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The Last Olympian Summary & Study Guide

The Last Olympian Summary & Study Guide Description

Rick Riordan's The Last Olympian is the last in a five book series describing the adventures of Percy Jackson, the young half human son of Poseidon. Percy Jackson must lead the other half-blood children of the gods to defend Olympus, which is now at the six hundredth floor of the Empire State Building in Manhattan from the Titan Kronos.

Kronos, who has reincarnated in the body of Percy's old friend, Luke, has sworn an oath of vengeance to destroy Olympus, brick by brick. He has been massing an army of monsters, demigod children, demons, and a few other Titans for a year. If he is successful, the age of the gods will end and a new age of chaos will begin. To distract the gods from their seats of power in Olympus, Kronos simultaneously launches an attack against Poseidon's undersea fortress and unleashes the most fearsome of all monsters, Typhon. Typhon he sends on a mission of destruction from his prison under Mount St. Helens to New York. Typhon is to destroy the gods and Olympus if he is able, but he is just a distraction. Poseidon is embattled in his fortress and will not join the fight. Hades is sulking in the underworld, nurturing a grudge against Zeus for killing the mortal mother of his children. The remaining Olympian gods leave New York to do battle with Typhon, leaving Olympus virtually undefended. The gods believe Typhon to be the main threat, that Kronos would not dare march on Olympus himself. However, Percy has seen in a prophetic dream that Kronos will indeed invade New York, and that only he and his half-blood peers from Camp Half-Blood are left to defend against the invasion. If that isn't enough for the young demigod to worry about, he also has a prophesy telling of a single choice he must make on his sixteenth birthday, which is only a few days away, that will either destroy or save Olympus. On top of that, regardless of his choice, "The hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap."

In order to stand against an overwhelming army and to fight Kronos, Percy accepts the offer of his friend Nico, son of Hades, and bathes in the river Styx. After emerging from the river, his body immortal except for one small point at the small of his back, Percy leads the charge in defense of Manhattan. After a series of brutal battles against overwhelming odds, after slaying several mythical monsters, Percy, Annabeth, and Grover catch up to Kronos in the throne room of the main palace at Olympus.

After fighting Kronos for a while, Annabeth is injured and Percy is disarmed. Kronos, noticing the way Percy is effected by her injury, maneuvers between the two demigods, and threatens to kill her should Percy continue. At this point, Percy gets Annabeth's knife and Luke regains a small bit of control over his body. He begs Percy give him the knife so that he can kill himself. He knows that if Percy tries to kill him, Kronos will be able to stop him. Percy realizes that this is the decision of the prophesy. Can he trust the humanity of his former friend? Percy gives the knife to Luke, who then unbuckles his armor, and stabs himself just below his arm, in the only remaining mortal part of his body. Luke dies, and Kronos, who was not yet strong enough to manifest in his true form, is once again defeated.

Just as Kronos is defeated, the gods march into the palace at Olympus ready to do battle, only to find that the kids have already taken care of it. They set about repairing the damage to their thrones, then the council of the gods meets to discuss aftermath of the war. As reward for their service in the war, Grover is made a Lord of the Wild Council. Annabeth, whose dream is to be an architect, is given the job of redesigning Olympus however she sees fit. Percy, who led the defenders of Olympus and ultimately saved the gods, is granted one wish. The gods offer him immortality and a place as one of them for eternity. He turns this down in order to stay mortal and live his life with Annabeth. Instead of becoming a god, Percy makes the gods swear on the Styx that they will do a better job of claiming their children and getting them to Camp Half-blood, as well as recognizing every god including the minor ones at Olympus.

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The Last Olympian

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The Last Olympian is a novel by Rick Riordan , published on May 5, 2009. It is the fifth and final installment in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.

This conclusion to the saga revolves around Percy Jackson , the son of Poseidon , as he leads his friends in a last stand to protect Mount Olympus and the rest of the world from Kronos and his army of titans and monsters.

• 1.1 Blowing up The Princess Andromeda
• 1.2 The Last Olympian
• 1.3 The River Styx
• 1.4 Percy's Dreams
• 1.5 Dionysus, Old Friends, Drakons, and the Spy
• 1.6 The Cursed Blade
• 2.1.1 Unraveling the Prophecy
• 2.2 The Prophecy of Seven
• 3 Chapter List
• 4 Characters
• 10 References

Blowing up The Princess Andromeda

Percy and his friend Rachel Elizabeth Dare drive to a ridge overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. There, Rachel reveals that her father is trying to get her to go to a finishing school, Clarion Ladies Academy , that she does not want to go to. She asks if Percy has decided whether he would go with her and her family for vacation or not. Before he could answer, Blackjack , Percy's pegasus , lands on the hood of the car with Charles Beckendorf , a son of Hephaestus , on his back. Beckendorf announces that it is time for them to take out the Princess Andromeda .

Rachel Elizabeth Dare

Rachel kisses Percy and wishes him good luck. The two demigods then leave. In good humor, Beckendorf states that the kiss might be better left a secret to Annabeth Chase to which Percy agrees. The two see the ship and sneak onto it. A telekhine sees them, but is killed before he sounded the alarm. They then set Greek Fire explosives in the engine room. Percy leaves the room to distract the monsters on the ship, telling Beckendorf to meet him at the air pad.

Percy is captured and brought before Luke, who is now housing Kronos from the events of The Battle of the Labyrinth . The Titan duels Percy for the fun of it, and he mentions a spy in camp . A few minutes later, Beckendorf appears. It is revealed that all the other explosives are already in place and there would be no time to escape the ship once they explode. This is realized by the enemy forces a moment too late as Beckendorf had made it look like he was only about to plant the bombs when he got captured.

He silently convinces Percy to flee, but Percy refuses to leave him behind. Suddenly, a dracanae notices the trigger on Beckendorf's arm. Beckendorf moves to detonate the bomb, leaving Percy no choice but to escape the ship. He jumps off and wills the currents to speed him away. The ship explodes, and Percy blacks out, thinking only of Beckendorf.

Percy dreams as he drifts unconscious through the ocean. His dream takes place on Mount Othrys during a conversation between Krios and Hyperion . The two Titans talk of their plans to destroy Olympus . After they conclude their conversation, the scene shifts. Percy sees Nico di Angelo eavesdropping on the Titans as well. Nico then asks Percy how exactly he intends to defeat the Titans without the former’s plan before Percy comes to. Percy realizes that he is in Poseidon 's kingdom and is being tended to by his half-brother, Tyson .

Tyson then leads Percy to Poseidon's throne room, where he meets Poseidon's wife and godly son, Amphitrite and Triton , respectively. Poseidon then informs Percy that he is battling Oceanus . He confirms Percy's fears when he tells Percy that Beckendorf did not survive, but also reassures him that Beckendorf did not die in vain and that their little expedition had bought time for the Olympians . Before he sends Percy on his way, he states that Percy must return to Camp Half-Blood to fulfill the rest of the prophecy .

Returning to Camp Half-Blood, Percy brings news of the Princess Andromeda and Beckendorf. Though the campers are initially happy that the Princess Andromeda has been destroyed, they are distraught when Percy tells them of Beckendorf's sacrifice. Later, the camp's war council convenes. Chiron asks Percy and Annabeth to retrieve the prophecy from the Oracle . When the two return, they find the war council in a state of chaos. The head councilors of the Ares and Apollo cabins, Clarisse La Rue and Michael Yew respectively, are arguing. When nobody takes Clarisse’s side, she storms off, stating that the Ares cabin will not help the rest of them fight the war.

Typhon , the Father of Monsters.

Percy then proceeds to read the prophecy – which everyone now concludes to be about him – and realizes that no matter whose side he chooses to fight on, he will inevitably die. The other counselors realize this too, and sympathize with Percy. He brushes this aside and moves on to another matter: a spy in camp that Kronos had mentioned. The counselors begin accusing each other of being the spy when Silena Beauregard , Beckendorf's girlfriend, silences them by reminding them that Beckendorf has died and all they can do is sit and squabble. Through Iris Message, Chiron then shows them that the finally free Typhon has been making his way toward an unguarded Olympus, even with the gods trying to stop him.

The night following the meeting, Percy dreams of Rachel . In his dream, Rachel looks over two photos she has recently drawn. The first is a picture of Luke when he was younger, and the second is a picture of Olympus surrounded by lightning and figures wielding weapons.

The next day, Percy and Annabeth review the camp's cabins and the reports sent into the camp. Percy then reveals that Grover Underwood has disappeared without a trace and that their Empathy Link is weakening. Annabeth tells him that the source of the fight between the Apollo and Ares cabins is a chariot that the Apollo campers took in a raid that the Ares campers led. Annabeth regrets showing Percy the prophecy when Percy indirectly hints that the camp’s situation is hopeless, and Annabeth angrily walks away after calling him a coward.

Needing a break, Percy wanders to the training arena to visit Mrs. O'Leary , his hellhound . When he arrives there, Ms. O'Leary runs into the forest, causing Percy to chase after her. He follows her to the clearing where the Lords of the Wild hold their meetings. There, Percy finds Nico , Leneus , one of the Council of Cloven Elders members, and Grover's girlfriend Juniper talking about Grover.

Leneus initially refuses to help Grover, but is forced to by Percy. After Juniper and Leneus leave, Percy and Nico talk about Nico’s plan. Percy recalls earlier on the Princess Andromeda how he was unable to wound Kronos/Luke. Nico tells him that he could have the same advantage. Percy hesitates, but Nico insists very fiercely, which is unlike him. Percy relents and they then travel together via shadow travel on Mrs. O'Leary to find Luke's mother in order to discover Luke 's past.

Percy and Nico arrive at Luke's mother's house in Westport, Connecticut and find that she is in a psychotic state. Ms. Castellan greets the two boys as Luke when they arrive. She then invites Percy and Nico to lunch with her. Percy and Nico discover that Luke ran away in order to protect his mother from the monsters that are constantly hounding him. They also learn that when he gave his body as a host for Kronos, he required his mother's blessing. Having the information they came for, they attempt to leave, but Luke’s mother seemingly becomes possessed before returning to normal. Disturbed, Percy and Nico say goodbye and run from the house to find that Mrs. O'Leary has been approached by the goddess Hestia .

Hestia , the Last Olympian.

Hestia provides lunch for the boys and then tells Percy that no matter what side he chooses, he must remember her because she is the last Olympian. She goes on to explain that while all the Olympians are gone, she is the only one who remains for she is the goddess of the home.

Hestia then sends Percy and Nico to Percy's own home where they are greeted by his mother, Sally Jackson , and Paul Blofis who finally believes Percy's mother about everything that has to do with the supernatural. Percy and Nico tell her of their plan and she reluctantly gives Percy her blessing, and asks him to give her a signal if he does survive the war. Ready to carry out the plan, Nico and Percy shadow travel to Central Park to reach another entrance to the Underworld .

When Percy and Nico arrive at Central Park, Nico tells Percy that they will need music to enter the Underworld from that entrance. Suddenly, Percy feels Grover's presence and, uses his Empathy Link to awaken Grover out of a deep sleep. Grover then falls out of a tree near Percy and Nico.

