Percy Jackson and the Titan's Curse - Rick Riordan

Published by Puffin Books/Penguin Random House UK: Great Britain, 2013 (2007).
Book 3 in the 'Percy Jackson' series. Preceded by 'Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters.' Followed by 'Percy Jackson and the Battle of the Labyrinth.'

After The Sea of Monsters left me a little underwhelmed, it has taken me a while to revisit the Percy Jackson series. However, finding this third book in a book exchange seemed like a good sign.

The Titan's Curse is a much stronger entry in the series, and as I suspected, the pieces that were moved into place in Sea of Monsters now begin to play a more prominent role. Thalia, for example, is a great new addition to the series - as a daughter of Zeus who feels she has been let down by her father once too often, it makes sense that in certain moments she is tempted to mistrust the gods in general. Other new characters in this book include twin siblings Bianca and Nico, who have a somewhat mysterious past, and the hunters of Artemis, particularly Zoe Nightshade, who have an innate dislike for all half-bloods, and males in particular. Of course, Percy ends up on a quest with a selection of these characters, this time trying to save Annabeth (and Artemis) from Luke (again) and the mysterious General of Kronos. 

The standard elements are all there: recontextualised Greek myths, suitably vague prophecies, and moments of both comedy and peril. A few hints are dropped about what may end up being spin-offs or later developments, but this story works a lot better as a stand alone than the previous entry.

The series has got its groove back.

Completed 1 September 2023.

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