Jayson's Reviews > The Son of Neptune
The Son of Neptune (The Heroes of Olympus, #2)
by
by
Jayson's review
bookshelves: audiobook, author-american, genre-folklore-myth, genre-juvenile-fantasy, genre-young-adult, read-in-2023
Oct 17, 2022
bookshelves: audiobook, author-american, genre-folklore-myth, genre-juvenile-fantasy, genre-young-adult, read-in-2023
Read 2 times. Last read February 20, 2023 to May 28, 2023.
(A-) 83% | Very Good
Notes: Shy romance, a West Coast dance, tenacity instillment: defy, persist, through muskeg, schist and Amazon fulfillment.
*Check out progress updates for detailed commentary: (view spoiler)
Notes: Shy romance, a West Coast dance, tenacity instillment: defy, persist, through muskeg, schist and Amazon fulfillment.
*Check out progress updates for detailed commentary: (view spoiler)
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Reading Progress
August 18, 2016
– Shelved
(Hardcover Edition)
August 18, 2016
– Shelved as:
to-read
(Hardcover Edition)
August 27, 2016
– Shelved as:
500-599-pp
(Hardcover Edition)
August 27, 2016
– Shelved as:
author-american
(Hardcover Edition)
August 27, 2016
– Shelved as:
genre-folklore-myth
(Hardcover Edition)
August 27, 2016
– Shelved as:
genre-juvenile-f...
(Hardcover Edition)
January 6, 2017
– Shelved as:
genre-young-adult
(Hardcover Edition)
June 7, 2018
– Shelved as:
read-in-2018
(Hardcover Edition)
June 8, 2018
–
Started Reading
(Hardcover Edition)
June 16, 2018
–
Finished Reading
(Hardcover Edition)
October 16, 2022
– Shelved
October 16, 2022
– Shelved as:
audiobook
October 16, 2022
– Shelved as:
author-american
October 16, 2022
– Shelved as:
genre-folklore-myth
October 16, 2022
– Shelved as:
genre-juvenile-fantasy
October 16, 2022
– Shelved as:
genre-young-adult
December 24, 2022
– Shelved as:
read-in-2023
February 20, 2023
–
Started Reading
February 20, 2023
–
11.0%
"Notes:
(1) I always find fictional brand analogues fascinating. Here they have a cross between Jack in the Box and Taco Bell called, "Jack in the Crack."
- Presumably, the Liberty Bell's crack.
(2) "[Percy] didn’t like stealing cars, but over the past few weeks, in life-and-death situations, he'd 'borrowed' several, including a police cruiser."
- Hmm... seems like Percy's been playing real-life of "Grand Theft Auto.""
(1) I always find fictional brand analogues fascinating. Here they have a cross between Jack in the Box and Taco Bell called, "Jack in the Crack."
- Presumably, the Liberty Bell's crack.
(2) "[Percy] didn’t like stealing cars, but over the past few weeks, in life-and-death situations, he'd 'borrowed' several, including a police cruiser."
- Hmm... seems like Percy's been playing real-life of "Grand Theft Auto.""
March 2, 2023
–
20.0%
"Notes:
(1) Hazel mentions that her father looks like Adolf Hitler, but without the moustache.
- Frankly, the moustache is the one thing that makes someone look like Hitler. Take that away, and I doubt even Hitler would look like Hitler.
(2) The leader of the Fifth Cohort is Dakota, son of Bacchus, who's perpetually drunk on Kool-Aid.
- Ironically, he's not "drunk the Kool-Aid," being quite lethargic about his duties."
(1) Hazel mentions that her father looks like Adolf Hitler, but without the moustache.
- Frankly, the moustache is the one thing that makes someone look like Hitler. Take that away, and I doubt even Hitler would look like Hitler.
(2) The leader of the Fifth Cohort is Dakota, son of Bacchus, who's perpetually drunk on Kool-Aid.
- Ironically, he's not "drunk the Kool-Aid," being quite lethargic about his duties."
March 27, 2023
–
29.0%
"Notes:
(1) I mentioned it during my first read of this book, but it bears repeating: The idea that in Vancouver of all places, Frank is bullied at school for being Chinese is the most ridiculous thing I've EVER read.
- As someone actually from Vancouver, I can say with dead certainty that this would never happen because the overwhelming majority of students here ARE Chinese.
- Who exactly would be doing the bullying?"
(1) I mentioned it during my first read of this book, but it bears repeating: The idea that in Vancouver of all places, Frank is bullied at school for being Chinese is the most ridiculous thing I've EVER read.
- As someone actually from Vancouver, I can say with dead certainty that this would never happen because the overwhelming majority of students here ARE Chinese.
- Who exactly would be doing the bullying?"