He explains that he was spreading the news about Pan 's death and recruiting fighters when he saw a strange man walking through Central Park. Everyone within the immediate vicinity of the strange man would fall asleep, and when he has passed them, they would awake as if nothing had happened. As he went to confront the man, the man put him under a deep sleep.

After Grover's story, Nico says that Grover had encountered Morpheus , the god of dreams, and that his presence meant that the invasion is coming sooner than it was expected. The two then tell Grover their plan, and Grover, though scared for Percy and frightened of the Underworld, plays a song to open the gate to the Underworld before leaving to tell Juniper that he is alive. Traveling into the Underworld, they soon reach the River Styx . Nico, however, detours Percy towards the gate to Hades’s palace, and ultimately hands him over to the Furies .

As Percy realizes he has been tricked, he fights against Nico but is stopped by the Furies and has his sword thrown off a cliff, leaving him defenseless. Nico explains that his father had promised him information on his past if he turned Percy in. Upon arriving in Hades's throne room, Percy, Nico and Hades are joined by Persephone , and her mother Demeter .

Hades , the God of the Underworld.

Hades then reveals that he sent Nico and his sister to the magical hotel they were abandoned at to protect them and to keep them from aging until they left. He adds that the lawyer that took them out of the hotel was actually the Fury Alecto . Hades states that he planned to refrain from helping in the fight for Olympus and that after the Titans took over, he would strike their weakened forces. He then sends Nico off and takes Percy captive.

The River Styx

Percy ends up having yet another dream. He sees Rachel with her family on vacation and feels sad that he is unable to join them. He also sees that she is drawing in the sand in Ancient Greek. The dream changes to a view from the top of the St. Louis Arch. Percy sees the monstrous shape of Typhon and barely makes out the gods as they fight him off. Percy wakes up and sees Nico. He immediately pins Nico to the floor of his cell. Nico truthfully explains to Percy that he had no idea that capturing Percy was what his father had in mind.

Nico then helps Percy escape to the River Styx on Mrs. O'Leary. When the two get there, Percy has a talk with Achilles before bathing in the River Styx to become nearly invincible, leaving only the small of his back, opposite the naval, as his weakness. As Percy wades out of the river, he is attacked by Hades' minions and Hades himself. Percy escapes after defeating Hades and his minions using his new found strength. As he leaves he tells Nico to stay and convince Hades to fight.

Percy then travels out of the Underworld and towards the Empire State Building . He calls Annabeth on his mom’s phone and tells her to round up the campers and head to the Empire State Building. Though he remembers that one of them is the spy, he tells all of them anyway of his plan to get Zeus to defend Mount Olympus. It is here that Percy is officially recognized as the camp's leader.

They head to the 600th floor and find the throne room empty except for Hestia , who is still tending the fire. She then shows him a vision of the day Luke and Thalia Grace found Annabeth — the same day Luke gave her the knife she still uses — and when Luke meets his dad, Hermes , for the first time. Percy almost collapses, overwhelmed by the vision.

Hermes suddenly arrives, and Hestia leaves. Uneasy because nothing is going as planned, Percy and Annabeth send the other demigods away to scout Olympus, leaving the two alone with Hermes. The god relays a message from Athena saying that they must defend Manhattan by using Plan 23 . To Percy, Athena tells him to remember the rivers and to stay away from her daughter. Annabeth mentions Luke, and Hermes, angry that she has brought up the subject, accuses her of being unable to prevent Luke from hosting Kronos. Percy defends her, and the god of messengers departs with sadness and grief.

The campers gather in a small park at the edge of the mountain and find that Morpheus has caused all the mortal residents of Manhattan to fall asleep to prevent human intervention. They look beyond the borders of Manhattan and figure out that Kronos and Hecate must be using their powers to slow down time around the vicinity of Manhattan in such a way that the closer mortals get to the island, the slower time is.

The group then exits the building. Percy divides the campers into groups to guard the bridges and tunnels that the enemy may use to get to Olympus . As he realizes that he has left the Lincoln Tunnel open (even with a WWII M4 Sherman headed there), Thalia and the Hunters of Artemis appear and state that they would stand guard over that route. The group dissipates to meet the incoming invasion forces. Percy and Annabeth then fly on pegasi to activate Plan 23.

They proceed to help the Apollo campers on Williamsburg Bridge , the bridge connecting Manhattan to Brooklyn. The Apollo campers, Annabeth, and Percy manage to drive the enemy back to Brooklyn when they realize that enemy reinforcements, headed by Kronos himself, are on the other side of the bridge. The group falls back, but they fight nonetheless. During the battle, Annabeth intercepts a stab meant for Percy that was directed towards his weak point. The demigods retreat when Percy realizes how much strength he has and strikes Riptide into the bridge with such force that the bridge breaks. Michael Yew goes missing, seemingly like he fell off the bridge. Percy tells some Apollo campers to search for him. Kronos turns back and the campers and Hunters regroup and settle down for the night in their new headquarters, a hotel at the southeast corner of Central Park.

Percy's Dreams

Nico di Angelo .

Percy dreams about Nico where the latter is trying to summon his mother’s ghost, but his sister's spirit forbids him to. Nico insists, but instead of his mother’s ghost he is met with a vision. In the vision, he sees Maria di Angelo and Hades in the era of World War II. The two are arguing about Nico and Bianca's safety.

Hades wants to take them to either the Underworld , or to the Lotus Hotel and Casino where they will be safe. Maria replies that she cannot agree to either as she would want them to have a normal life. Zeus then makes the hotel where they are currently staying in explode, killing Maria di Angelo though the lives he had wanted to claim were Nico's and Bianca's. Zeus did this for fear that the Great Prophecy will be about either Bianca or Nico.

Hades then sends for Alecto and orders her to wash the di Angelos' memories clean in the River Lethe and to take them to the Lotus Hotel and Casino , where Zeus cannot harm them. The Oracle approaches Hades and states that she had warned him this would happen. Hades, in all his anger and sadness, curses the spirit of Oracle, declaring that it will never find another human host until he and his children are welcomed in Olympus. The dream changes, and Percy sees Rachel at the beach with her parents. She has a gut feeling that New York is being invaded by monsters and that Percy is in trouble. She then persuades her parents to leave the beach with her and go back to Manhattan.

Percy is awakened by Thalia , who tells him that a Titan, Prometheus , has come to negotiate. Percy, Grover , and Thalia go to Central Park where the Titan stands with Ethan Nakamura , an empousa , and a clumsy Hyperborean Giant . The Titan states that Olympus is destined to fall, and that the demigods should surrender. When Percy refuses, Prometheus shows him more of Luke's past. In the vision, Percy sees Luke and Hermes arguing. Percy is moved by what he saw, but remains adamant. Prometheus then gives him Pandora's box, a pithos containing the Elpis , the Spirit of Hope. Prometheus tells Percy that if and when they decide to surrender, he only needs to release Hope, and the Titan would know.

The group head back to their headquarters. Due to his exhaustion, Percy falls asleep and dreams of Poseidon's undersea palace. The place is in disorder, and the sea is transformed into a huge battleground. The dream shifts to Aunty Em's Garden Gnome Emporium , the slain Medusa 's lair.

Percy sees the sheer numbers of the enemy forces, but his attention is drawn to Kronos, who is conversing with Ethan Nakamura , the demigod who had almost stabbed Percy in his weak spot. The dream shifts one last time to the Big House in a different era. There, Percy sees what truly happened to May Castellan , who tried to take the spirit of the Oracle . He quickly wakes and heads down to Central Park with some demigods. There, he sees the Titan Hyperion along with some other monsters. The two battle it out on the lake. Percy later has the upper hand when he creates a small hurricane to douse Hyperion's fiery aura. Grover and his satyr friends then successfully trap him inside a maple tree.

Almost immediately, the Clazmonian Sow descends and wreaks havoc. Percy and Blackjack chase it. Percy then activates some of the automatons scattered in New York via Plan 23 and orders them to destroy the Sow. After they successfully do so, he retreats back to the Empire State Building . Arriving there, he realizes that the campers have been pushed back to the doors of the building. Luckily they are saved by Chiron's cousins, the Party Ponies . As the last of the Titan army flees, Chiron notes that they will be back, and states that they should heal their wounded.

Dionysus, Old Friends, Drakons, and the Spy

As he talks with Annabeth about Luke, Percy suddenly finds himself at a party in the southern United States. There he finds Dionysus playing Pac-Man, who explains that it was he who had brought Percy's consciousness to that place. Dionsyus warns him not to lose Olympus, for it would be the end of Western civilization. Before he sends Percy back, Dionysius asks Percy to keep his son Pollux safe, and Percy agrees.

As Percy’s consciousness is brought back to New York, he suddenly sees Rachel on a helicopter. The helicopter is in danger of crashing as the pilot is asleep, but Annabeth manages to get inside the cockpit and steer it safely to the ground. Rachel and Percy then talk, with Rachel revealing a crucial piece of information: Percy is not the hero. Percy is visibly shocked and returns to the hotel headquarters.

Soon, Percy falls asleep again. In his first dream, he sees Nico trying to convince his father to fight in the battle for Olympus. The dream changes, and Percy sees Kronos ordering Ethan and Prometheus to release the drakon . He wakes and organizes his forces for battle. He and Annabeth go fight the drakon despite the fact that — according to Rachel — only a child of Ares can kill it.

They are then surprised when they see Clarisse leading her cabin into battle. However, after Clarisse is attacked by the drakon and falls from her chariot, they realize something is wrong. The real Clarisse soon arrives and they all recognize that the fallen one as Silena Beauregard . Silena, knowing that she has little time, reveals herself as the spy. She explains that before she met Beckendorf, Luke was very kind to her. When she wanted to stop helping him, he threatened to blackmail her. Silena then passes away. Out of anger, Clarisse single-handedly kills the drakon.

After Clarisse defeats the drakon, Thalia suggests that Percy and Annabeth go to Olympus to help set up the final defenses. On their way to the elevator, they see Grover kneeling over a dying Leneus. After Leneus is reincarnated into a laurel, Grover accompanies Percy and Annabeth to plant Leneus in the gardens of Olympus.

As they near the main Olympian palace, they see Rachel holding Pandora's pithos as if in a trance. Percy brings her back to reality, and she gives the jar to Percy. Sensing that Percy and Rachel need a moment in private, Annabeth and Grover leave the two. Hestia suddenly appears, and Percy gives her the pithos as he realizes that in order to resist the temptation to give up Hope, he must leave it in the place where it survives best — in Hestia's domain: the hearth.

Annabeth and Grover return, and Percy tells them of his plan to convince Poseidon  to fight for Olympus instead of his domain in the sea. They then help Percy climb on to Poseidon's throne where he is able to telepathically communicate with his father. Though Percy almost combusts as a result of Poseidon's anger that anyone else dared to sit on his throne, Percy is successful in convincing his father to fight along with the other gods against Typhon. At that moment, Thalia comes in to tell them that Kronos's army has reached the doors of Olympus.

