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The Mark of Athena (Heroes of Olympus, Book 3) Hardcover – Big Book, October 2, 2012

by Rick Riordan (Author)
Teachers' pick
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In The Son of Neptune, Percy, Hazel, and Frank met in Camp Jupiter, the Roman equivalent of Camp Halfblood, and traveled to the land beyond the gods to complete a dangerous quest. The third book in the Heroes of Olympus series will unite them with Jason, Piper, and Leo. But they number only six--who will complete the Prophecy of Seven?
The Greek and Roman demigods will have to cooperate in order to defeat the giants released by the Earth Mother, Gaea. Then they will have to sail together to the ancient land to find the Doors of Death. What exactly are the Doors of Death? Much of the prophecy remains a mystery. . . . With old friends and new friends joining forces, a marvelous ship, fearsome foes, and an exotic setting, The Mark of Athena promises to be another unforgettable adventure by master storyteller Rick Riordan.
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  1. Reading age
    9+ years, from customers
  2. Book 3 of 5
    The Heroes of Olympus
  3. Print length
    608 pages
  4. Language
    English
  5. Grade level
    5 - 9
  6. Lexile measure
    690L
  7. Dimensions
    6 x 2 x 8.5 inches
  8. Publisher
    Disney Hyperion
  9. Publication date
    October 2, 2012
  10. ISBN-10
    9781423140603
  11. ISBN-13
    978-1423140603
  12. See all details
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  3. The Blood of Olympus (The Heroes of Olympus)
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  4. The Son of Neptune (Heroes of Olympus, Book 2)
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  5. The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles, Book 1)
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  6. Heroes of Olympus, The, Book Two: Son of Neptune, The: The Graphic Novel-The Heroes of Olympus, Book Two
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Popular Highlights in this book
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  1. Other demigods could understand Latin and Greek. Leo could speak Creak and Squeak.
    Highlighted by 16,310 Kindle readers
  2. Percy pointed his pizza slice at Jason. “You, sir, are a ray of sunshine.”
    Highlighted by 15,947 Kindle readers
  3. “Hercules, huh?” Percy frowned. “That guy was like the Starbucks of Ancient Greece. Everywhere you turn—there he is.”
    Highlighted by 8,453 Kindle readers
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From the Publisher

module 1
module 2
module 3
module 4
K M P T TL
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
4.7 out of 5 stars
10,488
4.6 out of 5 stars
24,320
4.7 out of 5 stars
56,691
4.7 out of 5 stars
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

From Booklist

Terrifying dreams and enigmatic prophecies mean danger for seven teen demigods, but also good times for fans of The Heroes of Olympus series. This third volume thrusts Percy, Jason, Annabeth, Hazel, Leo, Frank, and Piper into action once again. Representing both Greek and Roman camps, the seven companions undertake a mission to prevent the imminent destruction of Rome, the awakening of Gaea, and the end of the world. Meanwhile, they help Annabeth in her quest to recover the ancient statue of Athena stolen from the Parthenon. Along the way, they encounter Nemesis in Utah, Bacchus in Kansas, Phorcys in Atlanta, Aphrodite in Charleston, and Hercules at the Strait of Gibraltar. Throughout the novel, the juxtaposition of humor and terror makes both aspects of the writing more vivid. The demigods use their wits and their weapons skillfully in a string of encounters, and their insecurities make the characters all the more appealing. With a true storyteller’s sense of pacing, Riordan creates another compelling adventure, right down to the cliff-hanger at the end. Stay tuned for volume four. Grades 5-8. --Carolyn Phelan

