Last words about the book

This book was definitely worth the long wait. Rick Riordan did not disappoint with his latest installment in the Heroes of Olympus series.  This book was the perfect combination of action, comedy, romance, and drama. With the many adventures and love teams featured here, it’s quite impossible not to get hooked!

Riordan’s humor will definitely get you laughing out loud. His hilarious take on Greek creatures and monsters from the series of Percy Jackson and the Olympians are back and have improved. The action-packed story line will leave you sitting on the edge of your seats, biting your nails in anticipation.

The story was told from four of the demigods’ point of views. This really made things more interesting, as you can read all about how they felt about the other. Leo’s point of view would always crack me up. He’d tell a lot of inside jokes and witty comments. Percy’s and Annabeth’s point of views would have a nostalgic feel for all Percy Jackson and the Olympians fanatics. Their point of views would bring you back to when the two would wander around Camp Half Blood and as they venture out on their quests.

                Fans of the series Percy Jackson and the Olympians will be shocked by the change in Percy. Gone are the days of the 12 year old boy who wanders in Camp, learning about monsters and creatures. The readers will find themselves reading about a 16 year old boy and his quest of adventure and love.

                With a number of inside jokes and references taken from the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, I recommend to read those books first before getting into this series. The House of Hades, the fourth installment of this series will be out sometime in September 2013. And with the cliff hanger ending of this installment, I hope I’m not the only one dying to get my hands on the next book!  

♡ 

♡ 

Title and Cover design explanation

TITLE EXPLANATION-

The book was entitled "The Mark of Athena" because it focuses on Annabeth and how she follows her mother's orders to avenge her. The Mark of Athena is something Annabeth needs to search for and follow in order for her to succeed. However, the story does not only have Annabeth as the main character and it also does not only tell us the story of how Annabeth finds the Mark of Athena. It also revolves around how six other Roman and Greek demigods help her and their quest to close the Doors of Death. 

COVER DESIGN EXPLANATION-

               

The cover design of the book comes from one of the scenes in the story. In this scene, Piper, Leo, and Percy are at Topeka, Kansas. Jason and Percy get possessed by evil spirits and are forced to fight one another while Piper is forced to pick who will die and who will be saved. Percy is the boy on the right, with water underneath his horse, signifying that he is Poseidon’s son. Jason is the one on the left, with the clouds, signifying that he is Jupiter’s son. The background of the cover is an owl. The owl is the symbol of the Mark of Athena. It is mentioned many times in the book that Annabeth was being led through the tunnels by the owl, which symbolizes the Mark of Athena.

♡  

Mapping it though Google Maps

Above is a map of the journey the demigods took from Camp Jupiter to Rome. Below, I have provided additional information about the events which took place in the particular setting.

1. San Francisco, California

Camp Jupiter is located in San Francisco. The story begins here, when Annabeth, Jason, Piper, Leo and Coach Hedge arrive at the Roman Camp. Here, Annabeth are Percy are reunited, and the Greeks and the Romans are at peace. That is, until Leo fires the Roman Camp which prompt the Romans to attack.

2. Detroit, Michigan

After the Romans attack, Annabeth, Percy, Piper, Jason, Leo, Frank, Hazel and Coach Hedge fly aboard the Argo II to Detroit. It is here that Piper sees a vision of Bacchus in her blade, Katoptris.

3. Topeka, Kansas

They then fly to Topeka, where Piper, Jason and Percy meet Bacchus, or Dionysus in Greek. It is also here that Percy and Jason are possessed by evil spirits, causing them to fight one another. Piper stops the fight by calling on Blackjack, Percy's pegausus, to help.

4. Atlanta, Georgia

As advised by Bacchus, the demigods then fly to Atlanta where Frank, Percy and Coach Hedge meet a son of Gaea who owns an aquarium. After being tricked and trapped in one of the aquariums, Frank and Percy escape with the help of Coach Hedge.

5. Charleston, South Carolina

The three girls, Hazel, Piper and Annabeth visit a ghost, who turns out to be Piper's mom, Aphrodite. While the girls are away, the boys man the ship until the Roman demigods attacked them. The girls then arrive later and help defend their ship and they escape successfully.

6. Atlantic Ocean

As the demigods and Coach hedge cross the sea, they face monster attacks. pirates and Hercules. 

7. Rome, Italy

This is where the story ends. Here in Rome, Annabeth journeys alone in the underground labyrinth to find the Mark of Athena. Hazel, Leo and Frank found Nico di Angelo. Percy, Piper and Jason face their own challenges, but end up helping out Annabeth along with Hazel, Frank and Leo. 

♡ 

Playlist

Here are a list of songs that go well with the story. Along with the songs would be the explanation and a link to where you can listen to the song. Enjoy! :)

1.         I Know What I Am by Band Of Skulls

Click to listen 

-- A song fit for the war scenes in the book –

"I know what I am,

They know what they are

So let me be"

2. Time Is Running Out by Muse

Click to listen

-- A song fit for the war scenes in the book –

"I wanna break this spell

that you've created
you're something beautiful
a contradiction
I wanna play the game
I want the friction
you will be the death of me"

3. Monster by Paramore

Click to listen

-- A song fit for Annabeth's quest as she follows the Mark of Athena –
"I'll stop the whole world
from turning into a monster,
 and eating us alive
Don't you ever wonder how we'd survive?
well now that you're gone the world is ours
I'm only human
I've got a skeleton in me
but I'm not the villain
despite what you're always preaching
they Call me a traitor
I'm just collecting your victims
They're getting stronger,
And I hear them calling"

4. What The Water Gave Me by Florence and the Machine 

Click to listen

-- A song fit for the scene where Piper is trying her best to save Percy and Jason from the poisonous water that Hagno was flooding them with –

"Cause they took in your loved ones

But returned them in exchange for you

But would you have it any other way?

