If you love adventure and Greek mythology, here’s something for you! Percy Jackson and The Olympians is a five-book series revolving around Percy Jackson, his discovery that his dad’s an actual Greek god, gaining new friends, and their adventures to prevent a fight that might destroy the world forever.
This series is written by American author Rick Riordan and is part of the Camp Half-Blood Chronicles. He wrote this initially for his son, Haley, who’s studying Greek mythology at school and wanted his dad to tell him myths. When Riordan ran out of myths, Haley suggested he create his own characters. And this paid off well – the five books have sold over 69 million copies all over the world and a running Broadway musical, and two movies. But most fans pretend that the movies didn’t happen, so let’s not talk about that much.
Five books might be hard to go through, but trust us, you’ll end up finishing those books in no time – it’s that addicting. You’d want to know what happens to Percy and Camp Half-Blood next every time you finish one book.
So without further ado, let’s explore each of them. And while we’re at it, why not know exactly how many words you’ll be reading? Read on below to know all of that:
The Lightning Thief
Percy Jackson is back home for the summer, and he and his mother Sally goes to their cabin in Montauk for a small vacation. However, after some unexplainable incidents such as the attack of a Minotaur, Percy discovers that he is a demigod, a child of a Greek god and a mortal. He also discovers Camp Half-Blood, a summer training camp for demigods like him.
He finds out that Poseidon, the god of the sea, is his father and that his best friend Grover is actually a satyr, a half-human half-goat creature. To add to the crazy revelations, Zeus is accusing him of stealing his master bolt, a very powerful weapon. To redeem himself and rescue his mother, he goes on a quest with Grover and Annabeth, a daughter of Athena.
They travel to Los Angeles, where the Underworld is located, as they suspect that Hades, the god of death and afterlife, is the one who took Zeus’ bolt. However, they find out that Hades is innocent – it’s actually Luke Castellan, a son of Hermes, who stole the bolt. He did this to help Kronos, the king of Titans, to rise again and take the rule from the Olympians. Luke was resentful to how Olympians treat demigods with minor godparents, and who aren’t acknowledged by their godly parents.
This action-packed starter has 87,223 words.
The Sea Of Monsters
Camp Half-Blood is under attack when their protective borders, which comes from a tree was poisoned. It is said that only the Golden Fleece, which is located in the Sea of Monsters, can cure the tree and restore the camp’s protection. Even though Clarisse La Rue, daughter of Aries, was the one officially sent by the camp to retrieve the Golden Fleece, Percy still goes with Annabeth and Tyson, his Cyclops half-brother. That’s because he found out that his best friend Grover, who’s on a quest to find the lost god Pan, was captured by the Cyclops Polyphemus. The Golden Fleece is also in Polypheus’ island.
On the way, they encounter many dangers, including magical creatures, the sorceress Circe, and Luke Castellan. Percy also learns about a prophecy about a child of the Big Three (Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades) who will play an important part in resurrecting Kronos and saving Olympus.
In the end, they retrieve the Golden Fleece, with Clarisse’s help, and rescue Grover. The fleece heals the tree, but also Thalia, daughter of Zeus, who died to protect Annabeth and Luke so they can get safely to Camp Half-Blood years earlier. Zeus transformed Thalia to a tree to serve as protection for the camp.
This second book has 63,976 words, which makes it the shortest book in the series.
The Titan’s Curse
The gang – Percy, Annabeth, Thalia, and Grover – is on an adventure again to rescue half-bloods Bianca and Nico di Angelo when they were attacked by a manticore. They were rescued by Artemis, the goddess of night and her Hunters, but Annabeth was captured. Then, Artemis was kidnapped by Luke while searching for the Ophiotaurus, a creature that was foretold to bring down Olympus. Artemis’ lieutenant, Zoe Nightshade, Bianca, Thalia, and Grover go on a quest to rescue Artemis. Percy wasn’t a part of that quest, but still went as the request of Bianca’s brother, Nico, to keep her safe. The group soon finds Percy and they continue the search together. They face many dangers, which one of them results in Bianca dying.
They soon find Artemis with Luke – Annabeth is there, too. Artemis is holding the sky for Atlas, but they devise a way to trick him back to carrying it. Thalia is then part of the Hunters and replaces Zoe, who died, as Artemis’ lieutenant. As Hunters are immortal, Thalia won’t age to 16, which is the age the great prophecy says. As a result, Percy is the one who’ll fulfill it. Back at Camp Half-Blood, Nico is angry at Percy when he learns of his sister’s death. He blames Percy and runs away, but not before banishing an army of skeletons invading the camp back to the Underworld. This reveals that Hades is the di Angelos’ father.
The Titan’s Curse has 72,995 words.
The Battle Of The Labyrinth
Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and Tyson go on a quest to find Daedalus’ workshop, and maybe even Ariadne’s string. They encounter many people and creatures in the Labyrinth, including the lost god Pan, and Nico di Angelo, who have been mostly interacting with ghosts and sometimes live in the Underworld with his father Hades. They find the workshop, and discover that Daedalus is alive, and was their temporary camp counselor Quintus – Daedalus in his fifth body. When Daedalus dies, they go back to the Camp and fight off Luke and his army. They win, but with casualties. After the fight, they prepare for the standoff with Kronos.
This book has 85,079 words.
The Last Olympian
The final battle is soon and Percy and his friends need all the help they can get. Poseidon tells Percy to go fulfill the Prophecy, when they learn of Kronos’ (in Luke’s body) plans of attacking Olympus. Nico goes with Percy to the River Styx to receive the Achilles’ Curse – which will make him invulnerable except for a small part of his body.
Kronos puts New York to sleep with the help of Morpheus. The gods battle Typhon while creatures and other demigods protect Olympus. Percy battle Luke in the throne room, while Annabeth gets through Luke, who stabs himself in his own vulnerable spot, thus killing Kronos and himself in the process.
The threat is gone and they celebrate. The gods offer Percy immortality, but he refuses it. Instead he wants the gods to acknowledge all of their demigod children and build cabins for demigods with minor gods as parents in Camp Half-Blood. Annabeth and Percy get together.
Meanwhile, Rachel Elizabeth Dare, their new Oracle (who tells Prophecies) prophesised about a new threat, and seven demigods answering the call in saving the world once again.
The final installment of the Percy Jackson and The Olympians series has 89,002 words.
Word Count Of The Series
The Lightning Thief – 87,223 words
The Sea Of Monsters – 63,976 words
The Titan’s Curse – 72,995 words
The Battle Of The Labyrinth – 85,079 words
The Last Olympian – 89,002 words
Final Thoughts
This book series certainly got kids (and kids at heart) interested in Greek mythology more, as this involves adventure, comedy, and some heartful scenes about friendship, sacrifice, and family. Aside from that, people with ADHD and dyslexia have some good representation in the forms of Percy Jackson and the other demigods from Camp Half-Blood. They might not cope and learn like other people in the world does, but that doesn’t mean they’re unable to great things. Just look at Percy Jackson!
All in all, Percy Jackson and The Olympians is a book series that all of us, people in all ages, should read at least once, even if you’re a Greek mythology enthusiast or not.