On This Page
Description
"The Greek and Roman demigods must simultaneously prevent the earth mother, Gaea, from waking and stop war from breaking out at Camp Half-Blood"--Tags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
A nearly perfect ending to a rewarding series
I've greatly enjoyed Rick Riordan's young adult mythological fantasy series, and this final installment did not disappoint. The Heroes of Olympus has been somewhat different from the original Percy Jackson and the Olympians, in some ways I didn't like as much, such as the plot feeling a bit more formulaic with fewer major twists, but in other ways I enjoyed even more, such as the bigger, more diverse cast of characters. Riordan couldn't develop them all as fully, but over the course of the series I felt he did justice to all the central characters so that by the end I came to appreciate each of them as unique individuals. And while their ethnic diversity was nice, and their diversity of show more Olympian parentage even more interesting, it was most gratifying that given those genetic backgrounds the essence of their characters grew out of their experiences and choices.
Some reviewers have complained that Percy and Annabeth get short shrift in their last book, and I can understand wanting to see more of them. But personally, after having spent so much time with them already in the earlier books, I enjoyed spending more time with Reyna, Nico, Jason, and even Piper, but especially Leo. And I was satisfied with the ending to Percy and Annabeth's story.
I have less sympathy with the complaint that the ending was "too happy" because none of the central protagonists died. Sacrifice doesn't make things more meaningful, just pointlessly tragic. If the heroes can figure out a way to triumph in the end that avoids the necessity of laying down their own lives, that makes them all the more heroic. I, for one, applaud Rick Riordan for daring to give us a happy ending. I would have been disappointed if he'd gone for the usual cheap trick of "heroic sacrifice". The final chapter had me laughing from sheer delight, so as far as I'm concerned, The Blood of Olympus was a nearly perfect conclusion to a very worthwhile journey. Thank you, Mr. Riordan.
http://www.amazon.com/review/RH0E32SMOMQE9 show less
I've greatly enjoyed Rick Riordan's young adult mythological fantasy series, and this final installment did not disappoint. The Heroes of Olympus has been somewhat different from the original Percy Jackson and the Olympians, in some ways I didn't like as much, such as the plot feeling a bit more formulaic with fewer major twists, but in other ways I enjoyed even more, such as the bigger, more diverse cast of characters. Riordan couldn't develop them all as fully, but over the course of the series I felt he did justice to all the central characters so that by the end I came to appreciate each of them as unique individuals. And while their ethnic diversity was nice, and their diversity of show more Olympian parentage even more interesting, it was most gratifying that given those genetic backgrounds the essence of their characters grew out of their experiences and choices.
Some reviewers have complained that Percy and Annabeth get short shrift in their last book, and I can understand wanting to see more of them. But personally, after having spent so much time with them already in the earlier books, I enjoyed spending more time with Reyna, Nico, Jason, and even Piper, but especially Leo. And I was satisfied with the ending to Percy and Annabeth's story.
I have less sympathy with the complaint that the ending was "too happy" because none of the central protagonists died. Sacrifice doesn't make things more meaningful, just pointlessly tragic. If the heroes can figure out a way to triumph in the end that avoids the necessity of laying down their own lives, that makes them all the more heroic. I, for one, applaud Rick Riordan for daring to give us a happy ending. I would have been disappointed if he'd gone for the usual cheap trick of "heroic sacrifice". The final chapter had me laughing from sheer delight, so as far as I'm concerned, The Blood of Olympus was a nearly perfect conclusion to a very worthwhile journey. Thank you, Mr. Riordan.
http://www.amazon.com/review/RH0E32SMOMQE9 show less
The general consensus seems to be that people were disappointed with the brevity of the final battle. Personally, I couldn't care less about that - if I wanted long, drawn out, pointless action scenes, I'd watch a Michael Bay movie. I was personally disappointed with the really haphazard way in which the prophecy was addressed - it was almost an after-thought.
Other were annoyed at how little Percy featured in this. Well guess what? It's not Percy Jackson and the Blood of Olympus. This is a Heroes of Olympus book. Percy got his time to shine - it was well past time he took a back seat, and I'm glad he did, because...
