The Lightning Thief

For those of you that loved (and love) Greek Mythology, Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, is an action-packed tour de force.

Young Percy, a dyslexic teenager, discovers that he is a demigod and the son of Poseidon. Falsely accused of stealing Zeus’ thunderbolt, Percy must clear his name and avoid a war between the Olympian Gods that could decimate the mortal world.

Riordan leans on his extensive knowledge of Greek Mythology to create a fast-paced, engaging adventure laced with humor. He masterfully blends Greek Mythology with the modern world, creating an epic adventure that readers of all… show more.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a must-read for young readers or anyone young at heart who enjoys fantasy adventure books.

I love books like this one which are geared for young readers, but tend to appeal to adults as well. Before reading this book, I had zero interest in books covering the Greek mythological world. This five-book series takes you on an extraordinary journey through Greek mythology with Percy Jackson, who is a relatable and funny demigod. The writing is light-hearted, fast-paced, and humorous, making it a true page-turner.

Without jamming it down your throat, the series educates readers… show more.

Another family favorite when it was released, it purports to be an exciting contemporary fantasy novel (and it is). However, it is also very much a crime story. Zeus’ lightning bolt has been stolen and it is up to Percy Jackson and his friends to track it down. In a quasi-private detective assignment, Percy and his friends set out to solve the mystery and recover the bolt. And, like a true mystery, there are false suspects, twists, and surprises along the way.

I had to include this zany series because it is a definite favorite in our household. In fact, we read the entire first book without my kids even realizing that they were learning about Greek mythology. When we started to discuss what we learned, we were led into a whole new world of research and exploration. The entire family wanted to learn more and more about the fascinating gods and goddesses and the wild stories about them.

This is considered a young adult book as the characters are all teenagers, but I love the imagination that it took to think up a story using modern-day demigods. Rick Riordan does an excellent job incorporating ancient Greek mythology with modern-day living. Where else can you expect a minotaur to pick up a car and throw it at you? This book is an introduction to the thinking of the modern with the ancient. The storyline is easy to follow and it makes you remember the lessons you had in school about Zeus and Mt. Olympus. A younger person will relate… show more.

A good story is not exclusive to adult fiction. Riordan proves that with his Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Good books are for everyone. Riordan has built a huge urban fantasy world based on the ancient mythology we already know and has breathed new life into it. I love how the different series all exist in the same world. Sometimes they cross over and meet one another, but it’s not a forced meeting. 

The Percy Jackson novel series was always an interesting read when I was growing up, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy and mythology. When The Lightning Thief was published, I had gotten a copy and was not disappointed. It was an inspiration to me and continues to be even today, since I was and am a fan of mythology and the stories that come with them. Even now, the novel series is still amazing and an inspiration. The way Rick Riordan portrayed his characters, and their adventures was exciting and taught me a lot about the fantasy… show more.

I was busy writing my own book when Rick Riordan published The Lightning Thief, and I was blown away by the similarity in concepts. While my epic fantasy books dealt with Celtic mythology, Rick Riordan’s books dealt with Greek mythology. As the years passed, he branched off into Roman, Egyptian, and Norse mythology, but it all started with The Lightning Thief. I loved how he built his mythological world in parallel with our own. He created a rich, deep world where Greek myths and legends came to life. Although the main character was a young teen, I connected… show more.

Set in the modern world, The Lightning Thief explores the always fun premise of “What if the old gods never really went away?” Young Percy Jackson is a boarding school student who’s having a hard time figuring out who he is and why all these strange and mostly dangerous things keep happening to him. Percy doesn’t have much time to reflect when his true identity is finally revealed as he’s quickly thrown into an epic quest to recover Zeus’s stolen lightning bolt before god-level total war breaks out on Mount Olympus. This book (the whole series, for that matter)… show more.

Percy is a New York City native, but his quest takes him on a road trip across the country to Los Angeles. I included it on my list because the bulk of his adventure happens at the places between New York and California, including a battle with the mother of monsters at the top of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, followed by a long plunge into the Mississippi River. The group of teen adventurers also spend time in Denver, where they meet the god Ares who starts them on a side-quest. While the book doesn’t take place in a… show more.