Rick Riordan

Catching up!

Posted on by The Novel Girl

Hi everyone!

 

It’s been a while (aside from a review here and there). I hope that you’re all doing well! Things are still super busy here, but I have missed being able to talk books with you all so much! I’m going to try to get back to posting at least semi-regularly for now.

So, let’s catch up on the latest!! There are a couple of things that are coming up in the next few weeks/months that I’m super excited about, and a couple that have been announced but, sadly, no dates yet (so that I can pine away looking at my planner).

Let’s dive in!!

First, the long-awaited prequel to The Hunger Games, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes releases on May 19!!I have been anxiously waiting for this day since Suzanne Collins announced that it was coming. As I said before, this is a prequel to The Hunger Games, so we’ll get to see what happened to make Panem the Panem that we came to know.

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Next Up: Twilight news!! I never thought that I would be announcing that!! The book that we never thought was coming is coming out in August, y’all! If any of you are Twilight fans, you’ll remember the disappointment at the announcement that Midnight Sun would not be completed and released as the first chapters of it were leaked online. Many years later, we are being given the book from Edward’s perspective that we (yes we, I’m a fan, too- hate me!) have been wanting! It’s set to release on August 4.

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Now, onto the fun news with no set dates:

AMC has acquired the rights to all 18 books in Queen Anne’s The Vampire Chronicles and The Lives of the Mayfair Witches and plan to develop a television series. Y’all, I freaked when this dropped yesterday!! It’s no secret that The Lives of the Mayfair Witches is one of my all-time favorite series. I mean, I have the Mayfair Emerald tattooed on my back! Anne and Christopher Rice will be executive producing the series, so hopefully AMC will do them justice. I can’t wait to see what becomes of this!

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Finally, also announced recently (I only say it yesterday), Uncle Rick will be writing an Irish Mythology series…eventually! In a blog post, Rick Riordan let fans know that he is finishing up a Masters in Gaelic Literature at University College Cork in order to ensure that the details and the mythology in his books are accurate. So, fear not my demi-god brothers and sisters, there is plenty more RR to look forward to!

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That’s all that I have for now! I’m glad to be back with you, at least part-time. What do you guys think about all of this news??!! Is there anything else coming up that you’re excited about? Let me know!!

Always,

-T

Most Anticipated Releases for the End of 2019

Posted on by The Novel Girl

Hey everyone!

As we’re about to enter the last quarter of this year, I thought I would share with you some of the releases that I am most anticipating for the remainder of the year!

There are so many great books releasing at the end of this year, so this is just a portion of them. They are only in date order, not in order of anticipation!

 1. Five Dark Fates (3 Dark Crowns, Book 4)- Kendare Blake- Releasing September 3

I absolutely love this series and can’t wait for the continuation of the series! I’m looking forward to finding out what happens following the events of book 3!

 2. The Institute- Stephen King- Releasing September 10

In this new installment from Mr. King, children with special gifts are stolen away from their homes in the middle of the night after their parents are murdered. They are then taken to The Institute and placed in rooms that look just like theirs, except there are no windows, and no way to escape. The Institute’s aim: to steal the essence of their gifts. Luke is one of these kids, and he is desperate to escape the place that no one has ever escaped.

I love everything King (with the exception of IT– not a clown fan) so I am very pumped for this one!

 3. The Testaments- Margaret Atwood- Releasing September 10

Taking place fifteen years after the van doors slammed on Offred in The Handmaid’s Tale, The Testamentstells the story that we’ve been waiting for: what happened to Offred and Gilead after those doors shut.

The Handmaid’s Tale is me second favorite Atwood (behind Alias Grace). I have loved the TV show, as well, and the take that it has taken on the events after the book, but I am looking forward to seeing Atwood’s vision for this second book.

 4. The Tyrant’s Tomb (The Trials of Apollo, Book 4)- Rick Riordan- Releasing September 24

Taking place after the events of The Burning Maze, book four of The Trials of Apollowill take Apollo to Camp Jupiter, where the Roman demigods are making a last stand, and need his help. The problem lies in the answer to their needs- it’s in the tomb of a long dead Roman ruler.

I am always excited to see the next installment in one of Uncle Rick’s series’ coming out, and this is no exception! This book will take us back to Camp Jupiter, so we will get to catch up with Frank, Hazel, Reyna, Tyson, and Ella, so this should be a great story!

