus and Poseidon) have greater powers than other demi-gods and also have a stronger aura that attracts more monsters.

When Percy asks whether there is a God, Chiron tells him that God with a capital G is a different than the Greek gods, and he doesn’t want to address the metaphysical. He says that gods — the immortal beings that control the forces of nature and human endeavors — are a smaller matter, but they are real. He tells Percy that the concept of Western Civilization is a living force that was heavily shaped by the influence of the gods. As the centers of power have moved throughout history, so have the gods, who now live in, above and below America. The gods cannot be held responsible for the actions of mortals, so they always operate through humans.

Many famous people in history, including George Washington, were demi-gods. The monsters that pursue them are primal forces without souls so they cannot die, only re-form themselves. The Oracle of Delphi (a spirit that lives in the attic at Half-Blood Hill) provides prophesies concerning what the demi-gods will or must do. The oracle has given Chiron prophesies about Percy, which Chiron keeps mostly to himself. When Percy arrives at the camp, Annabeth believes it is an omen that she’ll finally get to go on a quest. Prior to his quest, Percy visits the Oracle and is met with the nightmarish image of a powerful spirit in the form of a mummy’s body. When Percy says he doesn’t believe in gods, the camp director says he’d better start believing before they incinerate him. Later, when he does believe, he says that as a half-blood, he knows that a bad day isn’t a result of simple bad luck but of the intervention of a divine force. Grover calls Pan (god of wild places) the satyrs’ lord and master. Evenings at Half-Blood Hill include camper rituals such as toasting the gods and giving the best part of their dinner as an offering. Later, they sit at the campfire and sing songs about the gods.

Percy visits the Underworld to retrieve Zeus’ thunderbolt from Hades, also called Lord of the Dead. Percy first encounters desperate souls in a waiting room. Then, as the spirits ride the down elevator toward the Underworld, their modern clothes turn to grey hooded robes. Percy and his friends pass the heavily polluted River Styx and see people tortured as they’re chased by hellhounds, burned at the stake, forced to run naked through cactus patches and worse. People who don’t want to face judgment can plead “no contest” and be sent directly to the Asphodel Fields. Percy describes the fields as a gigantic stadium packed with millions of fans, but there are no lights and no noise, and people just mill around forever. A small section of the Underworld called Elysium is beautiful and inviting, similar to a resort in the Bahamas. It is reserved for people who have been reborn three times and have been good and heroic.

Mainly, Percy describes the Underworld as a place with evil and deathly scents, skeleton guards and images on the walls of various earthly disasters and wars. Hades, who possesses an intense evil charisma, such as that seen in pictures of Hitler, sits on a throne of fused human bones. When he moves, his robe shows tormented human faces. He tells Percy that if Percy crosses him, he will let the dead pour back onto the earth, and Percy’s skeleton will lead them.

Percy “prays” a number of times. Sometimes he prays to his father (Poseidon), and other times he seems to be making a wish more than praying to anyone. The three-headed dog in the Underworld tells Percy and his friends that they can pray to the god of their choice before he eats them. When Percy learns he’s being sent to the Underworld, he is overcome with a desire for revenge rather than being afraid.

Sally tells Percy she doesn’t want him to save her from Gabe. She says that if her life is going to mean anything, she has to live it herself and not let a god take care of her.

Authority Roles

According to myth, Kronos kept five of his children prisoner in his stomach until they got out, sliced him to pieces and scattered his remains in the darkest part of the Underworld. In The Lightning Thief, Kronos (though still in pieces) is alive, regaining some of his power and using demi-gods to help him bring disunity among his sons. Luke, a counselor at the camp, is one of Kronos’ pawns. Luke trains Percy to use a sword and pretends to befriend him, but ultimately tries to kill him.

