I’ve read and reviewed the previous 3 books in the Heroes of Olympus series, but never got a chance to request a review copy of book four, The House of Hades, from Disney Worldwide Publishing. So imagine my surprise and delight when a copy appeared in my mailbox the day before its publishing date! I of course tore right into it and was not disappointed.
The House of Hades (Heroes of Olympus) picks up where The Mark of Athena (linked to my review) left off with one whopper of a cliffhanger. Percy and Annabeth have fallen down the entrance to Tartarus and must make their way to the Doors of Death. They are aided by Bob, a Titan whose memory Percy wiped, Damasen, the one good giant, and a kitten who is more than he appears. Meanwhile, the other demigods — Camp Jupiter residents Jason, Hazel, and Frank, along with their new Camp Half-Blood friends, Nico, Leo, and Piper — continue on their quest to Epirus, where the Prophecy of Seven dictates they will find Percy and Annabeth, close the Doors of Death, and stop Gaea from destroying the world.
Unlike in previous books, where fights with monsters and gods required the demigods to work together, in this book, they each become stronger on their own, ostensibly in preparation for the big battle against Gaea. Their pasts also come back to haunt them as both monsters and gods that were previously vanquished or prevailed over have returned. Their wits are needed just as much as their physical strengths, and their relationships are strengthened in the process. Even Nico, the loner who prefers to hide in the Underworld rather than reside at either camp, grows closer to one of the other demigods.
This latest installment has Riordan’s usual wit that will appeal to older kids and teens, with references to pop culture, unusual metaphors and realistic relationships (and a few very chaste kisses). This book is a little lighter on the action than previous books, but much heavier on the character development, and the slower pace with quieter moments is a welcome change. We have one more year to wait for the final book in the series and I greatly look forward to the story’s conclusion.
Nancy has been a fan of mythology since she was a kid. She writes about her boys, books and life in Colorado at Life With My Boys and Books.
Dawn says
I’m just a few chapters into this one right now, myself! I have to admit that I forget SO SO much in between these books, but even when I don’t remember the details, I still adore the new adventures, and this one is full of them right from the get-go!
Nancy says
I know, I always have to Google the characters to remember who’s who!