Rick Riordan’s “Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Chalice of the Gods,” the sixth book in the series that many of us grew up with, is finally here and just in time for the release of Disney Plus’s new show coming in December.
I have loved the “Percy Jackson” books since I first read them in seventh grade; and when I found out there was going to be a sixth book, I was extremely excited and could not wait. Now that it’s here the excitement and wait was worth it, because the nostalgia and laughter that this book brings to the table is unmatched.
Percy is in his senior year of high school and hopes to make it to the end of the year and go to New Rome College with Annabeth, but the Gods have other plans in mind. Percy has to complete three quests for three letters of recommendation. So when Ganymedes comes to Percy with a quest to find the Chalice of the Gods before Zeus finds out it’s missing in exchange for a letter of rec, Percy has no choice but to accept. He is not alone on his millionth time of possible death. As the OG trio is reunited, Percy, Annabeth and Grover set off on the mission to get Percy to college.
The thing I love most about this book is the nostalgia it brings as well as all the parallels to the first book in the series that started it all, “The Lightning Thief.” My favorite thing is how the first sentence in both books are direct parallels. “The Lightning Thief” begins, “Look I didn’t want to be a half-blood”, and “The Chalice of the Gods” begins, “Look I didn’t want to be a high school senior.” There are so many references and hints mainly towards the first book, but there are still many references to the others in the series. This brings a whole new level to enjoyment of reading this book because it brings back memories of when I first read the books.
I love how even though it’s been 14 years since “The Last Olympian” was released, Riordan has managed to keep all the laughter and sarcasm that is Percy Jackson. The storytelling and commentary of Percy Jackson is what makes the books so unique and memorable.
It’s also fun to read as a high school senior myself because of how much I relate to Percy’s struggle with senioritis, stress of college applications, and letters of recommendation. This makes the book even more humorous as it compares college stuff to demigods going on quests and battling gods and monsters.
Overall, I thought this book was amazing as it brought back so much nostalgia and felt like coming home after being away for a long time.
There will be a seventh book. “Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Wrath of the Triple Goddess” will be released on Sept. 24, 2024. Additionally, the Disney Plus show “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” will be released on Dec. 20, 2023.
Trigger warnings: Mild violence
5/5 read
