The Mark of Athena: The Heroes of Olympus, Book 3

Pre-ordering was AMAZING through Amazon. You do get a REFUND. You also get FAST shipping!I already checked out how much it was in stores and I got it CHEAP with pre-ordering, I love it.(There are spoilers, so don't read beyond this if you haven't read it yet!)I loved Mark of Athena. I thought it was high time that Annabeth finally had the spotlight on her without talking about Luke or Thalia. But I found the relationship between Annabeth and Percy, fringing on around its edges. I think Jason and Piper were the "front" couple of the entire adventure. I liked that they traveled to different states and had key events happening in every one of them. Especially the adventure to Georgia, that was interesting.For Leo, I'm happy he got over his "I'm too complicated for organic life-forms" like his godly father. I've gotten over "Oh, I'm a mechanic, I'm not human" just because they only know about fixing mechanics and cannot fix a human. Everyone has issues in trying to please a person or trying to fix a problem and centering that kind of issue around mechanics kind of got overdone. But anyway, I'm glad Leo got more action in the series through Mark of Athena. Although, I wish he would've joked less when it revolved around Hazel because that brought on random fights between him and Frank. But I was surprised to find out that Hazel's "Sammy" is Leo's grandfather. Which finally made Frank shut-the-fruit-up and I was glad it did. I even laughed a little when I found out because I guessed as much that he was related to "Sammy" when Hazel said he looked like him from the hologram he sent to clarify the Greeks were "Coming in Peace" into the Roman camp.For Jason, it really annoyed me that he kept getting hit over the head and knocked out constantly. He was basically no better than the Satyrs that seem to be useless (other than Grover who learned to finally use "Panic" and became the Lord of the Wild). But I guess it was good to show that even a POPULAR son that strictly loves going "by the rules" get beaten up.For Piper, I don't think she hardly had anything to do with the book this time... other than tending to her boyfriend. Although, in the beginning of the book, Annabeth does describe the way she looks and whatever. Her charm-speak also counted for nothing except when she was speaking to the Romans when they were entering the Roman Camp.For Coach Hedge, he was basically useless. I suppose it was good that Percy, Annabeth, Leo, Hazel, Frank, Piper and Jason had a chaperone? Though that made whatever short romantic scenes kind of lack luster.For Percy, I was glad he came back! His transition in returning to his friends was a bit... stiff? Though, I do applaud Annabeth flipping Percy on his back out of anger, that was uncalled for but a little funny. And I do understand why Annabeth was insecure when she met up with Percy because he's always the "good guy" and a lot of girls fall for that--especially since in the last book, Reyna hinted that she wanted to lay her unrequited feelings she had for Jason onto Percy.For Hazel, I think I started to have a metallic taste for her character as she went head over heels for Leo. I also think that it was annoying the way the author kept making her assume that he was "Sammy" from her past and not take in reality of the situation. But then again, I guess girls cause problems sometimes.For Frank, he got annoying when he kept abusing Leo. Especially since he regarded him as "Sammy" because he looks like him. Guys can be territorial with their girlfriends or girls that they like, I know this. It happened between Annabeth, Rachel, Calypso and Percy in the earlier series of the Olympians. But I was glad that he became more confident and took his secret gift in stride and used it a lot more in this book. In addition, I'm glad that he was fearful of Leo being a fire-user, that put the nip in the bud!For Reyna, I will say she's okay now since she held off Octavian from sending war troops after Jason, Percy, Hazel, Piper, Annabeth, Leo, and Frank. But why make her such a weak ruler? Her sister even came there for her with the Amazons--shouldn't that have given her enough support without Percy being there? Oh well.For Nemesis... fortune cookies, really? That's her big come back in revenge? I found it a bit rustically comical. She acted like a little kid. It's true that no one always has "good luck" and I guess there has to be a balance between good and bad luck as well. Although, I found her uninteresting. Especially when she sent Hazel and Leo to go do a mini quest and save a boy who was narcissistic. Honestly, I thought it wasn't worth it.For the Monsters, I was glad that they added more difficult monsters in their journey to Rome. Though, I found it a bit stupid that the author made Percy mull over some mermaid fish/piranha people? Didn't want to meet him or whatever. Their appearance didn't really last long anyway, especially since they were only used to announce that Percy, Leo, Jason and Hazel were trespassing and that they'd help in the war in their own way to take down that Zoo where monsters were being domesticated for side-shows back in Georgia. But the spirit possessions were overrated, I figured it was going to come into play because of the previous brain-washings that happened with Kronos in the Olympian series.For Mr. "D", I was glad that he came back into play... but I don't think I like his Roman side much--I know there's not much of a difference but at least the Greek Mr. "D" had more spunk and didn't act so... I guess I would say, human? I didn't really feel it was Mr. "D" until he lazily didn't help Percy and the others when they were fighting those twin monsters in Rome, during their circus preparations.For Nico, I thought it was cute that they referred to him as an "Angel" in the new Prophecy/Mission since it's a part of his name. Above all, he was very smart to eat the seeds (I forget what they're called), to sustain his life source and energy. But I felt really fed up with how Nico keeps getting abused and thrown around. Ever since the author made Nico bring Percy down to his father Hades, he's been mistreated. Even more so when Percy found out that Nico knew that Percy and Jason had been exchanged to the two camps--Greek and Roman. Percy, more than anyone, even if he's a rule breaker, should know that you cannot mess with fate. Especially not with Juno/Hera, she always causes misfortune upon everyone.For Athena, I found it a bit funny when they finally made her appear as a bum? Searching for her child to seek the mark of Athena since the Romans stole her statue of power and disregarded her as a useless God and only good at "Crafts."For everything else, I liked it and I didn't like it. I actually now want to read the next book already since I feel a bit disappointed.*EDIT* 11/1/2012FOR THOSE who want this book, it is cheaper to buy it on here on Amazon still.It's going for $14 or more in stores and probably more everywhere else. So, this is a good buy.

