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Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (Sa9+)
Welcome to The Book Seekers' Book of the Moment for January/February 2026!
If you don't know what Book of the Moment is, you can find more information about it here ― but, in a nutshell, it's a bi-monthly event, during which we all read the same book and then discuss it. The first month is focused on reading the book, the second is focused on discussing it.
To kick off this new year of reading, we're doing something slightly different from previous BotMs. This thread is dedicated to the entire series of Percy Jackson and the Olympians. However, our primary focus is on the first book, The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.
This thread is dedicated to the discussion of the books and there will be lots of SPOILERS!!!! You have been warned! When you have finished the book and are ready to talk spoilers to your heart's content, you should post in this thread. You can post in this thread at any time during the two months, but the Official™ discussion won't take place until the start of the second month. However, spoilers pertaining to The Lightning Thief are the only ones permitted to be posted untagged.
If you wish to continue with the other books in the series and want to discuss them here, you are welcome to! But for the duration of Book of the Moment, please hide and label these spoilers with a spoiler/textcut tag. That way, for those who are reading the first book for the first time, they can avoid unwanted spoilers about future plot points for the time being.
If you want to talk about your reading progress in a spoiler-free environment, this thread is the place for that, and it is always open and active so you can read at your own pace.
And don't fret if you're reading these books after their time as Book of the Moment has ended ― you can add to the discussion at any time!
AGE RATING: Sa9+ GENRE: Fantasy, Middle Grade SUMMARY: (from Goodreads)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Goodreads Summary
Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school...again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus' master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.
Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus' stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.
CONTENT WARNINGS:
SPOILER!!: Click me!
Violence, domestic abuse, death
SERIES INFORMATION:
Text Cut: The Series
Text Cut: Book 2: The Sea of Monsters
The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan AGE RATING: Sa9+ GENRE: Fantasy, Middle Grade SUMMARY: (from Goodreads)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Goodreads Summary
Percy Jackson’s seventh-grade year has been surprisingly quiet. Not a single monster has set foot on his New York prep-school campus. But when an innocent game of dodgeball among Percy and his classmates turns into a death match against an ugly gang of cannibal giants, things get... well, ugly. And the unexpected arrival of Percy’s friend Annabeth brings more bad news: the magical borders that protect Camp Half-Blood have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and unless a cure is found, the only safe haven for demigods will be destroyed.
In this fresh, funny, and hugely anticipated follow up to The Lightning Thief, Percy and his friends must journey into the Sea of Monsters to save their beloved camp. But first, Percy will discover a stunning new secret about his family—one that makes him question whether being claimed as Poseidon’s son is an honor or simply a cruel joke.
CONTENT WARNINGS:
SPOILER!!: Click me!
Violence, death, ableism, blood
Text Cut: Book 3: The Titan's Curse
The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan AGE RATING: Sa9+ GENRE: Fantasy, Middle Grade SUMMARY: (from Goodreads)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Goodreads Summary
When Percy Jackson receives an urgent distress call from his friend Grover, he immediately prepares for battle. He knows he'll need his powerful demigod allies at his side; his trusty bronze sword, Riptide; and... a ride from his mom.
The demigods race to the rescue to find that Grover has made an important discovery: two powerful half-bloods, whose parentage is unknown. But that's not all that awaits them. The Titan lord Kronos has set up a devious trap, and the young heroes have just fallen prey.
Hilarious and action-packed, this third adventure in the series finds Percy faced with his most dangerous challenge yet--the chilling prophecy of the Titan's curse.
CONTENT WARNINGS:
SPOILER!!: Click me!
Violence, death, kidnapping
Text Cut: Book 4: The Battle of the Labyrinth
The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan AGE RATING: Sa9+ GENRE: Fantasy, Middle Grade SUMMARY: (from Goodreads)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Goodreads Summary
Percy Jackson isn't expecting freshman orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears at his potential new school, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to worse.
In this fourth installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronos's army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop the invasion, Percy and his demigod friends must set out on a quest through the Labyrinth - a sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn.
CONTENT WARNINGS:
SPOILER!!: Click me!
Violence, death, blood
Text Cut: Book 5: The Last Olympian
The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan AGE RATING: Sa9+ GENRE: Fantasy, Middle Grade SUMMARY: (from Goodreads)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Goodreads Summary
All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds of a victory are grim. Kronos’s army is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, the evil Titan’s power only grows.
While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now it’s up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time.
In this momentous final book in the New York Times best-selling series, the long-awaited prophecy surrounding Percy’s sixteenth birthday unfolds. And as the battle for Western civilization rages on the streets of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate.
CONTENT WARNINGS:
SPOILER!!: Click me!
Violence, death, blood
Let's go over some ground rules and information...
You can discuss anything related to Percy Jackson and the Olympians in here. Spoilers ARE allowed.
