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The Son of Neptune (Heroes of Olympus, Book 2) Hardcover – October 4, 2011

by Rick Riordan (Author)

4.8 28,310 ratings

Book 2 of 5: The Heroes of Olympus

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Percy is confused. When he awoke after his long sleep, he didn’t know much more than his name. His brain-fuzz is lingering, even after the wolf Lupa told him he is a demigod and trained him to fight. Somehow Percy managed to make it to the camp for half-bloods, despite the fact that he had to continually kill monsters that, annoyingly, would not stay dead. But the camp doesn't ring any bells with him.

Hazel is supposed to be dead. When she lived before, she didn’t do a very good job of it. When the Voice took over her mother and commanded Hazel to use her “gift” for an evil purpose, Hazel couldn’t say no. Now, because of her mistake, the future of the world is at risk.

Frank is a klutz. His grandmother claims he is descended from ancient heroes and can be anything he wants to be, but he doesn’t see it. He doesn’t even know who his father is. He keeps hoping Apollo will claim him, because the only thing he is good at is archeryalthough not good enough to help the Fifth Cohort win at war games. His big and bulky physique makes him feel like a clumsy ox, especially in front of Hazel, his closest friend at camp. He trusts her completelyenough, even, to share the secret he holds close to his heart.

Beginning at the “other” camp for half-bloods and extending as far north as the land beyond the gods, this breathtaking second installment in the Heroes of Olympus series introduces new demigods, revives fearsome monsters, and features other remarkable creatures, all of whom are destined to play a part in the most important quest of all: the Prophecy of Seven.

Reading age

9 - 13 years, from customers
Book 2 of 5

The Heroes of Olympus
Print length

544 pages
Language

English
Grade level

5 - 9
Lexile measure

640L
Dimensions

5.7 x 1.75 x 8.5 inches
Publisher

Disney Hyperion
Publication date

October 4, 2011
ISBN-10

1423140591
ISBN-13

978-1423140597
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Get to know this book

What's it about?
A confused demigod arrives at a camp, while a resurrected girl's past mistake endangers the world's future.
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First, you start carrying a man satchel. Next thing you know, you’re running around in a bathrobe and pink bunny slippers, chasing chickens with a weed whacker.
14,580 Kindle readers highlighted this
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“Life is only precious because it ends, kid. Take it from a god. You mortals don’t know how lucky you are.”
13,963 Kindle readers highlighted this
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When Frank asked Hazel how her beef was feeling today, and she replied that his shoe was green, they decided to give up.
11,244 Kindle readers highlighted this

From the Publisher


	Kane Chronicles: The Red Pyramid	Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer	Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief	The Trials of Apollo: The Hidden Oracle	Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief: The Graphic Novel
					See Details
Customer Reviews	10,488	24,320	56,691	23,630	—
Price	$8.39	$8.49	$12.36	$11.79	—
Also by #1 New York Times best-selling author Rick Riordan, author of The Percy Jackson series:	The best-selling author of Percy Jackson and the Olympians takes on ancient Egypt in the first book of a trilogy that offers a modern-day portal into a rich fantastical world of ancient myth.	The world’s foremost expert in bringing ancient stories to life for modern young readers through fast-paced, hilarious, and high-stakes adventure quests turns to Norse mythology for the first time.	The classic first book about Percy Jackson, the troubled boy who discovers he is the son of Poseidon, and his adventures with demigods, monsters, and Greek gods.	Favorite Greek and Roman demigods return in a five-book adventure quest with a fresh twist: they’re helping Apollo regain his immortal status.	Book One in the #1 New York Times best-selling Percy Jackson and the Olympians series gets the graphic novel treatment from three big names in the comic book industry.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Amazon Best Books of the Month, October 2011: From the Roman demigod camp to the prison of Death himself, The Son of Neptune reunites readers with old friends and introduces them to a whole new cast of characters. The Roman camp is a far cry from Camp Half-Blood, but it’s every bit as fascinating to explore. Our heroes battle up and down the West Coast with impossibly few days before disaster is unleashed, fighting new foes and finding new friends along the way. Some of the mysteries from The Lost Hero are solved, while others loom even larger. Rick Riordan is a master at balancing just the right amount of seriousness and levity in every situation, and his three teen narrators point out the strangeness of the iterations of ancient myths in the modern world with spot-on accuracy. With page-turning adventure, witty dialogue, and fun, fascinating characters, this second installment of the Heroes of Olympus series is a must-read for any fan of myths and fables. --Malissa Kent

