Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters Book Review

I knew it. I knew this one would be better. It had to be. The action was awesome, I finally read until deep into the night again, and the plot felt way less predictable. Yes, there were some typical tropes that annoyed me, but overall, I was a lot more pleased with this one.

Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

Pet peeve: when you Google the book and they give you the movie.

Guys, I'm so happy I liked it. I'm so happy I could just put on music and read for two hours straight in the middle of the night while my body was craving sleep. I'm so happy I stopped subconsciously comparing this to Harry Potter every other 5 pages (I think we reached 20 at least a couple times)! I feel like the key to reading this series is not demanding too much depth and metaphor. It's like eating strawberry ice cream. You should never go into strawberry ice cream hoping that you'll taste layers and multiple flavors. You should go into strawberry ice cream hoping for a bomb of slightly sour-ish sugar and a painful tongue.

Summary:

Percy Jackson, Annabeth, and Tyson (a cyclops) go to the Sea of Monsters to save Goat Boy. Can't make it much prettier without spoiling you for book one.

Now, that I liked this one better DOES NOT MEAN that it was flawless. I either start to think in plot devices instead of logic (which, probably, is true) or this book just had a lot of built-in clichés. It were clichés that I could deal with, but that doesn't change the fact that I have to touch on them.

Stars:

4.7 stars (Accuracy: 24957,3ty94217y4 on a scale of ^$#@$%&*FGDr45830)

The Section of Spoilers begins here.

It's filled with Plot Twists, Character Development, and Key Plot Points.

Can I just begin by stating that this book series gives me the strongest animated kids' movie vibes since Ice Age 4 (Don't mess with my childhood, I dare you...)? The way Rick builds the tension just screams animated picture to me.

Percy: Supposedly Inanimate Object gives me the creeps.

Supposedly Inanimate Object: *comes to live*

This was so overpowering I actually started to alter the way I pictured the scenery to more Dreamworks-Pixar-Blue Sky style.

And can I just express how much I love that? Yes, it's slightly obnoxious and predictable on occasions, but I'm a real nostalgia junkie. I crave those Shady Grown Ups and Quirky Mid-Fight Scene Statements. Why? Because it reminds me of my love for Ice Age, Madagascar, and Shrek. (To the point where my eyes start tearing when they play the soundtracks.)

Am I the only one who's messed up enough to picture Grover as Elliot from Open Season?

Side Note; I just wanted to share that they're showing the Harry Potter movies on this channel in the Netherlands and every time the music comes up, there's this fascinating living room scene in my house.

My mom: Scowls in disdain.

My dad: Ignores it, because deafness.

My brother: Looks over to me, smirking.

Me: Whips her head towards the screen to check which movie it is, then turns back to her book while her cheeks flush crimson.

But I have to credit Mister Riordan BECAUSE THAT PLOT TWIST AT THE END O MY FRIES WHAT WAS THAT?! So I sat in my free hour in the 'studying room', relaxed, reading the last 60-or-so pages of Sea of Monsters and there're the Fleece and Annabeth. And I'm calm.

And then HE BRINGS BACK ALL THE SURVIVING TRIBUTES AND I JUST CAN'T BECAUSE TREES ARE TREES AND DO NOT BECOME PEOPLE. 

And overall, I think this series is doing a good job leaving me in the dark. Even though I can often predict what characters might say or do, I have no clue what the Dark Side is doing at this point. Yeah, you have Luke Pettigrew trying to reawaken Kronomort, but the rest of it? No clue.

And I ship Percabeth. (That's an advantage of joining a bandwagon later. You are not responsible for the ship names.) I feel the air tingling with potential.

Speaking of Percy and Annabeth, am I the only one who inevitably connects the Sirens with this:

You know, one of those scenes in kids' movies that just scars you permanently? I could make a whole list of those.

And I loved the general dynamic between the two with Grover gone. Tyson was kinda cute as well. I can't completely wrap my head around what he was representing, but I liked his character and backstory. I also loved how Poseidon apparently tends to have Cyclops children.

My number one pet peeve in this series will always remain the same, though: Side Character Emily is about to drop important information on Main Character Charles and Sound Effect Cosmos interrupts the explanation of a vital part of Plot Device Secondary Toothbrush. I understand that it's necessary every once in a while, but it happens so incredibly often in Rick Riordan's books. And IRL, I don't feel it happens that often.

Me: Yes, and then this happened and--

Passing Train: YJFCESW$^8$15@%*

Friend: I'm sorry, what were you saying?

Me: Sadly I can't repeat this crucial sentence about the future of our existence. The train just completely irradicated my ability to share important information.

No. I'm pleading with all authors to stop this. You can only do this once per book. You'll have to figure out emotional or rational arguments to discontinue the conversation.