Review

After waging two separate quests (The Lost Hero, 2010; The Son of Neptune, 2011), the Greek and Roman demigods of Riordan's Heroes of Olympus quintet join forces. With his now-trademark zero-to-60 acceleration, the author engineers a ghostly possession to set Greeks and Romans at odds and initiates the Prophecy of the Seven, hurtling Annabeth, Percy, Piper, Leo, Hazel, Frank and Jason into a pell-mell flight on the magical trireme Argo II. They seek the titular Mark of Athena, which they hope will provide the key to defeating the vengeful Earth mother, Gaea, or at least some of her giant offspring. As the trireme crosses the country, the pace drags while the demigods sort out relationships and work to figure out both cryptic prophecy and nightmare visions. With sweethearts Annabeth and Percy once again united, much of the tension that powered earlier books is gone. Once the Argo II leaves the United States, though, the pace picks up, and the comically instructive set pieces Riordan's so good at emerge. A Luddite god rails against what he calls the "b-book," which displaced the far superior scroll technology; Annabeth gets a crash course in the cult of Mithros far below the streets of Rome. Here, Riordan's infectious love for his subject matter really comes through, even as he takes some real risks with his characters. A literal cliffhanger leaves eager readers hanging; next stop: Greece-and Tartarus. (glossary) (Fantasy. 10-14) Kirkus"

Terrifying dreams and enigmatic prophecies mean danger for seven teen demigods, but also good times for fans of The Heroes of Olympus series. This third volume thrusts Percy, Jason, Annabeth, Hazel, Leo, Frank, and Piper into action once again. Representing both Greek and Roman camps, the seven companions undertake a mission to prevent the imminent destruction of Rome, the awakening of Gaea, and the end of the world. Meanwhile, they help Annabeth in her quest to recover the ancient statue of Athena stolen from the Parthenon. Along the way, they encounter Nemesis in Utah, Bacchus in Kansas, Phorcys in Atlanta, Aphrodite in Charleston, and Hercules at the Strait of Gibraltar. Throughout the novel, the juxtaposition of humor and terror makes both aspects of the writing more vivid. The demigods use their wits and their weapons skillfully in a string of encounters, and their insecurities make the characters all the more appealing. With a true storyteller's sense of pacing, Riordan creates another compelling adventure, right down to the cliff-hanger at the end. Stay tuned for volume four. - Carolyn Phelan Booklist Online"

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1423140605
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Disney Hyperion; 1st edition (October 2, 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 608 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781423140603
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1423140603
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 9+ years, from customers
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 690L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 5 - 9
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.76 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 2 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:

About the author

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Rick Riordan

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

4.8 out of 5 stars
34,140 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the characters decently developed and lively. They also appreciate the content, saying it’s great for all ages 12+, with violence and mature characters. Readers describe the plot as adventure, love triangles, and a cliffhanger. They describe the book structure as fantastic and the writing style as fantastic. Opinions are mixed on the pacing, with some finding it fast-paced and gentle, while others say it feels rushed in places and slow in others.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

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PlotWriting styleHumorCharacterizationBook structureContentAdult contentPacing
1,059 customers mention "Plot"959 positive100 negative

Customers find the story awesome, funny, and suspenseful. They also say the book has one of the best twists in a plot they've read. Customers also say it's another great chapter in the Percy Jackson franchise, with fast-paced writing that keeps them engaged. They say the demigods learn some good lessons and the cliffhanger at the end is shocking.

"...The truth is, Annabeth ROCKS this book. She is tough, headstrong, and stubborn, and while she is confronted with some very serious weaknesses, she..." Read more

"I liked history very easy to read and lots of action.good story for all ages I recommend it for all ages" Read more

"...Characters, humor, suspense, mystery... all those aspects really set forth the book. I couldn't put it down. It was that great!..." Read more

"...Lots of action, our favorite main characters are back, plot moves forward dramatically, writing is superb and flows easily, keeps you entertained..." Read more

287 customers mention "Writing style"263 positive24 negative

Customers find the writing style fantastic, rich, and masterful. They also say the dialogue is great, smart, and witty. Readers mention the book is fast-paced and well plotted. They say it's appropriate for young readers.

"I liked history very easy to read and lots of action.good story for all ages I recommend it for all ages" Read more

"...main characters are back, plot moves forward dramatically, writing is superb and flows easily, keeps you entertained for hours on end, and we are..." Read more

"In some ways, Riordan's style is nothing like JK Rowlings': Riodan's writing is neat, punchy, slang-y -- right out of the minds & mouths of young..." Read more

"...This author never falls into that trap. His books are tightly written and always on track to move the main plot forward...." Read more

265 customers mention "Humor"261 positive4 negative

Customers find the humor in the book lively, fun, and never leaves them bored. They also say the book is well written and never gets boring.