Review

After spinning his wheels in series opener The Lost Hero (2010), Riordan regains his traction with book two of The Heroes of Olympus. Gaea is raising an army of giants to defeat the gods, and Juno has switched heroes Percy Jackson (son of Poseidon) and Jason Grace (son of Jupiter) in order to unite Greek and Roman gods and demigods in battle against her. His memory wiped, Percy knows only that he has another life and a girlfriend, Annabeth; he needs to focus now on winning the trust of the Roman demigods. As per usual, he has two appealing companions with intriguing back stories, Hazel Levesque (daughter of Pluto) and Frank Zhang (son of ?). The three undertake a quest to Alaska to defeat the giant Alcyoneus and free Thanatos, "the border patrol" of the Underworld, assisted and opposed along the way by a pleasing variety of magical beings. Riordan achieves freshness within his formula by giving characters and readers a new environment-Camp Jupiter, similar only in broad concept to Camp Half-Blood-to discover, and his pell-mell pacing has returned. As with all of Riordan's mythological tales, the details that bring the legends into the 21st century delight: The camp's augur reads the entrails of Beanie Babies; tiny, malignant grain spirits dissolve into Chex Mix; the Amazons' headquarters are in Seattle at, well, you guessed it. Should pacing and wit continue unabated into the third volume, whose foretold European setting promises further freshness, fans will eagerly await numbers four and five. (Fantasy. 10-14) Kirkus"

Percy Jackson is back! Following his absence in The Lost Hero (2010), book 1 of the Heroes of Olympus series, Percy returns to fight another day, and another, and another, and yes, several others. As the story begins, he clashes with two Gorgons and finds Camp Jupiter, the modern West Coast refuge for demigods. There, he befriends Frank and Hazel, who join his quest to free Thanatos (aka Death) from Gaea's evil minions in Alaska. Personal challenges, fierce battles, and self-discovery await the three teen demigods, even as Percy struggles with amnesia. Though diverse in ethnicity, physical characteristics, and magical gifts, Percy's friends in both series seem relatively interchangeable. Still, Riordan creates an original minor character in Ella, the lovable harpy. While the narrative includes lengthy explanations, flashbacks, and dreams, there is plenty of fast-paced action, including combat scenes with formidable enemies, as well as occasional comic relief. Along the way, readers will learn more about both the ancient Roman gods and the Roman legions. Fans will find plenty to cheer about as Percy and his allies move slowly toward fulfilling the mysterious Prophecy of Seven. - Carolyn Phelan Booklist"

5Q 5P M J Riordan's original demigod hero returns to the spotlight in this highly anticipated second book in the Heroes of Olympus series. With two indestructible gorgons hunting him, an amnesiac Percy Jackson arrives at Camp Jupiter, the Roman equivalent of the secret Greek demigod camp, Camp Half-Blood. There he learns that Death has been imprisoned and that the titan Gaea is assembling an army of escaped souls and immortal monsters to reclaim the world from the gods. Percy embarks on a seemingly impossible quest to free Death before Gaea's army obliterates Camp Jupiter. At his side are two new Roman friends: Hazel Levesque, who conceals mysteries about her past, and Frank Zhang, who wonders about his immortal lineage and likewise harbors his own secrets. Together they journey to the land beyond the gods to fulfill a prophecy and to each assume a role as one of the seven heroes of Olympus. Riordan's seamless weaving of various cultural mythologies into a modern landscape continues to shine in Son of Neptune. As in previous books, the plot is engrossing, the characters robust and compelling. Percy, Frank, and Hazel alternate as narrators without missing a beat of pace, suspense, or humor. Readers will find themselves automatically consumed by the story without having read the first book, though some knowledge of Percy's previous adventures will help fill in minor gaps of background information. Son of Neptune is yet another absorbing and exciting addition to Riordan's chronicles.-Grace Enriquez. VOYA"

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Disney Hyperion (October 4, 2011)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 544 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1423140591
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1423140597
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 9 - 13 years, from customers
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 640L
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 5 - 9
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.6 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.7 x 1.75 x 8.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #17,781 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #86 in Children's Greek & Roman Books
- #623 in Children's Fantasy & Magic Books
- #831 in Children's Action & Adventure Books (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.8 28,310 ratings

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Rick Riordan

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Rick Riordan is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, the Kane Chronicles, and the Heroes of Olympus. He is also the author of the multi-award-winning Tres Navarre mystery series for adults.

For fifteen years, Rick taught English and history at public and private middle schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Texas. In 2002, Saint Mary's Hall honored him with the school's first Master Teacher Award.

