The Last Olympian

The Last Olympian is the final book in Rick Riordan's series Percy Jack and the Olympians, taking place around the end of the summer, almost a year after the close of the last book.

As finales go, this probably ranks around some of the best. Sacrifices are made, connections are forged or broken, a traitor is discovered just as that traitor decides to choose to be a good guy again. And the traitor we have been aware of since book one also makes an attempt at redemption. Coupled with the choice that Percy was prophesied to make, the cursed blade did indeed reap the hero's soul.

There are not really any loose ends Riordan leaves open at the end of this book. In fact, the only one I can think of is the new Great Prophecy that was spouted at the very end.

As far as plotlines that do get wrapped up, the prophecy that directed this book is fully explained, as per usual for the prophecies of the other books.

In a very delightful twist, the Olympians are told to start building thrones in the throne room for all of the Greek gods, not just the twelve major ones. Most of them aren't happy about it, but support arises from an unlikely source and the task is undertaken along with a couple other changes.

Also, fans of the romance in these books will be either delighted or upset, as Percy ends up with a girlfriend at the end of this book. I will not say who; I'm trying not to spoil anything if you haven't heard all the great stuff about this couple. But maybe I'll just say that, in my opinion, this was the only choice that could have ever worked out, regardless of what happened to the other girls Percy could potentially have chosen.

I feel I should also warn you, just like I have been with a couple of the other books. This book has war. The last book, as you may guess from the title, has a full-on battle; but that was nothing compared with the scale on which this war is fought. Percy leads his army of demigods and satyrs and automatons and, later, Hunters of Artemis in defending the entirety of Manhattan, or at least the Empire State Building.

Just like any war, there are consequences. People die. And Percy himself is grappling with the knowledge that, even though he had just gained a mostly impervious shield, his soul would likely be reaped by a cursed blade, which would mean his own death as well.

Anyways, great book. I highly recommend this series of awesomeness.