Jayson’s Reviews > The Lost Hero > Status Update
Jayson
is 73% done
Notes:
(1) "Leo fell in love with every girl he saw — as long as she was totally out of his league."
- At first I thought that meant Leo considers Piper in his league, since he's not in love with her, but I guess "totally out of his league" is a separate tier she doesn't qualify for.
- Possibly he considers "totally out of his league" a girl who's outwardly repulsed by him. That would actually fit the bill perfectly.
— Feb 09, 2023 04:15AM
(1) "Leo fell in love with every girl he saw — as long as she was totally out of his league."
- At first I thought that meant Leo considers Piper in his league, since he's not in love with her, but I guess "totally out of his league" is a separate tier she doesn't qualify for.
- Possibly he considers "totally out of his league" a girl who's outwardly repulsed by him. That would actually fit the bill perfectly.
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Jayson’s Previous Updates
Jayson
is finished
Notes:
(1) It's interesting reading my notes back from my first read of this book, because I feel pretty much the exact same way.
- It just further crystalized my opinions.
(2) I don't like that Piper and Leo became heads of their respective cabins, thus gaining seats at the camp council, both by acclamation.
- I was looking forward to a showdown between Piper and Drew. A real anticlimactic, albeit hostile, takeover.
— Feb 13, 2023 04:50AM
(1) It's interesting reading my notes back from my first read of this book, because I feel pretty much the exact same way.
- It just further crystalized my opinions.
(2) I don't like that Piper and Leo became heads of their respective cabins, thus gaining seats at the camp council, both by acclamation.
- I was looking forward to a showdown between Piper and Drew. A real anticlimactic, albeit hostile, takeover.
Jayson
is 93% done
Notes:
(1) Jason and Porphyrion have a boast battle, which seems purely for ceremonial intimidation; rather like a Māori haka.
- Unlike a modern rap battle, you only big yourself up, not tear the other guy down.
(2) For the second battle scene in a row, we get the villain explaining their entire plan to the heroes in great detail.
- I understand this is meant for the readers' benefit, but it's lazy and a tired trope.
— Feb 12, 2023 04:30AM
(1) Jason and Porphyrion have a boast battle, which seems purely for ceremonial intimidation; rather like a Māori haka.
- Unlike a modern rap battle, you only big yourself up, not tear the other guy down.
(2) For the second battle scene in a row, we get the villain explaining their entire plan to the heroes in great detail.
- I understand this is meant for the readers' benefit, but it's lazy and a tired trope.
Jayson
is 85% done
Notes:
(1) "'Giants cannot be killed by gods or heroes.'
'Only by both,' Jason said. The giant’s smile faltered, and Jason saw in his eyes something like fear. 'It’s true, isn't it?"
- If only villains kept they mouths shut during battle and had better poker faces, they wouldn't be so easy to beat.
(2) For anyone familiar with "Super Smash Bros.," Jason essentially defeats the Enceladus with Pikachu's thunder attack.
— Feb 11, 2023 04:45AM
(1) "'Giants cannot be killed by gods or heroes.'
'Only by both,' Jason said. The giant’s smile faltered, and Jason saw in his eyes something like fear. 'It’s true, isn't it?"
- If only villains kept they mouths shut during battle and had better poker faces, they wouldn't be so easy to beat.
(2) For anyone familiar with "Super Smash Bros.," Jason essentially defeats the Enceladus with Pikachu's thunder attack.
Jayson
is 66% done
Notes:
(1) "Leo deactivated all of them. It was like he could smell the traps, and he picked just the right tool out of his belt to disable them.
'You're amazing, man,' Jason said."
- Gee, Jason's easily impressed. If you ask me, acquiring the right tool is a given when your tool belt provides you anything you can think of.
(2) Being out of action for nearly the whole book, I'd forgotten how annoying Coach Hedge is!
— Feb 06, 2023 04:30AM
(1) "Leo deactivated all of them. It was like he could smell the traps, and he picked just the right tool out of his belt to disable them.
'You're amazing, man,' Jason said."
- Gee, Jason's easily impressed. If you ask me, acquiring the right tool is a given when your tool belt provides you anything you can think of.
(2) Being out of action for nearly the whole book, I'd forgotten how annoying Coach Hedge is!
Jayson
is 62% done
Notes:
(1) I'm not down with Swanson's Hephaestus voice. He sounds less like the rough-hewn, hammer-wielding ball of muscle I imagined, and more like some nerdy science teacher.
- It does sort of fit with the inventor aspect of him, so I guess I can't gripe too much.
(2) You'd think with all these crash landings someone would get injured, or get whiplash at the very least.
- I mean, they're demigods, not unbreakable.
— Feb 05, 2023 04:45AM
(1) I'm not down with Swanson's Hephaestus voice. He sounds less like the rough-hewn, hammer-wielding ball of muscle I imagined, and more like some nerdy science teacher.
- It does sort of fit with the inventor aspect of him, so I guess I can't gripe too much.
(2) You'd think with all these crash landings someone would get injured, or get whiplash at the very least.
- I mean, they're demigods, not unbreakable.
