The Lost Hero Review

Jason has a problem. He doesn’t remember anything before waking up in a bus full of kids on a field trip. Apparently he has a girlfriend named Piper and a best friend named Leo. They’re all students at a boarding school for “bad kids.” What did Jason do to end up here? And where is here, exactly?

Piper has a secret. Her father has been missing for three days, ever since she had that terrifying nightmare. Piper doesn’t understand her dream, or why her boyfriend suddenly doesn’t recognize her. When a freak storm hits, unleashing strange creatures and whisking her, Jason, and Leo away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood, she has a feeling she’s going to find out.

Leo has a way with tools. When he sees his cabin at Camp Half-Blood, filled with power tools and machine parts, he feels right at home. But there’s weird stuff, too—like the curse everyone keeps talking about. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist that each of them—including Leo—is related to a god.
Taken from GoodReads.

The Lost Hero is the first book in the new Heroes of Olympus series. Following the story of three new demigods, Jason, Piper, and Leo, it details their struggles and triumphs to discover their true identities and their own selves. Jason doesn't know (or understand) anything that's ever happened to him), Piper has a secret that causes great pain, and Leo is the joker of the group, providing comic relief for the trio. With destinies intertwined and a whole new set of obstacles to face, Jason, Piper, and Leo are about to embark on the adventure of their lives.

Ok, it's so secret that I'm probably the biggest Rick Riordan fan and Percy Jackson nut in the world...ok, maybe not the world...maybe the country...ok, fine...I just really really really love his stories and the worlds he creates. That said, I was really worried about reading The Lost Hero because I was terrified it would butcher the amazing story he had already created. I didn't want to see the story beaten over the head by capitalizing on an already-popular series. That said, I was extremely happy to see that Rick Riordan's writing style - fluid, easy, and engaging - is just as fun and enjoyable as ever.

I'm a little divided in my opinion of the actual story of The Lost Hero, though, and I'll explain why. I was so stoked to see Annabeth re-enter the picture, and then I realized just how different her character was in this book than it was in the previous series. She was, frankly, just snide and nasty, and she didn't appeal to me at all. While I love the introduction of a new satyr, I missed Grover's antics, and while I like the basics of Jason's character, I found him rather tedious. Then, there's Percy. We all love Percy. You can't not love Percy. However, if you're going to introduce him in a new series, develop his character more. I don't want to see him whittled down to a stereotype of what he once was.

I know I sound like I'm ranting about The Lost Hero, but the story, itself, is actually quite enjoyable. Despite a few plot hiccups, I thought it was fun and definitely entertaining. I only dock points because I expected more. I give it a firm 3.5 out of 5, and I really hope to see the series continue to improve upon itself with the next installment. I recommend this to fans of MG, YA, and adult books, as well as those who enjoy fantasy.

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