By Aliza Gans, Arts and Culture Editor
The original Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan made quite a splash on the literature scene when it first released in the early 2000s, introducing Greek mythology to a new generation with a modern twist. The book followed the adventures of a group consisting of Percy, son of Poseidon, Annabeth, daughter of Athena and Grover, a satyr: half-goat, half-human. Following its success, Riordan wrote three more series, focusing on Roman, Egyptian and Norse mythology, all placed in the Riordanverse (a shared universe of characters across series, like the Marvel Cinematic Universe).
Then, over 15 years later, the original trio came back together for one last adventure in Rick Riordan’s 2023 novel The Chalice of the Gods. In this installment, Percy has managed to survive middle school and make it to his senior year of high school when his next challenge appears: college recommendation letters. As penance for his forbidden existence as a child of the Big Three gods, Poseiden, Zeus and Hades, Percy finds out that in order to apply to his dream college, New Rome University, he must obtain three letters of recommendation from three different gods by fulfilling a quest for each of them.
With the return of Percy, Grover and Annabeth comes the return of the sarcastic narration Percy is known for. Whether it’s his hot takes about the Greek gods, or his impulsive outbursts that inevitably lead to chaos, the whole book is loads of fun to read.
While The Chalice of the Gods is full of Percy’s usual demigod shenanigans and hijinks, it also addresses the tumultuous feelings a new chapter of life, like applying to college, can bring. Going from high school to college is a big step for anyone, even without being hunted down by mythological monsters. Even amidst his crazy reality, Percy still expresses many familiar feelings about this part of life.
This new addition to the world of Percy Jackson offers readers a chance to see the character they knew grown up and at a different stage of life. It can be extra meaningful for those who read the original series in elementary and middle school and watched this character from their childhood grow up with them.
As someone who had that experience, reading this as an adult was a nostalgic experience. Even though I read the original series as an elementary schooler, I continued to absorb Riordan’s writing, and areas of Greek mythology I was originally only introduced to via Percy Jackson have since come up in other areas of life. For instance, last semester I took a Greek Myths and Folklore English class, and I would be lying if I didn’t say most of my previous knowledge of the Greek myths came from all the Percy Jackson books I’ve read.
The knowledge I have gained from Percy Jackson has even touched some of my other interests. It was because of my previous knowledge of Greek myths that I decided to listen to some musicals inspired off of them — Hadestown and Epic: The Musical. Both follow tales that I was only introduced to by the Percy Jackson series.
A good book is one that you continue to think about after you’re finished. This holds true for the Percy Jackson series. I always wondered what would happen to him as he grew older and what would become of his family and friends. This new book allows us to learn just that and will delight all fans of Rick Riordan, both old and new.
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