Percy’s mom (Sally) tells him he was born from an affair and that his father was an important man who was lost at sea. She does her best to protect Percy from the monsters, even to the point of marrying Gabe, a man so rude, mean and foul smelling that his stench covers Percy’s demi-god scent. (This keeps the monsters away.) Gabe hits Sally, drinks a lot, smokes cigars and constantly plays poker with his buddies, while demanding that Sally makes them food. Sally rids herself of Gabe in the end by turning him to stone with the severed head of Medusa. In the beginning, Percy’s boarding school English teacher (Chiron) challenges him to excel and refuses to let him use his learning disabilities as excuses.

Percy later learns Chiron is a staff member at Half-Blood Hill. At camp, he continues to support and encourage Percy. Poseidon reveals to Percy and the campers that he is Percy’s father, but this may be because he needs the boy’s help in his feud with Zeus and Hades. When Percy meets Poseidon, the god shows some level of pride in his son’s actions but makes no particular effort to bond with him. Many of the demi-god kids are resentful toward their Olympian parents, who are busy and ignore them.

Profanity & Violence

The Half-Blood Hill crowd uses phrases like Oh Styx, Olympus knows…, Di immortals!, gods forbid, by the gods, oh my gods, and may the gods curse him. Heck, darn, suck, and butt each appear a time or two, and a few characters curse without profanity appearing in the text. Percy thinks about how he’d like to kick Gabe in his “soft spot” and make him sing soprano.

Percy is injured and bloodied when he’s cut with a sword then attacked by a hellhound in a capture the flag game that gets out of control. Though many battles rage, particularly between Percy and various monsters, the scenes are rarely graphic. Mortally wounded people and creatures vaporize into dust or crumble into sand rather than end as bloody, broken bodies. When Percy decapitates Medusa, he sees and feels drippy green juice and little snakes coiling around his feet, but he can’t look at the head or he’ll turn to stone.

Sexual Content

None, other than a brief explanation that gods and humans have had relationships resulting in children

Discussion Topics

Get free discussion questions for this book and others, at FocusOnTheFamily.com/discuss-books .

Additional Comments

Lying/Cheating: Percy lies to his mom about his school activities so she won’t worry. On their quest, Percy, Annabeth and Grover lie repeatedly to those who ask what they’re doing, where their parents are, etc. Percy also deceives his friends by not telling them the entire prophesy he received from the Oracle. Percy admits to turning in a paper he copied off of the Internet while in boarding school.

Alcohol: The camp director is Dionysus, the god of wine. His father, Zeus, tortures him by forbidding him to have alcohol and making him work at Half-Blood Hill.

Environmental stewardship: Grover, as a satyr who hails to the god of wild places, notes several times that humans have done devastating things to the world and its creatures. His point is proven when the kids encounter and help some mistreated animals in a truck marked “humane zoo transport.” In the Underworld, Percy’s guide says that the horrible pollution of the River Styx has been caused by poor human waste management.

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Parent reviews of, the lightning thief: percy jackson and the olympians, book 1.

• Common Sense Says
• Parents Say 60 Reviews
• Kids Say 476 Reviews

Parents Say

Based on 60 parent reviews

Parent Reviews

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• Great role models
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Entertainment with a grain of salt, it was amazing, amazing book, good, action-packed, amazing book really worth reading, when i was 8 this book was released, its a really good book i like it.

• Too much violence

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The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1) Paperback – January 1, 2005

• Book 1 of 7 Percy Jackson and the Olympians
• Print length 416 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Scholastic Inc.
• Publication date January 1, 2005
• ISBN-10 0439861306
• ISBN-13 978-0439861304
• See all details

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Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scholastic Inc.; Literature Circle edition (January 1, 2005)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 416 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0439861306
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0439861304
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 9+ years, from customers
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.6 ounces
• #28,402 in Teen & Young Adult Literature & Fiction

About the authors

Victo Ngai is a Los Angeles-based artist raised in Hong Kong. She is a Forbes 30 Under 30 (Art and Style) honoree, the first Chinese Hamilton King Award Winner, five times Society of Illustrators Gold Medalist and Hugo Award nominee.