This book had phenomenal character development. The growth and fleshing out of characters was great. Nico's ending in this show more book couldn't have been better. The others as well. I was well-pleased with how this series wrapped up. show less
Other were annoyed at how little Percy featured in this. Well guess what? It's not Percy Jackson and the Blood of Olympus. This is a Heroes of Olympus book. Percy got his time to shine - it was well past time he took a back seat, and I'm glad he did, because...
This book had phenomenal character development. The growth and fleshing out of characters was great. Nico's ending in this show more book couldn't have been better. The others as well. I was well-pleased with how this series wrapped up. show less
Summary: The time when Gaia finally awakens is drawing near, and she can only be stopped by all of the demigods, both Greek and Roman, working together. Reyna, Nico, and Coach Hedge are working to bring the Athena Parthenos statue back to Camp Half-Blood - the only thing that might stop the Greek and Roman demigods from destroying each other instead of fighting Gaia's forces. But they're traveling via Nico's shadow powers, which are draining him - possibly beyond what he can endure. Meanwhile, the seven demigods aboard the Argo II - Percy, Jason, Annabeth, Leo, Piper, Hazel, and Frank - head towards Athens, where Gaia's forces are concentrated, but encountering myriad dangers along the way. They are desperate to find some way to stop show more her… but always mindful of the prophecy that states that in order to save the world, one of them may have to die.
Review: I enjoy the heck out of these books. Riordan's so good at his characterization, setting up each of his protagonists as interesting, sympathetic, and unique people that you can't help but root for (and fear for - that damn prophecy!) This book is as action packed and quick-moving as you might expect, but it also contains all these wonderful little character moments that make you laugh (more than once!), or smile, or nod in recognition, or break your heart (mostly Nico. I know he's not a hugger, but ye gods, I just want to hug the poor kid). Even Piper - who had previously been pretty flat for me - got some dimensionality in this one, and her own chance to save the day. The downside to this is because there are so many protagonists to this story (and since it's been two and a half years since I was introduced to most of them - longer for Percy and Annabeth), that it's tough keeping all of their backstories straight at the time, especially since only half of them have POV chapters in this novel. Which, on that note: It seems weird to me that in the last book of a multi-protagonist series, that we don't get POV chapters from each of the protagonists. Maybe that would have made it feel even more fragmented, but I would have liked to hear from everybody - even briefly - one last time.
I had a similar problem remembering all of the various plot threads as I did with the character's backstories - I only vaguely remembered past events that wind up being hugely important in this one. But the truth was, it didn't really hamper my enjoyment of the novel much at all. I still followed what was happening without much difficulty, and I thought that Riordan did a great job tying everything together, and giving us a resolution that was satisfying and complete, but didn't feel too easy, and still left you wanting to know what happens next in these people's lives - not because the story arc was unresolved, but just because you care about them. 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: Starting here would be ridiculous; start with The Lost Hero, or even better, with The Lightning Thief. But the series (both series!) as a whole is a ton of fun if you like fast-paced mid-grade/young adult adventure fantasy, especially if you grew up a Greek mythology nut like me. show less
Review: I enjoy the heck out of these books. Riordan's so good at his characterization, setting up each of his protagonists as interesting, sympathetic, and unique people that you can't help but root for (and fear for - that damn prophecy!) This book is as action packed and quick-moving as you might expect, but it also contains all these wonderful little character moments that make you laugh (more than once!), or smile, or nod in recognition, or break your heart (mostly Nico. I know he's not a hugger, but ye gods, I just want to hug the poor kid). Even Piper - who had previously been pretty flat for me - got some dimensionality in this one, and her own chance to save the day. The downside to this is because there are so many protagonists to this story (and since it's been two and a half years since I was introduced to most of them - longer for Percy and Annabeth), that it's tough keeping all of their backstories straight at the time, especially since only half of them have POV chapters in this novel. Which, on that note: It seems weird to me that in the last book of a multi-protagonist series, that we don't get POV chapters from each of the protagonists. Maybe that would have made it feel even more fragmented, but I would have liked to hear from everybody - even briefly - one last time.