 5. Full Throttle: Stories- Joe Hill- Releasing October 1

I know that I have said this so many times, but I am going to say it again (and again, and again…) I love short stories!! I also love Joe Hill, so this is a perfect combination and I am here for it!! This is one of my most anticipated reads of the Fall. They chose the perfect month for this release.

 6. A Kingdom for a Stage (For a Muse of Fire, Book 2)- Heidi Heilig- Releasing October 8

At the end of For a Muse of Fire Jetta was on the run, wanted for treason, murder, sabotage, and for her unique power: she can use her blood to capture spirits and bring life to inanimate objects. Jetta is also afraid that using this power will cause her to go mad and tyrannical like her biological father. She may have the power to change the tide of the raging war, but she must decide if saving her country is worth the possibility of losing her soul.

If you were reading this blog at the end of 2018 you know that For a Muse of Firewas my best fiction read of last year, and I wholeheartedly stand by that! That being said, I have been anticipating this sequel since I finished reading the first! It feels like I have been holding my breath and waiting forever for this, and it is almost time!!!

 7. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire- Illustrated Edition- Releasing October 8

This really doesn’t need much in the way of explanation. The last illustrated edition, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, released in October 2017 so it has been a two year wait for this edition. I’m looking forward to seeing Jim Kay’s illustrations in this new edition.

 8. Gravemaidens- Kelly Coon- Releasing October 29

Kammani and her family live in the walled city-state of Alu. She wants to be a healer, as her father was before her family was cast in to shame. When Abu’s ruler falls ill, her younger sister is chosen to join him in the afterlife. Her sister feels it’s an honor, but Kammani sees it as a death sentence. She sneaks in to the palace in order to heal the ruler, but finds much more than she bargained for. She is determined to find out the secrets of the palace, even if she must sacrifice her own life to do it.

This is the debut novel by this author, and it sounds like it is going to be a hit! This is going to be the first book in a duology, and is already getting some great reviews. I’m looking forward to reading it myself and reviewing it for you guys!

 9. Rage (Rogue Team International, Book 1)- Jonathan Maberry- Releases November 5

An Island off of the coast of Korea is attacked by a bioweapon that drives everyone insane with murderous rage. The people behind the weapon want to either unify or destroy Korea, nothing in between. This is driving the United States, Japan, and China to the brink of war as terrorists are threatening to release the rage bioweapon in a way of destruction and slaughter. This is a job for Joe Ledger and his newly formed team of international troubleshooters. This is their first mission, as they work with agents from North and South Korea to stop this terror cell and prevent a war.

Joe Ledger goes International?! A bioweapon causing rage?! Yes, please!!! Thanks for the early Christmas gift Mr. Maberry!!!

 10. Winterwood- Shea Earnshaw- Releases November 5

It is said that the woods surrounding Fir Haven are magical. Only Nora Walker knows for sure. She is rumored to be a witch and she and the women in her family have always had a connection to these woods. This connection leads her Oliver, the boy who disappeared from the Camp for Wayward Boys in to the woods in the middle of a snowstorm. He shouldn’t have survived, but he did. She feels a shift in the woods at his presence and feels that she needs to find out more. Oliver has secrets that he’d prefer to keep hidden. Should we fear what’s hidden in the dark, dark, woods?

Earnshaw’a sophomore novel promises to be just as much magical fun as her debut novel, The Wicked Deep. Who doesn’t love a good haunting, witchy tale when the weather gets colder and the nights get longer? I sure do!

 11. From Flame and Ash (The Elements of Five, Book 2)- Carrie Ann Ryan- Releasing November 19

Lyric lost everything when she found out what her calling is. Now she must put aside her pain to train to be the Spirit Priestess that she is prophesied to be. Just as she is starting to learn more about what her journey will entail, a Seer’s wish and the calling of the Lumiere kingdom calls her forth, and thrusts her in to another journey that will test her trust in order to survive and keep those that she loves alive.

Ryan’s debut YA Fantasy novel, From Breath and Ruin, was a wonderful feat of world building and character development with a unique story, and I am thrilled to see where this second book in the series goes.

 

 

Those are the books that I have for you right now! Are there any that you are particularly excited about? Any that I need to be on the look out for?

 

Let me know!!

 

Percy Jackson Live Follow-Up

Posted on by The Novel Girl

Hey Guys!!

