The author could very well be the Greek God of Literature, given how great this book is! This series was at one point my favorite, and "The Last Olympian" was the best of the five! Percy Jackson is approaching 16 years of age, and the prophecy that defined the series up to now is threatening to be realized. But Kronos and his forces are far from being complacent; rather, their efforts to topple the gods to usher a new titanic age are only becoming more prevalent. The previous accomplishments and victories of Percy and his allies pale in comparison to the one they must confront now: an onslaught of of the Titans and their reinforcements. The demigods know there will be hardship in the process, but it's either suffering for chance at peace--or a complete alteration of their lives for the worse. All of the author's books were great in my opinion, but this one is particularly notable for its strong ending; so many series I've read have it where the first few books are entertaining, but the later ones decline in quality. "The Last Olympian" doesn't suffer from that problem; in fact, I believe it is better than any of its predecessors save "The Lightning Thief" (and that only because it starts the series off strong). It perpetuates the lovable parts of the core characters and plot, while introducing other elements than enhance the progression of the story. Percy, Annabeth, and their comrades and enemies are consistent in their personalities, and while there are some portions where nonsensical magic interferes with a logical storyline, the decisions made by the characters (and especially the prophetic choice itself) incorporate an engaging reality to the narrative. Yet I also appreciate the incorporation of mythological elements. While pure magic I do not particularly enjoy, having powers continues to open more possibilities to Percy and the other characters--vastly more than a normal person would be able to enjoy. Reading this book has also latently given me knowledge about Greek mythology, some of which I still use today. It incorporates emotional turns as well as lots of action, and neither gets tiring at any point throughout the novel. I would definitely recommend this to people seeking an enjoyable read while learning simultaneously; in terms of educational value in combination with entertainment, I would refer to this book above all others. But I would also recommend it to those looking for just pure exuberance: it accomplishes that wish, and much more!

The author could very well be the Greek God of Literature, given how great this book is! This series was at one point my favorite, and "The Last Olympian" was the best of the five! Percy Jackson is approaching 16 years of age, and the prophecy that defined the series up to now is threatening to be realized. But Kronos and his forces are far from being complacent; rather, their efforts to topple the gods to usher a new titanic age are only becoming more prevalent. The previous accomplishments and victories of Percy and his allies pale in comparison to the one they must confront now: an onslaught of of the Titans and their reinforcements. The demigods know there will be hardship in the process, but it's either suffering for chance at peace--or a complete alteration of their lives for the worse. All of the author's books were great in my opinion, but this one is particularly notable for its strong ending; so many series I've read have it where the first few books are entertaining, but the later ones decline in quality. "The Last Olympian" doesn't suffer from that problem; in fact, I believe it is better than any of its predecessors save "The Lightning Thief" (and that only because it starts the series off strong). It perpetuates the lovable parts of the core characters and plot, while introducing other elements than enhance the progression of the story. Percy, Annabeth, and their comrades and enemies are consistent in their personalities, and while there are some portions where nonsensical magic interferes with a logical storyline, the decisions made by the characters (and especially the prophetic choice itself) incorporate an engaging reality to the narrative. Yet I also appreciate the incorporation of mythological elements. While pure magic I do not particularly enjoy, having powers continues to open more possibilities to Percy and the other characters--vastly more than a normal person would be able to enjoy. Reading this book has also latently given me knowledge about Greek mythology, some of which I still use today. It incorporates emotional turns as well as lots of action, and neither gets tiring at any point throughout the novel. I would definitely recommend this to people seeking an enjoyable read while learning simultaneously; in terms of educational value in combination with entertainment, I would refer to this book above all others. But I would also recommend it to those looking for just pure exuberance: it accomplishes that wish, and much more!

WOW! This novel is very well written, and the plot and premise of the story are amazing! This is currently (and has been for a few years as well) my absolute favorite book! In a world of completely ordinary humans, there are super powerful men and women with abilities rivaling any comic book superhero—or rather, supervillain. Seemingly every one of them is sinister, and have no qualms with oppressing their inferior powerless human counterparts. Only a few regular folks called the Reckoners even dare to counter the menaces known as Epics, and David Charleston wants to join them. One certain Epic, Steelheart, had brutally murdered his father in front of him—and he wants revenge. But annihilating the equivalent of a god is no easy task; David will have to confront various relations and threats alike, as well as constantly adapt to fast-changing situations and dangerous environments, as he navigates the chance to take down the greatest Epic in history. I personally enjoy stories like the one presented in “Steelheart;” the progression of events and chapters is logical, and the individual episodes themselves combine to form a truly majestic read. No chapter seems forced, nor does any aspect of the novel throughout its entirety demonstrate replaceability. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book again and again, making it one of the very few I reread at all, much less multiple times. It is a unique mix of action and dramatic tension, and even has a sprinkling of comedy as well! These elements are blended extremely well in my opinion, making each major scene conspicuous and memorable and infusing the more minor developments with more than tolerable offerings for the reader to enjoy. The characters and their developments are also very well described and executed. There are some minor quirks and traits about them that I felt were added solely to advance the plot, but they mostly lived their roles. The dynamics between the characters, too, are worthy of note. David’s relationships with the Reckoners and others (and, in fact, the interactions between characters other than David) seem to positively vibrate with authenticity—the author does not form any more complexities in them than necessary, yet does not make them bare and bare and stoic either. The only notable grievance I must make about the book is the climax between David and Steelheart; while Epics have weaknesses that nullify or reduce their powers, the circumstances concerning Steelheart are not well-developed or supported by the rest of the novel. Other than that, though, I truly believe that this novel is an impeccable read. I would wholly and without reservation recommend it to anyone interested in a captivating and holistically entertaining book; for me, reading it was totally worth it!

