Jayson’s Reviews > The Chalice of the Gods > Status Update

(2) This whole Iris quest is pure point-and-click adventure game. It's an out-of-the-blue menial task in exchange for a favor.
- If that's not enough, she literally has a to-do list of tasks for demigods when they come around. So it's extra-unrelated to the core mission.
(3) "I was too impressed to argue. Look at my old friend [Grover] taking charge and kicking grass."
- Part of me thinks this whole tall-grass setting was done simply to make that grass pun.
(4) "Rivers have a tough life ... I wouldn't want people turning me into a drainage ditch, or dumping sewage in me, or building a dam generator on me, or a dam anything, really."
- We get a callback to the dam jokes from "The Titan's Curse."
- It seems as if the primary goal of this book isn't to tell an exciting story but to trigger nostalgia.
(5) I finally get why there's chickens and snakes on the cover art!
- They're the animal obstacles in each of the two goddess missions.
- Interesting how there's only been ordinary animals so far and not any mythological creatures.
(6) I must say that this whole Iris quest is pretty weak, maybe the weakest of all the books.
- The main adversary is a hipster yoga instructor, which would be fine if he leaned into the gimmick, but all we get is a penchant for herbal tea and a "get off my lawn" attitude.
- It's not nearly as fun or exciting as the Hebe quest that preceded it.

The Iris quest was drowsy at most, but the final part is absolutely beautiful. I think you hit the nail on the head when you said that this book is meant to trigger nostalgia; I have a feeling that this trilogy is the last we will ever see of the main trio. I finished the book yesterday and it felt like an actual goodbye, which, knowing Riordan and his antics after having written 17 PJ novels now, makes me very nervous about the next (and last) two novels.

I really like this idea of notetaking in updates; I hope you don't mind that I'm stealing this concept lol.

DeVaughn wrote: "The Iris quest was drowsy at most, but the final part is absolutely beautiful. I think you hit the nail on the head when you said that this book is meant to trigger nostalgia; I have a feeling that..."

Yeah, probably the last we'll see of them outside of some passing reference. An expiration date is baked into the concept, sort of like a Peter Pan effect where the magic stops once you grow up. Though, who knows? These books are enough of a cash cow that a series about New Rome University isn't entirely out of the question. I mean, this latest trilogy wasn't on anyone's radar either.

Glad to know it ends on a high note. Something to look forward to as I head down the home stretch :)

DeVaughn wrote: "I really like this idea of notetaking in updates; I hope you don't mind that I'm stealing this concept lol."

By all means, DeVaughn. I'm happy to have provided inspiration 😁👍

I know that he, Riordan, has his series on Irish mythology upcoming, and he wants to continue the "Daughter of the Deep" series as well, so I feel that his saying adieu to the main trio is his making room for his newer material. Isn't the whole idea of New Rome University that they won't face as many monster attacks and have fewer quests? Percy says many, many times in "Chalice" that the he looks forward to getting older because of the promise of rest away from the monsters and quests and godly intervention. He even has qualms about leaving home for school. Although a series with them at New Rome Uni would be cool, I fully believe the third book will be our last time with them. Which breaks my heart a tad. 💙💜

DeVaughn wrote: "I know that he, Riordan, has his series on Irish mythology upcoming, and he wants to continue the "Daughter of the Deep" series as well, so I feel that his saying adieu to the main trio is his maki..."

Yeah, I can see where you're coming from, though I doubt that his powers would just turn off after graduating high school, monster bait or not. It's not like there's any monsters in this book. My point is, there's still more stories to milk out of the trio if need be.

Just personally, I'm not been all that interested in any of the non-Greek/Roman Riordan books. I didn't care for The Kane Chronicles at all and while I enjoyed Magnus Chase, I wasn't all that into it. I mean, I'll give these new mythology series a try, but there's no urgency there like there would be for another Percy Jackson book.