While teaching full time, Riordan began writing mystery novels for grownups. His Tres Navarre series went on to win the top three national awards in the mystery genre - the Edgar, the Anthony and the Shamus. Riordan turned to children's fiction when he started The Lightning Thief as a bedtime story for his oldest son.

Today over 35 million copies of his Percy Jackson, Kane Chronicles, and Heroes of Olympus books are in print in the United States, and rights have been sold into more than 35 countries. Rick is also the author of The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones, another #1 New York Times bestseller.

Rick Riordan now writes full-time. He lives in Boston with his wife and two sons.

Customer reviews

28,310 global ratings

How customer reviews and ratings work

Customers say

Customers find the book great for all ages and inspiring. They also find the humor entertaining and rich. Readers describe the storyline as well-flowing, with many surprises and plot twists. They appreciate the writing style as well written, easy to follow, and a good display of the differences between the Greek and Roman gods. Customers describe the book series as great continuation of prior book, a mix between adventure, humor, and bravery. They mention the pacing as fast. Customers also find characters interesting, brave, and charming. They describe the literary aspects as complex, interesting, timeless, and the perfect go-to book for struggling or strong readers.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

Humor Storyline Writing style Characters Audience appeal Book series Literary aspects Pacing

378 customers mention "Humor"375 positive3 negative

Customers find the humor in the book entertaining, compelling, and epic. They also say the dialogue is crisp and often humorous, and perfect for those getting interested in reading.

"...They are so accessible, exciting, and hilarious, they make the perfect go-to book for any struggling or strong reader...." Read more

"...Thoroughly entertaining but also mature enough to get you to reflect on how the events in the book and the difficult lessons learned could apply to..." Read more

"...It's a perfect combination of silly fun and adventure fun. I'm anxious for my kids to read them!SERIES REVIEW..." Read more

"...and adventure, many surprises and crazy plot twists, and it was also very funny! Ah Percy, how I missed you and your sarcasm :)..." Read more

290 customers mention "Storyline"269 positive21 negative

Customers find the storyline beautiful, mysterious, and wonderful. They also mention that the pacing picks up and the story ends with a wonderful ending. Readers also mention the book has humor, heart, action, monsters, Roman myths, surprises, and plot twists. They say the backstory is very interesting and the book is a great literary masterpiece.

"This is the 2nd book in a great series. The story line and action flow well. I think it is a great book for fantasy lovers." Read more

"...Yes. Will this series become a classic? Yes. Is this a great literary masterpiece? I still have not decided yet." Read more

"...Like once Percy is in camp. The ending is also very good as well...." Read more

"...As always, there was tons of action and adventure, many surprises and crazy plot twists, and it was also very funny!..." Read more

173 customers mention "Writing style"133 positive40 negative

Customers find the writing style well-written, easy to read, and well-explained. They also appreciate the amazing characters and good display of the differences between the Greek and Roman Gods. Overall, readers say the book is accessible, exciting, and hilarious.

"...They are so accessible, exciting, and hilarious, they make the perfect go-to book for any struggling or strong reader...." Read more

"...His writing is very youth full, and that's what I liked best about his books. Plus the mythology.I'm very excited for the next book...." Read more

"...They are well written, with a clearly thought out plot, but they are not so complicated that the intended audience would find them too difficult to..." Read more

"...As of this writing, the version is riddled with unintentional paragraph breaks and missing "spaces" from words that distract the readers from the..." Read more

115 customers mention "Characters"111 positive4 negative

Customers find the characters interesting, brave, and charming. They also describe the plot as clever, exciting, and adventurous.

"...THE BOOKTHE GOOD: The new major characters introduced are very interesting...." Read more

"...Character development remains strong, and retains typical Riordan memes such as teen angst and finding ones purpose in life..." Read more

"...His back story is so rich and it makes him a wonderful character to follow...." Read more

"...And it allows the characters to shine. I love Hazel and Frank as much as I do the other characters in this universe...." Read more

86 customers mention "Audience appeal"86 positive0 negative

Customers find the book great for all ages, inspiring imaginations to run wild as they learn. They say the characters are likable and indicative of teenage interaction. Readers also say the book keeps them interested and fast moving. They also mention that it continues to hold their undivided attention each time they read it.