The Cursed Blade

Kronos makes his way towards Olympus when Hades appears along with Persephone , Demeter , Nico , and a massive undead army. Impatient to get to Olympus, Kronos collapses the magical barriers around Manhattan and draws it closer to Olympus. By doing so, he has cut himself, his vanguard, and Percy’s group (composed of himself, Annabeth, Grover, and Thalia) off from the bulk of his army and from Hades. As Percy’s group fight off Kronos' vanguard, Kronos, along with Ethan , makes his way up to Olympus, where he starts to obliterate it.

Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and Thalia quickly follow him, but Thalia is incapacitated when a statue of Hera falls on her. She urges everyone else to go on without her. The rest of the group make it to the throne room, and the final battle begins. Percy takes on Ethan, and is able to convince him to help him fight Kronos. Kronos kills Ethan after his betrayal. Annabeth then attempts to awaken Luke inside his body by calling out to him. Kronos, however, manages to incapacitate the three campers.

Confident of his triumph, Kronos then shows them a vision of the Typhon , who, by now, has reached the Hudson River, with the gods barely slowing him down. Suddenly, Poseidon appears, and the gods strike with renewed force. They manage to send Typhon back to Tartarus , and Kronos destroys the vision in anger.

Luke Castellan .

Annabeth continues to try calling out to Luke, and is tossed across the throne room in return. Annabeth, now seriously weakened, tries one last time to bring Luke out by reminding him of his promise to her: that they would always be a family. The fact that he had hurt Annabeth spurs Luke to regain control of his body.

Percy tries to defend Annabeth as he wrongfully thinks that Luke still has evil intentions against them, causing Kronos to repossess the body. Luke, however, struggles to keep control. Luke tells Percy that in order to defeat Kronos, he must be slain by his own hand as Kronos would regain control if anyone else approaches him aggressively. Percy picks up Annabeth's knife, and though he initially decides to kill Luke himself, he gives the knife to Luke. Luke then stabs himself in his own weak spot. Because of his sacrifice, the Titan lord is defeated. His body is taken away by the Fates.

The gods return to Olympus and reward the heroes for their courage and valor. They promote Tyson to the rank of General of the Cyclopes , and present him with the most finely made club. They instate Annabeth as the official architect for the redesigning of Olympus. They award Grover the empty seat in the Council of Cloven Elders .

In addition, all the victims of the war would achieve Elysium . Lastly, the gods offer Percy immortality, but Percy declines, instead asking for a different wish. He asks them to claim all demigods they have sired as soon as they reach thirteen or as soon as they have reached camp. He also asks that Hades and the minor gods be respected and given a cabin for their children at camp. Plus, Percy asks for the Big Three Pact to be broken, saying the pact 'didn't work'. Because the gods swore on the River Styx, they must oblige to his wish, though some of them are uncomfortable with it. He is then congratulated by the gods.

Later, Nico tells Percy that Rachel has escaped to camp. Knowing what she is about to do, Percy quickly summons hippocampi to take himself, Annabeth and Nico back to camp, but it is too late — Rachel had already chosen to take the spirit of the Oracle. However, instead of becoming like May Castellan , Rachel is able to successfully become the new Oracle, and at that same day, speaks her first prophecy .

The dead are burned in their funeral shrouds that night. During the burning of Silena 's shroud, she is honored as a hero, and her actions as a spy are never mentioned again. Percy and Annabeth decide to make their relationship official, and life in camp returns to the usual for the next two weeks. Because the gods uphold their promise, new demigods keep appearing in many different places. Cabins are also being built for the minor gods. Even with Rachel Elizabeth Dare 's prophecy bothering them, Percy and Annabeth are excited about camp for the next summer and look forward to the future.

The Great Prophecy

In The Last Olympian , the Great Prophecy is revealed:

A half blood of the eldest gods, Shall reach sixteen against all odds, And see the world in endless sleep, The hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap, A single choice shall end his days, Olympus to preserve or raze.

Unraveling the Prophecy

The characters who play major parts in the Last Olympian and the First Great Prophecy.

• Percy Jackson is the son of Poseidon , who, with his two brothers, are the eldest gods.
• Percy turns sixteen even though he has several near-death experiences.
• Morpheus puts all the mortals in Manhattan into a deep sleep.
• The hero refers to Luke , whose soul is reaped by Annabeth's Knife . The knife is cursed because of Luke's broken promise to Annabeth and Thalia .
• Percy makes the choice to give Luke the knife.
• Luke chooses to save Olympus rather than destroy it.

The Prophecy of Seven

Near the end of the book, Rachel Elizabeth Dare , the new Oracle, speaks a new Great Prophecy:

Seven half-bloods shall answer the call, To storm or fire, the world must fall, An oath to keep with a final breath, And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.

Chapter List

• I Go Cruising with Explosives
• I Meet Some Fishy Relatives
• I Get a Sneak Peek at My Death
• We Burn a Metal Shroud
• I Drive My Dog Into a Tree
• My Cookies Get Scorched
• My Math Teacher Gives Me a Lift
• I Take the Worst Bath Ever
• Two Snakes Save My Life
• I Buy Some New Friends
• We Break a Bridge
• Rachel Makes a Bad Deal
• A Titan Brings Me a Present
• Chiron Throws a Party
• We Get Help from a Thief
• I Sit on the Hot Seat
• My Parents Go Commando
• We Trash the Eternal City
• We Win Fabulous Prizes
• Blackjack Gets Jacked
• I Am Dumped
• We Say Good-bye, Sort Of
• Percy Jackson - Main Protagonist. Is 16 years old by the end of The Last Olympian . Son of Poseidon and the mortal Sally Jackson . Narrator of the story. He becomes Annabeth's boyfriend. The Child of the Prophecy. Best friends with Annabeth, Thalia, and Grover.
• Annabeth Chase - Daughter of Athena and the mortal Frederick Chase . She becomes Percy's girlfriend at the end of the book. Best friends with Percy, Thalia, and Grover. Official architect for the redesigning of Olympus.
• Grover Underwood - Satyr . Percy's best friend. Becomes Lord of Wild. Is the Chosen One of Pan . Becomes a member of the Council of Cloven Elders . Best friends with Percy, Thalia, and Annabeth.
• Thalia Grace - Lieutenant of the Hunters of Artemis . Daughter of Zeus and the mortal Beryl Grace . Best friends with Percy, Annabeth, and Grover.
• Nico di Angelo - Son of Hades and the mortal Maria di Angelo . Stays in the Underworld for part of the Battle of Manhattan .
• Kronos - Father of the Big Three . Possesses Luke Castellan 's body. Leader of Titan Army. Main Antagonist. Is defeated after the half-blood hosting him is killed.
• Luke Castellan - Son of Hermes and the mortal May Castellan . The Hero of the Prophecy. Gives his body as a host for Kronos . Main Antagonist. Dies after stabbing himself in the underarm, his weak spot, on Olympus .
• Charles Beckendorf - Son of Hephaestus . Dies on the Princess Andromeda . Silena's boyfriend.
• Silena Beauregard - Daughter of Aphrodite . Beckendorf's girlfriend. Kronos' spy. Dies from the poison of a drakon .
• Clarisse La Rue - Daughter of Ares . Silena's best friend.
• Chris Rodriguez - Son of Hermes. Clarisse's boyfriend.
• Connor Stoll - Son of Hermes. Survives the Battle of Manhattan.
• Travis Stoll - Son of Hermes. Survives the Battle of Manhattan.
• Katie Gardner - Daughter of Demeter . Head counselor of the Demeter cabin.
• Rachel Elizabeth Dare - Percy's friend. Can see through Mist . Liked Percy before she becomes the new Oracle .
• Prometheus - Titan of Forethought. Part of the diplomatic delegation to Percy and the demigods. Surrendered after Kronos lost.
• Hyperion - Titan of the East and Lord of the Light. Defeated by Percy Jackson. Turns into a maple tree due to the satyrs' spell.
• Ethan Nakamura - Lieutenant to Kronos. Betrays him on Olympus and is killed for it. Son of Nemesis .
• Morpheus - God of dreams. Son of Hypnos. Follower of Kronos.
• Charles Beckendorf - Sacrificed himself to destroy the Princess Andromeda .
• Michael Yew - Likely died when Percy destroyed the Williamsburg Bridge. His death is not certain, but it seems to be the general opinion at camp due to his body never being found and him never being heard from again.
• Leneus - Speared from behind in the final battle.
• Silena Beauregard - Spewed with poison while fighting a drakon.
• Ethan Nakumura - A piece of steel from his sword rebounded when it broke after he attempted to attack Kronos but failed. He was then thrown through a fissure in Mount Olympus .
• Luke Castellan - Stabbed himself to defeat Kronos .
• An unnamed Hunter of Artemis - Died during the Battle of Manhattan .
• An unnamed Apollo camper - Carried off by a Hellhound .
• An unnamed Ares camper - Body found next to Drakon.
• Others - Many died during the war.
• In an episode of The Middle , the family's youngest son is seen reading The Last Olympian . [1]
• When Percy and the other campers arrive at the lobby of the Empire State Building, the security guard is again seen reading a book. This time, he is seen reading " a big black book with a flower on the cover ." This could be a reference to the Twilight series.
• This is the only book in the entire Camp Half-Blood series where all the Olympians , including Hades and Hestia , appear.

The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson & The Olympians, Book

• Battle of Manhattan
• ↑ The Middle, episode Hecking It Up
• 1 Percy Jackson
• 2 Nico di Angelo

Rick Riordan

Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians

The Lightning Thief

Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is on the most dangerous quest of his life. With the help of a satyr and a daughter of Athena, Percy must journey across the United States to catch a thief who has stolen the original weapon of mass destruction — Zeus’ master bolt. Along the way, he must face a host of mythological enemies determined to stop him. Most of all, he must come to terms with a father he has never known, and an Oracle that has warned him of betrayal by a friend.

• The Sea of Monsters

When Thalia’s tree is mysteriously poisoned, the magical borders of Camp Half-Blood begin to fail. Now Percy and his friends have just days to find the only magic item powerful to save the camp before it is overrun by monsters. The catch: they must sail into the Sea of Monsters to find it. Along the way, Percy must stage a daring rescue operation to save his old friend Grover, and he learns a terrible secret about his own family, which makes him question whether being the son of Poseidon is an honor or a curse.

The Titan’s Curse

When Percy Jackson gets an urgent distress call from his friend Grover, he immediately prepares for battle. He knows he will need his powerful demigod allies at his side, his trusty bronze sword Riptide, and… a ride from his mom.

The demigods rush to the rescue to find that Grover has made an important discovery: two powerful half-bloods whose parentage is unknown. But that’s not all that awaits them. The titan lord Kronos has devised his most treacherous plot yet, and the young heroes have just fallen prey.

They’re not the only ones in danger. An ancient monster has arisen — one rumored to be so powerful it could destroy Olympus — and Artemis, the only goddess who might know how to track it, is missing. Now Percy and his friends, along with the Hunters of Artemis, have only a week to find the kidnapped goddess and solve the mystery of the monster she was hunting. Along the way, they must face their most dangerous challenge yet: the chilling prophecy of the titan’s curse.

The Battle of the Labyrinth

Percy Jackson isn’t expecting freshman orientation to be any fun, but when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears, pursued by demon cheerleaders, things quickly go from bad to worse.

