Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan

The fourth and quite possibly most dangerous novel in the series yet.  The Battle of the Labyrinth takes Percy from another new school, which he may or may not have played a part in blowing up, to the labyrinth underground.  Cronus is summoning an army and his eyes are set on destroying Olympus but in his way is Camp halfblood and the heroes of Olympus.  Seeking to find a way to swiftly move his army across the country Cronus has sent scouts into the labyrinth to find a way through or to find it’s creator Daedalus.  As the minor gods determine their allegiance Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and Tyson must quest to find Daedalus and win him over to the Olympians cause.  This book sets up the series finale in which Cronus will rise to either destroy Olympus or fail in his conquest.

Battle of the Labyrinth is a great inclusion to the series with plenty of action and adventure.  Quick paced, this is a great book for boys and reluctant readers.  Grades 5-8.

The Titan’s Curse by Rick Riordan

Another hero, another quest.  The Titan’s Curse opens at boarding school where Grover has found a set (brother and sister) of half blood’s and in typical fashion a chase ensues.  The monster that was after the siblings was a manticore which is man with lion feature, a scorpion tail, and bat wings (picture included), horrible, I know.  After it seems like Percy, Thalia, Anabeth, and Grover have met their match the Hunters led by the god Artemis swoop in to save the day.  The ward off the manticore but not before he takes Anabeth.  Artemis vows to pursue the beast and demands the Hunters go to Camp Half Blood.  Eventually word reaches the camp that Artemis has been taken also.  Percy, Thalia, Grover and two Hunters are now charged with quest of finding Artemis, Anabeth, and figuring out what the horrible monster that could bring about the end of Olympus actually is.

Riordan keeps a quick pace and the adventures never cease.  However the best part of the series for me is the personality of the gods.  They are hilariously vain and self-serving which makes for great exchanges when the quest has to deal with them.  Another great addition to the series!

The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

In the second book in the series Percy Jackson discovers he has a half brother only this brother is nothing yours.  Tyson is a cyclops, but only a baby one.  Upon Percy’s return to camp he discovers that Thalia’s tree has been poisoned and Grover has been taken prisoner.  It is decided that a quest to cure the tree must be launched but this time Percy is not the one chosen.  Ignoring the order to stay at the camp, Percy, Anabeth, and Tyson take off for the Sea of Monsters (which you get to by going to Florida and taking a left).  Once there they must retrieve the one item that can save the camp and Grover.  This will be the most dangerous quest yet.

The sequel lives up to its fast paced predecessor with even more twists and turns.  The action will hook most readers between 4th and 8th grade.  highly recommended.