After getting expelled from yet another school for yet another clash with mythological monsters only he can see, twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is taken to Camp Half-Blood, where he finally learns the truth about his unique abilities: He is a demigod, half human, half immortal. Even more stunning: His father is the Greek god Poseidon, ruler of the sea, making Percy one of the most powerful demigods alive. There’s little time to process this news. All too soon, a cryptic prophecy from the Oracle sends Percy on his first quest, a mission to the Underworld to prevent a war among the gods of Olympus.
This first installment of Rick Riordan’s best-selling series is a non-stop thrill-ride and a classic of mythic proportions.
Percy Jackson is a book that I’m struggling to rate because I loved it I did but also I felt a bit unimpressed while being impressed while being a bit old? Okay this review has gotten off to a rocky start.
Percy Jackson is a middle grade staring Percy a boy who has been to 6 schools in 6 years and is always getting in trouble or really trouble is always finding him. From evil math teachers to a hell hound and centaurs there is so much mythology I could explode with happiness.
I LOVED all the mythology, all the Greek gods, all the monsters it was just awesome to read about and learn about these creatures and their relation to each other.
Percy gets expelled from school once again and discovers why all these things keep happening to him, he’s a Demi god, a half human half Greek god. His Dad is Poseidon God of the Sea and he’s going to camp Half Blood. Camp Half Blood is a summer camp for well half blood humans ranging from Children of Athena to Ares offspring.
The World building is really well done, as the world is stacked on top of our modern day life it was really easy to believe that maybe there is a Mount Olympus atop the empire state building and hey there could be monsters everywhere and I just can’t see through the mist. Like Harry Potter I love fantasy’s that stack on top of modern day because it’s fun to think what may be happening that you just can’t see because of your mortal eyes.
I should have read this when I was younger that a given, young me would have loved Percy and admired Annabeth. Me now does admire Annabeth’s character and Percy but I don’t feel the connection so many other readers have because it is middle grade and quite simplistic.
I give The Lightning Thief 3/5 stars because it is fast paced, beautifully imagined, with some really great characters that I can’t wait to see grow and change as the books go along.
adoptabookaus.com 
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who felt so conflicted about this one! I adore the mythology and the modern-meets-mythical locale just like you, but… I just didn’t connect. I also tried reading the Magnus Chase series, and I wanted to punch Magnus every time he spoke, so maybe they’re all just a little off for me.
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I was so hyped to start this but it was just a little to young for me I’m glad you felt the same way! It seems everyone loves it but it just missed the mark for me, the books did improve for me as they went along but I didn’t love Percy as much as I did the side characters! I’m going to give the Magnus Chase series ago because it’s a bit older hopefully I don’t end up wanting to punch Magnus but if it happens it happens xD
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Maybe I’m a simpleton, but I loved these books! 📚 📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
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I ended up liking the series A LOT more from book 3 and up 😀 SO many people loved this one I am definitly in the minority with my opinion xD
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I do get what you mean, since we aren’t the target age…..
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Yep I wish I had read this when I was younger I would have loved Percy and his adventures to bits! unfortunately I have no time machine…yet XD
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Give me a few weeks….
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I read it a few years ago, and I loved the series! I do agree that it is somehow shallow, but the series grew on me as I read along the other books 😀
I love mythologies, and Percy Jackson has them written out nicely with a modern touch! I plan to re-read the series again along with the Heroes of Olympus sequel soon 🙂
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It definitely picks up, book 3 was where I really started enjoying it and I’m excited to read some more Riordan 🙂 his world building was fantastic in my eyes and I’m excited to see how I like Heroes of Olympus with the older cast 😀
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Yes! Hopefully you will like it 🙂
Will be waiting for your though about the series! 😀
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I gave PJ book one 5 stars, but I also had nostalgia fueling my re-read! So I can totally understand your 3 star rating, it is a bit young and my older self didn’t connect like my younger self did! But the mythology and plot and character is all on point, I absolutely adored this series. ❤ And I liked this more than Magnus Chase, he annoyed me a bit. But I've heard The Hammer of Thor is better than book 1 and like, it's Rick Riordan, so I'm definitely going to continue!
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Your the second person to tell me Magnus is annoying now ! xD guess I’ll just have to read and see what he’s like.
Nostalgia was deff missing for me but the myths and plot were a heap of fun the whole way through 😀
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I liked Greek better than Norse though, so the world may be more intriguing to you. I liked that there was a deaf character in MC as well. 🙂
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I don’t no really anything about Norse so it will be cool to see what it really is but I love Greek mythology and recognising the gods was one of my fave parts so no idea what I’ll think of Norse xD
A deaf character? That’s pretty cool I didn’t even realise there was one! How much is it cheating to buy a whole box set and count it as one book for the project 5? :’D
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BAHAHAHA! If you wanna buy a boxed set, say goodbye to getting any more books until you’ve caught up!!! 😛
And I did recognise some of the Norse Gods (Loki, Thor, Odin, etc) but I definitely liked the Greek gods more!
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GAH I may wait until the end of the year and see how small my TBR is to justify the buy 😀 I think my only knowledge of greek gods is from Thor so it’ll be interesting if I recognise anyone else 🙂
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I read this series last year and loved it! Like you, I wish I had read it when I was younger. Ah, well, still loved it! Hope you read the others, they are even better. Great review! 😀
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Great review, one of these days I’ll finally get around to reading this series hahaha.
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haha It took me long enough to start! I’m glad I’ve finally read them though I can’t wait to read some more Riordan and catch up to every else in the world xD
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I was also a late comer to the Percy Jackson books but that didn’t lessen my enjoyment of them at all! I read them back in 2012 when I finished high school. They’re so much fun, and my ratings went up with every book. So glad to see you’re having fun with these too! Cannot wait to see your reviews for the rest of them. The last book was SO GOOD.
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The last book was one of my faves I loved the non stop action! The books really got better for me as the characters grew and they got darker it reminded me a lot of HP in the way you get to see the character age together. So glad you liked them too although I think everyone does xD and how could you not there is so much fun and adventure with all the mythology
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Fantastic! I’m a huge fan of the entire series….Although I didn’t really enjoy the Kane chronicles
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I’ve heard a few people saying they liked the Greek gods series better than Egyptian, I don’t really have much knowledge of Egyptian myths so I think I’ll either love discovering it in the Kane Chronicles or not liking it because I don’t pick up on the backstories 0.0
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Hmmmm yeah I suppose, but it might strike you as a bit slow moving.
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Can you follow my blog too?
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I love percy jackson
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The series was so much fun to read 😀
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true
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I started Percy Jackson when I was 11 or so, so I was at the target age. That said, I do really want to reread them and see how they stand up. I always recommend them at work and I just really love all of Rick’s books ❤ I flat out refuse to watch the movie though. Great post!
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