Jayson
is 58% done
Notes:
(1) Unfortunately, when I hear the name "Medea" I think of "Madea" and those awful Tyler Perry films... at least, I think they're awful.
(2) It took a while, but we've finally got some meat-and-potatoes Riordan-style mythology going on.
- There was the meeting with Boreas and his offspring, and the battle with the cyclopes, but modern iterations of mythological figures is really what makes these books special.
— Jan 30, 2023 10:35PM
(1) Unfortunately, when I hear the name "Medea" I think of "Madea" and those awful Tyler Perry films... at least, I think they're awful.
(2) It took a while, but we've finally got some meat-and-potatoes Riordan-style mythology going on.
- There was the meeting with Boreas and his offspring, and the battle with the cyclopes, but modern iterations of mythological figures is really what makes these books special.
Jayson
is 53% done
Notes:
(1) "Jason was impressed [with Leo]. Taking out three Cyclopes with nothing but a tool kit? Not bad."
- Depends on what's in said tool kit. Leo's has anything he can think of.
- This Jayson isn't very impressed.
(2) Jason: "She’s trying to make you feel like a failure. But you're not. You're important."
Leo: "That’s what she said."
- Does it say something about me that I expected that to be a punchline?
— Jan 30, 2023 10:30AM
(1) "Jason was impressed [with Leo]. Taking out three Cyclopes with nothing but a tool kit? Not bad."
- Depends on what's in said tool kit. Leo's has anything he can think of.
- This Jayson isn't very impressed.
(2) Jason: "She’s trying to make you feel like a failure. But you're not. You're important."
Leo: "That’s what she said."
- Does it say something about me that I expected that to be a punchline?
Jayson
is 49% done
Notes:
(1) Leo kind of reminds me of Prince Harry, in the way he constantly brings up his mothers death and ensuing trauma as the key moment in his emotional development.
- Not to say that characters shouldn't do this, or real life persons for that matter, but both do it an awful lot, as a point of self-definition.
(2) Leo yells "Boo-yah!" which sort of dates this book.
- Do kids still say that? Seems very mid-2000s.
— Jan 29, 2023 11:15AM
(1) Leo kind of reminds me of Prince Harry, in the way he constantly brings up his mothers death and ensuing trauma as the key moment in his emotional development.
- Not to say that characters shouldn't do this, or real life persons for that matter, but both do it an awful lot, as a point of self-definition.
(2) Leo yells "Boo-yah!" which sort of dates this book.
- Do kids still say that? Seems very mid-2000s.
Jayson
is 45% done
Notes:
(1) Leo just happens to find a magic tool belt that can provide him any tool he can think of.
- Great! Another deus ex machina device to make sure life-threatening situations never result in any tension.
(2) There's an idea here with Piper's father, that Native American actors can pass for most non-white roles because they're so mixed racially they don't look like any one ethnicity.
- Surprisingly deep.
— Jan 22, 2023 06:45AM
(1) Leo just happens to find a magic tool belt that can provide him any tool he can think of.
- Great! Another deus ex machina device to make sure life-threatening situations never result in any tension.
(2) There's an idea here with Piper's father, that Native American actors can pass for most non-white roles because they're so mixed racially they don't look like any one ethnicity.
- Surprisingly deep.
Jayson
is 42% done
Notes:
(1) Boreas: "I sit here in my palace, at the edge of civilization, and so rarely have amusements."
- Way to diss Quebec! Never been there, but I'm sure it's more than just ice baths and hockey.
(2) There's a lot of unrequited crushing going on: Leo likes Khione, Khione likes Jason, Zethes likes Piper.
- Jason likes Piper too, and vice versa, but Jason's unsure if he has a girlfriend already... amnesia and all.
— Jan 19, 2023 04:25AM
(1) Boreas: "I sit here in my palace, at the edge of civilization, and so rarely have amusements."
- Way to diss Quebec! Never been there, but I'm sure it's more than just ice baths and hockey.
(2) There's a lot of unrequited crushing going on: Leo likes Khione, Khione likes Jason, Zethes likes Piper.
- Jason likes Piper too, and vice versa, but Jason's unsure if he has a girlfriend already... amnesia and all.
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Alexandra Elend Wolf
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Feb 09, 2023 01:42PM
That... is quite a sad musing, actually XD
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Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "That... is quite a sad musing, actually XD"Yes, it actually foreshadows Leo's relationship with Calypso. She's similarly cursed, falling in love with heroes who are fated to leave her. They're both prone to falling in love, but can never find love.
It's always interesting to see little hints in the first book that come to fruition in the last book.
Jayson wrote: "Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "That... is quite a sad musing, actually XD"Yes, it actually foreshadows Leo's relationship with Calypso. She's similarly cursed, falling in love with heroes who are f..."
It is a nice little parallel and detail. I'm not sure that would make them the best couple, really, but in the context of how things develop here it works XD
Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "It is a nice little parallel and detail. I'm not sure that would make them the best couple, really, but in the context of how things develop here it works XD"Yeah, in the context it works. She needs a hero and he needs someone out of his league, and in that sense they're perfectly suited. Though, I'm not sure they make the best couple in terms of personality, at least the version of Calypso in this series. She's a totally different character than the one in Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and Leo's a much better match to her previous iteration IMO :)
Jayson wrote: "Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "It is a nice little parallel and detail. I'm not sure that would make them the best couple, really, but in the context of how things develop here it works XD"Yeah, in..."