Victo's work has often been described as magical realism. Each creation in Victo's world is layered with symbolism and stories that reveal more each time the viewer is engaged. The visual results of her artistic journey take inspiration in part from her Chinese heritage, an art education from the Rhode Island School of Design, a love for classic children's books, and Japanese ukiyo-e.

Rick Riordan

Rick Riordan is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, the Kane Chronicles, and the Heroes of Olympus. He is also the author of the multi-award-winning Tres Navarre mystery series for adults.

For fifteen years, Rick taught English and history at public and private middle schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Texas. In 2002, Saint Mary's Hall honored him with the school's first Master Teacher Award.

While teaching full time, Riordan began writing mystery novels for grownups. His Tres Navarre series went on to win the top three national awards in the mystery genre - the Edgar, the Anthony and the Shamus. Riordan turned to children's fiction when he started The Lightning Thief as a bedtime story for his oldest son.

Today over 35 million copies of his Percy Jackson, Kane Chronicles, and Heroes of Olympus books are in print in the United States, and rights have been sold into more than 35 countries. Rick is also the author of The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones, another #1 New York Times bestseller.

Rick Riordan now writes full-time. He lives in Boston with his wife and two sons.

Customer reviews

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• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 77% 16% 4% 1% 1% 1%

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Customers say

Customers find the book fun, suspenseful, and exciting. They also say it's compelling for young and older audiences. Readers appreciate the well-detailed information on mythology. They describe the characters as compelling, 3-dimensional, and human. Additionally, they mention the pacing is fast.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the book fun, interesting, and worth reading. They appreciate the great story telling and say it keeps them on their toes. Readers also mention the book is a great choice for summer reading.

"...His characters are multi-faceted and likeable (except for the villains, understandably), seemingly ordinary (or seemingly handicapped) kids who..." Read more

"...it and would recommend to anyone, young or old as it is such a fun adventure ." Read more

" Great story telling This book kept me on my toes\never boringGreat twist at the ends - totally did not see it coming...." Read more

"...He really enjoyed it, finding it interesting and funny . In fact, he liked it so well that he is now reading the second volume in the series...." Read more

Customers find the story fantastic, exciting, and suspenseful. They appreciate the nonstop action and plot twists. Readers also mention the book provides countless hours of excitement and adventure.

"...This book kept me on my toes\never boring Great twist at the ends - totally did not see it coming...." Read more

"...It's fun, imaginative, exciting , interesting, has male and female heroes who are well-developed characters, teaches without the reader feeling..." Read more

"The Lightning Thief is a non stop adventure that mixes both present day fun with a mythological twist...." Read more

"...I really enjoyed the friendship and the action packed nature of the book . Also the mythology and the mythological monsters were great...." Read more

Customers find the book compelling for young and older audiences. They say it's a great book for adults and kids. Readers also mention that the book is entertaining for teens and adults.

"...The Lightning Thief deserves its reputation as one of the best books for middle grades . That’s high praise from someone who does not like mythology." Read more

"...THE LIGHTNING THIEF is a great book for adults and kids ...." Read more

"...This is a good place to start and won't disapoint ...." Read more

"...I thought that the other children were interesting and our great...." Read more

Customers find the twist on Greek mythology fascinating and hilarious. They appreciate the detailed information on mythology, saying it helps teach it in an interesting and modern way. Readers also mention the book is a great introduction into the ancient world. In addition, they say the author does a nice job of making Greek mythology an integral part of the story.

"...and female heroes who are well-developed characters, teaches without the reader feeling taught , shows that good and bad aren't always black and white..." Read more

"...There were so many different gods and goddesses , creatures and mythical beings, and I loved how they were incorporated into the story...." Read more

"...I really enjoyed the friendship and the action packed nature of the book. Also the mythology and the mythological monsters were great...." Read more

"...and I find it to be quite touching and inspiring ...." Read more

Customers find the characters compelling, great, and 3-dimensional. They also say the author did a good job making the narrative simple, human, and funny.

