Jayson’s Reviews > The Battle of the Labyrinth > Status Update
Jayson
is starting
After ample experimentation, The Titan's Curse, for me, was the point where this series finally took off. There were flaws that kept me from rating it higher, but it left me with a great many thoughts swirling in my head. That's always a good thing. I hope this fourth book doesn't deviate too much from that example, despite all the books so far differing in some shape or form by tone, direction and complexity.
— Feb 15, 2018 03:20AM
Like flag
Jayson’s Previous Updates
Jayson
is on page 306 of 361
Hybridity's a theme here. You have characters with dual natures, like satyrs, demigods and seemingly magical mortals: they're the heroes. The villains have at least three aspects of hybridity. That's interesting because the labyrinth monster of myth, the Minotaur, is dual-natured. That's why I think the labyrinth monsters here must be extra freakish, as a Minotaur would be too physically aligned with the heroic norm.
— Feb 18, 2018 07:10AM
Jayson
is on page 207 of 361
From the beginning, this book has pushed the romance angle hard. Whereas previously it was merely hinted at, here it's pretty capricious. It sort of reminds me of Half-Blood Prince in all its self-consciousness and blushing hesitation. I'm a sucker for this sort of thing, I hate to say – I'm a grown man after all. I don't know what it is about teen romance in fantasy adventures that turns my insides all mushy.
— Feb 17, 2018 07:00AM
Jayson
is on page 108 of 361
I wrote before about formula in this series. This book is no different: school activity, monsters attack, surprise ally, team camp competition, leave for a quest after 100-pages, etc. I'd thought it was too predictable and would soon get old and tired. I've changed my tune: rituals are important. Like Harry with the Dursleys before Hogwarts. They're theme songs and opening credits. They tell the senses, "We're Back."
— Feb 16, 2018 05:00AM
