The final novel in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan, THE LAST OLYMPIAN, is everything a final novel should be. There is no build-up because Mr. Riordan took care of that in the first four books. Neither does he make readers wait for the promised battle. He doesn't add any last-minute characters. Instead, we have nonstop action and the unveiling of long-held secrets.

Even better, Percy finally shows some of the maturity I would expect to see from a teenager who was forced to grow up at a young age. He is clever with his battle tactics, compassionate where necessary but brutal when needed. After feeling like Percy sounded too young and naive in books three and four given his experiences, it is a treat to get a glimpse of what Percy would be like as an adult. 

I'll also say that even though I wasn't a huge Percy and Annabeth fan, the ending of THE LAST OLYMPIAN was adorable. Mr. Riordan handled the awkwardness and Percy's nervousness with delicacy and just a slight touch of humor. I imagine there was more than one child who used those scenes as motivation for their own awkward romantic encounters. 

There is no doubt that THE LAST OLYMPIAN is the best book in the series. It contains within its pages everything I was hoping to see in previous books culminating in the battle for Olympus. I thought the battle scenes to be well-written, detailed without being graphic, and touching on fallen comrades and foes with the appropriate level of gravitas. While Mr. Riordan sets up the next series with a well-timed prophecy, I consider my time with Percy Jackson and friends at an end, with a final book that provides enough closure to satisfy me.