Celebrating Percy Jackson and the Rick Riordan Universe

Welcome to the second installment in my 6-month celebration of Percy Jackson's 10-year anniversary. Today I'm going to introduce you to some related books by author Rick Riordan and then share some highlights from the Sea of Monsters, the second book in the Percy Jackson series.

Demigods of Olympus: There are certainly some bonuses when it comes to being a middle grade reader in the age of the Internet, and Riordan has taken full advantage in his new eBook, Demigods of Olympus, which is "an interactive adventure." Download the app and start your journey for free (additional stories are available as in-app purchases). The decisions you make affect the outcome of the story, so your experience will be uniquely yours. Doesn't it sound like fun? Here's the description of the app from Disney:

Your quest begins! Use your unique demigod skills in the exclusive, interactive, customized, and never-before-seen adventure stories written by New York Times #1 best-selling author Rick Riordan himself! You'll also have access to the entire Rick Riordan anthology all in one app! Not to mention download new Rick Riordan masterpieces as they're released! Exclusive, original Rick Riordan interactive demigod adventure story where your chosen archtype helps you use your demigod skills and leads the way through a customized narrative experience!

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: Mark your calendar for October 6, when you can get your hands on Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, which introduces Riordan's newest hero, who just might be related to a Norse god. Explore the dangerous and exciting world of Viking myth by following the adventures of Magnus Chase. I've always had a deep interest in Scandinavia and the Vikings, and this new series is calling to me. Here's the publisher's summary:

Magnus Chase has always been a troubled kid. Since his mother’s mysterious death, he’s lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, keeping one step ahead of the police and the truant officers. One day, he’s tracked down by an uncle he’s never met—a man his mother claimed was dangerous. His uncle tells him an impossible secret: Magnus is the son of a Norse god. The Viking myths are true. The gods of Asgard are preparing for war. Trolls, giants, and worse monsters are stirring for doomsday. To prevent Ragnarök, Magnus must search the Nine Worlds for a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years. When an attack by fire giants forces him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents, Magnus makes a fatal decision. Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die.

If you want to know more, visit the USA Today website and read and excerpt.

Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes: If you're familiar with the Percy Jackson universe you may want to know about the Greek heroes and gods and the myths that inspired Riordan when he started the original Percy series 10 years ago. Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes is a great way to learn more about the ancient Greek heroes. The book comes out on August 18 and is available for preorder at all your favorite online stores. Here's the publisher's summary:

Who cut off Medusa's head? Who was raised by a she-bear? Who tamed Pegasus? It takes a demigod to know, and Percy Jackson can fill you in on the all the daring deeds of Perseus, Atalanta, Bellerophon, and the rest of the major Greek heroes. Told in the funny, irreverent style readers have come to expect from Percy, ( I've had some bad experiences in my time, but the heroes I'm going to tell you about were the original old school hard luck cases. They boldly screwed up where no one had screwed up before. . .) and enhanced with vibrant artwork by Caldecott Honoree John Rocco, this story collection will become the new must-have classic for Rick Riordan's legions of devoted fans--and for anyone who needs a hero. So get your flaming spear. Put on your lion skin cape. Polish your shield and make sure you've got arrows in your quiver. We're going back about four thousand years to decapitate monsters, save some kingdoms, shoot a few gods in the butt, raid the Underworld, and steal loot from evil people. Then, for dessert, we'll die painful tragic deaths. Ready? Sweet. Let's do this.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters: As part of my celebration of a decade of Percy Jackson, I'm rereading the entire original series and then sharing 10 things I loved about each book. First, though, in case you aren't familiar with the second installment in the series, here's what The Sea of Monsters is all about (from the publisher):

. . . Percy Jackson finds his seventh-grade school year unnervingly quiet. His biggest problem is dealing with his new friend, Tyson--a six-foot-three, mentally challenged homeless kid who follows Percy everywhere. . . .

But things don't stay quiet for long. Percy soon discovers there is trouble at Camp Half-Blood. . . . To save the camp, Percy needs the help of his best friend, Grover, who has been taken prisoner by the Cyclops Polyphemus on an island somewhere in the Sea of Monsters, [known today as] the Bermuda Triangle.

Now Percy and his friends--Grover, Annabeth, and Tyson--must retrieve the Golden Fleece from the Island of the Cyclopes by the end of the summer or Camp Half-Blood will be destroyed. But first, Percy will learn a stunning new secret about his family. . . .

Ten Things I Love About The Sea of Monsters

1. The Gray Sisters and their shared eye and tooth!
2. Tyson! My heart goes out to him.
3. I can't believe Dionysus has the satyrs peel grapes for him.
4. Poor Tantalus, he'll stop at nothing to try to get a bite to eat.
5. Hermes as a jogger!
6. I love how Percy feels so confident when he's on the sea.
7. Annabeth, who is so loyal, despite outward appearances.
8. OMG, the Party Ponies and their fun weapons. Plus they live in a horse-trailer park!
9. Too funny that "C.C." now turns men into guinea pigs because real pigs are too large and smelly.
10. And, finally, I love it that Percy's successes do not go to his head. He's still humble and knows he has a lot to learn.

That's it for this month. Stay tuned for more Percy news and my thoughts on The Titan's Curse, coming up in August.

Don't forget to get Percy Jackson anniversary news by following hashtag #ReadRiordan across your social media sites and keep up with author Rick Riordan by following him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.