"The characters are well rounded and the story line kept me reading every chance I could. I can't wait to read the next book...." Read more

"...He brings them to life in the 21st Century with believable characters and situations that are well-developed and that allow the stories to flow from..." Read more

"...And guess what...I was hooked! I loved the characters and how the author developed them for the reader by revealing their identities slowly...." Read more

Customers find the book very fast-paced and action-packed. They say it's a fun, quick read with lots of action. Readers also mention the writing is amazing and the book flows perfectly. They say it'll be a good introduction into the Percy Jackson universe with a great twist at the end.

"...Rick Riordan keeps this novel moving along at a fast pace ...." Read more

"...The book moves at a fast pace because the reading level is more for middle grade students rather than high schoolers but the story was still..." Read more

"...Overall, I felt like it was a very fast-pace book , which sometimes felt like things were rushed, but also a kid wouldn’t always dwell on some of the..." Read more

"...The read was really fun, and it was a very quick paced book , which I personally love...." Read more

Customers find the book worth the price. They say it's well-written and a worthy addition to young magicians in training.

"... Great price !" Read more

"I was missing this book in the series and found it here for a great price . My kids love this series!" Read more

"...Overall, definitely worth a read !..." Read more

"...even tho it’s paperback it’s completely worth it !! i 100% recommend! this exceeded my expectations" Read more

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Book Review: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

When you look at other series out there that die-hard fans would say comes anywhere near to Harry Potter, the Percy Jackson series will feature on a lot of people’s lists. It’s got the young cast, the great friendships and the magical elements. But how good actually is Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief.

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief is the first of technically seven books in the series, however, there are spin-offs too. It features our main character Percy Jackson, accompanied by mythical friends, all of whom are children of greek gods (literally, not just ridiculously good-looking people.)

Plot – 3.5/5

Comparisons are made to Harry Potter because it features the general story of a boy who doesn’t feel like he fits in in the regular world and soon finds out that’s because he’s not a regular boy. He’s swooped off to a “school” where he’s taught to be the hero he was destined to become. However, when it is revealed that Zeus’ master lightning bolt has been stolen and Percy is the prime suspect, he begins to run into a lot of danger from some very dangerous famous villains.

The plot of this novel didn’t blow me away as it could have. It was very easy to read (because obviously it’s written for a younger audience) but sometimes I felt like this hampered the quality of the story too as the action scenes didn’t quite feel dramatic enough for me. However, it was really interesting to see these famous greek legends and myths incorporated into our everyday lives and read about how a teenager would deal with these. I love history and I think everybody who’s a bit of a nerd (me) finds greek mythology really cool.

Characters – 4/5 

The characters in this first novel each have their own distinctive personality. Percy isn’t as bland as many young heroes are – he’s used to being a bit of a rebel at school, he’s not used to always doing the “right” thing and this comes across often and makes for a far more interesting protagonist than pretty much any other book of its type.

The accompanying characters are all quite well fleshed out too. I think Rick Riordan went into this novel knowing how he wanted each of the characters to act and react and has managed to pull this off resulting in each of them having their own ways of dealing with things.

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief summary – 4/5

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief is a solid first book in the series. It didn’t quite grab me by the collar like many first books have, however, I can see the potential here and I have a soft spot for Greek mythology ad everything that encompasses. Rick Riordan writes in a really approachable and open way, making it easy to stay on top of the plot and he’s also creating some genuinely likeable characters here and a slight love interest that, despite their age and the book’s demographic, is actually quite interesting to read.

I’d recommend Percy Jackson to anybody who is into greek mythology, those into fantasy would like it also and if you’re looking for something. to fill your Harry Potter void – this may well be the start of a series that can do that for you.

• Buy Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief  on Kindle from Amazon.
• Buy Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief in paperback from Amazon.

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