From Goodreads: “Jason has a problem. He doesn’t remember anything before waking up in a bus full of kids on a field trip. Apparently he has a girlfriend named Piper and a best friend named Leo. They’re all students at a boarding school for “bad kids.” What did Jason do to end up here? And where is here, exactly?  
Piper has a secret. Her father has been missing for three days, ever since she had that terrifying nightmare. Piper doesn’t understand her dream, or why her boyfriend suddenly doesn’t recognize her. When a freak storm hits, unleashing strange creatures and whisking her, Jason, and Leo away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood, she has a feeling she’s going to find out.
Leo has a way with tools. When he sees his cabin at Camp Half-Blood, filled with power tools and machine parts, he feels right at home. But there’s weird stuff, too—like the curse everyone keeps talking about. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist that each of them—including Leo—is related to a god.”

_______________________________

Riordan has really outdone himself with this novel!  I was highly impressed by the “Percy Jackson” series, and am even more so with this newest endeavor.  I am so glad Riordan chose to continue the saga of Percy Jackson through Greek mythology, and I love the new twist added as Riordan takes on Roman mythology as well, twisting personalities of the gods and adding suspense to the series as they go.  I was in love with this novel from page one, and, although the intended reader age range is from 9-11, according to Barnes and Nobel, I beg to differ!  Riordan’s writing is so captivating that his books, especially The Lost Hero, appeal to all ages.  My high school students love these books, and so do I and a lot of my co-workers in the English department, even though we’re much older than the “intended” age group.  I believe that is a testament to Riordan’s sheer writing genius.    

While I believe that this series, “Heroes of Olympus,” could stand alone, I highly suggest reading the complete Percy Jackson series prior to picking up this up.  You won’t be disappointed, and it will help you understand a few of the statements made within this novel, as well as understand Percy Jackson.  While Percy is not necessarily in this novel, he still plays a huge part, and he will again be a central character in the next installment of this series, Son of Neptune.  I wish book two was releasing soon, but it won’t be out until October of this year. 

I am very impressed with Riordan as he is currently writing two series at a time, alternating between the two every six months.  So, if you’re looking for another book to bide your time while waiting for the next installment of “The Heroes of Olympus,” check out Riordan’s Egyptian series, “The Kane Chronicles.”  Red Pyramid came out last May, and the next installment, The Throne of Fire, comes out in a little over a month.  I will be picking up that novel as well.  Five stars for The Lost Hero.