I had a similar problem remembering all of the various plot threads as I did with the character's backstories - I only vaguely remembered past events that wind up being hugely important in this one. But the truth was, it didn't really hamper my enjoyment of the novel much at all. I still followed what was happening without much difficulty, and I thought that Riordan did a great job tying everything together, and giving us a resolution that was satisfying and complete, but didn't feel too easy, and still left you wanting to know what happens next in these people's lives - not because the story arc was unresolved, but just because you care about them. 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: Starting here would be ridiculous; start with The Lost Hero, or even better, with The Lightning Thief. But the series (both series!) as a whole is a ton of fun if you like fast-paced mid-grade/young adult adventure fantasy, especially if you grew up a Greek mythology nut like me. show less
As the culmination of the full (double) series, this book works on a lot of levels, though it certainly maintains the flaws of the second series as a whole. Riordan is a master of pace and building intensity; the stakes that have risen consistently with each book find their ultimate apex here. For all that, there are a few moments that feel too easy, by the end, but after so much struggle, it's hard to think of a different way out of some of the challenges that our demigod heroes were stuck in. The last, final piece -- which I shall not spoil -- is also a little bit copped out, but that too makes sense for a series that still has a little more middle grade to it than YA, even though its protagonists (all million of them) have grown up show more enough to experience love and (gasp!) at least the implication of sexual feelings.
The series, overall, gains much from novelty. The story, even repetitive as it often is, picks up the reader and carries him/her for a long way before some of the faults catch up. Riordan's habit of collecting one representative from every "diverse" population he apparently could think of -- while still presenting the two most powerful central heroes as white, cis-hetero males -- is still frustratingly evident, but at the same time, I appreciate that he made an effort to put forth so many different heroes in order, one hopes, that any reader could come to this series and find a heroic character with whom they had something in common. Even if the characterization of those figures is sometimes lackluster (or, on a couple of occasions, unintentionally stereotypical), there is value in having characters that every kid can see themselves within. And, as a teacher of mythology myself, I recognize that we have much to thank Riordan for in terms of bringing ancient myth back to a level of popular interest that it deserves. In the end, the monsters were fun, the adventures were perilous, the heroes were many, and the whole series made an effort to appeal to and connect with all kinds of readers. While still best for its original audience of middle graders, there is much to appreciate here. A good end for those who were ready to be satisfied by happiness, though not a great one for the reader who was looking for more. show less
The series, overall, gains much from novelty. The story, even repetitive as it often is, picks up the reader and carries him/her for a long way before some of the faults catch up. Riordan's habit of collecting one representative from every "diverse" population he apparently could think of -- while still presenting the two most powerful central heroes as white, cis-hetero males -- is still frustratingly evident, but at the same time, I appreciate that he made an effort to put forth so many different heroes in order, one hopes, that any reader could come to this series and find a heroic character with whom they had something in common. Even if the characterization of those figures is sometimes lackluster (or, on a couple of occasions, unintentionally stereotypical), there is value in having characters that every kid can see themselves within. And, as a teacher of mythology myself, I recognize that we have much to thank Riordan for in terms of bringing ancient myth back to a level of popular interest that it deserves. In the end, the monsters were fun, the adventures were perilous, the heroes were many, and the whole series made an effort to appeal to and connect with all kinds of readers. While still best for its original audience of middle graders, there is much to appreciate here. A good end for those who were ready to be satisfied by happiness, though not a great one for the reader who was looking for more. show less
The seven demigods of prophecy have come a long way over the course of the past four books. Now, as they travel through Greece to the final conflict, they fight battles both internal and external as they contemplate what certain lines of the prophecy may mean. Meanwhile, Nico, Reyna, and Coach Hedge struggle to transport the Athena Parthenos back to Camp Half-Blood in time to avert a deadly conflict between the Greek and Roman demigods. If they don't make it back in time, the consequences could be devastating. As the final battle looms, the fates of all of the characters in the story are far from certain.
