Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief Book Review

Plot: Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is on the most dangerous quest of his life. With the help of a satyr and a daughter of Athena, Percy must journey across the United States to catch a thief who has stolen the original weapon of mass destruction — Zeus’ master bolt. Along the way, he must face a host of mythological enemies determined to stop him. Most of all, he must come to terms with a father he has never known, and an Oracle that has warned him of betrayal by a friend.

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Thoughts

The Lightning Thief is the first book in Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series, and as such, has the monumental task of 'laying the land' whilst also sowing the seeds of what's to come. Thankfully, that doesn't feel like an issue at all for Riordan, as the lore and wonder of Percy Jackson's world is so well told and invitingly mashed with the modern world around us that it's just as easy to get lost in it as it is to get on board with it.

The main group of characters is great, with Percy Jackson being a brilliant, if troubled, lead that you root for as he is sucked into this world and sent on a quest with his Satyr best friend, Grover, and fellow campmate Annabeth (daughter of Athena). The group have a great dynamic together, as their growing dynamic and friendship evolve during the quest.

And what a quest it is. Riordan does an excellent job laying the groundwork for Percy before he's thrust into the Godly world, fighting mythical beasts, meeting creatures and Gods of ancient Greece as he's thrust into a quest to save the world before war can erupt between the Gods.

I enjoyed the book a great deal, and a significant part of that is thanks to Riordan telling the tale from Percy's perspective. This helps give us a greater look into his character while letting his inner thoughts and feelings flow as this legendary quest unravels before us. We also get a good understanding of how this entirely new world affects Percy while helping us acclimate to the fantasy world we're experiencing.

It's a fantastic first adventure, and whilst I appreciate the exposition and groundwork laid in the early chapters, once the quest is in motion, the book becomes addictive. I rarely found myself wanting to put it down. I was excited to see what waited around each corner, whilst a bigger tale was being interwoven that had me excited to continue on Percy and company's journey.

Final Thoughts

Much like the great Greek tales of the past, Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief feels like a modern reinvention in the very best way. It feels both awe-inspiring and relatable. The central trio are tremendous characters you can't help but love, and the world is so interesting and well-crafted, you feel like you just want to keep on reading to find out more. As far as opening books go, The Lightning Thief is a home run. It has heart, humour, intrigue, that work together to pull you into a fascinating Mythological world you won't want to leave.

4.5/5