**This article contains mild spoilers.**
#1 New York Times bestselling author Rick Riordan published his latest novel, “Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Chalice of the Gods,” on Sept. 26.
This book is the sixth installment of Riordan’s immensely popular “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” series. “The Chalice of the Gods” comes more than a decade after the release of the previous book, “The Last Olympian,” in 2009.
“The Chalice of the Gods” follows the series’ three original main characters — Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase and Grover Underwood — in their senior year of high school as the trio embark on a series of quests Percy must complete in order to attend New Rome University.
For returning fans, “The Chalice of the Gods” is a revisit of the familiar combination of laugh-out-loud humor, action-packed sequences and witty commentary that defines the Percy Jackson universe.
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However, Riordan also acknowledges the future of the series, dedicating the book to Walker Scobell, Leah Jeffries and Aryan Simhadri, the actors playing Percy, Annabeth and Grover in the upcoming television adaptation of “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” to be released on Disney+.
“To Walker, Aryan, and Leah,” the dedication reads. “Here’s to new beginnings!”
Following the touching dedication, “The Chalice of the Gods” picks up where the series left off with “The Last Olympian,” utilizing the same text font and amusing chapter titles that famously introduce each “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” chapter. “I Negotiate the Terms of My Disintegration,” “We Complain About Quests and Decorative Gourds” and “Annabeth Conquers All With Herbal Tea” are merely a few examples.
Riordan stays relevant to current humor with the ease of an experienced author. Percy jokes about deepfakes, implies the existence of an Olympian version of TikTok — “GodTok” — and lightheartedly joins in on Generation Z’s aversion toward Baby Boomers. A blend of masterful comedic timing on Riordan’s part and Percy’s characteristic sarcasm complement the events of the book.
“The Chalice of the Gods” also reveals the maturation of Percy’s relationships after the events of the previous books. Readers who are fond of Percy’s romance with Annabeth and friendship with Grover will find the trio’s chemistry intact and evolving.
Similarly, in its more thematically serious and emotionally moving moments, Riordan balances the funny side of the book with insights into the darker aspects of Greek mythology and Percy’s associated trauma. “The Chalice of the Gods” invites readers to consider the nature of immortality as Percy grapples with the impunity of the Greek gods’ actions and the burden placed on the demigods who bear the consequences.
The long-awaited “Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Chalice of the Gods” stays loyal to the series with its charming writing style and enjoyable plot points, while also incorporating meaningful messages into a story that prompts readers to reflect.
An abundance of heartwarming interactions between the characters emphasizes one of the book’s central messages — the importance of spending time with loved ones.
“When you’re a demigod, you worry a lot about staying alive,” Percy contemplates. “You hardly ever think about old age. I’d been so focused on just making it out of high school, becoming an adult … but maybe that wasn’t the ultimate goal. But if you grew older with people you loved, wasn’t that better than any other alternative?”
