Book Review: The Demigod Diaries by Rick Riordan

Around the House
Not much to say.  I spent th'is weekend plowing through the first two books of Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games.  I must say I am completely in love.  I just can not put the books down.  I am sitting here staring at the last book in the series.  It is taking everything not to grab another cup of tea and curl up in bed.  I am hoping that Project Runway will distract me.

My Thoughts
I am wondering where Rick Riordan is going next in his mythogical series.  We have all heard the rumors of a Norse Book down the line and Egyptian Book has reached its close.  I am curious were we are going to end up next.  So when I ran across a Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Heroes of Olympus cross over book of Short Stories I was excited.  After going through the table of contents of this short fun book I was shocked to see that he allowed his child to actually write a story that fits into his world.  This is always something that worries me since it takes a leap that the reader will loose the voice they love.  Surprisingly enough while the voice is differnent the perspective is perfect for a new voice to speak in the world, and this story was actually the perfect tie in to bring the series together.

I spent a fun afternoon reading this group of stories as we get ready for the release of the Mark of Athena.  While this collect did not have the fun of Demigod Files, it held the dark tones of the other Heroes of Olympus books.  I look forward to the day when I can sit down and spend the afternoon reading both series front to back including the fun short stories and the dark shifts of the new stories.  Finding more of the backstory of Annabeth is perfect as we lead into the next book.  While this is not a show stopping book it is a great teaser for the rest of the Heroes of Olympus series.  While this book is not a must read to follow the series it does enhance the feeling of the Heroes by reminding you of where all the characters came from.

Rating 3/5

Book Review: The Shadow of the Serpent

Around the House
Nothing to say!

My Thoughts
The Shadow of the Serpent is the last book of the Kane Chronicles by Rich Riordan.  I have been looking forward to this growing fun tale of Sadie and Carter Kane as they learn to be Egyptian Magicians in the modern world.  They have reached the final battle in there quest to restore the Gods, House of Life, and Ma'at to the modern world by sending the Serpent of Chaos on a permanent vacation.  Who would have thought we got  a few more back handed Percy Jackson references at the end?  I can't wait to know head back to long Island to see what my favorite Greeks are up to.

Unfortunately, I was disappointed.  While the series as a whole was great with the entertaining spin on Egyptian Mythology in the modern world I feel that it lost something at the end.  Everything worked out a bit to perfectly.  I came into this novel expecting them to win, I expected Carter to take over, and I expected a few deaths, but when no one died it almost seemed like it was too easy of a battle.  It was missing the true sense of danger that his books usually have for the reader.  It felt safe which is not what I have come to expect from Rick Riordan.  Now is that because this really isn't the end of the series?  I am not sure, but I have the distinct feeling we are going to eventually see a Kane, Jackson, and Norse combination series showing on Hell of a God War.  I just hope he keeps the danger real, so the reader is expecting everything to get tied up nice and neatly.

Rating: 3/5

Things I Miss

Around the House
Well I just finished with a move.  I really hate moving especially when you have to wait on the Cable Guy to show up.  Unfortunately, they won't be showing until the end of the month.  It really annoys me.  Of course, that does force me to finish all of my editing and writing projects that are laying on my desk.  Well desk top at the moment since I don't have a full desk right now.

My Thoughts
I was thinking today while sitting here working that their are many things I miss.  I was thinking about some of my favorite TV shows that have found a new life in the land of Comics - Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Charmed, and Angel.  These where amazing shows that drew the audience in each week.  It is sad that they had to eventually come to an end, but it is nice to get to delve into them once in a while to make you feel better on a down day.  Of course the fact that we don't get to enjoy all of our favorite actors and stories every week is enough to make us all a little sad at heart.

The book series that I miss right now are the Harry Potter Series and the Black Jewels.  Now, the fact that Percy Jackson and the Olympians is technically over, it is great the Rick Riordan has continued to show us all the joy of the world of Percy Jackson by following them in the Heroes of Olympus Series.  I can't wait to see all the trouble Mr. Jackson gets himself into now.  At least with a great book it will always sit on your shelf to enjoy when ever the mood hits.

Those are just a taste of the few things I miss.  I just hope that for everything that goes away we each find a great new passion to enjoy.  I can only hope that my books do for readers what those series and TV shows have done for me.