To say this series keeps escalating is putting it mildly.

What start a tale of demigods has already grown to include the gods, Titans, and giants, but it just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

This time around, we have two plots. In one, five of the seven still battling their way across the Mediterranean and fighting for their lives the whole way. Hazel in particular steps up a lot of this book–which, it’s the Hades one, so it makes sense.

“But magic is neither good nor evil. It is a tool, like a knife. Is a knife evil? Only if the wielder is evil.”

And I do continue to really like Leo. He’s got a fun scene which I hope (and should probably remember) pays off in the next book!

Meanwhile, Percy and Annabeth. Oh they’ve been through so much–and this time they spend most of teh book fighting their way through Tartarus itself. If not for some unexpected help, that could have gone oh so much worse. Despite it being the ‘Hades book’, this is really their story as much as anyone’s.

And finally, Nico. We finally one piece of why he’s always felt awkward and othered in both camps. A bit of a crush. The minimal reactions we’ve gotten so far seem a little weak, but perhaps the Blood of Olympus will build on that some more.

Speaking of which, this is it! We’re finally caught up to The Blood of Olympus (where I started backfilling book reviews), 11 years later. Let’s see if I remember any of it. Onward!