This book, like its predecessors, is satisfyingly fast-paced and action-filled. All of the major plot points are wrapped up, though show more Riordan does leave a few tantalizing threads dangling, offering hope for perhaps a few more short stories featuring certain intriguing characters. I have just a minor criticism of this book, and since it constitutes a spoiler, I'll mask it here:This may seem like a strange criticism, but nobody important died in the big final battle (unless you count Octavian, who had been set up as a minor villain since the first book). Despite two major conflicts raging, all seven (or nine, or ten if you want to count Nico, Reyna, and Coach Hedge) major characters lived. Which is great, but I honestly expected that at least one of the Seven would die in the last battle. In fact, though this series looks and feels more young adult (as opposed to juvenile) than the original Percy Jackson series, Riordan killed off more named characters in that series than in this one, by my count. It just feels a little cheap, especially in comparison with other major series for children and young adults. Everybody lives, everybody gets a love interest, nobody has to deal with consequences for an adventure of the scope of the one they've just had. Am I being a curmudgeon? If so, remember that I said this was a minor criticism -- I still enjoyed the series, and will probably enjoy more than one reread of it in the future. show less
This book, like its predecessors, is satisfyingly fast-paced and action-filled. All of the major plot points are wrapped up, though show more Riordan does leave a few tantalizing threads dangling, offering hope for perhaps a few more short stories featuring certain intriguing characters. I have just a minor criticism of this book, and since it constitutes a spoiler, I'll mask it here:
I am not going to lie. This collection is one of my favorite series. How often do you see a collection of diverse people, getting along, overcoming obstacles and developing and overcoming real issues, such as jealousy and anxiety?
Multiple races are present here, despite the Roman and Greek mythology setting, with the understanding that a/ Rome and Greece were lands of multiple races and b/ so is America. The women and men are both strong and beauty in a woman isn't something to be mocked or maligned.
I just love these books so much. Yes, they're campy and full of deux de machina but so were the actual myths they're based around. If you love Roman and Greek heroes and you like to have some humor and some real world problems in your life show more this is the series for you. show less
Multiple races are present here, despite the Roman and Greek mythology setting, with the understanding that a/ Rome and Greece were lands of multiple races and b/ so is America. The women and men are both strong and beauty in a woman isn't something to be mocked or maligned.
I just love these books so much. Yes, they're campy and full of deux de machina but so were the actual myths they're based around. If you love Roman and Greek heroes and you like to have some humor and some real world problems in your life show more this is the series for you. show less
I would rather you not read this review if you haven't read the book yet. Friends, don't kill me. You were nicely warned.
So here I go.
*huffs*
HOW?! WHAT?! WHY?!
Towards the last pages of this book, my heart was planted with a feeling that started as something like doubt. I was flustered. This is the conclusion of Heroes of Olympus! Riordan's masterpiece! Why am I feeling this, like it's not going to be as exciting as I hoped it'd be? The book's last pages were thinning, and I was getting more flustered. And that feeling eventually grew, when I reached the ending, into a feeling of incompleteness. I feel like I seriously deserve a proper explanation.
RR never fails to deliver because of course, it's jam-packed with action, and both the crew in Argo II and the three transporting the Athena Parthenos to CHB went through great lengths before the final battle. It's epic, but not as epic as the Battle of Manhattan. (Now THAT was something. Unforgettable, riveting, tragic and triumphant.)
I guess I just expected a lot from this. The final battle was short, and was confusing for everyone else afterwards. And don't even get me started with Leo. Don't get me wrong, because I love the guy. And therein lies our problem. I love him too much to think that his ending was enough. He might be happy… but it was a hazy, uncertain kind of happiness. I wished more for him.
And other people whose fates were vague: Apollo, and Reyna. I hope the god of bad haiku wasn't obliterated, 'cause I kinda like him. As for Reyna, I had a feeling she might be a Hunter or an Amazon or an Oracle or a priestess or whatever, but I wish I knew exactly what would heal her heart.
On the brighter side, though:
1) Percy and Leo make a great tag team— it's much more emphasized in this book. I jot down quotes I find amusing, and I realize they're all by these two.
"If the statue engulfs people in fire, we should send Leo."
