Live The World You Dream: [NOVEL REVIEW] Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Battle of the Labyrinth

"A kind act can sometimes be as powerful as a sword." - Percy Jackson

Tadaaa, we are almost reaching the edge of the adventure of Percy Jackson and gangs. The fourth novel, The Battle of the Labyrinth draws fifteen year-old Percy Jackson attempts to stop Luke Castellan and his army from invading Camp Half-Blood through Daedalus’ labyrinth by trying to convince the inventor not to give Luke the Ariadne’s string he goes after.

The book opens with Percy Jackson attending freshman orientation at Goode High School, where he sees Rachel Elizabeth Dare, a mortal who can see through the Mist. When they reach camp, Percy learns Grover is in trouble from the Council of Cloven Elders for not yet finding the god Pan. Percy also encounters a middle aged demigod named Quintus, the new sword instructor of Camp Half-Blood.

During a battle drill organized by Quintus, Annabeth and Percy accidentally find an entrance into the Labyrinth. Chiron holds a council of war, and it is revealed that Annabeth and Clarisse suspect that Luke plans to use this door to the maze as an invasion route. To do so, he will use Princess Ariadne’s magical string, which is assumed to be in the possession of the ancient inventor Daedalus. Annabeth is given leadership of the quest, and chooses Grover, Percy, and Tyson to accompany her.

The four descend into the labyrinth where they meet monsters, gods, and demigods. Barely make it alive exit the maze, the group heads back to Camp Half-Blood and inevitable blood fight happens. Through this battle, devotion is tested and sacrifices are made.

The prophecy given to Annabeth by the oracle reads:

You shall delve in the darkness of the endless maze,

The dead, the traitor, and the lost one raise.

You shall rise or fall by the ghost king's hand,

The child of Athena's final stand.

Destroy with a hero's final breath,

and lose a love to worse than death.

Honestly speaking, for me, The Battle of the Labyrinth is the best amongst the five books in this series. The labyrinth quest is just so edgy and the war at Camp Half-Blood got me goosebump. Besides, the character of Rachel- a mortal who is being clear-sighted is quite refreshing considering the whole not fully human characters previously. Plus, I do pity Nico for he has to wallow in darkness, his character is lovable though.

Will the kindness defeat the wickedness in the end? Last battle, I am coming!