REVIEW: ‘The Lost Hero’ sets up a great spinoff series
“The Lost Hero” by Rick Riordan is the first book in the spinoff series to the Percy Jackson books. While some of the characters remain the same, “The Lost Hero” introduces a whole group of new characters who are the primary focus of the book. While it’s enjoyable to read with the Percy Jackson series, it can be a stand-alone series and it’s not necessary to read the Percy Jackson books beforehand.
Percy Jackson and his friends at Camp Half Blood had just defeated Kronos, but a few months later, Percy goes missing.
At the same time Jason Grace wakes up on a bus, sitting by a girl who says she’s his girlfriend and a boy who says he’s his best friend. They both tell him they attend a school for troubled kids and are on a field trip to the Grand Canyon. Jason doesn’t remember this though. In fact, he doesn’t remember anything.
Piper McLean is the daughter of a popular actor, but she hates it. The problem is that her father went missing the same night she had a terrible dream about the happening. She doesn’t know what it means, but is determined to find out.
And Leo Valdez is an ADHD teen that has a way with tools.
During their trip to the Grand Canyon with their coach – a satyr named Gleeson Hedge who calls everyone “cupcake” – while out on the skywalk, the group gets attacked by some storm spirits. Jason, relying on his instincts, is able to help their coach, who is there to get Piper and Leo to Camp Half Blood, defeat the storm spirits. At the end of the fight, the spirits manage to take away Coach Hedge.
Right after the fight, two people come flying in on a chariot – a boy named Butch and a girl named Annabeth. Butch and Annabeth take Piper, Leo and Jason back to Camp Half Blood, where they meet Chiron, the director of the camp.
After they get to Camp Half Blood, they learn they need to go on a quest to save Hera, who has been captured – but know one knows by whom.
Jason gets a quest and chooses Piper and Leo as his companions, much to their surprise. Leo, who is a son of Hephaestus, volunteers to go because he can provide them a ride; a bronze dragon named Festus that he found in the forest at camp.
While they’re on their quest, they meet a whole bunch of ancient people and gods, such as Boreus and King Midas, many cyclopes and Lycaon, king of the wolves.
This book is really good. It keeps you engaged and is detailed. Riordan completely solves the book’s plot but also makes you want to read the next book because the overall plot of the series remains unsolved. Riordan is known as the god of cliffhangers because his books are all about the gods. While the Percy Jackson books were entirely about the Greek gods, this one mixes Roman and Greek mythology.
His style of writing is meant more for younger readers, such as middle schoolers and some high schoolers, but his story lines are meant for all ages and can be enjoyed by all, similar to Harry Potter.
If you’re not a particular fan of cliffhangers, however, I wouldn’t recommend reading any of his books, especially if the sequels aren’t out yet. As mentioned above, “The Lost Hero” is the first in this series, and the first four books are currently out. The fifth is due to come out next year.
Overall, if you’re a fan of all sorts of mythology, I recommend this book and the connected series to all.