Character/Narrator Review
Jason: I didn't quite like him, but I didn't hate him either. I guess I'm mais neutral to him than anything? When I rank the seven from best to worst, he'd probably be number 6, but before I read The Mark of Athena he would be number 7.
Anyway, onto reviewing his actual character. I don't know, I kind of found him to be the most boring character in this book, and I wasn't quite as hyped leitura Jason chapters, as I was with leitura Piper and (especially) Leo chapters, and after thinking about it, and rereading the series after a while, I finally figured out why. And yes, it does have something to do with his memory loss.
While I did enjoy the mystery behind his memory loss, it just wasn't interesting, because we knew nothing about him beforehand. I kind of feel like if they switch the Son of Neptune or if I had read that one first, where he is referenced enough where we get to know him better, I would've enjoyed leitura his point of view better. But unlike Piper and Leo, we don't really know much about him, so it's harder to connect to him. The mystery behind him was interesting, but I just feel like it was so uninteresting from his point of view.
Piper Remember the character I said pushed Jason up to number six in the Mark of Athena? Yep, here she is. Which is a shame, because she used to number four or five. But I will cover that when I get to my MoA review. However, I did think she was a decent character in The lost Hero. In fact I actually liked her. I did have issues with her character, but we'll get to that. If I had to rate her character development in this book, I'd have to give it an 8/10- keep in mind I'm harsh when reviewing development.
I guess, I was kind of annoyed with how she acted. I felt she was kind of a brat. She seemingly had everything, but it seemed it wasn't good enough for her. She loved attention, but these were resolved flaws. Until the MoA. Which, again I will get to in that review. The only issue I had with her character, that I felt hadn't changed, was I felt parts of her tomboyish personality were kind of forced, but that's just me.
However, I actually felt sympathetic towards her, in her lost relationship with her dad. Did I think she handle it maturely? Nope. I thought it was immature to keep "asking" for things, even though she knew it never turned out well, but I amor how Riordan handled it. I think she learned her lesson, and I actually liked that about her character. She was immature. But she learned her lesson.
Also can I just say that the way she challenged Drew was totally badass? You go girl!
Leo Now, onto my favorito character in the whole entire series: Leo!
Now, I must admit, when I first read him through Piper and Jason's eyes, I thought he was going to be annoying. But then I read from his point of view and I was thinking, "Okay, sure. Maybe he isn't that bad. Then I read about his past, and I got sad. I've gotta say, I found myself enjoying his point of view mais throughout the book-and definitely throughout the rest of the series.
But let's talk about how great he actually is, shall we? Sure, he doesn't actually have much skill, when it comes with fighting (though he's pretty good with a hammer), but he's pretty- smarter than anyone gives him credit for. It's stated that he could solve complicated math equations that most college students couldn't. When he was eight. But in a battle, he uses his wit mais than anything to fight, and he has been known to win. I think that's talent right there.
Plot Overview
Now, plot wise, I found this book really good. Obviously, for the most part I enjoyed the characters, though I'm still iffy about Jason.
Now, of course I equate the first book of every series (including spinoffs) to a pilot episode of a televisão show. Typically, I don't expect much from it, because there's so much going on in it, too muscular being introduced, that it's hard for it to be any good. At least for me.However, I feel like since I was already introduced to this world, I was mais interested, and excited for it.
I enjoyed the adventure to save the goddess, Hera, as well as the intersected plot to save Piper's dad. I thought the characters worked well with the other Greek figures/villains. I really liked the one-sided crush between Leo and Khione. Though I stated I didn't like leitura it from his POV, I really liked the mystery behind Jason's amnesia. I don't think there is anything I disliked about the plot. Still pretty good.
Pros
1. I'm going to get a lot of hate for this, but I was really happy that Percy wasn't in this book. I have to say, it was very interesting seeing Camp Half Blood through someone else's eyes.
2. thalia and Jason are related! This makes me soooooo happy, for some reason. Partially, because this is what little we see from Jason's past in this book, and partially we learn mais about Thalia!
3. I also enjoyed seeing familiar faces, even the brief cameos, like Clarisse. I'm also so happy Silena's role in the Aphrodite cabin, and Beckendorf's role in the Hephaestus cabine was brought up!
Cons
1. I thought Jason and Piper's relationship could have been mais developed. I know it's not an unpopular opinion, but it led to a lot of my problems with Piper's character in MoA. See, I actually think as a couple, they had potential. But it was just such an underdeveloped relationship.
2. Leo got to see his dad in a dream. Piper got to see her mother in a dream. Am I the only one bothered that Zeus/Jupiter was the only one silent in all of this? I mean, I get he had his reasons, but I was kind of looking progressivo, para a frente to Jason meeting his godly parents, over tha other two. But he does eventually meet him, which is good.
In Comparison to Other Books
I loved this book, but I would still only rank it segundo out of the five books (first being the best, fifth being the worst). It beats out he Son of Neptune for me, but The Mark of Athena is still my favorito :)
The official cover- The glowing eyed owl in the background, and Percy and Jason fighting. KABOOM.
