The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series #4), Vol. 4
Author: Rick Riordan
Percy Jackson isn't expecting freshman orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears on campus, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to diabolical.
In this latest installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronos's army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop them, Percy and his demigod friends must set out on a quest through the Labyrinth-a sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn. Full of humor and heart-pounding action, this fourth book promises to be their most thrilling adventure yet.
Publishers Weekly
Percy Jackson's fourth summer at Camp Half-Blood is much like his previous three-high-octane clashes with dark forces, laced with hip humor and drama. Opening with a line for the ages-"The last thing I wanted to do on my summer break was blow up another school"-this penultimate series installment finds Percy, Annabeth and the satyr Grover furiously working to prevent former camp counselor Luke from resurrecting the Titan lord Kronos, whose goal is to overthrow the gods. When the heroes learn that Luke can breach Camp Half-Blood's security through an exit from Daedalus's Labyrinth, they enter the maze in search of the inventor and a way to stop the invasion. Along the way they encounter a lifetime supply of nightmare-inducing, richly imagined monsters. Grover's own quest to find the lost god Pan, meanwhile, provides a subtle environmental message. Percy, nearly 15, has girl trouble, having become something of a chick magnet. One of Riordan's strengths is the wry interplay between the real and the surreal. When the heroes find Hephaestus, for instance, he's repairing a Toyota, wearing overalls with his name embroidered over the chest pocket. The wit, rousing swordplay and breakneck pace will once again keep kids hooked. Ages 10-up. (May)
Children's Literature
Percy Jackson should have known that even something as ordinary as freshman orientation wouldn't go as planned. When your father is the god Poseidon, your life has a way of becoming dangerous and adventure-filled. Meeting up with his demigod friends, Percy heads to Camp Half-Blood to find that this once safe haven is now threatened by Kronos. When Percy and Annabeth discover an entrance to the Labyrinth, they find that Luke could use this maze to invade Camp Half-Blood. Annabeth must lead the group as they search for Daedalus, who invented the Labyrinth and could hold the key to defending Camp Half-Blood. But the Labyrinth is confusing and the party soon gets lost. They meet various gods and mythical creatures as they search for Daedalus. They must also face challenges such as cleaning Diomedes's stables and answering the trivia of the Sphinx (who has abandoned riddles) before finding their way out of the Labyrinth, only to have a battle waiting for them at Camp. Riordan creates a masterful weaving of Greek mythology and traditional fantasy in this latest book in "The Olympians" series. Fans will enjoy the latest adventures of their favorite characters, and those picking the book up for the first time will have no trouble falling into this magical world. Reviewer: Amie Rose Rotruck
VOYA
Half-blood Percy Jackson undertakes another perilous quest in the fourth book of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. The army of the evil Titan Lord Kronos, led by the traitor Luke, plans to crush Camp Half-Blood and then Mount Olympus itself. Percy and friends, including fellow half-blood Annabeth and mortal Rachel Elizabeth Dare, must brave the Labyrinth, a maze that runs beneath the United States. At the Labyrinth's center, the heroes meet Daedalus, the Labyrinth's architect, an anti-hero whose motives and true identity are surprising. Percy and his fellow campers beat back Kronos's army during a final battle at Camp Half-Blood, but the war between Kronos and the Olympians is far from over. Many story lines are left for the next book. Riordan's ingenious method of integrating Greek mythology with the modern world again creates a book replete with exhilarating action, droll humor, and captivating intrigue. Although the quest format is far from new for Riordan, he easily manages to keep the material fresh, and the reader engaged by drawing on the plethora of Greek myths at his disposal. Riordan's plots and subplots are wonderfully planned, and his host of teen fans can expect a few twists toward the book's end. Add to the above a budding love triangle among Percy, Annabeth, and Rachel Elizabeth Dare and the result is a well-crafted novel worthy of this fine series. Teen readers will need to have read the first three books. Reviewer: David Goodale
School Library Journal