Time is running out for Percy. War between the gods and the Titans is drawing near. Even Camp Half-Blood isn’t safe, as Kronos’ army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop them, Percy and his friends must set out on a quest through the Labyrinth — a sprawling underground world with surprises and danger at every turn.

Along the way Percy will confront powerful enemies, find out the truth about the lost god Pan, and face the Titan lord Kronos’ most terrible secret. The final war begins… with the Battle of the Labyrinth.

The Last Olympian

All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds of victory are grim. Kronos’s army is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, the evil Titan’s power only grows.

While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now it’s up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time. In this momentous final book in the New York Times best-selling Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, the long-awaited prophecy surrounding Percy’s sixteenth birthday unfolds. And as the battle for Western civilization rages on the streets of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate.

The Chalice of the Gods

After saving the world multiple times, Percy Jackson is hoping to have a normal senior year. Unfortunately, the gods aren’t quite done with him. Percy will have to fulfill three quests in order to get the necessary three letters of recommendation from Mount Olympus for college. The first quest is to help Zeus’s cup-bearer retrieve his goblet before it falls into the wrong hands. Can Percy, Grover, and Annabeth find it in time?

Wrath of the Triple Goddess

Percy Jackson, now a high school senior, needs three recommendation letters from the Greek gods in order to get into New Rome University. He earned his first one by retrieving Ganymede’s chalice. Now the goddess Hecate has offered Percy another “opportunity”—all he has to do is pet sit her polecat, Gale, and mastiff, Hecuba, over Halloween week while she is away. Piece of cake, right?

Percy, Annabeth, and Grover settle into Hecate’s seemingly endless mansion and start getting acquainted with the fussy, terrifying animals. The trio has been warned not to touch anything, but while Percy and Annabeth are out at school, Grover can’t resist drinking a strawberry-flavored potion in the laboratory. It turns him into a giant frenzied goat, and after he rampages through the house, damaging everything in sight, and passes out, Gale and Hecuba escape. Now the friends have to find Hecate’s pets and somehow restore the house, all before Hecate gets back on Saturday. It’s going to take luck, demigod wiles, and some old and new friends to hunt down the animals and set things right again.

More Books On This Series

The Demigod Files

A supplement to the Percy Jackson series, The Demigod Files include three original Percy Jackson short stories, interviews with the characters, and other fun extras!

The Ultimate Guide

A handbook no half-blood should be without: a fully illustrated, in-depth guide to gods, monsters, and all things Percy. This companion to the series comes complete with trading cards, full-color…

The Lightning Thief: The Graphic Novel

You’ve read the book. You’ve seen the movie. Now submerge yourself in the thrilling, stunning, and action-packed graphic novel. Mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be…

The Sea of Monsters: The Graphic Novel

Seventh grade has been surprisingly quiet for Percy Jackson. Not a single monster has set foot on his New York prep-school campus. But when an innocent game of dodgeball among…

The Titan’s Curse: The Graphic Novel

A new prophecy leads to a dangerous quest. When Percy receives an urgent distress call from Grover, he immediately prepares for battle. He knows he’ll need his powerful demigod allies,…

Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes

Who cut off Medusa’s head? Who was raised by a she-bear? Who tamed Pegasus? It takes a demigod to know, and Percy Jackson can fill you in on all the daring…

Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods

“A publisher in New York asked me to write down what I know about the Greek gods, and I was like, Can we do this anonymously?  Because I don’t need…

Demigods & Magicians

Magic, monsters, and mayhem abound when Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase meet Carter and Sadie Kane for the first time. Weird creatures are appearing in unexpected places, and the demigods…

The Percy Jackson Coloring Book

Demigods, brandish your crayons! Over the past decade, millions of young readers, parents, and teachers have come to adore Rick Riordan’s classic series Percy Jackson and the Olympians, which made…

Camp Half-Blood Confidential

In response to an awful camp orientation video created by the god Apollo, Percy Jackson and other residents of Camp Half-Blood answer such questions as “What is this place?” and…

Characters From This Series

Parent Teacher Resources

• A Readers Theater from Lightning Thief
• The Lightning Thief Activity Kit
• Percy Party Event Guide
• Greek Heroes Activity Kit
• Project Ideas
• The Last Olympian Discussion & Teacher’s Guide
• The Placemat Art Project
• Origami-Style Cabin Letters
• Battle of the Labyrinth Discussion Guide

View All Parent Teacher Resources

• Old School Wednesdays
• SFF in Conversation
• Women To Read
• X Marks The Story
• Trash and Treasure
• Decoding the Newbery
• COOKING FOR WIZARDS, WARRIORS AND DRAGONS

Old School Wednesdays Joint Review: The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

Old School Wednesdays is a weekly Book Smuggler feature. We came up with the idea towards the end of 2012, when both Ana and Thea were feeling exhausted from the never-ending inundation of New and Shiny (and often over-hyped) books. What better way to snap out of a reading fugue than to take a mini-vacation into the past?

Logo designed by the wonderful KMont

In March 2013 , we asked YOU for your favorite old school suggestions – and the response was so overwhelmingly awesome, we decided to compile a goodreads shelf , an ongoing database , AND a monthly readalong/book club.

This month, we tackle the fifth and final book in Rick Riordan’s much beloved Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, The Last Olympian .

Author: Rick Riordan

Genre: Contemporary/Urban Fantasy, Middle Grade, Greek Mythology, Reimaginings

Publisher: Disney Hyperion Books Publication date: First published 2009 (this edition 2014) Paperback: 381 pages

All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds of victory are grim. Kronos’s army is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, the evil Titan’s power only grows. While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now it’s up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time. In this momentous final book in the New York Times best-selling Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, the long-awaited prophecy surrounding Percy’s sixteenth birthday unfolds. And as the battle for Western civilization rages on the streets of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate.

Stand alone or series: Fifth and final book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series

How did we get this book: Bought + Review Copy from the Publisher.

Why did we read this book: Because we’re big Percy Jackson fans, and this year marks the 10th anniversary of Percy Jackson and the Oylmpians series! As part of the festivities, we’re happy recipients of the following very cool Camp Half Blood survival pack, courtesy of Disney-Hyperion.

We’ve been positing reviews of the entire original Percy Jackson and the Olympians series this year, along with some other goodies. Check out all of our posts HERE (or #ReadRiordan) to get all of the Percy Jackson goodness.

Format (e- or p-) : Print

**WARNING: This review contains unavoidable spoilers for books 1-4 in the Percy Jackson series. If you haven’t read those books, and you would like to remain unspoiled, look away.**

Thea’s Take:

When we started this series, tackling all of the original Percy Jackson books, I was ecstatic. I love Percy Jackson, and have since my first taste of The Lightning Thief several years ago. We’ve reviewed each of the books in this series over the past three months, and the re-reading experience has been truly amazing. (One of the (very few) drawbacks of reviewing books for a blog on the regular is the lack of time for re-reading–unless we turn re-reads into regular features, which we very much intend to do in 2016.)

One of the things I love so much about the Percy Jackson books is the way each volume in the series builds to one ultimate, dramatic showdown for the soul of Olympus. In The Last Olympian , Percy and his fellow half-bloods and demigods are poised for battle against Kronos–who now inhabits Luke’s body–and the Titans and other half-bloods and demons he has rallied to his cause. Kronos will stop at nothing to dethrone his children, the Gods of Olympus, and with Poseidon preoccupied with battle in the realm of the sea, and Zeus and the other major Gods fighting the formidable Typhon in the midwest, it is up to Percy and the remaining students of Camp Half-Blood to protect Olympus–that is, the island of Manhattan, in particular the Empire State Building–from Kronos’s advancing army. Making things even more complicated is the fact that Percy is just shy of his sixteenth birthday–the date when the prophecy that everyone has labored so hard to keep from Percy will come to fruition. A single choice, made by a child of the big 3 gods (Zeus, Poseidon, Hades) will save Olympus, or destroy it. For Percy, keeping his friends and family alive, his city safe, and the Gods in power is no small feat, and with the weight of the terrible prophecy on his shoulders, the stakes are higher than ever. It is up to Percy, his friends Annabeth, Grover, Thalia, Nico, Rachel Dare, and Clarisse, to rally the demigods and hold Olympus–the fate of all the Heroes and the western world depend on them.

Of all the books in the series, I think The Titan’s Curse is my favorite, but The Last Olympian is a very close second. This is the ALL OR NOTHING book, the story where the shit hits the fan, where Percy makes some really important decisions, and the truth of the prophecy comes to full light. All of the niggling plot threads–what happened to Luke? Where do Annabeth’s loyalties really lie? What happened to Nico and his father Hades, how does Rachel Dare fit into everything, what the heck does the prophecy really mean and what’s up with the Oracle? ALL of this comes to a dramatic conclusion here in book V, in which many demigods, humans, and other creatures die. On that note, another thing I really love about this series is that everyone is given a say–we understand Luke, and Ethan Nakamura, and Silena Beauregard, and Clarisse, and why each of these characters acts in the ways that they have acted. We also see Percy tempted for the first time, frustrated with the lack of answers and his father, losing trust in the people he cares for, and struggling against his impending destiny. I only wish Annabeth had more of a voice in this final book, as she’s relegated to a supporting role–an important one, nonetheless. As does the setting:

Even from this height, I should’ve heard the noise of the city–millions of people bustling around, thousands of cars and machines–the hum of a huge metropolis. you don’t think about it when you live in New York, but it’s always there. Even in the dead of night, New York is never silent. But it was now. I felt like my best friend had suddenly dropped dead. “What did they do?” My voice sounded tight and angry. “What did they do to my city?”

This might be my bias as a current New Yorker, but seeing the obvious love that Rick Riordan has for Long Island (where Camp Half Blood is), for the island of Manhattan, and the battle for the future taking place in the city that never sleeps (but has, ironically, been put to sleep) is pretty awesome. Percy’s outrage at the silence of his city, the defense of the East and Hudson Rivers, the battle on the Williamsburg Bridge, the fortification of the tunnels all leading into the metropolis are so, so, so cool to read.

Another thing I loved about The Last Olympian was learning and meeting more of the Titans, in particular Prometheus, with his wiles and his earnest demeanor. Ultimately, this book and this series is about the tension between parents and children; the unfulfilled duties of parents to their children, the rebellion of children against their parents. That counts for the Titans–who yearn to steal back their power from their children–just as it counts for the Gods and their half-blood offspring. There’s a nice examination of the lesser gods and forgotten deities, like Nemesis and Hestia, who play pivotal roles in the fate of Olympus.

(Oh, yeah, and the identity and meaning of the “Last olympian”? That’s pretty awesome, too.)

Ultimately, I’m really happy with the way the series ends and the dramatic revelations at the end of The Last Olympian . It’s a truly epic end, to a truly epic series–and while Percy Jackson will never be Harry Potter, it’s a powerful, fulfilling, and worthy successor.

Absolutely, wholeheartedly recommended. Next up–the Red Pyramid, or maybe I’ll tackle the Heroes of Olympus series (both of which I have not yet read). Any recommendations/takers?

