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| The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 3) | 
 enlarge | Author: Rick Riordan
Publisher: Miramax
Category: Book
List Price: $17.95
Buy New: $6.95
You Save: $11.00 (61%)
New (13) Used (11) from $6.94
Avg. Customer Rating:  91 reviews
Sales Rank: 137680
Format: Bargain Price
Media: Hardcover
Reading Level: Young Adult
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 320
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 8.2 x 5.7 x 1.2
ASIN: B0014JOKL6
Publication Date: May 1, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 A poorly written book that does not please July 11, 2007
8 out of 47 found this review helpful
What the heck is going on? My son and daughter never got past the first book. I've just re-read all the reviews, now that I've finished the first three books for myself, and I'm completely mystified by all the glowing reports. How can anyone compare this thing to Harry Potter? Where are the truthful reviews?
As a long-time fantasy and sci-fi fan, this just didn't grab me. Riordan's writing is sloppy. He steals from Greek mythology and thinks readers are too stupid to realize he's dressed up Hercules and the heroes in sheep's clothing.
It is a chore to get through. The characters flat and unengaging. The events unfold more as after-the-fact. There's no sitting on edge of your seat awaiting the next revelation. It's more like riding in the back seat asking "are we there yet?"
Maybe it is more appealing to very young readers who have never read anything else but my kids and I who have read many fantasy novels couldn't have been more disappointed.
The too few negative reviews are accurate. Read ALL the reviews before buying a Riordan book.
 My son agrees: "Best Series Ever" May 26, 2007
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
My son is a big reader of adventure series, and both he and I agree that this is probably the best one. I'd say I like it even better than Harry Potter (it's fine with me if you don't agree, but give this series a chance first before you decide.)
Riordan writes about Percy Jackson, a modern American boy who just happens to be the son of the Greek god Poseidon. As fans of the series know, Percy and his other half-godly friends (for example Grover, a centaur) attend a "hero camp", Camp Half-Blood, run by the god Dionysus. In every novel, they are sent on some kind of mission outside the camp; in this case, they must rescue their friend Annabeth (a daughter of Athena, who is sort of the Hermione Granger of the series)from the clutches of the demi-god Titans.
The Percy Jackson series is exciting and genuinely funny. Unlike a lot of series, the characters are complex and have a clear 'inner life' - Percy finds the 'real world' a challenge because of his dyslexia, Annabeth has conflicts with her father, Grover is driven by a hunger to find the god Pan, missing for centuries. There is not one stock or one-sided character in the book. Riordan also puts the American landscape to good use to - there's a great scene set at the Hoover Dam, and a final conflict on Mount Tamalpais north of San Francisco. The plot surrounding Annabeth's disappearance has the slight disadvantage of keeping Annabeth herself off-stage for much of the novel (too bad but still fun). But otherwise this is a really fun book.
I would add, however, the series demands to be read in order - if you do not know the story from the first two wait until you've read them to pick up "Titan's Curse."
Overhyped without much substance July 6, 2007
7 out of 41 found this review helpful
Like many readers, I bought this book and the others with high expectations based on the overwhelming claims it was so good. I hope to save others from my fate. Don't believe the children's reviews here that call this book a masterpiece or a classic. This book is terrible! Where are the honest reviews of this book?
Riordin's writing is dreadful, at times it seems English is his second language. His reuses the same or similar phrases. He uses many unnecessary modifiers. He adds extraneous words for filler. The dialogue rings false almost in its entirety. To make matters worse, the story is derivative and cliche. Anyone who's read about Hercules and Greek myths knows where the story was taken from, and the concept has been done to death already.
I know it's a matter of taste, but nearly anything would be better than this.
If books were drugs, this would be morphine May 2, 2007
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
Ok maybe not the best title for this review but true enough, this book is addictive just like the rest of the series. Percy, Thalia, and Annabeth start off together in the beginning but things quickly change when they fall into a trap; leaving Percy and Thalia to save the world and Annabeth and as usual, must do so in less than a week or witness a potential doomsday. With the usual humor and allusions to Greek mythology, this book keeps you hooked from start to finish just like its 2 predecessors (The Lightning Thief and The Sea of Monsters). Before reading this book, it is best to read the first two as there is little character or plot introduction. Some lingering questions are solved from the first two books such as Thalia and Percy's ability to get along and Percy's fatal flaw is revealed. However, The Titan's Curse will leave you with many questions and hints at the future books (there is supposedly to be 5 books) and for sure it will leave you ready for the next book as the end introuduces a new adventure. All in all, Rick Riordan has done what many writers struggle with: he has actually written a great middle book. it maintains pace and action throughout the story, keeps the characters lively and original, and occasionally makes you laugh out loud which i something i didn't think i would ever do with dignity. anyone who wants to read a great story full of action, humor, and great characters just pick up this book.
Finally April 29, 2007
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
Nothing but nothing could have prepared me for getting this book before the pub. date of May 1. It felt like a personal gift from the gods to have a couple free days to read it, not that I needed it in the end...I honestly tried to make it last--rereading the good bits, even--but still went into mourning at 10 this morning since it was "all gone." I'm sure others will fill the gap, but it was a long wait, this one was.
I have been promoting Lightning Thief to any sixth grade student or teacher that will listen in the town of Chico for several months now. The most successful experiment (I say this with no small amount of affection) was a class of 35 sixth graders, 15 or so had read LT and at least a dozen had made it through Sea of Monsters, as well. They were ready.
Defining moment? When I walked into that class on Friday morning with five copies, there were gasps. Honestly, they were in shock. The principal (huge supporter) came to watch their reaction and afterward he said, "They were sucking air!" Let's just say it was a high point in my professional career. No, come to think of it, this was one of my top 10 peak experiences, period.
So who got one of the five? I left it up to the teacher, but I heard it nearly came to fisticuffs. Imagine, sixth graders ready to go to war over reading. It's not unimaginable for me, anymore, but powerful? The most. How I love being a librarian.
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