Percy runs afoul of a St. Louis tourist trap! Yes, it’s time for the thirteenth installment of Michael Reads Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief…

I Plunge to My Death

Okay, so I don’t really know what to think about Percy’s dreams at this point. Maybe the thing in the pit really is Kronos, because Annabeth says Hades always appears on a throne. Yet somehow that seems to contradict the idea that whoever it is can give him his mother back. (But perhaps once Kronos is out, he can storm the Underworld and get Percy’s mother? Though I still don’t think she’s technically dead…) Plus, if Hades can use his helmet to melt into darkness, perhaps speaking from the darkness of a pit is still in character? Annabeth doesn’t know everything, after all. Though maybe I’m grasping at straws there. [Read more…]

Percy learns what 93% of all D&D players already know: Mysteriously detailed statues are a certain indication of imminent danger. Yes, it’s time for the 11th installment of Michael Reads Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief…

We Visit the Garden Gnome Emporium

I need to start by saying that the opening paragraph of this chapter is just downright charming. I was reminded a little of David Sedaris with the way it waltzes through the details, beginning the chapter via in a little narrative dance with just the right measure of snark. (Okay, so it’s admittedly been a while since I’ve read anything by Sedaris, so I could be way, way off here, but that’s the connection my brain made.) In fact, I’m going to bump the “favorite line” portion of this post to the front so I can quote the whole thing: [Read more…]

Ambrosia in Ziploc bags and a busload of Furies! It must be time for the tenth chapter of Michael Reads Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief, a.k.a…

I Ruin a Perfectly Good Bus

Hey, wait. Isn’t “Busload of Fury” a Quiet Riot album? (No? AC/DC?)

Regardless, Percy’s quest has begun! I wonder how long the journey just to get TO Hades will take? He starts out his quest as any self-respecting Greek hero and/or MI-6 agent should: with a few special goodies to help him on the way. That the ambrosia was given to him in a baggie was a nice modern touch (Was the nectar in a Thermos?), and Chiron re-loaned him Anaklusmos, the sword that’s as mighty as the pen. [Read more…]

Something was stolen, monsters are attracted to demigods, and Mr. D’s still cranky. I now present the seventh chapter of Michael Reads Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief…

My Dinner Goes Up in Smoke

This is another chapter that’s primarily given to world-building and character development, both of which are welcome things at the moment. Most of the development goes to Annabeth while she introduces Percy to more of the camp and many of the concepts related to it. I still like her – she’s friendly enough, but she’s got her own agenda as well; this is a good thing. She seems to be her own character rather than just a prop for Percy. Luke, the counselor that’s one of Hermes’s sons, got a bit of development, too, but so far the book hasn’t had a chance to give him too much depth. [Read more…]