Diksia.com - Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a son of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea? If you are a fan of fantasy and adventure, you might enjoy reading The Son of Neptune, a novel by Rick Riordan that is based on Greek and Roman mythology. In this article, we will give you a brief overview of the book, its main characters, and its plot.
What is The Son of Neptune?
The Son of Neptune is the second book in The Heroes of Olympus series, which is a sequel to the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. The book was published in 2011 and has won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Middle Grade and Children’s Book.
The book is set in a world where the ancient gods and goddesses still exist and have children with mortals, called demigods. These demigods have special abilities and often face dangers from mythical creatures and enemies.
There are two camps where demigods can train and find refuge: Camp Half-Blood for the Greek demigods and Camp Jupiter for the Roman demigods.
The book follows the adventures of Percy Jackson, a demigod son of Neptune (also known as Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea), who has lost his memory and finds himself in Camp Jupiter. He meets two new friends, Hazel Levesque and Frank Zhang, who are also demigods with mysterious pasts.
Together, they embark on a quest to free Thanatos, the Greek god of death, from the clutches of Gaea, the primordial goddess of the earth, who is planning to destroy the world.
Who are the main characters?
Percy Jackson
A demigod son of Neptune (Poseidon), who is the main protagonist in the first Camp Half-Blood series. He and Jason Grace have been swapped, because Hera (Juno in Roman form) has wiped their memories away to unite the two demigod camps. Percy is sent from Camp Half-Blood to Camp Jupiter, Jason’s home.
Hazel Levesque
A demigod daughter of Pluto (Hades), who was born in 1928 and died in 1942. She was brought back to life by her half-brother Nico di Angelo and taken to Camp Jupiter.
She has the ability to manipulate precious metals and stones, as well as control the Mist, a magical force that can alter reality. She also has a curse that makes everything she touches turn into gold or jewels. She has a crush on Percy.
Frank Zhang
A demigod son of Mars (Ares), who is also a descendant of Poseidon through his mother’s side. He has the power to shapeshift into any animal he wants, but his life is tied to a piece of wood that can burn up at any moment. He is insecure about his appearance and his abilities, but he proves to be brave and loyal. He has feelings for Hazel.
What is the plot?
Going to Camp Jupiter
Percy arrives at Camp Jupiter, a place where Roman demigods live and train. He is attacked by two gorgons who are after his blood, but he manages to escape with the help of Hazel and Frank, who are members of the Fifth Cohort, the least respected unit in the camp.
He also meets Reyna, the praetor (leader) of the camp, who recognizes him as an old friend, but Percy does not remember her. He also meets Octavian, an augur (priest) who dislikes him and tries to sabotage his chances of joining the camp.
War Games and Receiving a Quest
Percy participates in a war game against the other cohorts and impresses everyone with his skills and leadership. He is accepted into the Fifth Cohort and becomes friends with Hazel and Frank.
He also learns that he is part of a prophecy that involves seven demigods from both camps who have to stop Gaea from waking up her giant sons and destroying Olympus.
He receives a message from Juno, who tells him that he has to go to Alaska, where Thanatos is being held captive by Alcyoneus, one of Gaea’s giants. Without Thanatos, no one can die or stay dead, which gives Gaea an advantage over the gods and demigods.
Departing Camp Jupiter
Percy decides to go on the quest with Hazel and Frank, who volunteer to accompany him. They leave Camp Jupiter without permission from Reyna or Octavian, who try to stop them. They also take along a harpy named Ella, who has a photographic memory and can recite ancient prophecies.
They board a plane that is piloted by a storm spirit named Arion, who is Hazel’s horse. They fly to Alaska, which is beyond the gods’ control and where the sun never sets.
Portland and Seattle
Along the way, they encounter various obstacles and enemies, such as Amazons, griffins, basilisks, and Laistrygonians.
They also meet some allies, such as Iris, the goddess of the rainbow, who runs a health food store; Phineas, a blind seer who can see the future with the help of a harpy’s blood; and Hylla and Kinzie, Reyna’s sister and niece, who are the queen and princess of the Amazons.
They also learn more about each other’s histories and secrets, such as Hazel’s involvement with Gaea and Frank’s family gift.
Learning the Family Gift
Frank discovers that he is a descendant of Periclymenus, a grandson of Poseidon who had the ability to shapeshift. He inherited this gift from his mother, who died in a fire caused by Gaea. His father, Mars, gave him a piece of wood that contains his life force.
If the wood burns up, Frank will die. Frank also learns that he has a great-grandfather named Shen Lun, who is a Chinese Canadian soldier who fought in World War II. Shen Lun tells Frank that he has to master his gift and use it wisely.
Fighting Alcyoneus and Freeing Thanatos
The trio finally reaches Alaska, where they find Thanatos chained in an abandoned military base. They also encounter Alcyoneus, who is immune to death in his home territory. They manage to free Thanatos with the help of Ella, who reveals the location of his chains.
They also trick Alcyoneus into following them out of Alaska, where they are able to kill him with the help of Percy’s sword Riptide and Frank’s spear. They also rescue Nico di Angelo, Hazel’s half-brother and Percy’s friend, who was captured by Gaea and used as bait for Percy.
Joining the Defensive
The group returns to Camp Jupiter, where they find it under attack by an army of monsters led by Polybotes, another one of Gaea’s giants. They join the defensive and fight alongside the other demigods and the Roman god Bacchus (Dionysus). Percy challenges Polybotes to a duel and defeats him with the help of Terminus, the god of boundaries.
He also reunites with Annabeth Chase, his girlfriend from Camp Half-Blood, who arrives with Jason Grace, Leo Valdez, and Piper McLean on a flying ship called the Argo II. The book ends with Percy regaining his memory and preparing to introduce his two groups of friends.
Conclusion
The Son of Neptune is a thrilling and captivating book that will keep you hooked from start to finish. It is full of action, humor, romance, and mystery. It also explores themes such as identity, loyalty, courage, sacrifice, and friendship.
If you are looking for a book that will transport you to a world of mythological wonders and adventures, you should definitely check out The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan.
The Son of Neptune is a must-read for fans of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series. It is a fast-paced, action-packed adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
It is also a story about friendship, family, and self-discovery. If you are looking for a great book to read, I highly recommend The Son of Neptune.