Honestly, every time I've re-read either series it's been with a wide enough time gap in between that I can never remember how Calypso was in the previous series, but I've heard this before, that she is different in this book and series, so that's very interesting.
I love how you phrased all of that and I strongly agree. They were what they needed at the time but I don't think they have what they need to go the distance.
Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "Honestly, every time I've re-read either series it's been with a wide enough time gap in between that I can never remember how Calypso was in the previous series, but I've heard this before..."Yeah, I pretty much read both series back to back my first time around, and the difference to me is like night and day. She went from being a quintessentially tragic and caring figure to someone quite judgmental and bossy, which I don't know are personalities or circumstances that go together, or naturally derive from one another. Other people have mentioned it too, so at least I know I'm not crazy.
Jayson wrote: "Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "Honestly, every time I've re-read either series it's been with a wide enough time gap in between that I can never remember how Calypso was in the previous series, but I..."Hmm, I think I can see what you mean by the little I remember of her character. I think the first time I read Heroes of Olympus Calipso I reasoned that her change in personality was because Percy had given her hope - or maybe I think I saw someone make that point? It's been so long that I can hardly remember XD - but while yes, I suppose you are to think that her interaction with Percy, the protagonist of the previous series, changed her in some fundamental way because he is supposed to change everyone he interacts with him by virtue of being the protagonist, it makes little sense, does it? She could be maybe more hopeful but that is not the turn her character makes, if anything, I would say she sounds more bitter, so... it's quite interesting that Riordan decided to do that with her character.
Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "I suppose you are to think that her interaction with Percy, the protagonist of the previous series, changed her in some fundamental way because he is supposed to change everyone he interacts with him by virtue of being the protagonist, it makes little sense, does it?"You're right, it doesn't make much sense. Judging from Percy's time on the island with her, I don't know that Percy had any extraordinary effect on her, or acted fundamentally different than the countless heroes of the past. He certainly spent much less time with her than others she's mentioned. I can understand being more jaded, but I find it hard to believe that Percy's the straw that broke the camel's back after thousands of years of the same scenario repeating. If anything, her personality and attitude toward heroes would have calcified.
I haven't got to that point in my reread yet, but I got the impression that we're meant to believe that she's so disgusted with Leo upon meeting him that she acts fundamentally different around him. Though I accept that might be the intention and rationale, it doesn't ring true to me that someone's personality could change so extremely. I find it hard to believe that the kind and desperate Calypso from the first series wouldn't be mean to anybody, let alone look down on any person as unworthy of her love. Like I say, it's like she's a totally different character.
Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "... I would say she sounds more bitter, so... it's quite interesting that Riordan decided to do that with her character."
It doesn't surprise me at all, given the current social climate and trends in fiction. To have a fairly submissive and ingratiating female character, especially in teenage adventure novels, is passe at the moment.
Being bossy and mean is an unfortunate side-effect of making her more of an aggressive, self-confident, A-type personality. Of course, part of the complexity and charm of the initial iteration of the character was that her curse and tragedy had worn away all her self-confidence, humbled her, and made her into a recluse.
It's only a guess, but I think Riordan doesn't believe he can write that sort of character anymore. It's a shame, because it really homogenizes the way everyone acts, and no one really stands out beyond their appearance or backstory.
Jayson wrote: "Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "I suppose you are to think that her interaction with Percy, the protagonist of the previous series, changed her in some fundamental way because he is supposed to change..."I really like everything you just said and wholeheartedly agree. It is a shame and a tragedy in itself for her character.
Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "I really like everything you just said and wholeheartedly agree. It is a shame and a tragedy in itself for her character."Hopefully, if they ever bring her back, she'd be closer to how she was in the first series. Though, the way things are going, she'd probably leaning more in the direction she is now. 🤔
Jayson wrote: "Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "I really like everything you just said and wholeheartedly agree. It is a shame and a tragedy in itself for her character."Hopefully, if they ever bring her back, she'..."
A happy in-between could be achieved where I would be happy too if it had to be reached at all. And I would prefer that over the new version.
Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "A happy in-between could be achieved where I would be happy too if it had to be reached at all. And I would prefer that over the new version."I'd take something in-between. Wouldn't exactly be a happy medium, but some acknowledgement of poor decision-making would be welcome.
Jayson wrote: "Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "A happy in-between could be achieved where I would be happy too if it had to be reached at all. And I would prefer that over the new version."I'd take something in-be..."
Exactly my point. There's no going back at this point, returning her to how she used to be in the Percy Jackson series would be awkward and a bad move so a happy medium is all we can ask for and hope for.
Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "Exactly my point. There's no going back at this point, returning her to how she used to be in the Percy Jackson series would be awkward and a bad move so a happy medium is all we can ask for and hope for."Yes, considering she's no longer an island recluse, it wouldn't make sense for the development of her character either.
