Earlier this year, I speed ran the original Percy Jackson series on a whim. Wanting to see if it was nostalgia and a yearning for a simpler time that tethered me to the series. Maybe I grew out of it? It was an interesting, albeit superfluous conundrum.

I did get my answer. I still loved the world, was able to appreciate the characters, and the humor. Nostalgia played a part, sure. But there was something about this series that was comforting.

I am not going to pretend that I am well-read and have extensive knowledge of classics or books that would make me seem smarter—like Ulysses or Pride and Prejudice. I read for amusement, but even I can see these books were not written for adults. (thank you Discworld) They were aimed at kids and pre-teens, but there is a certain style whimsy and charm to it, that even I could appreciate.

Stakes - Quite low

Our beloved Percy is in his final year of High School and is preparing for college. He wants to get into the same college as his girlfriend, Annabeth Chase. Quite reasonable, but that requires three letters of recommendations from… you guessed it, the Greek Gods.

This is the over arching hook for this book and the books to come(?). So three favors, three quests and three letters. And this book is all about the first quest. Someone has stolen the chalice of the gods belonging to Ganymede (cup bearer of the gods) and it is up to Percy to retrieve it.

What surprised me was how low the stakes were, compared to the previous books. Percy has saved the world multiple times, held the literal sky on his shoulders, and followed his girlfriend through Tartarus without a second thought.

So I was quite surprised that all he has to do here is retrieve a cup just to go to college. And failing to do so didn't mean the end of the world. Sure, Zeus might get a bit pissy and take it out on Ganymede. And Percy might have to find another quest. But it was not the end of the world.

But that is also what makes this book quite refreshing. The stakes, being low, led to quite a lot of wholesome moments. It was a cozy read that has a lot of feel good elements. His friendship with Grover, the love Annabeth and Percy share, his relationship with his Mom, all of it is quite fleshed out and is a delight to read. It did warm my cold heart and as a jaded as I am, I found myself smiling at certain parts.

The trademark humor is still here and is enjoyable. Maybe it was a bit overdone, a little cheesy here and there. The high school me would have loved it more. But I was still able to appreciate it. The pacing was quite brisk and overall, it was well written.

Conclusion

I liked it. I am not going to say I loved it, that is only because I have read a lot of Discworld this year. But I certainly had a good time, and I probably needed it. It didn't feel like my typical Percy Jackson book that I love. That in hindsight was a good thing. It was a refreshing new take with familiar characters and I love the setting.

It was cozy. If that is something you would like, I would suggest giving this book a try. Also, this is not a good starting point for the series. Definitely recommend reading the previous books first.

That's all I have for now. If you have any suggestions on what to read or have any questions, feel free to reach out to me.