Michael Reads Percy Jackson: The Sea of Monsters – Ch 6

Grover’s in a bad way, but those are the dangers of using Bugs Bunny’s “dress in drag to fool the hunter” trick. Or, to put it another way, it’s time for the sixth part of Michael Reads Percy Jackson: The Sea of Monsters…

Demon Pigeons Attack

Best. Chapter title. EVER.

This was a long chapter, but in a good way. It’s crammed full with news about Grover and one of the wildest chariot races since Ben Hur. Also, the aforementioned demon pigeons. And who doesn’t love some demon pigeons? (Don’t answer that.)

But even before that, the chapter begins with some navel-gazing by Percy about Tyson where he’s feeling that Poseidon recognizing Tyson has made being Poseidon’s son into a joke rather than something to be proud of. It’s a welcome moment of character development for Percy: Being Poseidon’s son made Percy feel special, and sharing that with Tyson, who’s pretty much a pariah, is tarnishing that, even though he likes Tyson.

In other words, Percy’s getting more complex. I like it.

And then, WHAM! Grover! He’s trapped in a cyclops’s cave–strike that, Polyphemus’s cave, THE cyclops–and the only thing keeping him alive is the fact that Polyphemus thinks Grover is a female cyclops who’s going to marry him. It’s where every seeker-satyr has disappeared to. The book surprised me here because I didn’t figure that we’d learn where Grover was nearly so quickly. (And my guess that Pan was just keeping all the seekers near him when they found him was wrong-diddily-ong, too.)

Oh, yeah, and if Grover dies, Percy likely does, too. Forgot that wee detail. (And you thought your cell phone bill was a killer!)

I liked the chariot race and resulting Stymphalian bird demon pigeon (DEMON PIGEON!) attack, but I find I don’t have too much to say about it beyond it being entertaining to read. Percy’s telepathic conversation with the horses about Tyson was a hoot. (“Sugar cubes?“) I hadn’t expected Hermes’s OR Apollo’s chariot to go down nearly so quickly. (Poor Apollo.)

Oh, and the solution to the DEMON PIGEONS–blasting Dean Martin music–was excellent. Plus it reminded me (in a good way) of Mars Attacks!

Oh, and I think it’s entirely possible that Tantalus may be kind of a prick. I know, I know, long-shot here, but…

My favorite line from this chapter is from Annabeth, who pretty much summed up what I was thinking at the time:

“Oh, right! Like Grover would just happen to stumble across the one thing that could save the camp.”

It would be something of a huge coincidence, wouldn’t it? Is Riordan lampshading this? (Warning: Link goes to TVTropes. Do not click if you have anywhere to be in the next 4 hours!)

So that’s it for this chapter! Sorry it took me a bit to get this one posted. I’ve been busy. Also there may have been a slight delay due to my being introduced to Minecraft. I may have a problem.

The DEMON PIGEONS may be my favorite monster in this series so far. (I can’t help it. It’s fun to say!) Tell me in the comments (below the razorwing) what yours is! 🙂