WOW! This novel is very well written, and the plot and premise of the story are amazing! This is currently (and has been for a few years as well) my absolute favorite book! In a world of completely ordinary humans, there are super powerful men and women with abilities rivaling any comic book superhero—or rather, supervillain. Seemingly every one of them is sinister, and have no qualms with oppressing their inferior powerless human counterparts. Only a few regular folks called the Reckoners even dare to counter the menaces known as Epics, and David Charleston wants to join them. One certain Epic, Steelheart, had brutally murdered his father in front of him—and he wants revenge. But annihilating the equivalent of a god is no easy task; David will have to confront various relations and threats alike, as well as constantly adapt to fast-changing situations and dangerous environments, as he navigates the chance to take down the greatest Epic in history. I personally enjoy stories like the one presented in “Steelheart;” the progression of events and chapters is logical, and the individual episodes themselves combine to form a truly majestic read. No chapter seems forced, nor does any aspect of the novel throughout its entirety demonstrate replaceability. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book again and again, making it one of the very few I reread at all, much less multiple times. It is a unique mix of action and dramatic tension, and even has a sprinkling of comedy as well! These elements are blended extremely well in my opinion, making each major scene conspicuous and memorable and infusing the more minor developments with more than tolerable offerings for the reader to enjoy. The characters and their developments are also very well described and executed. There are some minor quirks and traits about them that I felt were added solely to advance the plot, but they mostly lived their roles. The dynamics between the characters, too, are worthy of note. David’s relationships with the Reckoners and others (and, in fact, the interactions between characters other than David) seem to positively vibrate with authenticity—the author does not form any more complexities in them than necessary, yet does not make them bare and bare and stoic either. The only notable grievance I must make about the book is the climax between David and Steelheart; while Epics have weaknesses that nullify or reduce their powers, the circumstances concerning Steelheart are not well-developed or supported by the rest of the novel. Other than that, though, I truly believe that this novel is an impeccable read. I would wholly and without reservation recommend it to anyone interested in a captivating and holistically entertaining book; for me, reading it was totally worth it!

A fiery governess + her cool-tempered master = a sizzling romance After being raised in deplorable conditions from a young age, Jane is only too happy to embark upon her own independent journey; this path leads to none other than Mr. Rochester, the overseer of his gargantuan residence. The timespan of the novel sees Jane establishing numerous relationships--and particularly one of passion with Rochester--as she strives to establish herself and maintain her position as her own person. Yet her life simply cannot be as simple as she had hoped; secrets surrounding the manor eventually emerge, testing her personality amid an abrupt but drastic change in the history of her employer. Jane must decide whether a life with Rochester is warranted or even feasible--and, perhaps more importantly, whether she can personally overcome the barriers between her and her happiness with little more than her personality. As a whole, this novel is indeed worth a read; the author, Charlotte Bronte, lived in the 19th century, and her work reveals some aspects of how life was in that period; although it is ultimately a work of fiction and thus not entirely accurate, I found that the general notions and customs upheld are reflective of the first half of the 1800s as well. More than the glimpse of history, however, this book is also intriguing. There are some slower portions and chapters that approach a literary stall, but I believe that Bronte compensates for this with other sections. It has an appreciable balance of spirit, challenges, and dramatic tension, with Jane's time at Thornsfield (Rochester's residence) deserving a special mention. I wouldn't say I'd read it again, but it is definitely worth at least one read. I would recommend this to those searching for a warm yet almost tense (though not in a negative way) novel.