March 30, 2023
–
38.0%
"Notes:
(1) Reyna seemed to be proposing some sort of political marriage with Percy.
- Percy gives her the cliché, and always-awkward, "but I have a girlfriend" excuse. Though, having no memory, he can only assume so.
- From what I understand, having watched HBO's "Rome," this is quite the Roman thing to do.
(2) Terminus scoffs at the idea of magical trains.
- Yet another of this series' subtle digs at "Harry Potter.""
(1) Reyna seemed to be proposing some sort of political marriage with Percy.
- Percy gives her the cliché, and always-awkward, "but I have a girlfriend" excuse. Though, having no memory, he can only assume so.
- From what I understand, having watched HBO's "Rome," this is quite the Roman thing to do.
(2) Terminus scoffs at the idea of magical trains.
- Yet another of this series' subtle digs at "Harry Potter.""
April 6, 2023
–
46.0%
"Notes:
(1) There's this wheat field scene where the word "schist" is used as a faux expletive, in place of the other S-word.
- Keen observers will know this is a reworking of the "dam" gag from "The Titan's Curse," albeit less spot-on.
- Essentially, a modern take on the classic "Who's on First" routine.
(2) We get Hazel's backstory here, which is good stuff.
- Much more substantial and less superficial than Frank's."
(1) There's this wheat field scene where the word "schist" is used as a faux expletive, in place of the other S-word.
- Keen observers will know this is a reworking of the "dam" gag from "The Titan's Curse," albeit less spot-on.
- Essentially, a modern take on the classic "Who's on First" routine.
(2) We get Hazel's backstory here, which is good stuff.
- Much more substantial and less superficial than Frank's."
April 9, 2023
–
51.0%
"Notes:
(1) Iris has a store called ROFL, which the narrator pronounces "roffle."
- I don't think I've ever heard ROFL pronounced phonetically. I've always just said each initial.
(2) These Frank chapters are rough! Definitely my least favorite here.
- His backstory's never about him, but his ancient ancestors, his mother and grandmother, and a burnt stick he keeps on himself.
- He's an entirely superficial character."
(1) Iris has a store called ROFL, which the narrator pronounces "roffle."
- I don't think I've ever heard ROFL pronounced phonetically. I've always just said each initial.
(2) These Frank chapters are rough! Definitely my least favorite here.
- His backstory's never about him, but his ancient ancestors, his mother and grandmother, and a burnt stick he keeps on himself.
- He's an entirely superficial character."
April 24, 2023
–
58.0%
"Notes:
(1) Riordan makes a peeping Tom joke, where Reyna's in the bath when Hazel calls and Frank says he wishes he could have seen her. Surprisingly edgy for these books.
- I mean, this series is more mature than "Percy Jackson and the Olympians," but up until now there hasn't been a whiff of anything sexual.
(2) Is Portland famous for food trucks? Because that's the main takeaway (pardon the pun) of these chapters."
(1) Riordan makes a peeping Tom joke, where Reyna's in the bath when Hazel calls and Frank says he wishes he could have seen her. Surprisingly edgy for these books.
- I mean, this series is more mature than "Percy Jackson and the Olympians," but up until now there hasn't been a whiff of anything sexual.
(2) Is Portland famous for food trucks? Because that's the main takeaway (pardon the pun) of these chapters."
May 4, 2023
–
67.0%
"Notes:
(1) Usually, we get a kind of touristy overview and commentary on each city/locale. However, we see very little of Seattle here outside of a Space Needle mention.
- Instead, this section is all about Amazon HQ, with loads of Amazon purchasing and shipping jokes.
- There is one Seattle Sonics pun that I appreciate.
(2) Frank asks Hazel to tend to his stick... literally, it's a piece of wood.
- No innuendo here."
(1) Usually, we get a kind of touristy overview and commentary on each city/locale. However, we see very little of Seattle here outside of a Space Needle mention.
- Instead, this section is all about Amazon HQ, with loads of Amazon purchasing and shipping jokes.
- There is one Seattle Sonics pun that I appreciate.
(2) Frank asks Hazel to tend to his stick... literally, it's a piece of wood.
- No innuendo here."
May 5, 2023
–
76.0%
"Notes:
(1) Being from Vancouver, it's weird to to hear Riordan's touristy tidbits. No less because it's actually North Vancouver he goes on about.
- Firstly, no locals call it "North Vancouver," everyone calls it "North Van.
- Also, it's not very interesting compared to Vancouver. Riordan name drops a bridge, a park, etc.
(2) Apparently, Frank's family has a mansion in North Van.
- Mansions are more a West Van thing."
(1) Being from Vancouver, it's weird to to hear Riordan's touristy tidbits. No less because it's actually North Vancouver he goes on about.
