This will be a review of the series so far, not just this book. I read the Percy Jackson series in middle school and a bit into high-school. I'm now in college reading The Lost Hero series along with my younger sister and I forgot how much I love demigod goodness. The style of writing has definitely progressed from the 12 year old characters view. You can even notice a slight change in the shift from Titans Curse to Battle of Labyrinth. They seem much older and I like this series so much more perhaps because I'm older now. However, I believe it's because the POV switches help so much. The characters in this series are fun. When they merge with the characters from the earlier series, Annabeth and Percy, it helps you interpret the older characters differently too. They've grown a bit. I remember reading the Percy Jackson series and thinking Percy was a loyal, stereotypical hero and I favored Annabeth more because of it. However his character becomes more of a "troublemaker", very impulsive and even funnier in this series because you're seeing his personality from the other characters views. The friction between him and Jason and later the romance subplots are interesting as well. It's a good transition for kids who loved the first series to start reading only slightly more adult books. They're still very PG, but there's a definite difference.
I did have a bit of an issue with Piper seeming a bit weak, but that addresses itself in Mark of Athena. Leo is a very original character, a refreshing POV with a constant flow of quips. He later becomes a more rounded character. Jason is my main reason for writing this review. I loved his character in the first book. I figured he would deepen as the other two did once the series continued, but Son of Neptune and Mark of Athena have only made me enjoy him less. I hope for a POV from him soon or at least some more interaction with any character other than Piper. I was hoping Percy's friendship with him would help crack his surface more, but now it seems they'll be separated through most of House of Hades.
Many reveiwe compare the PJatO series to HoO, but I don't think they can be compared. I believe this series is not just to "satisfy the bit of longing you have for more demigods. But it grows with the age of the reader who may have been 12 while starting Lightning Thief and is now 17.
I appreciate Rick Riordan more now, studying in college as an Education/English major. He was a teacher and I believe it helped his ability to write and understand what children want to and should be reading. The students I teach in my Practicum LOVE his books, not only because they're funny, imaginative, and adventurous, but because the books are relatable. And because the books present a world that they feel only they can understand. It elevates their knowledge and they know it. My students don't even believe what they're reading is fiction because it's so available throughout history. One had googled "greek mythology" and was happy to inform me that these myths were "real" because they were in textbooks. The children feel respected and special to be given that privilege. When Riordan exposes the Roman side, it allows him to divulge into aspects of mythology he hasn't covered and he always uses such small or simple stories in huge and adventurous ways. For example the kids just needed to know what Thalia's shield would look like so I pulled up a photo thinking it was an average slightly scary Aegis. They practically screamed! They were so interested. So in this series he's able to pull on not just Roman, but Cherokee, and Chinese culture as well. I believe he's going to write a Norse series of books after these.