Title: House of Hades

Author: Rick Riordan

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Publication Date: October 8th, 2013

     I am a big Percy Jackson fan — always have been and most likely always will be. Because this book took me a month and a day exactly to read, I can say that I read this book at 19 and 20. So, even as a 20-year-old adultish woman, I thoroughly appreciated this book.

     Some people my age reading this book may have issues with the immaturity of it all. By immaturity, I mean these 16- to 18-year-olds don’t act their age when compared to real teens at those ages. However, I find it refreshing. I love a dark edgy romance book with violence and strong language and all that great inappropriateness, but this series is a great interruption between books that make you realize how harsh the world is.

     Generally, these books and its characters just make me happy. Even the villains, though sometimes annoyingly and unrealistically ignorant, are laughable in their dialogue. Riordan has never failed to put a modern, young twist on every aspect of Greek and Roman mythology he uses.

     I found myself actually embarrassed to whip out this book on campus or in the library, I’m 5’1 and just very small so reading a middle grade book can really age me (usually to age 14 I’ve been told). I wish that reading wasn’t like that, that there was an age range for certain books. Obviously a 10-year-old reading a Sarah J. Maas book or a 25-year-old reading a picture book for pleasure isn’t very pleasing to think about, but really middle grade shouldn’t be restricted to those in the middle grades.

     Therefore, I recommend this book to every 20-year-old because childishness is always good for the soul.

     Even if you pretty much are still a child just in a bigger body. Or at least a slightly bigger body as I’ve only grown two inches since I was 12…

     Another thing that struck me about Riordan while reading these books is that he gives a fantastic representation of space and scenery. We always know where everyone is, where everything is happening, and what the area looks like without being obvious or overbearing on the narrative. I can never think of a moment whilst reading a Riordan book where I had to reread a scene to understand it in design or description.

     And speaking of descriptions, I also realized how beautifully animated Riordan makes his worlds. Each scene is decorated historically correct with twists of magical nonsense to give it the fun middle grade-ness. In other words, his books are vibrant and playful and inspire imagination.

     On top of it all, you’re learning! Greek and Roman mythology is continuously explained, giving back stories to characters and their myths and accomplishments, or punishments, and going through the creatures of legends. So not only is it entertaining and fantastical, it’s educational… what a great thing.

      

     Let me know what you thought of House of Hades, or any of the Percy Jackson books! Also let me know who your favorite character is from either PJ series. (Mine is Leo, I love a tension diffuser).

     Thanks for reading,

          Taylor