Ana’s Take:

I haven’t been as enthused as Thea about Percy Jackson: my experience reading this series has been vastly different than hers. I had not read the series before and the result so far has varied from annoyance (at book four, for example) to reluctant appreciation ( The Titan’s Curse ).

Thea already covered – and well – What Happens in The Last Olympian and I agree with her assessment of its strengths especially where it concerns the thematic core of the novel: that of the relationship between parents and children.

The strengths of the novel – and even, the series – has always been this fraught relationship between the old gods and the new demigods as well as between the Titans and Zeus’ Gang. In this book, we get a further look at the minor gods and how their absence from the pantheon or their treatment by those who stand above has affected the lives of their children, themselves and effectively the world. I use the word “world” very loosely indeed: one of the series biggest weaknesses is how the story seems to be far too focused in the US, concentrating the story in this one place as opposed to the wider world. One of the biggest disappointments is how we never see demigods from anywhere but America. I understand how the gods have “settled” in the US but boy, can’t the gods even travel when spreading their seed?

But I digress.

We also get to see the importance of the four “Hs”: Hearth, home, hope and heritage, to the story. Heritage connects to the above and to family. Hearth, home and hope are cleverly interconnected with the main storyline and with the title – when it’s revealed who the Last Olympian was and how was that important, I actually teared up a bit.

To me, the biggest plus of The Last Olympian is how the writing vastly improves: the story is tighter, more focused. The plot has unexpected, surprising twists as well as moments that resonate; the action is top notch and even though there are deus ex machina moments, most of the action sequences rely solely on the characters’ choices and agency. When it’s finally revealed the true meaning of the Prophecy and how it all plays it out, I was pleasantly shocked. There are no percy, my boys and the love triangle gets nicely solved with both girls playing great roles in the end.

Ultimately, I find that Rick Riodan’s writing doesn’t really appeal to me and I doubt I will ever read any of his other novels. Actually, given my lukewarm feelings toward book 4, I almost didn’t read this last book. I am glad I did in the end because I finally found a book in the series that I truly enjoyed reading and perhaps even loved a little bit.

Ana: 7 – Very Good, for this book and 6 – Good for the series overall

Thea: 8 – Excellent, for this book and the series overall

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Thea James is one half of the maniacal duo behind The Book Smugglers. She is Filipina-American, but grew up in Hawaii, Indonesia, and Japan. A full-time book nerd who works in publishing for her day job, Thea currently resides in Astoria, Queens with her partner and rambunctious cat. COOKING FOR WIZARDS, WARRIORS & DRAGONS (available August 31, 2021) is her first cookbook.

The Heroes of Olympus series is… weak. The first two were pretty good actually, but the latter 3 could have been one book and been a much better, tighter story. Those just kind of wandered and rambled forever. The Kane Chronicles weren’t as good as the Percy Jackson books, but I did enjoy them. Definitely recommend them over Heroes of Olympus! The first Agents of Asgard book is in the same category, don’t think it was as good as the Percy Jackson books, but still enjoyable!

As much as I love the Percy Jackson books, I actually liked the Kane Chronicles more. It was really refreshing to read about something other than Greek gods in a YA mythology series. The Heroes of Olympus does start off a little slow; but what I liked is that as it went on and they added all their heroes, the point of view shifts between all the heroes, and it’s a really diverse group. I appreciate that Riordan heard the issues people had about how Percy Jackson was fairly white and addressed that with his other series.

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Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian by Rick Riordan – review

‘A story that made me want to read it every second of the day’

Inside Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian there is a vast and complex mystery of the great prophecy. In this book, which is the fifth in the Percy Jackson series, Percy is 16 and finally finds out what the ancient prophecy surrounding him is.

The prophecy reveals that the fate of the world rests on Percy’s shoulders. Once again it is left to Percy and his friends to stop untold evil...as always! Which, let’s face it, we all love.

A gargantuan army of evil titans and monsters has threatened to destroy New York and Olympus. Will Percy be able to stop the Titan army or will he fail drastically?

To add to this, Poseidon, the God of the Sea (Percy’s immortal dad), has a big problem on his godly hands. His second home, which is spectacular, is under attack from sea serpents. The rest of the Gods are now fighting Typhon in the East. How can the Gods help to save Percy now?

My favourite character Black Jack, Percy’s doughnut-loving Pegasus, is in this book as well, with daredevil stunts and high-speed getaways. Black Jack is not the only animal he rides in this book. He also rides a giant smelly flying boar, which in fact is not one of Percy’s best ideas.

Rick Riordan manages to write humour even in the darkest times within the story. A story that made me want to read it every second of the day. An amazing story with the underlying question, who is the last Olympian?

I would give this book 9 out of 10. I would recommend this book for children aged 8+ who like Greek Myths.

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The Gods Must Be Crazy

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By Elizabeth Devereaux

• May 28, 2009

In Rick Riordan’s universe, Greek mythology is alive and well — in Central Park, the alleys of Los Angeles, the peak of Mount Tamalpais in California, the strawberry fields of Long Island. Heroes are typically dyslexic (their brains are meant for classical Greek), have A.D.H.D. (the better for one-on-one combat) and know only one parent (gods still have affairs with mortals). Prophecies bemuse, prompt and mislead. Monsters may be destroyed, but they do not die; it is the task of the hero to defeat them for his time.

We first met Percy in “The Lightning Thief” at age 12, when he learned that he was a son of Poseidon. Now he concludes his adventures in “The Last Olympian.” As is often the case in middle-grade fantasy series, the stakes couldn’t be higher: here the fate of Western civilization hangs in the balance. The Titan Kronos, the overthrown father of Zeus, is slowly regaining power, with the intention of destroying the gods and everything built upon them, i.e., the West. While the unimaginably large monster Typhon rages cross-country from Mount St. Helens to New York City, beating back the Olympian gods and goddesses, Kronos and his minions battle the not quite 16-year-old Percy and his coterie of half-bloods, or demigods. The clash of modern and classical worlds is both exciting and entertaining (as when Percy meets his former math teacher: “A shadow appeared overhead — something dark, cold and stinking of death. It swooped down and landed in the top of a poplar tree. . . . ‘Mrs. Dodds,’ I said”).

The action, never leisurely in any of the five books in the series, runs at a frantic pace here — monsters pop out with a rapidity that becomes almost predictable, except that they are so enjoyably hair-raising, and that Riordan has such clever ways of dispatching them. The tempo distracts from a few jarring plot points. (The war god’s daughter opts out of one of the biggest battles since Troy because her cabin at Camp Half-Blood didn’t win a certain prize — how’s that again?) In general, however, Riordan — an award-winning author of mysteries for adults — has been carefully laying the foundation for the outcome all along. An ominous “Great Prophecy” hinted at from the beginning of the series comes true, and its fulfillment has a sphinx-like complexity.

Like the stories in which they’re rooted, Riordan’s Percy Jackson novels speak to more than one audience, and in more than one key. Here is Demeter “harrumphing” at Persephone: “You could’ve married the god of doctors or the god of lawyers, but nooo . You had to eat the pomegranate.” For all the jokes and the monster mayhem, there is also room for grandeur and big questions, like the meaning of family, home and hearth; the place for Hope, which resurfaces in a sealed jar retrieved from Pandora; the distance between knowledge, or foreknowledge, and love; and the traditional indifference of the gods.

In a distinctly nonclassical, crowd-pleasing moment near the end, the gods are made humane. Fortunately, Riordan is almost certain to restore them quickly to their proper scale: as the book closes, the Delphic oracle issues a new prophecy, letting readers know that a new series cannot be far away.

THE LAST OLYMPIAN

Percy jackson & the olympians, book 5.

By Rick Riordan

381 pp. Disney Hyperion Books. $17.99.(Ages 10 and up)

Elizabeth Devereaux is the former children’s book review editor of Publishers Weekly.

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The Last Olympian

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Chapters 1-4

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The Hero’s Journey

Riordan draws heavily upon the trope of the hero’s journey, and it becomes a central theme of the novel. The hero’s journey is a common trope in literature and often appears in Greek mythology. In narratology, Joseph Campbell examines the hero’s journey as a prototypical path the hero undertakes throughout a story. Although Campbell describes 17 individual stages, the hero generally goes on an adventure, wins a victory in a decisive crisis, and returns transformed.

Much of Percy’s character trajectory mimics this journey. At the beginning of the book is the call to adventure, when the Oracle reveals the Great Prophecy that Percy and everyone else assume applies to him. It ends with the promise: “A single choice shall end his days, Olympus to preserve” (55). Next there is the refusal of the call, in which Percy debates whether or not he wants to take on the duties of the Prophecy. Following that is the meeting with the mentor, and for Percy this is Chiron . His mentor gives him advice and guidance that will help him on his way.

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The Last Olympian

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Book 5

By Rick Riordan Read by Jesse Bernstein

Part of percy jackson and the olympians, category: children's middle grade fantasy | children's middle grade action & adventure | audiobooks.

May 05, 2009 | 661 Minutes | Middle Grade (10 and up) | ISBN 9780739380345 --> Buy

May 12, 2009 | 661 Minutes | Middle Grade (10 and up) | ISBN 9780739380338 --> Buy

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May 05, 2009 | ISBN 9780739380345 | Middle Grade (10 and up)

661 Minutes

May 12, 2009 | ISBN 9780739380338 | Middle Grade (10 and up)

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About The Last Olympian

All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds of a victory are grim. Kronos’s army is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, the evil Titan’s power only grows. While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now it’s up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time. In this momentous final book in the New York Times best-selling series, the long-awaited prophecy surrounding Percy’s sixteenth birthday unfolds. And as the battle for Western civilization rages on the streets of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate.

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Also in percy jackson and the olympians.

Also by Rick Riordan

About Rick Riordan

Rick Riordan is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Percy Jackson and the Olympians series and the Heroes of Olympus series for children and the multi-award-winning Tres Navarre mystery series for adults. For fifteen years, Riordan taught English and history at public and… More about Rick Riordan

Product Details

Category: children’s middle grade fantasy | children’s middle grade action & adventure | audiobooks, you may also like.

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Book Review

The last olympian — “percy jackson and the olympians” series.

• Rick Riordan
• Adventure , Fantasy

Readability Age Range

• Miramax Books, a division of Hyperion Books for Children
• Best Seller Lists, 2010:USA Today, Wall Street JournalandL.A. Times

Year Published

This book has been reviewed by Focus on the Family’s marriage and parenting magazine . It is the fifth book in the “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” series.

Plot Summary

Percy Jackson, half-mortal and half-Greek god, has known his demi-god (or “hero”) status for several years. As the son of Poseidon, the sea god, he’s gone on several quests to aid and rescue gods or other half-bloods similar to himself. He spends his summers at Camp Half-Blood, where he and other heroes find magical protection from monsters and learn how to cope with — perhaps even embrace — their unusual heritage.

The long-anticipated war between the Titans and the Olympian gods begins. Percy, nearly 16, and a fellow camper named Beckendorf intercept a ship carrying some of the Titan army and its leader, Lord Kronos. Kronos, birth father and nemesis of the gods, has inhabited the body of a half-blood dissenter named Luke. Beckendorf dies when he and Percy blow up the ship, but Kronos survives. Percy escapes underwater to see his father, Poseidon, and his Cyclops brother, Tyson. He considers joining the battle they’re waging to preserve the seas, but Poseidon urges him to return to Camp Half-Blood and help fight Kronos.

