The story that is narrated in the five book series 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians', written by Rick Riordan, follows the adventures of a modern-day mythical being - Perseus Jackson.
It almost seems like every other fantasy novel, where the protagonist realises that he is not just a normal human being and is suddenly entrusted with the task of saving the world.
But, every book has something different to offer to its readers, something that makes you want to pick it up at the book store.
What made me pick up the first book of this series, ‘The Lightning Thief’, was not the amazing cover or the good reviews (though they were certainly contributing factors).
But, in fact, it was Riordan’s inclusion of Greek mythology that did the trick for me.
Percy Jackson’s sarcastic and humorous take on the heroes, monsters and deities of ancient Greece, who now live in various locations across today’s modern world, gave the series all its difference. Who would have thought that the Minotaur wore Fruit of the Loom underpants, or that the manly Ares is weaker than the war deity we all thought he was?
Certainly not Percy.
Any Greek Mythology enthusiast would enjoy this series; it gives an almost accurate, yet more modern description of the myths that many are familiar with.
Percy’s story, however, does not end with book five, ‘The Last Olympian’.
It continues in The Heroes of Olympus, which introduces us to more rarely-known myths, and has proven to be an equally riveting read.