Would you have it any other way?

You couldn't have had it any other way

'Cause she's a cruel mistress

And the bargain must be made

But oh, my love, don't forget me

When I let the water take me"

5. By Myself by Linkin Park

Click to listen

-- A song fit for Leo because it somehow summarizes how he feels –

"What do I do to ignore them behind me

Do I follow my instincts blindly

Do I hide my pride from these bad dreams 

And give in to sad thoughts that are maddening

Do I sit here and try to stand it

Or do I try to catch them red-handed

Do I trust some and get fooled by phoniness

Or do I trust nobody and live in loneliness

Because I can't hold on when I'm stretched so thin 

I make the right moves but I'm lost within 

I put on my daily facade but then 

I just end up getting hurt again"

6. Ho Hey by The Lumineers

Click to listen

-- A song fit for Frank because it tells about how he feels about Hazel, his jealousy over Leo, and his family –

"So show me family 

All the blood that I would bleed
 I don’t know where I belong
I don’t know where I went wrong
 But I can write a song
 I belong with you, you belong with me
You’re my sweetheart
I belong with you, you belong with me
You’re my sweetheart"

7. Famous Last Words by My Chemical Romance

Click to listen

-- A song for the couples in the story--
(Percy & Annabeth, Jason & Piper, Frank & Hazel)

"So many,

Bright lights they cast a shadow,

But can I speak?

Well is it hard understanding,

I'm incomplete?

A life that's so demanding,

I get so weak.

A love that's so demanding,

I can't speak."

8. A Thousand Years by Christina Perri 

   Click to listen

-- A song fit for Percy and Annabeth's relationship –

"Time stands still

Beauty in all she is

I will be brave

I will not let anything take away

What's standing in front of me"

{SPOILER ALERT}

9. Skyway Avenue by We The Kings

Click to listen

-- This song is fit for the ending of the story, when Percy lets go of his grip on the edge and he and Annabeth fall into Tartarus –

“Cause if you jump 

I will jump too

We will fall together

From the building's ledge

Never looking back at what we've done

We'll say it was love

'Cause I would die for you

On skyway avenue”

♡

Quotable Quotes

Important and significant lines from the book

“I try not to think. It interferes with being nuts" - Leo Valdez”

{ This line tell us about Leo, and how he is the type of guy who lives for the moment. As you read the story, you realize that Leo is a carefree guy who loves to joke around but when it comes to saving others from danger, he becomes very serious.}

---

“You’re not getting away from me. Never again.” - Percy Jackson

{This line is spoken by Percy to Annabeth. The line shows how he doesn't want him and Annabeth to be separated ever again, and it shows how much he would sacrifice for his girlfriend.

The two were separated for six months when Percy was taken away to Camp Jupiter, a Roman camp.}

Rick Riordan's tweet to a fan about Percy's memories

---

“It was a crazy idea. But, as usual, that’s all Percy had.” 

{This line tells us about Percy, and how he comes up with the craziest plans and yet manages to succeed (most times). I think that this characteristic of Percy is what makes him so compatible with Annabeth. Being the daughter of Athena, she is the one who comes up with intelligent plans which have a bigger chance of success.}

---

“True success requires sacrifice.” 

{This line says so much about the book. The story basically revolves around how the six demigods sacrifice almost everything to be able to prevent a war against the Romans.

True to life, without a little sacrifice, success will not be achieved.}

---

“Swords can’t solve every problem.” - Annabeth Chase

{This line tells us how sometimes, Annabeth chooses to fight using wisdom rather than with swords/knives. being a daughter of Athena, she has been gifted with wisdom and strategic battle planning.}

---

"Love is love, after all, whether you're Greek or Roman." - Aphrodite

{This line tell us what love is. It doesn't matter whether you're a Greek or a Roman, love is love. It is what it is. Spoken by the Goddess of Love, this line can be interpreted in may different ways. I interpret it the same way many of us interpret the line.}

---

“Being a hero doesn’t mean you’re invincible. It just means that you’re brave enough to stand up and do what’s needed.” - Piper McLean

{This line tells us what a hero truly is. A hero doesn't necessarily have to be someone bulletproof, a hero is someone who has the courage and strength to get the job done, whatever the cost.}

---

"As long as we're together," [Annabeth] she said.

She heard Nico and Hazel still screaming for help . She saw the sunlight far, far above- maybe the last sunlight she would ever see.

Then Percy let go of his tiny ledge, and together, holding hands, he and Annabeth fell into the endless darkness. 

{These lines end the story. Percy has kept his promise to Annabeth when he says "You're not getting away from me. Never again." These lines serve as the cliffhanger ending of the series's third installment, Mark of Athena.}

---