When writing reviews I generally like to save the best for last so I'll start with what I didn't like about this story.
Percy needed to be a more fleshed out and consistent character. Sometimes Percy has no idea what is going on and needs things explained to him in excruciating detail because he doesn't seem intelligent. Other times, he's quick to see what is going on around him and draws correct conclusions with hardly any evidence. Basically, the author made Percy intelligent or unintelligent in each scene depending on what he needed the character to be at the time.
Additionally, the way Camp Half Blood is set up and run is insane. I know the Greek gods are insane themselves, but if they really care so little for their children then why not let those who run the camp do so in a way that actually makes sense. The Greeks are intelligent. After all, as the book points out, they created a civilization that influenced Western culture into the modern era. Shouldn't a group of people this smart realized that sticking 20+ kids in a 10 person cabin is negligent, unhealthy, and downright ridiculous?
Where we only think things through half way.
Finally, the pacing of the book was slow and a bit arduous. I would have enjoyed the book more if there was a little more character development and less random monster attacks. However, considering the age group this book is written for, monsters are much more exciting than character development so this decision makes sense.
Artwork by Viktoria Ridzel taken from http://rickriordan.com/characters/
What I liked about the book: Grover and Annabeth. Grover and Annabeth. Grover and Annabeth. These two characters were amazing! Annabeth is truly a daughter of Athena without being an exact copy of the goddess. She is spunky, intelligent, and kind hearted. She makes her own decisions regardless of the god's opinions, but respects the authority and power of those stronger and wiser than her. She listens and doesn't make decisions lightly. She is also quick witted, enabling her to save the day multiple times when their group is in a pinch. I'm curious to see where the author takes her character in the other books.
As for Grover, I just want to give him a big hug. He is loyal, kind, and doesn't go down without a fight. He learns from his mistakes and by the end of the book he has begun to forgive himself for some of those mistakes. As half goat, he is naturally a friend to all animals. The scene in the smuggler's zoo truck is so sweet as he reassures and protects those poor creatures. Grover is also very brave. Multiple times he overcomes his fears to protect Annabeth and Percy. Additionally, as the comic relief character, he adds the perfect amount of humor without becoming flanderized. I continued reading the book because of these two characters. Finally, I loved that Hades wasn't the bad guy in this. The Hades and Persephone myth is one of my favorites and I always felt that Hades was misunderstood. He isn't the bad guy, he's actually the most levelheaded of all the gods. I'm always happy when an author chooses not to make Hades the automatic baddie.
Altogether, using the Goodreads rating system, I gave this book a 3 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed the book but I was still disappointed at it's oversimple plot and character development. However, I look forward to seeing where the stories might lead in future books.
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