At camp, Nico, son of Hades, tells Percy they need to understand their enemy before they can fight him. Nico takes Percy to Luke’s childhood home, where they meet Luke’s mother. She once had an ability rarely found in mortals, to “see through the Mist” and view gods and monsters as they really are. When Luke was small, his mother tried to use her gift for good by becoming a physical host for the Oracle of Delphi’s disembodied spirit. But Hades had placed a curse on the Oracle, which made this impossible and left Luke’s mother insane. Luke’s bitterness at his father, Hermes, for not saving him from a crazy mother drove Luke to side with Kronos. Nico and Percy also meet Hestia, goddess of the hearth and “the last Olympian” who surrendered her position of power to keep the peace amongst her siblings. Her visions help them discover that, like Luke, Percy must get his mother’s blessing and then bathe in the River Styx so he can become invincible.

After doing this, Percy returns to New York City. Through an elevator at the Empire State Building, he and his army of campers reach modern day Olympus — the city they must defend. Though the gods are largely unwilling to help in battle, they offer visions and warnings. Back in Manhattan, Percy and the others (including his friends Grover, a satyr, and Annabeth, the daughter of Athena) fight many battles against Kronos’ monsters while the mortals of the city sleep under the spell of Morpheus. Percy receives visions about Nico’s past and cryptic messages from Rachel Dare, a girl who also can see through the Mist, in his dreams. At each point, when the battle seems most bleak, another unexpected god or hero joins the war to defend Olympus. Kronos is finally defeated when Annabeth reminds Luke, still trapped deep inside his own body, that he promised they would always be family. Luke summons the strength to overthrow Kronos, though he has to kill himself to do it.

After the battle, the Olympian gods offer Percy the honor of becoming immortal. He refuses the gift but asks for the gods’ promise to claim and interact with their mortal children from this point forward. The curse on the Oracle is reversed, and Rachel Dare becomes the new Oracle of Delphi. Percy and Annabeth cement their relationship with a kiss as they prepare to remodel the city of Olympus and interpret a new prophecy.

Christian Beliefs

Other belief systems.

As a whole, the gods have little involvement in the day-to-day lives of their demi-god children. They will appear or provide power to the kids on rare occasions often when they need human assistance to accomplish a personal goal. Many of the demi-gods resent their illusive parents. When Kronos, father of the Olympian gods and goddesses, wages a vengeful war against his children, he uses the demi-gods’ bitterness to draw many to his side of the battle. Rather than accept immortality from the gods for his heroic deeds in the war, Percy makes the Olympian leaders promise to claim and pay attention to their half-blood children. He believes better parent-child relationships will keep future disagreements from escalating into war.

Authority Roles

The premise of the “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” series is that the gods of mythology exist today and control world events with their magical powers. As in the ancient myths, the gods and goddesses still have affairs with humans. Their children, such as Percy, are powerful demi-gods. Percy and other half-bloods frequently pray to the gods, especially their Olympian parents, for help or direction. As the centers of power have moved throughout history, so have the gods, who now live in, above and below America. The monsters that pursue the demi-gods are primal forces without souls so they cannot die, only re-form into monsters. The Oracle of Delphi (a spirit who lives in the attic at Half-Blood Hill) provides prophesies concerning what the demi-gods will or must do.

Several gods and demi-gods swear to one another on the River Styx. Demi-gods’ dreams are usually visions or omens. The demi-gods often wish for (or wish each other) luck. Half-bloods ritualistically throw some of their dinner into the campfire as an offering to the gods. A demi-god helps heal Annabeth by humming a hymn to Apollo in ancient Greek. Annabeth and other demi-gods receive nectar of the gods for healing.

Anyone who dies goes to the Underworld. Heroes hope they or their friends will be granted entry into a section called Elysium. Those who achieve Elysium may choose to be reborn in three different lifetimes in an effort to reach the Isle of the Blest. Percy calls this the Underworld’s ultimate party headquarters.

Nico can see the auras of people who are about to die. He suggests that if Grover died, the satyr would reincarnate into something in nature. Percy has a magical empathy link with Grover that sometimes allows him to hear or locate his friend or to know what the satyr is feeling.

Rachel, Percy’s mom, and a few other mortals, can see through the Mist, a “magic veil” that keeps most humans from seeing gods and monsters as they really are. Because of her abilities, Rachel chooses to let the spirit of the Oracle of Delphi live in her so she can voice its prophecies.

Profanity & Violence

The heroes replace any potential use of the Lord’s name with “gods.” There are several instances of phrases like “Oh my gods” or “gods bless you.” One demi-god yells, “Holy Zeus!” The words suck, heck and darn each appear a time or two.

Action-packed battles and swordplay are common in this story. The fact that monsters dissolve rather than die significantly reduces the images of bloodshed. Many of the teenage heroes are injured, and a few are killed. Thalia, a huntress, wears a “Death to Barbie” shirt depicting a Barbie doll with an arrow through its head. Hades, Lord of the Dead, wears a cloak displaying “the terrified faces of the damned” and rides in a chariot decorated with scenes of painful deaths. When he and Nico join the Olympians in battle, they bring along an army of skeletal, undead soldiers who claw their way out of the Underworld.

Sexual Content

Rachel gives Percy a goodbye kiss on the cheek. Percy recalls Annabeth kissing him when she thought he was going to die. Annabeth kisses him at the end of the story as they make their affection clear to one another.

Discussion Topics

Get free discussion questions for this book and others, at FocusOnTheFamily.com/discuss-books .

Additional Comments

When the residents of New York City are asleep due to a spell, various demi-gods discuss whether or not to raid their favorite now-unattended stores. Several seem to be fine with stealing, while others, such as Percy, forbid stealing and suggest leaving money at a drug store if they need medicine.

You can request a review of a title you can’t find at [email protected] .

Book reviews cover the content, themes and worldviews of fiction books, not their literary merit, and equip parents to decide whether a book is appropriate for their children. The inclusion of a book’s review does not constitute an endorsement by Focus on the Family.

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The Last Olympian

By: rick riordan.

Available Formats

Don’t get left behind! Read the Percy Jackson series before the Disney+ series comes out. You’ll be proud to be seen with this stunning paperback edition.

*”Riordan masterfully orchestrates the huge cast of characters and manages a coherent, powerful tale at once exciting, philosophical and tear-jerking. The bestselling series’s legions of fans will cheer their heroes on and rejoice in such a compelling conclusion to the saga.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

All year the demigods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds are against them. Kronos is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, his power only grows. In this momentous final book in the New York Times best-selling series, the prophecy surrounding Percy’s sixteenth birthday unfolds. And as the battle for Western civilization rages on the streets of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate. Whether you are new to Percy or a longtime fan, this gorgeous paperback edition is a must-have for your library.

Complete your collection with:

The Lightning Thief

The sea of monsters, the titan’s curse, the battle of the labyrinth, other books by rick riordan.

The House of Hades: the Graphic Novel

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Wrath of the Triple Goddess

From the World of Percy Jackson Camp Half-Blood Confidential

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Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book One: Lightning Thief Disney+ Tie in Edition

The Mark of Athena: The Graphic Novel

The Chalice of the Gods

The Sun and the Star

Percy Jackson and the Olympians 5 Book Paperback Boxed Set with Poster

The Trials of Apollo 5-Book Paperback Boxed Set

Daughter of the Deep

The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities

The Tower of Nero

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The Mark of Athena

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The Blood of Olympus

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The last olympian: percy jackson and the olympians, book 5, common sense media reviewers.

Fantasy series' excellent conclusion ups the violence.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Many references to characters and creatures in Gre

Consistent with the whole series, strong messages

Percy continues to be a brave hero who dives into

There's good neurodiverse representation here: All

The big battle in New York City starts halfway thr

A couple of kisses and talk of (straight) couples

Mr. D drinks Diet Coke. Plus mentions of Reeboks,

Parents need to know that Rick Riordan's The Last Olympian is the last book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Like the first four books, you'll find plenty of monster-fighting action. This time, the big battle in New York City starts halfway through the book, and fighting is persistent with many…

Educational Value

Many references to characters and creatures in Greek mythology and their stories: the major gods but especially Hestia and Hades; the Titans, especially Kronos, Hyperion, Hyperborea, and Typhon; the minor gods such as Nemesis, Morpheus (god of dreams), and Dionysus; non-gods and immortals such as Pandora, Achilles, Prometheus, and the Furies; and scary monsters such as the drakon (way worse than a dragon), the Clazmonian Sow, Karkinos (crab demon), Empousai, and hell hounds. Many details about the bridges, tunnels, rivers, statues, and other landmarks of New York City. Some details on what it's like to have dyslexia and ADHD.

Positive Messages

Consistent with the whole series, strong messages about teamwork, friendship, resilience, resourcefulness, and bravery in the face of danger. In this particular book, Hestia, goddess of the hearth, tells Percy that "hope survives best at the hearth," or, relationships with those closest to us give us reasons to be hopeful and more resilient in difficult times.

Positive Role Models

Percy continues to be a brave hero who dives into dangerous situations and thinks quickly on his feet, especially when there are friends to save. He's also an excellent mediator in this book, rallying the gods to work together even though they hold many grudges against each other. He also turns down a gift from the gods in favor of giving acknowledgement to others who have suffered the indifference of their godly parents. He also acknowledges the heroism of others who follow the wrong path and then atone for what they've done.

Diverse Representations

There's good neurodiverse representation here: All kids with one god parent (Percy and all other Camp Half-Blood campers) have dyslexia and ADHD. Also, Annabeth is the smartest in the group and Clarisse and Artemis' hunters (all female) are the best warriors. There's one Black character mentioned, Charles Beckendorf, and a Hispanic character, Chris Rodriguez, both half-bloods at camp.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Violence & Scariness

The big battle in New York City starts halfway through the book, and fighting is persistent with many casualties, a few of them mourned heavily. Regular mortals in the city are put to sleep for most of it and are mostly out of the way of fighting. When they aren't, half-bloods will try to move them to safety between fights with gigantic Titan beasts including a sow, rampaging giants, and a drakon (way bigger than a dragon). There's a little gore when a monster is stabbed in and strung up by the eye sockets to be dragged around as a battle trophy. Most half-blood injuries are magically healed. A ship explodes. Lots of talk about Percy's soul being reaped as part of a prophecy. Flashbacks and a visit to a woman who has gone insane and how that affected her son. Another flashback to the death of another boy's mother from an explosion.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

A couple of kisses and talk of (straight) couples at camp. Much talk of gods having affairs with mortals and their resulting kids that need to be acknowledged. Percy meets Poseidon's godly wife who's not his mother, and it's awkward.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Mr. D drinks Diet Coke. Plus mentions of Reeboks, Tommy Bahama, Prius, Duane Reade pharmacies, Skippy peanut butter. Apparently monsters hate the scent of Givenchy perfume and the cheeseburgers at the Le Parker Meridien Hotel in New York City are great.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Rick Riordan 's The Last Olympian is the last book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series . Like the first four books, you'll find plenty of monster-fighting action. This time, the big battle in New York City starts halfway through the book, and fighting is persistent with many casualties, a few of them mourned heavily. Regular mortals in the city are put to sleep for most of it and are mostly out of the way of fighting -- when they aren't, half-bloods will try to move them to safety between fights with gigantic Titan beasts including a sow, rampaging giants, and a drakon (way bigger than a dragon). There's a little gore when a monster is stabbed in and strung up by the eye sockets to be dragged around as a battle trophy. Most half-blood injuries are magically healed, and especially fast if Apollo is around. Expect some mild romance and kissing and product mentions, especially Reebok and Skippy peanut butter. As usual, you can expect great things from our favorite ADHD, dyslexic hero, Percy Jackson. Not only does he take on the gnarliest monsters, he also plays mediator to the gods when he needs them to put aside their many grudges and work together.