"...Riordan is a masterful, evil genius who keeps us engrossed and makes us love his characters like they are our own friends and relatives...." Read more

"...She says it is a series that is good for anyone her age, any gender." Read more

"...Educational elements are skillfully intertwined in Riordan books, and this one is no exception...." Read more

"...The dialogue was crisp, often humorous and very indicative of teenage interaction, and there was enough action to keep the story moving along at a..." Read more

81 customers mention "Book series"81 positive0 negative

Customers find the book series a great continuation of the prior book, featuring a wonderful trio into a quest. They also say the Percy Jackson series is refreshing and the additional demigod books are a good addition. Readers also like the adventures and how they intertwine.

"This is the 2nd book in a great series. The story line and action flow well. I think it is a great book for fantasy lovers." Read more

"...All in all, The Heroes of Olympus is still a good read if you want to pass time and if you want to update yourself with the current pop culture...." Read more

"...The latest book is another great offering." Read more

"This book was an amazing 2nd book to the series. I loved how Percy showed up with amnesia and was all " Huh, whats going on?..." Read more

77 customers mention "Literary aspects"73 positive4 negative

Customers find the literary aspects of the book complex, interesting, and chock full of great ideas. They also say the author has a great imagination and veiled references that act as inside jokes. Readers also mention that the grasp of history is pretty accurate, and the Greek and Roman series are amazing and timeless classics.

"...They are so accessible, exciting, and hilarious, they make the perfect go-to book for any struggling or strong reader...." Read more

"Rick Riordan does a phenomenal job of combining real life challenges and difficulties while blending in humor and historical mythology in the lives..." Read more

"...amazing I loved it great book I think it was a cool book with a lot of great ideas and characters love it" Read more

"...About the characters, I think Riordan does a great job creating diverstiy...." Read more

74 customers mention "Pacing"53 positive21 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book fast and easy to keep on track.

"...It flows at a good pace, but there are spots I wanted it to speed up to fit the scene. It felt anti-climatic like this in quite a few areas...." Read more

"...In conclusion, The Son of Neptune offers a quick, adventurous, entertaining read which I can strongly recommend." Read more

"...But I am concern with the pace of the book, it does seem rush and the story arc fairly linear...." Read more

"...The book was a great read and quick because I didn't want to put it down...." Read more

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Henry

A compelling read.

Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2024

Verified Purchase

This is the 2nd book in a great series. The story line and action flow well. I think it is a great book for fantasy lovers.

Helpful

OpheliasOwn

Ricky is a Tricky Duck

Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2012

Verified Purchase

What do you get when you mix Greek Gods with Roman Gods? One big, fantabulous mess of mythological fun! When you pick up the Heroes of Olympus: Son of Neptune, by Rick Riordan, you will expect to hear about the characters from the first book in the series. But Riordan has a plan... a plan that will make you obsess about the next book a whole year! Riordan is a masterful, evil genius who keeps us engrossed and makes us love his characters like they are our own friends and relatives.

Juno (Roman Hera) had an interesting plan- put a Roman demigod in the Greek camp (Jason) and a Greek demigod in the Roman camp (Percy). What she did next was mean, but it served its purpose- she wiped their memories. In The Lost Hero, we watched Jason find his purpose. In this book, we see Percy meet up with two Roman demigods, Frank and Hazel, to start their part of the quest to stop Gaia from rising. Gaia, the oldest mother goddess of the earth is one mean cookie who will send everything to stop the demigods from foiling her plan to return- mean cyclops, basilisks, even creepy little grain gods. (Imagine being stalked by the God of Wheat?!)

While they know they have a greater purpose, both Hazel, a daughter of Pluto and the underworld, and Frank, a reluctant son of Mars (Ares) still have their own demons to deal with. They embark upon a quest to stop Gaia's first giant son from returning, but they know the Roman camp is still in danger. along their quest, they learn just how dangerous things have gotten out in the mythological and the modern worlds. With monsters and beast roaming around searching for them, they aren't sure they will get their quest finished, let alone get back in time to stop the raid on the camp. But what Gaia and the monsters failed to realize is that Percy and the demigods have friends, lots and lots of friends. Will they defeat the monsters this time? Will it stop Gaia's plot to destroy the Greek and Roman gods forever?

I picked up this book expecting to see Jason, Piper, and Leo, and I was surprised (although not unpleasantly) that this book was not about them. With this new trio, I expect the six will come together with another demigod (Annabeth?) to create the seven from the prophecy that save the world from Gaia. The worst thing about these stories is that a year in between each installment is literally painful. They are so tied to one another that it is awful to wait that long to find out what happens next. I have a feeling I know where Riordan is going with this, but you never know! Ole Ricky is a tricky duck!