"...Aphrodite's tea party. The ever-present humor interspersed with all the action and adventure...." Read more

"...Characters, humor, suspense, mystery... all those aspects really set forth the book. I couldn't put it down. It was that great!..." Read more

"...dramatically, writing is superb and flows easily, keeps you entertained for hours on end, and we are one step closer to the finale...." Read more

"...The humor in the book is pretty good and PG so if a younger child wants to read it, he can even though I am a little old for the reading level this..." Read more

199 customers mention "Characterization"175 positive24 negative

Customers find the characters decently developed, likeable, and admirable. They also say the main heroes are supportive and awesome to each other.

"...You still have the humor, the action, and the emotional journeys of the characters. And most of all, you still have Percy being Percy...." Read more

"...The character chemistry is flawless in this book. Percy and Jason (despite some rocky moments) are so far getting along well...." Read more

"...The plot was predictable but enjoyable as because no characters were killed off, but this book put in one of the best twists in a plot I have ever..." Read more

"...My favorite part was the fall through Tartarus. Leo’s character was written really well and they show off his comedy side as well as what he does..." Read more

156 customers mention "Book structure"152 positive4 negative

Customers find the book structure fantastic, thrilling, and a great setup for the next novel. They also say the two books before this are good.

"...The quest actually starting. So good. The two books before this are good, but this is great.Love love love...." Read more

"Yet another great continuation to the Percy Jackson series. I love reading all of these novels so far. Can’t wait to continue" Read more

"...The ending didn't bother me as I think it is a great setup for the next novel, and as always it covers a huge amount of myth and various deities...." Read more

"The mark of Athena is a great book, and a great sequel to every book Rick has written so far...." Read more

120 customers mention "Content"97 positive23 negative

Customers find the content of the book interesting and enjoyable. They mention that it provides several challenges for the author, and contains a lot of Percy Jackson. Readers also appreciate the flow of the story and the point of view changes. They also say it's a wonderful way to introduce Greek and Roman mythology to children.

"...The truth is, Annabeth ROCKS this book. She is tough, headstrong, and stubborn, and while she is confronted with some very serious weaknesses, she..." Read more

"...It has been fun (hilarious actually), educational (although is getting my mythology from these books like getting my news from the Daily Show?!),..." Read more

"...Thank you, Rick Riordan, for writing a kick butt female heroine that is smart, strong, and brave...." Read more

"...They are equally important and necessary. And his bold move pays off big time...." Read more

94 customers mention "Adult content"94 positive0 negative

Customers find the book has interesting elements for boys and girls. They also say the material is appropriate for their age. Customers also say it's perfect for about everyone.

"I liked history very easy to read and lots of action.good story for all ages I recommend it for all ages" Read more

"...These books are perfect for middle schoolers and high schoolers because of how long they are, but if you’re a book worm then this is a good book for..." Read more

"...Overall I am pleased because he is reading and the material is appropriate for his age and he is pleased because he found some books he really likes." Read more

"...between characters of other quest stories are there, but age-appropriate and less complex than a Harry Potter-type series...." Read more

97 customers mention "Pacing"62 positive35 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book. Some find it fast paced and has a great flow from one book to the next, while others say it's sluggish and drags a little in the middle.

"...are back, plot moves forward dramatically, writing is superb and flows easily, keeps you entertained for hours on end, and we are one step closer to..." Read more

"...story it stood out from the other books a lot but it was a bit sad and slow too" Read more

"...yeah I love this book it’s so readable and definitely recommend pretty fast delivery too" Read more

"great condition and speedy delivery!" Read more

Great Product, bad amazon
4 out of 5 stars
Great Product, bad amazon
The book and cover are amazing. Love the artwork. However if you are ordering all the books in the series separately, I recommend not choosing the option for fewer packages because they shoved all the books in and damaged one of them. Very bummed about that.
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Top reviews from the United States

Merin
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic continuation of the series featuring Percy and Co. at their finest!
Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2012
Verified Purchase
Hi. My name is Merin, and I am a Percy Jackson addict.

