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A review by orionmerlin
The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Characters: 7/10
Rick Riordan sure knows how to crank out a likable cast, but let’s not pretend they all have layers upon layers of depth. Percy Jackson remains a solid lead—witty, relatable, and easy to root for. Annabeth brings brains and determination, Tyson adds some wholesome chaos, and Clarisse gets a bit of the spotlight. But some of the villains? Yawn. One-dimensional at best, plot devices at worst. I could describe the core cast easily, but a little extra nuance wouldn’t have hurt.
Rick Riordan sure knows how to crank out a likable cast, but let’s not pretend they all have layers upon layers of depth. Percy Jackson remains a solid lead—witty, relatable, and easy to root for. Annabeth brings brains and determination, Tyson adds some wholesome chaos, and Clarisse gets a bit of the spotlight. But some of the villains? Yawn. One-dimensional at best, plot devices at worst. I could describe the core cast easily, but a little extra nuance wouldn’t have hurt.
Atmosphere/Setting: 7/10
The world is colorful, the creatures are creative, and Riordan clearly has fun weaving mythology into the modern setting. That being said, not every scene is a knockout. Some moments pull you right into the adventure—Polyphemus’s lair, Circe’s island, those are winners. But others? Rushed or undercooked. I wanted to be fully immersed the entire time, not just in bursts.
The world is colorful, the creatures are creative, and Riordan clearly has fun weaving mythology into the modern setting. That being said, not every scene is a knockout. Some moments pull you right into the adventure—Polyphemus’s lair, Circe’s island, those are winners. But others? Rushed or undercooked. I wanted to be fully immersed the entire time, not just in bursts.
Writing Style: 7/10
Riordan’s writing is breezy, snarky, and keeps the pages turning. Percy’s sarcasm makes for an entertaining narrator, and the dialogue flows well. But let’s be real—there’s nothing especially deep or beautiful about the prose. It’s fun, it’s fast, it’s functional. Would I read another book by him? Sure. But am I here for the writing itself? Not really.
Riordan’s writing is breezy, snarky, and keeps the pages turning. Percy’s sarcasm makes for an entertaining narrator, and the dialogue flows well. But let’s be real—there’s nothing especially deep or beautiful about the prose. It’s fun, it’s fast, it’s functional. Would I read another book by him? Sure. But am I here for the writing itself? Not really.
Plot: 6/10
Ah yes, another grand quest with a legendary object at the end of the road. The Golden Fleece gives the plot a clear direction, and there’s plenty of excitement along the way. But the twists? Not so twisty. The turns? Fairly predictable. Riordan’s formula of “modern kids + Greek myths = hijinks” is clever, but it’s starting to feel a little too familiar. The story is engaging enough, but I kept waiting for something unexpected to knock me off my feet—and it never really happened.
Ah yes, another grand quest with a legendary object at the end of the road. The Golden Fleece gives the plot a clear direction, and there’s plenty of excitement along the way. But the twists? Not so twisty. The turns? Fairly predictable. Riordan’s formula of “modern kids + Greek myths = hijinks” is clever, but it’s starting to feel a little too familiar. The story is engaging enough, but I kept waiting for something unexpected to knock me off my feet—and it never really happened.
Intrigue: 6/10
Did this book hold my attention? Mostly. Did I ever feel the irresistible urge to drop everything and keep reading? Not really. There are some solid mysteries—what’s up with the Sea of Monsters, what’s this whole prophecy deal—but the pacing is uneven. Some parts grabbed me, while others had me mentally tallying my to-do list instead.
Did this book hold my attention? Mostly. Did I ever feel the irresistible urge to drop everything and keep reading? Not really. There are some solid mysteries—what’s up with the Sea of Monsters, what’s this whole prophecy deal—but the pacing is uneven. Some parts grabbed me, while others had me mentally tallying my to-do list instead.
Logic/Relationships: 6/10
The relationships are the book’s strong suit—Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson’s dynamic has real heart. But the mythological world’s logic? Ehhh. The rules are a little too bendy, and the world-building feels like it’s there just enough to keep things moving without diving too deep. I never fully bought into the setting because it felt like it was making up rules as it went along.
The relationships are the book’s strong suit—Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson’s dynamic has real heart. But the mythological world’s logic? Ehhh. The rules are a little too bendy, and the world-building feels like it’s there just enough to keep things moving without diving too deep. I never fully bought into the setting because it felt like it was making up rules as it went along.
Enjoyment: 6/10
This book was like a fun road trip where half the stops are exciting, and the other half are gas stations in the middle of nowhere. There were moments I genuinely enjoyed—clever humor, solid action, and touching character moments. But did I walk away feeling totally satisfied? Not quite. It’s entertaining, but it doesn’t stick with you.
This book was like a fun road trip where half the stops are exciting, and the other half are gas stations in the middle of nowhere. There were moments I genuinely enjoyed—clever humor, solid action, and touching character moments. But did I walk away feeling totally satisfied? Not quite. It’s entertaining, but it doesn’t stick with you.