Where to Read

Community reviews.

• Parents say (18)
• Kids say (162)

Based on 18 parent reviews

Entertaining and Educational

Why riordon why, what's the story.

In THE LAST OLYMPIAN: PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS, BOOK 5, the Titans are approaching Manhattan to take over Olympus and Percy knows he must do everything he can to slow them down. Most of the gods are fighting the giant Typhon as he rampages from the West Coast eastward, leaving terrible damage in his wake. That leaves Kronos' cruise ship full of monsters off the East Coast. The plan is to sneak onto their ship to plant explosives with his fellow camper Charles Beckendorf, but somehow they're found out and Percy faces Kronos in a sword fight that nearly kills him. After he recovers in his father Poseidon's palace, Percy realizes he'll never beat Kronos, not without taking drastic measures. Enter Nico, son of Hades, and his dangerous proposition. Together they journey to the Underworld for a dip in the river Styx. This will make Percy's body invulnerable -- it worked for Achilles back in the day… kind of. Before they can enact their plan, Hades captures them and imprisons Percy. The God of Death doesn't care if his godly siblings are fighting the Titans and that if Olympus falls, there goes all of Western civilization with it. Now Percy realizes just how difficult this war will be. The half-blood heroes can't fight the Titans without all the gods working together, and right now the gods are more divided than ever.

Is It Any Good?

Yes, Percy Jackson fans, this finale delivers all the goods -- massive monster battles, Camp Half-Blood camaraderie, daring plans, prophecies, spies and traitors, and even a little romance. When the battle ramps up at the halfway point of the book, the worry for those who prefer story over action is that it will be all Titan monster battles, all the time. But there's still plenty of story in the mix. Through flashbacks we learn about Luke's family tragedy and what Zeus did to Hades to create such a rift among the gods. And we follow a number of mysteries, like who is the spy at camp, why is mortal Elizabeth Dare painting scenes from Camp Half-Blood when she's never been there, and where in New York City can you rustle up enough root beer to satisfy a whole army of party-loving centaurs?

OK, now for the action and the monsters. Author Rick Riordan wrangles some truly terrible and gigantic creatures from Tartarus to fight it out in New York City's streets, tunnels, bridges, and rivers. You think you've seen it all -- regular giants, giants with serpents for legs, giant flying sows -- until the skyscraper-hugging, poison-spewing drakon shows up. There's no defeating it without real sacrifice, and readers will cheer for a character they never expected to cheer for as she steps up to defeat it. Of course the biggest monsters to fight aren't always visible, and the final standoff with Kronos/Luke shows how hard giant feelings of anger and abandonment can be to defeat. More than one character shows remorse for turning the wrong path and demonstrates true bravery to admit their wrongs, and then dies a hero. While the finale finish could have stuck to action, it delivers so much more, and will leave readers hoping for more adventures to come with Percy Jackson.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about who the last Olympian is in The Last Olympian . Why do you think campers usually ignore her? Why is she so important? Why does Percy give her Pandora's jar?

Three characters who were once villains are honored as heroes by the end of the battle. Who are they? What other stories can you think of that show a villain turning into a hero? How are these characters usually remembered?

This isn't the end! There's so much more Percy Jackson out there. You can choose from the Heroes of Olympus series or see him make a cameo in the Trials of Apollo series. Will you read more?

Book Details

• Author : Rick Riordan
• Genre : Fantasy
• Topics : Magic and Fantasy , Superheroes , Adventures , Brothers and Sisters , Friendship , Great Boy Role Models , Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires , Ocean Creatures
• Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
• Book type : Fiction
• Publisher : Hyperion Books for Children
• Publication date : May 5, 2009
• Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 14
• Number of pages : 381
• Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks
• Last updated : May 18, 2022

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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The Last Olympian Reissue

Percy Jackson and the Olympians

by Rick Riordan

The fifth book in the best-selling Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, now with a new cover design.

• Released 5/3/2022
• Book Length 432 pages
• ISBN 9781368051453, 1368051456
• Illustrated By Cover Art by Victo Ngai

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More About The Last Olympian

Don’t get left behind! Read the Percy Jackson series before the Disney+ series comes out. You’ll be proud to be seen with this stunning paperback edition. All year the demigods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds are against them. Kronos is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, his power only grows. In this momentous final book in the New York Times best-selling series, the prophecy surrounding Percy’s sixteenth birthday unfolds. And as the battle for Western civilization rages on the streets of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate. Whether you are new to Percy or a longtime fan, this gorgeous paperback edition is a must-have for your library.

Books in the series

The Lightning Thief Reissue

The Sea of Monsters Reissue

The Titan's Curse Reissue

The Battle of the Labyrinth Reissue

The Lightning Thief

The Sea of Monsters

The Titan’s Curse

The Battle of the Labyrinth

The Last Olympian

From Percy Jackson: Camp Half-Blood Confidential

The Percy Jackson Coloring Book

The Lightning Thief: Illustrated Edition

The Lightning Thief: The Graphic Novel

The Sea of Monsters: The Graphic Novel

The Titan’s Curse: The Graphic Novel

Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes

Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods

The Demigod Files

The Ultimate Guide

The Battle of the Labyrinth: The Graphic Novel

The Last Olympian: The Graphic Novel

Percy Jackson Demigod Collection

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The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 5) Paperback – January 25, 2011

Purchase options and add-ons.

• Book 5 of 7 Percy Jackson and the Olympians
• Print length 432 pages
• Language English
• Grade level 5 - 9
• Dimensions 5.21 x 1.03 x 7.55 inches
• Publisher Disney Hyperion
• Publication date January 25, 2011
• ISBN-10 9781423101505
• ISBN-13 978-1423101505
• See all details

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• ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1423101502
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Disney Hyperion; Reprint edition (January 25, 2011)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 432 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781423101505
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1423101505
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 9+ years, from customers
• Grade level ‏ : ‎ 5 - 9
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.8 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.21 x 1.03 x 7.55 inches
• #17 in Teen & Young Adult Fantasy Action & Adventure
• #60 in Children's Fantasy & Magic Books
• #83 in Children's Action & Adventure Books (Books)

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About the authors

Rick riordan.

Rick Riordan is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, the Kane Chronicles, and the Heroes of Olympus. He is also the author of the multi-award-winning Tres Navarre mystery series for adults.

For fifteen years, Rick taught English and history at public and private middle schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Texas. In 2002, Saint Mary's Hall honored him with the school's first Master Teacher Award.

While teaching full time, Riordan began writing mystery novels for grownups. His Tres Navarre series went on to win the top three national awards in the mystery genre - the Edgar, the Anthony and the Shamus. Riordan turned to children's fiction when he started The Lightning Thief as a bedtime story for his oldest son.

Today over 35 million copies of his Percy Jackson, Kane Chronicles, and Heroes of Olympus books are in print in the United States, and rights have been sold into more than 35 countries. Rick is also the author of The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones, another #1 New York Times bestseller.

Rick Riordan now writes full-time. He lives in Boston with his wife and two sons.

Victo Ngai is a Los Angeles-based artist raised in Hong Kong. She is a Forbes 30 Under 30 (Art and Style) honoree, the first Chinese Hamilton King Award Winner, five times Society of Illustrators Gold Medalist and Hugo Award nominee.

Victo's work has often been described as magical realism. Each creation in Victo's world is layered with symbolism and stories that reveal more each time the viewer is engaged. The visual results of her artistic journey take inspiration in part from her Chinese heritage, an art education from the Rhode Island School of Design, a love for classic children's books, and Japanese ukiyo-e.

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How To Read The Percy Jackson Books In Order

• The Percy Jackson book series, "Percy Jackson and the Olympians," consists of six books and should be read in the order of their release dates.
• Rick Riordan has written other book series within the Percy Jackson universe, including "The Heroes of Olympus," "The Kane Chronicles," "Magnus Chase & The Gods of Asgard," and "The Trials of Apollo."
• Each book series explores different mythologies and introduces new characters, but some characters from previous series make appearances.

As the Disney+ television show based on Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson book series gets closer, it's time for old and new fans to brush up on their knowledge of the novels. Thankfully, the order to read all six of them is straightforward since their chronological order lines up with their release order. However, Riordan has written other book series set in the Percy Jackson universe, and that is when the timeline gets a bit tricky.

Riordan created the character of Percy Jackson when his son was young, and the author used to tell him stories about Greek mythology. He turned his bedtime stories into a novel — The Lightning Thief — and the rest is history. The upcoming show, Percy Jackson and the Olympians , premieres on December 20, 2023, and season 1 follows the first book. The hope is that the Disney+ series is successful enough to warrant more seasons, each one based on the subsequent novel in the universe. Following the disaster that was the 2010 film Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief , many have high expectations for the 2023 show.

Percy Jackson Books In Order: All 6 Books

Percy jackson and the olympians.

Rick Riordan and Disney-Hyperion published The Lightning Thief in 2005, and four more books in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series would soon follow. The first novel introduces readers to the main protagonist — Percy Jackson, a demigod who has no idea about his godly parentage until a fateful encounter with a Minotaur. He soon becomes a camper at Camp Half-Blood and learns that his father is the god of the sea, Poseidon. From that moment on, Percy's life was never the same.

All five books in the series — The Lightning Thief , The Sea of Monsters , The Titan's Curse , The Battle of the Labyrinth , and The Last Olympian — can and should be read in the same order as their release date since each installment takes place after the previous one. The novels encompass Percy's hero's journey from when he first arrives at Camp Half-Blood as a 12-year-old to his 16th birthday. More than 14 years following the release of The Last Olympian , Riordan published another book featuring Percy, Annabeth, and Grover called The Chalice of the Gods , which occurs between the events of The Heroes of Olympus and The Trials of Apollo (more on those later).

Related: What Is The Pact Of The Big Three In Percy Jackson? The Gods' Oath Explained

Rick Riordan's Other Book Series With Percy Jackson

The kane chronicles.

While The Kane Chronicles doesn't feature Percy Jackson or any other Greek half-bloods, it takes place in the same universe. The book series by Rick Riordan tells the story of Carter and Sadie Kane, siblings descended from two pharaohs — Narmer and Ramses the Great. So, instead of Greek or Roman mythology, The Kane Chronicles focuses on Egyptian mythology and occurs following The Last Olympian . But one does not need to read the following three books to understand Percy's story.