Sorry it took me a while to get back to you, but this week was bananas!!!

So, in my last post, I was headed to Dallas with my sis-in-law to see The Lightening Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical. It was worth every penny and the drive up there!!! It was so much fun!!

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For those of you who are Percy fans, it was DEFINITELY more true to the story than the movie *rolls eyes* That is to say, it doesn’t follow the book exactly. It definitely took some liberties with the story and changed some things, but it didn’t take the story, tear it apart, add in pieces from another book, and then burn them both to the ground. It really was great! I wish that I could see it again. The actors that were chosen were great, and the songs were wonderful (I’m sad that I didn’t buy the soundtrack). They really did a great job putting the book in to a couple of hour musical. If you are a musical fan and get the chance to see it, I highly recommend it!

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Have You Met Uncle Rick?!

Posted on by The Novel Girl

Hey Everyone! 

I hope you’ve all had an amazing week! Mine has ben incredibly long, but my excitement about this weekend is pretty much eclipsing it all! That is actually what the inspiration behind this post is. 

I know that I have told you all before how big of a Rick Riordan fan I am, especially the Percy Jackson world. I am heading out of town with my sister-in-law this weekend to go see The Lightening Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical! You guys! I am so excited!! 

With that being said, I thought that I would make a post to introduce everyone to Rick Riordan’s (affectionately known as Uncle Rick) Worlds. 

Here we go! 

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Percy Jackson and the Olympians (complete)

5 books

6 companion books

1 illustrated book

3 graphic novels

1 coloring book

This is probably the most well known of Riordan’s series, and the beginning of the “middle grade/YA adventures”. This is where we meet 12-year old Percy, who has some personal issues. Come to find out, those issues are due to his being the Demi-God some of Poseidon. We then get to follow Percy and his friends on their epic quest, after it is believed (by Zeus and the other Gods) that Percy stole Zeus’ master lightening bolt. 

This was my introduction to Riordan’s work, and I fell in love from the start. I loved Percy’s snark, the laughs and adventures contained within, and that he wrote strong female characters. This series is also a great way to introduce kids (or adults!) to Greek Mythology, as they’ll learn and have a great time doing it! 

The Heroes of Olympus (complete)

5 books

2 companion books (shares with PJO)

1 graphic novel

1 coloring book (shares with PJO)

This is the series that follows the events of the final book of Percy Jackson and the Olympians. It’s really just a continuation of the series. We see the same characters from the original series, and meet new characters in the form of the Roman Demi-Gods. I, personally, believe that these books continue to get better and better as they go. Just as a side note, my favorite book in the run falls in this series. It’s the third book in HOO: Mark of Athena. These books are definitely “Percy” books, but maybe a bit more grown up than the first series (not so much that kiddos won’t be able to move from one to the other, they just grow from one book series to the next, so the tone grows with them). While I truly enjoy all of his MG series, if pressed, I would say that this is my favorite. I really loved the addition of the Romans in this series, and thought that they added so much depth and fun. If you enjoy PJO, you have to continue on to HOO! 

The Kane Chronicles (complete)

3 books

3 companion books (1 crossover shared w/PJO)

2 graphic novels

This series follows Carter and Sadie Kane, who were split up after their mother died. Sadie went to live with their grandparents, while Carter travelled with their Egyptologist father. When their father brought them back together in an attempt to make things right, everything went terribly wrong. He unleashed the Egyptian God, Set, who banished him and sent the Kane children fleeing from the waking Egyptian Gods. They then set off on an adventure that takes them around the globe in an attempt to stop Set and find out the truth about their family and themselves. 

Where PJO and HOO focused on Greek and Roman mythology, The Kane Chronicles treats the reader to all of the fun that comes from Egyptian mythology. Reading this series, you will definitely be able to recognize Riordan’s voice as this carries the same wit and humor as his other series’. 

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard (ongoing)

3 books (so far)

1 companion book

Magnus has lived on the streets of Boston since the night that his mom told him to flee their home. Something killed her the night, and left Magnus to survive on his own. Now someone is looking for him, his Uncle Randall, the one that his mother warned him about. Magnus falls right in to his trap, and once captured Randall begins to spout nonsense about Norse history and some weapon that has been lost for thousands of years that is supposedly Magnus’ birthright? Magnus remembers being told stories of the Norse Gods and the Doomsday to come, but they are not incredibly clear. When the fire giant, Surt, attacks the city Magnus must choose between his personal safety and that of others. His choice marked the end…and a whole new beginning for him. 