I love Percy the way a mother loves her child. I am blind to his faults, and adore him even when he's being a sarcastic pain in the ass. My feelings for him are such that I am physically incapable of giving this book anything less than five stars. Even though Percy isn't the main point of view character he was in his title series, these books are what they are because of him, and his involvement makes it nearly impossible for me to be objective.

That being said? This book is absolutely FABULOUS.

The elements that made the previous installments so great are ever-present in THE MARK OF ATHENA. You still have the humor, the action, and the emotional journeys of the characters. And most of all, you still have Percy being Percy. Except this is a more mature, more tested, more grown up Percy. He's still hilarious, still the character who says things he shouldn't. But he's also the guy who is totally in love with Annabeth, and their relationship is what's really at the heart of this book. Yes, they're trying to figure out how to keep Gaea from waking, and they're going to have to reunite the Greek and Roman camps. But what the previous two books have taught us is that their feelings for each other - their inability to live without the other - have created what is probably the best "One True Pair" of all time. NO ONE will ever be able to compare to Percy and Annabeth, and that's saying something when you consider that they're not even seventeen yet.

"Yeah," Percy said. "I learned a long time ago: NEVER bet against Annabeth." - 53%

Of course, I can wax poetically about how awesome Percy and Annabeth are together until the end of days, and it still will only encompass part of what made this book so fantastic. The truth is, Annabeth ROCKS this book. She is tough, headstrong, and stubborn, and while she is confronted with some very serious weaknesses, she never gives up, even when things are going against her. Honestly, if you have ANYTHING bad to say about Annabeth after reading this book, please do it elsewhere, because I will be like Octavian in that dock scene; I will be unable to hear you over the wax in my ears. I don't know what the next book is going to bring for Annabeth and Percy, but I have faith that they will be able to overcome whatever it is just because they are together, and as Annabeth said in this book, being with Percy always makes her feel braver. And she's definitely going to need a whole lot of that.

Now, just so this doesn't dissolve into a Annabeth and Percy lovefest, here were some other things I loved about this book. The return of the "dam" joke. The Jason/Percy bromance; I really think these two can be best buds forever. Leo being absolutely kick-ass, and the way he felt like an outsider and became such an integral part of the quest. Piper's brief moments of being awesome (I wish there was more of this and less of her waxing on about Jason). The Hazel and Leo backstory. Jason and Percy working together. The glimpses of the gods and goddesses. Aphrodite's tea party. The ever-present humor interspersed with all the action and adventure. The way that all seven demigods have realized that they can't do this alone and are going to have to work together. The way Riordan combined the Greek and Roman stories together. Reyna. The scene where Annabeth drops her dagger and Percy is awesome. Annabeth's ability to face her worst fear. The Percy/Annabeth reunion scene. All of the Annabeth backstory, which answered nearly every single question I had about her. All of the absolutely hilarious lines.

To sum up: this book was everything I wanted it to be, and more. I love that we got an Annabeth point of view, and I absolutely adored her voice. There were lots of achy-breaky moments in this book, but it just made everything seem more realistic, and it hurt in the good way. Be forewarned, though, that if you read this book, you're going to want the next one immediately. My only complaint is that we're going to have to wait another year to learn what happens next! I'm definitely starting the countdown for THE HOUSE OF HADES. How about you?
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Duane
5.0 out of 5 stars good book
Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2024
Verified Purchase
I liked history very easy to read and lots of action.good story for all ages I recommend it for all ages
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Serena3062
5.0 out of 5 stars Best in the series yet!
Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2012
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The Mark of Athena is the best book in the Heroes of Olympus series yet. The Romans and Greeks are finally coming together as a huge demigod team to defeat the rising earth mother Gaea... or so we thought. Due to some unforseen events, the seven demigods of the newest Great Prophecy are off to Rome with a band of Romans after them, lead by the unforgiving Octavian, the Roman augur. As they head off to the land of Rome (where no demigod in their right mind would dare to enter)the seven demigods complete some mini "quests" of their own in order to gain more knowledge of the prophecy. Told from the point of views of the four Greek demigods, the Mark of Athena is the best adventure yet.

