The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 4)

A must read in the Percy Jackson series! It has humor, action, adventure, drama. I am already anxious for Rick Riordan to publish the next one in the series.

Ever since I picked up the first Percy Jackson book, I knew he was the one for me. Percy is caring and brave.. and funny counts for something. I know lots of parents read these too. I have re-read and re-lived the whole series again, which makes me realize how great these books are. I have recommended them to anyone and everyone.
The fourth book didn't disapoint me. Although I won't give the full summary of the story (it's been a month since I read it), basically Percy goes to a new school, whcih has its share of trouble for him. Again, like all the other books, there is a quest. I found this quest to be the most exciting for me. There were lots of new characters introduced, like Hera, so I found that very awesome, since I have always liked Greek mythology.


SPOILERS!!!!
Of course, as I am a true romantic, I found the blossoming romance between Annabetha and Percy addicting. I was literally flipping the pages, going "When do they meet again?" Annabeth kisses Percy at Mount St. Helens, therefore expressing her feelings for him, but Percy is too dense to realized that she does like him like that. He knows he is in love with her but his concentraion on thisdelicate matter is disrupted by the return of Rachel Elizabeth Dare and the landing of Percy on Calypso's island. Calypso is banished to this island because she helped the Titans in the big war. Every thousand years or so, the gods are cruel and send her a hero to nurse back to health. Calypso falls in love with them and begs them to stay, but they must return to their own world. They can never find the island again. Percy is very torn between staying and going to save the world, but eventually leaves. I was really sad actually he didn't stay with Calypso. Although I have always been a fan of Annabetha nd such, something about Calypso made me like her, maybe because she was so accepting. Then there is Rachel. Ahh, Rachel. Annabeth is very jealous of this girl as Percy keeps accidently running into her and is becoming one of her best friends. Matter of fact, Annabeth stalks off mad quite a few times in the presence of Percy and Rachel. Percy, dense as ever, doesn't realize why, but I don't think Rachel would ever take him from Annabeth. She knows waht he doesn't.

And here ends my review of the blossoming romance. I promise I'll be more critical with my next review, but I have troulbe remembering the action unless I just read it. Ohh, Percy Jackson fans: the movie is going to come out next year!! I'm excited of course. I would like to be Annabeth haha. I find her really cool. Sigh. I am not an actress however. So read this book, please!

Fourth book in the Percy Jackson series.

Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and Tyson set out to find the inventor Daedalus in the mysterious labyrinth that seems to have a life of its own. Their task is to find Daedalus and talk him out of helping Kronos. Grover is also given one last chance to find Pan before his searcher's license is revoked.

Many of the elements I loved in the first book are back in this one: the humor, the mythological references, and the edge-of-your-seat excitement as Percy goes from one dangerous situation to another. The ending is very much a cliffhanger and I am looking forward to reading the last book.

This is the 4th book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Although Rick Riordan writes each book so that it can stand alone, I would recommend reading them in order starting with the Lightning Thief. Anyone who is interested in mythology would find this series both entertaining and informative. Our whole family loves this series. Jesse Bernstein does a great job as the reader.

I was a little disappointed in The Titan's Curse, but this book ranks up there with the first. The pace is faster and is very exciting. I can't wait for the next one (and sadly the last). I am a middle school teacher, and this has been one of the few series that my male readers have enjoyed. One even bought his own copy about the time I bought mine.