This series, obviously, focuses on Norse mythology and is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. It is closely behind HOO in the order of favorites for me. It has some of the most interesting and complex characters of any of the series that Riordan has written, in my opinion. The world building is beautiful and detailed. If you note the last name, Magnus is Annabeth from PJO/HOO’s cousin, so we have gotten to see a little bit of crossover in seeing Annabeth and Percy pop up in the series, so far! I can’t wait for the next book to see what happens next! 

The Trials of Apollo (ongoing)

 3 books (Book 4 coming on September 24th)

1 companion book (shares with PJO/HOO)

This book takes us back to the world of Percy Jackson and the Camp Half-Blood life. Set after the events of HOO, we find the God Apollo has been cast out of Olympus by Zeus for his part in the events that took place. When he lands in New York, he has taken the form of a regular teenaged boy with no powers and no protection and he must find a way to earn Zeus’ favor before all of the other Gods and monsters find a way to destroy him for good. There’s only one place to go, if he can make it there alive, Camp Half-Blood. 

I am really enjoying this series and being back in the Camp Half-Blood world. It is not fully set in the PJO/HOO world, but we do get to see some of the characters come in and out pretty regularly throughout the books. Apollo was always a pretty funny God in the previous series’, and that is no exception here. The partner that he has in Meg just makes it even better. I have September’s release pre-ordered, and am looking forward to a fun read! 

Tres Navarre (complete?)

7 books

This is an adult mystery series about a P.I. who returns to his Texas home town to save the one-time love of his life and solve his father’s murder a decade after it happened. 

The last book that was written in this series was published in 2007, so I am assuming that it is complete, however I am unsure of that. I hav not read this series, but I do have it on my tbr. This is Riordan’s only adult series, but if it is anything like the rest, it has to be great! 

 

I hope you guys enjoyed meeting Uncle Rick and learning about his body of work (or hearing my thoughts on it, if you already knew!). I’ll let you know how the musical was when I get back! Have a great weekend!!!

 

Always,

-T

For Magnus Chase: Hotel Valhalla Guide to the Norse Worlds

Posted on by The Novel Girl

Author: Rick Riordan 

Series: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard

Genre: Fantasy/Mythology

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Pages: 156

 This was a fun little companion book to Uncle Rick’s Magnus Chase series! It was a really quick & easy read, to kind of ease my way back in while recovering from the never ending migraine, since I didn’t really have to think too much about it. It’s also good to have if you’re reading this series & have no foundation at all in Norse mythology. It gives you a little glimpse, so you have some idea while reading the series. 

The Hidden Oracle (The Trials of Apollo, Book 1)

Posted on by The Novel Girl

The Hidden Oracle cover

Author: Rick Riordan

Series: The Trials of Apollo

Genre: Fantasy/Mythology/YA

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Pages: 385

 

This story begins a little bit after the events in The Blood of Olympus (PJO/HOO series), and Zeus is pissed! He blames the events that occurred in HOO and the Oracles not working on Apollo. As punishment, Zeus sends Apollo to Earth…as a sixteen-year-old mortal boy (with a whack name and acne, much to Apollo’s chagrin). This has happened to Apollo when he angered his father before, so he has a good idea of what is to happen. He will be claimed by a demi-god, and bound to serve them and endure the unknown trials before him, until his father is satisfied that he has repented for his wrongdoing. Unfortunately for him, he is claimed by a demi-god that we haven’t met yet…Meg. As he has many enemies (of all types…monsters, Gods, etc.) he knows he must go to Camp Halfbood where he will be safe and can get some help. That’s where things get really interesting. There is no oracle to give a quest that desperately needs to be give, and campers are disappearing. They must figure out what is going on, before they are all killed.

I cannot tell you how happy I was to see some of the same characters from PJO/HOO in this book! It was like seeing old friends after a long time. The new characters, and characters that we didn’t see very much in the preceding series’, are greatly developed in this first book. Although this is the start to a new series, and can certainly be read alone, I strongly recommend read PJO/HOO first, so that you get the backstory and understand the references being made in this book (also, I just recommend that you read them because they are a lot of fun!) There is a small reference to The Sword of Summer, when Percy says that Annabeth is in Boston for a family emergency, so we know that this is taking place at the same time as that book. Overall, this is another fun read from Uncle Rick! I always enjoy his writing style and humor, and I hope that you do, as well!

