“The real world is where the monsters are.”

The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan

Oh, it’s that time of year again. 

It’s like clockwork. I have to reread The Lightning Thief at least once a year. It’s my comfort book, and I’m not sorry about it. This time, I really want to reread the entire franchise; however, I don’t want to put my TBR on hold for *looks at shelves* forever … So I’ll reread another Riordanverse book every other title. 

The Lightning Thief is a classic, and I will not be accepting arguments at this time. It’s positively timeless, and Riordan makes sure of it with his writing. I always loved his comic book timeline that made his books both timeless yet absolutely a product of its time. The books happen now, whenever “now” is. Whether that’s 2005 or 2025.

It makes for a messy timeline, which I know some people hate, but I’ll always find it endearing. 

Also, every time I reread, I tend to latch onto something different. This go around, I really felt for Luke. He’s not on page a ton, but just knowing he’s being used by Kronos the same way he was used by the gods makes my heart wrench a bit. I’ll get into it in my notes.

I’m not going to do a proper review because I’ve reviewed this book an infinite amount of times, so let’s get into my thoughts.

Here are all my thoughts on The Lightning Thief:

• Oh, Chiron looking at the stele. Just one of the many heroes he’s trained and watched die on behalf of the gods. And I wonder if he’s worried about the demigod in front of him. What will his fate be? If it’s what he suspects, how does he continue on?
• The fates snipping the thread is meant to be a signifier of endings, but in this case, it almost feels like it’s to mark the beginning of Percy’s journey. Or maybe the end of the life he knew.
• Sally telling Percy his father was lost at sea instead of dead is so fitting. Lost because she did lose him. Lost because she’s hiding Percy from his world. Lost because sooner or later he’ll be found out. Lost because he’ll have to return. What belongs to the sea will always return to the sea.
• Annabeth saying “he’s the one” is a turning point of sorts. A marker for Percy’s character. He goes from a no one to the one.
• even from the beginning, Percy understood Luke’s bitterness toward the gods. Because he could see how negligent they were of their kids right from the start.
  • Percy isn’t even claimed until Poseidon needs him. Percy knows what a good parent is from his mom. Sally accepted him no matter his struggles for his entire life. Poseidon kept him a secret until he needed a favor.
• Annabeth definitely put Percy beside the creek on purpose. She had a theory and needed to test it. “Athena always has a plan.” Yes, yes, she does. Speeding the process along.

• Chiron asking Percy what he thought of the hellhound felt like a test. He wanted him to admit to being scared. To be truthful. To see what kind of hero he’ll be.
• It’s interesting that once Poseidon claims Percy, Percy’s dreams change from the eagle and horse to the gods themselves. As if his own beliefs shape them.
• Something about Chiron telling Percy in TLT, “No god can be judged by a hero’s actions.” The irony of it. How Percy’s life is defined by godly consequences. How he is forever judged by his father’s actions. How he will always bear the burden of a broken oath. How his existence reaps consequences for himself, not Poseidon. Never Poseidon. Because no god can be judged by a hero’s actions, but heroes are judged and executed by the gods’.
• I love that Percy knows his father is using him and is just playing the same game. 
• I wonder how Luke felt knowing he wasn’t good enough for Kronos. Did he think Kronos would give him the approval he desperately wanted from his father? Or was he so clouded by bitterness he didn’t care? It was a beneficial situation for both. They’d watch the gods fall together for their own selfish reasons. Only Luke was disposable to Kronos. He had to know that. But Kronos also noticed what he could bring to the table and that means so much to someone abandoned by the gods.
• Thinking about how Percy looks out at the Pacific Ocean in TLT and wonders how he could be the son of someone powerful enough to control all of it. Something about the vastness of water. How so much is unknown about the ocean. The depths that are undiscovered. How terrifying it is to think about. How uneasy the ocean makes so many people because of it. Turbulent, boundless power. How Percy doesn’t know just how powerful he’ll become. Turbulent. Unknown. Unsettling. The son of the sea.
•  The moment Percy decides to return the bolt to Zeus rather than save his mom is the turning point for his character that will define the entire franchise. This is the moment he decides to be a hero. Whether he wants to or not. He knows what’s right. What his mother would want to do. Percy’s power comes from Poseidon but his morality comes from Sally. Percy is the son of the sea god, but his humanity is what defines him. 
• I don’t think Kronos would want Percy dead yet. He’s too powerful of a tool to get rid of so quickly after only one failed attempt. Luke definitely wanted Percy out of the picture. He wanted Kronos’ attention, his praise. He wanted to be the one to overthrow the gods, not Percy. There has to be so much resentment from Luke toward Percy because of that. He finally found someone to acknowledge him, and now that person — titan — is set on finding someone stronger. It has to be a kick to the gut. 
• Oh, how Percy giving his mom Medusa’s head in TLT foreshadows him giving Luke Annabeth’s dagger in TLO. How he has to learn early, even as a hero, you can’t save everyone. You have to let them save themselves. You must learn when to step aside. The most heroic thing you can do is let someone decide their own fate.

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