For discussing The Lightning Thief, we encourage you to avoid using spoiler tabs where possible because it helps the discussion flow better.
For discussing the rest of the series, please hide your spoilers under a spoiler/textcut tag and label which book you are discussing.
This spoiler policy will remain in place for the duration of this Book of the Moment time period, which ends 28 February 2026.
This discussion will be active until 28 February 2026. That being said, this thread will remain open for everyone to discuss the book after that time, too.
Log of Discussion Questions:
Which characters stood out to you in the first book? What did you like and/or not like about them?
What did you think of the reveal of the true Lightning Thief when you first read this book? Did you have suspicions before it was revealed, or was it a complete surprise to you like it was for Percy and the others?
Which cabin at Camp Half-Blood do you think you would belong to, and why?
If you have any issues or queries, contact AlwaysSnapesGirl – and don't forget to nominate books for future Books of the Moment!
And if you would like to also discuss the current television adaptation of this series, please stop by the Percy Jackson and the Olympians thread in our Charing Cross Road forum.
~ Mrs. Steve Harrington ~ Claimed by Bits ❤️ ~ Queen of Typos ❄ Magical Mosh Pit ❄
I SIMPLY ADORE THE PERCY JACKSON SERIES!!!
I’m proud to say that I own all the main books, as well as most of the side ones {I’m currently reading the second in the Nico di Angelo series}. The series is also what ignited my love for Greek mythology, so I’m completely grateful to Uncle Rick for creating the characters and storylines
I was completely captured by The Lightning Thief, enamoured in the mystery of who stole Zeus’ master bolt. But before that, the events leading up to Percy arriving at Camp Half Blood, him understanding this new world after being thrown into it was also quite the riveting journey. I’m so glad Sally and Grover were there for him to help him through that process, because gosh, did the attack from Mrs. Dodds sort of freaked me out, and we all know it was the same for Percy.
There are many, many scenes that I enjoyed but here are a few that hold special places in my heart:
Percy being claimed by Poseidon
Meeting the Oracle
Percy, Grover and Annabeth encounter Medusa
Percy and Ares fighting on that beach
THE LOTUS CASINO!!!
We discover that Luke is the Lightning Thief I mean… Luke? I still feel for Annabeth when she discovered his betrayal.
My all time favourite thing though, about the book and the series in general, is Percy’s sass. That boy's sass has literally made me laugh out loud many times Aside from that, I love his character development, how he has become a confident young man as he continued to be brave and relentless throughout the quest.
Baguette | there is no D in my name | TRAITORclaw | Queenie of Narnia
^I love the Percy Jackson series too! Admittedly, I haven't read most of the other sequel series or side stories, except for The Heroes of Olympus books, but the original series is so special to me.
I read it for the first time back around the same time as when we were learning about Greek mythology in school. One of my friends had read it and suggested the series to me. I remember thinking how cool it was seeing how Rick Riordan incorporated the mythology into a modern setting. It felt so creative and fun. Plus, how can you not love the hilarious and charming narration from Percy's POV? So of course, I fell in love with it and have loved it ever since
Those are an awesome selection of scenes, Ali In particular, I love the build up to Poseidon claiming Percy, all the little hints and questions up to that point that culminate in this moment that gives me chills. I also love the suspense in the Aunty Em scene with the statues and Grover recognizing one of them. And the Percy vs. Ares fight is just so epic
Another scene I love is the one in the Arch where Percy faces the Chimera before jumping into the river. And I also love pretty much any scene that Sally Jackson is in I love the relationship between her and Percy so much. The lengths she went to in order to protect her son, and then the lengths Percy is willing to go to in order to save his mom, it's just so beautiful and sweet
And on that note, I have a few discussion questions I would love to hear everyone's answers to
Which characters stood out to you in the first book? What did you like and/or not like about them?
What did you think of the reveal of the true Lightning Thief when you first read this book? Did you have suspicions before it was revealed, or was it a complete surprise to you like it was for Percy and the others?
Which cabin at Camp Half-Blood do you think you would belong to, and why?
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if we fall, we will fall together; and when we rise, we will rise together__________________♥♥♥♥ together we are dangerous; together with our differences; together we are bolder, braver, stronger
Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (Sa9+) 
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I mean… Luke? I still feel for Annabeth when she discovered his betrayal.
Aside from that, I love his character development, how he has become a confident young man as he continued to be brave and relentless throughout the quest.
Admittedly, I haven't read most of the other sequel series or side stories, except for The Heroes of Olympus books, but the original series is so special to me. 
In particular, I love the build up to Poseidon claiming Percy, all the little hints and questions up to that point that culminate in this moment that gives me chills. I also love the suspense in the Aunty Em scene with the statues and Grover recognizing one of them. And the Percy vs. Ares fight is just so epic 
