Mohammed Arabey's Reviews > The Lightning Thief

One of the Greatest Urban Fantasy's Beginning I've ever read.

Now as I join Hogwarts every September to May, I'll spend my Summers in Half Blood Camps.

It's awfully late for me, I know. But I was stubborn enough to not listen to 2 of my best half blood friends here on Goodreads to visit the Olympians.

“Gods—the forces you call the Greek gods—are very much alive.”

I can't believe it's just Mr. Rick Riordan’s first novel.
And Believe me if you didn't read it..you missed a real great series..

Very well written, well paced, amazing bunch of characters & funny sarcastic tone that you'll love no matter you're twelve or thirty three.

And creepy atmosphere and nightmarish scenes, interwoven with huge honest references of the Greek myth that serves as crazy urban fantasy theories related to our real life..

All that in a very hell of very thrilling real roller coaster plot, that takes you across the United States, and back again..

A story that serve for one complete story for 'Book One', and leaves you longing for the next ones that promising of even bigger plot.

Now, if you're still want me to talk about why you should start reading this series, heres the above's ..
ANALYSE ▪▪

Very Well Written. (4.75)
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Smoothly you step into the character, Percy, the narrator.. His life, bits about his past, then bit by bit into the conflict(s), then the Greek Mythology … then the Quest(s)..
Finding the Lighting Thief... which is not as easy as it seem..

ups and down with thriller and chilling and creepy and even funny parts. Everything smooth and well explained with what serve book one -with hints that sure will serve later books-

Well Paced. (4.99)
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See above. I truly rarely felt like that with most new YAs… always there's this boring slow parts that show up every now and then.
here everything measured , not too heavy boring flashbacks nor prolonged scene full of rant as many action YAs... it's like the amazing Harry Potter pace if u know what I mean.


Amazing Bunch of Characters (4.5)
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I loved Percy, really. May be because everything smoothly introduced. And he just keep in character, I mean for 12 years old kid, would you believe he'd go to the dangerous underworld to retrieve the Lighting weapon from The Lighting Thief? Just because some gods will do wars for it? “Blaa-ha-ha!”.
Well... when you read his reason and motivation you'll find that it's more believable and true to the character.
And I love that.

Also having Attention Defucit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Dyslexia as well as it served an important point of making the high fantasy of the Greek Myth into our real world-urban- fantasy, it also a good touch to encourage any kid who suffers that -which is bit more than you may think- anyone can be hero.. just don't make it stops you. Percy didn't stop trying to read the whole book.. -kinda-

“Or maybe they’d realized I got my essay on Tom Sawyer from the Internet without ever reading the book and now they were going to take away my grade. Or worse, they were going to make me read the book. ”

Annabith also was a fun to read. So smart. Groover... also this good "strange" friend..
And I also loved the mother and her love of Blue food. that reminds me..So long no photo, here's some blue food.


Also all the other characters are very well introduced.. just as every thing.

Funny Sarcastic Tone (4.5)
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Very easy lines, smart, wit, not just for the young age but really for all. -unlike my previous encounter with Magnus.- It's so funny here and in the point.

Creepy Atmosphere and Nightmarish Scenes (5)
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It's not supposed to be a horror story. But it has a lot of creepy places the friends visit.. Like this "Ever after" Las Vegas Casino...or Medusa's Shop for statues.

And also the way Rick Riordan writes the nightmare scenes is really full of horror and creepy symbols.

And speaking of symbols ;

Relating Greek Myth to our Real World. (5)
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I am NOT a fan of Fantasy, I just prefer, rather adore URBAN FANTASY -Which is why I didn't like Magnus for some serious violation to the real world-
But this one really smartly written, with real references to actual myths or work of art and literature work.

I loved how Mr. Rick connect the prosperity of the ancient Greek myth and civilisation with the current American one.
His theory here is so smart..and convenient enough to fall in love and immerse into his well crafted world..

And if you're, like me, not feeling well about the gods concept.. he also have a convenient idea here ;

“Well, now,” Chiron said. “God—capital G, God. That’s a different matter altogether. We shan’t deal with the metaphysical.”
“Metaphysical? But you were just talking about—”
“Ah, gods, plural, as in, great beings that control the forces of nature and human endeavors: the immortal gods of Olympus. That’s a smaller matter.”

So, as I said, it's the amazing blending of the myth with real life in America is what makes it an excellent Urban Fantasy..

And speaking of America.

A Thrilling real Roller Coaster Plot (4.5)
that Takes you Across the United States (4.99)
and back again..
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Although the first story for Percy supposed to be just an "introduction" to this world, but you find yourself gotten into a hell of adventure full of crazy chase and creepy places hidden in real world..
There's this great concept of "the Mist", that surrounding the myth creatures among us as the story goes..

“It's funny how humans can wrap their mind around things and fit them into their version of reality.”

This theme of mist repeated in a good measure to keep the illusion that it's real story happening in our real world in a real famous places along the US.

And I loved visiting about 3 or 4 states and important places there through the first adventure only...and I believe more is coming in this Adventure Packed series..


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So, finally... if you're a Harry Potter fan..or any newer YA fantasy fan... or if you're old school mythology fan, you'll love to join us the Half Blood Camp.. trust me.

A special thanks to my half blood friends who encouraged me repeatedly on starting this amazing series -why you didn't push me even harder :), kidding-, thanks again truly I'd never read it without your recommendation -felt I was too old to join another huge,full of books and many series.
but Rick Riordant really worth the read. He got his style,, may be reminded me with Harry Potter's first book structure..but wasn't it the greatest structure ever?
The point that he used it creating a whole new exciting crazy myth/modern adventure..


Mohammed Arabey
With the Olympians from 3 Nov. 2016
To 9 Nov. 2016