Hits right in the feels with the nostalgia
Percy Jackson is back and better than ever in the new book Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Chalice of the Gods. Author Rick Riordan knows how to ride the wave years after his hit series and tons of spin-offs, as the newest instalment drops right before the Disney+ TV adaptation. Guess the PR team knows how to get us excited for everything PJO-related. Fun fact, did anyone else spot the dedication? Sweet of Riordan to dedicate the book to the new PJO cast.
Even before starting the book, you know you’re going to be hit with a wave of nostalgia and that is what makes this exciting. It’s like going back to your childhood treehouse full of sweet memories, after years of adulting and facing the hardships of the real world. Though Percy and his friends may not feel the same way about nostalgia after their newest quest.
Welcome back to Camp Half-Blood, or not really as demigod Percy Jackson and his friends are ready to graduate and move on in the real world. Now they have bigger problems than saving the world from ancient titans and gods – finishing their homework on time and getting into college. But for poor Percy, nothing comes easy as to get into New Rome University, his dream college, he needs to pay off his debt – of being born to one of the Big 3 Gods, Poseidon.
And of course, he can do it by getting 3 teeny tiny letters of recommendation in exchange for doing 3 quests. Well, yeah, you probably guessed it right, The Chalice Of The Gods focuses on the first quest. With the help of his girlfriend Annabeth and best friend Grover, Percy needs to find the stolen godly chalice for Ganymede, the cupbearer of Zeus.
From the very first line, you know you’re right back in the PJO universe with Percy cribbing about finishing high school and worrying about mundane things like a letter of recommendation, it is hilarious but clever.
Everything is peak PJO humour from the chapter titles like ‘My dad helps out: no actual helping occurs’ (typical Poseidon) to the snarky stream-of-consciousness updates from teenager Percy who now has teenage problems like getting into college with his girlfriend. It’ll make readers chuckle right before Uncle Rick takes us in a whirlwind of an adventure just like Poseidon’s Private Plumbing System.
It is also kind of endearing once you notice Riordan getting in with the current trends such as deepfake and himbos. He’s like the cool English teacher who is still hip and fun to talk to as he spouts wisdom and epic tales on demigods and monsters.
The Chalice Of The Gods’s format is pretty ingenious as well. With Percy talking to the audience and ranting, it gives us exposition while also not wasting any time on getting the plot moving. The backstory is quick and easy to remember, even if it’s been years since you may have read the last PJO book or not stayed in touch with the spin-offs or are a new reader. That’s the beauty of a Riordan novel, he doesn’t alienate anyone.
Riordan paints a vivid and vibrant picture which makes the reading experience that much more exciting. It is as if you’re walking the halls of an elementary school disguised as high school alongside Percy. Or running through Zeus’ palace, invisible while feeling the pressure as you bite your fingers and pray that he reaches on time. It is also a nod to all the past adventures and iconic moments such as the low-rent Lotus Casino or Percy’s backup to work at Monster Donut if the quest fails.
The characters all feel familiar yet grown up. Percy still has his sass and survives any challenges thrown at him with sheer luck and talent. Annabeth has no time for anyone’s nonsense while being the problem solver. And Grover is the fun sidekick who is possibly one of the few comic relief characters in fiction who pulls his weight.
With that in mind, The Chalice Of The Gods takes you back to the good old days when Percy and Annabeth frolicked through Tartarus or had a fun beach vacay on Circe’s island except for the tiny fact that lives were at stake. All that returns as Riordan takes us back to the basics, the tried and tested PJO formula that has worked so well. Guess he knows that don’t fix what ain’t broken.
But even without all the old fans, standalones and reboots, The Chalice of the Gods works as a great piece of fiction. Partly because Percy is so darn relatable. He is just an ordinary guy who is trying to get through his day but gets bombarded with obstacles which could have been avoided. Except he compares his bosses to cats who like knocking things off for fun, without the fear of being smitted by them. Smote? Smitten? You get the gist.
Anywho, Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Chalice of the Gods is still marketed for tweens but honestly, age is just a number, even for enjoying books of any and all genres. If you are an OG fan or love modern takes on Greek myths, quests and a snarky but loveable protagonist, this is for you.
You can check out more of our book reviews here!
-
Verdict - 8.5/10
8.5/10