Review: The Lost Hero

Title: The Lost Hero

Author: Rick Riordan

Published: October 12th 2010

Length: 557 pages (Hardcover)

Series: The Heroes of Olympus #1

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Jason has a problem. He doesn’t remember anything before waking up in a bus full of kids on a field trip. Apparently he has a girlfriend named Piper and a best friend named Leo. They’re all students at a boarding school for “bad kids.” What did Jason do to end up here? And where is here, exactly?

Piper has a secret. Her father has been missing for three days, ever since she had that terrifying nightmare. Piper doesn’t understand her dream, or why her boyfriend suddenly doesn’t recognize her. When a freak storm hits, unleashing strange creatures and whisking her, Jason, and Leo away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood, she has a feeling she’s going to find out.

Leo has a way with tools. When he sees his cabin at Camp Half-Blood, filled with power tools and machine parts, he feels right at home. But there’s weird stuff, too—like the curse everyone keeps talking about. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist that each of them—including Leo—is related to a god.

Review:

Not many people know this about me, but I have a slight problem with change…that is, I really don’t care for it.

When something I love is about to change, I can whine and sulk for weeks……until I realise it’s not that bad, and I can admit to myself that I actually love it.

When I picked up this book, I had no delusions that Percy would be in it. I knew beforehand that we would meet new characters, and that it would be different.

I knew that.

Still, when it came to it, I had a really hard time accepting that Jason, Piper and Leo would be the heroes of this adventure. Everything just happened so fast, and all I had been told about this amazing world of myths and gods, was about to drastically change.

My brain went into strike.

I just didn’t want to read, and every time I decided to pick up the book, I found myself distracted by people, my phone, or something outside my window (I’m usually not the staring out the window-type) .

*Big sigh*

A couple of days ago, though, I finally managed to man up, forget about my own silliness, and just read. Thank the gods for that, because as soon as I did, I realised it was actually a really good book. Not as good as Percy Jackson and the Olympians, of course, but good nonetheless.

I realised that the book was full of that Rick Riordan-esque humour that never fails to make me laugh. I realised that Leo, Jason and Piper were kind of cool after all (especially Leo, I loved him and Festus). I realised that this story might be going somewhere really awesome.

I realised that I absolutely wanted to follow them to this awesome, unknown place.

I must admit, though, that my favourite parts of the book, were the ones where Annabeth, Grover, Thalia and the other, familiar characters were mentioned (even Clarisse). Which is why I think Son of Neptune will be amazing… ;)

While Jason, Piper (who grew on me first halfway through) and Leo were entertaining as protagonists, there was something missing. I think I would have wanted to get to know them better, especially Jason. I have a pretty good idea about the personalities of Leo and Piper, but couldn’t really get a grasp on the son of Jupiter. He….I just don’t know. Hopefully that will get better in the future books :).

When it comes to the mythological part of this book, I have to say it was a bit more exciting in the first series. The gods were not as present, which sucked, because I love them, and I wasn’t as familiar with the myths. Sure, I looked most of it up and therefore learned new stuff, but it’s definitely funnier if you at least recognise the names…which I didn’t always do.

In conclusion, this was a really entertaining book, even though it wasn’t exactly what I would have wanted. It was funny and towards the end it was really exciting. It was fast-paced, and I’m definitely anxious to continue the series. :)

4/5 Moustaches

Funny Quotes:

“I have lightning and wind powers,” Jason reminded him. “Piper can turn beautiful and charm people into giving her BMWs. You’re no more a freak than we are. And, hey, maybe you can fly, too. Like jump off a building and yell ‘Flame on!'”
Leo snorted. “If I did that, you would see a flaming kid falling to his death, and I would be yelling something a little stronger than ‘Flame on!”

“Piper gripped his hand and followed him, “If I fall, you’re catching me.” “Uh, sure.” Jason hoped he wasn’t blushing.
Leo stepped out next. “You’re catching me, too, Superman. But I ain’t holding your hand.”

“What about a compromise? I’ll kill them first, and if it turns out they were friendly, I’ll apologize.”

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