Heros of Olympus by Rick Riordan books 3 & 4

This post is for books 3, Mark of Athena, and book 4, The House of Hades.  These have been just as good as the Percy Jackson and the Olympian series.  In fact, they seem to have grown as the characters have and the Percy Jackson series almost seems simple compared to the intricate storyline that Rick Riordan has set up for us.  I must admit I was disappointed when Riordan continued on with this story and almost did not continue with this series thinking it was going to be just another similar story.  You won't be disappointed if you continue on.  I am glad I did.

We have the same group of heros, Percy, Annabeth, and Nico that we knew from before along with some breifly mentioned heroes and new ones.  Riordan has a nice assortment of characters that have such different personalities that almost anyone can relate to one of more of them through out the story.  Annabeth and Percy seem to have matured the most out of all of them which in some ways is sad, but very understandable.  They have a deep, almost grown-up relationship.  I am not impressed with Jason and Piper's relationship.  They do not have a very close one, but by the end of The House of Hades we finally see them actually interact with one another.  The same with Hazel and Frank's relationship.  Frank finally grows up a bit in The House of Hades which is nice to see.  Leo, sadly, is the 7th wheel, but he finally finds an unexpected love.  I am sure he will somehow save Calypso from her island.

The fourth book leaves us hanging as Percy and Annabeth escape Tartarus and the reunited group must now go to Athens to comfront the giants and Gaea in order to save the world.  Nico was a surprise and it is nice to see him perhaps learning to interact and cope with others.  I have a feeling his life will not end well.  Here's hoping I am wrong and he can finally find love and a happy future.