The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan(4/5)

The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan is a fantasy-fiction Greek mythology book published on September 26, 2023. It is the first book in what will serve as a side-series for the massive Percy Jackson collection. Although many aspects of the book include major and minor characters from Greek mythology, their involvement in the Percy Jackson series are purely from imagination. Percy Jackson is a teenage boy who, at the age of twelve, discovers that the Olympian Gods and Greek “mythology” as a whole are much more than myths. He finds that he is the demigod son of the sea god Poseidon, and stumbles his way into Camp Half Blood. The camp provides protection and training for demigods who attract too much malicious attention in the outside world. Since his arrival, Percy has completed many dangerous but crucial quests for the gods. This time, after saving the world on numerous occasions, Percy has settled into a more peaceful life as an 18-year-old in high school. He plans to go off to New Rome University with his girlfriend Annabeth after they graduate high school. New Rome University is another safe haven for demigods that provides a rare opportunity to lead a normal life of education. To get accepted, he must receive three godly letters of recommendation. In exchange for his first letter, Percy has accepted a quest from Ganymede, cupbearer of the gods. He must find and return Ganymede’s sacred chalice. The chalice is an important symbol to the cupbearer and the godly council, and is said to make the drinks taste god-worthy. However, it has been stolen and if Ganymede doesn’t retrieve it before the next godly feast, he will become the laughing stock of Olympus. The book kept me on my toes with twists and turns I never saw coming. All throughout, there are elements of desperation, light-hearted comedy, wholesomeness, and anxiety-inducing stalemates. As I read the book, I found that it was difficult to put down due to the engaging plot and memorable characters.  The sharp changes in tone keeps the story fresh and never stale. Although purely fiction, this book has made me realize that I must prepare for the impossible because everything seems impossible until it happens. I loved that Rick Riordan also incorporates unforgettable characters to show the importance of friends, family, and even competitors. Although they have completely different plots, the book shares key points with the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. Both emphasize the importance of loved ones throughout a constantly changing plot with “impossible” twists. Overall, The Chalice of the Gods was a greatly interesting read with several overarching messages that had me hooked, but it’s highly dependent on having sufficient background knowledge of the Percy Jackson series and Greek mythology. Without such information, readers could find themselves lost and confused despite the brilliant writing. Future readers would be best off to start from the very beginning of Percy’s story in The Lightning Thief and read the series in order.