The graecus has some moves.
Tread lightly, spoilers afoot!
THE SON OF NEPTUNE REACTION POST
Firstly lol I've seen all these reviews that are like, "It was like reading TLT for the first time when I was thirteen" and I'm just like LOL NOPE I DISCOVERED PJO LAST YEAR WHEN I WAS NINETEEN. AND YEAH I STILL FELL IN LOVE WITH HIM.
This literally is me. There are no words for my appreciation of Percy Jackson right now.
I know why people miss Percy's first-person POV and I understand that but it didn't detract from his charisma in SoN for me. Something that I loved about the alternating perspectives was the opportunity for RR to acknowledge that, yes, Percy actually is smarter than he looks. He does seem a lot more emotionally astute than the days of that's weird, why doesn't Annabeth like Rachel? but that was all the way back in BotL - he'd worked it out by TLO... And beside, as he said, when you're dating the smartest girl at camp, you learn things.
AND YEAH, it was just everthing Percy did - fighting like a Greek, his boldness in talking to Mars (so many lulz), "CRYING DOESN'T MAKE YOU ANY LESS OF A MAN" /dies SUCH A BADASS BUT SUCH A SQUISHY ONE - HOW ARE YOU SUCH A SQUISHY BADASS, PERCY?
And that conversation with Juno at the end! The stuff about Annabeth makes me so anxious for my baby but Percabeth is RR's original OTP and I trust him not to mess them up irreparably. My heart was just bursting though at how defensive Percy was getting about Annabeth being a 'problem' on the quest. ALL THE PERCABETH, LET ME BASK IT IN FOREVER...
Because ADULT DEMIGODS, GUYS. ADULT DEMIGODS. Obvs a lot of the fandom has just assumed Percy and Annabeth (and sometimes Nico, if you're a fan of that) will end up fending off monsters and continuing to be adorable together forever , but watching Percy realise being ~domestic with Annabeth is an actual possibility when he'd never dared hope for it before... MY BLEEDING SHIPPER HEART. IT'S BLEEDING.
New kids! I really liked them. I'm still not 100% keen on the driftwood thing but I really like Frank's inferiority complex, because until he works out the family power, it's sort of a valid concern. He's not that impressive, particularly compared to GQMF that is Percy Jackson. He's brave though and his doting on Hazel is slightly adorable.
As for Hazel, I love her. RR's really laying on the Tragic Backstories of Tragedy this series but she's so brave when she dies for the first time. All her angst is totally valid too, after what she did for Gaia and remembering Asphodel. And I don't know if I'm the only person to feel this way but Nico has another sister! Is this not good for him? I adore that kid and I am so okay with him not being alone in the world anymore.
Which brings me to old kids! NICO DI FREAKING ANGELO. I can't get enough of this kid WHO BRINGS FORTH ALL THE QUESTIONS, EVER. THERE ARE SO MANY QUESTIONS. But I'm looking forward to the development of his relationship with Hazel, which is sweet enough at the moment, if, you know, HEART CRUSHING. WHY DO YOU DO IT TO ME, RR? Nico trying to find Bianca in the Underworld - and - and - Nico swung his feet like a little kid.
Nico swung his feet like a little kid.
THIS LINE. I just -
I DID NOT EVEN KNOW I WAS SO EMOTIONALLY ATTACHED TO NICO MY BABY. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOWWWWWWWWWW.
I anticipated loving Reyna. I'm so glad she isn't just a straight up bitch. I really should've trusted RR after Annabeth - the man knows how to write strong, vulnerable female characters. I just want more of her! Her interest in Percy was... odd? Seemed like a direct transferrence from Jason, idk. Honestly I think it was a bit superfluous, actually. She's a natural leader but she knows when to yield, which I suppose is Annabeth's problem. Reyna and Percy will work together well as praetors. I love that she trusts his judgement in the end. I really don't think their relationship needed the romantic element, but whatever. I'm hoping it's a non-event.
Other characters? Um, enjoying the inclusion of minor gods like Iris (laughing forever at R.O.F.L.) ALSO, DEATH HAS AN IPAD. JUST SAYING.
AND THE AMAZONS HAHAHAHAHA So RR decides to abandon the hero's slightly sketchy mysterious-invisible-vulnerable-spot-that-sends-bolts-of-electricity-through-his-body-that-only-his-girlfriend-can-find in favour of AMAZON BONDAGE?
Oh my word, I will never stop laughing.
Octavian was hilarious, but I hope he turns out to be like a well-rounded, legitimate threat, not just a Drew-esque oh-this-guy-doesn't-like-me-I'll-make-him-look-stupid kind of enemy. Though, speaking of making him look stupid (and Percy being a badass, which is the ubiquitous theme of the book, obvs):
Octavian stammered, "I wasn't --"
"-- part of the quest," Percy said. "Yes, I know. And you're wise to let me explain, since I was."
SO MANY LULZ. Just thinking about it though, Octavian and Piper in an oration-off is something that needs to happen.