A fiery governess + her cool-tempered master = a sizzling romance After being raised in deplorable conditions from a young age, Jane is only too happy to embark upon her own independent journey; this path leads to none other than Mr. Rochester, the overseer of his gargantuan residence. The timespan of the novel sees Jane establishing numerous relationships--and particularly one of passion with Rochester--as she strives to establish herself and maintain her position as her own person. Yet her life simply cannot be as simple as she had hoped; secrets surrounding the manor eventually emerge, testing her personality amid an abrupt but drastic change in the history of her employer. Jane must decide whether a life with Rochester is warranted or even feasible--and, perhaps more importantly, whether she can personally overcome the barriers between her and her happiness with little more than her personality. As a whole, this novel is indeed worth a read; the author, Charlotte Bronte, lived in the 19th century, and her work reveals some aspects of how life was in that period; although it is ultimately a work of fiction and thus not entirely accurate, I found that the general notions and customs upheld are reflective of the first half of the 1800s as well. More than the glimpse of history, however, this book is also intriguing. There are some slower portions and chapters that approach a literary stall, but I believe that Bronte compensates for this with other sections. It has an appreciable balance of spirit, challenges, and dramatic tension, with Jane's time at Thornsfield (Rochester's residence) deserving a special mention. I wouldn't say I'd read it again, but it is definitely worth at least one read. I would recommend this to those searching for a warm yet almost tense (though not in a negative way) novel.

This is probably my favorite book out of the ones my English teacher had the class read! The oppression of all the farm animals by the land's owner leads to an abrupt rebellion against him--leaving the animals to independently operate the farm and offering them the opportunity to control more of their own lives. As time passes, however, there is continual threat to the ideals many of them strive to uphold, possibly within their own ranks. The progression of pristine nobility in thought to the tarnished executions of those notions (and even changes to the ideals themselves) may very well spell the regression of the animals' states to something they had strived to topple--benefitting the few but decimating the masses. What I truly appreciate about this novel is the parallel sequence of events to a period in world history, and specifically in Russia: the age of Stalin. It retells the terror of the animals and vileness of the new menaces in a captivating way (albeit with the twist of talking animals). While not a cozy novel, the allegorical nature of "Animal Farm" grabbed my attention; it is one of the very few works that have provoked such an outraged reaction, and as such is one of my favorite novels of all time. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a powerful and emotional (in an enraged sense) read--you may not like what happens in the chapters, but will be glad you read it when you finish.

This is probably my favorite book out of the ones my English teacher had the class read! The oppression of all the farm animals by the land's owner leads to an abrupt rebellion against him--leaving the animals to independently operate the farm and offering them the opportunity to control more of their own lives. As time passes, however, there is continual threat to the ideals many of them strive to uphold, possibly within their own ranks. The progression of pristine nobility in thought to the tarnished executions of those notions (and even changes to the ideals themselves) may very well spell the regression of the animals' states to something they had strived to topple--benefitting the few but decimating the masses. What I truly appreciate about this novel is the parallel sequence of events to a period in world history, and specifically in Russia: the age of Stalin. It retells the terror of the animals and vileness of the new menaces in a captivating way (albeit with the twist of talking animals). While not a cozy novel, the allegorical nature of "Animal Farm" grabbed my attention; it is one of the very few works that have provoked such an outraged reaction, and as such is one of my favorite novels of all time. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a powerful and emotional (in an enraged sense) read--you may not like what happens in the chapters, but will be glad you read it when you finish.

This novel was not only intriguing; with a nice blend of science and fantasy, The Sailor Cipher would interest most of those looking for a technologically-based story with a hint of suspense. When Sailor York returns for her second year of studies at the prestigious school, she expects a year-long adventure filled with excitement and wonder - certainly not a missing big sister. As she uncovers more about the details concerning her sibling's possible kidnapping, Sailor finds herself caught in the middle of a dangerous game filled with rival factions. And her external struggles are only compounded by her own story: Sailor has a secret that she does not want to release, yet may have to in order to succeed in her missions. As a person who is always taken aback by the sheer progression of technology in the modern world, I enjoyed reading about the various new inventions and vehicles this book displayed. As being heavily based upon the work of actual National Geographic Society members, this series debut expertly pays homage to the organization's projects. The chapters are also well-organized, with each subplot complementing the others in their advancement. While the humor seems a little forced at times, this novel overall is a read you do not want to miss. I am definitely excited for the release of the next book in the series!

This novel was not only intriguing; with a nice blend of science and fantasy, The Sailor Cipher would interest most of those looking for a technologically-based story with a hint of suspense. When Sailor York returns for her second year of studies at the prestigious school, she expects a year-long adventure filled with excitement and wonder - certainly not a missing big sister. As she uncovers more about the details concerning her sibling's possible kidnapping, Sailor finds herself caught in the middle of a dangerous game filled with rival factions. And her external struggles are only compounded by her own story: Sailor has a secret that she does not want to release, yet may have to in order to succeed in her missions. As a person who is always taken aback by the sheer progression of technology in the modern world, I enjoyed reading about the various new inventions and vehicles this book displayed. As being heavily based upon the work of actual National Geographic Society members, this series debut expertly pays homage to the organization's projects. The chapters are also well-organized, with each subplot complementing the others in their advancement. While the humor seems a little forced at times, this novel overall is a read you do not want to miss. I am definitely excited for the release of the next book in the series!