4.5⭐ ( )

I read the last four of this series in pretty rapid sucession of around three days. I mostly remember that they sort of blurred together. They weren't the most fantastic of children's literature, but I had a lot of fun trying to predict Olympian references and guest appearances before the books would tell you who it was. ( )

Percy Jackson isn't expecting freshman orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears at his potential new school, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to worse.

In this fourth installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronos's army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop the invasion, Percy and his demigod friends must set out on a quest through the Labyrinth - a sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn. ( )

Book 4 of 5 in the epic series- Percy Jackson and the Olympians! This was one of my favorite books of the bunch! It features my favorite Greek legend as a crucial plot point. https://www.librarything.com/work/173670/reviews/227985709 ( )

The fourth book of the Percy Jackson series has definitely been the best one so far. While it doesn't quite ditch the predictable formula of the first three, there are enough surprises and twists here that keep the story exciting. The plot revolving Kronos is developing steadily, with introductions of new characters, allies and enemies, and new revelations. Again, I enjoyed seeing Riordan's modern take on Greek mythology and how he integrates it into Percy's tale, though not all of it was done well.

I really liked the idea of the labyrinth existing in the shadows of America, but felt that it wasn't used that well. I wanted more details about the labyrinth, but it seemed more like a convenient plot device to transport the characters to where the storyline needed them to be. I also thought the interlude with Calypso was sort of randomly tacked on. I get that Riordan needed Percy to develop in a certain direction as a character, and that required Percy to go through certain experiences, but I think that episode was too short for me to believe that the characters felt the way they did in that situation.

Major aspects of the storyline were also told through flashbacks and dream sequences. I thought it was all a little too convenient for Percy to just learn about all the important stuff through his dreams but I guess they were necessary for us to know what Riordan wanted us to know. Still, the storyline in his book was more enjoyable than the previous books. There was a ton of action with the characters running through the Labyrinth, going from place to place, fighting all sorts of monsters and meeting a variety of characters. I really liked the introduction of Rachel, the mortal girl-- she's a really fun character and I have a feeling she'll be playing a big role in the final book. I also always enjoy any scene with Nico in it, he's a really cute kid even though he tries to be all grown up and serious in his role as the son of Hades.

The impending war and Kronos's return hasn't really felt threatening in the previous books of the series but in The Battle of the Labyrinth, the stakes finally feel like they're being raised very high and the book proves it with some harsh consequences and heart-wrenching developments for the characters. I'm unsure where the plot will go from here as it feels like a lot of new elements were introduced, so it's unclear how Riordan will wrap up the story with only one book to go. I imagine the fifth book will be one exciting, action-packed ride! ( )