The Lost Hero followed newcomer Jason Grace as he shows up at Camp Half-Blood, lacking in memories and with a touch of … Rome about him.

So of course, now in The Sons of Neptune we get the other side of the story.

Percy Jackson, also with memories missing, finds his way to Camp Jupiter instead. What if Camp Half-Blood, but Roman. And based on legion, with a much more militaristic point of view. It’s a really fascinating bit of world building–which we only had hints of in The Lost Hero–but I really do love how it expands this universe. Seeing different aspects of the gods we’ve been introduced too–and finding the ones that have no Greek counterparts.

“Now, come over here so I can pat you down."
“But you don’t have-” Percy stopped. “Uh, sure.”
He stood next to the armless statue. Terminus conducted a rigorous mental pat down.
“You seem to be clean,” Terminus decided. “Do you have anything to declare?”
“Yes,” Percy said. “I declare that this is stupid.”

Long with Percy, we have two more newcomers. Hazel. Daughter of Pluto/Hades. Supposed to be dead. And Frank, descended of heroes (a couple different ways and eventually with a whole pile of powers) and currently unclaimed. I, once again, love the dynamic of the three of them. And, not just having read the story before, I’m even more looking forward to see everyone come together.

“Um…is that thing tame?” Frank said.
The horse whinnied angrily.
“I don’t think so,” Percy guessed. “He just said, ‘I will trample you to death, silly Chinese Canadian baby man’.”

Plotwise, I started reading this back when we were traveling to Alaska¹. Which is a delight, since eventually they get their quest to “the land beyond the Gods”… right up to Alaska. With a chunk of the book taking place in Seward and across or around various glaciers. Oh the timing. It’s a great place for an adventure and a great time to read it.

Overall, these books are just a lot of fun. I’m glad to be re-reading them.

Percy smiled. He knew the stakes were high. He knew this day could go horribly wrong. But he also knew that Annabeth was on that ship. If things went right, this would be the best day of his life.
He threw one arm around Hazel and one arm around Frank.
“Come on,” he said. “Let me introduce you to my other family.”

Onward!