The Sword of Summer (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Book 1)

Posted on by The Novel Girl

Sword of Summer cover

Author: Rick Riordan

Series: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard

Genre: Fantasy/Mythology/YA

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Pages: 512

 

Since his mother’s untimely death, two years ago, Magnus Chase has been a homeless kid surviving on the streets of Boston. When his sixteenth birthday comes around, Magnus is tracked down by the uncle that his mother warned was dangerous to him. When his uncle finally catches up with him, he tells Magnus a secret that he can scarcely believe: he is the son of a Norse god. He finds it hard to believe, until he is attacked by a fire giant while trying to call the Sword of Summer and ends up in Valhalla. Now it is time for Magnus to do his part (with a little help from his friends) to prevent Ragnarok, but to do so he must face his greatest fear.

Confession: I adore Rick Riordan! (I am actually re-reading the entire Percy Jackson series this year) His stories are always well written and entertaining. His world building is always spot on and easy to imagine, and the characters are always well developed. This first novel in the Magnus Chase series is no exception! I didn’t get in to it and begin is quickly as I did the PJO-HOO series, but after a few chapters I sped through the rest of it. I fell in love with these characters and their stories, and I loved that Annabeth made a couple of appearances (note the last name, you PJ fans!). I’m hoping that this will allow for a little cross-over now and then! All in all- if you are a Riordan fan, you will love this series, too!

The Blood of Olympus (Heroes of Olympus, Book 5)

Posted on by The Novel Girl

Blood of Olympus cover

Author: Rick Riordan

Series: Heroes of Olympus

Genre: Fantasy/Mythology/YA

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Pages: 528

 

The final installment of the Heroes of Olympus series finds our Demigod Heroes still in the midst of their battle to stop Gaea from waking. The crew, still aboard the Argo II, are trying to make it in time to stop the Feast of Spes. Meanwhile, Reyna and Nico are attempting to get the Athena Parthenos to Camp Halfblood in time to keep Octavian from attacking and destroying the camp. Will our Heroes succeed in their quest?

I want to start this by saying that I am a HUGE fan of Rick Riordan, this series, and the Olympians series that preceded it. That being said, I was a little bit disappointed in this last book. It was almost as if Percy and Annabeth were moved in to minor character roles, after we have spent so many books becoming incredible invested in them. The final battle was also a little bit disappointing, in that it just didn’t seem like… enough. The final battle in The Last Olympian was much more what one expects from a final battle scene, in my opinion. I did enjoy the book, in that it was definitely a Riordan book, and was well written and incredibly descriptive. His wit and humor was definitely present, and I enjoyed the characters that were in the forefront. I just wish that there had been more Percy and Annabeth present in this one, as it was the last book. I am sad to see the series end, but I am excited to start the Magnus Chase series, since anyone that has followed Rick Riordan knows that Norse mythology is his favorite!

House of Hades (Heroes of Olympus, Book 4)

Posted on by The Novel Girl

house of hades cover

 

Author: Rick Riordan

Series: Heroes of Olympus

Genre: Fantasy/Mythology/YA

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Pages: 608

 

The end of Mark of Athena found Percy and Annabeth falling in to Tartarus, and the rest of the Demigod heroes promising to find the Doors of Death on the living side and meet them there to close them, so that they can stop Gaea from being raised. Percy and Annabeth must survive traveling through Tartarus, which is worse than traveling through Hades itself, in order to reach the doors on their side. The rest of the Seven have their own battles to fight before they can even reach the House of Hades, which they must fight their way through in order to reach the doors on their side. If either one fails, there will be no stopping the Giants from raising Gaea. Percy and Annabeth are facing sure death in Tartarus, until they get some unexpected help that just might get them through…

I have put off finishing the last couple of books in this series for a while now, obviously, but I am glad that I finally got back to them. I forgot just how much I love these books and these heroes! Riordan is a master of world building. I can picture everything that he is describing, and the visual of Tartarus is, just, wow… The writing is excellent in this novel, as it is in all of the ones before. I think he just gets better as he goes. I am anxious to finish up the next one, and see what happens with these Demigods. If you are looking for a fun series, and like Greek and Roman mythology and YA Lit, I recommend this series.