The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1)

by Rick Riordan

The design was pitch black, with a sea-green trident shimmering in the center. “The choice was unanimous,” Luke announced. “This bead commemorates the first Son of the Sea God at this camp, and the quest he undertook into the darkest part of the Underworld to stop a war!” The entire camp got to their feet and cheered. Even Ares’s cabin felt obliged to stand. Athena’s cabin steered Annabeth to the front so she could share in the applause. I’m not sure I’d ever felt as happy or sad as I did at that moment. I’d finally found a family, people who cared about me and thought I’d done something right. And in the morning, most of them would be leaving for the year.

that a hero should never harm mortals unless absolutely necessary.

Sugar and caffeine. My willpower crumbled.

“With monsters attacking me every three feet? Are you kidding?” Luke raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, I miss it,” I admitted. “You?”

One of the first things you learn at Camp Half-Blood is: Don’t litter. You’ll hear from the nymphs and the naiads. They’ll get even. You’ll crawl into bed one night and find your sheets filled with centipedes and mud.

Luke smiled. “Nice try, Percy. But I’m not Ares. You can’t bait me. My lord is waiting, and he’s got plenty of quests for me to undertake.” “Luke—” “Good-bye, Percy. There is a new Golden Age coming. You won’t be part of it.”

I looked out at Long Island Sound and I remembered my father saying, The sea does not like to be restrained.