Speaking of Piper - oddly I like the TLH crew much better after SoN. Leo and Piper on the Argo II! I want them as besties. Piper was kind of bitchy to Leo in parts of TLH, always going on about how annoying he was when wah I just want to be alone with Jason. The boy just needs to be loved! I am partial to Reyna/Leo, myself - it would be totally consistent with the whole girls-out-of-his-league trend. Called the Sammy thing when Percy recognised the kid in the photo. Very interested to see what happens with that. I would love it if it just wasn't a love triangle. Like, if Leo just didn't even go for her at all (though she's pretty so he probably, you know, will.) RR was pushing Hazel/Frank but I actually didn't mind at all. I think they're sweet.
As for Jason, hearing about him from the Roman side made a world of difference. He's still kind of flawless at the moment, but I care a whole lot more about him after hearing that he was in the Fifth Cohort too, but worked to improve their reputation and stuff. And I just want Reyna to have her Jason back.
I love the differences between Camp Jupiter and Camp Half-Blood (except calm down with the crazy imaginative names, RR!) I appreciate the whole military styling of Camp Jupiter but I'd love to see a bit of filial piety come into play somewhere along the line, because it was such an important aspect of Roman-ness, and especially since it was one of the things that broke into Medea's spell over Jason in The Lost Hero - how he was all like, "You did what?" when he heard she'd killed her own brothers, or whatever she did. Speaking of piety and such, wtf? Spearing a fellow Roman when her back is turned? Gtfo.
OH AND GUYS, THE EMPATHY LINK! Congratulations for remembering your own canon RR!
AND AND AND when Percy called Sally! /melts Best mother/son relationship in the history of young adult fiction.
AND OKAY THAT ENDING WAS BRILLIANT, BUT I AM NOT OKAY. I JUST - I JUST NEED A REUNION SCENE RIGHT NOW. And not even just for Percabeth (though, like, obviously that's the biggest thing) - also for the awkwardness of Hazel and Leo and the dynamic between Jason and Reyna, but even moreso I want to see Jason and Percy. There'll be awkwardness for sure, with Percy taking Jason's praetorship but I just want to fast-track to their bromance, because it's sure to be the stuff of legend.
Other things:
RR IS TRYING TO KILL ME BY INCOMPLETE PROPHECIES.
I want the old periphery characters like the Stolls and people. I want Rachel!
I WANT ANNABETH.
...I WANT A REUNION. Are there any SoN-compatible reunion fics around yet?
...Basically, I only discovered PJO this time last year so I never had to wait for a release date and I'M JUST NOT COPING WITH IT AT ALL.
THE SON OF NEPTUNE REACTION POST
Firstly lol I've seen all these reviews that are like, "It was like reading TLT for the first time when I was thirteen" and I'm just like LOL NOPE I DISCOVERED PJO LAST YEAR WHEN I WAS NINETEEN. AND YEAH I STILL FELL IN LOVE WITH HIM.
This literally is me. There are no words for my appreciation of Percy Jackson right now.
I know why people miss Percy's first-person POV and I understand that but it didn't detract from his charisma in SoN for me. Something that I loved about the alternating perspectives was the opportunity for RR to acknowledge that, yes, Percy actually is smarter than he looks. He does seem a lot more emotionally astute than the days of that's weird, why doesn't Annabeth like Rachel? but that was all the way back in BotL - he'd worked it out by TLO... And beside, as he said, when you're dating the smartest girl at camp, you learn things.
AND YEAH, it was just everthing Percy did - fighting like a Greek, his boldness in talking to Mars (so many lulz), "CRYING DOESN'T MAKE YOU ANY LESS OF A MAN" /dies SUCH A BADASS BUT SUCH A SQUISHY ONE - HOW ARE YOU SUCH A SQUISHY BADASS, PERCY?
And that conversation with Juno at the end! The stuff about Annabeth makes me so anxious for my baby but Percabeth is RR's original OTP and I trust him not to mess them up irreparably. My heart was just bursting though at how defensive Percy was getting about Annabeth being a 'problem' on the quest. ALL THE PERCABETH, LET ME BASK IT IN FOREVER...
Because ADULT DEMIGODS, GUYS. ADULT DEMIGODS. Obvs a lot of the fandom has just assumed Percy and Annabeth (and sometimes Nico, if you're a fan of that) will end up fending off monsters and continuing to be adorable together forever , but watching Percy realise being ~domestic with Annabeth is an actual possibility when he'd never dared hope for it before... MY BLEEDING SHIPPER HEART. IT'S BLEEDING.
New kids! I really liked them. I'm still not 100% keen on the driftwood thing but I really like Frank's inferiority complex, because until he works out the family power, it's sort of a valid concern. He's not that impressive, particularly compared to GQMF that is Percy Jackson. He's brave though and his doting on Hazel is slightly adorable.
As for Hazel, I love her. RR's really laying on the Tragic Backstories of Tragedy this series but she's so brave when she dies for the first time. All her angst is totally valid too, after what she did for Gaia and remembering Asphodel. And I don't know if I'm the only person to feel this way but Nico has another sister! Is this not good for him? I adore that kid and I am so okay with him not being alone in the world anymore.
