The Colossus Rises

Seven Wonders Book 1: The Colossus Rises  is another youth title.  I'd guess the target audience for this book is middle school but that doesn't mean that the story line or writing are boring for adults.  This book, the first in the Seven Wonders series ( as in the 7 wonders of the ancient world) was a relaxing yet engaging read.  I think a blog that I read recommended it but as I haven't bookmarked the blog, I'll have to wait until she posts again to find out.

Unlike the Percy Jackson books in which the heroes are demigods, in this series, the young heroes are descendants of the last ruling family of Atlantis.  This relationship becomes known about the time they turn 13 and develop a lambda mark on the back of their head.  When a secret organization discovers these youths, they swoop them off to a small island in the Mediterranean and train them to use their abilities and recover lost Atlantean artifacts.  As the title indicates, this first novel has the team traveling to Rhodes.  Being the first book in the series, most of the book is dedicated to introducing the team and helping them get set upon their path.

If you liked the Heroes of Olympus series or enjoyed reading the 39 Steps, then add this to your list.  I'm getting ready to start the second book in the series,Seven Wonders Book 2: Lost in Babylon

The Hidden Oracle

I said I was starting this blog to talk about the books I read.  Since I haven't talked to many people about the them, it may take a few books to get my format figured out.

Ok, how many AARP eligible people read books for kids?  Childrens' librarians for sure.  Well, it's not my job and I do.  At least some.  I've read Rick Riordan's Heroes of Olympus Series, his Kane Chronicles, and have started the Magnus Kane series.  This book,   The Trials of Apollo, Book 1: The Hidden Oracle  is the start of a new series.     I enjoyed this book, it was a bit of a light refresher between some non fiction books I was reading.

This new book takes place within Riordan's Percy Jackson sphere.  In fact, Percy makes a brief appearance at the beginning and end of the book.  If you've enjoyed the other demi-god books, I think you'll like this one.  A brief summary - The Greek god Apollo is punished by Zeus and sent to Earth as a human teenager. A lot of the book does contain Apollo whining about being a human but the cast of characters is reasonably well developed and you come to be interested in what happens to them.

If you like to read mythology, have enjoyed other books by Riordan or have an Elementary school aged friend to read with, I recommend this latest edition.