Gr 5-9- The battle starts, literally, with an explosion and doesn't let up. After Percy destroys the high school band room battling monsters called empousai who have taken on the form of cheerleaders, he has to hide out at Camp Half-Blood. There, Grover's searcher's license is going to be revoked unless he can find the god Pan in seven days. An entrance to the Labyrinth has been discovered, which means that Luke, the half-blood turned bad, can bypass the magical protections and invade the camp. Annabeth insists that she must follow a quest to locate Daedalus's workshop before Luke does. Percy is disturbed by visions of Nico, the son of Hades, who is summoning forth the spirits of the dead with McDonalds Happy Meals. Percy, Grover, and Percy's Cyclops half-brother follow Annabeth into the maze not knowing if they will ever find their way out. Riordan cleverly personifies the Labyrinth as a sort of living organism that changes at will, and that traverses the whole of the United States. Kids will devour Riordan's subtle satire of their world, such as a Sphinx in the Labyrinth whose questions hilariously parody standardized testing. The secret of Pan is revealed with a bittersweet outcome that also sends an eco-friendly message. Like many series, the "Percy Jackson" books are beginning to show the strain of familiarity and repetition. However, the overarching story line remains compelling, and the cliff-hanger ending will leave readers breathless in anticipation of the fifth and final volume.-Tim Wadham, Maricopa County Library District, Phoenix, AZ
Kirkus Reviews
The fourth and penultimate volume of Percy Jackson and the Olympians is the best one yet. Here, 14-year-old demigod Percy must find a way to thwart Kronos's plan to reassemble his body and rally the evil forces of the underworld. Percy, quest-partner Annabeth and mortal Rachel Elizabeth Dare enter the Labyrinth and encounter all manner of wondrous beings: the vampiric empousai, snaky dracaenae, Laistrygonian giants, Calypso, the Sphinx, a Hundred-Handed One, Hephaestus, Daedalus and Kronos himself, newly transformed. Riordan keeps Percy busy falling in love with Calypso, battling evil Antaeus, causing Mount St. Helens to erupt and finding the long-lost god Pan in a crystal cave in this romp that rivals Rowling for inventive, magical storytelling. The often-philosophical tale zips along with snappy dialogue, humor and thrilling action, culminating in a climactic battle between gods and Titans. This volume can stand alone, but no reader will be able to read just one. Look no further for the next Harry Potter; meet Percy Jackson, as legions of fans already have. (Fiction. 9+)
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Tenth Grade Bleeds (The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod Series #3)
Author: Heather Brewer
It's another sucky year at Bathory High for Vladimir Tod. The evil vampire D'Ablo is hunting for the ritual that could steal Vlad's powers. His best friend Henry doesn't want to be his drudge anymore. And as if all that weren't enough, it's getting harder for Vlad to resist feeding on the people around him. When months go by with no word from Uncle Otis and D'Ablo shows up demanding Vlad's father's journal, Vlad realizes that having a normal high school year is the least of his concerns. Vlad needs to act fast, and even his status as the Pravus won't save him this time . . .
VOYA
The third book in The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod finds the teen vampire honing his skills with his mentor as summer ends. With the dawning of sophomore year, Vlad carries the weight of the vampire world on his shoulders. He has recently discovered that he may be the Pravus, prophesized to rule over all vampires and enslave humans. D'Ablo, a vampire leader, seeks a ritual that will allow him to steal Vlad's status as the Pravus, while another bloodthirsty vampire seeks to hurt Vlad immensely. In addition to the supernatural challenges in Vlad's life, he also has to navigate the social jungle of tenth grade as his best friend seems to be drifting away and he begins questioning his girlfriend's motives. This midpoint in the series is the darkest yet; Vlad's future as the probable Pravus is in direct opposition to his own plans for his life. Fans will eat up this installment, but new readers will find sufficient back story to enjoy the book on its own. The relationships and characters that readers have come to know in the first two books are more fully explored here, exposing new flaws and challenges that allow for more realism in their interactions. Vlad reveals some significant weakening in his pledge not to feed on humans, opening the door for more vampiric action in the final two books of the series. This book will be highly anticipated by fans of the teen vampire genre. Reviewer: Sherrie Williams
School Library Journal
Gr 6–10—Vladimir Tod just wants to be a normal teen. Unfortunately that is impossible for a vampire who is the only one "living" in the small town of Bathory. Now starting 10th grade, he faces some typical teen problems. His friend Henry seems to be dumping him to hang out with the popular crowd. Pesky Eddie is determined to expose him, thinking this will bring him the popularity and fame he desires. Meredith has agreed to be his girlfriend, and he can't believe someone so perfect would want to be with him. He is troubled by terrible nightmares, and the need for human blood is growing extremely difficult to resist, putting Aunt Nelly, Henry, and Meredith at risk. The wicked vampire D'Ablo is determined to get rid of him and steal his powers for himself. Vlad needs to act fast if he is going to save himself and everything he holds dear. The plot is full of twists and turns, but the tone is darker and more intense than in the earlier books as Vlad struggles to overcome the obstacles thrown in his path and come to grips with who and what he really is. The stakes are high and the ending leaves readers dying for more.—Donna Rosenblum, Floral Park Memorial High School, NY
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