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What I like most about the Percy Jackson, besides that it has to do with Greek mythology, is Percy Jackson himself. Altruistic, goodnatured, humorous, dauntless are just a few of his defining traits. But what makes Percy real is that he has his flaws. He's too goofy, too trusting, too impulsive. His incompetence to fit in amongst others results in him not having many friends.
But my favourite thing about Percy is his undying loyalty towards his loved ones. In many of the books, this is referred to as his fatal flaw, but this is what makes him Percy Jackson. He would never betray his friends, he'd fight to death for the people he loves, he'd sacrifice himself, give himself entirely just to ensure the safety of his loved ones. Hera, (or rather Juno) once said, "Because I know you, Percy Jackson. In many ways, you are impulsive, but when it comes to your friends you are as constant as a compass needle. You are unswervingly loyal, and you inspire loyalty. You are the glue that will unite the seven."
Percy is one of the most selfless, determined characters that I've come upon. His will to fight is driven by his will to protect. He doesn't take down monsters and destroy enemies for acknowledgement from the gods as a fearless hero. He does it because he has to. He is hardwired to save the people he loves. He would bleed himself dry for them.
A little snippet from Heroes of Olympus.
In addition to an amazing protagonist, we also have an as equally incredible female counterpart, Annabeth Chase. She's quick-minded, quick-witted, intelligent beyond compare and headstrong. She is, in my honest opinion, one of the best female heroines in all Young Adult/Teen fiction today. What I like most about Annabeth is that she's a independant female lead that knows how to think rationally. She's the perfect balance of sarcasm and humour, and she's always ready to leap into action.
Annabeth is the anchor that grounds Percy Jackson. She keeps him centered, focused. She is the clear sky to his raging sea, the Wise Girl to his Seaweed Brain, simply put. She's strong willed, and Percy never doubts her abilities or decisions. She is able to think with a clear mind in during the haziest moments of inevitable peril. She also has big ambitions to do what she loves. She's also not afraid to admit that her flaws are that she's arrogant and prideful, which is not something most female leads can do.
The look on her face is just so sad and pained because she knows her flaw better than anyone.
Why I think Percy Jackson is such a great series is because it's not subjected towards gender. It's equally a boy's book as it is a girl's book. In the series, not once are any of the female or male characters' abilities and capabilities questioned. Every boy and girl is allowed to participate in all the activities at Camp Half-Blood, be it archery or Capture the Flag. Not to mention that there are also male children of Aphrodite as well as female children of Ares.
Annabeth is just so badass like??
The words that Rick Riordan used are hardly flamboyant or bombastic because they don't have to be. His writing is from the view of Percy, who, (in the first few books) is a teenager with dyslexia and ADHD. His injected humor and heart-stopping adventures (not to mention cliffhangers) are suffice to keep you turning the pages.
As a devoted fan to the Percy Jackson and The Olympians Series and the Heroes of Olympus Series, I wholeheartedly recommend you read all of these wonderfully crafted books. In the Heroes of Olympus Series, when the other demigods and gods describe Percy as a fighter or leader, it makes me so proud of this stupid fictional character because I first met him as a nobody, but now he can pass as a god. This is one of my most loved book series' ever, and by the end of it I was sobbing because I could hardly believe such an adventure had ended.
:')
Side note: Special thanks and dedication to Zen, for whom without I would never have read this series. Thank you for introducing me to characters that I will never part with, and adventures that I'll never forget.
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Marisa