Percy & the Corpse

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Title of Book/Novel: The Battle of the Labyrinth [Percy Jackson & the Olympians Series]

Author: Rick Riordan

Publisher: Hyperion Books

(c): May 6, 2008

Price: $5 (used), $15 (new)

Pages: 368

Blades: 2.5

Synopsis: Percy Jackson isn’t expecting freshman orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears on campus, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to worse.

In this latest 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.

Review: Maybe I’m way too old for this series as there are somethings that my logic gets in the way of. Is it because Percy is dyslexic that it takes him forever to make a damn decision? Back and forth, back and forth. He can’t even tell who are demons and who is not. This kid never learns. He jumps into situations and endangers his friends all because he has a “duty” to be a hero. Whatever dude.

Once again Percy Jackson is in danger at another school (good grief). After setting the last school’s gym a blaze, Percy is now attending another school where demons roam – yet isn’t that EVERY school? The creatures of choice this time? Cheerleaders, or empousai cheerleaders. So would it be safe to assume that most cheerleaders are empousai? I would say yes, yes it is. Percy also runs into Rachel Elizabeth Dare (who also goes to this school) and she tells him that these girls don’t look right and he needs to run. From the last time we were with this kid his mom found some action in a new love interest, Paul Blofis, and he’s the reason that Percy gets into a new school. Either way Percy has a fight with the cheerleaders and another fire happens.

On Rachel’s and Percy’s escape from the school they run into Annabeth and Thalia. Annabeth’s jealousy shines as she hates on Rachel without reason and gives straight attitude. Anyhoo, the gang, minus Rachel, head to Camp Half-Blood and find out about “The Labyrinth” that Daedalus designed and it has the power to expand itself. Apparently Luke and Kronos are seeking the Labyrinth so that they may attack the camp from the inside. While attempting to stop Luke, Percy realizes that he helped his nemesis complete his plans and successfully enter the camp by means of the Labyrinth.

While Percy is on his mission, Grover is sets out on one of his own with the help of Tyson, Percy’s brother. Grover discovers Pan, or at least his memory, and realizes that he must tell the world of Pan’s death so that Pan may move on. More sacrifices and lessons that should have been learned in book one stretched to book four and boredom strangling me. It feels like these books are getting longer, even though they are not (physically) just emotionally. I only wish the series could end here, but alas that is not the case. One more travesty to read. Maybe it will get better with the death of Percy or something spectacular – like the gods being blown up. 2.5 bookmarks for a painful read.

blades: ★★½☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

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