Which brings me to old kids! NICO DI FREAKING ANGELO. I can't get enough of this kid WHO BRINGS FORTH ALL THE QUESTIONS, EVER. THERE ARE SO MANY QUESTIONS. But I'm looking forward to the development of his relationship with Hazel, which is sweet enough at the moment, if, you know, HEART CRUSHING. WHY DO YOU DO IT TO ME, RR? Nico trying to find Bianca in the Underworld - and - and - Nico swung his feet like a little kid.
Nico swung his feet like a little kid.
THIS LINE. I just -
I DID NOT EVEN KNOW I WAS SO EMOTIONALLY ATTACHED TO NICO MY BABY. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOWWWWWWWWWW.
I anticipated loving Reyna. I'm so glad she isn't just a straight up bitch. I really should've trusted RR after Annabeth - the man knows how to write strong, vulnerable female characters. I just want more of her! Her interest in Percy was... odd? Seemed like a direct transferrence from Jason, idk. Honestly I think it was a bit superfluous, actually. She's a natural leader but she knows when to yield, which I suppose is Annabeth's problem. Reyna and Percy will work together well as praetors. I love that she trusts his judgement in the end. I really don't think their relationship needed the romantic element, but whatever. I'm hoping it's a non-event.
Other characters? Um, enjoying the inclusion of minor gods like Iris (laughing forever at R.O.F.L.) ALSO, DEATH HAS AN IPAD. JUST SAYING.
AND THE AMAZONS HAHAHAHAHA So RR decides to abandon the hero's slightly sketchy mysterious-invisible-vulnerable-spot-that-sends-bolts-of-electricity-through-his-body-that-only-his-girlfriend-can-find in favour of AMAZON BONDAGE?
Oh my word, I will never stop laughing.
Octavian was hilarious, but I hope he turns out to be like a well-rounded, legitimate threat, not just a Drew-esque oh-this-guy-doesn't-like-me-I'll-make-him-look-stupid kind of enemy. Though, speaking of making him look stupid (and Percy being a badass, which is the ubiquitous theme of the book, obvs):
Octavian stammered, "I wasn't --"
"-- part of the quest," Percy said. "Yes, I know. And you're wise to let me explain, since I was."
SO MANY LULZ. Just thinking about it though, Octavian and Piper in an oration-off is something that needs to happen.
Speaking of Piper - oddly I like the TLH crew much better after SoN. Leo and Piper on the Argo II! I want them as besties. Piper was kind of bitchy to Leo in parts of TLH, always going on about how annoying he was when wah I just want to be alone with Jason. The boy just needs to be loved! I am partial to Reyna/Leo, myself - it would be totally consistent with the whole girls-out-of-his-league trend. Called the Sammy thing when Percy recognised the kid in the photo. Very interested to see what happens with that. I would love it if it just wasn't a love triangle. Like, if Leo just didn't even go for her at all (though she's pretty so he probably, you know, will.) RR was pushing Hazel/Frank but I actually didn't mind at all. I think they're sweet.
As for Jason, hearing about him from the Roman side made a world of difference. He's still kind of flawless at the moment, but I care a whole lot more about him after hearing that he was in the Fifth Cohort too, but worked to improve their reputation and stuff. And I just want Reyna to have her Jason back.
I love the differences between Camp Jupiter and Camp Half-Blood (except calm down with the crazy imaginative names, RR!) I appreciate the whole military styling of Camp Jupiter but I'd love to see a bit of filial piety come into play somewhere along the line, because it was such an important aspect of Roman-ness, and especially since it was one of the things that broke into Medea's spell over Jason in The Lost Hero - how he was all like, "You did what?" when he heard she'd killed her own brothers, or whatever she did. Speaking of piety and such, wtf? Spearing a fellow Roman when her back is turned? Gtfo.
OH AND GUYS, THE EMPATHY LINK! Congratulations for remembering your own canon RR!
AND AND AND when Percy called Sally! /melts Best mother/son relationship in the history of young adult fiction.
AND OKAY THAT ENDING WAS BRILLIANT, BUT I AM NOT OKAY. I JUST - I JUST NEED A REUNION SCENE RIGHT NOW. And not even just for Percabeth (though, like, obviously that's the biggest thing) - also for the awkwardness of Hazel and Leo and the dynamic between Jason and Reyna, but even moreso I want to see Jason and Percy. There'll be awkwardness for sure, with Percy taking Jason's praetorship but I just want to fast-track to their bromance, because it's sure to be the stuff of legend.
Other things:
RR IS TRYING TO KILL ME BY INCOMPLETE PROPHECIES.
I want the old periphery characters like the Stolls and people. I want Rachel!
I WANT ANNABETH.
...I WANT A REUNION. Are there any SoN-compatible reunion fics around yet?
...Basically, I only discovered PJO this time last year so I never had to wait for a release date and I'M JUST NOT COPING WITH IT AT ALL.