MARK OF ATHENA

Mark of Athena has been sitting on my shelf for about a year and a half now.

I have been reading Rick Roldan since the fourth grade. He's been with me since my glasses days, so, in a way, I've grown up with him. Not just him, but Percy and Annabeth and all of the other demigods as well.
 
Off the top of my head I can tell you that Percy, albeit selfless, is impulsive. As unpredictable as the sea his father reigns over. He will disregard his safety in the blink of an eye yet risk war if it means protecting those he cares for. He uses his sarcasm and humor as a defense mechanism to avoid letting people in, therefore avoiding getting hurt. All of his years of fighting have hardened him, made him more cautious.
 
 He is naturally stubborn, as well as a natural born leader, often butting heads with those of authority. He is a good person, but he needs someone levelheaded to point out more logical, often better ways, to obtain what he wants. He needs someone to balance out his impulsiveness and make him see reason.
 
That person, is Annabeth.

Their relationship is one developed over years of having one another's backs. Daughter of Athena, goddess of wisdom, Annabeth is an expert in Ancient Greek, a budding architect, and quite easily a genius. In fact, she is Einstein's half brother, but will never let herself forget her fatal flaw: pride.  An incredibly skilled fighter, she is one of the youngest when she arrives at Camp Half-Blood, only eight. She is one of the best and brightest but sometimes, overcomplicates things. Fails to see the simple answer.
 
Like Percy, she too is guarded. Wary of letting others in after so many betrayals. She is wise beyond her years and she needs someone to remind her how to have fun and live.
 
This person is Percy.

I can say for sure, they are the first couple I ever shipped. They're perfect for one another, living proof that opposites do attract. I know there is a literary term for characters that are purposefully put in the story as opposites to highlight one another's differences, but I'm just gonna call this the work of the Fates. Fits better with the whole Ancient Greek theme.

My parents had a party this weekend and I was so bored that I sat down and read the whole book. In one night. All 574 pages.

Just like Rick Riordan's other books, the characters are locked in a race against time to unravel this prophecy:

                                            WISDOM'S DAUGHTER WALKS ALONE
                                 THE MARK OF ATHENA BURNS THROUGH ROME
                                         TWINS SNUFF OUT THE ANGEL'S BREATH
                                       WHO HOLDS THE KEY TO ENDLESS DEATH
                                         GIANT'S BANE STANDS GOLD AND PALE
                                        WON THROUGH PAIN FROM WOVEN JAIL 

At the same time, dealing with this lovely foretelling:

                                SEVEN HALF-BLOODS SHALL ANSWE THE CALL.
                                  TO STROM OF FIRE, THE WORLD MUST FALL.
                                   AN OATH TO KEEP WITH A FINAL BREATH.
                             AND FOES BEAR ARMS TO THE DOORS OF DEATH.

Now I could go all analytical and decipher possible deeper meanings of Riordan in writing these prophecies, but that would take all the fun out of it. I love the Heroes of Olympus series and plan on blogging again when I finish the next book, The Blood of Olympus. Sounds pleasant doesn't it?