This story really ties together what The Lost Hero and The Son of Neptune have been leading up to. Annabeth and Percy are finally reunited, Jason finally sees his camp again, and Hazel meets the strange boy Leo who looks (and acts) just like her lost love from another life (with Frank standing by her side the whole time). The character chemistry is flawless in this book. Percy and Jason (despite some rocky moments) are so far getting along well. Percy and Annabeth's relationship is as hilarious (and only a tad romantic)as usual. Piper and Jason are still a cute couple. And Leo, Hazel, and Frank still have that love trianlge (that's slowly being sorted out). The character chemistry and development earns an A+

The "mini quests" the demigods go on in groups are... awesome. Rick Riordan doesn't fail to incorporate new myths and historical figures in the Mark of Athena. The story behind the actual "Mark of Athena" and the "Athena Parthenos" is flawlessly execuited, as well as Annabeth's solo quest (which had me on the edge of my seat the whole time). The meeting of more gods and the battle between the twin giants and Jason and Percy was extremely epic. Everything was just what Percy Jackson fans want... and even more.

The book is darker and more sinister than the original Percy Jackson series and the Lost Hero and Son of Neptune. While Riordan doesn't deprive us of his witty humor, he appears to know that his audience of readers is "growing up." Pleanty of us have been with Percy and his friends since we were kids; the darker plot, more sinister and cruel aspects of the book really set the tone for the rest of the series. While it still is a kids series, there are plenty of symbolism and points to the book that really are a teenage to an adult matter. Riordan really knows how to please all audiences.

I loved how all the characters got to talk and go on those mini quests together. We got (some) Romans and Greeks getting along! I mean, who can overlook the instant friendship between Annabeth and Frank? And Annabeth and Reyna... I like those two together. A lot. They're going to be best friends in the future (after the demigods stop Octavian and the rest of the Roman camp from attacking Camp Half-Blood.) Anyway, character chemistry and relationships were flawless.

Characters, humor, suspense, mystery... all those aspects really set forth the book. I couldn't put it down. It was that great!

Oh, and did anyone else get the Mythbusters reference in the book? I think Leo was talking about Archimides's death ray and Frank said that he saw a television show where people proved it wrong. (Leo said that it was because the mortals didn't use Celestial Bronze.) Hey guys? Yeah. That was an actual episode in Mythbusters. Look it up.

Two words: THE ENDING.

While the ending was heartbreaking, spirit-crushing, total fangirl moment of the book... it was actually a great part of the book. Probably one of my favorite. SPOILER: When Percy and Annabeth fell, did you guys notice how that was kind of their way of saying that they are done? Like, they're tired of being pawns in the gods' world? Yeah, it was there guys. Look it up.

I could go on forever, but sadly I can't.

Read the book. I highly recommend it.
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MARIE
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read for a 12 year old boy
Reviewed in Germany on June 19, 2024
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These books have held the attention of my 12 year old boy and now he wants to go to Greece ^^
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wombat
5.0 out of 5 stars amazing
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 28, 2024
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This book has the PERFECT amount of action, thrill and adventure. It’s possibly the best in this series. If you enjoy a lot of moment where your kinda like “is this character going to die, oh no oh no, wait let me google it” this is for you!

Really hope this helped xx
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Sonal Pandey
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
Reviewed in India on April 1, 2023
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This is the best book in the heroes of Olympus series. It is even better than the Percy Jackson series. There are many plots and twists and turns. The cliffhanger in the end is extremely unexpected. It's a must read book.
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Kindle Customer Izaque
5.0 out of 5 stars Trilegal
Reviewed in Brazil on July 27, 2020
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Muito loko trilegal, recomendo a leitura, mal posso esperar para ler o próximo, tomara que eu não me decepcione no final...
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Marie Nour Margi
5.0 out of 5 stars Happy
Reviewed in France on April 24, 2020
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I am happy with my purchase. As expected, the book is a bit yellowish and dirty, and the cover was torn from the side. Still, it does the job just fine :)
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Marie Nour Margi
5.0 out of 5 stars Happy
Reviewed in France on April 24, 2020
I am happy with my purchase. As expected, the book is a bit yellowish and dirty, and the cover was torn from the side. Still, it does the job just fine :)
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