- Firstly, no locals call it "North Vancouver," everyone calls it "North Van.
- Also, it's not very interesting compared to Vancouver. Riordan name drops a bridge, a park, etc.
(2) Apparently, Frank's family has a mansion in North Van.
- Mansions are more a West Van thing."
May 21, 2023
–
82.0%
"Notes:
(1) Hazel kisses Percy, which the narrator says "was totally sisterly."
- Whatever the reason, girls are always kissing Percy.
(2) "[Percy]'d never used a pay phone before. They were strange antiques to him, like his mom's turntable or his teacher Chiron's Frank Sinatra cassette tapes."
- Pay phones were ancient in 2011?
- Seriously, why would cassettes be Chiron's preferred audio format? For analog, go vinyl."
(1) Hazel kisses Percy, which the narrator says "was totally sisterly."
- Whatever the reason, girls are always kissing Percy.
(2) "[Percy]'d never used a pay phone before. They were strange antiques to him, like his mom's turntable or his teacher Chiron's Frank Sinatra cassette tapes."
- Pay phones were ancient in 2011?
- Seriously, why would cassettes be Chiron's preferred audio format? For analog, go vinyl."
May 27, 2023
–
92.0%
"Notes:
(1) Riordan makes a big deal about muskeg. Not being a homonym or near-homonym with an obscenity feels like a letdown.
- It's no "dam" or "shist" in other words.
- "Muskeg" is only moderately funny sounding.
(2) "Then she kissed him — a real kiss on the lips, much better than the kind of kiss she'd given Percy on the airplane."
- Even when Percy's not anywhere to be found, he's on people's minds during kisses."
(1) Riordan makes a big deal about muskeg. Not being a homonym or near-homonym with an obscenity feels like a letdown.
- It's no "dam" or "shist" in other words.
- "Muskeg" is only moderately funny sounding.
(2) "Then she kissed him — a real kiss on the lips, much better than the kind of kiss she'd given Percy on the airplane."
- Even when Percy's not anywhere to be found, he's on people's minds during kisses."
May 28, 2023
–
100.0%
"Notes:
(1) Finally finished this after three months. I got audiobooks done much faster when I drove a lot more.
- I've got to fit them better into my routine. Find some mindless, repetitive task to listen along with.
(2) Riordan's Achilles heel are his battle scenes.
- They're often so chaotic and noisy that everything just melts into one big cacophony.
- Outside of notable deaths, I don't find them memorable at all."
(1) Finally finished this after three months. I got audiobooks done much faster when I drove a lot more.
- I've got to fit them better into my routine. Find some mindless, repetitive task to listen along with.
(2) Riordan's Achilles heel are his battle scenes.
- They're often so chaotic and noisy that everything just melts into one big cacophony.
- Outside of notable deaths, I don't find them memorable at all."
May 28, 2023
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-20 of 20 (20 new)
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✎ Chloe
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rated it 5 stars
03 août 2023 23:41
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Yup, there's just something about him. Plus, it's a fairly appropriate response when someone does something heroic or selfless, and he does a lot of that. 🤷♂️
Thanks for pointing that out, Laura. I've corrected them :)
Oh, now you've piqued my curiosity about what happens at the 5th book :)
Oh, now you've piqued my curiosity about what happens at the 5th book :)"
The final battle was underwhelming to me and I thought he played it too safe with certain things.
I won't spoil anything for ya
I won't spoil anything for ya"
Nothing I didn't already expect. Since the original series, Riordan's been playing it safer and safer with each subsequent book. Also, his final battles are always underwhelming, if not outright confusing and poorly written :)
I won't spoil anything for ya"
Nothing I didn't already expect. Since the original ser..."
Wonder if he didn't want to upset kids too much with their favorites dying?
Possibly there was some backlash to certain things, possibly old books didn't age well, possibly it's just more sensitive times 🤷♂️
Possibly there was some backlash to certain things, possibly old books didn't age well, possibly it's just m..."
True, people get offended much more easily these days.
Yup, and younger people all the more.
Yup, and younger people all the more."
The "in" thing to do I guess
I'd say so. The spirit of youthful rebellion is not what it used to be.
I'd say so. The spirit of youthful rebellion is not what it used to be."
My dad let us watch Childs Play and Gremlins when we were younger.. seems like most want things dumbed down these days
Yes, I can tell that much just from reading The Trials of Apollo, Heroes of Olympus is downright sophisticated in comparison. Though I've only just begun, and I'm still giving it a chance, but at the least the start of it feels like it's written for the bubble-wrap generation.
Yes, I can tell that much just from reading The Trials of Apollo,..."
Good luck 👍🏼
Thanks :)