! Review Time !
Alright.
I have found yet another author I am unable to trust. I'm really upset too, because until this book I could recommend Rick Riordan in a heartbeat and feel completely confident that he would not let me down. Now I'm not sure anymore. Worst of all, what he did was unnecessary and uncalled for. And it all happened because of one hateful character, Nico Di Angelo.
I've never liked Nico, he's always creeped me out, I didn't trust him and I didn't want him around. But I could tolerate him. Now I can't even do that, because Rick Riordan did something unexpected and horrible. He made Nico queer. He likes another boy. Really, really likes him. That immediately turned me off and made me furious. It wasn't needed, it was just a throw-in plot twist with absolutely no link to the rest of the story and no reason to be there. We just needed somewhere to be queer, so Nico was made queer. It wasn't even realistic because Nico is from another time, the 1940's to be exact, and he wouldn't have been like that. Ever. Luckily, his feelings are one-sided but the fact that he has those feelings at all makes me sick and angry. It also drags down the book which otherwise would have been one of his better works. The rest of the characters are quite brilliant, and Percy is still one of my favorite fictional book characters. The plot-twists and interweaving of the different stories, the adventure and stakes, its all handled very well and has you biting your nails and holding your breath. He portrays friendship and family well, and his love stories are some of the best I've read. Well.... when someone doesn't go Queer on you. *scowl* I'm just.... I'm really upset the story took that turn. I mean, I read it and felt.... terrible.
Even without the 'Nico' thing, the story was rather weak. It felt kind of like The Mark of Athena. A lot happened but nothing got done. We had a lot of running and planning but it never seemed to go anywhere. We were introduced to some new characters but our immediate problem wasn't really solved. The Tartarus angle was very good and I actually had to close the book at one point and take a break because Percy and Annabeth's story was making me so nervous. The 'side-characters' (haha) stories also drew you in and made you want to read more, especially Leo's, who is my favorite character besides Percy. Leo is so.... Leo! he makes me incredibly happy and you always love to read about him. He's nerdy. He's awkward and doesn't quite fit in. He always feels like the odd-one-out and never sees how much he is needed by the rest of the team. He's just the mechanic, he does his job, that's it. he's nothing special. Or at least that what he thinks. He's something much more than a mere mechanic, there's a lot of strength in Leo. I have had the most fun reading Percy's and Leo's character ark, they've been the best. The thing is, I now have an idea of how Leo is going to end. And it makes me want to cry and scream and pelt Rick Riordan with shoes. I already want to hit him with shoes for Nico, but if he does anything to Leo....
So that's that. I'll be back as soon as possible with a nicer
post, but until then, I bid all of you a fond farewell.
*KEVINLIVES!*
God Bless!
~Bella
