Book Review: The Titan’s Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #3)

The Titan’s Curse

Author: Rick Riordan

Pages: 304

Rating: 5/5

Read at your own risk, this review may contain spoilers.

The book starts with Percy, Thalia, Annabeth, and Grover saving two potential half blood kids, Bianca and Nico di Angelo,  from a private military style school. As they were escaping, they were thwarted by Mr. Thorn, a hideous manticore who was under the direct supervision of the General. The Hunters led by the goddess Artemis arrived and shot arrows towards the monster however, the manticore fell off the cliff together with Annabeth. They all returned to Camp Half Blood including the Hunters but excluding Annabeth and Artemis who was supposed to seek for the rare monster who could destroy Olympus. Artemis haven’t returned yet so the Hunters including Bianca, and Thalia and Grover decided to find Artemis. With no one’s knowledge, Percy followed the group. From his quest, Percy met a cow serpent whom he helped escape from the net and towards the end it turned out that this cow was the monster Artemis was looking for, the monster who could destroy Olympus. After some gruelling events, Percy, Thalia, Grover, and the Hunters met the General who turned out to be Zoe’s (one of the Hunters) father, Atlas, Luke, Artemis, and Annabeth. After the group won in the battle they visited Mt. Olympus then returned back to the Camp. Percy delivered to Nico that her sister Bianca died in their quest, Nico was so angry to Percy. At that same time skeleton monsters suddenly appeared but to Percy’s surprised Nico easily took care of them. He was shocked to know that Bianca and Nico di Angelo were Hades’ children.

Favorite Character: In this third installment of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, my favorite character is Blackjack, the flying pegasus who helped Percy in his journey in saving Annabeth and Artemis. I think Blackjack is so funny, he was written with the touch of humor. I also like Dionysus or Mr. D for short. Though it looks he doesn’t care about the half bloods and the activities in the camp, in truth, he does. He even saved Percy in his life and death situation. He’s also a bit funny especially when he’s called the wine dude.

“There is always a way out for those clever enough to find it.” ~Rick Riordan, The Titan’s Curse

 

Book Review: The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner #1)

The Maze Runner

Author: James Dashner
Pages: 384
Rating: 5/5

When Thomas woke up, the only thing he could remember was his name. Kids were flocking around him and he was told that he was in the Glade, a small community inside giant stone walls. Later on, he learned that they were being experimented like lab rats and to get out of that living hell, they have to fight themselves out the Maze where metallic beetles and Grievers lurk ready to shred the Gladers to pieces. A day after Thomas arrived in the Glade, to everybody’s surprise another unconscious girl was sent (they were baffled because it was supposed to be just one glader a month). When Thomas tried to see the girl when she was still unconscious, he was stunned because it seemed like he can hear the girl speaking to him on his mind. At one time, Thomas voluntarily let a griever bite him so he could enter the Changing with the thought that he would remember everything. Well, he was basically right but what he remembered was way more than what he expected, it turned out that he was one of the Creators of the Maze and Teresa was his bestfriend. It was a shocked to him of course but it kind of helped them solved the Maze.

I haven’t read any novel with the same kind of idea that is why I enjoyed The Maze Runner very much. I like how I do not know anything at the start and I only got to know things when Thomas discovers things. It’s like I only know what Thomas knows. What enforced me to finish this novel is the cluelessness (is there such a word? ) of Thomas. I recommend this to dystopian and science fiction lovers.

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. ~The Maze Runner

Book Review: The Angel Experiment (Maximum Ride #1)

 

The Angel Experiment (Maximum Ride #1)

Author: James Patterson

Pages: 424

Rating: 5/5

According to Mr. Patterson, the idea for Maximum Ride came from earlier books of his called When the Wind Blows and The Lake House. Though there are some similar names, Maximum Ride should not be confused with his two prior novels because the similarities end with those names. The Angel Experiment starts when Angel, a 6 year old avian kid, was kidnapped and brought to the School, a laboratory of some sort. Max and her friends ended up rescuing Angel and to escape the Erasers, wolf-like mutants who are cronies of the School, they literally flew to New York. In there, they found out about the Institute, another group like the School, so they decided to go directly to the Institute and find for clues about their identities. By this time, Max already started hearing a voice in her head and most of the time the Voice tells her what to do. For some means, they were able to enter the Institute. In there, they rescued some mutant children and gathered some documents about their biological parents and their addresses. Max was glad about the discovery only to find out that there were no information about her and her family.

I think the first book in Maximum Ride is a great start for a great series. I’m a hundred percent sure that I will be reading the next installments in no time. While reading the novel, it feels like there’s an I am Number Four and  The Maze Runner touch on it. Like in the former, the kids here are developing unknown super powers, they don’t know what they can do and what their limits are. The cluelessness of Max and her friends including the maze like conflicts and challenges seem like the same for the latter.

Favorite Character: I really like the character of Fang. Most of the time he is the Mr. Cool, Calm, and Collected but at some times he is the excited, rash, and childish Fang. He serves as the primary supporter of the lead protagonist. He seems to work on the shadows behind the background who makes a big impact on the team without them really realizing.

“He who leaps for the sky may fall, it’s true. But he may also fly”     ~James Patterson, The Angel Experiment