The Heroes Of Olympus

Following the (tentative) conclusion of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians book series in 2009, Rick Riordan decided he had more stories to tell about these characters and new ones. More than a year after publishing The Last Olympian , the author released the first novel in his new series, The Heroes of Olympus , which consists of five books. The series continues the chronological order of this universe by taking place following the battle against Kronos and his army in The Last Olympian . However, whereas the first series was told solely from Percy's point of view, The Heroes of Olympus is told from multiple characters' perspectives.

The first novel, The Lost Hero , introduces a few demigods — Jason Grace, who has no memory of his past and learns he is the son of Zeus; Piper McLean, Jason's girlfriend and the daughter of Aphrodite; and Leo Valdez, Jason's best friend and son of Hephaestus. However, while these heroes learn more about themselves and the gods, Percy Jackson is missing. Thankfully, he is not gone for too long because the second book, The Son of Neptune , coincides with the events of the first one and features Percy, who had lost his memories like Jason, at Camp Jupiter, the Roman demigod training camp and counterpart to Camp Half-Blood.

Overall, The Heroes of Olympus brings Greek and Roman half-blood heroes together to defeat a new threat — Gaia. One would think Percy and his friends would be able to rest after the events of The Last Olympian , but they are back to trying to prevent the end of the world only months later. Like the first series, The Heroes of Olympus should be read in the order of release date .

Magnus Chase & The Gods Of Asgard

The other book series in the Percy Jackson universe that does not revolve around Greek or Roman mythology is Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard . Rick Riordan continued to branch out by exploring the world of Norse mythology. This series is more connected to Percy Jackson than The Kane Chronicles since its protagonist, Magnus Chase, is Annabeth Chase's cousin and the son of Frey. Plus, characters like Percy and Annabeth appear in some of the novels. It takes place following The Blood of Olympus .

Related: Disney's Percy Jackson Ending Plan Is Great News For Fans Of The Books

The Trials of Apollo

Rick Riordan conceived another pentalogy following the conclusion of The Heroes of Olympus . But instead of focusing on demigods, the author broke tradition and revolved his next book series around a Greek god. The Trials of Apollo takes place following The Heroes of Olympus and centers around Apollo , the god of the sun, music, and prophecy, who had been stripped of his godly powers and sent to Earth by his father, Zeus. There, the former god reluctantly embraces his new human identity (Lester Papadopoulos), befriends a demigod named Meg McCaffrey, and fights the Triumvirate.

The Trials of Apollo features numerous characters from the two previous Percy Jackson series, including the son of Poseidon himself. However, the focus is on Apollo and Meg. Additionally, it's worth noting that The Sun and the Star , published on May 2, 2023, is a standalone sequel to The Tower of Nero , the final book in The Trials of Apollo .

Percy Jackson And The Olympians: 9 Things I'd Love To See From The Books In Season 2

Season 2 is confirmed!

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 is confirmed – and there are plenty of stories that I would love to see. 

Season 1 has come and gone, with some significant changes to quests and an adaptation that felt as if it was right from the books. But now, we have to look forward to Season 2. While the cast has reacted to the Season 2 announcement, it's taken me some time to figure out exactly what I want to see in the next installment. 

Now, I have a pretty good idea of what I'd love to watch. This is a SPOILER ALERT for anyone who hasn't read the books or finished Season 1 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians. 

All The New Monsters - Including The Hydra

With any adaptation filled with ancient mythical beings from Greek mythology, you want to see plenty of monsters. Trust me when I say that the Percy Jackson franchise gives you that. 

While we did see a fair amount of mythical creatures in the show's first season, such as the Minotaur, Cerberus, and many more, I hope Season 2 is filled to the brim with way more creatures for people to watch – including the Hydra. 

For those who don't know, the Hydra is known in Greek mythology as a many-headed, almost dragon-like creature that dwells in the seas. It is a creature that Percy and his crew face in Sea of Monsters. While it's fun to imagine it in my head as I'm reading, I need to see it with my own eyes on screen.  

Tyson, Percy's Half-Brother

At its core, while the Percy Jackson franchise is all about fantasy, there's no denying that it's also a coming-of-age story like all the best coming-of-age movies . One factor I always love pointing to in all of these tales is new friends and, even better, new siblings. 

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In Sea of Monsters, Percy finds out that he actually has a half-brother, Tyson, a baby cyclops who is also the son of Poseidon, and he's really the sweetest person ever and offers Percy a lot of valuable growth, which makes him a great addition. He was in the Sea of Monsters movie, but was less than memorable. They can make Tyson one of the best characters yet in Season 2. 

To Dive Deeper Into Thalia's Story

Thalia's story was highlighted a bit in the first season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians. A s a refresher, she is one of three that were brought to camp years ago with Annabeth and Luke, but she was heroically killed, sacrificing her life for her friends, and her body was then transformed by her father, Zeus, into a tree to protect other demigods going into Camp Half-Blood. 

Without diving deeper into spoilers, Thalia's story plays a massive part in Sea of Monsters. It is only one of the primary instances in which we see her become a central character in the franchise. If they want to do Thalia right, she has to be in Season 2 a lot more. 

Revealing More Of The Lore Of Women In Greek Mythology Through Circe's Spa

Another plot point in Sea of Monsters is when Percy and Annabeth come across Circe's Spa, where Percy is temporarily turned into a guinea pig while Annabeth is treated like royalty and given a spa treatment. They eventually escape and free many of Circe's captives, but it's the background of why it happened that matters the most. 

The apparent statement is there: Circe believes all men to be dangerous and evil, so she turns them into guinea pigs, while women are treated with respect and kindness, which alludes to what we already heard from Medusa in the show's first season. She remarks how women are treated far less badly than men in their world, and Circe's Spa would be a great place to expand on that lore and provide more information for viewers. 

Blackjack – And Percy's Strange Ability In Sea Of Monsters

Percy has plenty of strange powers across the franchise that you would imagine in any of the best fantasy TV shows, but did you know that he can talk telepathically to horses? 

While it was disclosed in the first Percy Jackson novel, we see it more when Percy frees a Pegasus, named Blackjack, from Kronos' ship in the second novel and the creature pledges himself to Percy's cause. It's because Poseidon is the one who created horses, but it's a strange power to have and one I want to see much more of in the show. 

Expanding More On Pan – And Grover's Journey

The Percy Jackson and the Olympians cast is filled with talented young actors, but I feel that Grover, played by Aryan Simhadri, didn't get enough chance to shine, but he will in Season 2 of the series. 

Now, Grover is heading out to the seas to search for Pan once he gets his Searchers permit, which hints at a huge storyline in the books. While it doesn't take up as much space in Sea of Monsters, the search for Pan and Grover's story begins in a big way in the second book, and Season 2 would be an excellent way for it to shine. 

Percy And Clarisse Having A Truce Of Sorts

In Sea of Monsters, we first see Clarisse and Percy come to a truce—in certain ways. Clarisse's quest involves finding a Golden Fleece to heal Thalia's tree, which later involves both Percy and Annabeth. 

While tensions are high initially, they are forced to work together, and mutual respect grows in the second book. Her storyline changes significantly as the novels continue, so seeing these two finally find some common ground would be great. 

The New Greek Gods We Meet In Sea Of Monsters

I did enjoy seeing the Greek Gods in the first season, but I need to see way more than we got. I feel like we only see them for a few episodes, and then they are gone. 

While I know these actors are prominent and have other things to star in, it would be nice to see them more. Not only that, but we meet different Greek gods in Sea of Monsters, and I would love to see them all incorporated into Season 2 in some way. 

Expanding More On Kronos And The Plan To Stop Him

While I enjoy the storylines centered on the demigods and their quests, this is a TV show, and there is such a thing as a B plot. So, I would also give anything to see the journey of the major Greek gods trying to come together to figure out a way to stop Kronos — and just Kronos in general. 

We discuss the ending of Season 1 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians and what you can expect next.

It's a significant point in the later books of the Percy Jackson series, but it will play a more substantial role in the upcoming show. Again, great actors portray the Gods of the franchise, and it would be awesome to see them work together rather than just focusing on Percy and his friends the entire time.

While Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 is far away, I'll be patient and hope these entries make it into the series. Until then, I'll rewatch it and enjoy every second of Greek goodness. 

A self-proclaimed nerd and lover of Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire, Alexandra Ramos is a Content Producer at CinemaBlend. She first started off working in December 2020 as a Freelance Writer after graduating from the Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Journalism and a minor in English. She primarily works in features for movies, TV, and sometimes video games. (Please don't debate her on The Last of Us 2, it was amazing!) She is also the main person who runs both our daily newsletter, The CinemaBlend Daily, and our ReelBlend newsletter. 

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How old was Percy Jackson in the first book?

The little boy has come a long way, but where did he start?

Within the realm of young adult and middle-grade fiction, Percy Jackson is the most popular book character among contemporary readers. This beloved protagonist starts out on his adventure as a regular teenager before discovering his extraordinary lineage as the son of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea.

As a demigod, Jackson then takes center stage as the eponymous hero in  Rick Riordan’s epic literary saga ,  Percy Jackson & the Olympians .  He plays a crucial part as one of the seven primary characters in the gripping follow-up series  The Heroes of Olympus.  Except for  The Lost Hero , Percy Jackson is a magnificent character who consistently appears throughout the three fascinating Camp Half-Blood series.

Percy’s character development mirrors the timeless “coming of age” narrative, transforming from a bewildered and vulnerable youth into a valiant hero ready to confront daunting challenges. But how old was our favorite Greek demigod in his first novel?

Percy Jackson’s age in Percy Jackson & the Olympians

The first-ever appearance of Percy Jackson in Riordan’s books was in the first book of the Olympians series , The Lightning Thief . The book introduces Jackson as a troubled boy who has been expelled from every school he has ever attended. He meets the satyr Grover Underwood in disguise at Yancy Academy before he is taken to Camp Half-Blood, where the real story kicks off.

It is established that  Jackson was born on Aug. 18th, 1993 , which places his age at a tender 12 years when  The Lightning Thief  was first unveiled to eager readers in 2005. Throughout the series, we witness Jackson’s personality evolve, much like the sea’s ebb and flow, as he matures and gains confidence.

Jackson’s authentic portrayal includes initial hurdles with dyslexia and ADHD, making him an incredibly approachable and inspirational figure for many young readers. In “ The Sea of Monsters”  (2007), the sequel to  The Lightning Thief , Percy Jackson reaches the age of thirteen while the plot develops. The clever alignment of his age with the release date of each book allows us to calculate Jackson’s age in each installment easily.

Towards the end of  The Last Olympian , the fifth and latest book in the series, Percy Jackson turns 16. The  sixth installment in the series  will soon be released on Sept. 26, 2023, seeing a 20-year-old Percy Jackson in action. Titled The  Chalice of the Gods,  the book will be set between the events of  The Heroes of Olympus  and  The Trials of Apollo  and will feature Percy, Annabeth, and Grover on an adventure to retrieve Ganymede’s lost goblet.