The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #3)

What I Liked:
Considering that I started this one yesterday in the evening, I’m so grateful that the Percy Jackson books are such pageturners or else I wouldn’t have finished this review for today. Now that I’m thinking on it, I was definitely flipping pages in The Titan’s Curse faster than ever before. This series is really starting to pick up speed for me. I flew through it at pegasus speed. Or something like that. Anyway, with The Titan’s Curse, I definitely feel like the stakes are starting to get much more intense, just like I’d hoped.

The tone of this series subtly shifts a bit more to the dark side in The Titan’s Curse. The comic relief’s still there of course, but everything’s a bit more dangerous and the comedic elements might be slightly more spaced out. There’s also more of an overarching plot to this one than in previous installments, which had breaks for games and little adventures. Now, it’s pretty much all about advancing the larger plot of the impending war against the titans and the prophecy that might be about Percy.

The Titan’s Curse comes with yet another prophecy delivered by the Oracle. In this one, the reader learns that one of the five selected for this quest will die, killed at the hand of their father, and that one will be lost. Umm, hello tension. If you want me to be invested emotionally in the outcome, letting me know that someone will most definitely be dying by the end of the book is a good way to do that. Plus, Annabeth is in jeopardy, which is not cool bro. In the previous installments, I felt like everyone was safe, but now I was really questioning which member of the questing team would bite the dust, thus the intense reading speed.

As with The Sea of Monsters, there continues to be great character development. In the previous one, Percy discovered new depths to Clarisse, who is sadly lacking form The Titan’s Curse. However, he does get to meet some new characters. Plus, he’s able to forge a new understanding of Dionysus, which I think was sorely needed and all the more touching for how much of a dick Mr. D was throughout the series. It’s not like anyone really becomes someone different and changes intrinsically, but they’ll let a little of their better side shine through and I really love that. It’s not like Percy will suddenly be best friends with someone he misunderstood but they learn to respect one another and form alliances. It’s cool. Oh, also super curious to see what becomes of Thalia, because she could basically do anything at this point. Oh oh, also also very glad to see Grover getting to really do some stuff and be less of a silly sidekick.

There’s a whole bunch of new characters introduced, and they’re pretty much all winners. Obviously, my heart was immediately charmed by Bessie, the sea cow monster thing, and Blackjack, the pegasus shown on the cover. How much do I love that the pegasi talk like they’re from New York? So much, and I don’t even know why. I wasn’t so sure initially how I felt about the new heroes, Bianca and Nico, but by the end both won me over. They will do such interesting things. Then there’s Zoë, a Hunter, who’s kind of a mean girl, but also awesome. The way that Riordan ties all the plot threads together by the end was little short of masterful.

Finally, I do think I see the ship starting to like trim sails or whatever nautical jargon means getting ready to leave the dock. Like, there’s the school dance at the beginning and it’s like they’re still a bit too young for romantical feelings, but things do seem to be changing. The fact that Aphrodite is watching Percy and Annabeth like her own personal reality TV station is basically my new favorite thing. I expect major cuteness, please. Pretty much the only issue I had with this book was that there was not enough Annabeth.

The Final Verdict:
Basically, I am ready for the next book, but unfortunately the ebook has not been made available to me by my library, and I can’t read the copy I bought because traveling. Much sad. There better be shipping and death and pegasi.

Percy, Annabeth and Thalia find themselves at the ominous, dark Westover Hall, all the way up in Maine. It looks like an evil knights castle. They are there to find to Half Bloods and bring them back to Long Island and the safety of Camp Half Blood, where children born of one mortal parent and one Greek God parent can hone his or her battle skills and not fear for his life. It was supposed to be quick quest, but, as usual where Percy is concerned, nothing is easy. They are attacked by the evil Dr. Thorn and during the battle, Annabeth is pushed over a cliff.

Aided by Artemis (Goddess of the Hunt) and her warriors, Percy and Thalia do find their half bloods, Bianca and Nico, and bring them to safety. Unfortunately for the characters (but fortunately for us), Artemis is kidnapped only four days before the winter solstice, when it is crucial she appear at the Council of the Gods to talk about the impending return of Kronos who is recruiting half bloods in an attempt to overthrow the gods.

Zoe, Bianca, Grover, Percy and Thalia go on a quest to find Artemis. In the meantime, Percy will be searching for Annabeth as well, because in his dreams he sees her alive, bound in chains. This starts a cross country adventure full of skeletal men, half bloods, Greek Gods, manticores and other dangerous creatures. There are battles, subterfuge, flying Sopwith Camels, sea creatures and enough action to keep you riveted to your seat as you read.

In this third book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, the action never ceases. But there is more to these books. They are about friendship and trust and belief. They are about family, be it biological or formed by those you live with. So, read The Titans Curse now because the fourth book has just been released and youll want to get started on that one.