Skip to main content

The Lost Hero


The Lost Hero (Heroes of Olympus, Book 1)
by Rick Riordan
Hyperion, 2010. 553 pgs. Fiction.


I have good news and bad news. The good news is that the first book in Rick Riordan's new Heroes of Olympus series is a crackling good read, Riordan once again employing his breakneck/wisecracking mythological adventure formula to splendid effect. The bad news is that the next volume, The Son of Neptune, will not come out until Fall of 2011. Until then we will be left to wonder what will become of young Jason, a Roman hero with amnesia, who finds himself at Camp Half-Blood after a terrifying fight with storm spirits over the Grand Canyon. With him are two friends whom he doesn't remember: Piper, daughter of Aphrodite and my personal favorite, Leo, son of Hephaestus who can generate fire with his hands and can fix or fabricate anything with the help of us trusty magic tool belt, including Fetus, the mechanical dragon. Without revealing too much I can tell you that the three friends leave Camp Half-Blood almost immediately upon arriving, on a quest to save Hera/Juno from an unnamed captor who wants the gods to fall and the giants to take over. On the way they meet Aeolus as an Olympian weatherman; King Midas; Llycaon and his wolves. They also go shopping in at a mall which must be entered through the sewer which is run by one of the most evil women ever to live; namely . . . but you can figure that our for yourself. Though there is a fairly long line of people waiting to read Riordan's latest, it will be well worth your time, and the wait.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Umami

  Umami By Jacob Grant New York: Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2024. Picture Book. Umami is a little penguin who is sick of eating the same thing everyday, cold fish --ugh! She becomes determined to find new foods and flavors, so Umami begins a journey across the sea in search of something different to eat. She reaches a place with a plethora of delicious options, and tries bitter, sweet, sour, and foods with umami (just like her name!) among others. Umami decides to bring all these delicious new flavors back for the other penguins to try in a feast. But, will the other penguins enjoy this new experience?  Filled with charm and humor, Umami is a diverse romp through a universal experience --am I willing to try something new? What will it be like? The idea of trying new foods and flavors make it especially relatable, and the appealing illustrations will have many readers ready to hop out on a culinary adventure. A humorous and sweet ending, caps off this delig...

Review: Faker

Faker By Gordon Korman New York: Scholastic Press, 2024. Fiction. 214 pages. 12-year-old Trey is used to starting over at a new school -- he has the routine perfectly memorized: make new friends, introduce his dad to the wealthy parents of his new friends, and "Houdini" themselves out of there before they get caught running their latest scam. Trey's dad is a master con artist, and Trey has just been promoted to full-partner. Their new scheme for the next big score brings them to the affluent suburb of Boxelder, TN where Trey's dad has cooked up a fake electric car company for investors to buy into. The only problem is that Trey is starting to grow tired of moving around and never putting down roots, especially after forming a fast friendship with Logan and developing a crush on Kaylee, a socially conscious girl in his class. As Trey longs for a normal life, is there any way he can convince his dad to get out of the family business? Gordon Korman is a perennial favorit...

Five Faves: Picture Books with Festive Treats

In my family, December marks the beginning of the holiday season, where we get to spend time together and do all of our favorite traditions. And, of course, eat lots of yummy food. I love that holidays look different for different families, but so many families have special foods they eat during the holidays. These are some of my favorite picture books about families making (and eating!) special holiday treats. These books might even give you new ideas of festive treats to try! The Last Tamale Written by Mendiola Orlando Illustrated by Teresa Martinez New York: Harper, 2024. Picture Book. Once a year, Luis' whole family gets together for their annual tamalada -- a party where they make tamales using a super-secret recipe. It's all love, family, and tradition until there is only one tamale left. Who will get it? It's an all-out family battle to decide who gets the last tamale. Colorful and humorous, this story is perfect for the holidays or whenever your family likes to enjo...