The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan Book Review

 Percy Jackson and the Battle of the Labyrinth 

(Percy Jackson and the Olympians #4)

By Rick Riordan 

Published Year: 2008

Page Count: 341 pages 

Medium Used: Paperback 

Genre : Action, Adventure, Fantasy. , Science Fiction, Greek Mythology, Ancient Greece,2025-read. 

Rating : 5/5 😋😋😋😋😋

This book is so very good. After back to back disappointments in books 2 and 3, this is a refreshing hit, for me.  It is gripping and immersive. It left me feeling good, satisfied and yearning for more. The character and world development is simply superb. I need not add any more accolades to the brilliant, master story teller Rick Riordan. He is simply awesome. 

The Labyrinth - which was created by Daedalus and maneuvered by Theseus with the help of Ariadne's string is at the center of the plot here. Daedalus is still alive .. escaping death and cheating the Hades for the past two millenia. He has been hopping his soul from one automated body to another and living incognito. Both the good side - with Percy, Annabeth and Chiron - and the bad side - with Luke, Kronos and his minions - are searching for Daedalus and the Ariadne's string to easily navigate the Labyrinth. Just like Mount Olympus and Mount Othrys, which are residing places of the Olympians and Titans, have moved with the western civilization, the Labyrinth has also shifted to North America. It spreads just beneath the ground covering most of the major cities. This Labyrinth is tied to the life force of Daedelus. As long as he lives, the Labyrinth exists. 

Percy Jackson gets ready for his orientation to enter ninth grade at the Goode school. He had been suspended from many schools in the past for his ADHD and dyslexia - which are common problems/traits/shortcomings  among all half bloods. He re-meets the girl who helped him face daemons in book 3 - Rachel Elizabeth Dare. He takes her number before escaping from the school, after fighting two demons. He learns at camp half blood that Luke and Kronos are searching for a way to easily navigate the Labyrinth and make way to the half camp. The camp has a border wall protection but if the Labyrinth opens right into the heart of the camp, they will all be hopelessly at the mercy of the  insurgents. The evil group plans to destroying camp half blood and follow it with the Olympus. Annabeth, Percy, Tyson and Grover set out on a quest to find Daedalus first and prevent the evil team from gaining access to easy navigation. They seek the assistance of Elizabeth Dare who is more talented than meets the eye. 

I loved how Percy was having these nightly dreams in his sleep - with vivid descriptions - about the past deeds, events from Daedalus' life and the current occurings of Luke and Kronos. I wondered who is showing him these dreams. I also loved the unsolicited iris messages he was getting about the attempts of Nico to get his dead sister back alive. I loved the idea of a beautiful, secluded island where immortality is granted and life just goes on without touching reality. I loved the pretty girl there who is served by invisible servants and tends to her beautiful garden for ever.. falling in love helplessly with heroes sent to her island and also knowing they will never stay with her. I didn't get very much on-board with the idea of a God - even if only minor - dying, much more than fading and tempering his powers. Gods shouldn't die. They should always cater to the needs and pleas of their beloved followers. This is my opinion. 

I loved this book absolutely. Please do check it out. And post any comments here if want to. Cheers!! 🍻 🥂 it is an unending thrill to read about Percy and his friends tackle with monsters and demons resurrected by Kronos and Luke.