There is no question. If you don't like uncle Rick, I will find you, and just know that you are a disgrace.-Thank you and goodbye, Liah

Omg I loved this boook sooo much I just love pjo and rick and the new show I’m just obsessed and I’m having a pjo birthday sooooo yeah I love this book it’s so readable and definitely recommend pretty fast delivery too

Piper is the most annoying character. She would not shut up about Jason and if he liked her and the old memories and blah blah blah. I completely forgot what she could do because she was almost no help just overthinking her relationship with Jason

Literally so good. I LOVE Percy and I’m glad its becoming more obvious how powerful he really is good book

hot fire this book makes me happy and it’s very good beacuse he wrote an amazing book my like ig

Hi. My name is Merin, and I am a Percy Jackson addict.I love Percy the way a mother loves her child. I am blind to his faults, and adore him even when he's being a sarcastic pain in the ass. My feelings for him are such that I am physically incapable of giving this book anything less than five stars. Even though Percy isn't the main point of view character he was in his title series, these books are what they are because of him, and his involvement makes it nearly impossible for me to be objective.That being said? This book is absolutely FABULOUS.The elements that made the previous installments so great are ever-present in THE MARK OF ATHENA. You still have the humor, the action, and the emotional journeys of the characters. And most of all, you still have Percy being Percy. Except this is a more mature, more tested, more grown up Percy. He's still hilarious, still the character who says things he shouldn't. But he's also the guy who is totally in love with Annabeth, and their relationship is what's really at the heart of this book. Yes, they're trying to figure out how to keep Gaea from waking, and they're going to have to reunite the Greek and Roman camps. But what the previous two books have taught us is that their feelings for each other - their inability to live without the other - have created what is probably the best "One True Pair" of all time. NO ONE will ever be able to compare to Percy and Annabeth, and that's saying something when you consider that they're not even seventeen yet."Yeah," Percy said. "I learned a long time ago: NEVER bet against Annabeth." - 53%Of course, I can wax poetically about how awesome Percy and Annabeth are together until the end of days, and it still will only encompass part of what made this book so fantastic. The truth is, Annabeth ROCKS this book. She is tough, headstrong, and stubborn, and while she is confronted with some very serious weaknesses, she never gives up, even when things are going against her. Honestly, if you have ANYTHING bad to say about Annabeth after reading this book, please do it elsewhere, because I will be like Octavian in that dock scene; I will be unable to hear you over the wax in my ears. I don't know what the next book is going to bring for Annabeth and Percy, but I have faith that they will be able to overcome whatever it is just because they are together, and as Annabeth said in this book, being with Percy always makes her feel braver. And she's definitely going to need a whole lot of that.Now, just so this doesn't dissolve into a Annabeth and Percy lovefest, here were some other things I loved about this book. The return of the "dam" joke. The Jason/Percy bromance; I really think these two can be best buds forever. Leo being absolutely kick-ass, and the way he felt like an outsider and became such an integral part of the quest. Piper's brief moments of being awesome (I wish there was more of this and less of her waxing on about Jason). The Hazel and Leo backstory. Jason and Percy working together. The glimpses of the gods and goddesses. Aphrodite's tea party. The ever-present humor interspersed with all the action and adventure. The way that all seven demigods have realized that they can't do this alone and are going to have to work together. The way Riordan combined the Greek and Roman stories together. Reyna. The scene where Annabeth drops her dagger and Percy is awesome. Annabeth's ability to face her worst fear. The Percy/Annabeth reunion scene. All of the Annabeth backstory, which answered nearly every single question I had about her. All of the absolutely hilarious lines.To sum up: this book was everything I wanted it to be, and more. I love that we got an Annabeth point of view, and I absolutely adored her voice. There were lots of achy-breaky moments in this book, but it just made everything seem more realistic, and it hurt in the good way. Be forewarned, though, that if you read this book, you're going to want the next one immediately. My only complaint is that we're going to have to wait another year to learn what happens next! I'm definitely starting the countdown for THE HOUSE OF HADES. How about you?

Best one in HoO series godd i freaking love percabeth so much and leo my love oh god words cant describe my love for him

I literally love itt it was delivered on time and in a good condition

Muito loko trilegal, recomendo a leitura, mal posso esperar para ler o próximo, tomara que eu não me decepcione no final...

I am happy with my purchase. As expected, the book is a bit yellowish and dirty, and the cover was torn from the side. Still, it does the job just fine :)

Appassionato del genere e della lingua inglese