Book Review: Heroes of Olympus: The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

Title: The Son of Neptune
Author: Rick Riordan
Series: Heroes of Olympus
Published: October 2011
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 513
From: Barnes and Noble
Rating: 7/10

After finishing The Son of Neptune, the second novel to the second series about Greek gods written by Rick Riordan, I must say I’m losing my steam a little bit.

First, the story was super fun. I am enjoying meeting new characters and seeing them grow, since in the Percy Jackson novels we only saw Percy Jackson’s point of view. In this novel we were introduced to Hazel Levesque and Frank Zhang, who become close with Percy as they go on a quest to Alaska to prevent a giant from gaining power and destroying the world.

What I didn’t like about this novel is it’s just like the other novels by Rick Riordan: the main characters go on a quest to save someone or prevent some evil creature from rising and causing devastation. It’s getting a little mundane. However, I’m sure for a younger reader, it’s probably the most amazing thing at the time.

On the other hand, this series is a little different than the Percy Jackson novels because, like in Riordan’s first Heroes of Olympus novel The Lost Hero, we are seeing new characters in new places. This is the first time we are introduced to Camp Jupiter, and all the characters involved. We are also introduced to Roman mythology and how it varies from its predecessor Greek mythology.

I do really like how Riordan expanded on his Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by creating all these new characters and a whole new plot, but maintained the original humor and characters everyone loves and loves to hate. I admire the originality of the series, and I am really excited for the next set of books to arrive at my doorstep: the Kane Chronicles!

Check out Rick Riordan’s Heroes of Olympus novels, or if you’re interested in reading the prequel series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians. If you want a change of pace, Riordan’s Egyptian series the Kane Chronicles is available, and the first novel to his new Norse mythology series Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard has recently been released.