Review Detail

The second book in the Percy Jackson is just as enjoyable and charming as the first novel in the series.

The adventure continues as Percy secretly sets out on a quest with Annabeth and Grover in order to find the Golden Fleece to save Thalia’s tree which guards Camp Half-Blood from monsters and mortals. The tree, which contains the soul and dying body of Zeus’ daughter Thalia, has been poisoned by Luke, son of Hermes, who is attempting to resurrect the evil Titan Kronos from his prison in Tartarus.

What stood apart in this novel was an increase in hilarity. I was in fits of laughter for the entirety of The Sea of Monsters, especially the scenes with Polyphemus. Percy’s dry humour and Annabeth’s frequent wit were the perfect combination and the novel progressed naturally through the characters’ interactions.

My favourite character introduced was Tyson, Percy’s (sort-of) half-brother who just so happens to be a Cyclops. Tyson is the sweetest and most precious character I have ever come across in fiction. Each time he was on the page, I just wanted to give him a big hug. I was almost in tears during a scene where he continually giggled and said, “Percy is my brother?” He was so protective of Percy and such a true hero. That little baby Cyclops needs to be defended at all costs. He is too precious for this world.

I loved the inclusion of renowned Greek characters from mythology and in this novel we are introduced to Polyphemus, the infamous Cyclops who Odysseus once blinded on his way home to Ithaca. It is so thrilling to experience beloved characters and real historical people that I have studied in a new and fresh way. I took ancient Greek history for two years in high-school and another three during undergrad. I don’t pretend that I am some sort of expert on classical history, but I recognised almost every character from my studies and couldn’t stop smiling as I read about them once again.

The plot of The Sea of Monsters developed further and focused more on the deadly prophecy which is supposed to be about Percy, as well as the slow reincarnation of Kronos. For those who do not know their Greek history, Kronos was the king of the Titans and the father of many of the Olympian gods. He devoured his children at birth because of a prophecy that stated one of them would kill him and assume control of the world. However, Zeus was spared through the actions of his mother and then sought revenge: he and his siblings (once regurgitated) defeated their father, chopped him into little pieces and imprisoned him in Tartarus. Half-blood Luke, who feels abandoned by his father and the other Greek gods, is attempting to revive Kronos in order to overthrow Olympus and place the half-bloods in power.

Luke is a very complex character who I love to read about. You can’t help but feel for him as he has been completely abandoned by his parent, but you also know that his actions are reprehensible. Riordan is a fantastic writer to have his readers in two opposite frames of mind when it comes to the bad guy.

The Sea of Monsters was a great sequel to The Lightning Thief, increasing the tension and the adventure tenfold. Percy is a fantastic hero, and one we should admire and emulate. The conclusion of the novel promptly gave me a heart attack while simultaneously exciting me.