"I love you too, man."
*giggles*
(Kekrops, first king of Athens) "My people were the original Athenians— the gemini."
"Like your zodiac sign?" Percy asked. "I'm a Leo."
"No, stupid," Leo said. "I'm a Leo. You're a Percy."
*giggles… and snorts*
There's also the Adidas thing— but you get my point. I might even be shipping this Percy-Leo thing in some other parallel universe.
2) NICO. JUST— wow. Nico is my most loved character here in the series. It's his chapters I reread, it's him I most care about, it's his revelations I find the most heartbreaking/heartwarming. And now? I am so glad he's found his place. Gods, I've even found a new OTP. And I am so, so happy for him. :)
3) I can also just imagine RR saying: Oh, you want some Percabeth? Or maybe Leo humor? More plot twists? I got you guys covered. Very much appreciated, Rick.
That's it. It's hard making reviews right after reading the book— I'm spilling too much. And yes, I'm overwhelmed, but not to the point that all I'm typing is agdkakhnwbxj, which means I'm not too disoriented, which means the conclusion is not that big of an impact for me. I wish I was typing agjdkajddkkd instead of coherent thoughts. On a side note though, if some conclusions were too murky… perhaps there's a continuation, yes? I wouldn't say no to another series plotted in the familiar setting of CHB. Though I'd like Percy and the gang to have a rest, I'm sure they've been through a LOT already.
But then again… that's a lot to hope for. I guess we should settle with this kind of conclusion. *sighs* I still love you, RR. Thank you for this wonderful series. It's actually the first I've had the honor of following for every year, starting with The Lost Hero, and I've bought Blood of Olympus on the first day of its release.
No regrets.
show less
So here I go.
*huffs*
HOW?! WHAT?! WHY?!
Towards the last pages of this book, my heart was planted with a feeling that started as something like doubt. I was flustered. This is the conclusion of Heroes of Olympus! Riordan's masterpiece! Why am I feeling this, like it's not going to be as exciting as I hoped it'd be? The book's last pages were thinning, and I was getting more flustered. And that feeling eventually grew, when I reached the ending, into a feeling of incompleteness. I feel like I seriously deserve a proper explanation.
RR never fails to deliver because of course, it's jam-packed with action, and both the crew
I guess I just expected a lot from this. The final battle was short, and was confusing for everyone else afterwards. And don't even get me started with Leo. Don't get me wrong, because I love the guy. And therein lies our problem. I love him too much to think that his ending was enough. He might be happy… but it was a hazy, uncertain kind of happiness. I wished more for him.
And other people whose fates were vague: Apollo, and Reyna. I hope the god of bad haiku wasn't obliterated, 'cause I kinda like him. As for Reyna, I had a feeling she might be a Hunter or an Amazon or an Oracle or a priestess or whatever, but I wish I knew exactly what would heal her heart.
On the brighter side, though:
1) Percy and Leo make a great tag team— it's much more emphasized in this book. I jot down quotes I find amusing, and I realize they're all by these two.
"If the statue engulfs people in fire, we should send Leo."
"I love you too, man."
*giggles*
(Kekrops, first king of Athens) "My people were the original Athenians— the gemini."
"Like your zodiac sign?" Percy asked. "I'm a Leo."
"No, stupid," Leo said. "I'm a Leo. You're a Percy."
*giggles… and snorts*
There's also the Adidas thing— but you get my point. I might even be shipping this Percy-Leo thing in some other parallel universe.
2) NICO. JUST— wow. Nico is my most loved character here in the series. It's his chapters I reread, it's him I most care about, it's his revelations I find the most heartbreaking/heartwarming. And now? I am so glad he's found his place. Gods, I've even found a new OTP. And I am so, so happy for him. :)
3) I can also just imagine RR saying: Oh, you want some Percabeth? Or maybe Leo humor? More plot twists? I got you guys covered. Very much appreciated, Rick.
