#exemplified by the fact this is the first book where protags die

[lizzibennet]

the thing about each pjo book is that each of them is uniquely the best in what it sets out to do. each is so monumental in what the story ends up amounting to, picking a favorite is almost like pointless. you could not have all 5 work so well if one was missing

#tlt introduces the world and the main trio and the main antagonist #fun adventure in wacky world. normal #som piggybacks off the already established status quo of the world (fun wacky adventure) and builds relationships upon it #explores characters more. more introspection from percy and a lot raised (and answered) about annabeth #plus solidifying percy's bond w grover #ttc was my least fav for a long time because it just felt like idk off #and i now think it's bc it's where the story pivots a bit and becomes more serious #it's still v much haha fun adventure bc it's children's lit after all. but it is once again meant to solidify #percy's bond w annabeth; percy's devotion to chb and his feelings towards the prophecy #as well as being the climax of thalia's character and kind of settling the fact luke really is evil and doing some real shit #exemplified by the fact this is the first book where protags die #and thalia pretty much kills luke. like he doesn't die but she couldn't have known he wouldn't die #so percy now REALLY has an idea of what he's up against #notice how the following two books really couldn't have happened w/o this kind of certification from him #botl is like. AHHHHHHHHHH it is my fav for a reason #i just really love how it doesn't lose the footing w the pace and the fun hijinks but still manages to deepen the relationships between #the characters #especially with the focus on percy's feelings towards nico and annabeth's towards luke #like *chef's kiss* that book is so fucking good please #and with a foundation so strong there really was no way tlo could have been bad lmao #but still the fact the book takes time from Teh Final Confrotation vibes of it all #to make a point to show percy going back to his mom's. luke going back to may's. hestia's presence in the middle of all of it #rick was like this series has a theme and i will show it to you NAOW #and the action scenes in this one??? UNPARALLELED. tlo and botl the most riveting to read #if you remove one of them the story stops making as much sense!! #(i can hear you all going yeah like every other book series and NO. esp ya/childrens lit has SO MUCH filler) #ME? pjoposting in 2023? it's more likely than you think #pjo