The Titan’s Curse by Rick Riordan

If you have been following my reviews, you will know that I have reviews Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief (Book 1) and The Sea of Monsters (Book 2) of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Of course, this means I must review Book 3, 4 and 5… once it’s in paperback. In addition, if you read those reviews, you will know that while I love Mr. Riordan’s writing skills, I don’t particularly care for his character development.

I am happy to report… No one was stupid in The Titan’s Curse… Well, for the most part. NONE of the characters walked into danger with their stupid hat on, which was definitely a plus.

Funny little tid-bit… My brain was umm, mush one day and I decided instead of editing/writing I would read so I started The Battle of the Labyrinth thinking it was Book 3 (not Book 4 like it is…). Boy was I confused. Thankfully @DeniseMSwank set me straight before I read too much and gave anything away.

Anyhow, like I said above. I was a little more impressed with this Book then the previous two. The story itself had more depth to it, which gives me hope for Book 4!

The ending was excellent but I think I figured out a key element. EVEN before he hinted to it. But I am sooo not telling you You have to read it yourself.

The good news about this review, is that I have renewed hope that Percy and his friends aren’t as stupid as they were in Books 1 & 2… and it makes me glad I continued to read the series.

Related posts:

1. Review: Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief A few months ago, a friend of mine was talking...
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The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

Upon recommendation of a friend, I downloaded the audio book, The Sugar Queen by Addison Allen. First off, this is not a YA book… It’s important for me to say that because I thought it was. LOL  So it was a complete shocker when the MC got in a car and drove… then half way thru the book it told me she was twenty-six. I think I needed to know that sooner, because I really thought it was a YA book. I’m sure had I found it on the shelves I would have realized it wasn’t but anyway…

The way Sarah Addison Allen wrote the magical tale, she could have totally created a YA book without the sex, language and other innuendos. In fact, it almost would have boded better in my mind, because it was almost a little too “fantastic” for a twenty-six year old.

There were four story lines to follow and she wrote it in the POV of almost all the characters in turn which I found incredibly hard to follow. Who was talking? Who is saying this? What is going on? I had to rewind my audio A LOT and I hardly ever have to do that. I think the issue was each character (Save the Villian) had the same “voice”… and I don’t mean the audible reader either. I mean it was the same writing style, which threw me off.

So following the story lines was a little much. I would have loved it written in just Josie’s POV but I understand why she switched…

I loved LOVED the housekeeper, Helena. She was the comedic relief for me with her inserting crosses into the hems of Josie’s garments and cursing things. She was beautiful little lady. Loved that character.

Loved the names of her chapters… All candy. That was “SWEET”.

So at the end of the novel, her writing was magical and easy to believe (when I thought she was sixteen, a little harder when she was twenty-six). It was fun the way something just came about, however it was never explained. Not that it has to be, just curious.

However, I picked out the “twist” from the moment the people were introduced, both of them!  But I was assured by both my husband and friend that I just have that knack of picking out “what’s going to happen” before it does. In movies too, I good at reading the foreshadow

The ending was very satisfying. I enjoyed the nice bow she put on it… it wasn’t the perfect bow… but it was sooooo sweet and a red curly ribbon bow with one of those strings that just wouldn’t curl (if you catch  my drift)… still beautiful It wasn’t a happily ever after for everyone! Which is just fine with me. I don’t need everything to be perfect for everyone. It’s more realistic that way.

Would I recommend this book to my readers… YES, but only if you are okay with some cursing and sex references with mouth’s “roaming”. It wasn’t gratuitous, but it was shocking, again since I thought it was a YA novel. LOL My perception was off… by about ten years.

So, I gave it 4 stars because of the magic of her writing. Definitely one to pick up for some magical realism.

Related posts:

1. Review: The Sea of Monsters – Percy Jackson & The Olympians This is a spoiler free review… so read on and...
2. Review: Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief A few months ago, a friend of mine was talking...
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Ahem, so… if you read my review of the first book, The Lightning Theif, you know that I only have gave it 3.5 stars… I really wanted to give it 5 because of the mad writing skilz Rick Riordan has, but I couldn’t because of the lack of character development… or smarts. Just wouldn’t be doing the public justice if I wasn’t honest.

Again, Mr. Riordan’s writing was excellent! He really can tell a good story, get you interested right away and really make you enjoy the adventure.

However, again I felt like he made Percy and his friends a little daft. They take everything for face value and never “fear” the situations they are getting into. Now, being that I have read the first book, I know, and they know, people are out to get them. Monsters from everywhere! So you would think, if they had brains in their heads, they would NOT waltz around and be like, I wonder why it smells funny in here.

Really? I mean Really? Soooo unbelievable in the character development. It’s so disappointing BUT it’s a good reminder for the rest of us to MAKE SURE our characters are believable.

A friend pointed out the fact that its very similar to Harry Potter… 3 friends, one with a prophecy, all trying to save their magical world. Hmmm, she was right. It is exactly a potter book, minus the magicians and add in the mythological of it all

NOW, I was going to have to give this book 2 stars… Because I felt like I could have done without about 200 of the pages… no really, his writing and all. I found myself reading the first sentence and nothing else of some paragraphs… BUT then came the end… great hook at the end! Raised it a full star for me… and makes me want to read Titan’s Curse.

Hoping for more stars in book three!

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