That's it. It's hard making reviews right after reading the book— I'm spilling too much. And yes, I'm overwhelmed, but not to the point that all I'm typing is agdkakhnwbxj, which means I'm not too disoriented, which means the conclusion is not that big of an impact for me. I wish I was typing agjdkajddkkd instead of coherent thoughts. On a side note though, if some conclusions were too murky… perhaps there's a continuation, yes? I wouldn't say no to another series plotted in the familiar setting of CHB. Though I'd like Percy and the gang to have a rest, I'm sure they've been through a LOT already.
But then again… that's a lot to hope for. I guess we should settle with this kind of conclusion. *sighs* I still love you, RR. Thank you for this wonderful series. It's actually the first I've had the honor of following for every year, starting with The Lost Hero, and I've bought Blood of Olympus on the first day of its release.
No regrets.
Members
- Recently Added By
Lists
Top Five Books of 2014
1,064 works; 397 members
The Romantic Suspense Titles of 2014
17 works; 1 member
Books Read in 2014
2,341 works; 89 members
Books Read in 2024
4,623 works; 126 members
Books read in 2014
66 works; 1 member
Read in 2024
23 works; 1 member
Kindle Action/Adventure - Junior and Teenage Re-Read
247 works; 1 member
Author Information
241+ Works 334,814 Members
Rick Riordan was born on June 5, 1964, in San Antonio, Texas. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a double major in English and history, he taught in public and private middle schools for many years. He writes several children's series including Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Kane Chronicles, and The Heroes of show more Olympus, Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, and The Trials of Apollo. He also writes the Tres Navarre mystery series for adults. He has won Edgar, Anthony, and Shamus Awards for his mystery novels. . (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Some Editions
Awards and Honors
Series
Work Relationships
Is contained in
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Blood of Olympus
- Original title
- The Blood of Olympus
- Original publication date
- 2014-10-07
- People/Characters
- Jason Grace; Annabeth Chase; Piper McLean; Hazel Levesque; Antinous; Eurymachus (show all 68); Apollo; Victoria; Michael Varus; Beryl Grace (as a ghost); Jupiter (mentioned only); Leo Valdez; Frank Zhang; Juno; Artemis; Reyna Ramirez-Arellano; Nico di Angelo; Gleeson Hedge; Bellona (mentioned only); Octavian; Michael Kahale; Jacob; Bryce Lawrence; Thalia Grace; Amazons; Buford; Hunters of Artemis; Nike; Percy Jackson; Calypso; Arion; Clovis; Clarisse La Rue; Rachel Elizabeth Dare; Will Solace; Ella; Jake Mason; Connor Stoll; Hades; Gaea; Orion; Lycaon; Aurum; Argentum; Periclymenus (mentioned only); Ares (mentioned only); Mimas; Damasen (mentioned only); Hylla Ramírez-Arellano; Roberto Cofresi; Captain Marion Frederic Ramirez de Arellano; Kymopoleia; Polybotes; Banastre Tarleton (mentioned only); Marquis Jules-Albert de Dion; Pegasus; Julian Ramirez-Arellano; Cynocephali; Cyclopes; Python (mentioned only); Asclepius; Dakota; Leila; Lou Ellen; Cecil; Zeus; Ouranos (mentioned only); Festus
- Important places
- Camp Half-Blood, Long Island, USA; Camp Jupiter, California, USA; Odysseus' Palace, Ithaca, Grecce; Acropolis; Argo II; Olympia, Greece (show all 19); Mount Vesuvius; Pompeii; Temple of Diana; Pylos; Nestor's cave; Évora, Portugal; Temple of Fear, Sparta, Greece; Sparta, Greece; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Mykonos, Greece; Buford, South Carolina, USA; Delos; Ogygia
- Epigraph
- Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,
To storm or fire the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death. - Dedication
- To my wonderful readers.
Sorry about that apology for that last cliffhanger.
I'll try to avoid cliffhangers in this book.
Well, except for maybe a few small ones...
because I love you guys. - First words
- Jason hated being old.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)The bronze dragon spread his wings, and they soared into the unknown.
- Original language
- English
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 9,703
- Popularity
- 1,049
- Reviews
- 127
- Rating
- (4.29)
- Languages
- 16 — Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian (Bokmål), Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 78
- ASINs
- 24