Like the other Riordan books, these are phenomenal for all ages. Perfect for middle readers, funny enough for older readers, even my grandmother loves these books! Everything written by this man should be on the selves of every library and classroom in the country. They are so accessible, exciting, and hilarious, they make the perfect go-to book for any struggling or strong reader. Not to mention, it makes everyone wish they were a demigod. Who would you want to be related to? Neptune? Pluto? Hera? Aphrodite? I simply can't decide!

7 people found this helpful

Helpful

Scott M Richardson

Excellent read

Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2024

Verified Purchase

Rick Riordan does a phenomenal job of combining real life challenges and difficulties while blending in humor and historical mythology in the lives of his adolescent subjects. Thoroughly entertaining but also mature enough to get you to reflect on how the events in the book and the difficult lessons learned could apply to your own life.

Helpful

Jhezper Driedfish

An Unbiased Review from a Fan

Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2011

Verified Purchase

Obviously, most of the people who will purchase this book have read through the whole Percy Jackson series and the 1st installment of the Heroes of Olympus Series. Taking that into consideration, I will not go through a tiresome plot review as a plethora of other reviewers have already provided, and will undoubtedly provide it after my post.
THE BOOK
THE GOOD: The new major characters introduced are very interesting. Both Hazel and Frank have strong back stories with dark undertones. Putting bits of Chinese Mythology was also a surprise, though one cannot shake the feeling that the author might be laying plot elements for a possible tie-up with his other series, The Kane Chronicles (as it always hints on).
THE BAD: The plot was fine but not surprising. What shocked me more than the "I've-read-this-somewhere-else" plot twists was an inconsistency that was in the book (so as not to spoil anything, I'll be quite cryptic: How the Giant of the North was defeated / the prerequisites of how to defeat a giant). The Percy Jackson series was tight with the rules of the world set by the author, so it came as a surprise that the spin-off was a bit off.
THE UGLY: The author has decided not to reveal new prophecies in full. It made me feel like he was not doing it to excite the reader, but rather, he has not decided what to do in the next book yet so he's keeping his options open.
THE E-BOOK STRUCTURE
There are typographical errors everywhere. I have a gut feel the publisher/Amazon will release an edited version sooner as a lot of reviewers complain about the same thing. As of this writing, the version is riddled with unintentional paragraph breaks and missing "spaces" from words that distract the readers from the flow of the story. If you are the type who gets easily sidetracked by these typos, I suggest for you to wait for the release of the updated version (if they will be releasing it).
THE SERIES IN GENERAL
I started out Percy Jackson quite late. I bought the whole series and read through it. Suffice to say, it was OK. It was a far cry from other recent YA series "greats" like Harry Potter, His Dark Materials, Hunger Games and Artemis Fowl. But it was a notch higher compared to other mainstream YA hits (which I still do not understand where the hype came from) like The Inheritance Cycle, The Secret Life of Nicholas Flammel, The Lorien Legacies, Twilight and Cirque Du Freak (the better being mentioned first, succeeding, getting worse).
What lacked for me in the 1st series was the depth on the characters. Unlike the previous "recent YA greats" I've mentioned, the main characters in the PERCY JACKSON series did not seem to develop any semblance to "maturity". Through all the battles, sacrifices and hardships the main characters have faced, they only seemed to have brief moments of epiphany , then go back to their previous reckless juvenile banters. The author also puts in whimsical imageries that are sometimes too much, leaving the general feel of the whole series being too comical for the reader to take anything from it seriously.
The 2nd Series started off with a premise that the author has decided to mature the tone. New characters like Jason Grace, Leo and Pipper had more serious back issues which have been exposed by the author in a great fashion. But as I have mentioned, the author can't seem to decide if he will progress to a much darker feel as he keeps abruptly cutting serious scenes with off-handed juvenile repartees.
The Son of Neptune seemed to have continued his try on introducing new characters with profound past experiences. But like in the 1st installment, he hastily cuts dark expositions of the character's soul with random things which becomes a bit tiresome when you reach around half of the book.
It is also obvious that unlike in the 1st series where things "just happen" out of plot necessity, the author is trying to inject plot elements he will later use in future installments. Again, his attempts are pretty much noticeable. This includes the "open-ended prophecies" where you feel like the author does not know what to do with the next book yet.
All in all, The Heroes of Olympus is still a good read if you want to pass time and if you want to update yourself with the current pop culture. Shall I purchase the succeeding installments? Yes. Will this series become a classic? Yes. Is this a great literary masterpiece? I still have not decided yet.

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